Some big lore drops in this chapter, one's obvious. the other isn't.also, I got a DM asking me about whether I'll be adding Chloe and Team rocket. at first, i didn't think Chloe was going to play a pivotal role in the anime, but recent episodes changed that. I always had an intention of adding her, but I now have ideas for fleshing put the possibilities of her character even more.I never intended for this story to be like a book: I always intended for.it to resemble a Manga in nature, similar to Bleach, but without the pictures. Thus this will be a long fanfic, but also good for developing interesting plots over time.As always, please review.

The cave was colder than Goh remembered.

He laid there, in the pile of sand, wrapped in the thin and patchy cloth, wondering where he was. The stalactites pointed down at him like a ceiling of knives, small specks of dust falling from the cave every so often, causing him to become paranoid over the structural integrity of the cave itself.

The freezing wind from outside howled through the myriad of caverns criss-crossing the mountain like an ant mound, creating a soft rumbling effect and causing the cold to slice into his skin like razors, causing a prickling numbness in his fingers and toes. He shivered under the cloth, it no longer being enough to keep him warm.

He quietly turned over, seeing Nelliel's platinum-brown eyes shine in the darkness, focused on him like an lynx watching its prey scuttle through the grass. She outstretched her hand, feeling the cold and bony flesh gently grip his muscles like metal clamps. She exhaled, a soft white mist exuding from her nostrils before dissipating in the air once again.

"You're awake. How did you sleep?"

Goh sat up, the cloth tumbling off of him and exposing his bare chest and scrawny shoulders. He felt thinner here, almost malnourished, but he wasn't hungry. He felt almost empty, as if the world was eroding away at him ever so slightly like rain on stone. It wasn't as bad as it was under the effects of the full moon, and Nelliel's presence seemed to ward off the worst of it somehow, but the effect still lingered like a grim reminder of mortality.

"You know what, don't answer that. I can tell that you didn't sleep well. Those bags under your eyes are nearly pitch black."

Goh rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, attempting to gain some clarity to no avail. He was back here? How was he here? It was all just a dream.

But it was clear that this all wasn't just a dream. It was something more important. But he couldn't figure it out. The only parallel was the name Tier Arron. It was a name he felt like he should know, but that was only because it sounded like Arron.

Maybe his mind was trying to tell him something.

"Is Tier Arron back?"

Nelliel shook her head, her emerald hair shifting slightly. "No, but that's because a sandstorm kicked up while you were sleeping."

"A sandstorm? Is it bad?"

Nelliel shrugged. "Not for him and I, but it can be devastating for even weak hollows. You'll need to stay inside the cave for now, until the wind dies down."

"What about the sand is so dangerous? It's just sand."

Nelliel shook her head. "Sand is glass, Goh. Little tiny speckled orbs of it, but still glass nonetheless. And those winds push that glass so fast that it can rip flesh apart and shatter bones. I'll be safe, as will Arron. Our hierro is strong enough to withstand the pressure. But you're soft, just like any human, and you'd be turned to a fine red mist in seconds."

Goh shivered again, this time not from the cold but from the image he conjured in his mind. "Are you sure he'll be okay?"

Nelliel nodded. "Yes. He'll be fine. His hierro will protect him from the sandstorm."

Goh was silent for a moment. "What's a hierro?"

"It's like our…" She paused for a moment, attempting to find a description that he'd understand. "It's like our skin, but… not."

Goh gave her an odd look before becoming startled as she pressed her hand on his forearm, the icy cold flesh leaving a tingling sensation. "It's one of the many reasons why we feel so cold to you. Our skin isn't like your skin, it doesn't crack or tear so easily. In fact…" she picked up a small, jagged stone and palmed it before jamming it down into her skin.

Goh was breathless for a millisecond before the rock pierced her skin, almost certain that it would puncture her flesh and leave a nasty scar. But to his disbelief, the rock didn't cut her, nor did it even leave a scratch. Instead, the rock shattered into a storm of sparks and shards, one whizzing past Goh, nearly taking his earlobe with it. She looked up at him apologetically, her head tilted to the side.

"Our skin is like metal, harder than any normal steel. In fact, hierro simply means Iron in our language, although that doesn't really do it justice either. There is no good way to describe it succinctly, it'd be like describing color to a blind person."

Goh looked at her in amazement, in disbelief as to how anyone could be so strong. But he had to remember that this wasn't his world: this was a very different place.

"How strong are you?" He asked, amazed with her seemingly alien abilities.

"What makes you think I'm strong?"

"You can do all these amazing things! You can transform, and your skin is like metal, and you have a freaking sword that is a part of your soul! All of those things make me think you're strong."

"Goh, everything I had told you is par for the course for a hollow, besides the sword and transformation, those are only for Arrancar. But my hierro? That is an ability every hollow possesses to some extent."

"But earlier, you said you and Arron are strong. How strong?"

Nelliel shrugged. "I'd need to show you, although hopefully I'll never have to."

"But why?"

Apparently, the jagged stone wall was quite interesting to Nelliel, as her gaze focused on that. "Because I'd have to fight and kill, and I don't like to kill."

"Why would you need to kill? Can't you just… challenge someone?"

Nelliel chuckled bitterly. "Man, you are from a different world, huh? There is no challenge in Hueco Mundo, only death. You have to kill to survive."

Goh was quiet for a moment. "Isn't there another way? You are such a good person, why would you have to kill to survive? That's awful."

Nelliel shook her head. "That's a terrible assumption. I'm not a good person, Goh, and neither is Arron. We're both monsters disguised as creatures that are vaguely human."

Goh scooted over to Nelliel to comfort her, but she lightly swatted him away, obviously broken up about the conversation. Goh was still persistent, however, and he wouldn't let up. "That's not true, you aren't a monster."

Nelliel chuckled again, even more bitter than before, with a tear dripping down her cheek. "Do you know how many I've killed, Goh?"

"I…" Goh wanted to say none, but he knew that was a lie. How could you truly hate the act of killing if you've never partaken in it? "I don't know."

Nelliel closed her eyes in lamentation, a few more tears streaming down her cheeks. "Millions, Goh. I've killed millions. More than you can fathom."

Goh was quiet. He was shocked, but he realized deep down that he should have known all along. "Why?"

"Because that is how this world works. You kill or you are killed. There is no in between."

"But… millions?"

