"Mom, look what we got!" Kristine boasted as she and Jason showed their mother their Mystic Badges through the video call at the pokemon center.

"Wow, congratulations!" Veronica smiled, proud of her children. "You're on the path now, but you have a long way to go!"

"Yep!" Jason replied. "Our next stop is Saint Brandon for the Tranquility Gym.

"Tranquility Gym, huh?" Veronica seemed intrigued. "That's about a week and a half away from where you're at, if I can recall correctly. It's a breathtaking landscape between Fort Lexing and Saint Brandon. I hear Lake Serenity is beautiful at this time of year.

"Awesome!" Kristine said. "It was a bit rough to get to Fort Lexing."

"Tell me about it," Jason chuckled.

"Well, getting to Saint Brandon shouldn't be too much of a problem," Veronica said. "Just make sure to contact me when you get your Tranquility Badges, especially if you're moving east."

"That's right," Kristine mentioned. "After Saint Brandon, we'll have to go through the Nappalchan Mountains."

"But we don't need to worry about that," Jason added.

"Yet," Veronica corrected. "Anyways, continue to be safe out there, kids."

"We will, Mom," Kristine assured her.

"Love you always," Veronica replied.

"Love you too!" Jason and Kristine said at the same time before Veronica shut off the comm feed.

"Well, sis," Jason got up. "I say it's time to head out to Harmony Road."

"You bet!" Kristine agreed.

The two packed up and were fully supplied to head out of Fort Lexing and continue their adventure. They exited the city from the north side, going through a gate that took them into Route 104 – Harmony Road.

The terrain seemed flat, full of grassy fields and sporadic trees. The winds blew gently as the twins enjoyed the cool breeze and crisp air. They heard the occasional chirps of various flying pokemon throughout.

"You know, I've been thinking," Kristine pondered. "It's time for our pokemon to learn some new moves."

"It's a good idea," Jason agreed. "But what do you have in mind?"

"Like how you taught Ralts and Pikachu to use Double Team via Jolteon," Kristine mentioned. "I can have Pikachu teach Jolteon Thunder Shock, or you can have Taillow teach Fletchling Wing Attack. And if we keep training with each other, our pokemon are bound to know some good moves."

"I'd like that," Jason gave a nod.

The two continued down the road and began their supposed training as early as lunchtime when they parked themselves at a nice, quiet grassy field.

Jason and Kristine had all of their Pokemon out. Pikachu began teaching Jolteon to learn Thunder Shock.

"Pika-chuuuuu!" Pikachu unleashed a thunderous shock, demonstrating to Jolteon how to project that kind of electric energy.

"Jolt-eon!" Jolteon tried to follow Pikachu's lead, but instead, he projected Thunder Wave.

"Try to project your lightning energy at the target," Jason walked over to Jolteon. "You want to make it a fearsome attack."

Jolteon gave a nod. He did his best to harness electric energy through his coat. "Jolt-eon!"

Then, Jolteon shot out a bolt of lightning just like Pikachu did.

"Sweet!" Kristine noticed. "Your Jolteon is learning Thunder Shock."

"Looks like we have a damaging electric attack!" Jason seemed impressed. "That's perfect for me."

Meanwhile, Ralts stood at a considerable distance away, in the middle of a grassy field. "Ralts!" she lifted her hands. Then the leaves and flowers around her glowed a bright purple as they floated into the air.

"Hey, what's Ralts doing?" Kristine asked.

"Huh?" Jason looked over. "Hmm. I think Ralts is learning Magical Leaf."

"Isn't that a grass-type move?"

"Yeah, but Ralts is doing it through telekinesis."

Suddenly, Taillow and Fletchling swooped over Jason and Kristine.

Kristine looked up to see that both of their wings are glowing. "Hey, I think Taillow is teaching Fletching Wing Attack!"

Jason looked up as well. He seemed impressed. "I think this is working out real well."

"Perhaps Jolteon can teach Espeon Swift," Kristine continued. "I think she might need a better defense than Sand Attack."

"And Swift can be used offensively as well," Jason added. "At this rate, I think we'll be just fine when we challenge the Tranquility Gym."

