Author's Note: Hey everybody. This is Tony with an apology. I've been really busy lately, although I did get this out in March as promised. As April 28th (my graduation date) approaches, my schedule will become more and more packed while I desperately try to get out of this school alive. I want to thank all the wonderful fans of this story for sticking it out, and I'm sorry about how long it's taking me to finish it. Keep reading!

P.S. Since I suddenly found myself with quite a bit of free time at school (I'm smarter than my classmates, in other words), I took the time to back up and edit my previous chapters. I've removed a few typos, and I've standardized the number of 'O' in my page breaks (Lunar Sphinx, they all now have 8). Feel free to return to old chapters and report anything I missed.

Note:
"Speaking"
Thinking
Pokéspeak>
Psychic conversations
Flashbacks
SHOUTING

Chapter 11:

Father of the Bride

The Kanes stood in front of the Petalburg city gym, looking grim. Ranger shook his head. "You sure you want to do this?"

TJ nodded sharply. "Sooner or later I'll have to meet him, to make honorable my intentions."

"I hear he's too strong for such a small gym," said Warrior. "They say he's got a shot at the elite four when Drake retires."

"You saying you're scared?" said TJ.

Warrior snorted derisively.

"Good to hear," TJ replied. "Any other questions or comments?"

"I'm hungry," said Skipper.

TJ sighed. "Anything else related to the conversation?"

"It's lunchtime," replied Skipper. "We can't fight on empty stomachs, right Warrior?"

Everyone turned to look at Warrior. He glanced down, sniffed, and ruffled his feathers in a shrugging motion. "We can always eat. Let's do this."

Skipper and Rangers' mouths dropped open. TJ tilted his head and nodded. "Never dreamed you'd like something more than eating. It's like a sign. Let's go."

"Right."

"Well, I guess…"

"Bring it," said Warrior. "That putz don't stand a chance!"

TJ smiled.

"Of course," continued Warrior, "you'll owed us all extra-big lunches to make up for working us late."

TJ gaped, speechless with rage. Ranger shook his head and smiled wryly.

"Good to know you haven't changed," he said to Warrior.

OOOOOOOO

The four walked through the sliding glass doors to the gym. There was a desk and a small waiting area, but there wasn't a secretary. The only other door was behind the desk. TJ glanced at the others inquisitively. They glanced back and shrugged. TJ rolled his eyes, then walked around the desk and opened the door. "Let's go."

The door opened into a hallway. Various other doors lined the walls. The sounds of a battle echoed distantly.

"This must be some sort of back hallway," said TJ. "If we follow the sound of fighting, we should find Norman."

The group trudged down the hall. Here or there a cracked door offered them a glimpse of different rooms. The sounds of battle became gradually louder, but they never seemed to solidify.

"This place is huge!" said TJ.

"Yeah, it's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside."

The Kanes turned in unison to look at the young man standing in front of a door to their left. "My name's Kinji," he said. "Lost?"

"Kinda," replied TJ. "We're looking for the gym leader. Can you help us?"

Kinji smirked. "You want a gym battle? With that crew?"

TJ quirked an eyebrow, then glanced at Ranger. Ranger nodded and leapt at Kinji, shouting incoherently. A few well-placed Pound attacks and Kinji was on the floor. "What's wrong with my brothers?" asked TJ in a sedate voice.

"N-nothing! A-a-absolutely nothing!" stammered a very nervous Kinji. Ranger grunted and stepped away from the assistant. Kinji stood up and brushed himself off, then glanced at the Kanes warily. "Follow me."

He turned around and strode briskly through the doorway he'd appeared in. The Kanes followed him into a narrow hallway. "This is the utility hallway we use to service the battle field," he said. "Norman's in the terrarium, it's this way." He turned and started walking again. Skipper stared at his receding back quizzically, then glanced at TJ.

"Does he have to explain everything? Seems kinda stupid to me."

"Probably not."

"Not what?"

TJ looked up. "Probably not what?" Kinji repeated.

"I was just answering Skipper," TJ replied. "The Mudkip," he said when Kinji shot him a confused look. Kinji's look remained. "Skipper asked a question. I would presume you know what a question is?"

