Inside, the warehouse was being kept at a not too cold and not too warm temperature. Devoid of machinery and consisting of several levels, it was rather large, empty white space. That is, with the exception of all the cocoons. Dozens of them were attached to the walls and ceilings, with even some just standing at a human's height on the floor. Thick webby strands connected all of them in a chaotic pattern.

"Hey! Up here!"

The three of us looked up to see Burgh waving at us from the 3rd level next to his Leavanny. He gestured to the nearest cocoon and Leavanny split it open with her sickle. Burgh waved dramatically at us before stepping into the cocoon, Leavanny following him inside. It closed up and shook. The thick strand of web that connected to it from beneath the floor shook and after a couple seconds Burgh and Leavanny stepped out of the cocoon right in front of us.

"Yabai!" Robert exclaimed. "I can see why you decided to switch up gyms!"

"It's like an art piece," Alex said appreciatively.

"Quite right," Burgh smiled. "I wanted both a place where my Bug Pokemon could have fun and have it represent them. Plus, it makes for an interesting battlefield quite unlike many others." He whirled around, brandishing his arms. I stepped forwards to see a large battlefield painted on the floor. What made it different from the norm was the fact that several cocoons inhabited the playing field.

"That would make for an interesting battling strategy," Robert said, suddenly serious as he eyed the cocoons.

"Who's lucky challenger number one?" Burgh asked as turned to face both Alex and I.

Alex backed up, nodding to me. There was something I wanted to ask of Burgh first.

"Me," I answered him. "But I do want to ask a favor, if that's alright."

Burgh raised an eyebrow. "Depends if I'll be of help."

I held up Joltik's pokeball. "My Joltik, before I took him in, he was abused severely and has developed a fear of humans. He's gotten somewhat better with me and my friends, but... I want to see if there's a way to get closer to him."

Burgh nodded slowly. "And battling has always been a good way for trainer and Pokemon to bond. Yes..."

"So I was hoping you'd be willing to give Joltik and I a little training round together," I said hopefully. "With you being a Bug type expert and all, I thought you'd be the perfect man for the job."

Burgh smiled. "In that case, I'd be happy to help. First, let me see the little guy."

He bent as I let out Joltik on the floor between me and the Gym Leader. Joltik crouched, tucking his legs in as he looked between me and Burgh.

"It's okay," I said softly. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

Burgh bent himself low to the ground, chin touching the floor. He locked eyes with Joltik and gave a small smile. "Why hello there, Joltik. My, my, you are wonderful." He gently reached out with one hand and extended a finger. Joltik shied away, but let Burgh stroke his back. "I can see you've been taken good care of by your trainer."

Leavanny knelt next to the small Electric type and held out both sickles to cup Joltik in-between them. She began to make a cooing noise and Joltik stopped shivering as he stared at Leavanny. His body shuddered once or twice, but he closed his eyes and let Burgh take him from Leavanny.

The brown haired man sat back, crossing his legs as he stared down at Joltik. He sat there for a full minute, just stroking his back with a finger. Eventually Joltik reopened his eyes and began crawling up Burgh's arm. He chuckled as Joltik buried himself in Burgh's bushy hair before poking his head out.

"How'd you do it?" I gasped.

"What can I say," Burgh glanced up, trying to see Joltik. "I've always had a sort of bond with Bug types. It usually doesn't take this long to get them to be friendly with me." His expression saddened. "To think there were people who wanted to hurt Joltik that badly. But," He took Joltik from his hair and gave him back to me. I held him, surprised that he wasn't shivering like he normally did. "I believe his fears can be remedied," Burgh continued. "From now on I want you to try and bond with him more. More than you've already been doing. As for our battle..." He shook his head. "I don't believe that is best. Some Pokemon prefer not to battle. As a trainer, would you still look after him even if his wishes are to not battle."

"Of course," I said quickly. "I wouldn't just abandon him."

"Then all is good!" Burgh said brightly, clasping his knees. He stood, stretching. "But, if by chance he shows interest in battling, then it would preferably be done with a Pokemon he trusts more than others."

I looked to Alex. "Cubchoo would work, don't you think?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Cubchoo would definitely hold back."

"Can we get on with the battles already?" Robert asked, raising a hand. "I need the data on your new battlefield. Though I can hazard a guess as to what it can be used for."

"You're not even the one battling," Alex said, slapping him on the back of his head. "Zeno, you can still go first."