Nelliel nodded. "Yes, Goh. Millions. How do you think I became like this?" She gestured to her human form. "Have you seen the hollows out in the wastes? Apparently not. They aren't vaguely human. They tear each other apart for sustenance and advancement, evolving as they do so. To reach the level where a hollow could transform into an Arrancar, well, a hollow would have to commit genocide. Millions of souls devoured in an incomprehensible time frame."

Goh scooted away from her in fear. "Devoured? You ate them?"

"Yes."

Goh wanted to vomit on the floor. The thought of eating pokemon made him squeamish, but eating your own kind? That was unprecedented. It was a crime against all that was right with the world.

But then Goh remembered where he was. This wasn't his world, this was Hueco Mundo, a bastardization of what the world could be. Everything here was dead or near dead, and with what he'd seen so far, it really didn't surprise him that Nelliel would partake in. cannibalism.

Goh pulled his legs up to his chest, huddled in the corner away from Nelliel. Her tears dried up and she wasn't facing him.

"Those hollows out there… you said they weren't human, right?"

Nelliel shook her head. "They're the furthest thing from humans you can imagine."

Goh let out a shaky sigh. "I… I don't know what to say. What they do out there, what you did, it's wrong and twisted and horrible, but so is this world. It's driving those creatures to do terrible things. I don't know how you got here, but you aren't evil or a monster. You obviously regret everything that happened."

"Yes, I do. But that doesn't change the fact that I don't like to kill. It's something that I'd prefer to avoid."

Goh nodded. "I understand."

He remained quiet for a moment, the sound of sand beating against rock echoing through the cavern system. "What about Arron?"

Nelliel shook her head. "No, he doesn't have the same reservations about killing. He doesn't kill for fun, but he won't hesitate to… dispatch those that he sees as a threat."

"People kill for fun here?"

"Yes," Nelliel replied plainly. "Innocence and mercy are a rare commodity here. You'd be hard pressed to find people who wouldn't do unspeakable things to innocent people like you."

"Oh." Replied Goh weakly. "I guess I just got lucky that you found me and not someone else."

"Yes, I'd say you're extremely lucky."

The following silence was deafening. Nelliel didn't seem to want to talk about this anymore, so he looked up, watching little droplets of water dribble from the stalactites and fall onto the dusty ground. One fell on his forehead, causing him to flinch, and he wiped it off his head and looked at it, noticing the silvery liquid drip from his finger. It was the same consistency as the liquid that Arron's ice would melt into, solidifying his hypothesis that this dream held some meaning. The liquid quickly evaporated and even the metallic substance left behind dissipated leaving a bitter smell in the air.

"What's this stuff dripping from the ceiling?"

"Reiryoku," replied Nelliel. "It's energy. Spirit energy."

"And it just drips from the ceiling? That doesn't seem right."

Nelliel didn't respond for a while, scaring Goh. He didn't want to anger her, afraid of how she might react. But then again, finding out what that liquid was could be imperative in his quest to understand his version of Arron better.

"I don't know how to describe it to you, but I'll try. It's the energy that permeates every being that isn't alive. When hollows die, or they stop eating from time to time, it evaporates from them like it would from a plant in the heat. And like a water cycle, the energy is spread across the world passively, into all hollows, keeping them alive for longer. Szayelaporro called this 'Reconciliation.'"

"But… why?"

Nelliel looked over to him, obviously tired. 'Y'know, I don't know how you humans have so many questions. What happens, happens. I'd be more concerned with what dangers it can present rather than what it is or why it happens."

Goh gave her a funny look. "You don't want to know why things happen?"

"No, I don't. Usually I'm either disappointed or terrified."

Goh pondered her words for a moment before he responded. "Well, in my world we have people who study the world in the creatures that inhabit it. I was working for one before I ended up here. We call them professors."

"It must be nice to be able to trust someone like that."

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't you be able to?"

Nelliel chuckled bitterly. "You don't realize, do you?" Goh shook his head innocently, causing her to chuckle some more. "There's nothing to study down here, nothing to be used to improve the lives of those who are trapped here. And that's assuming anyone here would desire to help the less fortunate. In this world, the few who see the pursuit of knowledge as beneficial are those who are too weak, cowardly or egotistical to acquire power the traditional way. Or, the individuals in question are so twisted that they find more amusement in the dark machinations they can conjure rather than wantonly slaughtering everything in sight. Szayelaporro Granz is both of those and so much more. The very mention of his name makes me want to puke."

"But… Why can't there be genuinely good people out there? Aren't there any good people in this place?"

"I hope so, I really do. But Hueco Mundo is hostile to anyone with a shred of decency."

"But you're here, and you're powerful. You saved me, doesn't that speak for something?"

Nelliel sighed. "From a certain point of view, I suppose you're right. But it can also be argued that it was done out of selfishness. Maybe I wanted to reassure myself that I hadn't completely fallen off the edge and succumbed to this place."

"That still means you care. Good people aren't perfect, they just aren't evil."

Nelliel shrugged. "I guess so."

Some more silence co tinted, almost like a cycle of Goh presenting Nelliel with questions. Finally, he asked one that seemed to make her exceptionally nervous.

"What about Arron, what is he like?"

Nelliel didn't seem to want to answer the question, but Goh insisted.

"He's… tired. As far as I can tell, he hasn't been here nearly as long as I have, but he's been through a lot. More importantly, he hasn't been here long enough to cope like I have."

"What do you mean by cope?"

"Goh, the people who come here aren't good or bad; suffering is blind. Everyone suffers, some more than others, but it's universal. The people who reach Hueco Mundo are those who suffered so much that their souls were weighed down by their grief, pain and regrets. There are a few exceptions, but that's the general rule of hollows. Arron hasn't had time to let even some of that go, much less accept that this is reality from now on."

"That's depressing."

"Yes, yes it is. I try not to think about it."

"But, what else do you know about him?"

Nelliel shrugged. "Not much else. All I know is that he's looking for someone, someone very important to him."

Goh perked up upon hearing that. "Did he mention who they were?"

"No, he never did," Nelliel replied, crushing goh's hopes for more answers. "It's obviously still a very sensitive topic for him. I don't know why he'd think they were here unless they both died at the same time. But the chances of two people departing to Hueco Mundo at once seem very unlikely. Maybe Szayelaporro will know more."

"So… how do you feel about him?"

Nelliel blushed slightly. "That's an odd question. What do you mean by that?"

"Well," Goh stuttered, now aware of how Nelliel perceived the question. I just wanted to know, do you like him? As a person, I mean."