"You'll pardon my rudeness," Kinji said, "But you speak as if you can understand it. I apologize for thinking something so ludicrous!"

"It's not ludicrous at all," stated TJ. "I understand the guys perfectly." He had once again obtained that air of unnatural calm.

Kinji gawked for a moment. "That's ABSURD!" he shouted. "YOU'RE CRAZY! YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR GOD-FORSAKEN M-" he snapped his mouth shut and fumed silently for a moment. Then he smiled maliciously and grabbed a pokéball from his waist. "My apologies gentlemen! It's clear that you're actually skilled beyond measure! Of course you won't mind a small test," and so saying he threw the pokéball on the ground. With a flash of light a large Zigzagoon appeared. "Zagoon! Tell me what you think of these four! And you, mister genius, tell me what he says!"

The Zigzagoon stared at his trainer as if he'd lost his mind. "All right," he huffed, "I think they're unfortunate to have to put up with you in one of your moods."

TJ furrowed his brow. He'd caught most of it, but some of the subtleties…oh well. He took a stab at translating, "he says he feels bad? I think? That we have to put up with you in your, ahh, I believe he said mood."

Kinji snorted in derision. "That's rather impressive, mister genius. How about we try something a bit more difficult, hmm? Zigzagoon! Tell me what my greatest fear is! You translate, mister genius!"

The Zigzagoon shook his head violently. He didn't want to let this strange man who was clearly able to understand him know what his best friend's weakness was! He clamped his lips shut and refused to speak. Kinji stood for a few minutes, then glanced down. "Go ahead, tell him!"

The Zigzagoon shook his head even more violently. Kinji frowned. "Don't worry, it's fine! Tell him!"

Kinji's Zigzagoon shuddered as if it were about to rip itself apart. Then it sighed. "Your greatest fear is of-" he paused. Maybe he could still be loyal! "You're an Arachibutyrophobic."

TJ stared at him. It was possible, of course, that he had misheard him. Probable, actually. For Kinji to be afraid of something so ridiculous, so ludicrous, so insanely harmless, was near inconceivable. But still…

"Are you," TJ hesitated. He felt as if he almost couldn't do it. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself say, "are you most terrified of having your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth by peanut butter?"

Kinji's face turned an ashen gray. "How did you know!" he managed to gasp. His jaw sagged towards the ground. After a few moments, he collected himself. "Zigzagoon return," he muttered.

"Now don't be too hard on him," said TJ, "He did try to confuse me, just his bad luck I speak several languages, it's not really his fault that I understood him, I mean, don't punish him!"

Kinji stood with his back to them. "Who are you."

TJ shrugged. "Just another trainer."

Kinji smiled sardonically. "So it seems, until you four are annoyed enough to do something incredible."

TJ had no answer to Kinji's comment. An awkward silence settled over the hallway. Kinji stared at the Kanes with piercing eyes. The moment dragged on.

Finally, Kinji sighed and turned to face down the hallway. "Follow me, mystery warriors. Norman is close."

He started walking down the hall quietly. Skipper, Ranger, and Warrior shot TJ A 'what-the-hell' look. TJ shrugged and started walking after Kinji, the three pokémon trailing in his wake.

OOOOOOOO

"Master Norman," said Kinji, "you have challengers."

The Kanes walked out of the dark hallway with relief. They seemed to be in some sort of tropical forest. Through the scrub, Warrior could just barely make out a wall of some sort. "Must be the terrarium."

TJ scanned the forest. "I thought you were taking us to Norman," he said to Kinji. "There's no one here."

Kinji glanced about the trees. "I know he was here fifteen minutes ago…He was training. Maybe he's further back amongst the trees. NORMAN! Sir!"

TJ huffed. "That's brilliant, Kinji. That'll work just fine. Maybe Norman's psychic and he'll hear your voice as a mental projection!"

"Stranger things have happened!"

The group turned to look at a strong looking man as he emerged from the foliage. He was followed by a tough-looking Slakoth, and both were sweating as if having just stopped some great exertion. TJ nodded at them. "You Norman Maple?"

