"You can take your bag with you as long as it's empty. We don't want you both to lose anything once you enter." Mana glances over at Riolu, who has already emptied out the bag. It was his idea to go their separate ways, choosing different floors.

"W-what?" Riolu holds up a paw before Mana can say anything else. He gives her a small smile. "Please Mana, I want to go our separate ways on this. I feel like I always hold you back and I want to be able to get stronger on my own without relying on you. When we come out, I want to show you how strong I've become okay? Please don't be upset with me..."

Mana had agreed to split from Riolu, but she had also told him to carry the bag in case he needed anything from it. I can't keep relying on those items to save us all the time. There will definitely be a point where there is nothing to use, so I want to try not to rely on anything. Mana glances back at Riolu, worried. I've never thought of him as a burden, but for him to tell me that he is holding me back? Of course I want to deny it because it's not true. I just don't want to see him get hurt or scared that's all.

"Okay, are you both ready to go? Do you know where you want to head to first?" Riolu nods and says, "I'll start off easy and go into the normal and flying type area." Marowak walks over and nods to the only entrance. He presses a button and the stairs begin to shift.

"When you get all the way down the stairs, make a right. The first two floors are pretty easy, but the others become harder and harder as you make your way to the top. I'll make sure your items up here are safe until you return. Have fun!" Riolu takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then he takes his first step and continues without stopping. The light from behind dims and Riolu gulps, his heart quickening as he takes another step into the patch of darkness. When he reaches the bottom, he makes a right and opens the door.

Mana peers down and then glances behind her to see Marowak still waving at her. She takes another step down, the light dimming. In a way, she's glad her and Riolu are taking different areas. He wouldn't be too happy if he found out where I'm going... Following Marowak's directions, Mana takes a left and heads toward the door on the right. She pushes it open and jumps to the side when flames hurl at her. She uses smokescreen and races into the room, away from the pokemon attacking her. Mana opens her mouth to say something, but she forgets that Riolu is not with her.

"Raahhh, fight me you coward!" Mana turns just as a houndour uses flamethrower.

Riolu uses force palm again and makes his way towards the last set of stairs. He makes it out and runs, smiling broadly. His first time clearing a training room. "Wait 'till Mana hears about this!" He races up and almost knocks into Marowak. They fall to the floor and a bunch of escape orbs fall out of Riolu's bag. He shoves them next to his and Mana's other stash, then looks up to see Marowak's expression.

"Marowak? What's wrong? Didn't Mana come out too?" "Well, each arena or area is different. You took a much easier route and came out after a few hours, but your friend chose to take a much harder route." "What do you mean a 'harder route'? Are you saying she picked something that was her type disadvantage?" T-then if she's a fire type, that must mean she chose the water area! Riolu stands up quickly and takes Marowak by the shoulders.

"Which route did she take? I have to help her!" "There's nothing you can do. Once someone goes in, no one else may enter until that pokemon has either completed the area or has failed it. And might I add that she is not in danger? This is a training area and most of the pokemon here are volunteers. Your friend should be here soon, so-"

"You don't understand! Mana is a fire type and going into a place filled with water type pokemon is a reckless thing to do," Riolu yells, remembering Kabuto and his water type moves. If Mana wanted to become stronger, this would be the idea she had. Why? Why did I decide we should split up? I can't believe she would do something like this! Doesn't she know what would happen to her once she's hit? Is she trying to get herself injured?

Marowak blinks a couple of times, confused. "Water? I don't know what you mean, but if you're wondering what type she picked, then it's not water." Riolu's jaw drops. Marowak continues. "Aah, that's why I was confused. No, no, your friend wanted to challenge herself, but not like that at all. I must congratulate her for making that decision. Most pokemon never want to go into a room where their attacks would be useless...definitely not."

"T-Then what type did she pick?"

Mana struggles to breathe, peering around the corner. The houndour looks around, walking back and forth for her. What was she thinking, choosing this room? Was it because she wanted to challenge herself or did she really think this was the easiest way to level up? It doesn't matter what I was thinking, I can't get out even if I wanted to. I have to make it to the top. Mana watches houndour growl. Okay, so I can't use any of my fire moves, but he can so that means that some or all houndour have a special ability which allows them to absorb fire type moves. Then I could use smokescreen, but I wouldn't be able to see either and if I'm going to keep running, there was no point in me training.

So the only possible moves are tackle and quick attack, which is good. I can boost my speed with quick attack and follow it up with tackle which should give it a power boost too. Yeah, I could try that. Mana smiles just as a shadow looms over her. She turns around to see a magmar spit a ball of fire aiming at her. She ducks, changing her plan quickly as she tackles into the magmar. His attack misses, but Mana doesn't stop, even when the noise catches the houndour's attention. I have to get stronger. I need to be prepared for Team Skull and for the mission. I can't let Riolu down, I can't bring him down like the last time. I promised I would help make his dream come true and I won't let this bring me down!

