Saw a few people have taken to leaving their characters' team members in the ANs, so I thought "why not"?

Nate: Ruffles (Rufflet), Mister Jaw (Vibrava), Mary (Marill), Puppy (Growlithe)

Samantha: Crasher (Obstagoon), Crossbones (Mandibuzz)

Rosa: Shane (Snivy)

Hugh: Blaze (Tepig)

[Nate]

Reaching Floccesy was weird for a reason I'd never expected. Ever since setting off on my journey, I have always traveled from place to place only via transports. From Castelia to Pinwheel Forest to Nacrene and back? I used a bus. From Virbank to Aspertia? A bus again.

I had honestly forgotten trainers normally prefer moving from city to city on foot, be it for sightseeing or to seek out new members for their teams or any other reason. Only a very few choose not to do that.

When I suggested taking a bus to reach Floccesy and Samantha, Rosa and Hugh answered with confused looks, I realized I unwittingly became one of those. Which, in turn, made me realize how far my reasons to take the Gym challenge have strayed away. When I started, all I wanted was to travel through Unova and see all it had to offer, catch new Pokémon I never saw before and challenge the Gym leaders as a fun challenge. Now…now why am I even challenging Gyms? I could get stronger just by training with Dawn and Eugenio, we could be moving to Driftveil before the PWT opens up. Eugenio would still need to stop by Nimbasa because of his sponsorship with dad, yes, but I wouldn't be slowing them down because of the Toxic Badge right now.

Then it hits me. The sponsorship. The Terra Foundation is paying me to challenge Gyms, just like dad is paying Eugenio.

Is this all that Pokémon battling has become for me? A means to get paid when I'm not in a life or death situation?

"Oh hey! Good morning!"

That greeting snaps me out of my thoughts and I turn around to see a surprised Rosa just outside the elevator to the lobby of the Pokémon Center waving at me.

"I uhm," she tries to say, a smile struggling to form on her face while she walks over to me. "I see you're up early."

"Yeah," I respond, scratching my head as I do so. "I just…wanted to be on time and ended up waking up early."

It's a lie. I slept poorly the whole night, thinking over and over about how far I've strayed from being a normal trainer, as well as my concerns about Mister Jaw and Mary I've had all the other nights after facing Cheren. Of course, Rosa doesn't need to concern herself about that.

"What about you?" I continue, trying to muster a smile. "Excited to get your next team member?"

The smile that forms on her face then feels more genuine. "Yep!"

"Have you decided what kind of team you're going to build?"

At that, she folds her arms behind her back and taps a foot nervously. "I haven't, actually," she giggles. "I guess I'll figure it out on the spot."

I just nod to that. "That's good."

An awkward silence settles between us after that, with the two of us just standing in there without anything to say to the other.

Rosa ends up being the one to try and break the ice. "Also, I…," she stutters, "I-I wanted to say I'm really really sorry about Mary."

Uh?

"I didn't realize she was suffering and I-I know I wanted to get started, but I'm not- I mean, I didn't-" she stops herself for a moment, her face now red as a tomato. She lowers her head, a look filled with shame on her face. "I'm sorry."

I blink confusedly as she does all of that, "Rosa, what are you talking about?"

"Your Marill," she responds, head still lowered. "I hadn't realized training with Shane was hurting her."

…that is what was on her mind this whole time?!

"What are you even saying?" I tell her, causing her to raise her head and look at me confusedly. "I never said training Shane was harming her. If it had, do you think I wouldn't have relied on another of my Pokémon?"

"B-but," she responds, "what you said happened to her, and the way you were like after the Gym-"

Oh dear…

"Trust me," I state through a sigh, "friendly bouts with a Snivy are not a problem. It's when the fighting gets more competitive that there is a problem. As for me…" I let out another sigh. "Well, it wasn't you or Shane I was angry with, if that's what you're worried about. I was disappointed with myself, for the exact same reasons Hugh scolded me."

She looks at me wide-eyed as she listens to my words.

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

"Make me feel bad?" she responds after a wince. "Dude!"

"What?"

"You and your team risked your lives to protect Pokémon from bad guys! I don't think I could have done as much in your shoes!" She furrows her brow. "If anything, it's Hugh who should apologize for scolding you!"

What?

"But he was right," I protest. "I should have paid more attention to my Pokémon."

"Dude, you said you're the same age as me and Hugh yourself," Rosa insists. "If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't have been able to handle them as well as you have."

I doubt that's true, considering I haven't actually done much to help them as of now.

Before I can argue Rosa's words, however, we're cut off by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Rosa turns around, and it is only then I notice Samantha standing behind her with her arms crossed, her expression as boisterous as ever.