"Let's see…." Kristine looked at her field guide. "Team Tranquility. They've been around for almost 50 years, but it says here they were originally founded to combat the illegal operations that some syndicates were conducting here."

"Like what, Team Rocket?" Jason seemed surprised.

"No, that's Kanto. Well, mainly Kanto."

"What group organized here?"

"Well, there was a rogue group right from Fort Lexing," Kristine explained as she read on. "They specialized in the capture of legendary pokemon to sell them in black markets. And there was a group in Viceport that imported illegal performance enhancers from other parts of the world, so the competition was highly controversial back then.

"Apparently, crime was rampant all over Inventum, especially after The War, so Team Tranquility was founded with Lugia as its sigil, which makes it appropriate. You know the children's stories about how Lugia made Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos get along?"

Jason gave a nod.

"Well, Tranquility worked with police all over Inventum to put the bad seeds in prison and replace them with good people. That's partially how we have groups like Team Mystic, who helps regions with conservation and understanding the more mysterious side of pokemon. Not to mention many others."

"So what does Tranquility do now?" Jason asked.

"They are responsible for the preserves surrounding Saint Brandon," Kristine replied. "Like Mystic, they have pokemon rangers, but they span from Lake Serenity to the western end of the Nappalchan Mountains."

"So we'll be seeing Tranquility soon."

"Yep."

An hour later, the two packed up, recalled their pokemon, and continued down Harmony Road. They camped at a grassy field by night, and the next morning, they spent more than an hour training their pokemon. Most pokemon tried out and attempted to perfect new moves.

Taillow, who was alongside Fletchling, let out a harrowing supersonic screech that suddenly left Fletchling dazed.

"What's going on, you two?" Kristine walked over.

She noticed that Fletchling was stumbling all over the place before falling on his side.

"Taillow!" Taillow greeted.

"Oh boy," Kristine laughed. "Taillow, you know Supersonic."

"Taillow!" Taillow nodded.

"Okay, come back, Fletchling," Kristine recalled him.

"You should've kept Fletchling out there," Kristine heard a distant voice.

"Hmm?" she looked up to see Alex, the boy that Jason supposedly doesn't like.

"Your Fletchling should learn how to deal with that situation," Alex continued. "He won't get any stronger if you just recall him."

"Well, I can make my own decisions and handle myself, thank you very much," Kristine replied.

"Whatever," Alex crossed his arms. "If you want to be a pro, then you should start thinking like one."

"Hey, what's going on?" Jason walked over to Kristine.

"And of course, you're still hanging out with this knucklehead," Alex smirked.

"He's my brother, Alex," Kristine seemed annoyed. "How about you just leave us alone and go bother someone else?"

"Hmmph," Alex rolled his eyes and began to depart.

"Alex, were you just bothering my sister?" Jason stepped forward.

"I was just offering her advice," Alex turned around. "She seemed more open-minded than you."

"Hey now," Kristine stepped in. "Don't talk to Jason like that. He did nothing to you."

"That's it, Alex!" Jason took several large steps forward. "Me and you. Three on three! Let's go!"

Alex maintained his smirk and crossed his arms. "But I already know which pokemon you will be using. Taillow, Ralts, and Jolteon. I have already caught nine pokemon since I started. You're way behind the game."

Taillow, Ralts, and Jolteon all ran by Jason's side.

"Alright, then!" Jason said. "Taillow, let's go!"

"Not worth my time," Alex began to depart once more. "I have direct counters to your pokemon. I would win three to zero, easily."

"How do you know that?" Jason took more steps forward.

"Jason, don't," Kristine got in front of him.

Alex then walked out of sight.

"He knows how to push my buttons," Jason held back his frustrations.

"He's not worth it," Kristine replied. "Besides, he's all talk. He hasn't seen you battle."

"The only time we battled was near Spring Haven when you were recovering," Jason recollected. "He used Chimchar when I used Jolteon when he was Eevee, of course. He defeated me and pretty much labeled me as inferior since."

"But the next time we fight, you'll regret ever becoming a pokemon trainer!" Jason yelled as loud as he could. "You hear me, Alex!?"

"Okay," Kristine smiled, trying to calm Jason down. "Let's head back and get some breakfast, okay?"

Jason took a deep breath. "Okay."

The two headed back to camp, where Kristine prepared breakfast for herself and Jason.

