POKEMON LEAGUE, SECURITY DEPARTMENT.
The wooden double doors to the department were thrown open, allowing three people to stride through with impunity. The sudden entrance was enough to draw attention, but workers in the administration building were staring at just who came through - Lance the dragon master, Koga who was one of his elite four and Karen, the top of his elite four.
They strode through the office space, passing cubicles of workers who sorted and organised the efforts of the regulating officials who kept and presided over the affairs of the Pokemon League. To the more superior figures within the department, which was few, they especially widened their eyes as they saw the leader of the notorious G-men march through. Secretive, and answering only to Lance and the higher-ups of the Pokemon League, the G-men was the League's answer to making problems disappear.
For the leader of such an organisation to be here meant something was afoot.
The three governmental task force figures reached the corridor at the back of the administration building which served to house the offices of the managers of the department, and its leader, who walked out to meet them. Pushing open his own door and stepping out to stand in the corridor, Red Ketchum slid his hat down on his head to complete the iconic image that he had become. Dressed in the usual red trousers and zip-top that had been such an image for more than twenty years now, the Pokemon master merely awaited the three figures coming down the corridor towards him with hands in his pocket.
It was only thanks to the League strangling his official levels of influence and power that Lance held a higher position of authority than him as Champion. He didn't owe respect towards anyone.
The three Johto Pokemon trainers eventually stopped a few metres from Red, the Pokemon master looking just as sharply back at them as they looked to him. Silence reigned for a few moments before a couple of what were obviously senior personnel walked up to Red and spoke to him.
"Sir, is everything alright?" One of them asked, a senior manager from what Lance could observe from their uniform, which seemed to be that of a more proactive person with overalls and a fluorescent vest. They clearly organised the more active and travelling side of operations.
Red just gave them a sideways glance before turning his eyes back to Lance. "Things are just fine." He answered with a level tone. "The Johto Champion here was just going to explain where he got the audacity to storm into my department unannounced."
Lance just held his head higher as he was addressed, and then began the proceedings. "Red Ketchum." He started. "I would like a word with you, privately in your office please."
Red raised an eyebrow. "And what is wrong with you just telling me what you want, here and now? If it was something important and official, you would've phoned ahead, Lance. So, if it's not that, what's wrong?"
Lance didn't bat an eyelid at Red's subtle, scathing tone as he just leant a bit more forwards towards the Pokemon Master and lowered his voice. "I think what's wrong, Red, is a whole multitude of concerns and mysteries revolving around you, your criminal activities and your son. So if you want this to continue in public, then by all means, continue."
For his part, Red only raised an eyebrow as he didn't let Lance see what thoughts had been provoked by that - but as a man of practicality, he would not let his vanity get in the way of what was actually for the best. "Very well." He agreed. "In here."
The two parties entered the office, filling it up to a high capacity in the small space with six persons, as Red settled into the chair at the desk with his two managers stood either side - as Lance and Karen settled into the two opposite chairs with Koga still standing. Taking a glance at the dragon master, Red just awaited the start of this confrontation - because that's what it was. And he didn't have to wait long.
"Make your two managers leave, Red." Lance instructed. "This will be a private meeting between the four of us."
Red only chuckled as he leant back into his seat, making himself comfortable. "No, I don't think I will, Wataru." Red denied with a shake of his head. "You brought along a couple of your lap-dogs, so I think it's only fair that I'm entitled to keeping a couple of mine in the room."
Karen appeared flabbergasted by the statement, blue eyes widening at the description of her position, as Koga narrowed his own shrewdly in thought. The man was more surprised at the calm manner in which the senior managers of the security department handled the same description being applied to them. They did nothing - absolutely nothing.
Lance did nothing either. He had been on the receiving end of Red's blunt mannerisms before. "This involves allegations against you, Red." Lance warned, trying to convince the Pokemon master in a low tone of voice. "This is a very private matter."
"And these managers have been cleared to hear of classified events, details and affairs of the League under their jurisdiction of the security department." Red replied back smartly, pointing to one of the managers with his thumb. "Since you have not brought these so-called 'allegations' in on a court order, or better yet, in front of the court, then they will be just fine here. This is an unofficial meeting, and I do not appreciate your pathetic attempt to control and intimidate this conversation because you've got two dogs beside you at your beck and call. No matter if these allegations include my son or not, I trust these two managers enough."
A bristle from Karen besides the dragon master showed just how close she was to snapping just a minute into sitting down in Red's office, but a sharp glance from Lance silenced the retort in her throat. To antagonise the Pokemon master would either just give him more ammunition, or actually push him. And the last thing Lance wanted to do in that moment was to push the known criminal that they had no official evidence to convict with yet.
All they had was the word of some information broker that had been wiped out and rumours. The disturbing part to the dragon master was just how much more of Red's activities the rumours hinted at - like the information brokers had only managed to get onto the tip of the iceberg. If it was true at how much Red had entrenched himself in the criminal underworld and the lengths he went to in order to keep it hidden, then Lance did not want to push it. They were the world's foremost active operators in delving into the continent's criminals and solving the problems they arose. Thus, they had access to the avenues that Red had obviously entrenched himself into - and all they'd found was rumours.
He was not a man to test with insults and anger, no matter how much his slouched stature disrespected his compatriots. But Lance did know enough about psychology to know that Red's patience could most certainly withstand being tested with questions.
"Very well, Red, let's get this over with." Lance stated, moving on with the conversation. "I'm here for information."
"Of what kind?" Red asked in a simple, innocent voice that both men knew was false. "You have a higher clearance level than me to access information, so I don't know what you need from me."
"Let us not pretend, Red." Lance spat at the man, adjusting his posture to become even more rigid, his bigger stature enabling him to look down slightly at the smaller Pokemon master, even as they were sitting.
However, Red looked like he could care less for the subtle intimidation tactics. "Pretend what, Lance?" Red countered calmly. He knew for a fact that the Johto Champion had only rumours and lacking information on him - his own assets told him so. So, in all honesty, he was looking forward to finding out what Lance had to say on this confrontation, where things seemed to be getting tense - and blunt.
"Let us not pretend about the fact that you've spent two billion Pokedollars in the Johto black market, that the butchering of some of the intelligence personnel I have on file doesn't lead back to you; and that you aren't involved in the criminal underworld, Red." Lance stated in all seriousness, his gaze never wavering from the Pokemon Master. "Not to mention scores of other things, like past myths of criminal teams and abuse of your position. And, last but not least, the fact that you're involved with my apprentice, your son, in a way I know I'm not going to like."