"Sam!" Rosa exclaims, followed by a nervous giggle. "Uhm, how much have you…?"

"A bit," Samantha says, glancing between me and Rosa. "Am I correct in assuming we can consider the air between you two cleared?"

"Uhm…"

"Well, we didn't really…"

"I mean we were…"

"Good enough for me," she cuts our ramblings off. "You two had better have breakfast if you haven't already, because Hugh shouldn't be too far behind me. We move out as soon as he's here."

"Gotcha," Rosa replies before rushing to the Center's bar. I just stay in place as I watch her go, as I already gave my team some treats. I didn't really feel like eating.

"So," Samantha asks before long, "how is your team doing?"

"Well enough," I tell her. "I've let them rest for now, but I'm planning on having Puppy train with Ruffles for the time being."

That I'm not having Mister Jaw and Mary fight in any situation for now goes unsaid. I'm going to wait until I can rely on Seteth for easier communication between us before I do anything with them.

"Good," is all Samantha can say. "Good."

We are left with nothing more to say after that and wait until Hugh arrives, scowling at me the moment our eyes meet. Before long, Rosa also comes back and, after Hugh assures her he's fed Blaze and doesn't want breakfast - to which Samantha rolls her eyes - we all leave the Pokémon Center and head for the other side of Floccesy, where the beginning of Route 20 is.

"Here we are," Samantha declares as, about half an hour later, we step onto the grassland with a flowing river outside Floccesy, the tops of a few buildings far in the distance. "This road is all there is between us and Virbank. Before we head there, though, I suggest we start looking for new members to your teams nearby. Especially you." She nudges to Rosa. "Gym Leader Roxie trains Poison-types, which Shane is weak against."

Rosa smiles and nods at that. "Gotcha."

Samantha nods back. "Good. Now, any questions?"

"Could we go to the Floccesy Ranch?" Hugh asks. "I've heard a Pokémon called Riolu can be found there, and I'm interested in catching one."

Samantha smirks. "So you decided to be a Fighting-types specialist, eh?" She chuckles when Hugh doesn't respond. "I can respect that."

Unsure what that's about, I lean closer to Rosa. "What's a Riolu?" I whisper in her ear.

"No idea," she replies.

"You two got any problem if we go there?" Samantha intervenes, looking at the two of us.

"None at all," Rosa instantly replies.

"Sure thing," I add. "Though I don't really know much about this 'Floccesy Ranch'. Is it close?"

"According to the Pokémon Center's personnel, it is north of here," Hugh replies curtly before nudging in said direction. "Follow me."

He takes the lead from there and we head northward, following a path among the trees that starts going up after a bit. Nothing particularly interesting happens for most of our trek, but at one point some odor I can't recognize enters my nose. An odor that grows stronger the further we go up, and as it does that it resembles more and more the smell of…smoke?

"Hey guys," I intervene when I realize that. "Can you smell it t-?"

"Hey look up!"

As Samantha says that, we all turn our heads upward, and I widen my eyes as at the top of the hill, from a spot close to where we're heading, there is a column of dark fog going up in the sky.

"What the…?" I mutter.

"Oh, sweet Arceus!" Rosa exclaims.

Hugh doesn't say anything, but at the edge of my vision I see him frown and grab Blaze's Poké Ball.

"No!" I wince, taken by surprise by Samantha's words. Turning to her, there's a frown deeper than anything I've seen before on her face. "You three stay here where you're safe. I'll go ahead and see what's going on."

"But-"

Before Rosa can even finish her protest, Samantha calls out Crossbones and the Mandibuzz activates Fly as her trainer climbs on top of her. While the two take off, Samantha steals one last glance in my direction, and the look in her eyes tells me what she is not saying.

"Keep an eye on them."

After a gulp, I nod. I'm not sure if she manages to see that before Crossbones takes her away.

"Tch," Hugh mutters under his breath. "Should have let us come too. We can help."

"This is for the best," I tell him, causing him to turn to me with a less-than-pleased expression. "We don't know what is happening up there. Best if we know what we're up against."

Hugh lets out a disgusted scoff and turns his head away from me.

With no idea what else to tell him, I return my gaze toward Crossbones and-

I almost have a heart attack when a strong jet of water shoots up from past the vegetation covering our view, aimed at the Mandibuzz. The Flying-type manages to dodge in time, but before long another jet shoots out. She dodges it again, and again when there's a third one, but there's always another one cutting off whatever escape she tries to take.

"Sam!" Rosa calls out, panic filling her voice.

