Part 2, Chapter 5: This Calling

After a full night's rest, Kanu woke up to find the village eerily quiet. As he walked over to Adam's house to determine the source, he discovered the answer for himself. A lot of villagers were kneeling on the outskirts of the village under the few oak trees that were able to survive at the high altitude. He walked over to the one he first encountered.

"Morning, Ivan," Kanu greeted the trainer as he kneeled on the ground, appearing to pick things off the ground.

"Oh, good timing," he turned to face him. "Could you wake up Alexis for me?"

Kanu smirked. "Never thought you would willingly want to see her."

"It's not like that. I just need help picking up these acorns. We planted some red oak trees years ago that can survive at high altitudes, and their first acorns are calling, so we need to gather them to feed our Pokémon and plant more trees."

Kanu realized this was the closest victory he would probably get to convince Ivan to take Alexis' offer. "Sounds good. I'll be back in a few minutes."

As Kanu left, Ivan peered over the shoulder to see a female villager with a cheeky grin on her face. "You're so bad," she teased.

After Alexis was unceremoniously woken up by her traveling companion and fixed her bedhead, she joined the other villagers in picking up acorns. She wished to keep her complaints to a minimum, given she had to win Ivan over, but the monotonous task was becoming grating to her.

"Wouldn't it make sense to have gardening tools? How can we be sure we pick them all up?" she groaned.

Kanu wasn't sure of the answer, so he turned to Ivan. "I assume any we forget will just be eaten by the wild Pokémon?"

"That's the idea. Oh, Alexis, could you please pick up that large acorn over there?"

He pointed at an almost comically large acorn about a foot in length directly underneath one of the trees. Alexis dropped her pile of acorns on one of the village's hand-woven baskets and walked over to it. "Well, at least we can't forget this one."

As she picked up the acorn, she turned it around to notice a strange but familiar pattern. In an instant, the acorn appeared to sprout eyes that opened, fidgeting in Alexis' arms. This startled her, causing her to shout in surprise as she fell over and dropped the acorn. Seedot happily jumped in success.

Ivan and the female villager burst out in laughter, high-fiving each other. "Works every time," she gloated.

Alexis stood up, regaining her composure. "You seriously didn't just prank me, did you?"

She looked over to see Kanu snickering. "I hate you all," she admitted defeat.

Ivan spoke up. "Consider that payback for yesterday. Now, come on. Let's bring our acorns to Adam, then I'll discuss your proposal." He picked up his basket and began to walk back towards the village.

Kanu walked over to Alexis, surprised at his response. "He seems serious about it."

The prospect got her heart pounding. "Then I'll make sure he doesn't push me around on our way to Haldun. Let's go," she said as she ran after him with her baskets in tow.

Ivan, Alexis, and Kanu all entered Adam's dwelling, noticing baskets of acorns that were dropped off recently by the other villagers. "Sage Adam, we have acorns."

The sage appeared to be hyper-fixated on a green Pokémon in front of him on four limbs, wagging its large, dark green tail with two separate lobes. "Set them in the corner with the bags from last week," he said, not averting his attention from his Pokémon.

"Will do," Kanu replied without question.

The green Pokémon then stood as the three of them set their baskets down, blinking its yellow eyes in happiness. "Thank you very much, Treecko." Adam turned to the teenagers. "He says the weather will be partly cloudy with abnormally high winds."

"How can you tell?" Alexis asked.

"Treecko goes out every morning and senses the humidity in the air to predict the weather patterns. The city-dwellers rely on radar and electronic forecasts; we prefer the old-fashioned way," Adam responded in a slightly smug tone.

Kanu smiled. "That's incredible."

Ivan stepped forward, changing the topic. "Sage Adam, can we speak for a few minutes?"

"Of course," Adam said as he walked over to talk to Ivan directly.

Ivan had a moment's hesitation, realizing that what he might say could be constituted as betraying Adam's wishes. However, the feeling in his heart persuaded Ivan to speak the truth bluntly and without regret. "Alexis has proposed that I travel with her and Kanu to Haldun City so I can speak to her father about the UPRA's aggression and attempt to find a cooperative existence between us."