If the man was being honest with himself, he had been surprised somewhat by the Johto Champion straight out stating what he knew and accused Red with. It was not how the dragon master worked - as head of the international government task force, who often did quite a bit of fieldwork himself; Lance was a man of certainty. He gathered evidence, made sure to follow up links and concerns personally if need be, and it even showed on the battlefield when even if he faced a stronger opponent, a lot of the time he still managed to gain control. Thus, Red had expected this confrontation, but what was unexpected was the manner in which the Johto Champion went about it - it just wasn't his style.
He looked forward to what Lance was going to say, and that was because he was a man who actively was challenging him. Red was not one to turn down a challenge. He was already winning, from the sounds of it, given how if he had to confront him outside of his usual methods of doing things - Lance truly had little evidence on him.
Red just looked back. Lance could tell the man was thinking deeply about the topics he had literally just dropped like a bomb - not because Red showed it, but because that would be what any human would do when sitting in silence.
"And what exactly do you want me to say to these... allegations, Lance?" Red questioned as he broke the silence. "Surely you didn't come here, expecting me to just admit or divulge information on matters you hardly have evidence for."
"Oh, but I have evidence, Red." Lance replied, merely making the Pokemon Master look curiously at him. "I have evidence."
A sheet of paper was put on the desk which Red looked curiously over, the two managers either side of him taking cursory glances too, before Red just gazed back to Lance with an unimpressed expression. Lance did have evidence on him after all, but it was still in his favour - he'd been laughed at by the Pokemon League based on the credibility of what he'd brought to them, after all. "A damning sheet of paper, by all means, Lance." Red stated as he tossed the paper back onto the desk with a theatrical gesture. "But for one thing - context." Red continued as he leaned forward onto the desk, pointing at Lance. "It would never stand up in court since you can't prove where it came from, and that piece of context is entirely necessary to prove that that documentation is legitimate."
And just like that, Lance got the main thing he needed from this meeting.
Proof, to him at least, that Red acknowledged what was happening, the challenge between them. That the two men were playing the game. It did nothing officially, nothing had changed in that Lance knew Red was a criminal, but it did get Red to subtly confirm to him that he was, indeed, up to what he had been accused of. All through the simple fact that he didn't just deny it as a normal person would do. It confirmed that Red would not employ any unsavoury tricks against him, such as to cover up the investigation, if he was willing to admit it. That was what Lance had been hoping for.
But it was also the manner in which Red had done it. He may have indirectly confirmed to Lance that he was a criminal by stating Lance had no way to prove its context, which he would only know if he had been the part of the operation to get rid of the witnesses and evidence in Goldenrod City. However, it was that which also provided a dual purpose - by being able to read between the lines and reminding Lance of said operation, Red had provided a warning.
Red would not do anything against him if it continued like this. But it was a warning that either Lance would get no closer, or Red would not let him get any closer.
"Just because you're the Pokemon Master, Red, doesn't mean you know everything." Lance spoke in a tone of retaliatory warning, prompting said Pokemon master to raise an eyebrow.
"On the contrary, Lance." Red spoke in a chilling tone, his face taking on a serious stature that seemed unusual for the man, even for one as reclusive as him. "It is you who has no idea what you're getting into."
"What do you mean by that?" Koga questioned sharply, drawing Red's eyes to him without actually turning his head. Like he wasn't worth the effort of paying full attention to.
A cigarette was placed in Red's mouth as the Pokemon Master drew out the silence, before shaking the match he held to extinguish the flame upon it and then finally giving the ninja-like gym leader his attention. "You take that as you will." He answered simply.
The eyes of the gym leader twinkled furiously at Red, who merely exhaled some smoke in his direction and found it amusing that nobody commented about the certainly illegal utilisation of nicotine within an indoor public building. It was going mostly as he wanted it too.
"Vague statements will only further our suspicion of you, Red." Lance informed him calmly as he drew the conversation back upon himself.
Red just exhaled on his cigarette before calmly speaking. "Just because I've been pushed to lead a department of glorified checklist operators who do none of the actual planning but all of the work, doesn't mean I'll be pushed around. You've got all I said before on file, and I refuse to say anything to these allegations with such weak bases of evidence - furthermore, you can't make me say anything without a warrant as that would be a breach of rights." A small smirk touched upon Red's lips as he stared directly at Lance. "And trust me, Champion. I know my rights."
Lance merely looked at Red for a few seconds more before asking the final question upon the topic. "So you will truly say nothing more upon this matter?"
The cigarette in the Pokemon master's hand was tapped into the ashtray on the desk to get rid of the excess as Red just nodded. "Nothing," He confirmed.
A frustrated grunt escaped the dragon master with that, but it wasn't like the Johto Champion hadn't expected it. Instead, he allowed Karen to ask his next question for him, giving him time to think. "And what of your son, Ash Ketchum?" She asked softly. "How are you connected to him now?"
There was no point being subtle in their questioning, to try and somehow 'trick' the Pokemon master that they knew would see right through any such attempts. As such, their inquiry stuck to the same method they'd utilised ever since they'd walked in - directly questioning Red upon it. It got straight to the purpose of what they had come for, and the psychological nature of how each side was judging one another allowed for the deeper connections to be potentially revealed. An example of that included Red not flat out denying his involvement, though the purpose of why he would do that eluded Lance.
Red gave a hum as he leant back in his chair. "Ah yes, Ash..." Red spoke then in a musing tone, before looking to Karen. "I hear he's doing well for himself, these days."
"Answer the question, Red." Koga kept the topic focused with a sharp tone of voice.
A drift of his eyes to look at the gym leader only out of their corners once more occurred, before the man shrugged. "I guess I could say I care about the boy, but I'm not in his life now anymore. I have no connection with him, and to be honest, it's probably better it stays that way." He answered simply.
Lance took that information in before raising an eyebrow. "You seem to care enough that you lost your cool in front of Leaf about a comment involving your son in Saffron City." He commented, seemingly idly.
"Heard about that, did you? No surprise there, I guess." Red muttered, his eyes flashing with annoyance before he jabbed the cigarette in Lance's direction. "I don't like to be reminded of mistakes, Lance. Let's put it that way."
"I suppose that incident can be explained." Lance spoke, before pressing forward. "But what about your visit in the hospital?"
Both men immediately knew what had been mentioned, even if the other four occupants of the room each were slightly lost at the context. Red took his time to smoke on the cigarette to mull over what was possibly the most challenging question yet, given how he could tell from the analytical look in Lance's eye that he knew of some details. This was the question that would sell to Lance just how far Red was going.
