Challenger!

by Brave Soul RMS

My name's Grey Thomas from Puel Town. I'm 15 and ran away from home with my battle-happy psycho of a Charmander named Soul & we're on way to becoming legends. Nothing'll stand in our way; not rivals, not gyms, not even the occasional evil Victreebel.

14. VS Leader Kory II

I am really loving how things in the story are going right now. I've got the story mapped out at around 67% completion (ran into a few problems but its nothing I can't handle. The problems don't appear until after Grey's earned his sixth badge and in the Silver Ring, six badges means you're only halfway done. By that point, only three of his pokémon will be fully evolved and we'll have had super-special-awesome adventures!

BUUUUT anyway… A lot of tension brewing since the raid Team Simurgh carried out at Museum Tower. Specifically, it's between Grey and Rachel. Since I already know what's going to happen between then, I can honestly say it is not pretty; not one bit. But you guys are just going to have to wait and see for yourselves. And now, without further ado, the Gym Battle you've all been waiting for (or at least Shadow Minamoto has xD): Grey of Puel Town VS Kory of Mélange Town!

Disclaimer: See disclaimer from chapter 12. Still waiting on that pie, Travis!

KEY:

"normal speech"

"thought"

translated pokémon speech

"blah blah blah emphasis blah blah blah"

Pokédex Entries

---

Chapter 14: Soul's Soul on Fire: VS Leader Kory II

Grey spent the three days after the raid at Museum Tower training vigorously for his match against Kory. Soul had improved his performance at Aerial Ace but there was still much work to do before the move was completely mastered. On the bright side, Will-O-Wisp proved to be a much easier move for the little salamander to learn and it was all but mastered by now. June had made some good progress in her research at the library and had borrowed Grey's Pokédex to help her get aquainted with her new nidoran. She'd said that Maverick would now be her focal point on how regional soil composition affected the Rock-types that lived there and had sounded very excited about it.

As for Jameson, he was taking a good long rest while getting in some light training. Since his acquisition of the Combat Badge, he hadn't stopped polishing it. But despite the good progress made by everyone, the Thomas siblings hadn't said one word to each other since that day.

Rachel would busy herself in her work by taking on low-level missions out in the grasslands and Grey would keep up his usual routine of train, rest, eat, and repeat. In the rare event the two of them were in the same room together, the silence was pregnant, thick, suffocating and cold. It was all Jameson could do not to forcibly bash their heads together and for June not to break down crying. The redhead could never stand things like this too well, especially not siblings at odds with each other.

It was the same the day of Grey's Gym Battle. He was prepared, he had his team picked out, and he was focused on his goal. But that didn't stop him from glaring Razor Fangs at his older sister from over the rim of his cereal bowl. Next to him in their booth, Jameson pressed his fingers to his temples and sighed heavily; this was getting ridiculous. It was a wonder to him how the two of them hadn't reverted to their toddler days and started punching each other.

Rachel sat next to June on the other side of the table and was pointedly ignoring her brother's gaze. Why feed the flames, she reasoned. Grey was just being the immature little brat he'd always been and would always be.

"If he wants to waste his time with this pokémon trainer crap, fine," she mentally spat. "But he can't say anything about me sticking around. Even if neither of us likes it, I'm still responsible for him."

"Okay, that's enough," Jameson growled. He paused, looked around and thanked the gods that the meal area was clear of people; everyone else was in the main lobby, some twenty feet away. "You two are brother and sister and you're acting like that's not even true. Rachel, you're being really insensitive towards your brother and Grey -"

"What?" Grey cut in curtly, never breaking his gaze at his sister. "You wanna tell me that I'm being a stupid little kid and that I never shoulda run away from home in the first place?" June flinched a little at the sharp tone of his voice.

"No, that's not what I was going to say, you idiot," Jameson said hotly. "I was going to say that, for once, you're in the right in this situation. But do you have to be so petulant about it?"

"Jameson, who are you to even be butting into this anyway?" Rachel asked. "It's none of your business."

"It is when you constantly complain to me about your brother," Jameson retorted. Rachel tensed up in indignation and opened her mouth to speak but James beat her to it. "Come on, you two; can't you just make up?"

"As if!" Grey snorted. He downed the last dregs of milk and corn flakes in his bowl before going on. "Not after what I just heard. You honestly had to go and complain to Jimmy, sis?" he asked with a snide smirk and tone. Rachel rose from her seat and slammed her hands on the table furiously, finally returning her brother's glare full force. June flinched again and Jameson ground his teeth in annoyance.

"Maybe I wouldn't have to go and talk to Jameson if you weren't so thickheaded!" she spat. Grey didn't back down and slammed his own hands down in challenge. If Rachel wanted a fight then, by Arceus, Grey would give her one. Juniper flinched a third time.

"Hey, shut up! I never even asked for you to come with me so why're you here?" Grey shot back.

"Watching out for your ass and keeping it out of trouble!"

"I don't need your help; I've got five years of training on my side and four pokémon! Ten year olds do this and come out just fine! Leave me alone, Rachel." Something within the pinkette snapped like a twig at that.

"You listen to me, Grey Isaac Thomas! When Dad's not around, Mom is in charge of you. When neither are around, I'm the one who has to take care of your bratty ass whether you like it or not so don't you dare tell me to leave you alone!" Grey opened his mouth to shout something back at her but June had had about all she could take.

"Stop it!" June pleaded, her eyes screwed shut. All attention was now on her. She was caught off guard by the sudden shift but she shook her head and moved past that.

"Jameson is right; you two are siblings! You grew up together! Why should you have to fight like this? It is…stupid!" June looked between the two siblings and the tension in the room skyrocketed when Grey and Rachel locked eyes. For a few seconds, June's heart soared when she thought they'd reconcile but it was just not meant to be.

"'Grew up together', huh?" Rachel mused. She scoffed and turned her eyes away from her little brother. She abandoned her scrambled eggs without a second thought and left the booth still fuming. "Why don't you tell that to Grey?"

"Where're you going?" the younger sibling asked.

"To visit Danny in the hospital!" Rachel shouted without looking back.

"I guess she will not be watching your Gym Battle, Grey," June said in a small voice. "I am sorry…"

"For what?" Grey shrugged. "It's no biggie, June. She can do whatever she wants; I'm not gonna let it get to me."

"Are you serious?" asked James, a humorless laugh lacing his words. "She's your big sister, Grey. Your only sister. Do you honestly not care?"

"Do not say that, James. Grey cares," June reassured. Grey now subjected Jameson to his glare. If anything, James was the more mature one between the two boys but did he really hold that bad of an opinion of Grey?

"Look," he began sternly, "Rachel is my sister and I love her. But she's just so…self-righteous sometimes, it just makes me wanna snap at her." Jameson said nothing but Grey could tell he'd seen his point.

"Besides, she's a big girl. She'll get over this," Grey said assuredly.

"Yeah," James submitted with a sigh, "I guess you're right." June stood up and clapped her hands together, looking much better than she had been a moment ago. She smiled and said,

"So does that mean everything will be alright?" The boys knew it would definitely take much more than that for everything to be right again but, in a silent mutual agreement, James and Grey decided Juniper's enthusiasm was too cute to refute. Grey picked up his bowl and placed it on top of the trash receptacle. Stretching out his back and sighing when he felt a vertebrae pop, Grey grinned and said,

"'Course it will, June. Now c'mon; sister or not, I'm taking on Kory and I'm gonna win!" He led the way out of the dining area, into the lobby, and out the Centre door into the sunshine of a Mélange Town morning. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the sun shone brightly, and a cooling breeze would flow by every few minutes. It was the picture of peaceful, and Grey would be damned if he didn't shatter it with a long and raucous pokémon battle.

---

Terry and Darrel sat next to one another in Otto's dimly lit office with the latter shaking in his combat boots. Nobody - but nobody - got called into the big boss's room unless they either royally screwed up or Otto had a big mission in mind for them. With the two of them being who they were, chances are it was going to be the second thing. Having had enough of sitting there like a lump, the curly black-haired Terry stood up and started to explore.

"Terry, what the hell are you doing?" Darrel frantically hissed. "We were told to sit here and wait for Otto not traipse around his office! Do you want to get eaten by his Tyranitar?"

"Relax, Darry. I'm not doin' nothin'," Terry replied aloofly as he tapped the carvhanna tank in interest. Immediately, the flesh-eating fish pokémon flocked to the point where his finger was and snapped their jaws hungrily. It got ugly fast; one carvhanna accidentally sunk his teeth into the fin of another and ripped it off. A plume of blood bloomed a dark red in the water and that poor carvhanna's brethren quickly cannibalized him. Nothing was left of it when the feeding frenzy ended; not even a bone fragment.

"Whoa…" Terry breathed, both shocked and amazed. "Darry, didja see that? They freakin' ate one of their own! Talk about dog eat dog," he laughed.

"Ugh, how is that funny?" Darry asked in disgust. He pushed a lock of his long brown hair behind his ear. "I hate the sight of blood…"

"Then yer in the wrong profession, mate. Ya shoulda been a teacher or somthin'," Terry suggested jokingly. He knew his best friend's desire to get away from Team Regal and be a teacher somewhere. Too bad that once you were a grunt, you either advanced in the ranks, stayed a grunt, died, or tried to quit and then died. Honestly, none of the options were appealing but staying a grunt meant staying alive longer.

