Episode 16: The offer

"Venusaur, stun spore!" Niko commanded.

"Milotic, hypnosis!" Palmer commanded. The tender pokémon's eyes began to glow bright blue, emitting rings from its eyes towards venusaur, who promptly closed his own and responded by shaking the flower on his body to emit yellow dust from it. The dust moved along the field towards milotic, who responded with hydro pump, blowing away the spores and rendering venusaur's attack also ineffective.

"Fine, then. Razor leaf!" Niko shouted. Venusaur cried out as he summoned a torrent of leaves at milotic, who responded with ice beam, once more blocking the attack. Keep calm, Niko. We got this. "Venusaur, razor leaf once more!" It was blocked by hydro pump. "Palmer, are you going to attack me?"

"Hah! Only if you do." He said, winking. "Milotic, use ice beam!"

The tender pokémon contorted its body a little in the air before unleashing a stream of ice at its opponent. This time, the attack successfully hit, knocking venusaur backwards a little.

"Now, hypnosis!"

"No! Venusaur, use stun spore again!" Niko shouted, the fire within burning. He felt his bond with venusaur, even if it was faint. The seed pokémon roared out again, a cloud of yellow dust erupting from his flower and spreading over towards milotic, covering the hypnosis and ultimately paralyzing the water type.

Niko then felt energy surging through him and venusaur. They were going to do it again. And they would win.

"Venusaur, frenzy plant!" Niko cried out. The seed pokémon obliged, summoning the energy from within the earth itself, and bringing spiked roots up from somewhere (since they were several hundred feet above the ground) and launching them all at milotic, slapping the tender pokémon in quick succession. "Now, finish it off with solarbeam!"

"Milotic, ice beam!" Palmer cried out, but it was no use. The seed pokémon charged up a glowing green orb above his flower and launch a controlled attack at milotic, quickly defeating the tender pokémon.

"Milotic is unable to battle, venusaur wins! Tower Tycoon Palmer will now send out his second pokémon!" The referee declared.

"Milotic, return. Well done, Niko. I didn't see frenzy plant coming. Good to see that you've mastered an ultimate move. However," Palmer pulled out a second pokéball. "You'll find that it won't always help you. Rhyperior, I choose you!"

Why rhyperior? Niko thought to himself. He wouldn't send out that pokémon unless he had a plan in mind. "Venusaur, be careful, alright?"

"Venus." Venusaur said gruffly, staring down his new opponent.

"Rhyperior, use earthquake!" Palmer commanded. The drill pokémon shook the ground beneath it, causing venusaur to shake violently. "Now, rock wrecker!"

"Block it with solarbeam!" Niko commanded. While rhyperior was preparing its massive gray rock, venusaur began to charge up his own attack. Both shot forward at the same time, colliding in the middle of the field in a small explosion. "Now, razor leaf!"

"Rhyperior, flamethrower!" Palmer commanded. Niko looked shocked. When did rhyperior learn that move? The drill pokémon raised its arm and, out of one of the holes in its palm, unleashed a jet of fire at the leaves, burning them up and still managing to hit venusaur. "Follow up with earthquake!"

"Venusaur, stun spore!" Niko shouted. The seed pokémon, who was now sporting a burn mark from the previous attack, obliged and slowly tried to get out the yellow dust, dispersing it across the field towards rhyperior, who blew the attack away with flamethrower after quickly ending the earthquake.

"Rock wrecker!"

Rhyperior conjured a massive gray rock once more just as venusaur was about to unleash a solarbeam. Once more, the two attacks ended in a draw. Just like with milotic, Niko needed to come up with something else. Something to defeat Palmer's rhyperior with. He had the advantage. He might as well use it.

"Venusaur, let's go once more. Use frenzy plant!" Niko shouted, thrusting his fist into the air with passion. Like before, venusaur summoned spiked roots from the ground and shot them at rhyperior, slapping the drill pokémon several times. Rhyperior attempted to block with flamethrower, and managed to burn a couple of the roots, but was nevertheless overwhelmed by the ultimate move. "Now, razor leaf!"