So, Red directly bullshitted him.
"Paying my final respects." He responded, with a sincere sounding tone to his voice. "To what was my final meeting, before I accepted I could play no more of a role to somebody who wasn't listening anyway."
Lance's eye gleamed, and Red had to actually fight to hide his smirk as soon as he saw that behind a fresh inhalation on his cigarette. The dragon master's tactics had not changed ever since he'd come into the room with his direct questioning, but Red had changed his. His ambiguous answers had turned into what was a direct denial - with the context of the hospital visit two years ago cementing it between them. Lance knew Red had visited Ash - and Ash had been listening given how it could be no coincidence that Ash awakens at the same time the door lock to his room jams.
To Lance, it showed him some of the depths that Red had gone to, with a direct denial of no connection on the surface appearing to be a definite answer to the other four - but to the two of them, it was known to be a lie. To Red, it made their little game all the more interesting.
"If that is all..." Red spoke in a slow manner, eyes staring into Lance's own to get across his seriousness. "You can leave now."
Lance said nothing for a moment, before just shaking his head. "No, there will be one last thing for us to discuss, Red." The Johto Champion stated with a neutral tone. "Tell me of aura."
Out of everything that had been mentioned in that meeting, that had surprised Red the most. Lance confronting him was to be expected, he had planned on it after all. Mentioning his son was not something he had planned for, but it was hardly surprising in reality given how Ash was the man's apprentice. To be blunt about his criminal activities was a little surprising.
This? The mention of aura had made Red's expression falter for a moment, even if it was but to allow a sliver of surprise to cross his face before his eyes narrowed. His emotions had come out, even for the briefest of moments, and that was an error that he could not allow. A blunder with the faction could be planned for, it could be corrected - there was room for such a thing - but there was no room for mistakes with an adversary like Lance. It was not that he could instantly take him down, but with the sheer amount of resources Lance had through the Pokemon League, whilst Red was still building up his own, it could be a crippling error.
"What Blue told you a while back is enough information, Lance." Red stated with a quiet tone. "All that needs to be known - is known."
Lance merely tilted his head back a bit to scan the face of the Pokemon master all the better, before playing his information. "The Aura Temple in Rota will not open, Red. We need to know more."
Red merely lifted an eyebrow a few millimetres. "Are you going to tell me why?"
"No." Came the instant answer, resolution filling the voice of the dragon master. "That, is none of your concern, Red."
"Then we have nothing more to say on this subject." Red responded, finality dripping from his own tone. "Considering that my business is therefore none of your concern."
Quiet descended upon the office then for a few moments, before Lance abruptly stood up - followed by his two compatriots. "Thank you, Red." Lance stated with an apathetic tone that showed how insincere his thanks were. "Your answers were most helpful." Karen looked slightly questioning to her champion at that, but Lance paid it no heed as the three of them then left the room.
As the door swung closed and it was just the three foundation personnel left over in the room, Red merely inclined his hand to the person on the left who leant forwards to better hear their leader. "Send a message to Valentin." Red ordered with a level tone as he flicked away his expended cigarette. "Purge all unnecessary means of acquisition from criminal means and instead begin full scale production of materials at installations one through four. Acquire all necessary funds and resources from the front companies, there should be enough of them."
The manager on the right frowned. "Can I ask why, sir? It's undoubtedly cheaper through the black market for such resources."
Red merely let out a chuckle as he leant back. "But the problem is we're relying on criminal scum to supply us. It's unreliable and I won't have it anymore. If our plans are to succeed, then I need reassurance that I won't be stabbed in the back when the timing is critical, either by them or Lance in case he finds out." He casually let out, before chuckling once more. "Besides, we'll see how Lance reacts when there's a huge ripple on the criminal network. It'll send him further into his paranoia."
The manager on the left looked confused. "Whilst we may get much more production, sir, what would we do with it all? We'd have more within just three months than the whole faction could use, given current states of equipment and projections of future supply."
"Oh, now that's simple." Red spoke as he just waved a hand to his left. "We're stockpiling."
"Stockpiling?" The manager asked, seemingly more confused now. "But-"
All further questioning was silenced as Red drove his combat knife into his work desk, making both personnel flinch as Red's face became indifferent. "While I have not conditioned my personnel to be mindless drones, nor do I have the patience to be questioned on everything." He almost growled, before the knife, easily embedded inches thick into the desk, was snatched out easily with a simple flick of the man's wrist. Smoothly standing up and beginning to leave, Red merely gave a hand gesture to dismiss his soldiers. "Such matters stay between me and my son."
Moving into the corridor, and then shoulder-charging a fire exit door to step into the cool, evening air, Red merely took a breath, but ignored the craving in his lungs for another cigarette. Just because he could heal the damage didn't mean he should do it too often. Instead, he merely pulled out his Pokegear.
Dialling a number, he merely put the device to his ear and leant against the outside staircase railing he was on. After just a few deep, audible pulses in the machine, a voice picked up. "Hello, you are now speaking to the Kanto connection corporation helpline, how may I help you today?"
"Yes, I'd like to order a lightbulb please." Red spoke strangely. The request certainly wouldn't be one that matched the services of the biggest communication corporation within Kanto, but he did it several times a week.
"Certainly sir." The voice responded, well versed in the request by now. "And how many would you like to order?"
"2659." Red spoke slowly then, allowing the phone worker on the other end of the phone to enter the code into their computer, before the phone line immediately began pulsing again as it was redirected.
"Please enter your clearance details now." An automated voice instead took over the line, prompting Red to remove the device from his ear and spend a minute typing away into the keypad. "Please hold." It stated simply once he'd done, pulsing once more.
"Hello?" An elderly masculine voice took over then. "Who is this? I don't know how you got my phone details but whoever down in administration leant you them is going to regret it. I made it very clear I'm to be disturbed as little as possible-"
"I'll disturb you as much as I like, Charon." Red spoke, amused into the line then as he cut off the elderly doctor from his ranting once he'd gotten his entertainment from it.
"Oh, boss. Sorry, I didn't know it was you." Charon's voice came down the line, the embarrassment clear.
Red just ignored the previous words and moved on. "Listen, I've got new orders that all inactive teams are to take as soon as possible." He instructed, before pausing to take in a deep breath as he thought.
"...And what would that be, sir?" Charon urged, picking up on his superior's pause.