What is going on over there? If there's a Water-type, why is it attacking Samantha instead of dealing with whatever is causing the smoke?

Unless…

"Oh no," I say, drawing Hugh's attention while Rosa keeps looking at the frantically flying Mandibuzz. I pay both little attention as I raise my C-Gear to my face, starting to dial 911 before-

"SAM!"

I look up again at Rosa's latest scream. To my horror, I see Crossbones fall out from the sky and into the vegetation up ahead, with Samantha right behind her.

"Sam!" Rosa cries out before breaking into a run through the rest of the way up, slipping past me when I try to grab her.

"Rosa, wait!" I try to call after her, to no avail.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Hugh grunts a "screw this," and follows her right after.

I suddenly get the feeling I didn't apologize to Eugenio and Dawn enough for Relic Castle.

Regardless, after those two leave me behind, I grab Ruffles' Poké Ball and call him out.

"Ruf," he squawks as he materializes, already flapping his wings.

"Go after them," I tell him. "I'll be right behind you."

"Ruf," he responds with a nod of his head and then flies after Rosa and Hugh.

True to what I told Ruffles, I start running up the way as well, but am unable to go as fast as I'd like as I still call the police. I manage to give them a quick rundown of what happened until now, the stench of smoke growing stronger and stronger all the way. When I arrive at the top and in front of the wooden gate marking the entrance to the ranch, the sight of what is happening leaves me too stunned to keep talking.

Some distance away from the gate, a wooden cottage I assume to be the farm is burning, high flames covering it from top to bottom. I stare in disbelief as the fire chars at the wood and its fumes go up into the sky. I'm able to recover my wits just in time to notice the confirmation of my worries.

Not too far ahead from me, Rosa and Hugh are standing side by side. In front of them, Shane and Blaze are fighting a Purrloin and a Patrat respectively. Above that, Ruffles is trading blows with one of those Pokémon Eugenio and Dawn called 'Golbat'. Past those fights, I see a trio of Team Plasma members.

"Sir?" the lady on the other end of the line calls. "Sir, what's going on?"

Still processing what I'm seeing, I turn my wrist so that she can see for herself. Her following gasp is hard to miss.

"Holy…sir, you and your friends get away from there, we'll arrive as soon as we can." She hangs up afterward.

I wish it could be as simple as she put it. Unfortunately, past Rosa and Hugh, I get a glimpse at some fences to the side of the farm, where I see Samantha resting her back against said fences and one of her legs remains stretched out. Crossbones is nowhere to be seen, but a tall hunched Pokémon with black fur stands between her and about half a dozen other Plasma members and another man wearing a lab coat and with some kind of blue stripe of cloth dangling from his hair.

What frightens me the most, though, is when I notice a Skuntank standing among the Plasma recruits. More specifically, close to one without the hat all the others wear and with her purple hair kept in a pair of ponytails.

"Jupiter."

Oh no, no, no, she's the last person that should be here! As if Rosa - the one I was supposed to protect from Team Plasma - being here wasn't bad enough, now Samantha is also in trouble. What do I do? What do I-?

"Ruf!"

I look toward Ruffles' direction again. While he flies above Rosa and Hugh with his head turned to me, Shane and Blaze have taken down their opponents while I wasn't looking and are now trying to keep the Golbat at bay as it flies around to avoid their attacks. Two of the grunts are trying to stay behind the third one - presumably the one with the Gobat - but are making no attempt to escape just yet.

As my and my Pokémon's eyes meet, I nod to him solemnly. "I'm coming." He nods back, turns back to the Golbat and then tackles it, forcing it to the ground where it's an easy target for Shane and Blaze. Ruffles prevents it from taking off again with a series of pecks.

While the three Pokémon knock out the Flying-type, I rush to Rosa and Hugh's side. "I'm here, guys," I tell them, making both turn to me. "What's the situation?"

"Can't you tell?!" A frowning Hugh furiously responds, making me wince. "We caught these scums trying to burn down the Ranch!"

While I recover from the sudden intensity of his tone, Ruffles and the others manage to knock out the Golbat. As the Plasma member to the front recalls it, Ruffles starts flying around the trio with his talons visibly stretched out and his eyes set in a scowl, with Shane and Blaze keeping their eyes on them.

"I-I meant besides that," I tell Hugh.

"We don't know," Rosa intervenes, face set in a worried expression as she shakes her head. She turns to where the other group of Plasma members is, Samantha's Pokémon now surrounded by five pacing Liepards and Jupiter's Skuntank.

"When we arrived, Sam was already there and Crossbones was gone. That woman," she points at Jupiter, "and the scientist-looking guy were next to her and Sam was cursing at them."