"Fine by me," Burgh swept out his arm towards the battlefield. "Shall we?"

"It would be my pleasure," I said, already walking to my side of the field. Taking my place, I turned and let out Greninja. I held out Joltik and he cupped the Pokemon in his webbed hands. "Look after him for me will you?"

"Gren," Greninja nodded.

I knelt and touched a finger to Joltik. "I won't mind at all if you have no taste for battling. I won't hurt you or abandon you. But watch this battle with me and my Pokemon. If you find that watching us thrills you, then we'll help train you with Cubchoo."

Joltik chirped anxiously.

I smiled softly and returned to my position. I unhooked the pokeball for the first Pokemon I would use. "Don't hold anything back, Burgh," I called over to him. "I want to face your strongest team."

Burgh held up a Net Ball as Leavanny stepped backwards. It seemed she wouldn't be fighting. At least not yet. "Well, isn't that just fantastic! Let's make our battle a true piece of art!" He hurled his pokeball into the air. "Come out and shine, Escavalier!"

The Bug/Steel type appeared on the battlefield, thrusting his lances in quick succession.

"Kabutops!" I shouted, throwing his pokeball. "Let's show them our experience from Alola!"

The fossil Pokemon appeared crouching. He stood, stretching his legs. He turned to look at me and hurried over, rubbing his head against my chest. "Woah there!" I said quickly, laughing nervously. "Watch where you're pointing those things."

Kabutops stepped back, clanging his scythes together as he turned back to face his opponent.

I narrowed my eyes at the structures crowding the arena. "Be careful of the cocoons."

A cocoon on the side of the battlefield shook and a colorful harlequin popped out, twirling forwards until he stood at the very edge of the white line. "The Castelia Gym battle between Zeno the Challenger and Burgh the Gym Leader will now begin!" He announced in a singsong voice. "Only three Pokemon are allowed on either side and the battle will be over when the other trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle! Additionally, only the challenger may substitute Pokemon! Now begin!"

"First move!" I thrust out my hand. "Aqua Jet!"

Water burst around Kabutops, engulfing him as he blasted towards Escavalier, weaving his way around the cocoons.

"Curl up and Poison Jab!" Burgh ordered.

Escavalier narrowed his eyes before pulling up his lower, armored body to protect himself. Kabutops slammed into the metal, the thud ringing throughout the warehouse. Then his right lance jutted out, coated in gleaming poison, catching the Rock type in the stomach and knocking him backwards into a cocoon. The structure shook, but stayed firm. Kabutops tried hauling himself out, but the strands of web held fast.

"It's not elegant, but take him out with Poison Jab," Burgh said and Escavalier's lances both turned a sickly purple. He jabbed out, blow after blow hitting Kabutops in the stomach.

"Protect!" I shouted and a field of energy blasted around Kabutops. Escavalier's next strike sent him back a couple paces, jarred by the impact. "Night Slash your way out of there!" I commanded and a fierce dark wind blew up around his scythes, cutting the strands of web. Once his arms were free, he slashed the rest of the cocoon in a flash.

"Swords Dance!" Burgh ordered confidently.

"Now's your chance!" I yelled, but Kabutops fell to one knee. My eyes widened as I realized his head had turned a slight purple color.

"Now Iron Head!"

"Protect!"

The force field protected Kabutops once more, but this would be a fruitless strategy.

Think! I yelled at myself. "Kabutops! Aqua Jet back over here!"

Water surged around him and he blasted back into the air, going backwards until he was just a few feet from me.

"Can you still go on?" I asked and Kabutops nodded, clanging his blades together.

"Then here he comes," I warned, but it seemed Escavalier was taking his time. He hovered past the cocoons, lances gleaming.

He could be conserving energy, I considered. Or... All that armor... "Aqua Jet around him!"

Kabutops took off, swinging around Escavalier in a wide arc.

"Swords Dance again!" Burgh shouted as Escavalier turned so he would face Kabutops as the Pokemon came hurtling towards him.

"Now over his head!" I shouted. "Night Slash!"

Kabutops released himself from the Aqua Jet early, using the boost from the water to send him spinning over the Bug type. His scythes darkened as a fierce wind enveloped them. He swung them outwards, the dark winds slashing against Escavalier's body.

"Keep using that speed to dodge!" I thrust out my hand. "Night Slash!"

"Megahorn!"