Red just let out a chuckle. "Simple. Every criminal syndicate, group or individual that we do business with, that is no longer needed, are to be dealt with. I want them gone. Engage the flush protocol. Coordinate with Valentin, I sent him a message."
With that, Red snapped shut the Pokegear.
CERULEAN GYM.
The battlefield in the Cerulean City gym was much larger than that of Pewter City. The pool itself was at least fifty metres long and fifteen metres wide, with the first ten metres at each end of the pool being shallow enough for an average adult to stand with the top half of their torso above the water. The depths of the pool showed off its purpose that it had been designed for - small Pokemon battles, and as a setting for water shows.
That was the blue pool itself, which was situated slap bang in the middle of the huge, cavernous space of the rounded room they were in. Three of the walls were taken up by wooden stands for people to sit on, with Ash and Paul walking out in the remaining side from the metal stairs to the battlefield. The open glass roof above them allowed a large stream of sunlight and fresh air to enter the gym, which at noon was now directly over the battlefield setting.
A referee for the match had fortunately been available, as seen now by the officially uniformed League worker standing on a podium on the left side of the pool. "If Paul Shinji could please take the first match of two scheduled battles!" The referee called out.
"Well, that's my call." Paul grunted out as he prepared to walk out, but Ash clapped him on the back with an eye-smile.
"Good luck out there, Paul." Ash wished to Paul, who just looked to him before smirking.
"I don't need luck, Ash." He replied. "I've got somebody with a grudge to beat." With that, the purple-haired trainer began walking off.
Synergy watched with a keen eye as Paul stepped up to the opposite side of the pool that
"The battle between Misty Waterflower, the gym leader of Cerulean Gym, and the challenger Paul Shinji of Twinleaf Town will now commence!" The referee announced as they crossed the two red flags they carried together in a typical dramatic pose. "The standard rules of the gym will apply. This will be a 2v2 battle, with only the challenger being allowed to substitute their Pokemon and the battle only ending once all Pokemon on one side has been knocked out or surrendered!"
Bringing down their flags, the referee announced the start of the first match. "Begin!"
"Standby for battle, Snorunt." Paul called out as he tossed the Pokeball he'd fished out onto his side of the battlefield, making a white haze erupt from the capture device with red energy within it coalescing to form the triangular frost Pokemon.
"Staryu, win us the battle!" Misty reciprocated Paul's action as a large, brown starfish with a golden centre and a crimson jewel set into the core of the centre emerged from her own Pokeball.
Paul snorted as he saw Misty point directly into the water, enacting upon the obvious environment advantage she had in the water gym. "Staryu, dive into the water!" The orange-haired teen yelled.
The Sinnoh trainer merely looked to his triangular Pokemon as he quickly snapped out a command of his own. "Icy wind." He ordered calmly, before looking back to the brown starfish Pokemon which had only just leapt up. Given the nature of certain Pokemon, starfish Pokemon had typically adapted over their lives to rapidly spin themselves to gain speed for both jumps and swimming - which meant they had to jump first, giving Paul time.
The white speckled wind move slammed into the starfish as it was but a split second from embracing the surface of the pool as it was airborne, dealing some super effective damage before managing to slip into the water. Misty frowned, slightly troubled at what was a surprising opening move employed so quickly, before just clenching her hand in a dramatic gesture to show her resolve to plough onwards.
"Water pulse!" She commanded loudly.
The excellent hearing of water-type Pokemon underwater shone through, as a large upsurge of water quickly raced out of the water and swamped the side of the pool Snorunt was standing upon. Though the ice type quickly tried to jump back, it was not fast enough in avoiding all of the cascading water, some damage being inflicted on its lower body. This caused Snorunt to land heavily, requiring a second to stand up properly as Paul scowled - seeking to reverse what had happened.
"Ice shard, right into the pool at that starfish!" He snapped out, pointing at the swimming figure of the opposing Pokemon within the water.
The cascade of icy shards that slammed into the water were not heavy damage inflicting projectiles, but instead a rapid fire of smaller ice stones that was perfect for what Paul in mind - making the starfish dodge and stopping it from repeating such water moves. The ultimate goal was to bait it out of the pool, its natural environment, as its attack repertoire would be limited by having to dodge and being in such a dense medium environment in the first place.
Misty fell for it. "Rapid spin, get out of there Staryu!" She yelled out.
The brown starfish hurtled out of the pool with a splash as it took flight - and then angled directly for the ice-type Pokemon as it flew with a vengeance.
"Icy wind." Paul ordered in a countering fashion.
The wind that sprang up was not strong enough to force Staryu off of its flight path, but what did make the starfish fall to the ground was the super effective ice-type damage dealt to it throughout the sparkling white gusts that bombarded it. With a cry, Staryu fell to the ground in pain - right onto the tiled floor of the gym.
"Staryu-" Misty began to speak aloud, as the starfish began struggling to stand, and whether she was going to encourage forth her Pokemon or inquire to its health, the audience wouldn't know. Paul interrupted her with an ultimatum.
"Forfeit the match." He demanded as he put his hands into his pockets and stared directly into the eyes of Misty, who looked back slightly troubled. "Staryu cannot take much more, and this grows boring. All it would take is another use of ice shard."
Looking to her Pokemon, who was trembling, Misty realised he was right. She couldn't tell if Paul had demanded this of her out of mercy for her Pokemon or because he really was bored, but she wasn't about to push her Pokemon further than they should be. With that, a red beam extended from the Pokeball in her hand and sucked the starfish Pokemon back into the capture device.
"The gym leader has surrendered the first round!" The referee announced as their flag was raised to point to Paul's side of the battlefield. "Meaning the victory goes to Paul Shinji! The second round will thus commence upon the reveal of the gym leader's final Pokemon."
Misty wasted no time, already opening up her second Pokeball and revealing the evolved version of the previous starfish - Starmie. A royal purple coloured body adorned the Pokemon, with an intricately detailed crimson jewelled core, which stood up proud before its trainer. Jabbing her finger forth, Misty started the battle. "Start things off with rapid spin, Starmie!"
With a simple emittance of its name, the starfish leapt up into the air and began hurtling towards Snorunt.
"Icy wind." Paul stated bored, finding it getting too repetitive for his tastes.
It would appear that the repetition backfired on him however, as Misty quickly screamed out. "Up!"
The Starmie responded immediately, displaying much more agility than its pre-evolution counterpart as it gained more air by spinning at a different angle and gaining height - completely bypassing the scathing ice move. A simple tilt downwards once more, and the starfish soared without stopping right into its icy opponent. Damaged already from the previous battle, and now facing a tougher opponent in the form of the evolved version of its previous opponent, the result was clear.