Adam paused for a few seconds, noticing Ivan's firm expression. "You seem particularly eager for this proposal. This is very unlike your usual aggression."

"My dad chose to protect the village rather than go on a quest to grow strong and defeat the UPRA. As long as I carry his soul, his peaceful nature is still important to me. Of course, I still desire to become Champion and break down the fabric of their society so our village will never be in danger again."

Adam took a deep breath, processing Ivan's words and hoping to come to a mutual agreement. "Well, if-" His words were swiftly interrupted as someone walked into the open door behind them. "I must say you're here later than I expected," he turned his attention to their guest.

Kanu, Alexis, and Ivan turned to see a young woman, appearing in her early twenties, standing before them. She had a tidy appearance, with her long yellow hair straight and pushed behind her yellow ruffled tank, without a single strand of hair appearing out of place. She removed her white trilby hat, curtsying in a white pleaded miniskirt while holding her hat with her right arm. Alexis recognized her instantly. "Lady Kaguon?"

"I'm glad to see you're both unharmed," she looked at Kanu and Alexis and smiled.

"Who are you?" Kanu asked.

She turned to face Kanu specifically. "My apologies. My name is Kaguon, one of Sigma's Elite Four."

Before Kanu could get a chance to respond, Ivan snapped at her introduction, turning to Kanu and especially Alexis in anger. "The Elite Four? Did you two sell us out to the UPRA!?"

Kaguon was quick to diffuse the tension. "Now, now, calm down. I'm just here on a diplomatic journey to return these two trainers to UPRA territory. I do not wish to disturb your village or your way of life." She paused before turning to face Adam. "Sage Adam, it's good to see you again."

Adam spoke professionally yet was somewhat friendly. "Likewise, Kaguon."

Ivan turned to Adam in surprise. "Wait, she's been here before?"

The sage spoke. "Your father had to quell multiple wanderers in our village before, so Kaguon has been our typical diplomat." He turned back to Kaguon. "I'm pleased that you've returned; I was half-expecting you to be replaced with a more aggressive negotiator during the Master Trials."

Kaguon lightly chuckled. "Between you and me, as much as I love the other Elite Four, I feel like I'm the only one suited to make these kinds of peaceful negotiations. Now, what are your names?" she asked the two teens next to Ivan.

"Kanu and Alexis, ma'am," Kanu spoke quickly, his nerves tensing as he realized the full gravity of the situation that they put themselves in.

Kaguon placed her hat back on her head carefully. "Well, then, Kanu and Alexis, come with me. We need to bring you back to the Master Trial Administrators. I'm sure they will be less than pleased, unfortunately."

Adam motioned his hand to stop her. "Wait for a second, Kaguon. The young man in front of you, Ivan, him, and I were discussing him joining Alexis to enter peaceful negotiations with Vice President Frederick. Since he is a Master Trial trainer anyway if he joins them, may they be formally pardoned for trespassing?"

Kaguon turned to the village boy. "Is that true, Ivan? I can pardon them if you wish."

Ivan now understood that the fate of his village's future with the UPRA rested on his shoulders. He knew that he had to be the one to defend his village and his people, as he could rise to the ranks of a trainer that could do so. But, deep within his heart, his uncertainty boiled to the surface. He had to know if he was worthy. He gripped his green tank top and pulled it down, revealing a tattoo on his left breast that appeared to resemble a golden sword Pokémon. "I'm not the village warrior or its peacekeeper. Not yet." He turned behind him and pointed at the person he trusted the most. "Sage Adam, I challenge you to a battle! Come at me with everything you have. If I defeat you, I will accept the role of peacekeeper and travel with Kanu and Alexis. If you defeat me, I'll know that I'm not ready to face Frederick or the UPRA."

The rest of the people in the room stared at Adam, eager to hear his response. The sage took a few moments, staring blankly at Ivan before giving his answer. "Is this the blessing you wish for me to give you?"