The seed pokémon once more conjured a torrent of leaves and shot them all at rhyperior, who fell to one knee upon impact and then fell forward.

"Rhyperior is unable to battle, venusaur wins!" The referee declared. "Tower Tycoon Palmer will now send out his third and final pokémon!"

"Wow!" JJ said excitedly. "Niko's going to do it!"

"Yeah, I think so…" Lauren said with a smile.

Palmer returned rhyperior and looked up at Niko. "Well done. You're full of surprises today, aren't you?"

"I suppose so. Ready for round three, venusaur?" Niko asked. The seed pokémon nodded calmly.

"Alright, then. Dragonite, let's go! Palmer shouted, summoning the dragon pokémon. "Dragon dance!"

"Venusaur, stun spore!" Niko commanded. However, dragonite rocketed into the air, above the cloud of paralyzing dust, and surrounded itself with a red and purple aura. "Razor leaf!"

Razor leaf hit dragonite, but didn't seem to do much damage to dragonite, who stood completely still. Niko and venusaur kept launching a barrage of attacks, but none of them seemed successful. Niko grit his teeth; he knew what was coming.

"Aerial ace!" Palmer shouted. Dragonite then dove down, breaking the red and purple aura, and crashed into venusaur, slashing the seed pokémon across the back. As dragonite rose back into the air, venusaur collapsed onto the ground.

"Venusaur is unable to battle, dragonite wins!" The referee announced. "Challenger Niko will now send out his second pokémon!"

"Venusaur, return." Niko said with a sigh. "You did amazing. I'm very proud of you, buddy. Now, glalie, I choose you!" Niko said, summoning his only ice type pokémon. "Use ice beam!"

"Dragon dance." Palmer said calmly, letting his pokémon take the ice beam directly. Niko saw that he knew what he was doing; it was easy to read on his face. "Now, stone edge!"

"Oh, no…" Niko said. "Glalie, protect!"

Dragonite dove towards the ground, slamming a fist into the floor of the battlefield. Large pointed stoned erupted from the floor and slammed into glalie, who was luckily able to block with protect. "Again!" Palmer shouted. Dragonite shot forward, using the attack at a closer range. Niko commanded glalie to use double team, but dragonite was quicker this time, slamming pointed rocks into glalie, and launching the face pokémon into the air. "Now, dragon dance once more!"

The red and purple aura engulfed dragonite as glalie spun down towards the ground, gaining speed as he did so. Since he was spinning in a contorted way, it was difficult for Niko to issue any attacks or for glalie to use them. For the first time during this battle, and the first time during the Battle Frontier, Niko was genuinely scared.

"Stone edge once more!" Palmer commanded. Just as glalie was about to hit the floor, dragonite slammed its hand into the ground, summoning a final pointed rock that stabbed glalie with enough impact to pierce him. Luckily, glalie wasn't too hurt, but was unable to battle.

"Glalie is unable to battle, dragonite is the winner! Niko will send out his third and final pokémon!" The referee declared.

Niko let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, then. We can still do this. Glalie, return. You did great." He then thought about who to use next. If he was being honest with himself, he was at a loss. His strongest pokémon—venusaur—couldn't beat dragonite. The only pokémon he had with an advantage—glalie—couldn't beat dragonite. If not them, then who?

Lauren, Fay, Brittany, and JJ all watched Niko stand there, completely still. Normally, he didn't hesitate on who he wished to battle with. For all of them, this was a first.

Suddenly, thoughts swirled through Niko's mind. He thought of rampardos getting hurt at Lily of the Valley; he thought of venusaur struggling to learn frenzy plant; he thought of losing to Fay three years ago; his inability to train feraligatr; everything Hunter has ever said to him.

"You'll never be a strong pokémon trainer."

"I've actually won something. What's Niko here done? Nothing. He's useless to me, and he proves my point every time we battle."

