Chapter 16 – Conflicts

Andy and Gabby looked up as they heard the basement door opening with a creak. Jordan exited the staircase and unintentionally slammed the basement door behind him as he walked into the lounge, looking a lot calmer than when he retired to the basement. Andy gave him a sour look.

"I've figured out the ideal location for our new base," Jordan stated. "...using that term loosely, mind."

"Really..." Jordan looked at Andy and noticed the look in the young man's eyes. Jordan would have felt intimidated if he himself weren't intimidating already.

"...is there a reason you've got daggers for me?" he asked suspiciously. Andy stood up, and Gabby watched with shock as he stood up for her.

"I get that you're pissed off. But taking it out on Gabs isn't going to help!" Andy exclaimed. Jordan raised an eyebrow as he picked up a sense of defiance coming from his ally. He was less than amused.

"Gabby, leave us for a few moments," he insisted.

"But-"

"Now," Jordan said sharply. Gabby didn't argue, leaving the room as instructed. But she didn't get very far; concerned for Andy – as standing up to Jordan was considered suicidal to her and Andy, Gabby stayed in the corridor, and eavesdropped on the conversation between Jordan and Andy.

"Do you have a death wish, Anthony?" Jordan asked, concealing his anger, Andy was livid; he loathed being addressed by his proper name.

"I don't get why you don't just take your anger out on that Alexa chick! Gabs is on OUR side!" he shouted.

"I specifically told the pair of you not to have your Pokémon use special based attacks, like Hurricane," Jordan said furiously. "Gabby defied me, just like you're defying me right now."

"I'm sticking up for a comrade! There's a difference!" Andy exclaimed.

"Gabriella does not deserve such support," Jordan grumbled. Both Andy and Gabby knew when Jordan was absolutely furious when he addressed them both by their proper names.

"Why? Because you think she's a slut?!" Andy snapped. Jordan glared coldly at Andy, which sent shivers down his spine; he mentally prayed he knew what he was doing.

"Because she's not smart enough to remember a simple command," Jordan said quietly.

"Are you dishing out the insults because some kid got away from you?!" Andy immediately shut himself up; he hadn't intended to ask such a question to his superior, and in such a defiant manner, no less. Gabby feared the consequences, whereas Jordan saw red.

"You watch your mouth," he said spitefully, pointing at Andy with his blade. The very same blade he held to Alexa's face both in Lavender Tower and Viridian Forest. Andy stood his ground.

"You watch YOURS!" he shouted angrily. "It's not Gabby's fault you didn't hurt Alexa before she got away; it's yours!"

All Gabby heard was a smack, a cry of pain from Andy and a thump; Jordan had thrown a punch straight at Andy's eye, knocking him to the floor. Jordan pinned Andy down and held his dagger to his neck. Gabby was far too scared to see what Jordan was doing to Andy. Andy looked up at Jordan, his unharmed eye filled with fear; Andy genuinely thought Jordan would kill him in cold blood. Jordan lowered his face towards Andy, almost making his victim choke over the disgusting odour of tobacco and alcohol in his breath. Andy was sweating bullets.

"You listen to me, Anthony, and listen well because I'm only going to say this once," Jordan began, in his usual terrifying whisper. "If you ever...ever try this again...I will give you what Alexa was going to get. Are we clear?" Andy couldn't utter a single word; he was too petrified. Was this how Alexa felt when she was on the receiving end of Jordan's blade? "I said...! Are we clear?"

"...y-yeah..." Andy choked quietly. Jordan placed his blade back in its holster and stood up, pulling Andy up by his T-shirt in the process. He held Andy close to his face, eyes still seething with rage.

"Don't make me do this again. Understand?"

"...yes..." Andy sighed. Jordan pushed Andy away from him and left the room, stomping up the stairs. He hadn't noticed Gabby listened in on the confrontation the entire time. As Jordan retired upstairs, Gabby walked into the lounge, where she saw Andy trying to recover from the punch and adrenaline rush Jordan gave him.

"I didn't ask you to stick up for me. But...thanks. You okay?" Gabby asked nervously. Andy laughed a little.