Mana tackles Magmar again, who throws a thunderpunch her way. She dodges and Houndour gets caught in the attack. He howls, twitching from the effects of the attack. Mana attacks Houndour, tackling him hard. He falls unconscious, still twitching. Magmar flinches when Mana turns on him and he takes a step back. The cyndaquil begins to glow as she charges straight for Magmar. Suddenly, Mana's body is enveloped in fire and Magmar yells, blocking himself with his arms. She hits him and the fire around her disappears. She smiles down at the pokemon and then looks around. Was that...flame wheel? The cyndaquil is unable to see herself covered in a faint glow as she makes her way to the next floor. As the battles continue, she realizes she learned a new move. The glow around her begins to grow a little brighter as she continues to fight with each of the pokemon she comes across. At one point, she uses smokescreen to run away from her battle with a houndoom, but another pokemon hits her from behind. Mana tries to dodge, but she is too weak to move. Her previous battles leave her exhausted and instead of resting, she was running away. I can't see my opponent very well. What should I do? Should I even try to run or do I wait until they knock me out? Mana barely dodges as a fire punch passes her. She wobbles backwards, trying to get a good view of the situation. What does she do? I feel too weak to do anything, I should give up already...I should just...

"No! I won't give up, I promised Riolu I'd make his dream come true. I can't let myself be knocked out." Mana shakes her head, yelling at herself for even thinking about giving up. Magmar smirks, watching as the cyndaquil regain her strength. This would've been an interesting battle if you had been in better shape. But I guess I'll settle for this instead. Magmar charges, electricity pulsing around his hand, coiling around in circles. Mana charges towards him, powering up her flame wheelby using tackle. They ram into each other, Mana's flame wheel dissipating in the air. Magmar uses flamethrower and Mana uses quick attack. The fire pokemon deal damage to each other, but Mana gets right back up, her body glowing brighter and her determination never losing life. The cyndaquil charges forward using flame wheel once again while Magmar smiles. He raises his arms above his head and the ground begins to shake. Mana jumps in the air, her attack still going strong and the magmar unleashes his attack.

Marowak hands Mana a berry, nodding over to a sleeping riolu. She had finally come out of the arena, but not with the kind of news Riolu was looking forward to. Somehow, Magmar brought her up here and she was able to rest while Riolu scolded her for being reckless. Mana had listened to him quietly, smiling a little while he exclaimed how worried he was about her and how she had been acting strange for a while. She had made no comment, but had apologized for making him worried. Now, he is asleep while she and Marowak are up. Mana takes a bite of her oran berry.

"You told him didn't you?" Mana smiles sadly at Marowak, who looks away guiltily. "It's okay, it's not like it was a big secret or anything. I am upset that I couldn't beat the training area, but I guess I'm kinda happy I didn't."

"Y-yes well, Riolu chose an easy course so for him to pass is not surprising. You decided you needed to challenge yourself and you did. Most pokemon down there are not easily affected by fire type moves because they, too, are fire type pokemon. Houndour and Houndoom absorb fire type moves so they are useless in battle...but you already knew that didn't you?" Marowak sits down on the mat across from Mana. He sighs, looking at the saddened pokemon. "It's not easy to lose, but that loss will remain in your memory and you'll learn from that loss. It's alright, you've done your best for now-"

"I'm not even close to doing my best. Heh, I should be happy for learning a new move, but I'm not. I should be happy that I found my resolve and decided to fight, but I'm not. I don't know why I feel like this. Is it because I feel so weak that I lost? Does meeting Riolu make me want to do better and become better? He's growing stronger right before my eyes and here I am stuck in the same position. If only I knew more about myself... Would I be able to get stronger then or at least have a sense of what I can do?" Mana puts down the berry, trying to understand her feelings or at least grasp something she can hold on to. It's not that she feels that she's weak physically, but that her mind as it now is weak. If only she knew her identity before she became a pokemon. What was she like before this? Was she strong, weak, determined? Did she have someone or something to protect? What was her resolve then? Is the possibility of getting her memory back making her doubt herself? Is this another reason why she feels so helpless? Or is not knowing herself making her mentally weak?

"Is this why I rely so much on Riolu?"

"Your weakness becomes your strength. I've traveled to many different places and there is not one pokemon who is strong. In fact, there is no such pokemon that exists." Marowak moves closer, nudging the oran berry back into Mana's grasp. "You have to ask yourself what your true strength is. Sure, you feel weak sometimes but that's normal for everybody and it gives us all a choice: what do we want to do about it? Some run away and hide from it, others give up, and there are those who search for a way to get rid of that weakness. Your friend is a coward; he's quick to run away from his problems and even before he joined the guild, he was always like that. But he understands his weakness and he understands that there is someone here to push him along. Without you, he would have never joined the guild and would still be at the beach crying."

"But you...you are different. You believe that you need to be strong to accomplish a difficult task when it is not always the case. You believe that you are holding back your friend when he feels that it is the opposite. Both of you believe that you need to stop relying on each other and doing things yourself is how to become strong, but you are wrong. Your friendship gives you strength, Mana. It is in your nature to protect that friendship and sometimes protecting your friend becomes your weakness...or your strength." Marowak gets up and stretches. He smiles warmly at the cyndaquil. "One day, you'll figure out whether he-" Marowak nods in Riolu's direction, "-is your weakness or your strength and on that day, I will look forward to seeing which one you choose." Mana looks over at her friend who is sprawled on the mat.

Weakness or strength...