"Snorunt is unable to battle!" The referee announced the result of the careering impact, as the starfish just causally walked back to its trainers side, with Misty cheering at her victorious Pokemon. Paul was frowning as he merely recalled his defeated companion back into its Pokeball, before hardening his eyes as Misty sent him a cheesy grin. "Please may the challenger unveil their next Pokemon!"
A grunt escaped Paul as he enlarged the device in his hand, before merely flipping it onto the floor where it opened in an eruption of white light. "Immediate razor leaf!" He raised his voice for the first time as he pointed straight towards the opposing Pokemon that was the source of his frustration then.
His turtle Pokemon didn't let him down for as soon as it appeared out of the white haze with a cry, green projectiles with sharpened edges immediately being flung from its back towards the starfish. It was a rapid move, that Misty knew in the little time she had before it reached her Pokemon would have no chance of dodging its widespread area of effect - nor slip into the water.
"Protect!" She called out one of her last options.
A translucent green barrier sprang up, the move being one of the fastest in the world and so was ready in time for the hailstorm of leaves to batter against it - and hold. Starmie thus remained safe behind it, expending energy at a lower rate than Grotle's fierce concentration in sending so many projectile as accurately as possible.
Paul began a strategy of his as he swept his hand forward to spur on his Pokemon. "Harder! Sustain it!" He called to his Pokemon, who gave off a small cry as the turtle then poured maximum effort into sustaining and strengthening the barrage. The storm of leaves was soon nought but a blur to the audience, making Misty spur on her own Pokemon into sustaining the shield.
"Now!" Paul shouted out as Grotle instantly cut off the withering barrage. "Leach seed!"
Unlike the final rounds of leaves which struck the green, protective barrier in a straight, forward rush, the seed that was lobbed from Grotle's back followed an arcing path of straight up into the air. Then accordingly right down over the protect technique to slam right on top of Starmie who hadn't angled the barrier to protect themselves from above. With a cry of pain, the barrier immediately fell as Starmie had the seed hatch right on one of its limbs, thin tentacles spreading around it and then beginning to sap some of its energy - which was greedily received by Grotle.
Misty scowled at this development, but was far from done. "Use swift, then straight into psychic!"
Paul countered that as he knew his Pokemon would be unable to dodge anything, being significantly more bulky than the agile starfish. "Counter with bullet seed, and as soon as you see any pink, use withdraw immediately."
The yellow stars that were flung across the pool from Misty's side was cross-joined by the small, brown pellets that sprayed from Grotle's mouth, many knocking each other out of the air - but nonetheless a large percentage made it through on both sides. More of the bullet seeds may have been able to cross the water in the clashing streams, but due to their smaller nature dealt less damage - leading to an equalising amount of damage being inflicted on both sides.
Starmie was the first to cut off the attack with a wince, both from the stings of the pellets and mainly from the leach seed once more acting up - before pink energy swirled around its top limb. Seeing that, Grotle followed his trainer's orders to the letter by snapping his jaws shut and retracting his head back into his massive shell as quickly as possible. It was a good thing too, as the pink wisp hit the shell and fizzled outwards, dealing modicum amounts of damage but successfully managing to lower Grotle's special attack stats by a bit.
"Rapid spin!" Came Misty's order, seeking to take full advantage of the temporary disappearance of the turtle Pokemon.
"Stay withdrawn." Paul countered, before smirking slightly as he worked out a sequential plan in his head. "But as soon as you even feel the starfish strike you, begin immediately firing razor leaf at where you think it is. Once your out of your shell, continue firing until I say so."
A grunt emanating from within the shell was the confirmatory answer he received, as Paul saw the purple Pokemon scything through the air with its rapidly spinning limbs. It hurtled right for Grotle, who made no effort to do anything other than brace himself inside the thick shell, and then giving off a groan when the inevitable collision happened. Whilst it did deal damage, it more made Grotle severely uncomfortable from all of the vibrations that sprang out from the impact point on his shell.
It was given no further thought, though, as sharpened leaves instantly began being pelted off of the back of his shell towards the direction of the starfish before his head even started emerging from within the shell. Once it had, however, his aim became much better - and scored direct hits on the flying Starmie who was fleeing back to Misty's side of the pool. The widespread, and much faster barrage of the leaves overcame the agile nature of the starfish who couldn't dodge or weave in such a small space as above a pool, and so damage was dealt.
Misty made sure to minimise the damage taken with a simple order that was much faster than waiting for the starfish to return. "Starmie!" She cried out. "Get into the water!"
The command was easily followed, as Starmie merely tilted herself right down and dived into the water at a steep angle - splashing right into the pool and halting there, awaiting the next command. It would be easy for a person who wasn't a trainer to believe that the starfish would then be much safer in their natural environment, and they would be right. Paul merely just took advantage of the fact that the pool was incredibly shallow, and that the starfish would be unable to dive down deeper into a pool meant entirely for show purposes to avoid his next attack.
"Mega drain." He calmly ordered with a satisfied tone, knowing that this would most likely work. Not only was his Pokemon much more refreshed that their opponent due to the leach seed and his more highly defensive nature, if this worked then the end of the battle would be in firm sight.
What looked like green, energetic essence immediately descended upon the entire pool as Grotle concentrated, before it started to, with increasing speed, be sucked back into the Pokemon's body. The density of the water would've normally blocked such an attack, had it not been for the fact that the water was shallow and thus was susceptible to such a move. Starmie was caught fully in the web of sucking energy, and began to fast lose the energy it needed to battle.
"Get out of the pool, Starmie!" Misty yelled out, a touch of panic in her tone. "Hydro pump point blank!"
Summoning energy from its remaining reserves, the starfish heaved itself out of the pool to find itself caught in the peak crossfire of the draining move, but nonetheless heavily landed on the side of the pool and carried out its orders. A little rearing back of its limbs as a massive inhalation of air occurred, before a flood of water shot out from its centre jewel - point blank in the form of a powerful, twisting geyser right towards Grotle mere metres away.
"Protect." Was the one word Paul stated that completely disregarded the powerful nature of the move. 'Protect' was among the fastest of all moves on the planet, and so proved its worth as the green barrier that sprang up before Grotle held steadfast against the stream of water that pounded right into it, deflecting the geyser and spraying water everywhere back from the Pokemon.