"That I am!" Norman said heartily. He shot out his hand and TJ shook it. "What might your name be?"

"I'm TJ," he said.

"Nice to meet you TJ! Here for a battle?"

"The preceding observation courtesy of captain obvious," muttered Warrior. TJ suppressed a smile.

"Yeah, we'd like that. When can we?"

Norman shook his head. "Not today, I'm afraid. The gym's closed--I sent Kinji to lock the door. I was just sweating out some stress."

TJ frowned. "Well, I guess…" he trailed off.

Norman boomed a laugh. "In a hurry?"

"Kinda, yeah."

"Sir?" said Kinji questioningly, "sir, are you feeling all right?"

Norman plastered a large and very fake smile on his face and beamed at him. After a few minutes he sighed, and his shoulders slumped. "I'm working on it, Kinji. I'm still pretty upset."

Kinji clucked his tongue sympathetically. Norman and his Slakoth seemed to deflate, and their faces took on a mournful cast. Concerned, TJ asked, "What's wrong?"

Kinji gawked at him. Norman shot TJ a piercing stare, then nodded sharply. "How much do you know about me, TJ?"

TJ shrugged. "Your name is Norman, you're the gym leader here, you're married and have two kids, a daughter and a son, and you train Slakoth. And your apprentice is afraid of having his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth with peanut butter."

Norman shot Kinji a quizzical look, and Kinji blushed. Norman barked out a laugh. "Smart man! Well, you're right, I do have a family, they live in Littleroot Town. About a week ago my daughter was walking home to visit us when she was attacked by a group of boys. They battled her, cheated, she beat them, then they knocked out her pokémon and tried to rape her. She…" Norman paused. His face had gone from boisterous to cherry red, and rage was evident in his posture. He inhaled a few deep breaths, and managed to calm down. "She was rescued by some boy, I can't remember his name, and taken into his house."

"And now you want to find the creeps who tried to rape her?" queried TJ.

"Oh please!" exclaimed Norman, "do you really think they were going to rape her? In Littleroot Town? You mark my words, the bastard who rescued her put them up to it, probably paid them, just so that he could worm his way into my little girl's pants! Who knows what he did to her that she won't tell her mother and me!"

The Kanes gawked, openmouthed, at Norman. "You mean, you, you blame the guy who rescued her? You think it was a setup? Are you kidding me?" said TJ. "That guy's a hero! He didn't have to step in and save your daughter!"

Norman glared at TJ, and TJ knew what they meant when they said 'if looks could kill'. "You think he's a…hero," said Norman slowly. "Why is that, if you don't mind my asking?"

TJ froze. One misstep here and he'd be a Slakoth's plaything. He swallowed hard. "E-easy man! Chill out!"

"You never answered my question."

TJ gulped again, for effect. "Look, my sister was raped when she was 15. She was in a restaurant parking lot, hell, there were people walking right past her! And nobody helped her! NOBODY!" His chest heaved as he tried to think up a good finish to his story. "Maybe your daughter was conned, maybe not. But I sure wish someone had tried to con my sister like that…it would've been a lot better than the alternative!"

TJ stood completely still. If he was lucky, his story had completely thrown Norman off the scent. If he was unlucky, well, he had his bat.

Norman grunted. "Interesting." He stared at TJ for a while. Finally, he said, "Kinji? Did you lock up the gym yet?"

"No sir, sorry sir," said Kinji, "I was on my way when I found them."

Norman nodded. "I owe you an apology…I'm pretty upset about her getting attacked, and it's making me irrational. As a sort of apology, how about I let you battle me now? It's," Norman glanced at his watch, "Two o'clock. Give us thirty minutes to set up the sparring room, and then you can fight me for a badge. Sound good?"

"I don't want to impinge on the rest of your Sunday…" said TJ.

"Please," said Norman, "it's not a problem."

TJ shrugged. "Okay, works for us."

OOOOOOOO

"The battle between Pokémon Trainer TJ and Gymleader Norman for the Balance Badge will now begin! Each trainer will use one pokémon!" TJ quirked an eyebrow at the distinction; apparently Norman was still in a hurry.

"GO SLAKOTH!"