Cursing? What did they-?

Taking a better look at Jupiter, I notice something new to her outfit. Her left hand and shoulder are both covered with some kind of gray armor, with a cable connecting the two, much like the one Eugenio and Dawn said Purple Eyes had. Also, Jupiter is juggling a Poké Ball in her armored hand.

Please don't tell me that is what I think it is.

"We tried to reach her when the others started gathering around her, but," Her eyes narrow as she turns back to the three members our Pokémon are keeping under watch, "she noticed us and sent them our way."

One of the grunts, the only lady of the trio, frowns. "You kids have done a big mistake messing with Team Plasma!"

"Shut up!" Hugh growls at her. She tries to respond with a glare, but the embers coming out of Blaze's snout as he snorts make her desist.

I turn back to Samantha, just in time to see the Liepards jumping at her Pokémon while the Skuntank spits out a Flamethrower.

"Crasher, use Obstruct!" Samantha commands, the fear in her tone easy to hear.

The black-furred Pokémon crosses its arms in front of its chest and summons a large white X, against which the Liepards bounce off and the jet of fire dispels. Even after that, though, it doesn't move away from its position, standing as the only thing between its trainer and its adversaries.

I feel myself being dragged by an arm. "Come on!" Rosa says urgently as she pulls it. "We've gotta help her!"

I need a moment to register what she's saying. We've gotta help her. Me and her and Hugh. Against Jupiter. A woman who had no qualms about trying to kill me or Dawn when she had a chance.

I pull my arm out of Rosa's grip. "There is not a 'we' this time," I tell her, causing her face to twist into a confused expression. "I'm going to help Samantha." I nudge at the Plasma members. "You and Hugh keep an eye on these three."

Rosa's eyes widen. "What?!"

"Trust me on this. You two have both just one Pokémon to rely on. I've got a larger team. It's better if I handle this."

A malicious chuckle comes out of one of the Plasma members' mouth, turning the attention to him. "Oh really? That is not what happened last time, boy."

I frown at him. "What are you talking about?" I don't think we've met before. Then again, it's hard to tell them apart with their faces half-covered.

"I was there at the Relic Castle, you know? I was one of the two holding you for the Commander." A shiver goes through my body at hearing that. "Do you really expect to fare any better this time?" He glances at Hugh and Rosa. "I don't see a former Champion saving your skin this time."

…

"What's he talking about?" Hugh asks me as he arches an eyebrow.

"My worst mistake yet," I confess. The whole reason the three of us are chasing Team Plasma while Dawn could have kept a stable job and Eugenio could have been able to settle into our world. Two more people that are suffering because of me.

But I'll be damned if I let more suffer because of my inaction.

"One that I'm going to correct now." I harden my gaze and look up to Ruffles, who is now flying in place and looking down at me. "Are you coming?"

"Ruf!" he responds as he flies down and lands on my shoulder. I nod to him and he nods back.

"Be careful," Rosa warns me.

"You too with these three," I tell her and then walk where the fighting is going.

As I slowly approach, Samantha's Pokémon proves to be a force to be reckoned with. When the Liepards lunge at it again, it's able to uppercut two mid-air and send them flying back. The other three manage to land on top of it, but as they dig their claws into its arms, the Skuntank spits out another Flamethrower. 'Crasher' then swings its shoulder around in a way that puts two more Liepards between itself and the jet of fire.

When the Skuntank stops its attack, the other two Dark-types let go of the larger Pokémon and fall at its feet unconscious. With one of its arms free, Crasher reaches for the last Liepard's neck as electrical sparks dance within its claws.

The feline Pokémon yelps in pain as the electricity goes through its body, and when it's also passed out, Crasher tosses it against the Plasma group. The scientist remains out of its trajectory and Jupiter narrowly dodges it, but two of the recruits are not as fortunate, as the Liepard lands on top of them.

It is while Jupiter turns to look disapprovingly at her subordinates, that she notices me. Her eyes widen when our gazes meet, but then her face twists into a devious smirk. I try not show the fear creeping up inside of me.

"Well, well, well," she snickers. "Look who's here. How is your neck doing, kiddo?"

It takes all I have not to reach for my throat and massage it. Meanwhile, the other Plasma members and Jupiter's Skuntank turn to me. The Pokémon makes an expression matching its trainer, while the recruits that aren't stuck beneath the Liepard reach for another Poké Ball. The scientist just adjusts his glasses.

"What the hell are you doing, Junior?!" Samantha shouts from behind her Pokémon. "Run! Take the others away from here!"

