Author's Notes: A severed Internet connection and a hurricane. (Yay Isabel. -_-;) I just want to say this... If any of you are still reading… Thanks. Just thanks. I hope it won't take this long next time and that another hurricane doesn't pleasantly romp in my neighborhood. ^_^

Disclaimer: Pokemon will never belong to me.

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This person named Grace… She said that I've already overcome the greatest challenge of all. I'd like to hear her story now. How would she have reacted if she found out where I was? Yes, only I would have wandered the Sprout Tower in the middle of the night with three pokemon, two of which were tired or unconscious (in Scavenger's case), one singing psycho, and something out to kill us all?

Everyone kept telling me it was a spirit or a ghost pokemon. Can we say "overactive imagination?" I'm guessing there's some idiot trainer hiding and scaring everyone away. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if it's Kataro. Still, that was a pretty strong storm his pokemon made… But there's a good reason why his pokemon would be that well trained. He doesn't have Korba to sidetrack him every five minutes!

Agility – Earl's Pokemon Academy

"Problem you solved?" Earl rumbled to Korba. She sighed and shook her head.

"I'm afraid not, Commander Earl." She saluted. "The opposition is much stronger than I thought!"

Agility blinked sleepily. "What're you talking about? You didn't think about anything…" She was on her back, Korba's hand firmly clutching her shirt. The tired trainer had been dragged the entire trip out of Sprout Tower.

After several arguments, Agility had finally managed to convince Korba into leaving the tower. The odd laughter ("from trainers," Agility had reasoned) echoing throughout the higher levels of Sprout Tower began to fade as time passed, and Agility's pokegear clock read 7:35 AM. The monks advised they only travel at night.

Pyra stretched her stiff legs and stared over at Scavenger. He started moving backwards as she neared him, and made a full-fledged retreat when she broke into a run. The two of them ran circles around Talon. "Agility! What battles do we go on before our next trip to the tower?"

"What battle?" Agility lay down on a teacher's desk. She pulled out her purple blanket and covered her face with it. Korba shoved her off. She had taken it upon herself to breathe life into Agility's journey, so there was no sleeping allowed.

"Battle!" Korba sang. "Yay! I'm gonna see Scavenger battle!" The Rattata gave a hesitant nod.

The situation was getting out of control. "No one's battling!" Agility declared, trying to put a hard edge in her voice. Pyra joined the merry Korba in her war song, drowning out any further complaints. "If Korba asked you guys to jump off a bridge, would you all do it?"

"Agility…" The HootHoot sighed, pressing her beak against her pokeball. "We say yes, we fight. We say no, we fight. See pattern, yes?" She entered the pokeball before receiving an answer. Pyra saw Talon leave and thought it to be a good idea; Scavenger quickly entered his when he noticed he was the only pokemon out. By an unspoken command, Korba picked Agility up and started for the door.

Earl looked noticeably impressed. "Very good leader you are! Listen to you they all do!"

"Did it ever occur to you that I have absolutely no say on my own journey?!" Agility asked as Korba carried her away.

"Listen they do!" Earl repeated, happy as ever.

"Sometimes I get the feeling that no one is listening to me!" She shouted the last part out at Korba, who only sang louder. Agility groaned and made the best of it. She could use the sleep on the way to Violet Gym.

The two girls found no line of trainers leading into the coliseum. They were the first, and it seemed like they made it before the Gym Leader did. The entire battlefield, which consisted of clumps of grass and wet earth, had no other being inside. Korba looked around. "He's invisible?"

"Brilliant deduction, Korba." Agility mumbled, waking up from her nap. She was getting used to being hauled around. "Think his pokemon are, too?"

"You're right!" Korba lifted Agility over her head. "What're you doing asleep, then?!"

A shadow glided across the Gym floor. Agility and Korba stared upwards at the figure that circled the coliseum. A Pidgeotto descended with a shrill cry, showing off his incredible strength by slowly lowering his trainer to the floor. This task accomplished, the bird released his extra weight and abruptly left the coliseum.

There was a long silence. Falkner was staring. "What?" Agility asked, suspended above Korba's head.

"I am Falkner… One of you wouldn't happen to be Agility Surestrike, would you?" He asked, trying to make sense of the scene before him. Korba threw said trainer forward, making her roll about on the ground. What was even odder was the condition both of the girls were in. Not only did they both have rings below their eyes, but also their clothing had several scorch marks and holes burned into them. Agility remained facedown in the soil, weakly raising a hand.

"That would be me. Are you scared yet?" She muttered into the ground.