"I totally want to battle Alex," Jason ranted. "I want a rematch with Jolteon and Chimchar."

"Okay, Jason," Kristine smiled as he served him stew. "Let's focus on breakfast and then heading towards Saint Brandon."

Jason sighed. "Very well. But Alex is mine someday."

"I'm sure he will be," Kristine sat down next to him with a bowl of stew in her hands.

Jason took a sip from his bowl. "This is pretty good," he complimented his sister.

Kristine nodded. "What can I say? I learn from the best," she referred to their mother.

"So, anything special on Route 104?" Jason asked.

"Just a lot of grassy fields and small hills," Kristine replied. "You'll get your occasional trainers looking to battle since this road, and Route 105 are popular for trainers trying to become good enough to fight in the Mystic or Tranquility Gyms."

"Fair enough," Jason took another sip from his stew.

"But," Kristine added. "Lake Serenity divides the two roads. It's a popular spot to relax. I think once we head there, we should relax for at least a day and train our Pokemon while we're at it."

"Any pokemon at Lake Serenity?" Jason asked.

"The handbook said it's full of magikarp and feebas," Kristine replied. "Rumors tell of what is called the Regal Milotic living in the bottom of the lake."

"Regal Milotic?" Jason seemed intrigued.

Kristine gave a nod. "This one is blue with a golden tail, rather than red with a blue tail."

"Interesting," Jason said. "But if there's magikarp in the Lake, I'm getting one!"

Kristine snickered. "Living the dream, huh?"

"Imagine it, sis," Jason had a vision. "The day Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, he will be part of a strong team. Everyone would already respect me just because I have Gyarados!"

"Yeah, well, good luck with that," Kristine spoke the truth. "It took many gyarados owners years to not only evolve their magikarp but to command their gyarados' respect."

"You're right," Jason replied. "But if there's a will, there's a way."

The two soon packed up and headed down Route 104. They spent the day traversing through Harmony Road, with a one-hour lunch break along the way. As the sunset, the two found a nice camping area at a flat, grassy field.

As the two set up their tent, they heard footsteps approach them. Kristine looked to see it was Liz, the redhead back in the Spring Haven pokemon center, who broke her arm.

"Hey there," Liz spoke. She didn't appear to have a cast or brace on her arm anymore.

"Hey, Liz!" Kristine happily greeted. "I suppose your arm fully healed, huh?"

Liz nodded. "I had a lot of ground covered. Figured Amanda and Bran were well ahead of me, so I managed to challenge Aria this morning and won."

"This morning?" that caught Jason's attention.

"Yep," Liz nodded. "I put Charmander on Wobbuffet. He took him out, but that Destiny Bond got him. Mankey takes on Dragonair, wins, loses to Vaporeon. Purrloin is up and wins by a hair.

"Boss Lady comes up to me, says I'm skilled, fierce, yada yada, hands me the Mystic Badge – sweet by the way – and now here I am."

"Well, congratulations," Kristine smiled. "You didn't waste any time, now did you?"

"Nope!" Liz chuckled. "Had to cover a lot of ground, yeah?" she looked around. "Anyways, mind if I set up shop next to you guys? I'm starving."

"Sure," Kristine smiled. "Make yourself at home."

"I can set up a campfire too," Liz continued. "Weather's getting a little chilly."

Liz gathered a pile of sticks and used a circle of dirt and mud to barrier the campfire. With an electric lighter, she started the controlled campfire. She, Jason, and Kristine sat next to each other before the campfire.

"So, what are your stories?" Liz asked.

"We've lived in Mountain Spring all our lives," Jason spoke.

"Your lives?" Liz seemed intrigued. "I bounced all over the place when I was little. My dad is a marketer for synthetics for elderly Pokemon, you see, and his company sends him everywhere. What did your parents do?"

"Our mom was a contest coordinator," Kristine replied. "Our dad was a pokemon trainer."

"So I guess they got married and settled down?" Liz asked.

"Not really," Jason simply replied. "Our dad became an expeditionary researcher."

"Oh, so he travels the world and –"

"He's dead." Jason crossed his arms.

"Oh my," Liz was taken back. "I'm-I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay," Kristine smiled. "It's been hard on us, and it's been hard on Jason."

