"Serena, you're looking awfully pale," Clemont said as the trio stood outside the gym.

"What? Really?" Serena said, her words faster than normal. She wasn't exactly looking at Clemont but instead taking glances at the gym door every once in a while.

Bonnie and Dedenne yawned, stretching out their arms. The sun was creaking over the horizon, casting hues of yellow and red onto the restored gym.

"Bonnie's so tired," she said. "You're really turning into Ash."

"Ash would've slept the entire night," Serena said, also yawning. When Bonnie looked closer at Serena's eyes, she noticed dark circles under her makeup. "I was too nervous to sleep so that's why I'm here early."

"Pika pika," Pikachu said, patting Serena's head sympathetically.

"Wow, you're here early," Brock said, walking around a nearby building. While a bandage was wrapped around his head, he looked perfectly fine. His brothers and sisters, all with his slanted eyes, swarmed around him.

"Excited for our match?" Forrest said, flashing a grin. He jingled some keys and unlocked the gym door, stepping inside. The rest of the group followed suite. Apparently the lights were motion-activated as they turned on, revealing the battlefield Serena and Brock had fought in a few days earlier.

"So why again are you using your Steelix and Rhyperior against me?" Serena said. Even in her sleepiness she glared at Forrest. "I've heard from someone that you used two Geodudes against him."

"I wouldn't be challenging you with my best Pokémon if I didn't think you can beat them," Forrest said. "After you, you drew with Brock, and he's my older brother."

"And any particular reason why you're using your Steelix who isn't a rock type?" Serena said.

"Uh, his pre-evolution is a rock type. Close enough," said Forrest.

"I still want to face just two Geodudes," Serena said, grumbling as she took her side of the battlefield. Clemont, Bonnie, and Brock's siblings took to the stands, and this time Brock served as the referee.

"The challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon at any time, something the gym leader isn't allowed to do," Brock said. "Forrest is also only allowed to use two Pokémon while Serena can use all six. Are there any questions?"

"Two more things," Serena said, pulling out a Pokéball. "You don't happen to have a Mewtwo, right? And are you actually the gym leader of Pewter City? I swear, if the actual gym leader is another one of your siblings…"

Forrest just laughed. "I choose you, Rhyperior!"

"Go, Pancham!" Serena said, tossing out the Pokéball.

"Pancham!" the Pokémon said, looking at the monster that dwarfed it.

"Serena likes her type matchings, doesn't she brother?" Bonnie said.

"An orthodox start," Clemont said, nodding. "At least I can understand her thought process, unlike Ash's."

Rhyperior looked down at Pancham when some black smoke flew out of the larger Pokémon's nose. Then, beating his chest, he made some "Rhy-Rhy-Rhy" noises as he faced the ceiling.

"Pan! Cham!" Pancham said, making an angry fist.

"Is he laughing at Pancham?" Bonnie said.

"Denne! Denne!" Denne said, also mad. Dedenne seemed like he also took an objection to being called small.

"Pancham!" Serena said. "Ignore his laugher and show him what you got. Arm Thrust!"

Pancham's arms glowed as he leaped upwards, throwing a punch at the Rhyperior. However, the Rhyperior raised his head, and apparently Pancham's attack couldn't reach Rhyperior. He tried jumping again, a little higher this time, but Rhyperior did a small, pathetic jump which dodged Pancham's attack.

"Rhy! Rhy! Rhy!" Rhyperior wheezed, clutching his chest as Pancham again tried and failed to jump high enough.

"Ignore his head, Pancham!" Serena said. "And aim for his chest!"

"Pann-cham!" Pancham said, nailing the Rhyperior in the body. For about five seconds, neither of them moved, but then Rhyperior started laughing harder again.

"Rhyperior's ability is Solid Rock!" Clemont said, adjusting his glasses. "Super Effective moves do less damage than usual. Pancham's in a really tight spot."

"Wah! Brother, is there anything Serena can do?" Bonnie asked.

"Hey, tell your Rhyperior to do something!" Serena said. "This isn't a real battle!"

"Serena, you're not the one treating this like a real battle," Forrest said, crossing his arms. He looked disappointed. "Your Pokémon isn't even hurting Rhyperior at all."