Ivan released his tank top, staring at Adam with the highest respect and admiration. "Yes."

"Then I accept your challenge," Adam said as he pulled a Poké Ball out of his robe pocket.

Outside, the two combatants prepared to face off as nearly every man, woman, and child in the village circled the battlefield, shocked to see Sage Adam battle.

Alexis stood in that circle, holding Torchic in her arms. "I can't believe I have to root for Ivan to win."

Kanu turned to Kaguon as Charmander sat next to Kanu's feet, his fiery eyes linked to the battlefield. "Lady Kaguon, why are you basing our pardon on his victory? It was our fault for trespassing in the first place."

"That may be true. The Administrators are very strict when it comes to entering the Village of the Plains territory without an escort. However, I think you should take advantage of the fact that one of the villagers is a fellow trainer and Alexis is the daughter of Vice President Frederick. If Ivan feels comfortable being the village peacemaker, we can write this whole incident off as a mission to improve relations."

Alexis then turned to her. "But what if he loses and he tries to speak to my father anyway? Wouldn't that still reach the same conclusion and we could be pardoned?"

"I do not intend to speak for your father, but I believe he would prefer to speak to him as your traveling partner instead of an acquaintance you used to get out of trouble with the Sigma League," she winked at her.

Alexis bit her lip, then turned and yelled at the teen prepping his Trainer Tech. "Ivan, this is the only time I'll ever say this, but you better not lose!"

Ivan paid her little mind as Adam spoke. "I find it strange. Your brother never battled me before he left the village. Why do you feel this strong need?"

"Because Keith left to pursue his dreams. I want to prove to myself and my Pokémon that I can be a worthy representative of our village. That's what it means for me to be a trainer."

"Then show me the strength you've acquired."

A gust of wind kicked up some loose dirt separating the two, signaling the start of their bout. "Battle!" the two yelled.

"Let's do this, dad!" Ivan yelled as he threw out his Poké Ball, revealing Honedge staked into the ground at Ivan's feet. He grabbed the sword as the hilt floated to his side.

"To my side, Treecko!" Adam yelled as his Poké Ball revealed the green gecko-like Pokémon from earlier. "If you wish to challenge me, then you'll have to do so on my turf. Use Grassy Terrain!"

"Swords Dance!" Ivan yelled in response.

Treecko fell on our four limbs and cried out, spreading a green light that enveloped the battlefield, causing a sudden growth spurt in glowing green grass. Ivan, however, began frenetically dancing with Honedge to uplift his fighting spirit, sharply increasing his attack power.

Adam appeared unphased. "A good start. But Treecko's Grassy Seed can activate in response. When Grassy Terrain is active, the seed can be consumed to increase Treecko's Defense." As if on cue, Treecko touched the seed, infusing it with energy from the grassy terrain, consuming the seed and sprouting defensive roots across its body.

"But what does Grassy Terrain do by itself?" Alexis turned to Kaguon.

She smiled. "You'll have to wait and see."

"That was a big mistake. Fury Cutter!" Ivan yelled as he rushed in to attack with Honedge.

"Use Absorb now!"

Treecko was able to touch Honedge a split second before contact, draining it of little nutrients before the strong slash tore through the root barrier and struck Treecko directly, instantly knocking it out.

"Honedge knows Fury Cutter too? That means he can counter any of Adam's grass Pokémon, with successive increases in attack after each use," Kanu exclaimed, both excited at Honedge's power and terrified of him as a potential opponent.

Kaguon added: "Not to mention that Grassy Terrain will heal both Ivan and Adam's Pokémon each turn."

"Yes! He has this in the bag already!" Alexis cried out as Honedge absorbed the grassy energy and recovered health, only taking 1 net point of damage for the turn.

"Thank you, Treecko," Adam smiled at his fainted friend as he turned him to his Poké Ball. "Your Fury Cutter strategy is impeccable, but countering it is not as difficult as you may think it to be. Show him, Ralts!"