Nelliel nodded. "I suppose so. I can't remember how long I've known him, it hasn't felt too long, but I know that there's some good left in him, underneath all that brooding and irritation. He only kills when he has to, which is something I respect, although his standards are a bit lower than mine."

"What do you mean by 'lower'?"

"He's, well, he's willing to go farther, and he doesn't show mercy to those who threaten him or those he cares about. I don't like killing, but he isn't against it when he deems it to be the best solution."

The sound of tumbling pebbles and dust falling from the ceiling made Goh almost jump out of his skin, though Nelliel seemed completely unfazed. After a few moments, Arron climbed into the opening, dusted with fine white sand like a powdered donut. He dusted himself off before cracking his neck and sitting down, his legs outstretched and relaxed.

"So… I spoke to Szayelaporro. As I predicted, he told me he had no idea what you were, but he might know once he had a closer look at you."

Nelliel snorted in a condescending manner. "I don't believe that for one second."

Arron nodded in agreement. "Neither do I. He has something to gain from this boy, whether it's his pursuit of power or just his morbid curiosity." He turned his attention to Goh, noticing his hesitation. "Either way, I made it clear that if he harmed you in any way, I'd turn him into an ice sculpture in a heartbeat."

Goh nodded, still a little intimidated by the prospect of being 'examined' by a mad scientist character, but Arron's promise did cull some of his anxiety.

Goh didn't know if he should have revealed that he knew this was some kind of dream or not, but he decided to play along for the most part, because the overlap was far too intriguing. He could feel that whatever he was being shown was important, he just didn't know why or how. It all felt allegorical, like some kind of representation of the real Arron's past, but the sheer detail seemed to hint at something more being the case.

"So, until that sandstorm subsides, we're not leaving." Said Arron. "I can withstand it, but you can't. Besides, you still look terrible, and it's a long journey, even for me. Keep sleeping, the effects of the moon will wear off in time."

Goh nodded, curling back up onto his makeshift sand bed, listening to Arron and Nelliel whisper to each other, apparently discussing something urgent, as their whispers were firm and urgent. He didn't mind. As Arron reignited the embers, Goh fell asleep as he sleepily watched the firelight dance across the smooth surface of the cavernous walls.

Goh woke up calmer this time, right at sunrise, and the blood-orange hue of the sky lent to quite a magnificent view across the beaches of Northern Kalos. The sea breeze was more potent that day, the wind picking up and spreading the strong scent of the salty sea intermingling with the many morning scents wafting from the bakeries. The residents of Shalour were more active today as the summer warmth made a comeback, radiating across the paved-brick roads and the flower beds, bringing the city to life.

All of those smells made Goh realize he was quite hungry.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes before he cracked his neck; enjoying the relief it brought to his upper back. Then he entered the bathroom, quickly brushing his teeth and making a vain attempt to comb his hair into something resembling organized. Giving up after five minutes, he sighed, staring at himself in the mirror.

He had bags under his eyes. He never had bags under his eyes until recently. His skin was starting to blemish lightly around his chin, a few pimples here and there, but his mild acne was largely inconspicuous. He seemed to have grown somewhat over the summer, although he didn't know exactly how. It was probably just all in his head: he'd been thirteen since March, this wasn't something he should have been just now discovering, yet it was. He'd better stop thinking about it or he might start brooding.

Wait, when did he brood?

Goh shook his head, washing the sleep out of his eyes with some water and stepping out of the bathroom, pulling a set of spare clothes out of his travel bag and putting on a pair of jeans and a gray shirt with red highlights. He slipped on his shoes, grabbed his poke-gear and quietly slipped out of the hotel room and into the hall so as to not disturb Ash, who was snoring loudly and completely oblivious to Goh's morning routine.

He made his way down the hall and out the doors into the street, the Saturday morning being far busier than he'd expected. Passer-bys greeted him quietly by nodding their heads. Children waved shyly as they followed their parents down the narrow brick-layered walkways of the public street, no cars in sight. A small bistro had long since opened its doors, and the smell of assorted pastries were enough for him to check out what it had to offer.

He crossed the walkway and entered the doors, a young woman somewhere in her mid twenties standing behind her register, a steel and brass contraption clearly designed to appear antique. The glass pastry display was etched with the same color of brass around the edges, meant to resemble all sorts of flowers. Countless different pastries, from glazed apple turnovers, cruller donuts and beignets to what looked to be fresh brioche and croissants displayed alongside sweet butter made from the milk of local miltank. A young man was making buckwheat crepes behind the counter, filling them with mushrooms, cheese and spinach or, oddly, cream cheese and lingonberries.

The young woman greeted him in Kalosian, but quickly realized he didn't speak the language and apologized profusely. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know you were from Kanto. What can I get you?"

Goh got himself and ash two small bags of beignets dusted with powdered sugar and set off to find something to do until he could wake Ash without him complaining that it was too early.

The beach was far more crowded than he would have liked, so he decided to skip his usual morning hobby of watching the sun rise next to the sea and decided to explore more of Shalour. The city was old, many of the buildings lacking the modern simplicity of their counterparts in the neighboring regions, but rather had an artistic flair about them, with beautifully adorned terraces and balconies and etched out curvature where the roof shingles and walls met. The hotel's triangular shape created a y-shaped intersection for foot traffic, the massive seven story building dominating the local area, it's cyan domes at each of it's points speckled with windows so the guests could watch the bustling city wake up in the morning from the comfort of the air-conditioned interior. The conical rooftop between it's domes also speckled with windows from the suite rooms at the very top.

As it turns out, he and Ash were situated near the northern edge of Shalour, the beach just a fifteen minute walk from the doors of the hotel. Thus, this entire area was blanketed with both the scent of the sea and the seafood it provided. Even early in the morning, the specialty Seaking croquettes were being prepared, as were other delicacies local to the region.

While the majority of the roadways and walkways were thin and narrow, some would open up into parks or open air bazaars, revealing bustling shops, stalls and performers peddling their trades, selling everything from rugs and tablecloths to fine China and silverware. He decided to stay there, searching through the market stalls to find something interesting, maybe even something useful. Merchants and shop owners tried to hawk their wares to him but to no avail, Goh ignoring their efforts to sell him something either useless or criminally overpriced.