TJ frowned. Regardless of how tough he acted in front of Kinji, his brothers were all low level. Norman's Slakoth was likely to be very strong, a sort of ponderous boulder waiting to crush his opponent. "Ranger, you're up."

Ranger grunted in acknowledgement. Norman shot TJ a concerned look, but quickly refocused on the battle. "Slakoth! Slash!"

Slakoth snarled fiercely and leapt up, claws extended. He's fast, thought TJ, way faster than a normal Slakoth...

Ranger stood calmly, an understated smile on his face. Norman's Slakoth drew closer and closer, until defeat was imminent. At the last possible moment Ranger leapt out of the way, smacking Slakoth in the process.

...But not fast enough! Thought TJ fiercely.

Ranger landed gracefully. He knew he hadn't really hurt Slakoth, but he had annoyed it. That was good—and bad. But Ranger was also good, so he wasn't too worried. "Hey," he said, "You. Yeah, the Slakoth. C'mere, I wanna tell you something."

Slakoth squinted at Ranger suspiciously. No way was he going to fall for that! "Slkth, slak sla kothslak!"

Ranger shrugged. "Okay. I just wanted to say your mother was a Houndoom and your father was a Sneasal."

"SLAAAKOTHHHHHHHH!" Slakoth shouted, incensed. He charged, full of rage...not bothering to check his positioning. Ranger once again dodged easily, but this time he spun and kicked hard with both feet. Slakoth landed awkwardly, and most certainly didn't benefit from having Ranger land on him feet first. Leaping away once more, Ranger landed in front of TJ, panting. Slakoth stood up shakily, obviously tired.

Ranger's got him! TJ thought excitedly. Ten minutes of this and he'll be down and out! And then we make good our escape!

And then luck deserted the Kanes.

"GO DAD!"

TJ frowned; who was that?

Norman looked up, and his face brightened. "May! I'm so glad to see you're all right!"

TJ knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself. He looked back. May instantly recognized him, her face brightening considerably. Please, he thought, please don't say—

"TJ! Dad, this it the boy mom told you about, the one who—dad?"

TJ looked at Norman's face. His previous death glare must have been underpowered, because the look currently on his face could have crispy fried the entire Gym. Oh crap, thought TJ.

Slakoth snarled barbarically and dove at Ranger, but Ranger was ready. Leaping out of the way, he slapped Slakoth's side with his tail, making him land on his back. Landing, he swung a roundhouse kick before Slakoth could get up. Slakoth skidded across the floor and smacked into the wall. He stood up, unevenly. We might still have a shot... TJ thought hesitantly.

"SLAKING!" shouted Norman, "HELP!"

We're doomed.

Ranger snarled menacingly. Zigzagging randomly, he shot towards Slakoth. Slakoth saw him coming, tensed his body to dodge. Ranger shot off to the left, bounced off the bleacher style seats, and arrowed in on Slakoth's right. Slakoth rolled to his left, but Ranger landed on his side and bowled right into the poor pokémon. Slakoth grunted weakly and passed out. Ranger stood up, gingerly prodded Slakoth, then pumped his fist in the air. "Ka-ching!"

"Easy Ranger," muttered TJ grimly, "We're not out of the woods yet." He kept a watchful eye on Norman, and his bat arm was itching to draw.

"What're you talking about?" asked Ranger. "One pokémon battle, and I beat his one pokémon! We won…the fight's over!"

"Tell that to HIM!" shouted TJ as he drew his bat. With a floorshaking rumble, Norman's Slaking landed right in front of Ranger and pounded his chest. "RANGER GET OUTTA THERE!" said TJ.

Ranger didn't think twice, he just leapt up and back. After all, he was way faster than Slakoth, and this big goon couldn't be much better, in fact he was probably—

WHUMP!

With a sickening sound, Slaking's fist battered Ranger's body into the floor. Ranger bounced off the wood, landed, rolled towards the other Kanes, and stopped about halfway. He didn't seem to be breathing.