"Shut up, Terry," Darry muttered, his round face slowly turning red. Deciding to switch gears, he asked, "What do you think Otto called us here for?"

"Knowin' our luck," Terry huffed, "pro'ly to harass us about how 'big a pair of idiot failures' we are 'nd how we should just go 'head and come outta the closet already. Damn 'im to hell, I got a girlfriend!" Terry kicked the ground in frustration and turned his back on the fish tank. Always the pessimistic one, Darry gave a silent nod of agreement. Terry threw his hands in the air and continued,

"I tell ya, bud, we gotta start earnin' some respect 'round here! Otherwise, shit like this is gonna keep on happenin' and that don't fly with me!" He crossed his arms in an X shape and shook his head vigorously.

"Yeah, but what can a couple of grunts do to gain respect in an organization like this one?" Darry asked gloomily. "And sit down before -"

"Before what?" cut in Otto's baritone. The blood in both grunts' veins ran cold as an Ice-type's and steadily approached subzero with each step Otto took into his office. As usual, Skuntank was right by his side slinking in and out of his legs as he walked. Otto silently took a seat behind his desk, laced his fingers together and stared at Terry expectantly over them. The curly-headed man was back in his seat in a flash.

Unhappy with the darkness, Skuntank jumped up and grabbed the chord to raise the blind and let the sun in. Darry suppressed a smile at the warmth he felt on his face; Terry squinted his eyes and made a face, annoyed at the bright light.

"Thank you, Skuntank. Now, about why you're here…" Otto rumbled.

"L-Listen, boss! That there flood in the sixth barracks wasn't us; I swear! It was that new guy, Simpson, the crafty little bastard!" Terry raved, trying to clear himself of all possible blame before Otto could continue.

"Yeah, and we didn't let all the pokémon out of their pens, either!" Darry followed up.

"Will the both of you shut up!" Otto roared. Terry and Darry literally slapped their hands over their mouths. "Dear Arceus; you two are like preschoolers! And you aren't in trouble but I'll be keeping an eye on you after that bout of verbal diarrhea."

"Damn it," Terry cursed under his breath.

"Th-then why are we here?" asked Darry. "Boss?" he hurriedly added.

"Quinn's gone AWOL," Otto said in a simple and highly enraged tone which Skuntank matched with his growling. Darry shivered in his seat but Terry showed no outward signs of fear.

"Really?" Terry asked with honest interest. "I thought she was top dog in this division, boss."

"She was. But, after the mission we sent her on, she mailed the tablet to us in an item ball, collected her money and apparently fell of the goddamned map! Last I heard, she was in Mélange Town…"

"Well, what're we s'pposed to do 'bout that?" Terry flippantly asked. A growl from Otto immediately made him apologize.

"What the hell do you think, you rube? Go after her and bring her back here for corporal punishment!" Skuntank hissed and yowled after his master's words and slinked away under the desk. At the mention of corporal punishment, Darry winced. The black eye he'd gotten from their previous failure had barely healed. Terry had said it made his baby blues look black and blue, an admittedly unfunny joke.

"If she was in Mélange Town last time, then she's headed for Springbloom next. Wasn't she a trainer on the side?" Darry asked. Otto gave a grunt and a nod.

"But, boss, she's way stronger'n us, ya know. Darry 'n me only got one pokémon each," Terry said.

"And that's why part of your mission is to get stronger," Otto growled with much emphasis on the last word. "Quinn could easily kill you though she'd prefer not to. She always was soft."

"'Cuz that just makes me feel a lot better about this," Terry muttered. "Okay, fine, we'll do it."

"As if you had a choice," Otto snorted violently. "You have five months. Either you find her and bring her back or you'll be kicked out of the organization. Understand?" Of course the two of them understood. Getting 'kicked out' of the organization meant you were going to leave both Team Regal and the world of the living.

"Yes, sir!" The duo saluted. As they stood up to leave, Otto suddenly remembered something else he wanted them to do and stopped them with a clearing of his throat.

"One more thing. You said that the last time you failed, you were bested by children, correct?"

"Ya don't have to put it so bluntly, but yeah," Terry mumbled in embarrassment.

"What's that got to do with the mission?" Darry inquired.

"The next time you run into that child with the charmander and he gets in your way - which might happen assuming that child is a typical trainer - ..." Terry and Darry didn't like the grim tone Otto's voice had taken. Both of them had already jumped to the worst case scenario and braced themselves for the inevitable order.

"Kill him." Darry flinched and said,

"But, boss, he's just a kid! He was defending himself last time and we did challenge him!"

"Fine! At least incapacitate him and show him what may happen if he crosses our paths once more. That is all. You're dismissed!" Skuntank came back out from under the desk and yowled at the duo again. It seemed to be finding fun in that and in the Terrified looks on Terry's face. Terry was out of the room and running down the hallway a second and a half after Skuntank's yowl and Darry moved at a pace between walking and running.

Otto sighed heavily and rubbed his temples in exasperation. Feeling his blood pressure rise and a searing migraine coming on, he opened the top drawer on his desk and produced a bottle of aspirin. Their meeting was short and uneventful but Terry and Darry never ceased to get on Otto's nerves.

"Skuntank," he said to his faithful companion. He popped two aspirin into his mouth and swallowed.

"Rrroaw?"

"This is going to sound horribly clichéd, but it really is hard to find good help these days."

---

Grey steadied himself through a few deep breaths. He kept reminding himself: If he wasn't focused, he'd get swamped by adrenaline. If that happened, he'd lose his head and the battle and losing to a Gym Leader on the first try twice in a row was something he would not let mar his record as a trainer. This battle had to be a victory no matter what. Otherwise, Grey would never hear the end of it from Soul on top of being told to quit again by his sister. …His sister…

"Uh-uh!" Grey grunted as he shook his head free of any thoughts of Rachel.

"Are you alright?" June asked. She gave a him an odd but concerned look. "Pre-battle jitters?"

"Who? Me?" Grey asked in mock incredulity. "Never. Just tryin' to focus is all."

"Are we going to stand here all day or are we going to get this Gym Battle over with?" James impatiently asked. Grey raised an eyebrow at James but decided to shrug and ignore him. The automatic doors slid open and the group was met with a blast of cool air when they entered the Gym. Like before, Fiona was sitting at the front desk, this time reading a magazine in boredom. She looked up at them and her face immediately brightened. Finally; some entertainment.

"Hey! You guys are late, you know. Kory was getting antsy," she said with a laugh. Grey gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah… There was somethin' that got in my way and I had to push trainin' and the Gym Battle back a bit further. Sorry 'bout that," he apologized.

"S'alright; 'better late than never' I always say," Fiona said cheerily. "Now, come on. Wait any longer and Kory might have to punch the wall." She led them towards the back again and into the studio. Unlike last time, it was occupied by about twenty students in gis with Kory leading the exercise.

"Okay, now repeat after me. Punch, punch, high kick, low kick, roundhouse, reverse roundhouse!" Kory called out while he acted on his words. His class perfectly mirrored his assault.

"Dude, sick!" Grey cheered. "I mean, I'm fast and can jump, but I can't do anything like that."

"Impressive," was all James had to say.

"More than impressive; phenomenal!" June cried. "If only he were training Fighting-types right now…"

"Yep, that's my brother. He talks a big game but he can back up his words no sweat."

"Good job, everyone." Noticing Grey, he added, "Callin' it quits for today." His students bowed and shouted a chorus of,

"Yes, sensei!" before dispersing to collect their belongings and leave. Kory personally beckoned Grey towards the back door of the studio and to the battlefield.

"Oh, right!" Kory shouted over his shoulder. "This guy," he said and pointed to Grey, "wants to challenge me to a Gym Battle. You guys wanna watch, you know where to show up." Leaving that offer on the table, Kory left the studio and took his place at the Gym Leader's trainer box.

"Man, you almost had me worried," Kory said energetically. He started stretching out his legs "Thought you'd chickened out and decided not to battle me."

"Chicken out? As if!" Grey countered with his trademark grin. He took his place at the trainer's box and took off his jacket to tie it around his waist; the luxury of air conditioning had been taken away and the sun was merciless today. Still, Grey thanked whatever gods there were for that as well as the clear skies and bright sun. If it'd been a cloudy or rainy day, the battle would have to have been postponed even further back.

"Do you think Grey can keep up the enthusiasm and win today?" June asked Jameson. The boy in blue sat next to her on the bleachers as a few of Kory's students entered the courtyard battlefield.

"Of course he can keep up the enthusiasm. Winning is a different story." James's words were uncharacteristically snappish and short today. June couldn't help but wonder if it had to do with Grey and Rachel's sibling argument.

"Are you alright?" she asked with genuine concern.

"I'm fine, June. Just ticked off at those two. They're supposed to be siblings…" James turned his head away, looking to be in deep thought. June decided that it'd be better not to interrupt him and turned her attention to the battle. It was at that moment Sylva decided to let herself out of her poké ball and sit next to June, taking on her usual role as the redhead's sentinel.

"You wanted to watch too, Sylva?"

Of course, the Wood Gecko replied. By then, nine of Kory's students sat in the bleachers with June and James, Kory had finished his stretches and Fiona was standing on the referee's podium with both flags in hand. Everyone went quiet when Fiona raised the flags and the tension between Gym Leader and Challenger shot up like a rocket.