"Well of course!" Serena said. "You're using a freaking Rhyperior against me! A zero badge trainer! How is that fair? When some random ten year old comes in with a Charmander and a Caterpie, do you also send that giant monster?!"

Pancham looked back at Serena, his mouth agape. Forrest shook his head, but it was Brock that answered.

"I expected more from the trainer that jumped in to save Ash Ketchum," Brock said. "Ash would have never, ever complained about the odds. Even if he knew he'll lose, he kept on trying."

"What do you know about Ash?" Serena said, gritting her teeth, spitting those words out as if they were venom. "You know nothing! There were moments that Ash doubted himself. I know it! I told him myself to not surrender! But this…these odds? Pancham can't even dent Rhyperior!"

"I traveled with him far longer than anyone else has," Brock said. His eyes were somehow narrower than usual. "Including you, Misty, May, Dawn, and whoever else accompanied him on his journeys. Fine. Maybe Ash did have moments of doubt. But he never, ever showed it to his Pokémon—he always believes it's his fault, not his Pokémon's. You know that. Pancham thought he knew that, and he believed that you would bring victory until you said Pancham can't hurt Rhyperior. It's not Pancham's fault that Rhyperior can't be hurt. It's yours."

"Brother…" Bonnie said from the stands. "That was mean."

Clemont nodded, wrapping an arm around Bonnie. "It's the truth that hurts the most."

Serena bit her tongue, trying to hold back tears. "Another step back," she thought. "Again. I'm such a crybaby. First with the Rhyhorn racing and now with Pokémon battles. I lose lose lose. If things get hard, I just quit. Ash wouldn't do that. If he was here he'd yell at me. Argh! I don't want to do this. Pokémon battling is so hard!"

Serena then jumped—out of shock, because Pikachu gave her a jolt of electricity.

"Pikachu! What was that for?" Serena said.

"Chu. Pika," Pikachu said, putting on a defiant look. He pointed at Pancham, who had closed his gaping mouth and was looking at Serena for directions.

"You're right, Pikachu," Serena said. She put on a small smile. "I may be bad at Pokémon battles, but that doesn't mean I should give up. I can't afford to give up. Not with this…everything on the line."

She looked up onto the field. "Pancham, I'm sorry. Will you trust me again?"

"Pan!" the Pokémon nodded.

"All right! Dark Pulse!"

Pancham brought his arms back, shooting beam of dark energy at the Rhyperior. The Rhyperior still didn't budge, but judging by his foot marks, he was pushed an inch or two back.

"Again! Keep on using it!"

"Pan-cham! Pan-cham! Pan-cham!" Pancham said, shooting Dark Pulse after Dark Pulse in between his shouts. Again, they all had no visible effect besides pushing Rhyperior back several inches. Rhyperior just looked at Pancham with an amused face.

"Try using Stone Edge!" Serena said. "Show him our hard work!"

Pancham slammed the ground and blue crystals erupted from the ground in a straight line towards Rhyperior. It lifted up Rhyperior's foot a little bit, but he just stomped and crushed it.

"Again!"

"What is Serena planning?" Clemont said. "Stone Edge isn't very strong against Rhyperior."

"Again! Again! Again!" Serena said, thrusting out her hand every time she said that word. Pancham also kept on smashing the ground, and before they knew it the entire stadium was covered with the blue crystal.

Rhyperior just swept his tail and all of the Stone Edges exploded, leaving blue shards floating around. Both Serena and Pancham bent over and clutched their knees.

"Now use Arm Thrust!" Serena said, gasping for air as she pointed with another finger.

"Pan. Cham!" Pancham said, his arms glowing again as he raced towards the Rhyperior.

"Don't hit him in the same place!" Serena said. "Keep on circling around him!"

"Cham! Cham! Cham!" Pancham said, obeying the trainer's orders. Rhyperior moved his head to look at the little bear, amused at the attacks that didn't dent him.

"Brother," Bonnie said. "Doesn't it look like Pancham's movements are changing?"

"Oh! You're right," Clemont said. He wiped his glasses with his jumpsuit. "They're not punches anymore. They're…they're turning into—"

"Karate Chop!" Brock said. "Pancham has learned a new move!"