This time, the white Ralts appeared on the battlefield, curious to feel the rejuvenating energy of the grassy terrain reacting to its grassy seed. "And thanks to Grassy Seed, its Defense increases," Adam explained as another root barrier appeared.

Ivan paid no mind. "Then I'll just keep hitting with stronger attacks!" he yelled as he prepared to step forward for another attack.

Adam pointed his right hand skyward. "Thunder Wave!"

Ralts revealed her face under her green hair, shooting a weak bolt of electricity from the tip of her front red horn, precise enough to whizz past Ivan's face and strike Honedge that he was holding above his shoulder. The sword Pokémon began to feel its muscles atrophy as it dropped to the ground. Ivan failed to pick it up as it felt like it was made of lead. "Why can't I move Honedge?" he struggled.

"Was it just-?" Alexis began.

Kanu finished. "Paralyzed? Yeah, now Honedge becomes slower and may fail to even attack at times. Not to mention, Honedge failing to use Fury Cutter shuts off its consecutive power increase."

Ivan stared at Ralts appearing to focus on herself. I must counter before Ralts goes on the attack. "Return, Honedge!" he recalled the sword Pokémon to his Poké Ball. "You're up instead, Seedot!"

"Use Confusion!" Adam commanded.

Right as the acorn Pokémon appeared on the field, Ralts' horn appeared to glow as Seedot was strongly knocked back by a nearly invisible force, depleting almost half of its HP.

"Was Seedot just attacked telekinetically? That must've been a critical attack," Ivan noted as Seedot recovered a small amount of health from the grassy terrain.

"Now what?" Adam provoked him. "Use Confusion again!"

I have to take advantage of the healing powers of the Grassy Terrain while I can. "Use Bide!" Ivan cried out to Seedot. The acorn Pokémon began to bide her energy as it was hit with a somewhat weaker telekinetic attack. The grassy terrain once again healed her before disappearing from the battlefield.

Adam understood well what Ivan's strategy was. "No, you don't. Use Thunder Wave!"

Another bolt of electricity was released, but Seedot was able to sidestep the attack, causing it to miss its target. "Yes, great dodge Seedot! And without Grassy Terrain, you can't recover from this attack. Now let him have it!"

Seedot unleashed a barrage of pink energy, colliding against Ralts in waves. However, the damage was less than significant. Adam breathed a sigh of relief. "You didn't sponge enough damage. Use Confusion!"

Without warning, Ralts sent out another telekinetic Confusion attack, which was starting to catch up to Seedot's health. In response, Seedot shook its head to drop a cup of juice, drinking out of the attached straw and fully recovering her health, hopping in happiness. "That's okay. Seedot's Berry Juice should give it another chance. Use Bide again!"

Before Adam could have a chance to change attack commands, Seedot was hit with yet another mental attack as she began to bide energy again.

Adam saw an opportunity. "The same thing again. Thunder Wave!"

Ralts released yet another bolt of electricity towards Seedot's head, but Seedot was learning Ralts' movements well and dodged again, rolling off to the side closer to her opponent.

"Another dodge?" Adam couldn't believe his double miss.

"This is the end!" Ivan yelled as Ralts was hit with more waves of pink energy, kicking up dirt in front of Adam. His determination, however, remained undaunted. "Double Team!"

Rather than fall to the attack, Ralts began to move rapidly, making illusory copies of itself and greatly confusing Ivan and Seedot, not just because her evasiveness rose, but because they could not believe Ralts' resilience.

"That still wasn't enough?" Alexis mirrored his thoughts.

Kanu checked his Trainer Tech, noting the damage Ralts was taking. "From what I'm reading, Ralts is receiving less than half of her total HP as damage for each Bide."

Kaguon, however, was familiar with this outcome. "Adam is careful not to let Seedot sponge too much damage. Instead, he's attempting to paralyze Seedot to prevent his Bide from ever succeeding."

"Yeah, ha, who would let Seedot take all that damage?" Alexis twiddled her fingers as she looked away from Kaguon, doing well to remember her falling for Bide's effects earlier.