I shake my head as I meet her panicked gaze. "I'm not leaving you here!"

"You have to!" She points at Jupiter's armored arm. "Do you know what that thing is?!"

"Oh, I'm sure he does," Jupiter chimes in, her eyes never leaving me as she keeps smirking. "Your new friend is very well-acquainted with Snag Machines, or so I've been told. That is why you can't be smart and stay out of our way, can you? Not with a mentor such as yours, with her own history of self-righteousness." Her head tilts as she shakes it. "It would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic."

I wish I could muster a stronger response than just holding my gaze steady against hers.

"Shall we deal with him, ma'am?" one of the recruits asks.

"Nah, he's too weak to pose any real threat."Jupiter reaches for another Poké Ball as her wicked grin widens. "I'm going to let my new friend here deal with him."

What comes out of that Poké Ball turns out to be a tall reptilian Pokémon covered in red scales, with dark stripes covering all of its body. I feel a shiver at the sight of its sharp claws, wicked fangs sticking out of its elongated snout and eyes staring at me with an hateful glare.

"Krookodile, tear him to shreds!"

The Ground-type's jaws open to let out a loud threatening roar as it steps toward me. As it does so, Jupiter turns back to Samantha, the other Plasma members doing much the same.

As for me, I'm not in the position to do much about them.

"Ruffles!"

"Ruf!" my Pokémon squacks out as he takes off.

At first, Ruffles charges straight for the Krookodile's head and the Ground-type widens its jaws around him. Fortunately, Ruffles doesn't need my command to dodge out of the way at the last second and fly to the side. As he starts flying circles around the much larger Pokémon, forcing it in place, the Krookodile tries to take a bite at him more than once, but without much success.

While Ruffles has the Krookodile occupied like that, I grab another Poké Ball and call out Puppy, the Growlithe crouching down and growling at his opponent as soon as he materializes.

"Puppy, I'm going to need you to shoot Embers for now. Be careful not to hit Ruffles."

He barks affirmatively and trots closer to the Krookodile before spitting his fireballs. They don't do much against the much larger Pokémon, aside from making it turn its attention to him, but when the Krookodile raises one of its feet - no doubt intending to stomp it - that's when the next part of my plan comes in.

"Now, Wing Attack!"

Ruffles' wings glow and he breaks his previous trajectory to dive down against the Krookodile's other foot. I have a moment of panic when the impact isn't enough to make it lose its balance, but I quickly realize it's still wobbling in place, arms swinging wildly.

"Flame Charge!"

Fire erupts out of Puppy's mouth and swallows him whole. After that, he rushes the Krookodile and leaps, tackling its belly and making it fall down.

"Good, now get back! Ruffles, make sure it doesn't get up!"

The Rufflet follows my instructions and proceeds to attack with Wing Attacks and Pecks whenever the Krookodile tries to roll over or pushes itself up with its arms.

While that happens, I take the chance to look at what's happening with Samantha and Jupiter. The first thing I see is Crasher intercepting a Watchog's headbutt with nothing but a dark aura-enveloped chop to the head, the Normal-type fainting almost immediately. It's almost funny to see, except Crasher then winces as purple bubbles ooze out of its fur.

"Now is the time," the scientist intervenes. "Throw the Snag Ball!"

"Quiet four-eyes!" Jupiter retorts angrily. "I want to have some more fun first."

Good, there's still time. Maybe if I let Ruffles and Puppy keep the Krookodile busy I can…no wait, that would drag Mary or Mister Jaw into this and I can't. So maybe just Ruffles while Puppy-

A sudden shake beneath my feet interrupts my attention as I have to adjust the stance on my feet. A second almost makes me lose my balance. A third makes me land on my butt.

"What…?"

My eyes widen as they land on the Krookodile, and on the wagging tail that is slamming against the ground, sending shockwaves. Not as strong as those from a Bulldoze or Earthquake, as Puppy's only issue seems to be staying on his paws, but still strong enough that we can't get back up.

"Ruf!" Ruffles squawks as he glances at us.

That proves to be a mistake, as the Krookodile takes advantage of his distraction to reach up with one arm and grabs him by the chest. In one swift movement, the Krookodile rolls over and starts slamming Ruffles against the ground.

"No!"

Puppy mirrors my sentiment as he barks at the Krookodile. The Ground-type ignores us as it keeps slamming Ruffles, whose cries grow weaker and weaker. My nails dig into the grass below me as I watch one of my Pokémon being brutalized once more.

"Puppy, bite the tail!"

The Growlithe wastes no time and breaks into a run as embers dance around his fangs. The Krookodile's tail is still and an easy target when he leaps at it.