"I will be. Just a black eye, innit? No biggie," he said sheepishly.

A week had passed since Keenan was admitted to hospital. Alexa made sure to visit him every day while he was still in hospital, whether it was with her parents or not. Keith visited on occasion, but spent most of the week patrolling Johto with both of his partners, Robbie and Reese. His patrols were usually fruitless, as Jordan and his crew hadn't been seen since the confrontation on Mt Mortar. Keith constantly wondered about the reason for the lacking activity; what was Jordan planning? Keith had no idea, not even an inkling, about the answer to his query. Only time would tell.

Keith sat at the kitchen table with a glass of cranberry juice next to him, while Lily was finishing clearing up after breakfast. The only Pokémon nearby was Reese; the Buizel sat on the armrest of one of the sofas, waiting patiently for Keith. Reese didn't appear eager in the slightest, but he didn't look depressed either; just content. Hayden entered the house with Keenan at his side. Keenan wore the exact same clothes he wore when he fell down Mt Mortar, which, while freshly laundered, were still torn here and there, making his bandages visible in certain places. Keith and Lily were happy to see the pair of them.

"Hey, buddy, how're you feeling?" Keith asked.

"Better, thanks," Keenan smiled. Hayden looked around in confusion.

"Where's Alexa?" he asked.

"She left for the Pokémon Centre a few minutes ago," Lily replied, pulling her sleeves down. "She had a call, telling her Mavis has recovered enough to be transferred and discharge."

"That's a relief," Hayden smiled. "I would've made the enquiry myself, but I thought it'd be better to get Keenan home safely."

"Are the wild Pokémon still agitated?" Keith asked.

"We haven't come across any," Hayden replied as Keenan approached his mother. "I don't know if it's because Skywing and Krystelle are going around Singing to the agitated ones or what...it's confusing."

"No kidding; I haven't seen hide nor hair of Jordan since last week," Keith explained, also expressing his confusion. "I can't tell if it's because they're plotting something or waiting for the dust to settle."

"What dust?" Keenan asked as he and Lily released their embrace.

"Figure of speech, kiddo; what I mean is they might be waiting around to avoid unwanted attention."

"Keith, you and Alex ARE the unwanted attention," Keenan said quietly, yawning a little. He held his hand over his mouth politely as he yawned.

"Fair point. But there were no witnesses to the accident either, so I don't know what they're hiding from," Keith shrugged.

Everyone turned their attention to the front door as Alexa made her way inside the house, happily holding a Poké Ball in one hand. Keith looked at Alexa's clothes before looking at Lily's; he found it rather amusing that both mother and daughter wore turtleneck shirts. Lily's was navy blue and had long sleeves, like normal turtlenecks, while Alexa's was light brown and sleeveless. Keenan walked over to his sister and gave her a warm cuddle, which Alexa happily returned.

"Aw, it's good to see you too, bro," Alexa said kindly.

"How's Mavis?" Lily asked politely.

"She's still being hard on herself for losing to Skarmory, but she's fine otherwise," Alexa replied, releasing her brother from her cuddle. "I'll be keeping her here until she's recovered properly, though, I don't really want her flying again so soon."

"Good idea," Hayden agreed. "She'll be cosy here."

"My thoughts exactly," Alexa smiled. "She'll sleep on one of my beanbags, I think, she loves those." Alexa looked over at Keith and smiled upon seeing his grin; Keith was also amused at how both Alexa and Lily wore black trousers with their turtlenecks.

"Where's grandpa?" Keenan asked suddenly. Lily laughed.

"He left early for Cianwood City. I think his exact words were 'for the heck of it'," she replied. Keith was bemused.

"Cianwood?"

"It's a coastal city across the ocean from Olivine," Hayden explained as he sat across the table from Keith.

"That explains why I haven't heard of it..."

"We flew over it when we went to the Cliff Preserve when we first arrived in Johto," Alexa explained. "Now that I think about it, a proposition's been brought forward to introduce transport to and from Cianwood City for those with no Pokémon or for those whose Pokémon can't fly or swim."

"Huh." Keith was unsure how to react; happenings in Johto were outside his area of expertise.