Falkner grasped the pokeball on his waist. "I hope you have more energy than that… You were contacted by Professor Elm to get one of his pokemon, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"I believe I have that for you."

Somewhere Agility found a burst of strength. "Where? I'll take it!"

"If you can catch it." Falkner smiled at Agility's confusion. "Yes, all of the trainers that came here looked the same way. However, Elm believed you needed a challenge since you have a Cyndaquil… I believe that's the fastest of all the starters?"

"So there's running involved?" Agility assumed. Her voice took on a pathetic tone once more. Korba stared on, lost in Agility's mood swings.

The Gym Leader could barely contain his smile. He jogged backwards to a concealed door, hand above the first lock. "You're allowed one pokemon for this… A quick one. So, would you like to catch the pokemon first, or would you like to battle?"

"…Korba, c'mere." Korba yelped as Agility grabbed her shoulders. "You want to be a pokemon trainer really badly, right?"

"Yeah!" Korba cheered.

Agility cast a quick glance back at Falkner. She smiled pleasantly before returning to Korba with a glare. "Here's the deal. If you take Scavenger with you and catch this pokemon, you can keep it. Okay?"

Korba's eyes widened. "Y-You'd… Do that for me?" She lunged forward and hugged Agility tightly. "Thank you thank you thank-" The door holding the pokemon suddenly bent forward by a powerful blow. The sheer force of it knocked down Falkner, who had gotten too close.

"Good luck!" Agility tossed her Scavenger's pokeball.

Falkner raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're going to let someone else own the pokemon?"

"Believe me, I'm saving myself a lot of pain and drama." She quietly rooted Korba on before pushing her away. "Now get away from me. I don't want to get trampled by the beast that's going to eat you. Hopefully."

Korba paid her no mind, saluting and calling out Scavenger. The Rattata quickly looked between Agility and Korba, and only after a quick explanation (and gentle coaxing) did Scavenger understand and agree. Falkner wasted no time in opening the locks, and something brown blurred out the door. Korba whooped and followed it, Scavenger taking a spot behind her.

Falkner returned to the battle at hand. "A two-on-two battle. Is that okay?"

"Fair enough." Agility shrugged.

"I don't plan for the battle to last long."

Agility smirked, Pyra's pokeball in hand. "Neither do I."

"Pidgey, go!"

"Pyra!"

Energy exploded from Pyra's pokeball, red light mixed with ready fire. Unlike the Cyndaquil's release, the Pidgey choose to come out in midair. His eagerness matched Pyra's and he chirped as threateningly as he could. "Prepare to lose!" He declared, shaking his tail feathers for a tease.

"Oh my!" Pyra snorted haughtily. "Get down here, frail one, so I may scorn you properly!"

He giggled. "Nuh-uh. Four-leggers gotta walk and birds gotta fly. Four-leggers lose!" 

Pyra sighed. He was already too annoying. Wanting to end the battle before her opponent could talk any longer, Pyra attempted to knock the Pidgey out of the air. Her body wouldn't agree. She remained frozen in place, legs almost completely submerged in thick mud. "What is this?"

 "Pidgey, Tackle!" Falkner spared no mercy. The little bird swooped down to laugh at Pyra again, skimming the flames on her back. He would have done it again if Falkner hadn't repeated the order much more harshly. Agility nodded in understanding. This would help her out a lot…

Pyra seemed to know what was running through Agility's mind. She sneered at the Pidgey. "Aw, the hatchling cannot fight? He must fly away whenever danger draws near? Go back to your nest, hatchling! The battlefield is not for you!"

"Hey!" Pidgey puffed out his chest furiously. "Stupid four-legger! I'm gonna get you for that!" He beat his tiny wings and propelled himself forward, flying overhead to find the best spot to attack. He found it in a matter of seconds, folding his wings in for a high-speed dive. Pyra tore free of the mud, jumping up and away…

…from the Doduo's huge feet. Scavenger barely managed to avoid getting trampled by the massive bird. The two heads each concentrated on a different target, Scavenger on one side and Korba on the other. The girl hadn't stopped to order Scavenger around. She too helped in trying to restrain the bird and call it her own. "Steady Scavenger…" Korba grinned, crouching. "The hunt is on!"