The Ground-type lets out a pained yelp and then turns around to see Puppy dangling by its tail. It tries to reach it with a swipe of its claws, but they only meet air as Puppy lets the tail go and drops on all four again, matching the Krookodile's glare as he does so.

"Keep it busy."

Puppy barks at that and runs to the side, the Krookodile chasing after him. I take the opportunity to rush to Ruffles.

I find him blinking his eyes while he tries to help himself on his talons again, his head wobbling and all the feathers on his body more ruffled than usual, but no major injury that I can see, thankfully.

"R…" he mutters, "Ruf…?"

"Shhh, it's okay," I tell him as I pick a Potion from my bag and apply it to him. "Let me patch you up and-"

"Arf!"

I turn where that came from, only to be horrified at the sight of Puppy being kept in a headlock by the Krookodile. The very same kind of headlock Jupiter kept me in at Relic Castle.

"Let him go, you freak!"

The Krookodile doesn't acknowledge my words and just holds onto the struggling Growlithe in its arms. Even worse, when Puppy tries to muster flames out of his mouth, it covers his face with a hand, gritting its fangs as weaker and weaker embers pass between its fingers.

I hasten myself with applying the Potion to Ruffles until he's recovered enough to be stable on his talons. Not a moment too soon, as I see Puppy going limp within its arms.

"Ruf!"

As Ruffles squawks at it, the Krookodile turns its head toward us. I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding when it lets Puppy go and instead glares at Ruffles. He's not moving, but I can see his chest rise and fall.

"Alright Ruffles, I'm going to need you to hit it with as many Wing Attacks as you can, but be careful not to get caught."

Ruffles takes off again and flies up and up, only to then go for a dive down with his glowing wings spread wide. The Krookodile stays in place as he comes down, which makes me worry it might have some trick up its sleeves.

It does. Much to my shock, when Ruffles is mid-dive, the Krookodile lets out a roar and summons several hovering rocks and then, with a wave of its arms, throws them Ruffles' way.

"Dodge!"

It's no good. There are too many of them, and while Ruffles manages to avoid the first few, once the first hits him, the rest follow suit. Before long, Ruffles falls out of the sky, buried by more rocks, and the Krookodile turns to glare at me.

Alright, enough is enough. Fits of rage or not, Mister Jaw is the strongest member of my team, and I've got to-

Before I can actually pick up my Vibrava's Poké Ball, the only other occupied one opens up and Marill materializes in front of me, arms flexed in front of herself.

"Mar!"

"What are you doing, Mary?!" I cry out. "Get back!"

She ignores me, even though she's shaking in place.

The Krookodile narrows its eyes at her for a moment. It then lets out a roar, at which she takes a step back.

I make to grab her Poké Ball and recall her, but before I can, the Krookodile stomps a foot to the ground, causing fissures to open up and come our way, accompanied by a strong shockwave. Mary is sent flying right into my chest, where she lands with such force that I'm unbalanced long before the brunt of the shockwave gets beneath my feet. When it does, I end up falling on top of my back and with air pressed out of my lungs as Mary lands on my ribcage.

As I lay there, trying to catch my breath again, I take the chance to see how Crasher is doing. It and Jupiter's Skuntank are now the only Pokémon I can see battling as they exchange Night Slashes, but Crasher seems to be stepping back with every blow traded.

This is not good. I need to do something with this Krookodile or Samantha and her Pokémon are both in big trouble.

As if on cue, I feel the ground shake, accompanied by the sound of stomps. I look up, only to see the Krookodile rushing at me, with its snout biting the air.

Oh no, no, no, no-

"Mar!" Mary says as she gets off of my chest. She furrows her brow at the approaching Ground-type.

"Get away, Mary!" I tell her. "Save yourself!"

She ignores me again, wraps her arms and legs around herself like a ball and starts rolling toward the Krookodile.

I try to reach out to her. "No, stop!"

Heedless of my words, she keeps rolling while water starts enveloping her, forming an Aqua Jet. The Krookodile conjures purple ethereal claws around its fingers and tries to intercept her. She barely avoids the Dragon Claw and keeps rolling until she's beneath the Krookodile's snout, after which she jumps up and uppercuts it.

Time seems to slow down with what happens next. Thanks to that uppercut, the Krookodile's head is forced to look up, where Mary goes as the water around her moves to around her tail. As gravity starts dragging her back, she tries to spin over, but my eyes widen at seeing a white light envelope her whole.

"No way."

As I watch Mary's body, ears, tail and limbs lengthen, I almost miss the fact that her Aqua Tail lands right between the Krookodile's eyes, or that the Ground-type falls to the side like a sack of potatoes shortly after.

