Zane grinned. "Your Sunny Day will be the end of you!"

Johnny blinked, then looked at Qemors. "How the hell did you use that?"

Qemors and Zane looked at him oddly. "What are you talking about?"

Johnny looked at Zane. "I just remembered: Qemors knows Rain Dance and not Sunny Day. It can learn it, but I haven't taught it Sunny Day…"

Zane looked up and thought a moment. "Y'know…now that we're not in the heat of battle, there's no extra heat."

They both blinked. Johnny said, "So…your Vanilluxe's Special Defense just sucks, then?"

Zane shrugged. "Guess so…eh, let's not worry about it. Shall we?"

Johnny nodded. "Qemors, Rain Dance!"

Qemors sent a blue energy straight up, and it began to rain. Zane grimaced. "Heatmor, use Bug Bite!"

Heatmor charged at Qemors, but Johnny hid a chuckle and waited until Heatmor got close before calling out, "Discharge."

Qemors grinned and let electricity flow from every fur. Thanks to the rain covering Heatmor, it hit, and Heatmor began to spasm slightly before reigning itself in, glowing yellow slightly. Johnny whooped. "Paralysis!"

Zane almost swore. "Heatmor, return!" He called back the anteater and looked his other Balls over carefully before choosing another one and throwing it, calling out "Let's go, Scolipede!"

A huge centipede-like Pokémon appeared, and Johnny was worried a bit. It towered over them, and it was dark red with purple circles on it. Johnny shuddered a bit and took a breath, taking in the rain. "Alright Qemors, weaken it with Discharge!"

Qemors unleashed another Discharge, but Scolipede covered itself in a Protect, and Zane called out, "Scolipede, Rollout!"

Scolipede started to spin in a front somersault over and over again, and once it hit the ground, it charged at Qemors, who leapt over it. However, it was caught on Scolipede's return and went flying towards Johnny, who naturally ducked. "Qemors!"

Qemors hit a tree and lay still for a moment before getting back up and charging at Scolipede with a Wild Charge. It connected, and Zane shouted, "Quick, use Megahorn!"

Before Qemors could retreat, Scolipede hit it with its antenna, KOing it. Johnny called Qemors back and instantly threw another Ball, calling out, "Criuly, you got this!"

The Swellow appeared, ready for battle, and Zane gulped slightly. "Criuly, Aerial Ace!"

It charged at Scolipede, who was too slow to dodge and took in the move. Criuly landed another two on it, and it fainted. Zane called it back and threw another Ball. "Go, Heatmor."

The anteater appeared again, and Zane instantly said, "Flamethrower."

Criuly was engulfed in flames and close to fainting, Johnny could see, and he called out, "Endeavor!"

Criuly hit Heatmor several times, and it began to look as weak as Criuly. Zane looked puzzled and asked, "What happened?"

Johnny smirked. "Endeavor makes each Pokémon's HP equal if the attacker's is lower."

Zane nodded. "Well done. Heatmor, Flamethrower again!"

"Quick Attack."

Using the Quick Attack, Criuly dodged and struck Heatmor, KOing it. Zane recalled it and threw another Ball, calling "Go, Serperior."

A long green snake appeared, and it looked at Criuly snootily, somehow. "Wait, green…what type is it?"

Zane sighed. "Grass."

Johnny smirked. "Aerial Ace."

Criuly charged at Serperior, and Zane smirked as well. "Aerial Ace."

Johnny's eyes widened as Serperior's tail glowed white and intercepted Criuly in midair and struck it down, KOing it. Johnny recalled Criuly and said, "Nice one, Zane. Didn't expect that."

Zane nodded. "I am good."

Johnny threw a Ball. "Go, Pilopis!"

A Sceptile appeared, and Zane gave a low whistle. "Nice Sceptile."

"Thanks. But you ain't seen nothing yet."

Johnny swing his wrist in front of him and hit the multi-colored stone. Pilopis became enveloped in white light, and when it faded, its leaves on its arm looked sharper, and its tail had gone more tree-like than branch-like.

Zane blinked. "After this battle, I would love to talk to you about that."

Johnny nodded and said, "X-Scissor!"

Pilopis crossed its arms in an X formation, and purple energy charged at Serperior, who dodged and countered with an Aerial Ace, which Pilopis intercepted with a Dragon Claw. It grabbed Serperior, slammed it to the ground (the action, not the move), and used X-Scissor again, KOing it.

Zane recalled the Serperior and looked at Johnny. "You're an impressive Trainer. I'll give you this chance to surrender."

Johnny looked at him like he was nuts. "Zane, you have one Pokémon. Unless it's legendary, I don't think you can win."

Zane smiled. "Don't be so sure. Go, Hydreigon!"

A blue and black dragon appeared, and Johnny was intimidated by the heads for arms it had, making it three-headed. It flew with six black wings, and all three heads gave a loud roar. "What type is that, exactly?"

Zane grinned. "Dark and Dragon. Pretty fearsome combo, eh?"

Johnny facepalmed, and Zane gave him a look. Johnny sighed and said, "What'd I just KO your Serperior with?"

"X-Scissor."

"Which is?"

"Bug type. Oh, damn…"

"Yeah." Pilopis charged at the Hydreigon, and within a minute, it was KO'd. Zane sighed and called it back, then smiled at Johnny. "Damn. I didn't expect to get beaten…well, period."

Johnny grinned. "I remember feeling like that once. Then I got my ass kicked by a girl several times."

"Really? Who?"

"This town's Gym Leader. We've been good friends since we were kids, and we battle a lot." Johnny chuckled. "I can't remember the last time I won…"

"Hey, Johnny!"

Johnny and Zane looked, and sure enough, Flannery was coming their way, in her usual mini-shirt and jeans. Zane gave a low whistle. "I'd like some of that…"

Johnny went up to Zane and whispered, "We're not together yet, but she's mine, okay? So no moves."

He looked at Johnny. "Really?"

Johnny nodded, and Zane exhaled. "It's gonna be tough, but I'll try to control myself."

Flannery came up to them and looked Zane over. She stood for a minute looking at him until Johnny snapped his fingers in front of her face, and she shook her head. "I'm sorry, you're beautiful."

Zane chuckled. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

Johnny shot him a glare, and Zane coughed. "Well, not a lot, but occasionally."

Flannery gave a small "hm" before turning to Johnny. "So, any plans tonight?"

He shook his head casually and held out a pair of tickets. "Not much…just this."

She took the tickets, looked at them, and almost fell, had Johnny not caught her. "These are tickets to Ever Grande City on a flight from Mauville!"

He nodded. "We both like battling a ton, and I figured taking you to see an exhibition match would be fun."

She looked at him, shocked. "But…my Gym…"

Zane stepped forward. "I can take over temporarily, if you want."

She looked at him. "Who are you?"

He stuck out his hand. "I'm Zane Oris. My family and I just moved here."

She shook his hand. "Nice to meetcha. And if you're willing to do that…that'd be great!"

Zane smiled. "Anything."

Flannery chuckled, and she and Johnny went to pack for the ultimate battling area in the region.