Kabutops weaved around Escavalier's thrusts, striking with dark winds whenever the chance arose. But the poison was growing stronger, weakening Kabutops. Soon speed would no longer be an option. It was a stalemate, at least for now. Kabutops was too fast for Escavalier to hit, but we also weren't doing enough damage to truly hurt him.

So back to a tried and true strategy, I realized with a grimace. We've got no other option.

"Kabutops!" I shouted. "Can you take another hit!?"

Kabutops landed back near me and nodded, grimacing from the pain of the poison.

"Good," I said. "Cause we got one shot at this. Get in close with Aqua Jet! Build up speed for a Night Slash!"

"What are you planning, Zeno," Burgh grinned. "Iron Head!"

Escavalier's head turned a gleaming silver as Kabutops shot towards him in a stream of water. He broke free, dark winds gathered around him as he lashed outwards. Escavalier slammed his head forwards, catching the Rock type in the stomach.

"Now!" I roared just before the moment of impact. "Brine!"

Water gathered around his mouth and he doused Escavalier in the water. Kabutops sailed backwards, skidding along the ground to my feet. His scythe twitched weakly, but he didn't get back up. Water dripped from Escavalier's body, and despite having taken the blast head on, he was still raring to go.

"Kabutops is unable to battle!" The harlequin announced cheerfully. "Challenger Zeno, please send out your second Pokemon!"

"Interesting strategy," Burgh called to me. "But it's far from perfection."

I knelt, returning Kabutops. "It's been a while since we've battled together. Let's train more from now on to improve." Standing, I unhooked my second pokeball. "I guess it's time to brute force this. Come on out, Gyarados!"

The giant Water/Flying type roared upon being released, completely dwarfing the Escavalier. To give the Bug type credit, he stood his ground, despite suddenly looking nervous. Gyarados turned to me, eyes flaring.

"You're just angry every time you come out, huh," I sighed, then grinned. "Look, no way to express that anger than in battle, am I right?"

Gyarados huffed, then turned back to Escavalier.

"Uh," Burgh rubbed the back of his head, chuckling. "We're in danger, aren't we?"

"Hyper Beam!" I roared.

Gyarados whipped back his head, energy swirling around his mouth, gathering into a purple and black ball of crackling energy.

"Iron Head!" Burgh shouted, but it did no use. Gyarados unleashed the devastating attack, blowing apart several cocoons and blasting Escavalier to the other side of the warehouse where he disappeared inside a cloud of smoke.

The harlequin's eyes bugged and he managed to squeak out, "Escavalier is unable to battle! Gym Leader Burgh, please send out your second Pokemon!"

"Leavanny, if you will," Burgh held out his hand and Leavanny let out a cry from his side, taking a few steps forward so she was standing on the battlefield.

"Remember, small doesn't mean weak," I reminded Gyarados. "She could prove to be-"

Gyarados roared, cutting me off. I groaned. "It's alright, we can work with this." I raised my gaze. "Hurricane!"

Gyarados roared, swinging his tail, whipping up a swirling storm that crashed into Leavanny. She was sucked up inside and sent high up into the air.

"String Shot!" Burgh yelled over the noise of the storm.

When Leavanny's head was just outside the swirling mass of air, she shot a string of web from her mouth, sticking it to his back. He roared in confusion as Leavanny pulled herself from the hurricane and up into the air.

"Now pull in and Leaf Blade!" Burgh crossed his arms and Leavanny mimicked the movement. She pulled back on the string, making it taut. She stopped pulling on it and propelled herself downwards towards Gyarados.

"Aqua Tail!" I shouted.

Water surged around his lower body as he flipped himself, swinging his tail in an arc towards the incoming Leavanny. But she pulled on the string, dodging the tail as it snapped the web. She shot another string onto the tail and swung herself towards him, slashing along his side with her glowing sickles.

Too small and too fast, I griped. "Gyarados, use Hurricane around yourself!"

He roared while spinning in a circle, looking as if he was chasing his tail. Leavanny was sucked right back into the swirling winds.

"String Shot out of there!" Burgh yelled.

"Oh no, not that again!" I swung a fist. "Add a Whirlpool into that hurricane!"

Gyarados spun even faster, blasting water into the winds, which began streaming around and around. Leavanny was caught in the current, her attempts at shooting String Shot failing, the strands being doused with water and flung limply away by the winds.

"Now Aqua Tail!" I roared.