A few seconds occurred of Grotle focusing his energy into he shield before him to hold against the water that the starfish pumped right at him, before Starmie cut off the water as it limbs visibly drooped - both running out of water to throw, and energy. The deal was sealed when Starmie cried out again as the leach seed attached to it glowed once more, stealing away even more of what remained. With a blinking red core in the centre of the starfish which took only a staggering step back, Starmie toppled backwards into the pool, defeated.
The red flag in the referee's hand was raised directly towards Paul as the winner of the match was announced. "Starmie has been knocked out, meaning that gym leader Misty has run out of Pokemon - therefore giving the victory of the battle to Paul of Twinleaf Town!"
Paul stopped striding forward, and merely smirked as he absent-mindedly just rubbed the head of Grotle, who appeared absolutely delighted at the appraising affection. Such an action for a long-time Pokemon of Paul's was not often handed out, and so Grotle basked in it whilst he could. Misty meanwhile, frowned at the initial loss - before giving a small smile as she looked to her defeated Pokemon.
"You did all you could, Starmie." She murmured as she recalled the defeated starfish back into its capture device. "Thank you." Misty then composed herself, and checked upon the other two Pokeballs she was carrying for the next battle she had. Whilst Starmie had been her highest level Pokemon, the other two Pokemon she owned were at a higher standard than her Staryu - and so would hopefully provide an equal standard of opposition that she had given Paul to Ash.
With a slight scowl at the loss having been handed to her by the boy she held a grudge with, Misty silently held over the badge which Paul accepted with an equally silent expression. With that, the Sinnoh trainer recalled Grotle and then walked off, hands in pockets, back to the side of the arena where Ash and Synergy were awaiting. The electronic crimson irises of the robotic Pokemon merely watched him, as it was Ash that congratulated.
"Well done, Paul." Ash stated as he nodded to him. "Grotle certainly performed well against the gym leader's strongest Pokemon."
The purple-haired trainer gave a hum at that, before merely smirking and closing his eyes slightly. "If I didn't need luck, Ash." Paul spoke. "Then you should win this easy, considering who you're the apprentice of."
"Incorrect." Synergy intoned as she crossed her arms, looking at Paul with a corrective glance that dared him to speak back. "Gym leaders all have a minimum of two years of experience, according to League regulations and mandates. They are all have more experience and strategies, only limited to a more fair playing field by the forced utilisation of weaker Pokemon."
It was Ash that spoke up instead. "Not her." He stated. "Misty is using her own Pokemon."
"..." Synergy stayed quiet as she assimilated that piece of information, instead allowing Paul to voice her curiosity as he asked.
"How'd you know that?" He questioned with a side glance to Ash. "Don't get me wrong, she's not breaking any of these stupid 'regulations' as her Pokemon are at an acceptable standard for the level of battling, but how'd you know she's using her own instead of the gym's?"
"Simple." Ash answered. "It's all on her public trainer profile. She only began battling as a gym leader a few months ago, but that's enough time for her personal pool of Pokemon to become known as she regularly uses them. The main team of a gym would be a higher level, and have been either battling for years or done extreme amounts of training. None of which she could use in terms of fairness as one of the lower level gyms."
Paul grunted, before shrugging. "Whatever, you're up now anyway." He stated with a final tone. "Don't take too long."
Looking over, Ash saw they were indeed ready for his battle as the pool had been cleared up of all the spilled water everywhere and Misty stood waiting for him, foot tapping with Pokeball in hand. His name was written on the board on the wall, with a fresh 0-0 besides each opponent. A short walk over to the side of the pool Paul had previously occupied brought him directly in line with Misty's gaze, who gave him a challenging look before looking curiously over to the robotic Pokemon who clanked over beside him.
"What's that Pokemon?" She asked, scratching her head to further symbolise her confusion. "I've never seen a steel type like that before."
"She's..." Ash paused as he looked into Synergy's questioning glance, a mere twitch in the facial plates given in the form of a response to him as she was the topic of focus. "...unique." Was all he said.
Misty frowned as she could sense Ash would divulge no further information to her inquiry as a few seconds passed by, before just nodding to the referee to start the match. Seeing their signal, the referee nodded back before crossing their flags over once more and starting a new speech. "The final battle of the day will now begin - with the gym leader Misty Waterflower facing off against the challenger, Ash Ketchum. The same rules as the previous battle with Paul Shinji shall apply." They loudly spoke, before swatting their flags down. "Begin!"
Misty seized the initiative first, lobbing the Pokeball she already had in hand right into the water. "Goldeen, you're up!"
A white bodied fish, with blooms of red decorating patches on its long fins and feathery-like tail that propelled it forward and a small horn, emerged out of the white haze to plop into the water and look around. Seeing the battle conditions, Goldeen turned to stare at Ash who was obviously the challenger she'd be facing.
Ash said nothing as he instead plucked a shrunk down normal Pokeball out of the case he kept them, enlarged it and causally flipped it to the floor in order to release the Pokemon within. Sure enough, with a small sliver forward, Peeper then darted her neck upwards to allow curious brown orbs to better see what was going on.
"A battle?" She simply questioned telepathically via the aura bond.
"That's it." Ash confirmed. "I hope your feeling well, because I want to finish this round quickly. Go at the Goldeen hard and fast, don't conserve energy."
"But of course." Came the Pokemon's response back to her trainer as she coiled herself in anticipation to react to either her trainer's orders or the opponent's move.
Goldeen moved first, as it reacted to Misty's order. "Horn attack!" She called out, hoping to get straight into the battle with a combo that had worked for her before. "Then use the normal move after it!"
Ash's eyes narrowed at that, before looking to his Dragonair and then the Goldeen which was beginning to propel itself through the water. "Dodge the initial horn strike, but she'll expect you to do that." He informed over the aura bond as he tugged his cap's rim in thought. "Block whatever follow-up move is coming with tail whip as it will likely be physical, but if it isn't try and use protect before any ranged attack gets to you."
A trill from the serpentine Pokemon was the confirmatory response he received as Misty looked analytically at her Pokemon now surging out of the pool, horn first, and slightly lost as her opponent seemingly did not react. As to be expected on both sides, the initial thrust with the horn was easily dodged by the agile serpentine who merely moved the top portion of its body out of the way.
What was unexpected was for both Pokemon to use tail whip at once, as Misty's Goldeen used the move as a quick way to turn on a penny and strike at its opponent as it flew by - something that would've normally landed. However, Ash had anticipated something of that nature slightly as Peeper struck out with her own tail to collide with the widespread back appendage of the Goldeen - the unexpected nature of the dual use of the same technique creating a momentary standstill. It was only for a moment however, as the recoil from the moves forced a resolution with both Pokemon taking damage from the impact of the moves - before Peeper appeared the more victorious as her larger and stronger stature broke through. The fish was batted back into the pool in the direction it came from.