After some time, the noise became drowned out. He felt a somewhat hypnotic sound lazily echoing through the air. Nobody seemed to notice it, but he did, the sound resembling a gong being struck underwater. He followed the sound, the vibrations becoming louder and louder as he politely but quickly hurried through the covered streets, attempting to not bump into people. Eventually, he reached a quieter stall run by what seemed to be an older woman dressed in loose ruby robes, her skin wrinkled and resembling sandpaper in texture and her eyes were a dull amber color, although still filled with life. Her hair was styled into a short, curly pixie cut, gray as freshly burnt ash, with streaks of purple swirled throughout. Behind her was a series of baubles, knick-knacks and souvenirs along with a few purple candles, the lit wick melting the lavender scented wax. He tried to speak, but held up a gnarled hand in a shushing gesture, nodding slightly.

"Why is it that you have come to my humble store, jeune homme?"

Goh was both speechless and incredibly embarrassed. He didn't know why he had come, just that he'd felt a strange conviction to follow the sound that he had heard, which wasn't something he could simply tell her. Without a response, she simply nodded. "You felt the need to scour my wares, then? I'm flattered. Allow me to show you some of the relics of this land."

Goh didn't want to seem rude, so he simply watched her handle her items with the utmost care and concern, as if they were priceless artifacts. Each one was wrapped in light cloth before being placed in front of him, unwrapped and polished despite their clear age. Some were charms and runic inscriptions with meanings lost to time, others were once beautiful gold and silver works, their sheen and meticulous craftsmanship worn with age. Most were things you'd find in an anthropology exhibition, but one item stood out among the rest.

The final object in the elderly woman's hands was larger than the rest, wrapped in a thicker, more protective cloth. When she unwrapped it, she revealed the hilt of a sword, it's blade cut clean through right where the fuller began to manifest. It was clearly once a weapon of great status, orbs of speckled turquoise embedded in the hilt and into the bottom of the pommel. The edge of the blade was burnt and charred where it had been cleaved, as if it wasn't cut by another sword but rather a burst of mystical fire.

She lifted the broken blade, appraising it herself in admiration before placing it on her small table between herself and Goh, her hands resting together behind her back. She nodded to the sword. "The rest of these pieces of history are junk compared to this prize."

Goh was skeptical, despite the craftsmanship. "A broken sword?"

The old woman snorted condescendingly. "Not just any broken sword, this blade is said to be one of the seven."

Goh cooked his eyebrow. "The seven?"

The old woman bobbed her head. "Forgive me, I forgot you do not know the folklore of Kalos. Yes, the seven honorable rulers of long ago. They were righteous and fair, leading mankind out of the darkness of the primitive world and into a golden age. Or so many once thought." The old woman began to tap her fingers as she told her story. "To some, the remains of these weapons are relics of humanity's ancient past. To others, they are the weapons of tyrants. And to most…" she paused, pondering what to say next. "To most they are just byproducts of superstitions and fairy tales."

Goh scratched his chin. "Well, they seem important to you. How long have you had them, and why are you selling them?"

The elderly woman nodded. "I've held on to these items for a long time, the responsibilities of their caretaking has fallen to me. But very few people care about rusted ornaments and broken swords; they see the few who believe in the old ways as backwards and in denial. So I wish to sell them to collectors and researchers, those who would care for them."

"Well, I'm working for professor Cerise in Kanto, he might be interested in something like that."

The woman nodded. "I heard many good things about Professor Cerise: If you really believe he'd have some interest, then I urge you to take the sword hilt: nobody else seems to take me seriously."

"It's obviously important to you," Goh stammered, "I can't just take such a priceless item without paying."

But the woman was having none of his objections. "I insist. I have money and I won't be around for much longer, anyway. Take it to someone who will appreciate it."

The old woman rewrapped the sword hilt and pressed it into his palms firmly, refusing to take no for an answer. "Fulfill an old lady's wish, won't you? Give it to someone who'll remember."

Goh nodded soberly, and the stern old woman gave him a small smile. "Good, thank you."

She stood up with a grunt, reaching for a cane carved from a reddish sandalwood, putting much of her weight onto it. She then hobbled behind her stall, turning off the lights. "I'll be going home now. I'm just glad I did one productive thing today." She then began to rewrap her prized possessions one by one.

"If I may, can I help?" Goh asked, unable to leave the woman to clean up after her act of generosity and devotion.

The old woman nodded quietly, gesturing to the many pieces she had unveiled. "If you may, please hand them to me. These old bones can't lift them like they used to."

So that's how Goh spent the first part of his morning: helping an old woman (who he learned was named Fayette) clean and organize her most prized possessions. While he did so, she explained what each one meant. Goh's curiosity and inquisitive nature were sated with the interesting stories she provided.

"Most of these were charms, made during the reign of the seven sovereigns." She held out an ovular charm made from what looked like bronze, with detailed and precise etchings scenes of conquest and a small aquamarine stone carved into the shape of a four-sided star in the center.

"In Kalos, the old king was called the Potentate, or the 'one who holds dominion'. These charms symbolized his praise to the greatest of his warriors."

Goh held it in his hands gingerly, rubbing his thumb over the immaculate detailing. "It's crazy to think that people could create such beautiful items so long ago."

Fayette nodded her head. "It is. But many believe that the kings came to bring us light in the dark, and gave us the ability to do great things. I am one of those people."

Goh was quiet for a moment before replying. "You make it sound like they are some godlike figures. Weren't they just people?"

Fayette shrugged. "When one does so much for the collective of mankind, especially when the common man was so ignorant back then, the line between mortal and deity tends to blur. Imagine if some random person appeared out of thin air and cured cancer within a week: you'd think they were some kind of super genius. Now imagine similar circumstances, but two four thousand years ago, and instead of curing cancer, they bring the concept of civilization to mankind and propel them farther than ever before. Some random human from that long ago would picture them as gods."

Goh kept rubbing the charm with a delicate cloth, giving the bronze a polished sheen. "So, if these kings were so great, then what happened to them? Where did they go? I would think that we'd know more about them if they did so much for mankind."

Fayette shrugged again. "Not everything has a clear answer. Some say a great plague descended upon the world, others say famine. A popular theory is that when the kings died, their ancestors were far less virtuous and led their kingdoms into stagnation and decline. There are even more people who believed that the seven kingdoms simply wiped each other out after decades of fighting, leaving behind salted earth and ruined cities. If you ask me, I think it was inevitable: everything comes to an end in order to bring forth something new into the world, whether it be good or bad."

"That doesn't explain why we don't know anything about them. Wouldn't these great kingdoms leave a bunch of evidence behind?"

