A different type of layout is gonna be tested in this chapter, so try to bare with it. I think the only noticeable changes will be in the title parts, where HGSS: Johto Saga will not be listed, and some things will be condensed. I AM SERIOUSLY TRYING TO ADD MORE DETAIL NOW!

Also, a preview will be in EVERY chapter now! Yay? Oh, and if you don't notice, I'll tell you now: The preview will not USUALLY be the entire scene. Like, in this one, the preview for this chapter showed them going in and immediately finding Kiyo. But, there will be a little left out each time.

~Season 7 Rocket Battles~

Opening: We Will Be Heroes

Chapter 37, Road to Mahogany Town

A pleasant walk was in front of them as the famous duo stopped at a river bank. There was a path that had been eroded over the years that ran all the way through the river and stopped on the outskirts of Mahogany Town, their next destination. Anticipation ran through their minds in this moment.

"We're almost there, and my third contest ribbon is just calling me!" Lyra cheered, her cheeks flushed with color and her face giddy with excitement.

"Yeah, and my 7th Badge is just around the corner!" Ethan added, an air of joy in his lively gestures.

Suddenly, as they were beginning to step onto the path, a man called out to them.

"Hey, do you think you guys could help me?" As they turned, they found it wasn't a man, but more of a young adult with a mature voice. "I'm from the Saffron City Karate Dojo and my master is inside Mt. Mortar. He was supposed to meet me out here two hours ago! Could you go in and look for him?" He asked.

Lyra started to object. "Actually..."

Ethan clapped a hand over her mouth. She snapped and tried to pry his hand off, her face steaming red. "Sure, we can help you out!" Ethan forced hastily.

"Oh thank you! His name is Master Kiyo, and should respond to Kiyo!"

Ethan quickly pulled Lyra to the side, next to a rock wall. He unclasped her mouth. She slapped his arm roughly.

"What! I want to get to Mahogany Town!" Lyra shrieked in a robust tone.

"Come on! We have to help this guy!" Ethan insisted.

"Oh, fine!" Lyra stamped a foot, slamming down on one of Ethan's toes. He winced in pain.

"What was THAT for!"

"Oh, I think you know," she said as she stamped away, stepping on his other toe as well.

The cave opening for Mt. Mortar had already been passed by them, so they just backtracked through the short, freshly cut grass. Some Pidgeotto flew overhead, chirping as they flew towards Ecruteak.

Inside, they began coughing and holding their shirts to their mouths. However, there was the sounds of waterfalls, so they headed in the directions of them.

The air was so filled with grime and dust, it was stifling. The only thing that reprieved the duo from the smell and air was the filtering kindness of the spray of the waterfalls that dotted the area inside the mountain.

"Oh, I wanna get out of here as soon as we can!" Lyra gasped through a small bit of air intake.

"Yeah, but now we have to find that Kiyo guy before we can go anywhere else."

"But why? That guy was in Karate! He can find his own Karate Master in a place like this!" Lyra shrieked.

Up rocky stairs, they saw some people training, some people climbing the waterfalls and a person sleeping on a rock on a ledge on the wall.

"Wow, this is actually a popular place!" Ethan expressed.

Later, they traveled deeper into the mountain and down a smooth slope. When they reached the bottom, they continued.

As they went, they heard a crash coming from their left. Ethan nodded and Lyra headed in front of him that way, followed closely by him.

When they reached another room, they saw a man in a karate garb with his fist in the rock wall. He turned around. His face was extremely rugged and full of scratches and gashes.

"Hello, my name is Kiyo," he said in a rough tone.

"Really? Then you must be the one we're looking for! I'm Lyra, and this is Ethan! Okay, Ethan, we found him! LET'S GO!" Lyra persisted.

"I see my student sent you...and that you're in a hurry. How about this? We have a battle, one of you versus me. Since you seem to be in a hurry, if I win, you must stay here until I'm finished training. If you win, I go with you outside to Chao...Deal?"

Ethan and Lyra gave sharp side-glances to each other.

"Well-" Lyra started.

"It's perfect," Ethan cut off.

"Will you quit that?" Lyra screams, slamming Ethan's head against her fist.

"Okay then. One pokemon each...last one standing wins!"

Kiyo jumped back at least 12 feet and drew a pokeball. "Come on out, Hitmonlee!"

Hitmonlee, his tall fighting type with coil-spring like legs was sent out.

"My best one is..." He took out Noctowl's ball, but he rethought it. "No, come on out, Eevee!" Ethan sent out his normal-type.

"Ethan! You know Eevee is weaker than your normal pokemon...and his is fighting!"

"I understand that! Eevee, use Sand Attack!" Eevee kicked up some sand into the air, causing it to be more stifling than before.

"Hitmonlee, Rolling Kick." Hitmonlee twisted on the ground and its spring leg shot out and swept Eevee's feet out from under him, tossing him into the air.

"Eevee, use Trump Card!" Eevee landed upright. White objects floated around Eevee. They were shot all at once at Hitmonlee. The slammed into it, barely causing any damage.

Eevee dashed towards Hitmonlee. "Use Quick Attack full force!" Eevee threw itself at Hitmonlee and took it down to the ground.

"Hitmonlee, get up and use Rolling Kick!" Hitmonlee flipped up and threw a foot at Eevee. Eevee was hit and skid across the ground.

"Eevee, hit him with your strongest attack! Iron Tail!" Eevee wagged its tail as it glowed silver. It then flipped and slammed into Hitmonlee, throwing him to the ground.

Kiyo fell to his knees. "I am defeated...in shame!" A tear formed at his eye. He wiped it away. "No matter! I will come to you, as I hold dear to my promises."

Outside...

"Thank you very much!" The Karate kid from before said to Ethan and Lyra.

Kiyo bowed. "Barret, we should head back to Saffron City!"

"Let's take the long way!" Barret cheered. They highfived and jogged away.

"When you see two weird strangers..." Lyra started. Ethan glared at her.

"Let's just go!" Ethan said as he started down the path through the water.

-Preview

Togetic landed on Lyra's head as the leaves fluttered down gracefully.

"Wonderful performance!" Jillian shouted.

Ethan clapped. He glanced over at the man sitting next to him, who was cross-armed. As Ethan looked, the man grabbed his arm and they were gone in a second.

"Hey, who are you!" Ethan screams when they're outside.

The man throws Ethan behind a bench and kneels down.

"I need your help. My name is Lance, the Dragon Tamer."