"NORMAN!" screamed three voices at the top of their lungs. Skipper shrieked and charged at Slaking, battering him with a pressurized stream of water. Warrior was right behind him, launching embers at the floor. Slaking swung his great fist at Skipper, but Skipper surprised everyone in the room by kicking his speed up a few notches and zipping around Slaking's fist to attack his undefended rear. Slaking swung around to deal with this new twist, but Warrior took that as an opening to launch himself claws first as Slaking's face. Slaking howled in agony as Warrior's talons bit deep.

TJ cradled Ranger's body, tears streaming down his face. One of his tears landed on Ranger, who stirred and moaned. TJ sobbed in relief, then walked to the sidelines and gently set him down at May's feet. "Watch him," he said in a low voice.

Throughout the entire ordeal, May had stood with her jaw hanging and a look of utter confusion on her face. Now she slammed her jaw shut, gathered herself, and shrilled, "DADDY!"

Her shriek pierced through the battle, causing everyone to stop. Norman glanced at his daughter, confused.

"STOP IT DADDY! Stop it right now! Leave him alone!"

"WHAT!" roared Norman. "YOU WANT ME TO LET THIS BA—THIS CREEP GO?"

"YES!"

"OUT OF THE QUESTION! WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU YOUNG LADY! HE'S A PERVERT!"

"HE SAVED MY LIFE!"

"This is insane!" said Norman. "Max, restrain your sister until I have time to talk to her!"

"Right dad!" said Max. "Kirlia, come on out!"

Max's Kirlia appeared in a blaze of light. Immediately she projected a psychic barrier around May. "Oh no!" May exclaimed, "Not this time! Midnight!"

Midnight charged in from the lobby. "Midnight!" said May, "Get the Kirlia!"

"Raff ruff urf!" said Midnight. He started charging towards Max's Kirlia, but froze. TJ glanced over at him. Midnight growled, then charged the man who had beaned him previously.

"MIDNIGHT!" shouted May, "MIDNIGHT STOP! NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Meanwhile TJ was doing his very best to dodge Midnight's barrage. "TELL ME YOU DIDN'T FIND HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!" he shouted.

"I DID! SOMEONE HIT HIM AND LEFT HIM THERE!"

TJ groaned. "THAT WAS ME! HIS PACK ATTACKED US AND I BEANED HIM IN THE HEAD!" And then Midnight managed to sink his teeth into TJ's leg. "OWWWW!"

May was nearly in a state of panic. "MIDNIGHT RETURN! TJ, I CAN'T HELP YOU, I DON'T HAVE A POKEMON STRONG ENOUGH!"

"GREAT!" TJ roared back. His leg hurt where Midnight had bitten it, and Skipper and Warrior, though inventive, were slowly losing in the face of a clearly superior opponent. "NORMAN!"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT, SCUMBAG!" Norman roared back.

"THIS IS POINTLESS! YOU'RE GONNA KILL THEM! STOP THIS!"

Norman set his face in a grim glare. "NO!"

TJ gasped in despair. His brothers were seconds away from being clobbered. He had to defend them! TJ made a snap decision. Shouting a wild battle cry, he charged into the fray. Skipper and Warrior scattered. Slaking looked up to see what the commotion was, and took TJ's bat right in his face. TJ whipped his bat away and swung it again, at Slaking's arm. "YOU! WILL! NOT! HURT! ANY! MORE! OF! MY! BROTHERS!" he shouted, punctuating each word with another blow. Slaking grunted, looking angry. He raised his fist to swipe away the nuisance, but TJ was too fast for him. "OH NO YOU DON'T!" he shouted. "I," he slammed his bat into Slaking's jaw, "HAVE HAD," he whipped his bat into Slaking's temple, "ENOUGH," he swung his weapon into the pokémon's stomach, "OF," he kneed Slaking in the crotch, "YOU!" he swiped the doubled-over pokémon in the side. "THIS FIGHT'S OVER!" he screamed. With all his strength, TJ brought his bat down on top of Slaking's skull. Slaking wobbled, then fell to the ground. TJ stared down at him, panting, as his adrenalin and rage ebbed away. He looked down at his bat and realized there was blood on the tip. He looked at Slaking, and saw the scratches on his face. Oh God, I hope the blood's from those scratches! he thought to himself.