"Yeah…" Liz took a deep breath.

A moment later, Jason got up and went inside his and Kristine's tent.

"Now I feel like a jerk," Liz felt guilty.

"Jason was really close to our father," Kristine replied. "The two did a lot together. He wanted to be just like him. His Eevee evolved into Jolteon back at Cheron Forest, and I think he wouldn't have it any other way. See, our father had a jolteon too."

"I see…" Liz replied.

"Our father went out west to the Barren Wastes in hopes to uncover the cause of unusual seismic readings there," Kristine continued. "He traveled with a small team alongside his jolteon to the canyons. When he traversed across a cliff, his rope and harness failed him, sending him tumbling down. His team called off the search and sent Jolteon back to us."

Liz started to tear up. "That's horrible."

"When we heard the news, I was devastated, and so was my mother, but Jason was torn from within. He wouldn't talk to me for weeks and stayed away from anything and everything. Sometimes he blamed his father for leaving him. Sometimes he blamed himself because our father constantly said the work he was doing was for his kids.

"We have a grave in his honor," Kristine continued. "But…they never found his body. All we know is that he fell over a thousand feet…."

Liz put her hand on Kristine's shoulder. "I am so sorry."

"Yeah," Kristine took a deep breath to recollect herself. "Jason accepted it and moved on. Just a fair warning though, his father will always be a soft spot for him."

"Noted," Liz nodded.

"Anyways," Kristine tried to lighten the mood. "Shall we change topics?"

"Sounds good to me," Liz leaned backward, using her hands to support herself.

"Do you have any siblings?" Kristine asked.

"I'm the youngest of four sisters," Liz replied. "My last name is Rose. My oldest is Zoe. She's a contest coordinator who entered a lot of contests in Sinnoh, Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn in her day."

"That's cool," Kristine replied.

"She would get irked every time she saw someone trying to become a trainer and a coordinator at the same time," Liz chuckled. "She always thought we should make up our minds before we commit to something big."

"Jason and I wanted to be trainers since we were little," Kristine mentioned.

"I'm sure that sparked some sibling rivalry," Liz replied.

"It has, and it still will," Kristine chuckled. "We had our first battle the other day."

"Oh?" Liz leaned forward.

"One of the Mystic Showcases," Kristine explained. "Jason and I made it to the last round of eight trainers. I used Espeon, and he used Jolteon. I won, but barely."

"Get ready for the next sibling battle," Liz cautioned. "Because you know it will happen, and he will come for revenge. It's what I would do if any of my sisters beat me in any kind of tournament."

"It's one thing to speculate about it," Kristine added. "It's another to see your brother across the field, looking right at you. Here's the person I've been traveling with, someone who's literally been at my side since before we were born, and he's battling against me."

"Must be hard to go through with it," Liz saw Kristine's perspective.

"Well, at first," Kristine said before she snickered. "But, you know, I wanna win!"

Liz laughed. "Sibling rivalry, all right."

"Well, I should head back in and get ready for bed," Kristine said.

"Likewise," Liz said as she got up. "See you in the morning, Kristine."

"Yep," Kristine smiled before she got up. She then headed inside to see that Jason was sound asleep.


The next morning, Jason got up and stretched his arms. He felt bad for walking out on Liz and Kristine last night. But as Kristine warned Liz, Dad will always be a soft spot for him.

Jason put on his clothes and headed out of the tent. She saw that Liz was already out there, practicing with Charmander.

"Hey Liz," Jason approached her.

Liz turned to face him. "Morning," she acknowledged.

"I just wanted to say sorry about last night," Jason spoke.

Liz smiled. "There's nothing to be sorry about."

"Yeah," Jason gave a light sigh. "So, you have Charmander?"

"Yep," Liz nodded.

"Charmander!" Charmander greeted.

Just then, Kristine got out of the tent, ready for the day.

"Morning bro, morning Liz," she greeted.

"Morning," Liz and Jason said back at the same time.

"So, I think we should start our morning routines, Jason," Kristine suggested.

"You guys having a pokemon battle?" Liz seemed curious.

"Not really," Jason snickered. "More like scrimmages. We have our Pokemon teach each other new moves and the like."