"Way to go, Pancham!" Serena said. "Now keep on using Karate Chop on Rhyperior!"

Forrest's eyes seemed to gleam. "Rhyperior! Use Dig!"

The giant rock Pokémon opened a hole in the ground, using his arms to claw out the dirt. Before they knew it, Rhyperior had disappeared.

"Finally! He's attacking! Keep an eye out!" Serena said. She jerked her head back and forth, scanning for any sign of the Rhyperior. "Watch out under you!"

"Rock Wrecker, Rhyperior!" Forrest said.

Serena gasped. A giant boulder shot up from under the ground, sending Pancham flying in the air. The Pokémon actually hit the ceiling and then began tumbling down. It didn't look like he was conscious, but Brock didn't signal with his hands.

"Pancham, can you hear me?" Serena said. "Pancham!"

"Keep it up!" Forrest said. "Horn Drill!"

"Forrest! Forrest! His Pokémon don't jest!" Brock's siblings said. Some of them were holding signs as they cheered on their brother.

Rhyperior jumped up—quite high, considering how much he weighted—his horn spinning around on a direct path with the falling Pancham.

"What are you doing!?" Serena screamed to Brock. "Pancham's out! He's unconscious!"

Brock just gave Serena a look, which caused Serena to pull out a Pokéball. "Pancham, I'm not letting you get hurt anymore! Please, re—"

Her thumb froze, about to press the button. "Why can't I press it?" she thought. "Why…gah. Ash would believe in his Pokémon, would he? He's too reckless. This is too reckless. He'll get hurt—badly. I can't…"

Then she remembered the look on Pancham's face, the look of undying loyalty. The look that her Pokémon would trust her every word. Jamming the Pokéball back into her pocket, Serena said, "Pancham! Pancham, if you can hear me, use Karate Chop!"

The seconds passed slowly for Serena. Pancham was closer and closer to colliding with that Horn Drill. Her hand even went to clutch the Pokéball, but other than fumbling with it, she didn't bring it back up. "I have to trust Pancham!" she thought. "I must!"

Then Pancham's eyes opened.

"Pancham!" Serena said. It felt like she was holding her breath and all the oxygen was going back into her lungs. "Use Karate Chop!"

"Pannn…cham!" the fighting Pokémon said, using an uppercut chop onto Rhyperior's drill.

"Improbable!" Clemont said. "It's a Critical Hit!"

Pancham's blow slammed Rhyperior's drill and head downwards, making the rock Pokémon smack the floor face first. Cracks from the impact radiated to all sides of the arena. Even the bystanders could feel the wind from the momentous strike.

"And Rhyperior is out!" Brock said. "The gym leader has one Pokémon left!"

"Pancham! Pancham!" Serena said, celebrating at the sidelines along with Pikachu. "You did it!"

"Pan-cham!" Pancham said, getting up on wobbly feet. He managed to give a thumbs up.

"Now that's a Pokémon battle," Forrest said, recalling his Rhyperior. "We got cocky, huh friend? Well, I won't be now. Steelix, come on out!"

The steel snake uncoiled itself as he came from the Pokéball. Looming at his full height, he was much, much taller than the Rhyperior. He even blocked out the lights, giving a sudden darkness to the room.

"Steelix, Slam!" Forrest said.

"Watch out Pancham!" Serena said, but it was too late. Pancham stood no chance, especially with his precarious stance.

"Pancham has fainted!" Block declared.

"Thank you, Pancham," Serena said, recalling her Pokémon. She rubbed the Pokéball with her nose before placing it back. "Let's see how you deal with this. Go, Braixen!"

Even if Braixen was taller than Pancham, she was still dwarfed by the Steelix, a David to the Goliath. When Braixen took out her stick, a flame flicking at its tip, it was the sole source of light in the sudden darkness.

"This is an interesting type matchup," Clemont said. "While Braixen's fire typing is useful against Steelix's steel typing, Steelix is also part ground type which is super effective against Braixen."

"Braixen, use Flamethrower!" Serena said. The fox Pokémon cast a line of flame towards the Steelix. The Pokémon was too large and too slow to dodge it and it sizzled against the steel Pokémon's exterior, leaving a burning smell. The Steelix's eyes squinted, but otherwise he seemed okay.