He turned to Norman and said, "My badge, please."

Everyone in the room stared back at him. Norman frowned as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Badge?" he said, "what badge! You attacked my Slaking! And deceived my daughter! You're going to jail!"

TJ glared at Norman. "You broke the law first, Maple!"

Norman gaped back at TJ. "What are you talking about!"

"'The battle between Pokémon Trainer TJ and Gymleader Norman for the Balance Badge will now begin! Each trainer will use one pokémon'. You broke your oath. You owe me a badge by legal forfeiture."

Norman glared at TJ. "You attacked my Slaking! You're going to jail!"

"DADDY STOP IT!" screeched May. "TJ SAVED ME! LEAVE HIM ALONE! AND I HAVEN'T SLEPT WITH HIM!"

TJ whirled his bat around a bit. "I'm sorry I lied to you, Norman—though in my defense, you have the scariest face of anyone I've ever met. I should have known better, lying has always caused me problems in the past. But I love your daughter," May glanced at him in mild shock, "and I did not sleep with her. I just came here for a badge. Will you give it to me?"

May strode over and latched onto TJ's arm, staring accusingly at her father. Norman stood there, looking torn. "I really don't like you!" he suddenly barked out.

"You did before you knew who I was."

Whatever Norman had been about to say died in his throat. He stared at the floor, deep in thought. Finally he said, "I don't think I'm ready to lose my little girl."

TJ's head spun. How was he to answer that?

"You hear all the bad things that happen in the world," Norman continued, "and are properly disgusted with them. Then you continue on with your life and don't really think about them. But when something bad hits close to home, you're suddenly forced to consider all the evil out there…When I heard my little girl had been attacked, I panicked. And when I heard that she had been rescued by someone else, I felt…ashamed. Ashamed that I wasn't there to protect her. I was…jealous of you, for taking my place."

TJ stared at Norman, nonplussed. "And you just figured this out?"

"No," sighed Norman, "I knew it ages ago, I just didn't want to admit it."

"Wouldn't admitting it have been easier?"

"Perhaps."

"Wouldn't it have been less painful?"

Norman glanced at TJ sharply. "For whom?"

"Me!" TJ squawked.

"Hmmm," murmured Norman, "that's what I was afraid of."

TJ stared at Norman in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're too violent," Norman said. "I know," he continued as TJ squawked in indignation, "I know that I broke the rules first, but you could have killed my Slaking. I can't give you a badge—you broke too many laws."

"'Broke too many laws'," TJ parroted. "'Too violent'. What about what your Slaking did to my brothers! He could have killed THEM!"

Norman shook his head. "Any human that participates in a pokémon battle is considered dangerous."

TJ just glowered.

"I'm sorry about attacking you, but you'll have to compete again later. I can't let this slide."

TJ clenched his jaw tight. "And May?"

Norman bowed his head. "It's her life; she can make her own decisions."

TJ nodded sharply. "Ranger?" he inquired.

Ranger stood up. It felt like he was about to split down his sides. "I'm good," he called.

TJ smirked knowingly. "Yeah right." He kissed May on the lips. "See you later," he whispered. Then in a louder tone of voice, he said, "let's move it out guys. We've got an appointment to keep."

"We do?" said Skipper.

TJ stared directly at Norman. "We do now," he said, his voice laden with meaning.

Skipper shrugged, then walked over to Ranger and offered him a ride. Warrior hopped onto TJ's shoulder. TJ hissed. "Other shoulder! The other one!"

"Sorry," said Warrior. He switched shoulders.

TJ strode to the door. But right before he passed through it, he turned to face Norman. "I'd retrain that Slaking of yours," he said.

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Because the next time we fight, I won't go easy on him…or on you."

And with that ominous statement, the four Kanes strode out of the Gym.

Note: Ooohhh, I made TJ much nastier than I intended him to be! But in his defense, emotionally erratic people are very frustrating (trust me, I have first-hand experience). n-e-way, I should have chapter 12 out sometime in May-June, and there's plenty of bat-wielding mayhem to satiate the gratuitis violence needs of the people. 'Til next time, Ciao!