At that moment, there were no sounds bar the rustling of the leaves as the cross breeze blew by. A few assorted bird pokémon flew by without a sound. Even they seemed to realize the charged atmosphere in the courtyard and respectfully shut their beaks.

"This is an official Pokémon League Gym Battle between Kory, Gym Leader of Mélange Town," she rose the green flag at her brother, her voice official, "and the challenger…" Fiona looked at Grey to finish her sentence.

"Grey Thomas. Puel Town, Almia!" he said proudly.

"This will be a standard pokémon battle with both sides allowed substitutions," Fiona continued. There is no time limit Gym Leader is allowed one more pokémon than the challenger. Challenger, how many pokémon will you be using?"

"Three of 'em," Grey replied with sheer confidence. "That's all I'll need."

"Pretty sure of yourself, dude, but bein' sure don't win battles. You and your pokémon got the skills to back yourself up?" Kory challenged with a devious and expectant smirk. Grey replied by picking out his first poké ball, expanding it, and pointing it at Kory. The Gym Leader's students all 'ooooh'ed at the brash but still universal sign of challenge.

"You tell me," Grey said, defying his opponent to do so.

"Then, trainers, choose your first pokémon!" Fiona shouted. Kory dug into the pocket of his sweat pants and tossed a ball into the air, kicking it into the ring with his bare foot.

"Mankey, you're up first!" he shouted. Mankey exploded onto the scene with a strident cry of his name and beat the ground violently. His need for battle had to be appeased; Mankey was going to make up for the humiliating loss he'd suffered at Shishi's hands. Just the thought of the duskull laughing its raspy laugh made him angrier and by extension, more battle ready.

"Knew it," Grey whispered to himself. "This should be a breeze for my guy. I choose you!" Grey lobbed the ball high over the ring and smiled when it split open to release a waterfall of silver light. The light pooled on the ground before shooting up and morphing into a serpentine form. The light broke apart off the body of Grey's first round choice; Maverick took the field with a proud and deafening,

"ROOOOOOOH!" Everyone present bar Grey and Kory covered their ears, fearing for their hearing.

"He's using an Onix?" one student asked after Maverick's roar subsisded.

"Is he some kind of idiot? Mankey's a Fighting-type!"

"Come on, Grey; rookie mistake!" James growled with unnecessary force.

"I am sure that he has a plan," June said assuredly. "He has learned not to rush in without one, you know."

"Better be one hell of a plan," James muttered.

"Maverick, you feelin' good?" Grey asked the rock snake. A nod was his answer.

But you're insulting me here, kid. A tiny opponent like this is no match for me, Maverick said proudly.

TINY? Mankey raved.

"Mankey versus Onix," Fiona announced. She brought her flags down and signaled the start of the battle. "Start the battle!"

"Mankey, start off with Low Kick!" Kory shouted, pointing at Maverick.

"KEEEY!" screeched the little pig-monkey. He raced towards the massive rock snake on all fours and dropped into a slide tackle when he was at a suitable distance.

"Maverick, Screech!" Grey barked. Maverick lowered his head and opened his gaping maw to let out yet another high-decibel roar. This one actually made the air shimmer as it washed over Mankey like an ocean wave and lowered his defenses. Kory's pokémon was actually blown back by Maverick's sound attack.

"Key key, mankey!" Mankey pounded the ground angrily and got up to receive Kory's next order.

"Okay, Mankey, that was harsh but we can keep goin'," Kory said. He finished cleaning out his ear with his pinky and clenched that hand into a fist, shouting, "Karate Chop!"

Mankey ran at Maverick again, this time jumping high enough to reach the onix's face. He raised an arm, the entire length of it up to his elbow glowing brightly, and prepared to slam it down onto Maverick's snout with a long battle cry.

"Slam!" Grey barked instantly. Maverick's eyes flashed for a split second before he willed his tail to rush up to meet and barrel into Mankey's tiny body. The Pig Monkey Pokémon took the crushing blow head on and was sent flying into the wall behind Kory. Mankey slammed into it and was unconscious by the time he hit the ground. The crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and boos.

"Go Grey!" June cheered. "Using Screech to worsen Mankey's frailty and then using a high-power attack like Slam was perfect thinking. He is getting better at thinking on the fly."

"But not that much better," Jameson critiqued in a harsh tone. "He was already pretty good at it. This doesn't mean he learned anything."

"Oh…" June deflated a little bit but bounced back in a snap. "Well, it was still a great tactic."

"Mankey is unable to battle! Onix is the winner!" declared Fiona.

"Aww, holy crap! Twice in a row?" Kory shouted in sheer shock. "And by an onix, no less. Jeez, trainer, I didn't see that one comin'."

"Shut up and choose your next pokémon," Grey said with a wide, wild grin. "I'm still rarin' to go!"

"Might wanna pull back a bit, dude," Kory advised over the din of his students chanting his name over and over again. "Go too fast, you'll lose control and crash just like this. Hitmonlee, go!" Kory kicked another ball into the ring and Hitmonlee appeared in a flash, at least six times more confident than he was as Tyrogue.

"Hit! Mon! Lee!" Bring! It! On! he grunted while performing three consecutive kicks with one leg.

You asked for it, runt! Maverick eagerly obliged.

"Hitmonlee versus Onix! Start the battle!"

"With pleasure. Hitmonlee, Jump Kick!" Kory roared as he punched the air. Hitmonlee wasted no time; he took two long, loping strides before following the same route as Mankey and jumping up. Grey ordered another Slam attack but the Kicking Pokémon's dexterity saved his bacon.

While Maverick's tail was rushing towards him, Hitmonlee threw out a hand, clung to the rocky surface and flipped over Maverick's tail while he delivered a stretch scissor kick to the rock snake's jaw. Grey had to admit; that was very impressive. Kory's students wholeheartedly agreed and showed it through their loud cheering.

"Nice, Hitmonlee!" Kory punched the air again. Hitmonlee back-flipped back over to his side of the field to await further orders while Maverick tried to bring his world back into focus after that jarring super-effective blow.

"Maverick, you okay?" Grey called out in concern. The onix growled a soft affirmative and defensively coiled himself tighter. "Good, then let's show 'em how we do things. AncientPower!"

A milky silver, ethereal sheen covered all twenty-eight feet of Maverick's body and coalesced into a giant orb in front of him. Maverick launched the attack at an unimpressed and unmoving Hitmonlee. The Kicking Pokémon only crossed his arms defensively in front of him and took the blow head on, not even flinching.

"The hell?" Grey exclaimed.

"C'mon, dude. Rock-type special attacks against a Hitmonlee? You got a lot to learn!" Kory said through his laughter.

"Monlee," the kicker added smugly.

"Maverick, try a Headbutt!" Grey ordered in retaliation. Maverick responded by coiling tighter and flinging himself headfirst. Hitmonlee's incredible legs helped him jump high above Maverick's attack while the onix's head crashed into the ground and sent slabs of the battlefield into the sky. "Damn…"

"Hitmonlee, Mega Kick!" Kory called. He mimicked his pokémon's earlier actions and launched three kicks.

If Hitmonlee'd had a mouth, it'd be curled upwards in a victorious smirk. He performed a tuck-and-roll in midair and extended his leg out as far as it could go - about ten feet - and dropped it down on Maverick's skull in a brutal glowing axe kick. The force of the diamond-hard impact forced Maverick's head into the ground and more pieces of the battlefield and a huge dust plume were cast into the air. The effect of an onix head hitting the ground was devastating; everyone present hopped a few feet into the air and the sound of Maverick hitting the ground was akin to that of a small explosion.

Hitmonlee landed gracefully as the dust began to envelop Maverick's upper body. There was almost no movement inside the dust cloud and that led Fiona to start to declare Hitmonlee the victor. That is until Maverick rose out of the dust cloud like a the proud and regal pokémon that he was and let out another deafening roar. By now, the students in the stands were getting sick of it.

"Shut that thing up, sensei!" A boy with blonde hair shouted over Maverick.

"Jeez, Grey! Can't you control that onix?" Jameson growled through clenched teeth. "That's the fourth damn time!"

"I think I lost count, actually," June replied innocently as Sylva helped her right herself in her seat. She was the only one that seemed unperturbed by the Rock Snake Pokémon's prideful bellows.

"Yeah; awesome, Maverick!" praised Grey. "Dig!" Maverick opened wide and bit into the ground while worming his way under it. Hitmonlee tried to catch him with a Rolling Kick before he got away but the rock snake was in his element. A moment later, Maverick came up under Hitmonlee through the center of the poké ball mark on the field like a breaching wailmer but narrowly missed in his attack.

"Good job, Hitmonlee; that training paid off!" Kory yelled. "Now show him why you're the Kicking Pokémon; another Rolling Kick!" Grey anticipated this and immediately called for a counterstrike.

"Iron Tail!" he commanded, fully absorbed in the battle now. Maverick willed his tail to turn to steel and brought it erupting out of the ground and towards Hitmonlee. His opponent jumped again but Maverick saw that coming leagues away and flung his tail straight up and caught Hitmonlee in the gut. Maverick's blow actually sent Hitmonlee into a horizontal midair spin.