Mary gracefully lands on her feet next to her downed opponent, and her glow starts dissipating as she turns around to me.

"A…"

She has now become twice her original height, with a fully blue oval-shaped body with white marking on her bottom, her round ears turned long and slim like Annette's. As she regards me with a triumphant smile, she raises her longer arms above.

"Zu!"

I blink repeatedly at the sight. "M-Mary? Did…did you just evolve?"

Her arms shake with excitement. "Azu! Azu a-"

Suddenly, her excitement dies down and her face twists into a look of horror. "Zu!" she says, pointing at something past me.

"What is-?" I ask, turning around only for my eyes to widen.

Crasher is laying on the ground, its eyes half-lidded and its breaths coming out irregularly and tired, with even more bubbles coming off of it now. As for the Skuntank, it's standing right in front of Samantha, with claws of its foreleg pointing at her throat.

Off to the side, while the recruits and the scientist are observing impassively, Jupiter chuckles. "Not bad. I admit, your Pokémon is pretty strong." Her left hand tightens around the Poké Ball she had been juggling, which emits a faint glow for a moment. "It's gonna be a fine replacement for Alder's Volcarona."

I barely register what she says about the former Champion as Jupiter chooses that moment to toss the Poké Ball. I can only watch in horror as it bounces against Crasher's snout, opens up, turns the Pokémon into red light and swallows it, just as if Crasher had been another wild Pokémon rather than trainer-owned. It shakes once, twice, thrice, and finally it clicks.

Silence follows in the immediate aftermath of that, and I stare in disbelief at Crasher's new Poké Ball. Team Plasma actually did it- They rebuilt the Snag Machine. They can steal any Pokémon they wish from any trainer.

"I will kill you!"

Samantha's sudden furious outburst draws my attention back to her. She tries to get up, only to wince and let out a pained hiss, clutching her outstretched leg. Despite that and the Skuntank threatening her, she still manages to find the strength to glare at Jupiter. "I will kill you for that, bitch! I will kill you and they'll never find your body!"

Jupiter lets out a mock shudder. "I'm quivering with fear. Truly."

"Zu?"

I turn to my side, and find Mary there with a worried expression on her face. "Azu?"

"I don't know," I tell her. There's no way I can get up and run to that Poké Ball faster than Jupiter. Even if she's busy mocking Samantha right now, she'll hear me if I try to approach, and then I'd have to fly to outspeed her.

…wait. Fly?

I grab Mister Jaw's Poké Ball and place it next to my mouth. "I need you to grab it before her. Can you do it?"

Mister Jaw shakes within his Poké Ball.

It's probably not the best idea. I'm not asking him to fight, but I have no idea how he's gonna be in this kind of situation. Still, he's the only flier I have with Ruffles knocked out.

"Anyway," Jupiter says as she starts walking toward the Poké Ball, "this one is coming with-"

I instantly toss mine.

"Vib!"

Mister Jaw's cry and the buzzing sound of his wings draw the attention of everyone, including Jupiter, who tries to grab him when he passes in front of her but fails. Flying as quickly as he can, he's able to grab the ball imprisoning Crasher, dodge a Flamethrower from the Skuntank and fly back to me. As he drops it in my hand and lands by my side, all Plasma members turn to me.

"What the-?" Jupiter mutters before she takes a glance past me, and her face twists into a scowl. "Useless pile of scales."

I try to sound as authoritative as I can next, though I don't think it works that well. "Stand down, Jupiter. It's over."

Her scowl turns into a smirk, though her eyes don't look that amused, and she crosses her arms. "Well, well. The pup's grown some fangs. Too bad he's tried to bite more than he can chew."

She snaps her fingers and what confidence I had seems to evaporate as her Skuntank points its glowing claws to Samantha's throat.

"Give it back. Unless you want to see what a slit throat looks like."

Oh dear Arceus, no!

"Don't listen to her!" Samantha calls out to me. "She's gonna do it no matter-!" The Skuntank's claws get closer to silence her.

"I wouldn't be so hasty with thinking I'm a liar," Jupiter chuckles. "After all, you are still breathing, aren't you?"

I let down a gulp. That had been because the Shadow Triad had stepped in. They're nowhere to be seen this time.

"So, what's it going to be? The Obstagoon, or its trainer?"

…Crasher is Samantha's Obst- no, no, no, focus! There has to be some other way, right? There has to be some way to get them both out of this. I…I can't trade one for the other.