"Here's a hint, Niko: if you can't beat me, then you can't beat him."

"I…I can't win…" Niko finally said, albeit softly. He looked up at Palmer and dragonite, the latter of whom was floating there, waiting for its next opponent.

"What…?" Lauren said, looking concerned. "What did he say?"

"He said he can't win." Fay answered. "Is he giving up?"

"No, he's not." Lauren said, standing up. "Don't give up, Niko! I believe in you!"

Hearing this, Niko shook his head. "I can't win. I don't know what else to do. Palmer, I cannot beat your dragonite. I forfeit the match."

Palmer raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Why not give it a shot?" Niko shook his head. "Niko…you have to at least try."

"Why try?" Niko said. "I've fought this dragonite twice, and haven't even come close to winning against it. I know when I'm going to lose."

"But you don't know that." Palmer said, now almost pleading. "However…I respect your wishes. If you want to forfeit, then you have the right to do so." He turned to the referee, and nodded.

"Challenger Niko has forfeited the match. The victory goes to Tower Tycoon Palmer!" The referee declared.

While Palmer returned dragonite and walked off to heal his pokémon, Niko turned as if going into the stands, meeting Lauren halfway.

"What's wrong with you?" She demanded. Niko could tell she wasn't happy. "Why did you just give up?"

"I already said why—I can't win. I'm not going to put my pokémon through that. His dragonite is too strong for me."

Lauren sighed. "We need to talk about this after my battle. I want to know what's going on with you."

Niko ignored her, instead walking over to the stands to sit with Fay, Brittany, and JJ, all of whom looked at him with shocked expressions. Even Fay, who hardly ever expressed surprise, was awestruck at this move.

Meanwhile, Palmer returned from healing his team, ready to face Lauren. After the referee explained the rules of the match, both trainers pulled out a pokéball, and the battle was on.

"Milotic, I choose you!" Palmer shouted.

"Roserade, let's go!" Lauren said. "Use toxic spikes!"

"Milotic, hypnosis!" Palmer commanded. Fortunately for Lauren, the toxic spikes landed first, scattering across the field. However, roserade quickly collapsed onto the ground in a deep slumber.

Lauren took a deep breath. "Roserade, return." She ultimately said, exchanging roserade for another pokémon. "Lopunny, I choose you!" She shouted, summoning the rabbit pokémon. "Use agility and then thunderpunch!"

The rabbit pokémon charged towards her opponent, fist lighting up with electric sparks. She soon collided with an ice beam from milotic, slamming the thunderpunch directly into the attack and blocking it. Lauren then commanded lopunny to repeat the move. This time, thunderpunch landed successfully, crashing milotic into the floor of the already damaged battlefield.

"Now, bounce and hi jump kick!" Lauren commanded, thrusting her hand into the air. Lopunny obliged, leaping into the air with bounce and sticking her right foot outwards before diving back down and slamming her foot onto milotic, who responded with a powerful hydro pump. "Thunderpunch!" Lauren shouted. Both attacks collided, resulting in an explosion that launched lopunny high into the air. "Land on your feet, and use agility!"

The rabbit landed successfully before running around the field, increasing her speed. Milotic attempted to use ice beam, dragging the attack across wherever lopunny ran. However, the tender pokémon couldn't keep up, and soon found a thunderpunch running across its face.

"Finish it off with bounce and hi jump kick!" Lauren shouted as milotic halted all movement. Lopunny nodded, leaping once more into the air and slamming her foot down onto milotic's serpentine-like body, defeating it.

"Milotic is unable to battle, lopunny is the winner!" The referee declared. "Tower Tycoon Palmer will now send out his second pokémon!"

"Milotic, return. Well done. Rhyperior, I choose you!" Palmer shouted. As soon as he did so, the drill pokémon began to glow bright purple as the toxic spikes took effect. Just as quickly, Lauren returned lopunny.