"If you think we're finished, then you haven't seen the whole picture!" Burgh raised a hand. "Aerial Ace!"

As Gyarados swung his tail into the winds, attempting to smack Leavanny, she began riding the currents, zooming past his tail. The winds dissipated and Leavanny slammed into Gyarados, slashing at his head before leaping into the air, sickles glowing green.

"Leaf Blade!"

"Hyper Beam upwards!"

Gyarados lifted his head, but a little too late as Leavanny slid down his back, dragging her glowing sickles along as she went. The Hyper Beam crashed into the warehouse ceiling and he became immobile.

"Now's our chance!" Burgh shouted gleefully. "Use Aerial Ace and String Shot him to the ground!"

Leavanny spat a web onto him, and while still holding the other end in her mouth, zoomed down his side and back up the other, making sure he was tightly wrapped up in the middle. As Gyarados began to be able to move again, Leavanny shot towards the ground, still dragging the strand with her. The Water type huffed as he was dragged closer to the ground, but Leavanny wasn't quite able to drag his weight down any further.

Leavanny hung there as Gyarados slowly turned his head to look at her dangling below, eyes flashing red.

"Aerial Ace!" Burgh yelled quickly.

"Hurricane!" I shouted.

As Leavanny tried propelling herself above Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokemon tried spinning to whip up another hurricane, but his movements were slowed by the string shot around his middle, and the most he could muster was a slow, swirling wind.

"Now X-Scissor!"

Leavanny, who had String Shot herself way above Gyarados, plunged downwards and slammed into his face with crossed sickles. The impact was enough to drive him downwards and crash into the battlefield. Gyarados tried to get back into the air, but he was now stuck to three separate cocoons.

"Now we can finish him off," Burgh smiled as Leavanny landed on Gyarados' side. "Leaf Blade if you please."

"Desperate times!" I shouted as Leavanny began hacking away at Gyarados. "Hyper Beam the ground!"

Gyarados was furious. So furious his eyes actually looked like they were blazing. He turned his face so it was pressed against the ground. A sharp glow gleamed from beneath his mouth and a massive explosion blasted his front half upwards, ripping up two of the cocoons from the ground. However, they still hung to his side.

Leavanny had been thrown to the other side of the field, but she was getting back to her feet. She ran forwards, sickles glowing.

"Come on!" I shouted. "Come on!"

Gyarados' eyes flared. His body twitched. He swung his upper half around, mouth already blazing with energy. But Leavanny was faster. She flew past him, slashing as she went. She slid along the smooth floor, the glow dying from her sickles. Gyarados flopped backwards with a mighty thud, fainted eyes wide with shock.

"Gyarados is unable to battle!" The Harlequin bounced around on the balls of his feet. "Challenger Zeno, please send out your final Pokemon!"

I was on the ropes now. But I hadn't given up, not by a long shot. All of the cocoons by this point had been destroyed or moved out of the way, so those would be a minor issue now. Leavanny was breathing heavily, so she won't last much longer.

I sent out my last Pokemon. "Lucario!" I held up my knife, flipping it around so my thumb pressed against the Keystone. "Let's win this!" Light connected us and Lucario howled upon Mega Evolving, his aura blasting around him.

"Ah!" Burgh's eyes widened. "Mega Evolution! Now there's a nice surprise!"

I wasted no time. "Blaze Kick!"

As he sprinted full tilt for her, his right foot began to smoke, fire blasting around it.

Burgh's eyes narrowed. "String Shot it to him."

My eyes widened as Leavanny shot more string from her mouth, but not at Lucario. She aimed to the side, latching onto a discarded cocoon and swinging it around and hurling in Lucario's direction. He was going too fast to dodge it, so he swung his leg up to burn it with his fire. It scattered the webs, burning the strands. However, many strands didn't burn and stuck to him, latching into the ground. Lucario nearly tripped, falling on all fours, trying to tug his body up. He almost succeeded, but Leavanny shot him in the face with String Shot, aiming to wrap his entire body.

"Aura!" I shouted and Lucario's aura surged around him, slashing the webbing apart. He spun from all fours into a runner's position and blasted towards Leavanny.

"Leaf Blade!" Burgh shouted desperately, but Lucario flicked his wrist, using his aura to force him sideways, avoiding her slashes as he slammed his blazing foot against her middle. Fire flared up around her as she flew backwards, crashing into the ground.