"Never forget about the tail," Grey grinned. It quickly slid right off his face when he saw the devious glint in Kory's eye.

"And never give your opponent ammo!" Kory countered. "Hitmonlee, use the rotation and finish this onix off. One more Rolling Kick!"

"What?" Maverick and Grey both looked up to see that Hitmonlee was actually taking advantage of his situation and forcing himself to spin faster. When he reached peak velocity, he stretched his leg out as hard as he could and his entire leg and heel impacted Maverick's jaw. The onix's head was sent upwards by the uppercut kick and he keeled over backwards, landing with another loud thud. Hitmonlee landed victoriously on Maverick's chest area, his opponent unconscious.

"Holy hell…" Grey breathed. He was completely awed and nobody could rightly blame him. For a Gym Leader to have trained a newly evolved pokémon to use a situation like that to their advantage… That just screamed 'skill' at the top of its lungs. Grey wasn't doubting himself but he just realized that the scales were now tipped in Kory's favor, even after his quick dispatch of Mankey.

"Onix is unable to battle. Hitmonlee is the winner!" Fiona declared. She raised the green flag towards her brother and his students broke out in praise and cheer. Hitmonlee, deciding to be a total ham, did a few kicks and a backflip before stretching out his legs.

"Damn it!" Grey cured under his breath. He sighed and held up a poké ball to recall his fallen onix. "Return, Maverick. You did a great job out there; thanks," he said to the ball.

"See, kid, that's why ya never underestimate your opponent. Mankey went down hard, I'll admit, but didja really think I didn't train Hitmonlee while you were gone?" Kory smirked at Grey while he rolled his shoulders.

"Okay, okay, fine," Grey admitted with a sigh and a laugh. "I screwed up there. But I won't be doin' that anymore. Meet my newest capture!"

Bring it on, Hitmonlee challenged cockily. I'll do to them what I did to that Onix. Picking up a few tattered bits of Hitmonlee's brash emotions, Grey's grin shrank and he refocused his energies on taking the Fighting-type down. This battle was going to be his one way or the other. He took another poké ball off his belt, flicked it into the air and caught it as it expanded.

"Strabi, battle style!" Silver light flew out of the poké ball and took form on the ground as Grey's newly caught Shinx. Strabi looked at Hitmonlee critically, an air of confidence and regality about her, and let out a miniature roar.

This is what you're sending out against me? A little girl? Hitmonlee laughed, a bit insulted at the same time. He's just askin' for it.

I'll show you what this 'little girl' can do, you overconfident oaf. Don't blame me when you're covered in electrical burns, Strabi responded coolly.

"A shinx, eh? Well, let's see what she can do," Kory shrugged.

"Hitmonlee versus Shinx! Start the battle!"

"Quick Attack~!" Grey slashed a hand through the air and Strabi obeyed without question. She focused all her energy in her back legs and sped forward, a ribbon of white light streaking behind her. Hitmonlee couldn't react fast enough and took a face-full of shinx fur. The blow sent Hitmonlee reeling for all of a second; Kory reacted with his usual fighting move and a cry of,

"Rock Tomb, go!"

Hitmonlee put his hands together and conjured a purple energy ball into existence. Grey, familiar with this attack, quickly formed a plan of evasion. Hitmonlee finished forming his attack and threw the ball at the ground in front Strabi. When it hit, a stalagmite burst out of the ground with the goal of spearing the shinx in front of it.

"Lean back!" Grey barked. Strabi did just that and leaned back just in time. The stalagmite was just centimeters from her nose and she felt a bead of sweat form just above it. "Good girl, Strabi. Now Charge!" Strabi nodded and started to pull static out of the air. Her fur danced with it and stood on end when she finished.

"Let's not give them the chance, Hitmonlee! Brick Break!" Kory commanded. Hitmonlee gave a loud grunt of effort and pushed himself off the ground towards Strabi in one. His right arm took on a blinding white sheen and he brought it downwards with all the skill of a chopping master.

"Gotcha! Strabi, dodge and use Spark!" Hitmonlee's attack missed its mark when Strabi made a quick hop to the side and instead hit the battlefield. Next, the yellow bands on Strabi's front legs started generating electricity that quickly enveloped her entire body in crackling yellow light. The light grew in intensity when it met the charge Strabi had stored up. Hitmonlee knew he was in trouble.

"Get out of there!" Kory cried. But it was too late. Strabi jumped up and rammed him in the middle with her little body and transferred the charge she'd built up to Hitmonlee. The Fighting-type's body seized up in pain as the electricity sparked and popped and caused his muscles to clench tightly.

"I hoped it wouldn't have Limber," Grey said. "Strabi, use Night Slash!"

"Shiyaaaah!" cried the little lion cub as both her bands and claws adopted a sinister black light. Hitmonlee fought hard and was able to break the electricity's hold over his body just in time. Strabi slashed at his legs repeatedly and jumped to reach his body a few times but it looked as it the Kicking Pokémon had made a full recovery by the way he expertly dodged.

"Damn it; Strabi, use your Spark one more time!"

"It takes time to build up enough power for that," Kory noticed. "Counter with Double Kick and keep up the assault!" Hitmonlee was more than happy to dish out some payback. While Strabi took a few moments to begin charging, he took a literal second to ready his legs and started to execute kick after kick after kick down at Strabi. The Flash Pokémon was hit by the initial strike and was forced to put her all into not getting wailed on like a punching bag.

"You're doing great, girl, keep it up!" Grey encouraged. On the inside, he was at a loss on how to come back from this barrage. He clenched his teeth and knit his brow in concentration as Hitmonlee moved forward from his side of the field with every strike. Strabi was forced to keep moving back as a result.

"He's getting backed into a corner," Jameson noted.

"What do you mean?" June asked him, unfamiliar with battling terms.

"I mean just look at him. The battlefield is huge and Hitmonlee is forcing Strabi backwards towards Grey with each kick. You tell me how he's getting out of this one."

"I got it!" Grey exclaimed to himself. A devious grin spread on his face and he commanded, "Strabi, keep moving back!"

"Nyah!" his shinx cried in affirmation. Hitmonlee was upping the speed of his kicks so Strabi was even more hard-pressed to both dodge and move back like Grey ordered. She hopped over one particularly fierce kick and actually felt a cut open on her forehead. Strabi moved back a few more feet while managing to absorb Hitmonlee's lighter blows and narrowly dodge the more deadly ones.

"Mon lee!" Hitmonlee grunted when he decided to lift his leg and drop it back down with tremendous force. The kick made it look as if a land mine had gone off under Hitmonlee's foot. Strabi was able to dodge the axe kick but a follow up sweep kick sent her up twenty feet into the air.

"Good, now Hi Jump Kick!" Kory shouted ecstatically. His confidence took one hell of a nose dive a second later. Hitmonlee was right in front of the poké ball symbol; right in front of the hole Maverick created during his resurfacing.

"Grey, look out!" June cried fearfully.

"Gotcha…" the black-haired trainer whispered. As Hitmonlee raised his right knee to strike with his signature move, his left foot got caught on the rim of the hole as he jumped. The result: Hitmonlee's balance was off and his Hi Jump Kick missed Strabi by a mile. Hitmonlee careened out of control at the wall behind Grey and his knee collided into the wall. The excruciating impact traveled through Hitmonlee's entire right leg and he gave a pained, strangled shout.

"Hitmonlee!" Kory cried in concern for his pokémon. Strabi landed with feline grace and looked over at Hitmonlee, now on Grey's side of the field and holding his knee, eyes clenched and hopping on one foot.

Thanks for not letting me down, Grey! she said, now charged and energized by the shift in their favor.

Ow! Son of a bitch! I'm gonna get you for that! Hitmonlee groaned.

"Strabi, Shock Wave!" Grey called out with a grin. His Shinx's bands glowed again and generated a massive charge of blue lightning. Strabi yowled and released the homing blast at Hitmonlee with intent to win that her opponent felt the moment the attack connected. The charged filled his body and caused him to go into heavy convulsions. When Shock Wave was finished, Hitmonlee was left with electrical burns while his body smoked faintly.

"Damn it… Hitmonlee, return!" Kory commanded. A loud shout of protest was heard from the Kicking Pokémon before he was engulfed in red and called back.

"So, how was that?" Grey asked cockily.

"Impressive," Kory willingly admitted. "You waited til the right moment to strike and trusted that little shinx o' yours. Good job, trainer."

"Thanks. Strabi, return." Strabi fixed him with a raised eyebrow and a curious look.

But I can still fight, she protested even though she was winded from all that dodging paired with taking a few of Hitmonlee's kicks. Not knowing if Grey would understand, she shook her head and growled.

"I know you can still keep goin'," Grey said understandingly. "But I wanna make sure you stick around in case I need ya. Don't want a repeat of Maverick." The young shinx understood. She heaved a sigh of reluctance and strutted back to her trainer's side where she was hugged and scratched behind the ears as a show of thanks.

"Good work out there, girl. Thanks a lot," Grey whispered to her. Kory took out another poké ball, this time throwing it into the ring. Breloom appeared in all his glory and pawed at the ground, eager for combat.

"Unless you got a Flyin'-type, you're outta luck here, champ," Kory said. "You got one?"