"Roserade, I choose you!" She shouted, summoning the sleeping bouquet pokémon. She waited a minute for roserade to attempt to wake up, watching the grass type get shaken by earthquake and later by rock wrecker. Then, roserade woke up, shaking her head slightly before turning to her trainer. "Hey, girl. Let's win this." She said softly. Roserade nodded, standing back up to face rhyperior.

"Rhyperior, use flamethrower!" Palmer commanded.

"Grasswhistle!" Lauren commanded. Roserade nodded, leaning into her arm and blowing into it, emitting a melodic sound. Upon hearing this, rhyperior ended its flamethrower and crashed into the ground, sound asleep. "Now, magical leaf!"

"Rhyperior, wake up!" Palmer commanded, just as rhyperior felt the poison course through it. It didn't work, and the purple leaves struck the drill pokémon's rock-hard charcoal-colored body. Palmer grit his teeth, trying to find a way around this. He smirked, but didn't show any other indication of a counterattack.

"Now, petal dance!" Lauren shouted, spinning around and thrusting her hand forward as she landed back on her feet. Roserade did the same, conjuring a tornado of pink petals that she manipulated into hitting rhyperior, who slowly woke back up. "Take caution, roserade, but let's not give in. Our team is counting on us to make this battle a little easier."

"But it won't, Lauren." Palmer said. "Rhyperior, use flamethrower!"

"Roserade, magical leaf after dodging!" Lauren shouted. Roserade shifted to the side, evading the jet of fire aimed directly at her. She then shot out a torrent of leaves at her opponent, aiming them at rhyperior's feet. "Now, let's win this! Petal dance!"

Roserade lunged forward, conjuring a twister of petals in midair and launching them from both hand-bouquets at rhyperior, who attempted to counterattack with flamethrower. Unfortunately for the drill pokémon, but petal dance hit first.

"Now, magical leaf!" Lauren cried out. Roserade lunged forward once more and shot a magical leaf at rhyperior, knocking the massive rock type backwards in defeat.

"Rhyperior is unable to battle, Roserade is the winner! Tower Tycoon Palmer will now send out his third and final pokémon!"

"Roserade, return." Lauren said. "I have a plan here. Be ready in case I need you." She said softly. "Lopunny, I choose you!"

"Dragonite, let's go!" Palmer shouted. "Use dragon dance!"

"Lopunny, agility and bounce!" Lauren commanded. The rabbit pokémon charged forward, leaping into the air and landing a powerful foot on top of her dragon opponent. The aura from dragon dance burst and Palmer commanded dragonite to use dragon claw. Lopunny evaded the move, landing back on the ground and proceeding to use thunderpunch.

"Stone edge!" Palmer commanded. The dragon type thrust its hand into the ground, causing pointed rocks to erupt out of the ground. Lopunny managed to dodge the first few stones, but got hit just before she landed thunderpunch. "Now, aerial ace!"

Dragonite shot towards the injured lopunny and slashed down on her. The rabbit rolled across the floor of the battlefield and jumped back up, glaring at her opponent, who continued using dragon dance.

"Bounce and thunderpunch!" Lauren shouted. Lopunny leapt back into the air before landing down on dragonite. However, before she could, dragonite exited the dragon dance and struck at lopunny's foot with dragon claw, swiping the rabbit away. Lopunny flew through the air, landing beside Lauren, unable to battle.

"Lopunny is unable to battle, dragonite is the winner. Challenger Lauren will now send out her next pokémon!" The referee declared.

"Return, lopunny. We managed to get some hits in. Thank you for the help. Now, gengar, I choose you!"

"Ah, alright then. Dragonite, dragon dance." Palmer said, looking confident.

"Gengar, hypnosis!" Lauren commanded. The shadow pokémon emitted red rings from his eyes that successfully hit dragonite, forcing it to fall asleep. Lauren's eyes widened. She figured that move would be a risk, but she didn't expect it to work the first time. "Okay. Gengar, use dream eater!"