Fayette slapped his shoulder playfully. "Have some patience." She placed the rune in her hand into an old jewelry box and picked up another, a jade carving of a flower. "To answer your question, I have no idea. We most likely built over the ruins, or it's been so long that they buried themselves. Some say that there are still some old temples and ruins in the mountains of Southwest Kalos bordering Unova, but those mountains can be treacherous on the best of days."

"Maybe I'll go there one day." Said Goh, partially to himself. Fayette nodded in approval.

"Maybe you'll find the answers to your questions." She said, "For now, I just want to keep the memory alive, so that the next generation can discover more with all the new-fangled technology they have."

Goh chuckled. "It's not that new, you know."

Fayette lowered her glasses. "Boy, when I was your age there was no pokenav or pokedex, there were just regular pokeballs and the journal you kept with you. It was much harder to be antrainer back in my day."

Goh chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess you're right." Out of habit, he checked the time on his Pokenav. It was 8:45.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Fayette, but I have to leave, I have a pokemon battle to win."

Fayette nodded, not too disappointed by his sudden departure. "I appreciate your assistance this morning, Goh, and for letting an old hag like me mumble about old stories and the like."

Goh nodded. "You're not an old hag, and it was a pleasure, really. Will you be back soon?"

Fayette nodded, smiling. "I'm in the Bazaar every Saturday. I couldn't make the trip every day, it's too much for an old woman like me. Maybe I'll see you then?"

Goh shook his head. "I won't be in town then, but I'll come and visit next time we are in Shalour."

Fayette placed her hand on her chest in mock flattery. "Well, I just feel so special, getting all this attention from such a strapping young lad." She waved her hand in a fanning motion, as if she was going to faint. Goh chuckled, causing her smile to grow just a bit wider.

Goh snorted. "Thanks for the confidence boost, Fayette."

"It's of no consequence. Now go and win your battle, before I make you late."

With that, Goh slung his bag over his shoulder and hurried down the bustling avenue, passing by crowds of shoppers. Fayette smile died as he dissipated into the crowd, being replaced with a tired scowl. "Such a nice boy, a shame, what trials he'll face. Nobody that young should have to see what he will see."

The last charm on the table, a miniature onyx carving of an ornate, jeweled eye, rattled, as if it was responding. She shook her head.

"I did what was necessary. You know we had a small window of time, and I had no choice of exactly where to place him. That boy is our best hope."

The charm rattled again, softer this time.

"Yes, I miss our master as well. But we've waited for this long, what's a few more years?"

The charm didn't rattle this time. She scowled.

"Fine, then, Sleep. There is much to be done anyway, and the last thing I need is you distracting me."

The charm was still silent. Fayette scoffed and picked up the charm, wrapping it back up in a delicate cloth and pocketing it before taking a deep breath and exhaling, her body beginning to disintegrate into ash and cinders. Her body disappeared, along with her stall and items, into a swirl of black and gray, being carried out the window by a firm mid-morning breeze. Nobody seemed to notice.

Goh ran into Ash and May on his way to the Arena, the two of them eating at the outdoor seating of a crowded Cafe. They were deep in conversation until Goh walked by, causing Ash to call him over.

"Where have you been all morning? I couldn't find you at the beach."

"I went down to the Bazaar to look around and see some interesting things."

May raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and did you find anything interesting?"

"Uh, yeah. I found something that you might find cool. I don't want to pull it out in public, though, it might raise some eyebrows."

May snorted. "Oh, did you buy something stupid."

Goh stuttered. "No, of course not! I just found something that isn't appropriate to show in public is all. I'll show you guys after the tournament."

May perked up at his mention of the tournament. "Oh, yeah. You know who you're battling today, Goh?"

Goh shrugged. "Not a clue. Somebody strong I guess?"

May nodded. "That's a good guess. You'll be facing a young guy from Sinnoh by the name of Kane."

Goh scratched his head. "You know him?"

"Yeah, we crossed paths before. He's pretty tough. His Magmortar and Trevenant are no joke, either."

"He's got a trevenant? I thought you said he was from Sinnoh?" Asked Ash.

"He caught it here, you dingus. I'm surprised that you of all people would say that."

Ash blushed in embarrassment before he sighed. "Whatever. So what's his strongest pokemon?"

May shrugged. "Not sure, all I know is that all six of his pokemon are real threats. Especially the Trevenant. Apparently he has a trick up his sleeve he's been saving for a real tough battle."

Goh cooked hisbhead in confusion. "I figured he'd use that on you, then. You're way tougher than anyone else in the tournament, save for Korrina and maybe Chuck."

May chuckled. "You have no clue how many strong people there are, do you? There are at least ten trainers here who are in their late stages of their journeys, ready to challenge their last few gyms and then eventually the elite four and the champions of their regions. Alice was one of them, but she got cocky and lost to Chuck. Korrina is up there as well, as am I. That leaves about four that I know of and a few more that I don't. Kane is one of the few that I know."

Ash cracked his knuckles, suddenly eager. "Even if I'm out of the tournament, I still have to battle him, in fact, I'll battle all of them!"

May shook her head. "You're gonna have to make it worth their while. Kane is ranked somewhere around four hundred. After your loss to Chance, you're somewhere near nine hundred, correct? To Kane, you're a small fry compared to someone like me or Chuck, and you both know it."

Ash muttered under his breath. "And? I'll make a comeback, I always do! I just need time, that's all."

May shrugged. "Of course you will, but time isn't on your side. Only twelve people will fight for the chance to battle Leon. The top twelve trainers on that list are going to be the toughest, meanest, smartest trainers around. You're going to have to make some serious comebacks if you want to battle him, Ash."

Ash scowled. "What, so you think I don't have a chance!"

May shrugged. "I never said you didn't, just that the odds aren't in your favor. Honestly, I think that Goh has a better chance than you do, with the current standings at least."

Ash didn't seem too pleased about that comparison, but whatever vile, nasty comments that were boiling up were quickly suppressed by his newfound self-control. "Whatever you say, May."

Goh was concerned with Ash's attitude, but May simply waived it. "Don't worry about him, he'll be in a much better mood when he sees you beat Kane. Now, go win that match."

Goh nodded and nearly took off before he remembered that he forgot to hand Ash his Beignets. But when he looked back, he seemed to be having a great time with May, despite their rough reunion. And besides, they were at a Cafe, they were probably going to get food anyway.

As Goh took off, May and Ash talked quietly about the match. "It's not looking good, Ash."

Ash cocked his eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you said he was going to win?"