"Commander Jupiter, I protest against this," the scientist suddenly intervenes with a scowl on his face. Jupiter lets out an annoyed huff as she turns to him. "Setting this farm on fire to draw the former Champion was one thing. But threatening someone's life-"

"Quiet, four-eyes!" Jupiter snaps at him. "You said it yourself, you're not in charge of this!"

The scientist doesn't say anything, but the way his frown deepens is hard to miss.

However, what he said about Alder makes me think of something. It's a crazy idea and will include a lot of bluffing, but it's the best I can think of on the spot.

"Let Samantha go!" I put a finger on the button near the seal between the red and white part. "Or I'm setting Crasher free."

Jupiter's head rolls backward as she lets out a full-on cackle this time, the recruits echoing her with some chuckles of their own.

"And what then?" she asks. "I've got more than one Poké Ball at the ready."

"Yes, but you'd have to go through my Pokémon before you can catch it again." I glance at Mary and Mister Jaw. "Isn't that right, guys?"

Mary's hands curl into fists that she slams against one another. "Azu!"

Mister Jaw takes to the air again and narrows his eyes. "Vib!"

Jupiter scoffs. "Am I supposed to be intimidated?"

I glance toward the Skuntank, and have a better look at how disheveled and dirty its fur is compared to before.

"I don't think your Pokémon can win fast enough before Alder arrives. He's the one you wanted to draw here, isn't he?"

For a moment, I feel a sense of triumph as Jupiter doesn't retort and seems to shift on her legs. Just a moment.

"How cute," she says, causing a knot to form in my throat. "Do you really think your Pokémon would be any more willing to let…Samara, was it? To let her die? Or do you think Skuntank would be incapable of slitting her throat just because you release that Obstagoon?"

…I'm so stupid.

Much to my shock, though, the scientist intervenes again. "He does raise a valid point, though. Former Champion Alder will be here at any moment now. We are no longer equipped to take him on after our clash with the Obstagoon."

"Who cares?"Jupiter scoffs. "The mission is already a success. We just have to take that Obstagoon."

The scientist shakes his head. "No, not really. All the tests that needed to be run, have been run. The subject responds to commands and the Snag Machine works. We can leave now."

Jupiter looks at him with utter bewilderment. "Are you serious?!"

"I am always serious." His brow furrows. "Now, I would advise you to let them both go, or I'll have to report that you endangered the mission for personal business. Because that is what your interest with one of Miss Dawn Hikari's pupils is, is it not?"

…I don't believe this. Is this guy helping me?

Jupiter lets out a low growl as she grits her teeth at him, but he doesn't give any sign of relenting on his point.

After a bit of that, Jupiter finally turns to the recruits. "Get back into the woods. We're pulling out."

They stare at her in disbelief. "Ma'am?"

"I said we're leaving!" she snaps. "All of you, get the hell out of here!"

None of them try to retort and they all quickly run off toward the vegetation surrounding the farm. Meanwhile, Jupiter recalls her Skuntank, much to Samantha's apparent relief.

"And you," she then adds as she points a finger, a deranged look in her eyes. "The next time we meet, you will not be so lucky."

Despite her words, I can't help but let out a breath of relief when she also leaves. The scientist follows her shortly after without saying anything, but for just a moment one of his eyes seems to wink at me.

Just who was that man?

"Azu!" Mary suddenly cheers, almost deafening one of my ears as she jumps in place. Her arms then reach around my neck and pull me into a hug. "Azu!"

Despite my bewilderment at that scientist's actions, I try to sound as cheery as I can while I pat her head. "Yeah, we won. Congratulations on evolving, by the way."

"Azu!" Her hug tightentens, so much so that I have to ask her to let go before she accidentally strangles me.

"Yes, very touching," Samantha sardonically calls over from the fence. It doesn't escape me that she looks less pale than she did a moment ago. "Now, could you come help me up? My leg isn't feeling so good."

"Be there in a moment," I respond as I get off from the ground. Mary and Mister Jaw follow me as I reach her, and then I wrap one of her arms around my shoulders, while Mister Jaw pulls up her other and Mary offers her help sustaining herself.

While we do that, though, I hear Samantha mutter something under her breath. Something that sounds like a 'thanks', but I'm not sure.

"What was that?"

"I didn't say anything!" she hastily replies.

Huh, I must have misheard, then.

Hey there. It's been some time, hasn't it? Sorry about that, January was a pretty rough month for me, and on top of that I got a bad case of burnout and impostor syndrome. I'm doing better now, so don't worry.

Hope this longer chapter made up for the wait.

Anyway, thanks to Softandhappy and Krosrodes for betareading. You can find us at the Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a

See you guys next time!