"Use Bind!" Forrest said. Braixen found herself surrounded, squeaking as the giant snake wrapped around her.

"Flamethrower!" Serena said. Braixen launched the fire attack, over and over, but none of them hit the Steelix. They all just shot upwards, Steelix angling himself so none of them would hit.

"Steelix is stronger than my Rhyperior," Forrest said. "Brock had him since an Onix, and now we're nigh-unstoppable. Steelix wasn't using his full strength when he tried to stop Rhyperior the other day—I didn't want to hurt Rhyperior."

"Fire Blast, Braixen!" Serena said. "The old one!"

"That won't work!" Forrest said as the Fire Blast launched into the sky. "Steelix and I have practiced this Bind! Once you're caught, you're stuck forever, and due to the way we tie you, you can't hit Steelix with any attack!"

"Just shut up already!" Serena said. To Forrest's surprise, the Fire Blast exploded, raining those flaming meteors down onto Steelix. They didn't seem to do much damage, but it was enough to surprise Steelix into loosening his grip, allowing Braixen to jump out.

"Now Braixen!" Serena said. "Fire Blast!"

"D-dragon Breath!" Forrest said, losing his composure.

The two attacks exploded, causing Serena to whip up her arms to protect her face from the wind. While she struggled to see the outcome, she heard a "Now, Steelix! Slam!"

When the dust finally cleared, Braixen's eyes were swirls as she laid under the Steelix.

"I trusted in my Pokémon," Forrest said. "I knew he would follow my orders, even if we were both blind."

"I do too!" Serena said. "It's just that…I was surprised…"

"Tuck won't care if you're surprised," said Brock. "These are the results. You'll either win or lose. Braixen is defeated. Send out your next Pokémon."

"You did well, Braixen," Serena said, recalling the Pokémon. She took a deep breath. Of course Brock would know about her link to Tuck. "Sylveon, it's your turn."

"Aren't fairy Pokémon weak against steel Pokémon?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes," Clemont said. "But Serena doesn't have much of a choice. Pikachu's electric attacks can't even hurt Steelix."

"Forrest! Forrest! He's the best!" said Brock's siblings.

"Sylveon, use Double Team!" Serena said.

"Ignore it! Iron Tail!" Forrest said. The Steelix cleared the stadium with his tail, clearing the doppelgangers. Luckily, the real Sylveon had ducked.

"Swift!" Serena said.

"Iron Tail again!"

The Swift bounced off the Steelix, leaving no traces of its existence. Meanwhile, the Iron Tail just grazed Sylveon, and Sylveon let out a cry of pain—there was a bruise forming on a front leg.

"Brother, why isn't Serena snapping her fingers?" Bonnie said. "It'll be so helpful for Sylveon if she could dodge!"

"She's too tense," Clemont said. "Look at how much her hands are shaking. I don't think she can reliably dance or snap anytime soon."

"Iron Tail!"

"Protect!" Serena said. The barrier went up just as Steelix crashed into it.

"That's not enough," Forrest said. "Steelix, use Bind!"

The Steelix initiated the attacked, wrapping around both the Protect and Sylveon. Serena could only hear her Pokémon's cries as the choke grew tighter and tighter.

"Swift! Fairy Wind! Do anything!" Serena said. Steelix's grip shook a couple of times, but then it ceased.

"Sylveon is unable to battle!" Brock said.

"Forrest! Forrest! He's not the most boring-est!"

"What kind of rhyme is that?" Forrest said as Steelix uncurled to reveal the unconscious Sylveon.

"You've done the best you could, Sylveon," Serena said, the burst of red light recalling the Pokémon. "Well, it's all up to you, Pikachu."

"Pika chu!" Pikachu said, leaping onto the field on all fours.

"That's your last Pokémon, isn't it?" Forrest said. "Well, we still won't go easy on you! Steelix, Dragon Breath!"

"Dodge it with Quick Attack! And hit it in the face!"

Avoiding the blue flames, Pikachu jumped and smacked Steelix right on his nose—like that did much. It looked like Pikachu took more damage from the Quick Attack.

"Since that didn't work," Serena said. "Use Iron Tail!"