May shook her head. "I said that to not break his spirit. Kane is a serious threat, and remember, this isn't an instant death match. Goh is going to have to choose three pokemon to face off against Kane's three. I don't know his entire roster, nor do I know how much stronger they've gotten. All I know is that even with Arron, Goh's in serious trouble. He's going to have to pull a miracle out of a hat to win."

Ash finally seemed concerned. "Then why is he paired up against Kane? Isn't the tournament supposed to be more or less balanced?"

May nodded, clasping her hands together and resting her chin on her knuckles, clearly contemplating why such an imbalance would be present. "Somebody's messing with the rankings, either to sabotage Goh or maybe to test him, but I smell foul play."

Ash didn't seem to agree. "What about Kane? Do you think he paid to get his rankings switched around?"

May scoffed at the idea of Kane cheating. "No, Kane isn't that kind of person. He's far too vain to beat on a newer trainer like Goh, even when Goh has a prodigious pokemon like Arron on his team." May sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Honestly, he'd see it as an insult for someone to pair him up with such a new trainer, and he'd take it upon himself to go easy on Goh, after he'd announced his intentions at least, just so everyone knew he intentionally handicapped himself. But even if Kane went easy on Goh, it will still be an uphill battle for him."

Ash seemed to be deep in thought. "You know, what if this doesn't have anything to do with Kane at all? What if someone is manipulating the ranks to see how strong Arron is? Think about it: who has complete and total control over the tournament? Gurkinn! Nothing changes without his approval, and it makes much more sense that he'd be moving around the rankings to test Arron's limits?"

The reality of the situation seemed to dawn on May. "You think Gurkinn might be behind it? But he's so… honest, and he's been pretty forthcoming so far. He'd still get to see Goh battle some powerful trainers if the ranks were kept normal anyway, he'd just have to wait a little longer."

"He's an impatient man, May, he showed us that when he asked Goh to meet him for lunch, despite Goh not even knowing him at all. At first I wasn't even invited, but I convinced him to let me come so I could make sure Goh was comfortable. As for being honest and forthcoming, that's not even close to the truth. Gurkinn lied, misdirected and hid information from his granddaughter so she could learn the consequences of Mega-Evolution the hard way. He even had his Blaziken, a Pokemon he never allowed her to meet, beat her Lucario within an inch of his life just to test his resolve. If you ask me, May, I wouldn't trust Gurkinn with anything; he's a lying, manipulating snake."

May gave him a dirty look. "I don't think he's that bad. And besides, even if you dislike him that much, why do you still associate with him?"

Ash became quiet. "Because I'm going to need his help one day." He muttered. "I'm not innocent either, May, I know how this all works. I don't have the money to buy a key stone and a mega stone for Riolu, and even if I did it would be inferior to the stones Gurkinn makes himself. His family has been in the business of making mega stones for generations, and his skills have become so refined that the stones he hand crafts himself are priceless compared to those junk stones you'd end up spending a fortune for in Rustboro. And if I want a set, I have to stay on his good side."

May seemed sympathetic. "You know, the quality of the stone doesn't matter, only the bond between the trainer and the pokemon."

Ash chuckled bitterly. "I wish that were the case, May, but I've seen it first hand. Imperfect stones, they crack and shatter over time, and the transformation is both less potent and can't be sustained as long as one activated with a pure, perfected stone."

May still seemed skeptical, but Ash hung his head. "And besides, it's not like me and Riolu have the best bond. He hates me, May, he wants nothing to do with me."

May placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sometimes people make mistakes, and sometimes we lose sight of what's important. But you have to remember that even when you trip and fall, you can always get back up. Riolu's hurt, in more ways than one, but wounds heal. You can still fix this, you just have to be a better trainer."

Ash rubbed his temples solemnly. "You'd think that after three years of being a trainer, I'd have figured this all out by now."

May shrugged. "I know I haven't figured it all out yet. You have plenty of time."

Ash shook his head. "No, I don't. I have a couple months before I have to be ready to battle Leon. Yet I feel like time is moving at the speed of sound. I've kept falling behind."

May didn't seem to agree, crossing her arms. "I know what I said earlier, but you can do it, Ash, you've done the impossible before. You just need to keep pushing forward."

"Yeah, you're right, I'll make it, I just need to keep pushing forward."

"That's the spirit. Now let's go, I want to be there to root for Goh."

Goh's anxiety kept rising as he prepared for the match, although he didn't know why. He knew the odds, he knew he had a chance, but he felt something was off.

He knew that Kane was strong, but he didn't exactly know how strong until he ran into Chuck in the locker rooms.

"You know you're screwed, right kid?"

Goh gave him a dirty look. "Yeah, says who?"

Chuck scoffed. "Says literally everyone with two brain cells. At least everyone who knows Kane, that is."

Goh's heart sank. "What do you mean by that? May said I had a chance!"

Chuck gave him a sad look. "Kid, I wouldn't want to battle Kane and I'm one of the stronger trainers here. His team is pretty loaded."

Goh's shoulders slumped. "But… but May told me I had a chance."

Chuck turned away. "Then she lied to you. Maybe she wanted to spare your feelings, but I'd have told you the truth from the beginning."

Goh couldn't help but feel lost. Chuck, with all his power and even a mega stone on his side, wouldn't want to battle Kane. He didn't know why, but the idea of May giving him hope hurt him deeply. Did she want to see him fail? Or did she really think Goh could beat him? A small tear streamed down his cheek, but he held himself together, determined to not look like a child.

He had been so confident before, but he realized that all the confidence he had gained in the last two battles wasn't his, but rather the confidence that his pokemon lent him. Arron's seemingly indomitable stature and Raboot's sheer tenacity had given him courage like he'd never had before. Goh, for the first time, realized how truly weak he was.

He leaned against the wall and slid down, bringing his elbows up to his chin and wrapping his arms around his chin, defeated. But Chuck didn't leave like Goh thought he had, instead kneeling down to meet his gaze.

"Y'know, kid, Kane might be pretty strong, but I think you're pretty brave, brave enough to go out there and face him." Chuck told him, putting a hand on each of his shoulders.

"What's the point?" Goh responded gloomily. "I'm going to lose, anyway."

Chuck nodded. "Probably, but I learned a long time ago that being a pokemon trainer isn't about winning or losing. It's about learning from every battle you take part in, becoming more mindful of yourself and your team with every victory, and becoming stronger and more determined with every defeat. Losing a battle isn't the end of your journey, just a humbling learning moment. You know who told me that?"