Both of them charged at the same time, dirt clumps flying behind their feet. Korba took huge strides and dove for the bird's legs. Scavenger tried for the heads, gaining massive air after a few quick bounds. The Doduo was unfazed. It allowed Scavenger to land on a head and calculated the time it would take for Korba to arrive. The answer and the reaction came a split-second later. Korba cackled as she landed face first in the ground…

…unable to see his opponent while buried in the mud. The Pidgey pulled at his head futilely, receiving help from Pyra's powerful snout. She shoved it into the mud, tossing the Pidgey up and away. With the moist and heavy weight caked on Pidgey's face, he dropped like stone and frantically beat his wings to regain control. The result was a drunken swoop that Pyra didn't allow him to complete. Again the Pidgey was slammed into the mud, not stopping until he hit the wall. A trail of dirty feathers led to his helpless form.

Falkner chuckled. "Well now!" He recalled Pidgey and hooked the pokeball into his belt. "That's an extremely strong Cyndaquil you have there! How long do you think she'll last against her next opponent?"

"Less talk and more bat-!" Pyra demanded. She suddenly lost her footing and was being pulled backwards. Agility was pointing her pokedex into the sky in alarm. Unnerved by the trainer's fear, Pyra located the cause of it. A twister had silently formed in front of its creator, the Pidgeotto from before, and was sucking Pyra ever closer to its violent winds. Agility could only watch and listen as Pyra screamed…

…for the Doduo to stop. Scavenger would have rather gone through a hundred battles with Spinaraks and ghosts than traveling on an aimless run through the city. He clung to the bird's thin but sturdy neck, screaming until he could scream no more. Once his throat had gone dry, Scavenger sank his fangs into the Doduo's neck and thrashed his head about.

The Doduo shrieked in pain and accelerated, the exact opposite of what Scavenger wanted to do. The fun had ended for the two-headed bird. A head snapped and pecked at Scavenger, truly testing his evasive abilities. He ducked and shifted as best as he could, and to his horror felt himself slipping. Scavenger bit down even harder. His claws didn't offer that kind of security however, and he soon found himself hanging on for dear life by only his mouth.

Korba was right behind them. The bicycle she had stolen didn't do as well on grass as the Doduo, but she was still keeping up just fine. She could hear Scavenger shouting, and offered her own loud message to comfort him. "You'll be all right! Just-"

"-Hang in there!" Agility felt completely useless saying it. What else was there to do? She allowed herself a few moments of pity before she began to remember. Maybe Sprout Tower was a good place to stop by! "Ember!"

Gleams of little embers were beginning to appear in the wind.  With every passing moment, more fire was forced to follow the spiral path until streaks of red were very noticeable. Pidgeotto fled from his own Gust, smoke trailing behind him. Soon the Gust died out as well, and Pyra dropped to the ground. She was disoriented and cut up quite badly, but she wasn't down. "Excel…lent… move…" She said breathlessly. Pyra had survived a Sandstorm and a Gust Attack. She would have a great story to tell later on.

"Thank you." He replied, regaining his composure. His powerful wings began to flap hard again, summoning the winds for another attack.

Pyra kept a close eye on him. "I can see you, bird. That won't work this time."

"So you say. I was actually hoping you'd give me your attention…" His blurring wings fanned and directed the wind into and through the ground, carving out a huge wave of mud that seemed to lunge at Pyra. She would have been completely crushed had Agility not recalled her…

…back into his pokeball. Korba patted Scavenger's pokeball now that he was safe and veered to the right of the Doduo. They immediately hit the street, sending the bike forward so fast that Korba jerked in her seat. She clutched the handlebars all the harder and began to avoid the obstacles that the Doduo didn't care for—the people. "You should really watch out for the small children! I think I'm already in legal trouble!" It didn't listen. Korba shrugged. A sudden decision on the runner's part sent the chase into oncoming traffic.

One of the Doduo's heads looked back and flinched at Korba. The other head turned to ask what was going on, and the moment of distraction was more than enough. A blaring horn brought the Doduo back to attention, and it barely jumped over the car that could have caused a fatal collision. Korba swerved to the sidewalk, a fresh skid mark burned into the asphalt. She could see most of the vehicles slow to the sudden stop, brake lights gleaming…

…with crimson light. The HootHoot's eyes shifted away from Agility, ready to take over for Pyra.

"Ah! You've raised a flying-type as well?" Falkner asked, more interested in the battle now.

Agility nodded. The little Pidgey's warning of "Four-leggers walk, birds fly, four-leggers lose" was slowly fading. Talon was a flying-type, after all… "Let's see your Pidgeotto take her on!" Talon said nothing. She observed the mud and windswept grass before giving the Pidgeotto her full attention. He stopped flapping his wings as soon as her eyes locked. Talon grunted and backed away from the falling Pidgeotto. Her cautiousness paid off. At the last second he pulled up, his wings forcing wind into the earth. The HootHoot had more than enough time to avoid the tossed mud and to leap for the Pidgeotto.