"No," Grey confessed, "but I got the next best thing. Soul, battle style!" Grey released the ball with a backhand throw and Soul burst on the scene with an admittedly cute roar, his usual toothy grin and a flex of his claws.

"Chaaar!" he growled, ready, willing, and able. Let's torch somethin'!

"Soul looks really excited. I can tell Grey is going to win this match!" June giggled. She produced her clipboard and pen seemingly out of nowhere and added, "Plus, this will be a great chance to see how much he has grown in comparison to wild charmander."

"Uh, June, where exactly do you keep that?" Jameson asked unsurely.

Come on, firebug. Show us what you've got, Sylva said with an amused smile.

"Goin' with the obvious type advantage," Kory noted. "Alright then."

"Breloom versus Charmander!" Fiona raised her flags and brought them straight back down. "Let the battle begin!"

"Soul, this is gonna be a walk in the park," Grey assured his charmander. "Let's start off strong!"

"Beat ya to it!" Kory grunted." Breloom, use Headbutt then use Stun Spore!"

"LOOM!" Breloom bellowed. He took off, powerful saurian legs driving him, and lowered his mushroom cap head down at his tiny opponent while releasing toxic yellow spores.

"As if. Soul, Will-O-Wisp!" Grey barked with a wild grin. Soul gave that exact same smile and reared his head back as a spectral ball of blue flame burst to life inside of his mouth. He conjured another one by using his adrenaline to raise the temperature of his tail flame to white hot and launched the first fireball.

It raced towards Breloom's head and incinerated the Stun Spore allowing Soul to rush the Mushroom Pokémon and rake his tail flame across Breloom's body. The effect was instantaneous: blue flames spread like wildfire and completely consumed Breloom, cooling back down to the reddish-orange fire that spoke of a burn.

"Breeee!" cried the distressed living mushroom. The flames dispersed as easily as they'd come but Breloom would feel their effects for a long time.

How's that for ya? Soul taunted.

"Alright!" Grey rooted, pumping both his fists in victory.

"Okay, now that was odd," Jameson said noting how Grey's personality shifted when Soul was called out.

"I know. It is as if Grey receives a boost of courage whenever Soul is on the battlefield. The same goes for Soul. Why do you think that is?" June wondered.

"Dunno, but it looks like the adrenaline's finally gotten to Grey," Jameson pointed out. "He might get wrecked in this fight if it keeps up."

"Man, am I ever glad we taught you Will-O-Wisp!" Grey grinned.

"Char char!"

"Breloom, no backing down! Use Stone Edge!"

"Bre bre breloom!" Breloom glared at Soul with the utmost venom and slammed the ground with his tail. A few slabs of the battlefield came up and began to rapidly orbit him before he threw his arms forward and sent them at Soul.

"Low accuracy move," Grey muttered quickly to himself. The threw out an arm and screamed, "Get out of there! Metal Claw the ones you can't dodge!"

Soul broke out in a sprint to get away from the deadly barrage of stone arrowheads. Grey had been right when he pegged Stone Edge as being hard to aim because most of the stones flew right over Soul's head. The few that made it close were Metal Clawed into dust in a similar manner to the way Sniper did it. The only difference was that bladed bug was much faster and had reflexes that put Soul's to shame.

"Now's our chance! Mach Punch!" Kory threw a punch of his own at the same time Breloom stomped towards Soul. The Mushroom Pokémon pulled his now glowing fist back and threw it with all the skill and force of a pro boxer, catching Soul in the side of the face with the blow. Everyone watching could've sworn they'd felt the hit themselves.

"Don't back down, Soul! Fire Fang!" Grey commanded. Soul edgily growled at Breloom and completely filled his mouth with searing hot fire before turning his head and biting down on Breloom's outstretched arm. Being half Grass-type did not help the mushroom in this situation as the fire traveled up his arm. The combination of sharp fangs and fire was a potent one.

"Use your tail!" cried Kory. Breloom did so and clubbed Soul's tiny body with the hardened spore pods on his tail, dislodging the fire breather from his arm. "Sky Upper, now!"

"The hell is a Sky Upper?" Grey asked in a mix of confusion and expectation. "Whatever; Soul, get ready to dodge!"

Soul nodded and brushed himself off after that last attack and prepared to dodge. Breloom's burn activated before his attack could start and he burst into flames for a moment. Grey told Soul to fire off an Ember but they'd misjudged the strength of Breloom's fighting spirit. Breloom sped forward ignoring the fact that he was on fire, his fist literally crackling with fighting spirit and before Soul could react or Grey could issue an order, landed a swift, fierce uppercut to the Lizard Pokémon's jaw. Soul was flung high into the air by the powerful Fighting attack, quickly becoming a silhouette against the backdrop of the harsh sun. All eyes turned up towards the Charmander.

"Chaaaa…!"

"Oh, no!" June cried.

"I knew this'd happen," Jameson said solemnly.

"Soul!" Grey shouted frantically. After a hit like that, Grey wasn't sure if Soul could recompose himself in time to dodge a follow up attack. He felt panic slowly grip his heart, concerned for his pokémon's safety.

"Stone Edge once more!" Kory cried triumphantly. Breloom summoned the energy rings and transmuted them into orbiting stone arrowheads, taking aim and readying to fire.

"Soul, do something!"

Do something…! Soul repeated. At that moment, a huge power built up in Soul's chest and expanded outwards until it reached the tips of his fingers, toes, and tail. The power was unbelievable and seemed to increase Soul's power well beyond his current limits. Unbeknownst to the charmander, his body began to shine a luminous, immaculate white. Those on the ground all knew what it meant when his body began to match the color of the white hot sun.

"Soul…" Grey breathed. "I don't believe it; you're evolving!"

About time, Strabi and Sylva said in synchrony.

"Well, that just sucks for me, don't it?" Kory muttered.

Soul's evolution began the moment he landed back in front of Grey. He grew at least two-and-a-half feet taller and his tail grew until it was as long as his body. His arms extended outwards and became more muscular while his claws morphed from their tiny, unnoticeable form into razor sharp, prominent daggers. The claws on his feet did the same and he grew a horn that extended outwards from the back of his skull while his mouth matured into a snout.

When the light finally died down, it revealed that Soul's scales had turned colors. They were no longer the soft orange of a charmander, replaced by the vibrant crimson red of a charmeleon. The blue color of his eyes had deepened as well, becoming a clear, crisp azure. His tail flame immediately tripled in size.

"Chaaaaaar me!" Soul roared in his new deeper voice. He flicked his tail like a whip, stared Breloom down and grinned, showcasing a whole new set of fangs.

I'm liking this, he said, pleased with his new form. Grey fought to hold back his cry of victory and scanned Soul with the Pokédex.

Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon. The evolved form of Charmander, Charmeleon is capable of breathing flames three times as hot as before. This is thanks to the bigger flame burning on its tail as well as the increased level of control gained upon evolution. Charmeleon are avid and vicious battlers. They attack at close range with their claws, fangs and tail while utilizing their fire breath for long range attacks. A charmeleon's tail is very powerful, capable of lifting and carrying an adult human with ease.

Gender: Male

MOVES: Ember, Fire Fang, Dragon Rage, Smokescreen, Growl, Metal Claw, Will-O-Wisp, Aerial Ace, Slash* (new move; replaced 'Scratch')

"Oh, YEAH! Soul, you did it, buddy! You're a charmeleon now!" Grey hollered in triumph.

"Me!" Soul grunted confidently.

"So what?" Kory snorted. "You still let your guard down. Breloom, launch the Stone Edge!"

"Bre!" exclaimed the Mushroom Pokémon as he sent his barrage of stones at the newly evolved Soul.

"Soul, end this now! Aerial Ace!" Soul's grin widened and he dodged Stone Edge while performing a near-perfect Aerial Ace on his first try. Still in use of the attack, Soul curved his path and clawed at Breloom before the slashing winds did their job. Unable to stand up to the quadruple effectiveness of Aerial Ace, Breloom fell to defeat.

"Breloom is unable to battle! Charmeleon is the winner!" Fiona declared. Even under a torrent of boos from Kory's students, Soul and his trainer held their heads proudly.

"You have got some kinda crazy luck, trainer. For that little firebug to've evolved when he did was perfect timing," Kory said. He returned Breloom with a sigh and gave the ball a silent thank you.

"Soul, that was sick! Come back for a bit," Grey said. Soul gave no objects and returned to Grey's side with a slight pang of reluctance tugging at his heartstrings.

"Char me leon," What d'you think? the charmeleon asked the shinx. He flashed another toothy grin, this one spilling over with embers.

"Shyaa… Nya nya." Well… It's cool, Strabi replied simply. Soul's face fell like a ton of bricks.

And after that victory, you'd think I'd get a little more praise, he sighed jokingly.

---

"Glad you came to visit," Danny said. He grinned at Rachel and Vulpix as they entered his hospital room and sat down at his bedside. Danny's upper torso had been bandaged tightly and he'd been given a few painkillers to help with his ribs. Luckily for him, Kestrel had only broken one rib and cracked the other one. He was still in some serious pain but it wasn't as bad as it could've been. Vulpix hopped gracefully onto the bed and licked Danny's face in greeting.

Danny's hospital room was plain and simple. His bed was in the center and the windows were right across from him on the right side. The bathroom was right next to the entrance and a TV hung in the bottom left corner of the room. Typical of a hospital, everything was stark white from the sheets on his bed to the buttons on his TV. The sun shone in brightly through the open window and the breeze felt nice whenever it decided to go by.