"And now with Double Team, Ralts' evasiveness has risen. He's finding an alternative method to avoid Bide," Kanu added.

Even if I could get another Bide off, there are too many factors working against me at this point. I must change strategies with my other fresh Pokémon. "Seedot, return! I'll send out my third Pokémon: Rowlet!"

As Seedot returned to Ivan's Poké Ball, the young owl Pokémon appeared, crying in dedication to serving his trainer.

"Confusion!" Adam responded.

Rowlet appeared to be more sensitive to the telekinetic attack with his softer body, but it did not appear to do significant damage either, leaving Ivan a chance to attack. "Use Peck!"

"Evade it!" Adam hoped that Ralts would be able to follow suit with Seedot's dodging, and as a result, Ralts prepared to slide away from a flying Rowlet, but as Rowlet turned, he flapped his wings to kick up dirt into Ralts, blinding it momentarily for Rowlet to close in with a fresh Peck attack, knocking the exhausted Psychic Pokémon out.

"Great job, Rowlet!" Ivan cried out as the owl Pokémon flew into the air to gain air superiority.

"Thank you, Ralts." As the white Pokémon returned, Adam stared at Ivan, realizing that he was no longer the timid boy that grew up in the shadow of his father. "I suppose you only have one last hurdle to overcome. Let's go, Bellsprout!"

As the vine Pokémon danced in the presence of his trainer, Ivan realized he still held the typing advantage. "Perfect. Keep using Peck!"

"Vine Whip!"

Rowlet folded his wings and dove into peck Bellsprout's head, but immediately after a successful aerial dive, Bellsprout whipped Rowlet back into the air with his extended arms. However, as Bellsprout began to retract his vines, Rowlet grabbed onto one of the vines with his wings, pulling Rowlet back in for a second time.

Adam and Ivan both realized the result as Rowlet closed in for another peck. "I win," Ivan declared as Bellsprout fell.

"Awesome recovery, Ivan!" Alexis cheered.

Adam recalled Bellsprout as Ivan walked up to him, sighing as he admitted defeat. "Congratulations, Ivan. You have bested me through and through."

"Thank you, but something still doesn't feel right. Does beating me make me a good peacekeeper? Do I even deserve the title, even if I'm the strongest in the village now?"

"Yes, you do! Yes, you do!" Alexis repeated as Kaguon walked up to the two villagers with the other two teens in tow.

"The choice is yours, Ivan," Kaguon said blatantly.

Ivan stayed silent before Adam spoke up. "Let me show you one final thing: something in the village's Gracidea flowers. Excuse us, Lady Kaguon, we will only be a few minutes."

As the villagers began to disperse, some in shock, some in happiness, and some in sadness, Ivan and Adam walked toward the northern outskirts of the village back toward the elemental stone slab. Kanu turned back to Kaguon as they let the two villagers go. "What are Gracidea flowers?"

Kaguon stared at Ivan's departure, fixated on him and the sage. "Something that only they should know."

When the two villagers reached the elemental stone slab, they climbed above the slab on a rugged hill edge to reach a multi-colored flower field, many appearing to die from the colder air of the late summer. Ivan turned to Adam. "What's so special about the Gracidea flowers? I mean, they're pretty, but I've visited them a thousand times."

"Tell me, Ivan, what are you grateful for?"

He thought for a moment. "I suppose…I'm grateful for being able to have a beautiful village to call home, a father who I can continue to fight with, even in death, my healthy brother who is discovering himself, and everyone in the village who has helped me become the person I am now."

"All excellent things. But are you familiar with what they all have in common?" Adam said as he pointed to the center of the field.

Rustling among the short flowers was a white hedgehog creature shaking the green grass-like fur on its back. Ivan was able to identify two attached pink flowers on its body, appearing like the Gracidea flowers.

"Is that a Pokémon?" Ivan asked.

"When I know that someone is destined to leave the village and find themselves, Shaymin always appears to send a message."