"Must be really awesome having a sparring partner," Liz said.

"Hey, maybe you should train with us," Kristine added.

Liz smirked. "I could join you, but I'm not sure how I would fit into your routines. There is, however, an alternative."

"Like a pokemon battle?" Jason smirked.

"Exactly! Yet there's two of you."

Liz specifically turned to Kristine. "No knock on you, Jason, but I want to fight Kristine, provided that you're willing to battle. I like your sense of style. I want to see how I fare with it."

Kristine stepped forward with confidence. "Then let's battle."

"Sweet," Liz seemed excited. "Three on three sound good?"

"Absolutely."

"I guess I can try to be the referee," Jason spoke. "Though I have never done that before."

"It's easy-peasy," Liz replied. "You see a pokemon go down, wait a few seconds. If they make no effort to get up, you call it."

Liz then took some paces away from Kristine before facing her at a considerable range. Jason stood at the side towards the center of the two.

"Ready, Kristine?" Liz asked.

"Ready as a fearow on a sunny day," Kristine smirked.

"Alright then," Liz acknowledged. She then pulled out her first pokeball. "Go, Mankey!"

"Mankey," the furry money-like creature greeted after he was summoned. He had a flat nose, resembling that of a pig.

Jason pulled out his pokedex to examine the creature.

"Mankey, the Pig Monkey pokemon," the pokedex explained. "When mankey start shaking, and its nasal breathing turns rough, it's a sure sign that it is becoming angry. However, because it goes into a towering rage almost instantly, no one can flee its wrath."

"A fighting type, huh?" Kristine smirked. "Alright. Let's go, Fletchling!"

"Fletch!" Fletchling hopped forward after he was summoned.

"You go first, Kristine," Liz said.

"Fletchling, take to the sky and use Agility!" Kristine commanded.

"Fletchling!" Fletchling flew all around Mankey at a blazing fast speed.

"He's fast," Liz noted. "Mankey, keep an eye on him!"

"Alright, Fletchling!" Kristine followed up. "Let's use your new Wing Attack! Let's go!"

"Fletchling!" Fletchling dove down with flowing wings. A second later, he struck Mankey, sending him flying backward before tumbling to the floor.

"That was super effective and critical, to say the least," Liz muttered. "Mankey, hop back up and show them what you can do!"

Mankey slowly got back up, and when he did, his face was steaming red.

"Mankey's special ability is Anger Point," Liz mentioned. "You hit him with a big attack, and he'll want revenge. His attacks are going to be much more powerful."

"Fletchling, use Quick Attack and make sure you don't get within Mankey's reach!" Kristine cautioned.

"Fletch!" Fletch dove down once more towards Mankey.

"Mankey, jump up and use Seismic Toss!" Liz responded.

Mankey had a good visual on Fletchling and used his legs to propel him upwards. He then snatched Fletchling straight out of the air with his hands and threw him with sheer force to the ground.

Fletchling slammed pretty hard to the ground and struggled to get up.

"Fletchling!" Kristine yelled.

"Close in with Karate Chop!" Liz followed up.

Mankey charged at Fletchling with a raised, open hand.

Kristine smirked. Ever since Fletchling lost to Dragonair in the battle against Aria, she wanted him to learn how to get out of a situation like that, and since then, she found the perfect answer.

"Fletchling, use Flail!" she commanded.

Fletchling's beak glowed as he aimlessly attacked about. He dodged Mankey's initial Karate Chop, forcing the enraged pig monkey to chop away. The two were attacking while dodging the other's attacks when finally, Fletchling struck Mankey right in the chest. One more strike to the chest knocked Mankey back.

"Now use Quick Attack!" Kristine followed up.

Fletchling swooped straight at Mankey as he struggled to get up. He flew backward before tumbling over once.

"Mankey…" Mankey muttered as he was unable to get up.

"Mankey is unable to battle!" Jason declared. "Fletchling is the winner!"

Liz, though disappointed she was outmatched in the first battle, gave credit where credit was due. "Not bad."

"Fletchling!" Fletchling cheered, but he appeared to have taken considerable damage.

"Return, Fletchling!" Kristine took note and recalled him. Get some rest. Great effort out there."