"Don't mention it. It is my brother's fault that you're hurt and…well, you're cute," Rachel replied, her face tingeing as pink as her hair. Vulpix suppressed a giggle.

"Thanks for the compliment." Danny laughed but immediately regretted it when the pain in his ribs decided to step in. "Ow…! Okay, remember that it hurts to laugh…"

"Are you alright?" Rachel sprung up out of concern. "Can I get you anything? Water; more pillows; maybe call the nurse and get you some food or painkillers?" Vulpix couldn't take it anymore and erupted into full-blown laughter. It was rare that Rachel behaved in such a way and to see the girl she'd grown up with act like a love struck teenager amused Vulpix to no end.

"Rachel, I'm fine, seriously," Danny reassured her. "Sit back down. I just wanted to talk to you."

Seriously, Rachel. Get a grip, Vulpix said through her giggles.

"Oh…" Rachel blushed even more and sat back down, kicking herself for acting like a flustered schoolgirl. For Arceus's sake, she was a Pokémon Ranger. They were supposed to handle themselves professionally. "Well, what'd you want to talk about?"

"About Grey. Is he alright?" Danny asked with genuine concern. Rachel winced visibly but it went over Danny's head as he continued. "I mean, I know he doesn't really like me what with me flirting with you and all…' Rachel clenched her fist in anger but hid it from the injured young man. "But I saw him go after the guy that did this to me. Did he come back hurt or what?"

"No…" Rachel said slowly. "He came back just fine. Apparently, he challenged the man to a battle and Soul got roughed up pretty good, but they're both okay now." Danny heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank Arceus; I was afraid it'd be all my fault if he came back in worse condition than me. That dude was seriously sadistic…"

"Your fault?" Rachel asked. She was both confused and a little bit angry. How would it have been Danny's fault if Grey had done his usual thing: doing something stupid and getting hurt? She put her thoughts into words and Danny replied,

"Well, I thought he was going after the dude to pay him back for what he did to me. That is why he went after him." He gave a short pause. "…Right?"

"He never told us why," Rachel answered. "Probably thought the guy was strong and he could've gotten stronger by beating him." Her emotions started boiling over and she continued, spite becoming more apparent in her voice.

"I mean, that's what trainers do, right? They go off gallivanting around who knows were fighting and making their pokémon get stronger while their family is stuck at home worrying about them…"

"Rachel, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine!" the pinkette snapped. Instantly sorry, she grabbed Danny's hand in apology. "I'm sorry… It's just…" She sighed, unable to get the words out. Why is it that she couldn't express herself when she was doing so well seconds before?

"Tell me. I may have a broken rib, but that dude didn't break my ears," Danny joked.

"It's just… It's just that… Well, you know that I'm a ranger and back home, Grey was training to become one, too. Except he always had this stupid dream of becoming a Pokémon Trainer instead. I mean, he showed so much promise as a ranger!"

He did, Vulpix added. He was the fastest runner back in his class in Almia. His agility was good but his balance could stand some improvement.

"You mean, like, full on flips and jumps and agility and stuff? Wow, Grey can do that?" Danny marveled, suddenly impressed with the cocky young trainer.

"Mhm, and I can too. We were trained to do that kind of stuff since we were ten. And we're only supposed to have one pokémon partner with us. But ever since we landed on Pacific Island, he hasn't been keeping up with his training; he's just been making his pokémon fight without even stopping to think about how they feel or if they even want to fight! It's abuse, I tell you!"

"Well, that's not entirely -" Danny started.

"Not to mention that Pokémon Rangers have been a Thomas family tradition since my great-great-grandfather!" Rachel raved on, her emotions in full control now. How could Grey have just thrown all that out the window? And my parents! Dear Mew, my parents… Mom is probably bawling her eyes out and Dad is furious at him for sure!"

"Rachel -"

And he's so goddamn smug! I mean, he knew I was out of my comfort zone when I asked for lessons on how to catch pokémon and what did he do? He laughed at me! I thought getting his ass kicked by that Emily Gym Leader girl would've told him he wasn't good enough and that he should just head back home, but no! Grey's so stubborn and thickheaded that it didn't even register with him! He just kept on going!"

"Rachel, you need to -"

"I don't understand how someone can be so selfish and stupid as to not even consider how his own parents and charmander would feel before going off and wasting his life like this! He is such an idiot!" Rachel finally built up enough anger for her to slam her fist on the bedside table. next to Danny's bed. Either because it was made of such flimsy wood or because Rachel was just that strong, she actually left a good sized dent behind.

"Rachel!" Danny shouted. Rachel caught herself but her anger still showed in her clenched jaw, her heavy breathing, and her balled up fists. "What the hell was that? I didn't know you hated your brother that much…"

Rachel, calm down, Vulpix urged sadly. She hated seeing her trainer like this

"I don't hate him," Rachel corrected him with a sigh. "I'm just… Disappointed. Disappointed that he'd forsake a family tradition. I mean, I know Dad promised that he could be a trainer after Soul hatched and then acted like it'd never happened, but… I just don't know."

"Well, there it is," Danny said simply. Rachel gave him a perplexed look.

"There what is?"

"You said your dad retracted his promise to Grey. How old is he now; fifteen? I guess, over the years, he'd finally gotten sick of being forced to do something he didn't want to and took it upon himself to realize his dream. You can't be mad at the kid for being true to himself," Danny said rationally.

Rachel had to admit it. Danny was right. She couldn't be mad at him for that. But she still was and she could damn sure be mad at him for throwing away a family tradition. With a familial loyalty streak running nineteen years, anybody in Rachel's position would have been just as outraged.

"I know…" Rachel bitterly submitted. "But can I be mad because he keeps telling me to leave?"

"Rachel, Grey's a big boy. Kids half a decade younger than him go off and do this and come back just fine. You really need to just let this go," Danny said soothingly. Rachel said nothing. At that moment, it felt as if the entire world were telling her she was wrong. Thomas family pride wouldn't let her accept that.

---

"Hitmonlee, you're back out!" A haggard-looking Hitmonlee retook the stage. He was doubled over and leaning on his left leg thanks to his badly executed Hi Jump Kick from earlier. That translated to Grey as 'easy pickings'.

"Strabi, let's finish the job here," he said. Strabi sauntered back onto the battlefield to end this match once and for all.

Whatsa matter, big boy? Burn yourself out? she taunted in a fake sultry purr. Aww, too bad. My cat toy's broken. Hitmonlee couldn't even mount a comeback; the pulsating pain in his knee spiked before he could.

"Hitmonlee versus Shinx, round two." Fiona took a short pause before signaling the start with her flags.

"Strabi, Charge then Spark! Hitmonlee can't take another hit!" Grey reeled off commands faster than ever before but that didn't hinder Strabi. She knew Hitmonlee wouldn't be able to interrupt her this time so she charged up as much power as she could before breaking out in a run with Spark.

"Hitmonlee, change in tactics. Use your left leg now!" Hitmonlee growled under his breath and shifted his weight onto his uninjured leg. When Strabi transitioned in a flying tackle, Hitmonlee bent backwards like a willow tree and laughed as the bright ball of electricity passed over him. Kory grinned at the shocked look on Grey's face.

"No problem, Strabi, just keep attacking. Quick Attack and keep up the assault!" Grey ordered. Strabi streaked at Hitmonlee more times than she could count, creating a crisscrossing matrix of light streaks all around the Kicking Pokémon but she could never land a hit. Hitmonlee leg was just too flexible, even in his weakened state. For the umpteenth time, Kory's students started chanting his and Hitmonlee's names.

"Rock Tomb!" Kory barked. Hitmonlee formed another purple energy ball and threw it at the ground in front of Strabi's current path. Strabi collided with the resulting stalagmite and was slowed down long enough for Hitmonlee to switch legs for a moment and land a Rolling Kick. The shinx cub skipped across the ground but righted herself when she ended up in front of Grey.

"Nice try, but we planned for this," Kory said.

"Alright, fine. Strabi, Shock Wave then use Quick Attack!" The blue lightning blast came first and stalled Hitmonlee long enough for Strabi to finally get a Quick Attack in. Hitmonlee took the hit like a man and retaliated with a Brick Break square in the back. When Strabi hit the ground, Hitmonlee switched feet again and kicked Strabi away.

"Again, Quick Attack!"

"You know the drill, Hitmonlee!" Again, Grey's shinx streaked across the field as quick as her little legs could take her while Hitmonlee prepared to bend over backwards once more.

"Jump!" Grey suddenly ordered. Strabi stalwartly obeyed the order and jumped, ending up right above Hitmonlee. "Now!" Grey prayed Strabi would be able to follow through and yelled out, "Iron Tail!"

Strabi let out a cry of determination and made her tail as hard as a steel beam as she rolled forward and whipped Hitmonlee with it. The attack would have spelled Hitmonlee's defeat if not for Strabi losing her control and letting her tail return to normal. Nevertheless, Hitmonlee bent out of the way in time and switched to his injured leg, preparing to land the finishing blow.

"Mega Kick!" Kory ordered. Hitmonlee pulled his leg back and focused every last bit of his power into the powerful blue shine that enveloped his foot.