"What's the message?"

Adam motioned his head to Shaymin, which began to gather up green energy that appeared vaguely like those from the effect of Grassy Terrain. However, the volume of energy was to a blinding degree. Ivan began to shield his face from the light before Shaymin exploded an incredible shock wave of seed flares, causing both Ivan and Adam to stumble backward. As if on cue, all the dying Gracidea flowers in the field were infused with new life and appeared in full bloom.

In the new bloom of the flowers, Shaymin began to infuse the energy of the flowers, transforming its body. The Pokémon began to grow taller into a slender, canine appearance. The fur on its back became a mohawk and the pink flowers transformed into a red flower petal. Its head also grew flat, with white ears resembling wings. As the Gracidea completed their new bloom, Shaymin began to turn and fly away from the field, looking at Ivan. He turned to see Shaymin flying off into the freeing winds and open sky blanketing the Sigma region, leaving behind new life in the flowers. Ivan stared in shock as he began to understand.

Adam patted him on the back. "Go and enjoy the life you've been given. We'll be here when you come home." This was enough to cause Ivan to weep as he fell into the arms of the sage, with all his bottled-up emotions crashing onto the person that watched him grow for seventeen years.

A short while later, Ivan finished packing all his items in his hut, overstuffing his bag before walking out and seeing every member of the small village crowding around him, as Adam, Kaguon, Kanu, and Alexis watched the villagers embrace him.

"I'm going to miss you, Ivan," said a young girl with curly black hair.

"I know, Ivory," he held her, trying to keep his emotions in check.

A tall man with platinum blond hair tightly gripped Ivan's hand in a well-known handshake between the two of them. "Say hello to your brother for me."

"Will do, Orchid," he said before patting him on the back.

Finally, it was Adam's turn to walk forward, gripping Ivan's right hand with both of his. "Your parents would be very proud. And they'll always be with you," he said before giving the teen one final embrace.

"Thank you, Adam. For everything."

"Good luck in the tournament and for finding Keith. We wish you well."

As they broke their embrace, Ivan started to walk over to Kaguon. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, a soft sympathy in her voice.

Ivan took a deep breath. "Yes." He turned to wave back to the village as Kaguon, Kanu, and Alexis waved back with him. "Goodbye, everyone!"

The villagers all said their final goodbyes as the group began to descend the hill, the village gradually becoming out of sight. Adam watched Ivan leave the village once again, wishing that the next time he returned would be with good news.

Ivan felt the same as he released Honedge and slung its strap over his shoulder, preparing to re-enter the forest wilds and make their way down to ground level by the river. "Hey, Ivan. Are you feeling okay?" Kanu looked over to see Ivan's serious expression.

Ivan smiled at him. "How is that an introduction to your little party going on?"

Kanu breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the budding of a mutual camaraderie between new traveling partners. He tapped his shoulder. "Welcome to the team, Ivan."

Alexis turned her head back as they continued to walk. "Only temporarily though. I can't have you finding out all my strategies throughout the whole tournament."

"Likewise," Ivan said as he double-tapped Honedge's sword hilt.

Kaguon smiled at the three finding common ground despite their differences. "I'll escort you three back to Route 2. After that, you'll be on your own."

"Thank you so much for everything, Kaguon," Kanu bowed out of respect and admiration.

"Yes, thank you," Alexis added.

"Happy to help my fellow trainers. Who knows, maybe I'll see one of you on the field of battle at the end of the tournament," Kaguon said as she motioned to the Trainer Tech around her arm.

The three teens pointed to themselves and simultaneously said: "Yeah, me!" They then immediately turned to each other, annoyed at each other's declaration. "Who said it'll be you?" they again said simultaneously as they continued to work their way down the hill.

While the events at the Village of the Plains unfolded, a busy Marcus was standing on the shallow end of the Beta Riverbank, watching as Froakie trained its Bubble attack against rocks on shore before calling it a day. "I think that's enough training for today, Froakie. We should probably start looking for an open campsite."