"Your sight is excellent, young sage… But you have yet to gain your wings!" He pulled up and watched Talon just miss his tail feathers. Her underdeveloped wings couldn't keep her in the air. Talon glared at the Pidgeotto as she fell, already knowing she was at a severe disadvantage.

"What now?" Falkner asked Agility. She had her pokedex out. He'd seen many trainers do it in the past, and knew she had to have been getting desperate. "Shame on you, Agility… Taking your eyes off the battle!"

"Talon, start hopping!" Agility never looked up. She was too afraid Falkner would see the fear on her face. She could only hope Talon had enough stamina to tire out the Pidgeotto. Until then…

…there was no plan. Cars and the snaps of the Doduo's beaks prevented Korba from pulling up beside it. A narrowly missed van honked at her as if to prove the point. Blue landed on her handlebars. Korba recognized it as a flyer posted around town. The words "BIRTHDAY BASH" along with other information was listed in large, black font, along with the picture of a violin. She knew where the party was. The Doduo was heading straight for it, and she laughed. A strategy had formed.

Up ahead in the park, a ninth grade band was on-stage, tuning up. Before them was the gathering crowd, along with the expectant birthday boy sitting in a huge chair. His violin lay in his lap, and he yawned at the wait.

Suddenly, a Doduo came crashing through the crowd, almost catching the birthday boy's shirt with a clawed foot. The boy yelped as it went by, and couldn't prepare himself for the next event. Korba hit the ramp leading up-stage and was launched into the air. She threw her head back and gave a shrill battle cry…

…startling the Pidgeotto during his gust creation. Agility sighed, relieved. Talon's Growl attack had come through for her. "Are you able to attack?" She yelled. The Pidgeotto was way too high in the air for Talon to reach. There wasn't any way for the HootHoot to go that high…

"Perhaps someday you will be a true bird, sage." The Pidgeotto sighed. "Maybe someday you will fly." Agility fingered Pyra's pokeball worriedly. She hoped the Cyndaquil had recovered enough. Talon, however, had different plans. She ran forward with the weak winds the Pidgeotto had created. With a soft whisper of hope, Talon jumped and spread her wings. Her plan had worked. The gusts gave her just the lift she needed to catch the Pidgeotto by surprise.

"I no have wings? I no can fly? So you say!" She grasped the bird by his burn wounds (thanking Pyra in the process) and dragged him, kicking and pecking, into the mud. What resulted was a wild brawl that ended in silence. Both the Pidgeotto and the HootHoot were still, and both trainers tensed as one of the bodies began to stir. Agility groaned as the Pidgeotto weakly stood, and returned Talon to her pokeball with a mental cry…

…of fear. The birthday boy threw himself and his violin out of his seat, barely avoiding the bicycle Korba had jumped off of. Korba was reaching the ground quickly, but continued falling without fear. Just as she had planned, the Doduo raced right underneath her. She landed on the bird's back and grasped both of its necks, forcing it to turn around and start running for the gym. As she neared the ruined ceremony, she shouted "Happy Birthday!" The boy only waved back at the mysterious rider.

Korba and the Doduo soon passed through traffic again. The streets had cleared up somewhat, allowing the two of them to go through the mess with ease. As she cleared the street and headed into grass again, Korba wondered how Agility…

…would turn this battle around. Pyra tried to shake her head free of the darkness that threatened to fall upon her. "Do not mistake my condition for an easy victory, bird…" She warned. The Pidgeotto hissed and strained to take flight again. The Cyndaquil immediately tried to ignite her flames. It wasn't enough to get a full fire, but from the spurting flames came smoke. The Pidgeotto wasn't able to escape the smokescreen in time. Pyra immediately went for the fallen bird. Her energy was running out, so she had to make it quick. Another violent struggle took place. Another quiet followed, hanging in air like the acrid smoke. Another stillness came upon pokemon.

But it was Pyra who stood strong in second battle. She had won.

Falkner covered his face with a hand. He decided to get it over with as soon as possible. "Oh… I allowed myself to get too arrogant." He looked to Agility. "I listen to that Pidgey too much. Come, so I can reward you on a battle well fought."

The gym doors flew open, causing both trainers to jump. An exhausted Doduo stumbled in with Korba on its back. The girl was out of breath and couldn't get out her message at first. "I… am victorious!" Her triumphant voice echoed throughout the coliseum.