"What're you going to do today, Keith?" Lily asked curiously.

"Patrol aimlessly again, I suppose," Keith sighed before finishing what juice was left in his glass. "Haven't seen Jordan all week."

"Maybe Ryder can find him?" Keenan suggested. Alexa shook her head.

"He wouldn't recognise Jordan's aura if he were to search for it."

"I guess I could find the way to Jordan's house again. I don't know the region still, so I had troubles," Keith said shyly.

"We'll find it eventually," Alexa smiled. "Maybe if you can't find it today, we'll do an aerial search."

"Sounds good to me," Keith nodded. "C'mon, Reese."

"Bui!" Reese happily leapt at Keith and grabbed onto his arm as he left the house, giving Alexa a kind smile on his way out. Alexa smiled back at him and watched him climbing onto Robbie's back through the window. The Sawsbuck galloped off, out of sight.

"So, Lexie, how are you going to spend today?" Hayden asked casually. "With your brother?"

"Actually, Dad, I'm kinda tired," Keenan said sleepily. "I'm gonna go to bed."

"That's fine, sweetie," Lily smiled.

"Sorry, sis," Keenan apologised. Alexa smiled.

"No big deal. I'm heading for Goldenrod anyway, there's a new shop I want to look at in the department store," she said, almost excitedly.

"Ah, yes, the Pokémon Accessory shop. I've heard good things about it," Hayden nodded.

"That's why you allowed them to set up shop there," Lily chuckled.

"And in the other department stores, my dear," Hayden added. "I refused to let the discount stores into my department stores, there are too many of those about. Most of which are dodgy." Alexa picked up a rounded backpack, designed to resemble a Poké Ball with a camouflage design, and looked inside it. Inside the spacious backpack was one item; a yellow wallet, resembling a Meowth's koban, lying at the very bottom of the backpack. She picked it up and searched its contents; she saw her up-to-date ID card, a gold credit card that looked untouched, a well-used grey debit card and her pale red Trainer Card, which was fully up-to-date. Alexa then looked at what cash she had in her wallet; she had next to nothing in the coin pocket, but she looked at the many 20 and 10 dollar bills in the note pocket; she counted around $130.

"Is the quality of their merchandise questionable as well?" Lily asked as Alexa closed up her wallet, stashing it in her pocket.

"It's the source I'm more concerned about, how do I know if these discount stores are selling counterfeit goods? Some of it's not even labelled in English, as it should be; it's illegal to sell products in English speaking countries that don't have English text on the packaging," Hayden added. Alexa closed up her backpack and flung it on her back.

"I'll be back soon," Alexa declared as she made her way out of the house.

"Bye!" Keenan smiled. When the front door closed behind Alexa, he walked up the stairs, headed for his bedroom, leaving his parents to talk in private.

"Keenan looks well," Lily said. "I don't get why he's tired, though."

"As comfy as the hospital beds are, nothing beats your own bed," Hayden replied. "But, yeah, I'm happy he's home."

"Are you still worried about Alexa?" Lily asked.

"I'm just glad she's okay." Lily shook her head; she knew her husband was trying to save face.

"We'll do right by her. And Keenan."

Alexa walked leisurely through the National Park, a large park just outside Goldenrod City. There were many Pokémon Trainers of different classes in the tall grass, searching for something. Alexa remembered today was one of the three days the park held a Bug Catching Contest, a competition where contestants had 20 minutes to catch the strongest Bug Pokémon they could find in the park, using only one of their Pokémon and 20 special Park Balls. It was almost like the Safari Game in Fuchsia City, only with more limitations; competitors could only capture and hold one Bug Pokémon at a time, and could only use one Pokémon to weaken and capture that said Pokémon, meaning that if the competitor's Pokémon faints, they're disqualified from the competition. Alexa never cared to try participating in a pointless contest; the top prize was a choice of evolution stones – all except the Moon Stone – and the Oval Stone, all of which she could easily get her hands on if she wanted to, especially considering the Fire, Water and Thunderstones were already on sale in Celadon's Department Store, with the possibility of having the Leaf, Sun, Shiny, Dusk and Dawn stones on sale as well. Alexa walked on by, ignoring the commotion of the contest. She was oblivious to the nervous Alakazam following her in secrecy. Lupin constantly tried to approach Alexa, but was scared to at the same time. Instead, he continued following Alexa.