"Gen!" Gengar said, closing his eyes and calmly probing for dragonite's mind. Once he found it, he penetrated it, and began corrupting dragonite's dreams. On the field, the dragon pokémon spasmed a few times before waking up and forcing gengar out.

"Use dark pulse!"

"Aerial ace!" Palmer shouted. Dragonite burst forward, claws bared as it prepared to strike its opponent. Gengar launched out a nexus of dark energy that collided with the dragon pokémon, only momentarily disrupting it. Dragonite landed its attack on gengar, who was flung backwards. "Now, stone edge!"

"Break the stones with dark pulse!" Lauren shouted. Dragonite briefly turned a purple color, indicating that the toxic spikes were still in effect, and launched into its attack, sending pointed stones in quick succession towards its opponent. However, gengar ended the attack with a series of dark pulses. "Now, shadow punch!"

"Gengar!" The shadow pokémon said, hurling several spectral fists at dragonite, subduing it with relative ease. Lauren them commanded gengar to use dark pulse once more. Again, the attack landed, but not before dragonite landed an aerial ace on the ghost type, launching him into the ground.

"Hypnosis!"

"Aerial ace!" Palmer commanded. Dragonite rushed downward, slashing at gengar before collapsing into the ground as well, sound asleep. For the first time, Palmer looked genuinely worried. Lauren noticed this, and smirked.

"We can do this, gengar. Use dark pulse!"

"GENGAR!" Gengar shouted, putting both of his hands together and unleashing a nexus of dark energy at dragonite, slightly moving the dragon pokémon along the ground from the force of the attack.

"Finish it off with dream eater!" Lauren shouted, a tear in her eye. In that moment, she had not felt prouder of her very first pokémon. The one who has stuck with her since the very beginning, and hasn't let up. Gengar closed his eyes and once again penetrated dragonite's mind, searching for more dreams to corrupt. Dragonite then began spasming again, and gengar launched another shadow punch at the dragon type, effectively finishing it off.

"Dragonite is unable to battle, gengar is the winner! And the victory goes to Lauren from Canalave City!" The referee declared.

Lauren blinked in disbelief, watching gengar turn to her and happily float towards her. She felt a chill run through her body as the ghost passed through her, but it didn't bother her in the least.

"Gengar…I have no words. Thank you." She said, looking up at the floating ghost. Gengar nodded, high on the satisfaction of winning. "You, and roserade, and lopunny…I—I just can't express my happiness right now."

"Lauren." Palmer said, getting the blue-haired trainer's attention. "As proof of your victory, I award you with the Tower Print." He held out a small gold piece with a engraving of the Battle Tower on it. "Now, this is your fifth print, correct?"

"Yes. I've beaten the other four facilities." Lauren answered.

"Well done, then. In ordinary Pokémon Leagues, getting all of the badges qualify you for the league. However, there is no league on Battle Island. We have a different reward, if you so choose to call it such."

"What is it?" Lauren asked. By now, her friends—and Niko—were standing beside her. Gengar was also present, curious as to what Palmer was about to say.

"It is my duty—and highest honor—of offering you the option to become a Frontier Brain. Defeating the five facilities is not easy. Often times, trainers either quit or decline the offer. And since you have obtained all five prints, I would like to extend this offer to you."

Lauren turned to the group, and then to gengar, looking absolutely bemused. "Do I have to make this decision right now?"

"No. You can choose to join whenever you would like to. The offer is an indefinite one, but the sooner the better, I would say. But the last thing I want is for you to feel any pressure. It is a heavy decision, I'm sure, and you have every right to weight your options before reaching a conclusion. When you decide, please come back here and find me, and we can talk."

"Thank you for the offer, Palmer. And thank you for the battle. I appreciated it. But I do need some time to think about this."

"No worries." Palmer said with a smile, and then led the group out of the Battle Tower.

Later that evening, Niko was sitting on the edge of the port, watching boats docking for the night. Ever since leaving the Battle Tower, he had done everything he could to avoid Lauren. He didn't want to talk to her. He didn't want to talk with anyone.