Falkner and Agility looked at each other uneasily. "I honestly don't know who she is." Agility explained. "She just followed me one day and I can't make her go away."

"Ah, I see… Here. Before I get too distracted, I give you this Zephyr Badge." The badge was a small, shining pair of wings, the details of the feathers carefully carved in. Agility held it up to the sun to get a better view. "By mastering the wind, you will be able to travel paths where you could not go before. Wear it proudly, Agility Surestrike."

"I will." Agility muttered, clutching it.

"But that's not all." Falkner handed over a small disk with the number thirty-one labeled on the front. It carried the wing symbol of the Zephyr Badge. "This is TM Thirty-One, Mud Slap. You've seen what it can do… Teach it to one of your pokemon and choose wisely."

"Yay, Agility!" Korba applauded. Agility winced and headed back to her, giving Falkner a silent plea for help. The gym leader could only look apologetic.

"You didn't get arrested, did you?" Agility chuckled.

Korba swallowed nervously. "Not yet…"

Agility glowered at her. "Why haven't I killed you yet?"

"Because I'm physically stronger than you are?"

"Good point."

"Hee."

Agility had healed Pyra and Talon in the Pokemon Center before returning to the Academy. The action filled day took its toll on both of them, but Korba was more than happy to let Agility ride Trekker, the Doduo that had caused so much trouble in Violet City.

Korba's walk had turned into a lively march. Scavenger happily joined her. "I have found my trusty steed! Noble Trekker, will you aid me in battle and adventure 'til death?!"

The Doduo cawed proudly and copied Korba's march. Agility grew worried. "Oh no…"

"You're an odd one, Agility." Pyra remarked. The trainer glared.

"I'm odd?!" She threw her hands up into the air. "You're kidding! I- Hey, is that Earl?"

Sure enough, the man raced to Korba with his arms outstretched. Earl crushed Korba in his embrace, face flushed with pure emotion. "Talked to me a boy did! Say you caught pokemon! So happy I am!" Korba wheezed violently, but she was grinning all the way.

"Thank you, sir!"

He wiped his eyes and nodded. "First time for any student, it is! Great honor you bring!" He never quite recovered from his outburst, even when he tried to calm down. "Finally ready you are. Children!" The unenthusiastic kids now showed some sign of cheer. This time they stood straight in their two lines of seven, and saluted Korba in unison. "Make graduation early, I do. Korba…"

Agility smiled in realization. It took a while, but slowly Korba understood too. She stepped backward. "Sir?"

"As of today…" He produced her pokedex and a fatigue design backpack filled with several items. The most startling gift was the gleaming Zephyr Badge pinned to the front pocket. "Pokemon trainer you are! Pride of Earl's Academy!"

Korba clutched the items until her knuckles were white. She was a little panicked. "I… Am? But I didn't accomplish my miss-"

"Worry about that you shouldn't!" Earl interrupted. "Take care of it I will. Travel on you should!"

A hand rested on Korba's shoulder. It was Agility. The new declared trainer whirled and speechlessly handed over Scavenger's pokeball… Only to have it pushed away. "I don't know how you did it, and I don't think I'll ever understand if you told me, but somehow you managed to get Scavenger to help you chase down a Doduo. And with the journey ahead, I think he's gonna need you more than ever." Scavenger had no complaints. He was already nuzzling Korba's legs.

Talon nodded. "He get training from everyone because Korba joining us, yes?"

"Hold on, what was that?" Agility asked, paling.

"A very wise decision, Talon!" Pyra agreed before Agility could protest. The Cyndaquil glared at her trainer and forcefully stepped on her foot. "Don't you think so, Agility?" Agility clenched her fists and opened her mouth to argue, but got hugged by Korba instead. She was laughing and crying at the same time, and Agility's mouth slowly closed.

"Okay, okay… Oy." Agility knew her fate was sealed. She patted Korba comfortingly and led her inside the academy for the going-away party. "So how'd you manage to catch Trekker?"

Korba may have been in tears, but it didn't stop her from telling a story that kept Agility awake that night.

I get to write in Agility's weird book today… I can see why she loves looking it over now. Hey! I've got my steed, my furry warrior, and some friends to start me off! I'm happy that I'm going to help Commander Earl's Academy someday… But I'm also happy that I'm going to go on a journey to accomplish that huge mission.

I looked at the first entry in the book, made by somebody named Grace. I wonder about that stuff. Since Agility let me use this book…

…Does it mean Grace's words apply to me too?

Violet City -- Korba