Strabi's pride had had enough. How hard was it for her to perform a simple Iron Tail? With righteous indignation and before Hitmonlee could aim, she forced her tail to become steel once more, hopped up, and whipped her tail into the back of Hitmonlee's bum knee. Immediately, a surge of pain ripped its way through Hitmonlee's leg and caused him to black out, the glow around his foot fading fast. The Kicking Pokémon hit the ground hard; Strabi poked him in the side to see if he was really unconscious and let out a prideful yowl when he didn't get back up.

"Hitmonlee is unable to battle!" A wave of boos met that statement. "Shinx is the winner!"

"Shiyaah!" Strabi cried. She ran back to Grey and leapt into his arms ecstatically, happy to have won her first real battle. "Nyarra," she purred.

"Strabi, that was sick! Does this mean you finally learned Iron Tail?" Grey asked through his exuberant laughter. Strabi only shrugged and nuzzled under his chin.

"Hitmonlee, return." Kory sighed heavily. "Ahh, damn…"

"Only one left, Soul. You're on and make it a good one," Grey ordered with a wide grin. This battle was going greatly. He might've lost Maverick early on but Strabi pulled through for him and Soul had even evolved! He pondered exactly why Strabi was so fast and why she knew Quick Attack. The only answer he could come up with was 'her father was a Manectric'. A good answer, but that left the mystery of Strabi's Night Slash unsolved.

"This is it," June said, fully engrossed in the battle. She was so into it, she'd forgotten to take notes after Soul evolved. "Kory's last pokémon. If Grey can beat Monferno, then that means he wins the badge."

"And he's still got two pokémon in the reserves. Soul is relatively fine but Strabi is pretty tired," Jameson said. "It all comes down to who wants it more, I guess."

Because Grey could feel Strabi's heavy breathing in his arms, he thought against sending her in. Soul once again took to the battlefield and let out a roar daring Kory to send out his last. Kory took out his fourth and final poké ball and smiled fondly at it.

"You don't know who's in here, do ya, trainer? You left 'fore you could see," Kory realized.

"Nope, I don't," Grey replied with a shake of his head. "But who or whatever it is, Soul and I are going to beat 'em and win. Right, partner?"

"Char meleon," the newly evolved Flame Pokémon replied with confidence.

"Just remember you had this ass kicking coming. Monferno, it's all you bud!" Kory cried as he flung the ball into the arena. A waterfall of silver rained down and formed into Kory's monferno, ready to bring seven different kinds of pain.

Oh, sweet, another Fire-type! Monferno cheered. This'll make it even more satisfying when I kick your ass!

You kick my ass? In your dreams, monkey boy, Soul said coolly. "Char," C'mon, Soul grunted at Monferno. He beckoned the monkey to come at him with one claw, grunting. "Me le on!" Bring it on!

"Makaaa…" You got it…

"This is the final match. Monferno versus Charmeleon!" Fiona announced. Both pokémon and their respective trainers blocked out everything else and knew only what was right in front of them: the battle. Kory's students stopped cheering out of respect, James leaned forward expectantly and June clenched her clipboard tightly. The suspense was literally visible.

"Begin!"

"Mach Punch!" Kory barked the second his sister's flags reached her sides. Monferno wasted absolutely no time, practically flying across the field and burying his fist in Soul's face. Soul grit his teeth in annoyance; he hadn't been expecting such a fast opening move.

"Soul, test out your new claws!" Grey commanded. "Slash attack!"

With pleasure! the fire-breather grunted. He too pulled an arm back and hooked his new claws into Monferno's hip before proceeding to rake them across his opponent's stomach with frightening ease. Monferno bit back a scream and threw another punch. Soul caught this one and the two Fire-types grappled for supremacy before Grey said to push Monferno away. Monferno flipped back to his side of the field and hopped from foot to foot, awaiting further orders.

"Smokescreen!" Grey cried.

"No chance. Monferno, Taunt!" Monferno reacted by executing one of the oddest moves Grey had ever laid eyes on. The fire monkey pulled down his bottom eyelid and stuck out his tongue while flipping Grey's charmeleon the middle finger. Needless to say, all in the audience were either appalled or laughing at the display of sheer audacity.

Wha… You little bastard! Soul roared indignantly.

What? Can't take a little Taunt, Mr. Salamander? Monferno sneered. Instead of breathing the smoke out through his mouth, two plumes of acrid black emerged from Soul's nostrils.

"Soul, hold it together," Grey said in an attempt to calm his pokémon down. "Use Aerial Ace!" Soul didn't need to be told twice and again executed an almost perfect Aerial Ace on the first try. He raced forward in a straight line, wind splitting at his snout.

"Flame Wheel, go!" Kory countered confidently. Monferno's own tail flame grew and he formed a fireball in his mouth while trilling loudly. Next, he did a tuck and roll to complete his maneuver and wheeled his way on a collision course with Soul. The resulting impact was painful for both pokémon but neither one of them showed it.

Soul's Aerial Ace still had enough power to equally match the kinetic energy generated by Monferno's rolling. The raging winds that were trailing behind Soul finally caught up with him and met Monferno's Flame Wheel violently. A miniature hurricane of fire now whipped around every which way carrying embers and flames with it and flinging them around.

"Stop him in his tracks!" Grey bellowed over the wind while shielding Strabi at the same time. Soul heard him clearly and pulled out of Aerial Ace to grab the sides of Monferno's Flame Wheel and completely stop its movement. The fire burst apart off of Monferno's body and Soul was left holding the Playful Pokémon's shoulders.

"Right there!" Kory shouted. "Monferno, ThunderPunch!" Monferno let out a battle cry and pulled static out of the air to coat his arm in before driving it into Soul's gut. Like Hitmonlee, Soul's muscles were sent into a dizzying spasm of contractions and expansions that tore control away from the Flame Pokémon. The electrical burn to the stomach wasn't very pleasant either.

Goddamn it, I hate electric attacks! Soul growled through gritted fangs. Soul used every last bit of his willpower to force the sparks off his body and face Monferno again.

"Fury Swipes!" Kory ordered. Since he was still in close quarters with Soul, Monferno didn't have to traverse the entire battlefield so he could start repetitively scratching Soul with his nails that paled in comparison to Soul's claws. Nevertheless, the move still did damage, but not a great deal of it.

"Soul, get out of close range! Stop his attack and punch him!" Soul did just that, catching Monferno's hand in mid-Fury Swipe and throwing a punch at the monkey's face. Monferno copied his opponent and caught Soul's fist in his own hand, forcing the two of them to grapple once more.

"Tail!" was all Grey said but it was more than enough for Soul. Utilizing his thick, flexible new tail, Soul broke out of the grapple, whipped Monferno upside the head and jumped back before he could get attacked again.

"Dragon Rage!" The next thing Monferno knew, a ball of dragonic energy impacted with and exploded on contact with him. An obscuring cloud of dust and smoke covered Monferno completely and blocked him from view. Soul knew it wasn't over yet.

"Monferno, let's show them how we do!" Kory screamed. "Rock Climb!"

"Rock Climb?" Grey asked. His demonstration came a second later. Monferno slammed his foot on the ground inside his dust cloud and the ground under Soul started to shift and raise to form a miniature mountain. The confused Flame Pokémon looked around for any sign of his fellow Fire-type and got it a second too late when Monferno literally skated up the mini-mountain on the tectonic fissures he created and slammed into Soul with the force of a small train. Soul flew off the peak of the rock formation but was able to right himself in time to dig his claws into the rock and safely slide down. The mountain somehow retreated back into the ground when Soul touched down.

"Monferno, Shadow Claw!" Kory commanded. Ghost-type energies were worked up from the deepest parts of Monferno's power and made to fit over his arms like gloves with three demonic claws for fingers.

"Wow, we are seeing a much more varied moveset than the last time Monferno battled!" June exclaimed. She suddenly remembered she should be taking notes and started to scrawl away only looking up to watch the battle. "Go on, Soul; Grey! Win this!"

"Soul, counter it with Slash!" Soul's own six claws took on a metallic sheen and he brandished them dangerously before he and Monferno ran at each other. They both jumped and met in midair over the hole Maverick made in the center of the field and ended up on the opposite trainer's side. They did it again, clashing and pushing apart before taking to normal ground combat.

Blow after crushing blow was traded between the two with only one every five strikes making any contact. With each strike, the pokémon got more tired and the trainers got more into the battle. Soul suddenly ducked under one of Monferno's more wild strikes and pivoted, bringing his tail up to crash into Monferno's stomach. Payback for the earlier ThunderPunch.

"Fire Fang!" Grey barked and Soul's mouth overflowed with flames. While the fire itself did minimal damage, Monferno couldn't help but scream out at the sensation of Soul's fangs piercing his shoulder. Monferno threw Soul off of him and again the two pokémon broke apart from their battle dance, both looking considerably winded.

"Monferno, Rock Climb one more time!" Kory ordered. "We're finishing this!" Another mountain rose under Soul's feet; he almost lost balance when it finished forming. Again Monferno rode up his creation and lowered his shoulder down to drive it into Soul's body.

"Soul, stop him!" Grey bellowed. Soul matched his trainer's shout and stuck out both hands to stop Monferno in his tracks. The Flame Pokémon was able to startle Monferno into losing control over Rock Climb and the mountain sank back down again. For a third time now, the two Fire-types grappled.