Robbie trotted all over the area between Ecruteak City and Olivine City, where Keenan snuck his way into Jordan's Jeep almost a fortnight ago. Grass had grown where the tyre tracks once were, making navigation harder for Keith and Robbie. Reese was simply enjoying the ride. Keith hadn't taken his surroundings into consideration, as he didn't recognise anything around him. Without the tyre tracks for indication, Keith was hopelessly lost. Again. Robbie galloped off in the general direction Keith remembered the Jeep took after Keenan 'disappeared', hoping to find a lead.

Jordan sat in his armchair, searching 'Johto's rarest Pokémon' on the Internet through the dark grey laptop sitting on his lap. Andy and Gabby sat in their own armchairs, still tense after Jordan's...outburst? It couldn't really be called an outburst if Jordan had never raised his voice. Andy's black eye had faded a little over the week, but it was still painfully clear to see.

"You're being very quiet," Jordan said suddenly. Gabby was startled, and almost jumped out of her seat, metaphorically speaking.

"We've nothing to say," Andy said plainly.

"Aren't we going after those kids today?" Gabby asked shakily.

"No. Personally, I want to save my energy for packing everything up. Doesn't mean to say you can't have a go at them, though," Jordan said, lifting a lit cigarette to his lips.

"If you say so." Gabby stood up, looking rather livid.

"As a matter of fact, I think I'll find that bitch and make her suffer," she said coldly. Jordan blew out the dangerous smoke and returned his cigarette to the nearby ashtray.

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled. Andy followed Gabby as she stormed out of the house, front door slamming behind her. Jordan looked through an article on a website for Johto's Newspaper. Whilst it was an old article, a smirk grew across Jordan's face.

"Gabs!" Andy grabbed Gabby's arm before she could leave the doorstep. "Are you doing this because you're scared Jordan will hurt you if you don't go after Alexa?"

"Are you following me because you're scared Jordan will hurt you?" Gabby retaliated.

"I..."

"No, Andy, I'm going to find her for my own benefit," Gabby smiled. "Maybe you can find that Keith guy." Andy took a few moments to let Gabby's suggestion sink in. He smirked.

"...hey... That's an awesome idea! Time to make some Rangers suffer!" he exclaimed happily. He and Gabby ran away from the house and towards the woodlands at the foot of the hill.

It didn't take them long to find Keith; he had since climbed off of Robbie's back and was surveying the area for something that would lead him to where Jordan was hiding out. Andy and Gabby watched in secrecy, and conversed in silence. Shortly afterwards, Gabby snuck away from Keith, wih Andy acting as a distraction.

"Look sharp!" he exclaimed. Keith, Robbie and Reese spotted Andy as he walked out from behind a large tree. "Hey, how's it going?" Keith scoffed.

"Nice eye, chump," he said sarcastically.

"Don't." Andy gave Keith an icy cold glare. Andy could see Gabby running off through over Keith's shoulder.

"I'm glad you showed your ugly mug; now I can take you down and arrest you!" Keith exclaimed. Andy huffed.

"I'm not the one on the warpath, pal," he jeered.

"Gabby gone after Alexa?" Keith questioned. Andy was puzzled at how calm Keith was.

"And you're oddly calm about it," he said. Reese gave Andy a sarcastic clap, complimenting his 'brilliant' powers of observation.

"If it was Jordan instead, then I'd be pissed. But I'm not getting involved in a cat fight," Keith explained.

"...fair point; I wouldn't either," Andy agreed.

"Then again, you wouldn't lose any masculinity points if you did," Keith smirked. Andy nodded before realising Keith words were meant as an insult.

"Hey! That's it, it's go time!" Andy took out and tossed a Poké Ball in front of him. His Scrafty emerged from the Poké Ball. Reese was more than ready for a fight.