"You call that an Iron Tail?" Forrest said, looking at how Pikachu's tail glowed. "Steelix, use yours!"

The two moves collided, again sending ripples across the field. While Pikachu was able to hold steady for a few seconds, eventually he was blasted away, rolling across the field.

"What can I do?" Serena thought. "Those were Pikachu's only attacks that can damage Steelix! Electro Ball and Thundrebolt won't do anything! This is bad! Only…if only…"

"Chu! Chu! Pika!" Pikachu said, interrupting Serena's thoughts. The yellow mouse was looking back at her, his tail twitching towards the ceiling.

"Pikachu? What are you trying to tell me?" Serena said. She looked upwards but only saw the crater Pancham left earlier.

"Iron Tail!" Forrest said.

Pikachu was nailed by a particularly nasty one, sending him colliding into the stands.

"Chu! Chu! Pika!"

"Pikachu," Serena said. She was grasping her own skirt, simultaneously fearing for Pikachu and also trying to translate him. "Why don't you show me what you want to do?"

"Pi ka…chu!" Pikachu said, shooting a Thundrebolt at the ceiling. However, it didn't quite reach.

"You don't want to Thunderbolt the Steelix, otherwise you would've done that," Serena said. "But…what?"

"Iron Tail, Steelix! Finish him off!"

Then it clicked. "Pikachu, take that Iron Tail blow! Let it push you to the ceiling!"

Every human in that room had to take a moment to process that command.

"What is she doing!?" Clemont said, covering his eyes.

"Can Pikachu take another hit!?" Bonnie said.

But for Pikachu, there was no hesitation. As the Iron Tail slammed into him, he cried out but managed to get flung into the air.

"Now Pikachu! Thunderbolt!"

"Pi ka…chu!"

"Ha! Even after all of that, you missed!" Forrest said.

"Pikachu wasn't aiming for Steelix!" Serena said.

"What?!"

Most of the younger kids put their hands on their ears at the sudden alarm. The sprinklers had gone off, giving the gym room a drizzle.

"Now! Thunderbolt, one last time!" Serena said.

"This brings back old memories," Brock said, letting off a smile as his old Onix got electrocuted by the Thunderbolt. "That truly is Ash's Pikachu, huh? All right! Steelix has fainted! Serena wins!"

"Pikachu! You've done it!" Serena cried out, running towards the Pokémon, her shoes making puddles.

"Pika pika!" the electric mouse said, jumping into Serena's arms.

"Forrest! Forrest! His battles are such a snorefest!"

"Shut up!" Forrest said. He took out his Pokéball. "That was a close one, Steelix. You deserve a long rest now."

He looked up at Serena. "See? I knew you could do it. You trusted in Pikachu, and he trusted in you."

"No you didn't!" Serena said, her voice a pitch higher than usual. "You were yelling at me the entire match!"

"Serena! Serena! I knew you could do it!" Bonnie said, also running up and into Serena's arms. While the older girl was still annoyed at Forrest, at least that alleviated her anger a little.

"Here, you deserve this," Forrest said, pulling out a silver badge. "It's the Boulder Badge. The way you trusted your Pokémon during that fight, and the way they trusted in you—I'm jealous."

Accepting it, Serena slid it into her badge case. But then she couldn't help it as she jumped for joy.

"I got my first badge!" she said, tears threatening to come out of her eyes again.

"Pika pi!" Pikachu said, also jumping.

"Geez, you're really turning into Ash," Bonnie said.

"Hey, where you guys off to next?" said Brock. "If you're looking for the next gym, Cerulean City is the closest place near here."

"Cerulean City?" Serena said. "That's…that's…the city with the water-type gym, right?"

Then the memory came.

The scarred Lapras.

The mutilated Blastoise.

The cloaked figure.

"Do you mind if I walk with you folks for a bit?" Brock said. "I have some business in Mt. Moon. I kinda, er, need to find some fossils."

"For the Pewter City museum?" Bonnie said.

"Maybe."

"Yeah yeah, sure," Serena said, waving an arm around. "It'll, uh, be fun."

"Serena?" Clemont said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" Serena said, her face brightening up. All vestiges of the memory were wiped from her face. Nevertheless, she couldn't wipe it from her heart.