Ash seized his chance as he didn't even voice it through aura this time, instead his mind focused only upon one thing as he saw his victory right before him in the fast fashion he wanted it to be. "Thunderbolt!" He yelled, even as Goldeen only landed back into the water.
"Jump, Goldeen!" Misty cried out as she tried to convey a way for her Pokemon to escape, but it was too late as the sparks built up quickly around the crystal orb on Peeper's neck - before a large steam of voltage slammed into the water. The surging electrical current was instantly conducted along the entire width and breadth of the pool by the transferring medium of the water, allowing no escape for the floundering fish who was instantly fried by the electricity. Only a second after the last sparks of electricity fizzled out, the Goldeen floated to the top of the water, swirls in its eyes.
"Goldeen is unable to battle!" The referee announced as the flag was raised to Ash's side of the watery battlefield. "The winner of this round is therefore Ash Ketchum! Would the gym leader please reveal her final Pokemon!"
Misty seemed to grumble at her fast defeat, before settling down and plucking out her final Pokeball. "Dewgong, turn this around for me!" She spoke as she threw the Pokeball to her respective side of the battlefield. A large white seal with a grinning complexion and a big horn emerged out of the haze, which emitted a loud bark in anticipation for the battle it had emerged into.
"Begin!" The flags in the referee's hands swept down to urge on the battle.
"Ice beam, Dewgong!" Misty yelled out, getting a corresponding action from her Pokemon as ice started to build up around the mouth of the seal, charging up the move in preparation to fire the move. Ash would've countered, had they not all been interrupted.
"Not so fast!" Came a high-pitched yell, as Dewgong let out a panicked squeal as it found itself scooped very suddenly into a large net, completely cancelling the move it had taken its time preparing as smoke erupted on the right side of the field. Ash, too, was surprised by the sudden emission of smoke over the right half of the pool - Synergy reacting accordingly by stepping in front of Ash and sweeping the area with her ocular senses. When the infrared detectors pinpointed the troublemakers, she stood down slightly with slight amusement as she only informed Ash of what was going via the aura bond and keeping an eye on the situation.
The smoke cleared to reveal the Team Rocket group that had troubled Ash and Paul before in Viridian City, the complete saga revealed as Meowth, Ekans and Koffing gathered before the two criminals that emerged out of the smokescreen they'd deployed. Paul had raced to Ash's side as soon as he saw them, wondering what was going to happen then given how the scenario had previously played out, as Misty's three other sisters also ran to join her on her side of the pool.
"Team Rocket, here in style to ruin your day!" Jessie loudly announced with a flourishing pose, getting a chuckle from the Meowth and an amused hiss from her faithful snake Pokemon.
James gave a smirk as he took a look at the audience, before swinging his head over to the first sensational sister he saw. "You!" He demanded with a clear, authoritative tone to his slightly drawling voice. "Hand over all of the gym's Pokemon in their Pokeballs to us!" He turned his eye back to the audience as he heard a few cries emanate from the people in the stands, but gave it no thought as the crowds began to run out from the stands and gym. They were there for the Pokemon, not any material value items.
"Or else what?" Daisy snarked out at him.
"Or else we'll poison all of your Pokemon and take them all anyway!" James responded with a snapping tone, as Koffing supported that threat with a deep reverberation of its name, and slight squirts of poison gas coming out from the pores of its levitating body as it moved in front of its trainer.
"Never!" Lily cried out then, the pink-haired trainer scowling at the Team Rocket duo and Meowth. "You don't seem to realise that three Pokemon could never defeat the entire gym!"
James did look a little put out at that proclamation, but it was Jessie who turned the situation back on them as she laughed. "And you seem to forget that we already have one of your friends in our net here! Now just hand over the Pokemon before my patience runs out!"
Things remained quiet for a few seconds as the sensational sisters had a range of visible emotions from being gobsmacked to scowling, as Misty on the other side of the pool appeared vehemently furious and about to yell something very rude. If not for Ash loudly clearing his throat at that point behind the Team Rocket group.
"What is it, you want to hand over your Pokemon too - brat..." James's voice trailed off as he turned his head to the source of the interruption of their criminal heist, his complexion paling slightly as instant recognition dawned.
Jessie gave a confused hum as to what James had turned quiet for, turning fully around to see what the problem was. "Hmm? What is it James, what's the matter?" She didn't quieten as she laid eyes on Ash, but certainly did a double-take. "Oh, it's you!"
"Me." Ash repeated, before sighing. "Why are you here?" His mood had taken a worse turn now that he'd had time to consider what had happened - and he certainly didn't need the events of Viridian City to spill out to a whole gym.
Jessie and James didn't respond, instead glancing towards one another with unease in their expressions as they considered just how unlucky the situation had turned out for them. Their eyes were firmly turned back to Ash though, as he spoke again.
"Whatever, I'm in no mood for Team Rocket." He sounded out, especially given how they'd interrupted his battle. "Deal with them, Synergy." He instructed with a pointing hand.
Any reason to implicate Ash with testimonies of what happened in Viridian was swiftly dealt with before Jessie and James could even react - the tall robotic Pokemon teleporting right into their midst and cracking their heads together before they even knew she was there. It was once again over in a split second as another flash of blue occurred, showing both the Team Rocket group and Synergy gone in another teleportation. Dewgong collapsed to the floor from the now ruined net that was no longer being held, and quickly flopped its way to its trainer's side.
"...What just happened?" Daisy asked then after a second to get over her shock at what had just gone down so quickly.
Ash gave a small chuckle as he looked over to Misty and her sisters, before just giving a shrug. "They've now been taken to the relevant authorities. Don't worry, my Pokemon is certainly strong enough to deal with all of them."
The sensational sisters nodded to him, before Lily spoke up. "I think we'll be calling the police anyway, but thank you for dealing with them." The three sisters quickly moved over to the referee and began conversing upon the subject and what to do next. Ash just gave another shrug in response, and merely turned to Misty who approached him.
The orange-haired teen stopped before him, before slightly surprising him as she grabbed his hand and shook it. "I owe you, Ketchum, for saving my Pokemon from those nasty criminals." She spoke with a happy tone. "Thank you!"