"You too, Mankey," Liz recalled him. She then faced Kristine. "Since this isn't formal and all, I'm all down for doing a best of three rather than a full three-on-three battle."

"That works for me," Kristine nodded.

"Alright," Liz pulled out her second pokeball. "Purrloin, go!"

"Pikachu, showtime!" Kristine threw out hers, bringing out Pikachu.

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu bounced forward.

"Purr," Purrloin greeted with a smirk on her face as she stood up. The dark violet feline pokemon with green eyes signaled Pikachu to attack her.

Jason pulled out his pokedex once more.

"Purrloin, the Devious Pokemon," the pokedex explained. "Its cute act is a ruse. When victims let down their guard, they find their items taken. It attacks with sharp claws."

"And it's a dark type," Jason muttered.

"Yeah, I caught this one stealing my stuff," Liz mentioned. "So I caught her. And since then, we get along great."

"Purrloin," Purrloin crossed her arms with a smirk.

"And she closed out the gym battle in style," Liz continued. "Don't let her cuteness fool you."

"Pikachu, let's use Quick Attack!" Kristine commanded.

Pikachu charged at Purrloin head-on.

Liz smirked. "Pursuit."

Purrloin also charged at Pikachu, running on all four legs. A shadowy streak trailed behind her, and as she converged on Pikachu, she dashed to the right almost as if she teleported and dashed again to strike Pikachu on the side. Pikachu tumbled over before getting back up.

"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Kristine yelled.

"One of the few things quicker than Quick Attack is Pursuit," Liz explained. "Pursuit is a dark type's Quick Attack, and it's deceptive."

"We can be deceptive too, huh, Pikachu?" Kristine replied.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu agreed, showing a determined look.

"Alright, Pikachu, go for Thunder Shock!" Kristine commanded.

"Pika-chuuuu!" Pikachu emitted a streak of electric energy at Purrloin.

"Dodge and use Pursuit again!" Liz responded.

Purrloin jumped out of the way of Thunder Shock and charged at Pikachu once more.

"Use Double Team!" Kristine issued.

Pikachu projected multiple copies of himself. Purrloin ran right through one of them.

"Use Fury Swipes to get at the real Pikachu!" Liz commanded.

With razor-sharp, glowing claws, Purrloin slashed at copy after copy.

"Pikachu, Electro Ball!" Kristine followed up.

Pikachu emerged from behind Purrloin and fired a powerful electric ball from his tail. Purrloin turned around and embraced the attack. As Electro Ball struck her, currents rippled through her body. She got on one knee, having taken considerable damage, before getting right back up.

"You go, girl!" Liz commended. "Use Hone Claws to sharpen your attack!"

"Purrloin," Purrloin smirked as her claws glowed bright white.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Kristine had a plan. She knew Pursuit would be a direct counter.

"Pika Pika Pika!" Pikachu charged at Purrloin.

Knowing her, this clever girl has a ruse up her sleeve, Liz thought with a smirk on her face. Okay, we fight fire with fire.

"Sand Attack!" Liz called.

Purrloin kicked up dirt right at Pikachu.

"Pika!" Pikachu ran in blindly, his face covered in dirt.

"Now, use Pursuit!" Liz followed up.

"Pikachu, dodge!" Kristine responded.

But since Pikachu could not see anything, Purrloin blindsided him with Pursuit, knocking him down.

"Pikachu, get up!" Kristine yelled.

"Purrloin, Fury Swipes!" Liz commanded.

"Purrloin!" Purrloin lunged at Pikachu, striking him repeatedly with swipe after swipe from her glowing claws.

Pikachu got up but was unable to defend himself from the onslaught. He stumbled backward before falling on his back, unable to get up.

"Pikachu is unable to battle!" Jason declared. "Purrloin is the winner!"

"Purrloin!" Purrloin crossed her arms and closed her eyes, seemingly impressed with herself. Just then, she succumbed to paralysis, having suffered from Pikachu's Static. She fell on one knee as she struggled to move.

"Return, Pikachu," Kristine recalled him. "Great job out there."

Liz recalled Purrloin. "Good going, girl," she said.

Liz then faced Kristine. "Next battle wins the match!"

She pulled out her final pokemon. "Go, Charmander!"