Goh shook his head, still demoralized.

"My grandfather told me that. That was his philosophy. If It wasn't for that, I wouldn't be here right now. So chin up, kid. Your chances may be slim, but if you don't go out there and battle, your chances become zero."

Goh nodded silently, letting out a shaky sigh and standing up. "I just need some time, that's all."

Chuck nodded. "You still have ten minutes, kid. Do what you need to do, and then go out there and battle with all you've got. I'll be cheering for you."

Chuck slung hisbbag over his shoulder and made his way to the locker rooms to prepare his own team. Goh slunk into a separate locker room, pulling out three balls from his belt and opening all three, his starting lineup: Arron, Raboot and Scyther.

Arron immediately sensed Goh's apprehension and disturbed mood and began to investigate, apparently concerned for Goh's state of mind, which was a first. Raboot and Scyther followed closely behind, attempting to ascertain why Goh was so distraught.

"So," Goh addressed them shakily. "We're up against an opponent that… well he's strong. Very strong. Nobody thinks we can beat him."

His team of pokemon froze into place, Scyther turning his head to the side, analyzing Goh's facial expression to try and find some respite, to no avail.

"So we're going to beat him."

Arron seemed to like that answer, but both Raboot and Scyther were looking at him like he was crazy.

"I know, we're outclassed and outgunned, but we don't have a choice. I'm done being a coward, I've been one all my life, and all it's given me is loneliness. So we're going out there and we're going to give it our all."

His team of pokemon didn't cheer or celebrate. They were quiet and stoic, Arron especially. Goh preferred it that way.

"Alright, then. Arron, you're up; Let's see how tough you really are."

Arron grunted in acknowledgement as Goh returned both Scyther and Raboot to their pokeballs and ran his fingers through his hair to help dispel some of his anxiety. Then he beckoned for Arron to follow, walking out of the lockers, down the hall, and through the bright entrance to the Arena, the harsh mid-morning sun practically baking the bare dirt ground.

Goh quickly noticed that there was no announcement of his arrival, no fanfare, and it seemed there was none for his opponent, either. The individual who Goh guessed was Kane was slowly making his way to Goh's end of the Arena, his towering Trevenant following close behind. Kane was dressed semi-formally in dark skinny jeans, a white t-shirt and a velvet-leather aviator's jacket, somehow not being baked alive in his clothes. His hiking boots left heavy footprints on the ground, and his blonde hair rumbled in the wind. He and his Trevenant both had an ever-present scowl, something that Arron didn't seem to appreciate.

Kane stopped when he was around ten feet away, looking over Goh with an analytical eye before scoffing.

"I find whoever put you up against me has a lot of explaining to do."

Goh grit his teeth, catching on to the hidden insult. "I'm not afraid of you."

Kane's expression remained unchanged. "Whether or not you are afraid means nothing. This is an unfair battle and we all know it. It's why nobody is cheering, why there is no announcer for this battle. People want this to end without a single blow exchanged."

"Well," Goh said, knowing the odds, "I'm still going to battle you."

Kane's scowl deepened. "I don't think you understand the severity of the situation. You. Have. No. Chance. Go home with whatever pride you have left and I won't embarrass you today."

Goh clenched his fists. "I'm not backing down."

Kane sneered, his green eyes gleaming like wicked emeralds. "Fine then, but when you fail, do not act as if I didn't warn you."

Without another word, Kane turned and walked back to his end of the Arena, his Trevenant following closely behind. There was no announcement to begin, no horn or bell, just two trainers preparing to settle a dispute of power the only way they could.

Kane took one step forward. "Trevenant, use a shadow ball!"

Kane's trevenant howled and charged up a sphere of dark, gloomy energy before throwing it at Arron with its branches. Arron dodged the ball, but it's explosion was massive enough to partially engulf Arron, charging part of his armored hide far more than either Goh or Arron himself expected. Arron didn't seem especially concerned, however, and a cloud of frost began to exude from his maw.

Goh grit his teeth harder? Feeling them grind. "Alright, let's do this. Arron! Use blizzard!"

Arron seemed to know what to do, bellowing hard enough to send a massive cloud of frost particles into the air and around the Arena, clouding the vision of anyone attempting to look within and cutting Kane off from the battle. Kane seemed frustrated, but he kept his cool, rolling his shoulders to relieve some stress. "Trevenant, use confuse ray!"

Trevenant screeched, sending a wave of noise through the air that caused the mist to ripple. Spectators in the crowd covered their ears to protect themselves from the sound, and even then some became dizzy. Goh could barely stand, but he was more concerned by Arron's wellbeing. Was he okay? Was he confused?

His answer came in the form of a massive blast of pearl-white energy sending Trevenant up above the top of the frost cloud and sending it back down again, leading to a loud and painful thwomp as well as the sound a tree falling in the forest would make, with its leaves and branches shaking and scattering. Another few more seconds passed by until Goh heard several more loud thumps, like metal striking the trunk of a tree.

After a few more minutes of silence, a massive strike from Trevenant dispelled much of the frost as its arm impacted with Arron's tail, sending a shockwave of energy through the air. Unlike in all of his previous battles, Arron was worse for wear, but he had given Trevenant quite the beating as well. Arron's shell was cracked, crushed and burnt in multiple places, and his snout was bloodied from a well placed hit from Trevenant. Trevenant seemed to be suffering from both physical injuries and the freezing effects of Arron's enigmatic ice, which was gradually consuming Trevenant's body like a sickness.

Despite the severe toll the ice was taking on Trevenant, it still lumbered forward, growling angrily, before slamming it's wooden fist on Arron like a morbid game of whack-a-mole. Arron was crammed into the ground from the sheer force of the blow, but his armor held strong as he struggled against Trevenant's overwhelming strength. And as if it couldn't get any worse, massive root growths began to sprout from Trevenant's wrist, embedding into the ground and trapping Arron in some form of improvised prison. Arron growled and struggled underneath the roots, but Trevenant was just too big, too strong and too tough to break free from.

Goh flinched at the sounds that the two were making, Arron's desperate snarls and Trevenant's angered grumbling, as if all the attacks Arron was unleashing underneath his wooden prison simply annoyed him. What was worse was the fact that there was nothing Goh could do about it. But he'd try.

"Arron, you can do it, just freeze the roots to weaken them!"