"Flame Wheel!" Monferno broke out of Soul's hold for a second and tucked into another Flame Wheel. Soul took hold of the sides of the wheel and attempted to stop Monferno's rolling against his stomach but to no avail.

"Throw him into the sky!" Grey shouted suddenly. With w mighty shout, Soul flung Monferno's rolling body into the air. "Dragon Rage him!" Next, the evolved pokémon's tail flame grew and his eyes flashed white with power. He formed the Dragon Rage attack with ease and launched it at Monferno. The impact and resulting explosion shot Monferno further up but he just wouldn't go down.

"Mach Punch!" Kory bellowed with a tone of finality. Monferno screeched loudly and somehow made himself shoot back down at the ground towards Soul.

"Finish it! Aerial Ace!"

"Chaaaar!" Soul howled. He rocketed towards Monferno with Aerial Ace with the aim of ending this fight. Monferno threw his fist forward and kept on going on Kory's order but Soul wasn't about to take another punch to the face. He curved around Monferno, letting the monkey reach the ground first, and turned back around to finish his attack. Soul's attack hit home right in the center of Monferno's back.

The Flame Pokémon jumped off of Monferno's back and landed next to Grey to wait for the outcome of the battle. Monferno's vision was hazy and unfocused after that blow. He vaguely heard Kory urging him to keep going but there was no way he could after that attack. He fell face first into the ground where Fiona declared him unable to battle. Kory's students broke out in groans of disappointment but they fell on deaf ears to Grey and Kory.

"Charmeleon is the winner and the battle goes to Grey Thomas of Puel Town!"

"Alright!" Grey let Strabi down and hugged his partner tightly. They'd won their second Gym Badge and Soul had evolved into Charmeleon. Nothing could possibly spoil this moment. "Soul, you rock so hard!"

"Char char me!" the lizard sang triumphantly. June ran down, Sylva on her heels, and slid into the group hug while she cheered Grey, Maverick, Soul and Strabi's names.

"That was phenomenal! The way Soul moved during Aerial Ace! Indescribable!" the redheaded researcher praised.

Ya did good, kid, Sylva said, flashing Soul a thumbs up that was returned with interest in the form of a grin. During their celebrating, Kory sighed and walked onto the field to help up his first pokémon.

"Maaa…?" Did I win…?

"Nope. Sorry, bud, but we lost," Kory said with a sad shake of his head. "But we lost to a good trainer so there's nothin' to be ashamed of here. You did great, pal." Kory called Monferno back into his poké ball and called out to Grey.

"Yeah, what is it?" the boy asked, still laughing. Kory smiled at him and said,

"Come back in an hour, trainer. I'll have your badge then. You earned it."

---

An hour later and after everyone had been healed, Grey once again stood in Kory's courtyard, Maverick, Soul, and Strabi by his side. Jameson and June stood behind him as he was presented with his second Silver Ring Gym Badge. Kory, also with his pokémon flanking him and his sister behind him, held out a hand to Grey. Sportsmanship was foremost as a Gym Leader, after all.

"Sick battle, dude," he said simply. "We lost and that's all there is to it. I didn't think Breloom'd go down so quick, though." Grey shook Kory's hand and said,

"Hey, when in Rome, learn their weakness and kick their ass!" His pokémon cried out in agreement with him. "Your hitmonlee was pretty sweet, too. Didn't know it could bend like that."

"Yeah, that's somethin' we came up with while you were busy being late."

"Mon…" said Hitmonlee humbly. He rubbed the back of his head and waved off the thought. Kory laughed it off.

"Eh, no worries, man. You did good and you really earned this badge. Congrats." Fiona stepped forwards and handed Grey the badge case. Grey opened it and took out his very own Combat Badge, marveling at the way the sunlight caught it.

"Though we lost, we are proud to present you with the official Pokémon League Combat Badge. Congratulations, Trainer Grey," Fiona recited.

"Why you gotta be so formal, sis? Lighten up!" Kory encouraged.

"Didn't you just lose a battle?" Fiona shot back.

"A loss is just a lesson ya have to learn from," Kory replied with a shrug. "Remember that, kid," he said to Grey.

"Trust me, I learned that lesson a long time ago," Grey replied.

Lizard! Monferno called to Soul. We ever have a rematch, your ass is mine, ya hear!

That means you, too, little kitty cat, Hitmonlee added to Strabi.

In your dreams! Soul said. Grey and me'll just win again and again. Just watch us.

Sorry I bruised your man-pride but we had a lot riding on this battle, big boy, Strabi chuckled.

"Okay! Combat Badge, acquisition complete!" Grey cried.

"Congratulations again, Grey!" June said.

"Nice work out there," James added. Grey didn't hear them, though. He was too happy embracing Soul and Strabi while Maverick coiled around them in his own version of a hug.

---

Rachel walked back into the Centre after visiting Danny, ignorant of the abundance of trainers. She hadn't been feeling better like she hoped. In fact, she just felt worse about this entire ordeal. Danny was probably right, she admitted, when he'd said to just let it go. But Rachel couldn't do it. She just felt too betrayed by her brother. Rachel sighed and leaned against the soft pink walls of the lobby, sliding into a seat.

"I need a glass of water…" she muttered.

"Oh, Rachel!" Nurse Joy called when she finished handing a trainer back his pidgeotto. Rachel looked up but didn't give a verbal answer. "There's something here for you; I almost forgot! Come here for a second." Rachel approached the front desk wondering her parents had finally tracked her down and wrote to her or if it was her mission payment.

"What is it, Aunt Joy? I'm a little wiped today…" Rachel said.

"It isn't anything that'll take long. After your brother left, he dropped off something last night and said to give it to you when you returned," Nurse Joy said. "Wait here." Nurse Joy went into the back room and Rachel slumped against the desk. She looked up to see a male trainer in line making eyes at her. She glared daggers at him, daring him to try anything while she was like this. The trainer got the message and backed off, fearing for his safety.

"Here you are," Nurse Joy said. She'd come out of the infirmary with a poké ball and a note in hand. "Grey didn't seem to like it very much, but he said this is what she wanted." With that, she returned to her work and accepted the tray from the boy who'd looked at Rachel.

"She?" Rachel wondered. She left the Centre and went into the two-acre with the note and poké ball, reading Grey's surprisingly neat handwriting before doing anything.

Okay, listen up and listen good, was the opening line. So like Grey. I don't know why or how but Lucy got it into her head that she wanted to be a Pokémon Ranger's pokémon. So, congrats, you're now the owner of my very first capture. I don't like giving her to you but this is what Lucy wants. Who am I to stop her? Just one condition: I can call back for her to battle whenever I want to and if you're not on a mission. She is still my pokémon. Take good care of her.

Rachel blinked a few times trying to absorb the words on the paper. She stared at the poké ball in her hand and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Grey was willing to do this for his pokémon even though he despised the very thought of being a ranger. He was even inconveniencing himself by giving his buizel to Rachel. Maybe her brother had a bigger heart than she'd thought.

---

So, Grey wins the Combat Badge, Soul evolves into Charmeleon, and now Rachel is training Lucy. Grey may be down one pokémon but he can manage until he catches another one. When that'll be is something only I know.

What's up with Jimmy? I mean, seriously, normal people wouldn't be so pissed off that siblings are fighting. That's a natural part of life but Jameson is taking it personally. Weird…

As I said before, Soul is now a Charmeleon. And he learned Slash. Hell yes.

After this, the group is leaving Mélange Town behind in favor of the next Gym Town, Springbloom City. It's right by this beautiful lake where Grey and co. will meet a new friend. Another new friend comes a bit before that and his name is Baxter, an OC belonging to my good friend, alteris.

Oh, and it looks like Sonia (and possibly Grey) are on Otto's hitlist. We'll see how that plays out later.

Until next time! Read and review, my friends!

Oh, that's right; a friend of mine, named Ricki (actually, he's like the ginger version of me) did me a HUGE solid and drew a map of Pacific Island. HAND DRAWN! It's seriously good and awesome and goldy and you should check it out if you want to see what the island looks like and trace Grey's path. Here's the link but I dunno if it'll show up right:

raravary (dot) deviantart (dot) com / art / quot-Challenger-quot-Pacific-Island-175485266

Remove all spaces and add dots where necessary.

CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Grey: Okay! Two badges down, ten more to go! This is gonna be so sweet, Soul!

Soul: Charmeleon!

Grey: Yeah, that's what I like to hear! Your evolution is a big step forward for us!

June: I cannot wait, Grey. Where are we headed next?

James: Next town on the map's Springbloom but it's a ways off from here. Might take us a while to get there.

Grey: Eh, that's no problem. We train, maybe catch a new pokémon and it's all good! …Hey, isn't that the kid I met on our way to Mélange Town? Dexter or something.

June: Oh, you mean Derek! I heard his name through the cave echoes. I wonder what he is doing out here on his own.

Rachel: Headed the same place we are, of course. Oh, great, guys; it's those same two grunts we met the day we saw Derek. Perfect…

Grey: I think the Ghost Pokémon they have look kind of familiar… No way! It can't be!

All: Next time on Challenger!: Reappearance of a Rival and a Run-in with Team Regal!

Grey: That Derek guy pisses me off!