A familiar face greeted them at the entrance.

"Cheryl!"

"Hanny!"

They embraced.

"How's my little Turtwig doing?"

"I named him Orric. He kicked so many butts!"

"That's wonderful. Say, can you and your boyfriend…"

"He's NOT my boyfriend!" Hanny protested.

"Oops! Well, can you two escort me through Eterna Forest? I'm afraid of running into Team Galactic; I heard they're stealing Trainers's Pokémon!"

Manny grimaced. "That's stupid! The Pokémon would never obey them. Wouldn't it be much easier to capture the Pokémon themselves?"

"This reeks of Team Rocket, but they only operate in Kanto and Johto," Hanny said, "so I doubt the Teams are connected."

"Well, what do you say? Will you help me?"

"Sure, we'll protect you," Hanny agreed, "But if you call him my boyfriend one more time, I'm going to tie you up and mail you to Team Galactic HQ in Eterna City."

"I'll keep your Pokémon in perfect health!" Cheryl promised with a nervous giggle. Hanny did not seem amused in the slightest, but summoned Zeke, climbed onto his back and took point. Manny tried to do likewise with his fiery mare, but fell off, so Hanny had to spend the next half hour instructing him on how to mount and dismount bareback without injury.

"Grip with your thighs, not just your hands! Grip. With. Your. Thighs!"

She smacked Ponyta's butt, sending the horse running, but Manny fell on his butt instead.

"You aren't gripping. Furthermore, you didn't even buy reins or a bridle for your Ponyta, and you want to RIDE her?"

Hanny smacked the back of his head.

"Look, I bought a spare in case Zeke broke his, so you can use it until you buy your own."

Manny rubbed his head, face beet red. "Can't I just pay you back?"

"No. I'm emotionally attached to the first bridles I ever bought for my first ever Ponyta."

Manny eventually learned to use his thighs and released his deathgrip on his poor Ponyta's neck. Now both on horseback, the Trainers burned through all the Bug-type Pokémon in their way, not bothering to capture any of them, because the experience it afforded their Pokémon was too good. Cheryl and her Chansey followed behind, doing nothing but heal the Ponyta after each battle.

Manny caught a Bidoof. Dismounting, he retrieved her Pokéball. He taught her the HM Rock Smash.

"This Bidoof is now my HM slave."

Hanny scoffed at the bucktoothed beaver.

"Bidoof look so derpy. I plan to teach my battlers all the HM moves."

"They won't be able to remember all the HM moves and their main attack moves!"

"What do you mean?"

"Pokémon can only remember four moves."

Hannah and Cheryl stared at the boy.

"Who told you that?" Cheryl asked.

"It said so on the Internet!"

"Do you think Orric or your Turtwig will ever be able to forget how to use 'Withdraw'?" Cheryl asked. "That's like a human being forgetting how to duck for cover!"

"Um, yes? When my Turtwig learns better moves, I'll make room by having him forget how to use 'Withdraw'!"

Hanny shook her head. "Manny, unlike you, Pokémon aren't retarded. They can remember way more than four moves."

"But Hanny, the Internet said…"

"The Internet also said that FabuLance is gay."

Manny's face turned brick red.

"Filthy lies! Just because he has that nickname doesn't mean…"

Hannah stopped him with upheld hand. "I rest my case."

Muttering under his breath about something called '4chan', Manny trotted onward awhile before stopping.

"How do you know that I idolise Lance?"

"I Googled your name right after meeting you. All I had to do was include TwinLeaf and Mint in the search. I found your LiveJournal, which is viewable by the public; bad decision on your part. You have, like, a hundred pictures of Lance gathered from newsclippings and the FabuLance LJ Community."

Manny kept his peace, making a mental note that Hanny was a spy.

Among other Pokémon, Hanny caught a Hoothoot.

"I shall name him Wise Shitashi!"

"That can't fit in the name window!" Cheryl reminded her.

"Fine! He will be known as Shitashi, but to me, he will always be Wise Shitashi; Devourer of Souls!"

After several hours of healing the warriors, Cheryl and Chansey were tired.

"Are we anywhere near the exit yet?" Cheryl sighed. "I do believe we're going in circles!"

"Hanny, do you think our Ponyta are strong enough yet?"

"I don't think so, Manny, we could be here all night."

Cheryl pressed her hands together. "But I just wanted to get through the forest…"

"You will continue healing our Pokémon until we think they're strong enough to take on the next Gym Leader," Manny said, "unless you feel like paying a visit to a certain HQ in Eterna…"

Cheryl gave a nervous giggle again, looking between the two, hoping for any sign that this was all a joke. As the moments passed beneath their stony stares, it dawned upon her innocent mind that these Trainers were, indeed, extorting her.

"Okay, okay! Just don't leave me here!" Cheryl cried. Even her Chansey was crying. "Despite the fact that I am ten years older than you and have much more experience, I only carry around one weak Pokémon who can barely hold its own against wild Pokémon!"

"I'm glad you see it our way, Cheryl," Hanny said.

By the time they left the forest the next morning, both of their Turtwig had evolved into Grotle, their Ponyta had both learned how to use Flame Wheel, both their Shinx had evolved into Luxio, Hanny's Hoothoot had evolved into Noctowl, Manny's Keira was now a Staravia, and his Abra, a Kadabra. Most importantly, his Bidoof evolved into Bibarel, cementing her position as Manny's HM slave. She didn't seem to mind, but she could have been thinking of anything behind those beady little eyes.

Hanny waved as they left the exhausted woman and Chansey at the exit. "Thank you for your cooperation, Cheryl. I'll put in a good word for you with my parents."

"We and our Pokémon thank you. We shall destroy the next Gym Leader in your honour," Manny promised.

"Ten-year-olds are scary, abusive people," Cheryl moaned, collapsing beside her unconscious Chansey.