"Charmander!" Charmander greeted as he was summoned.

"Espeon, showtime!" Kristine threw her last Pokeball.

"Espeon!" Espeon greeted with grace.

"Let's test the defenses, Charmander!" Liz commanded. "Use Ember!"

"Char!" Charmander blasted a ball of flame at Espeon.

"Espeon, use Swift!" Kristine called for the first time.

"Espeon!" Espeon channeled Psychic energy to project a volley of stars at Charmander's Ember. The stars collided as Espeon successfully fended off the attack.

"Quick attack!" Kristine commanded.

Espeon charged at Charmander.

"Smokescreen, Charmander!"

Charmander projected black smoke that surrounded him. As Espeon broke through, Charmander was nowhere to be found.

"Use Dragon Rage, Charmander!" Liz commanded.

Suddenly, a red energy ball flew right towards Espeon and struck her. Espeon was knocked back through the smoke and tumbled once before standing on her four feet.

"Follow up with Scratch!" Liz issued.

Charmander leaped out of the smoke with glowing claws.

"Use Swift!" Kristine called.

Espeon quickly fired another volley of stars to knock Charmander back.

"Now use Confusion!" Kristine followed up.

Espeon and Charmander locked purple eyes. Charmander was flown into the air, right over Espeon, before being slammed back to the ground.

"Quick Attack, Espeon!" Kristine continued the assault.

Charmander got up, only to see that Espeon was coming right at him.

"Dragon Rage!" Liz yelled.

"Char!" Charmander let out a red energy ball at Espeon.

"Dodge and use Swift one more time!" Kristine called.

"Espeon!" Espeon jumped out of the way of Dragon Rage and fired another swift of stars.

"Smokescreen, Charmander!" Liz commanded. "Then use Ember!"

Charmander fired another Smokescreen. The swift of stars went right through the smoke as small explosions then occurred. Then, a red ball of flame shot out of the smoke towards Espeon.

"Dodge!" Kristine responded.

Espeon jumped right from the attack.

"Use Scratch!" Liz smirked.

Charmander jumped right out of the smoke at Espeon's flank. With his claws at the ready, he struck at Espeon, knocking her down.

"Now, use Ember!" Liz continued.

"Char!" Charmander projected another ball of flame.

"Run underneath and use Quick Attack!" Kristine called.

Espeon ran with grace under the ball of flame and lunged at Charmander.

"Dragon Rage, go!" Liz commanded.

Charmander let out another red energy ball. Espeon collided with it head-on, sending her flying back. She tumbled over and over and did not get up.

Jason was at first hesitant to call the battle, but he knew he had to.

"Sorry, Kristine," Jason looked at her before turning his head to Liz. "Espeon is unable to battle! Charmander wins!"

"Charmander!" Charmander cheered.

Kristine smiled. "Oh well, return, Espeon!" She recalled her. She then faced Liz as Liz recalled Charmander.

"To come to think of it, Espeon never lost a battle before," she said. "Other than once, when she was Eevee."

"It was a fun battle," Liz commended. "You're a tough trainer, Kristine."

"And so are you," Kristine nodded back.

"So that's what I call a morning workout!" Liz added. "Anyways, if we're all heading in the same direction, mind if I tag along for a bit?"

"Fine with me," Jason replied.

"Cool," Liz acknowledged. "I say we get packing, yeah? The Lake's just a couple of days away."

"Sure," Kristine replied.

Jason and Kristine packed up their tent and belongings as Liz did the same. Afterward, Liz was the first one to hit the road.

"I think you've found your match when it comes to clever thinking," Jason muttered to Kristine.

"Yeah…" Kristine agreed. "Liz is good. Really good. We have to be better than her."

"Hey," Liz turned around to face the twins. "What's the holdup?"

"Nothing," Kristine gave a smile. "Let's head out!"

"Right with you!" Jason added.

The twins ventured down the road with Liz traveling alongside them, at least for the moment. Liz was placed as a high competitive threat on both Jason and Kristine's radars, with Kristine being defeated.

Still, there was a lot of adventuring left to do as the three proceeded closer to Lake Serenity. Jason and Kristine knew that while they would get better on their travels, so will their rivals, and it was going to take a lot of effort and dedication to truly rise to the top.