Alexa left the Goldenrod Department Store, satisfied at her purchases, which she was looking at inside her backpack. As she closed her backpack, Lupin teleported in front of her, which almost startled her.

"Lupin! Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack," Alexa laughed nervously. Lupin grew even more concerned than he already was; he hadn't expected such a reaction from her, especially considering he abandoned her, leaving her at the mercy of a ferocious cold-blooded poacher who could have killed her if he wanted to. Alexa noticed Lupin's look after she flung her backpack back onto her back. "What's the matter?"

"A-Alakazam..." Lupin replied nervously. Alexa had a hunch as to what Lupin 'needed' to talk to her about.

"Let's discuss this in the forest, shall we? The Bug Catching Contest's on today, so there's going to be a lot of people there." Lupin nodded in agreement as he followed Alexa out of the city. Gabby saw the pair running off in the distance. Enraged, Gabby ran after them as fast as she could.

Alexa and Lupin slowed their pace down to a simple walk upon entering the Ilex Forest. It looked like what you'd expect to find in a forest, except the trees were much larger than average and the leaves hid the sky from view, making the whole forest darker than it actually was. At night, the Ilex Forest was a very scary place to be, even though weak Pokémon resided in the forest and could easily be taken care of, even by a novice Pokémon Tranier, but, during the day, there was a sense of tranquillity through the whole forest. Which, as soon as Gabby entered, was about to be disturbed.

"OI!" Gabby shrieked.

"Huh?" Alexa and Lupin looked behind them and found a panting Gabby in front of them. "Oh, it's just you."

"What do you mean, 'it's just me'?! Swanna landed your baby brother in hospital!" Gabby yelled angrily. Lupin covered his ears; to him, Gabby's screaming and hollering sounded worse than the claws of a Meowth – or any given feline Pokémon – scrolling down a chalkboard.

"Less said about that, the better. He's fine anyway, so there's no point in dwelling on it," Alexa said calmly.

"Whatever," Gabby huffed. "He's not why I'm here."

"Clearly," Alexa sighed.

"It's YOU I'm after!"

"Again, clearly."

Reese slammed into Scrafty's chest with absolute force, his whole body veiled in a faint white aura. Scrafty was knocked to the ground and knocked out cold as Reese stood in front of his foe, breathing heavily. Reese smirked; all that training Ryder gave him was paying off. He triumphantly tapped his fists together as a begrudging Andy recalled his fainted Scrafty back into his Poké Ball. Robbie looked at Reese and wondered if he might evolve like he did.

"Okay, fair's fair, now come quietly!" Keith demanded. Andy sighed.

"Oh, all right...!" Andy walked over to Keith, with Robbie and Reese watching him the entire time. Andy stopped when he was one foot in front of Keith. Before Keith could restrain him, Andy threw a hard punch straight in Keith's eye, as Jordan had done to him. Keith fell to the ground and moaned in pain, holding a hand over his wounded eye. Angry, Robbie pushed Andy away from Keith with his antlers and snorted angrily at him, as if to tell him to go away. Reese ran over to Keith and checked on him. Andy laughed.

"What the hell, man?!" Keith exclaimed.

"I said I'd come quietly! I never agreed to let you take me in to the authorities! Loopholes for the win!" Andy chortled. "Better run along now and find your little bitch before Gabs makes her life a misery!" Keith watched as Andy ran off, laughing maniacally. Without hesitation, Keith climbed onto Robbie's back.

"Come on, we need to find Alexa, quickly!" Robbie agreed and galloped away. Keith picked Reese up by the scruff of his neck as Robbie galloped past him. Reese sat in front of Keith, concerned about Keith's eye.

"I told you; you escaped Jordan and we didn't like that. So I'm here to punish you," Gabby explained, almost arrogantly. Lupin and Alexa gave each other bemused looks before giving Gabby the same look.

"Um...why isn't Jordan here for that himself? Actually, no, I don't care, why don't you go away?" Alexa asked rudely. "I have an Alakazam to listen to, and it's going to be a private conversation." Alexa and Lupin turned to venture further into the forest. Gabby threw a Poké Ball, extremely enraged.

"Don't you turn your back on me!" she screamed furiously.