Arron snarled again, as if he hadn't thought of that but was pretending he had, and a torrent of frost was expunged from his gullet, engulfing Trevenant and causing it to bellow in pain and confusion. But even with the temporary distraction, it wasn't enough to uproot Trevenant's massive fist from the ground. Trevenant pushed downwards, crushing Arron under its weight and strength, causing Arron, for the first time since Goh had known him, to whine in pain during a battle.

"Arron! You can do it! I believe you can do it!"

But the torment continued, Arron's armored shell being slowly crushed like a hazelnut in a nutcracker. It seemed that both Trevenant and Kane wanted to crush their spirits.

Goh was getting desperate, tears starting to fall from his eyes. "Arron… please." It sounded more like a plea for help than a shout of encouragement, but Goh didn't really have anything else in him, and he couldn't stand to see Arron going through that pain. All he could do was hope Arron could get out of that stranglehold without being turned into a pulp.

As if his prayers were answered, sparks of energy began to erupt from underneath the wooden cage, causing both Kane and Goh to blink in surprise, and Trevenant to halt his intent to crush Arron. An uncontrollable force engulfed the prison itself with a pearl-white light, splintering the wood prison and searing Trevenant's hand. Finally the light grew larger and larger, transforming into something different. The figure was much taller than Arron, standing at around nine feet, with armored plates covering much of its body. What was exposed, however, was it's stomach and chest, revealing heavily ripped muscles that resembled the human abdomen, although fur-covered. It's arms and legs were clad in the same bony material that Arron had been covered in before, but it was stylized and had odd symbols carved into it. It's back was even more armored, with an almost armadillo-like quality to it, overlapping plates extending and retracting with each breath. A massive bushy tail swisher side to side across the earth, kicking up dust as the creature prepared to pounce. It was crouched forward, hands open palmed and on the ground to provide extra support as well as to display it's wicked six inch claws that had sprouted from its hands.

What stood in the middle of the ring wasn't the small, badger-like pokemon that Goh knew before, but his massive, lycanthropic evolution designed with only one purpose in mind: to destroy. Everything about it was built for combat, from it's rippled muscles to it's hunched but graceful figure.

But the worst part was the hole in it's chest. It was black and inky, like the deep void of the freezing ocean, and it was almost hypnotic in nature. Goh hated looking at it, because it reminded him of his dreams, and the problematic conclusions he was going to have to face tonight.

But he couldn't focus on that right now. Right now, he had to focus on beating Kane.

Arron, or whatever his name was now, hadn't attacked yet, but he absolutely was poised to strike, and seemed to be itching to do so. Both Trevenant and Arron's evolution stared each other down, and Kane hadn't made a move as of yet, although his eyes had narrowed in irritation.

In the blink of an eye, Kane snapped his fingers and Trevenant launched another shadow ball. Just as quickly, however, Arron's evolution sliced it out of the air, the ball splitting into two and hitting separate corners of the Arena. Then he leaped forward and slammed into Trevenant with the force of a rhino, using his elbow to maximize damage. Goh could hear the splintering of wood as Trevenant landed on the ground, Arron's evolution on top of it. Then he began to rake trevenant apart with his claws, leaving deep incisions on its woody flesh. Kane began to shout orders again, but it was no use: Trevenant was immobilized both due to Arron's weight and the ice that was quickly consuming it.

After a few minutes of carnage, Arron's evolution lifted himself off on Trevenant and leaped backwards, landing on the ground just in front of Goh, his bushy tail nearly knocking Goh over.

Goh placed a hand on his back plates, feeling them shift and clink together. Arron's evolution looked back at him, his two turquoise eyes focusing on Goh for just a moment before they both heard Trevenant rise from the ground, heavily damaged but still able to fight.

"Alright, we're going to beat him, you and I."

Arron's evolution responded quietly, far quieter than he'd expected such a massive beast to be. But his name hadn't changed: it was the same as before.

"Your name… it hasn't changed?" Goh asked, dumbstruck. Arron looked back at him with an odd expression, as if he were saying yeah, duh!

Goh composed himself: that could be addressed later. For now, he had to beat Kane.

"It seems I underestimated you two," He said, a grim smile on his face. "That just means I have no reason to hold back. Trevenant, use a wood hammer!"

Trevenant grumbled and lunged forward as fast as a sentient tree could, swinging his arm at Arron. Arron simply raised his own arm to parry the blow before punching Trevenant straight in the face with the other in quick succession, sending him sliding backwards with a trail of dust kicked up along his path. Trevenant, despite his poor condition, didn't seem fazed by the fatigue of battle, but was rather still quite empowered. He growled before unleashing another shadow ball, which struck Arron on his arm, charging the bone plates but otherwise leaving him undamaged.

Kane seemed at a loss on how to beat Arron, but he simply snapped his fingers. "Trevenant, use mystical fire!"

Trevenant inhaled before unleashing a vortex of green fire in Arron's general direction, engulfing him in a cascade of emerald flame. But he just stood there, letting the fire consume him. After a few moments, the fire dissipated, leaving Aaron mildly burned. Goh didn't understand why Kane would use such an underpowered move, but he didn't have to wait long.

"Trevenant, use Hex!"

The mystical fire was only a means to an end. Trevenant crossed it's arms together and focused it's one angry eye, a dark, malignant force surrounding Arron and sleeping at his health. Arron fell to a kneeling position before getting back up, his constitution obviously fractioned.

Kane seemed satisfied with that outcome. "Trevenant, use a shadow ball!"

Trevenant flung yet another shadow ball like a catapult, sending it flying into Arron's chest and sending him backwards a few feet, his entire chest charred. But he quickly responded despite his sluggish demeanor by… biting on his own tongue? It seemed like Arron had become confused, but he quickly began to build a massive charge of pearl white energy in his maw before releasing it, the energy freezing Trevenant into a literal ice sculpture in a matter of minutes. Kane was alarmed by the sheer force of the blast, until the ice shattered, leaving Trevenant unconcerned on the ground. Arron's scorched flesh and burnt armor slowly knit itself together just after Trevenant collapsed, as if the ice had drained Trevenant to heal Arron.

-Trevenant is unable to battle-

Kane clenched and unclenched his hands in irritation, looking down on Goh as if he was inferior. Goh gave him a smirk in return, confident in Arron's abilities.

"As I stated before, I won't be holding back." Stated Kane. "If you think you're out of the woods now, then you're a fool." Kane then returned Trevenant to his ball before reaching for another pokeball, gripping it tightly. "You seem confident in yourself. I'll fix that."

Kane tossed out a ball, releasing a far bigger pokemon this time. "Go, Tyranitar!"