"Er-" Ash let out, slightly taken off guard by the personality change of the gym leader who'd previously held grudge with them - which had been somewhat understandable, given how they'd brushed her off. "No problem."
"Please tell your friend I'm sorry for being grumpy with him." She also apologised, before also holding something out. "And please accept this badge! I know we didn't fight a second round, but you completely deserve it for beating Team Rocket anyway."
Ash quirked an eyebrow. "You sure?" He asked. "All I did was tell my Pokemon to take them away."
"Take it!" Misty insisted. "My Dewgong isn't up for battling after that anyway, and you proved all your Pokemon are competent."
A couple of officials meanwhile walked onto the battlefield then as the grateful Misty handed over the badge to Ash, uniformed people who were decked out in red overalls that had equipment like radio devices attached to them.
One of the sensational sisters walked up then with a frown. "What's going on here?" She questioned the two officials as they moved onto the battlefield, Ash looking over in interest.
A man on the left of the two reached into a pocket and pulled out a folded over wallet, flipping it open to reveal an ID certification. "We're investigators of the Pokemon League security department." The man introduced the both of them, making the gym leader look shocked at the ruling authority branch over their gym, before appearing happier at that.
"Great!" She spoke aloud. "We've just had a break-in by Team Rocket-"
"Team Rocket?" The investigator on the right interrupted then.
Misty gave an unsure nod at the barking interruption. "Yes, Team Rocket."
The investigator swore at that, stepping back and then pulling out her radio to begin conversing into it. The man looked to Misty seriously, as he continued the questions. "Have you called the police?"
A nod from Misty made the man more satisfied, but before he could continue, the other two sisters came back over to see what was going on now. "But why are you two here then?" Violet asked.
The man looked over to the sensational sisters with a serious look, and answered. "We're here to investigate your gym based on allegations of unlicensed operations occurring within this facility, and the unacceptable treatment of regulated Pokemon trainers arriving to challenge your gym." He spoke, before pulling off a bag from his back to rifle through it. "Here is the jurisdictional order authorising us to investigate all assets related to our investigation, including access to your monitoring systems, questioning people within this facility and exploring all relevant documentation."
A clipboard with attached papers to it was pulled from the bag and handed to Violet, who quickly seized it to skim through the papers. "I don't understand though, what did we do wrong?"
The man quickly adopted an annoyed frown. "You have heard of the allegations against you, which are also written down on those papers. We are here to investigate to see if you have done wrong."
Violet looked very troubled, but remained silent as she went back to the top to see the allegations - and gasped. "The head of the security department signed this? But why would they get involved - what's going on here?!"
"That is none of your concern to question the head of the department." The man stressed in an annoyed tone as he seized the clipboard back to tuck under his arm, before then looking objectively at Violet. "The noted lack of cooperation on your behalf does not reflect well on the beginning of our investigation for you, gym leader."
Violet's eyes widened at the, to her, semi-hostile words. "What-" She began, but was cut off as the other investigator had had enough, and wanted to move along.
"You are hereby notified that our investigation will take place over three days to skim over the relevant aspects of one of the 'main eight' gyms. All activities and uses of the gym have thus been suspended over the next three days in accordance with the investigation, by order of the Pokemon League security department." The woman beside the man spoke in a clipped, business tone, before forcing a piece of paper into Violet's arms. "There is a summary of the allegations, regulation revolving around the investigation and other relevant aspects. Please note, should the investigation turn up credible evidence denoting serious mishandling of Pokemon League regulations surrounding tournament gyms; your facility may be subject to closure and all staff in here including the leaders either reassigned or dismissed. The gym license will then be subject to auctioning to other facilities, or even other cities."
Every person that had remained in the stands heard those words, getting a sense of just how serious the investigators were. "For your sake, gym leader, I implore you to be cooperative." The woman spoke her final words. "It doesn't matter, anyway. Given the investigation by the police, and these legal matters, this gym is hereby closed for the three day period, as per the mandate of the Pokemon Security Department."
CERULEAN POKEMON CENTRE, CAFETERIA.
Paul still held a satisfied air about him, having changed his mind on the 'petty' nature of calling up the Pokemon security department if it meant he got to see the gobsmacked faces of the four gym leaders after how much their gym had annoyed him by. Ash was currently eating the dinner of pasta as Synergy sat beside him, having taken to not caring about either side of the grudge anymore given how they had annoyed him too, but he had received an apology.
"You know, the girl did apologise." Synergy intoned in her deep voice. "You still don't have to be smug about it."
"After the way they annoyed me?" Paul countered with a rhetoric question and a quirked eyebrow. "I'll accept my satisfaction from that. Ash was the one that called them, I just enjoyed the show."
Ash snorted slightly at that. Paul was obviously very amused by the situation of the gym closure, and also having silenced Synergy by mentioning his name - the robotic Pokemon did not debate on topics that would tarnish his actions. "It wasn't that big a deal in the end, to be honest." He stated with a neutral tone.
Paul looked to Ash at that. "Come on, you were at least amused somewhat by it too."
Ash made a slight dip of his head with a considering expression and small shrug. "I can't deny that." He admitted.
Paul chuckled slightly, before turning back to his food and changing the subject of the conversation. "So where did your robotic Pokemon take those Team Rocket grunts in the end?" He questioned.
Ash didn't even look at him as he responded. "Where do you think?"
A few more moments of eating occurred, before Synergy spoke up - her mind once more thinking ahead. "So where are we going after this?" She questioned as she folded her arms together. The computer in her head unit supplied a few gyms they could visit from Cerulean, but that was not her call to make.
"Vermillion would be good place to go." Paul stated as he consulted the navigational software of his Pokedex. "It's got a good electric-type gym, and though its not a beginner gym, its not a high-level gym either. It'll make a nice middle ground after a period of training, I think."
Ash gave a nod as he looked up from his food. "I agree." He agreed. "But I think we should take even more time than what your possibly thinking there. Let's not go down routes 5 and 6, but I think we should instead head to Lavender Town to the non-main gym around there."
Paul grunted at that, before stating his thoughts. "You sure? There'll be less information given how it's not a main gym, and it could be tougher than Vermillion for all we know."
Ash just shrugged at him. "That's even more reason to go. We train for a good while, and then test ourselves out against a gym of lesser-known strength."
Paul looked considering at Ash, before turning to glance at Synergy with a knowing expression. "You gave him that idea, didn't you?"
Synergy just blinked at that. "How'd you know?" She asked.
With a shake of his head, Paul let out a small chuckle. "I didn't." Was his reply.