"What's y-" As soon as Alexa turned around, she was forced to dodge the oncoming Liepard and her razor sharp claws. Alexa thought she evaded the attack, but felt a stinging sensation on her cheek. Lupin was horrified beyond words as he saw blood seeping from a cut on her cheek. Alexa looked back at Gabby, but she had since moved in front of Alexa , blocking her path.

"...what the hell?!" Alexa shouted.

"You cannot turn your back on me!" Gabby shrieked.

"At least I'm not sending my Pokémon on other people!" Alexa retorted furiously. Gabby snarled angrily.

"I have had it up to here with you, you fucking bitch! Liepard, put her out of her misery! Night Slash attack, NOW!"

Liepard leapt up, claws oozing in a deadly dark purple glow. Alexa knew those claws would meet her flesh, and was prepared. She took out Layla's Fast Ball from her pocket, only to see Lupin teleporting in front of her and Liepard, crossing his spoons in front of him. The spoons glowed in a beautiful rainbow coloured light and fired the same rainbow coloured beam straight at Liepard's head. The attack was far too powerful for Liepard to endure, and fell to the ground, knocked unconscious in one attack. Alexa was at a total loss for words; after the history between her and him, Lupin actually defended her? She grew concerned; she had a feeling his changing behaviour had something to do with what he wanted to talk to her about. A frustrated Gabby returned her fainted Liepard to her Poké Ball.

"Fine, you win! But you won't next time!" Before Alexa could question her willingness to submit so easily, Gabby sped off past her, finally leaving Alexa and Lupin in the privacy they originally sought. Alexa approached her Alakazam cautiously.

"Lupin?"

"...kazam..."

"Huh..?!" Lupin turned around and faced Alexa directly, eyes watering with tears, something Alexa hadn't seen from him since...

"Ala...Alakazam...K-kazam..." The more he spoke, the more upset Lupin became. "A-Ala...L-lakaz-zam...!" Alexa was speechless; she was hearing a heart-felt apology from a Pokémon who shunned and blamed her for his dear friend's demise. And she had absolutely no idea what happened to make him rethink his sour behaviour. "L-la...k-kazam...!"

"...oh, Lupin..." Alexa took her distraught Alakazam in a warm embrace. Lupin clung to her and held her tightly as he tried to hold back his tears; Alexa knew he was still grieving Lydia's death and felt guilty about how badly he treated his own Trainer.

"K-kazam..!" Lupin wept.

"It's all right..! I forgive you..."

"L-la...?! A-Ala k-kazam..!"

"Because friends don't abandon each other...! You're my friend, Lupin...that hasn't changed...!" Alexa felt tears running down her cheeks. Her tears narrowly missed the wound Liepard left behind. "I'm so...so sorry...I should have stopped her sooner...!"

"K-kazam..!" Lupin and Alexa faced each other, eye to eye.

"I-It's going to be okay...nobody's going to forget Lydia any time soon...her memory lives on in our hearts..." Lupin flung himself into Alexa's arms. Though taken aback, Alexa held onto her Pokémon gently. "Just because you stopped caring about me...doesn't mean I stopped caring about you... I love you, like I love all of my Pokémon."

"A-Ala...!"

"Alexa!" Alexa and Lupin watched in confusion as Robbie sped up to them, screeching to a halt three feet away from them. Keith hopped off of the exhausted Sawsbuck and approached Alexa. "Alexa! Gabby ran past us and-" He spotted the bleeding cut on her cheek. "What happened, are you hurt?!"

"Not too badly, thanks to-" Alexa noticed Keith's black eye; she didn't understand why she didn't notice it straight away. "Arceus, what happened to YOU?!"

"Cheap shot from Andy, no big," Keith shrugged. "What about you?"

"Near miss from Gabby's Liepard. But I don't care." Keith was confused at first, but he understood when he noticed Lupin holding onto Alexa and smiled; it appeared to him that Lupin and Alexa finally repaired the fractured bond between them. Robbie and Reese were happy for the pair. Without another word, Keith escorted Alexa out of the forest, Pokémon following closely.

To be continued...