He motioned for Marcus to follow him back to shore, but as he approached the rocky shoreline, he jammed his right foot into a jagged edge on the riverbed, wincing in pain as a small cut opened and a small streak of blood flowed down the river. "What did I step on?" he yelled before cursing under his breath.

As he knelt, he noticed that the culprit was a bizarre rock with markings that appeared to unnaturally jet out of the ground. He attempted to pull it out but could hardly move it. "Froakie, can you help pull this out?" he cried out to his Pokémon.

The two of them struggled for around a minute, pushing, and pulling in sync as they eventually pulled the rock out of the riverbed. Marcus walked to the shore to tend to his foot before looking at the rock. "It's a fossil. It almost looks like the one that bookworm has with the helix pattern."

More specifically, the fossil pattern resembled a spiral shell jetting out of the rock. Much to Marcus' surprise, the fossil exuded a potent energy. "Something's off about this. It feels…almost alive." He paused for a moment before discrediting himself. "Nah, I must be going crazy."

But the lingering feeling would not go away. The fossil with the helix pattern continued to mesmerize Marcus with its mystical energy. Eventually, he gave in. "Alright fine. Hey, fossil, which direction is the next town?"

Immediately after asking his question, a strong gust of wind blew in from the west, blowing parallel to the path of the route that bordered the riverbank. "That must be the direction of the route. Does this fossil hold some mystic power?" he asked aloud as he stared at the fossil. He had no reason at present to deny this possibility. "You know what? I'm going to find out."

As the wind continues to blow, Element's Flabébé floats in the wind's embrace with an untroubled heart. The Flabébé reaches Marcus' path, and he turns to see Element silently observing from the wetlands. She recommends to Marcus that he not exert so much effort to get every single Pokémon or Pokémon fossil he can find, but rather focus on training the Pokémon that are right in front of him. Marcus scoffs at hating that ideology and walks away, while Element smirks knowing he's no competition for her.

As the sun began to set in the west and the pink twilight sky began to appear, Marcus and Froakie were walking down the route and looking for a place to pitch a tent, while the relentless wind kept blowing. "Why can't I have a way to predict the weather? I'm going to have windburn in the morning," Marcus complained as he continued to hold the fossil.

"That's a shame," a familiar girl's voice said.

Marcus looked to his left just as another strong gust of wind blew a Pokémon past him, floating in the wind's embrace with an untroubled heart. The small Pokémon was a Flabébé, falling next to Element's feet, who was leaning against a tree bordering the route.

Froakie jumped in front of Marcus as he pulled out another Poké Ball. "Are you looking for a fight?"

She casually stretched her arms, paying his provocation no mind. "Not really. Flabébé just happened to cross your path." She looked at the rock that he was now gripping with his left arm. "Say, why do you have that fossil?"

"It's for a collection," he gripped it tighter.

Element whipped her head to push back one of her caramel blond high pigtails. "Oh, you're one of those trainers, are you?"

"What are you insinuating?"

"Trainers like you care more about collecting Pokémon and fossils than creating strong teams with a focus on specific Pokémon. All the Pokémon you catch merely become box fodder instead of incredible, destructive, and competitive Pokémon."

Marcus gripped his Poké Ball tighter as Froakie crouched and prepared to pounce. "Well, how about I show you my box fodder and make you eat those words?"

Element, however, could sense Marcus' deep-rooted fear of her strength. She was able to see it right in his eyes. "I can sense your hesitation. You know you can't win. Why don't you come back when you've built a strong team?"

Marcus gritted his teeth, realizing her observation was not unfounded, especially considering his first-hand account of her Pokémon's capabilities. He lowered his Poké Ball, causing even Froakie to look back at him in surprise. "Then I'll be sure to humiliate you in the arenas."

As Marcus walked away, Element spoke aloud to herself, knowing that he couldn't hear her. "Not that you'd ever be competition for me in the first place. All these trainers that aren't fully devoted to their Pokémon are about to get a rude awakening," she crowed as Flabébé floated next to her.