"Leavanny is unable to battle!" The Harlequin seemed oddly cheerful. "Gym Leader Burgh, please send out your final Pokemon!"

"You wished for me to not hold anything back, correct?" Burgh asked, grabbing a Net Ball.

"Of course," I grinned as Lucario growled in agreement, raising his fists in preparation.

"Then I'll bring out my strongest partner!" Burgh threw the Net Ball into the air. "Heracross!"

The Bug type slammed into the ground, eyes narrowing upon seeing Lucario. I quickly noticed a band wrapped around the bottom of his horn, a small orb gleaming.

Burgh rubbed a finger on his belt buckle. What I had assumed to be two gems embedded into the buckle were actually an orb and a fake gem. The orb glowed upon contact and light connected it and Heracross.

"The bond between partners is something truly exquisite," Burgh said soothingly as a harsh glow enveloped Heracross. "A work of art, a painting constantly being painted. Never let a single blemish tarnish what will truly be a masterpiece! Heracross, Mega Evolve!"

Heracross bellowed as the glow exploded outwards. His body had become bigger and buffer. A horn had grown from where his nose would have been, paired with a longer and sharper horn atop his head.

"A mega," I breathed. "Lucario, hold nothing back! Blaze Kick!"

"You too, Heracross!" Burgh shouted. "Megahorn!"

As Lucario slammed his foot into Heracross' side, the Bug type jabbed his head forwards and clenched his horns together. Lucario cried out as Heracross squeezed, lifting Lucario up.

"Fly up!" Burgh commanded and wings shot from Heracross' back.

"Get out with Dragon Pulse!" I shouted and Lucario blasted a beam of draconic energy into Heracross at point-blank range, but the Bug type ignored it and soared upwards.

"Now Close Combat!" Burgh yelled and Heracross released his grip on Lucario suddenly before pummeling him with a series of super fast punches and kicks. Lucario howled in pain before he crashed to the ground. He lifted himself up, charging a sphere of condensed aura. He hurled it upwards and it crashed into Heracross who was zooming towards him.

Lucario spun, swinging up his blazing foot and it struck against Heracross' glowing horn. As they struggled to overpower the other, Heracross held up one of his arms. Two pieces atop the round forearm separated as he assaulted Lucario with dozens of Pin Missiles. Lucario stumbled backwards, flicking out his aura, but Heracross slammed his arms into the ground, giant rocks shooting up in front of him in a straight line. One of them sent Lucario flying back into the air, but he twisted around, foot already ablaze.

Heracross flew up to meet him, but was sent crashing back to earth by the powerful kick. Lucario slammed into ground feet first, creating a small crater. He formed two long bones, spun them, and shot towards Heracross. He jabbed both into the Bug's middle, trying to force him back. Heracross dug his feet into the ground, carving out grooves as he grabbed both glowing bones. He snapped both in half and drove his horns into Lucario, grasping him in them once more. He swung him around before launching him sideways.

Lucario rolled along the ground before he shot out a paw to stop himself. He growled as his foot blazed to life once more. Heracross zoomed backwards, firing a barrage of Pin Missiles towards Lucario. The Fighting/Steel type rocketed forwards, avoiding the projectiles as the flames around his foot sharpened into a blue hue. He flipped himself upwards, crashing his foot down onto Heracross' head with a fiery explosion. He then flipped himself around, foot still blazing with blue fire. He leaped, but Heracross flew from the smoke, head burnt and one eye closed as he fired rapid punches into Lucario's middle. He gripped him with his horns, wincing from the pain of Lucario's aflame foot, and slammed him to the ground. Heracross slammed into the ground next to him with all four limbs, a circle of rocks jutting from the ground beneath Lucario and sending him sky high.

Lucario, breathing heavily from the pain, began to spin midair, the flames from his foot spiraling around his body. He howled as he spun back down towards Heracross, pupils narrowed to slits. Heracross aimed with both arms, blasting a hail of Pin Missiles upwards. An explosion triggered, obscuring both Pokemon in a cloud of smoke.

As it cleared, Lucario limped away from Heracross, holding his right arm and dragging his right foot as Heracross wobbled. Then Lucario slumped forwards in an exhausted heap on the floor as Heracross fell to one knee, but stood up a few seconds later.

"And that's it!" The harlequin rejoiced, juggling five pokeballs as he did a quick jig. "Lucario has been defeated, which means Zeno has run out of available Pokemon! The Gym Leader Burgh wins!"