He wasn't jealous of his girlfriend. In fact, he was genuinely proud of her. However, he couldn't help but feel utmost disappointment in himself. And as such, he wanted to separate himself from the others until he could gather his thoughts. That way, he wouldn't lose his mind.

"Hey."

Niko turned around to see Lauren standing there with her usual concerned look. As she started to approach, Niko got back on his feet and prepared to leave.

"Wait, please don't go." She said softly, with a hint of anger.

"Why not?" Niko said, turning around. The lights from the lanterns hung high above them, illuminating most of their body, but leaving some parts in the shadows. "I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone."

"You never are!" Lauren said, raising her voice. "All I want to do—all anyone wants to do—is help you! Instead, all you're doing is acting like a child. 'Oh look at me, I'm Niko, I suck at everything please pity me!' C'mon, give me a break."

"Oh, you shut up." Niko said, clearly offending Lauren. "You have no idea what I'm thinking about."

"Of course I don't! How would I!?" She raised her hands up and took a step closer to Niko. "You never say anything to me! I'm your girlfriend! I'm supposed to be helping you! And I want to!"

"If you really wanted to help me, you'd just leave me alone, then! But of course you can't do that. You have to know everything that's going on, don't you?"

"You don't get it, Niko…" She said, a tear running down her cheek. "You really don't get it?"

"What don't I get, Lauren? What don't I get? That, as usual, I've failed to improve as a trainer? That I let some jackass get the best of me? That I have failed as a boyfriend to you? That I've failed as a friend, or as a—"

"I love you."

"What?" Niko asked in an irritated tone. "What did you say?"

"I love you!" Lauren spat out. "I love the person you are! I love how you prioritize your pokémon, and your friends and family! I love that you actually care about other people! I've known other guys, and been in other relationships, but they have never cared about those close to them like you have!" She was crying now. "And I love that you're passionate about being the best you can be, and seeing that your pokémon do the same! I love that you encourage me, and JJ, and Brittany, and your brother to keep going, and to never give up! I love you!"

Niko was silent. Then Lauren ran up to him and embraced him tightly.

"And seeing you down on yourself. Seeing you give up like that. I hate it. I hate seeing you upset…"

Niko continued to be silent. Eventually, Lauren let go and lightly tapped him on the chest with her fist.

"Please say something…" she said.

"I…I don't know what to say." He said simply, taking a step back nervously.

"You don't know what to say?" Lauren repeated him. "Why not? Do you not love me?"

Niko stood still, trying to process his thoughts. "I…I don't know." This seemed to hurt Lauren more, as she completely broke down. "Don't cry."

"Why shouldn't I?" She shouted. "All I've done is be by your side, never giving up on you, and this is how I'm paid back? You know, when you beat me at Lily of the Valley, I was mad at you, but I had to be proud of you and cheer you on, because I believe in you. When you lost to Palmer, I was sad that I also lost, but I wanted to help you feel better. Yet you closed yourself off to everyone. Every time Hunter puts you down, all I want to do is punch him in the face, but you close yourself off further, and deeper, until I can't reach you. I've tried to do everything I can for you, but you just think of yourself."

"You literally just said I care about others above myself!" Niko said, thoroughly confused.

"Well, you haven't recently. But at your core you're a selfless type. I know you are. Don't try to point out flaws, Niko. You're in the wrong here, and I think you know it."

"It doesn't matter, though." Niko said. "I don't care anymore!"

"About me?"

Niko hesitated before answering. "I guess so…"

"If—if that's how it is…" Lauren closed her eyes, unable to see either way. "Then bye, Niko." She said, walking away, leaving Niko on the dock alone.

Niko returned an hour later, only to find Fay and JJ sitting there, in the same booth that they had sat in for the past few days. He silently sat down next to Fay, and across from JJ.

"She's really hurt, Niko." JJ said.

"Were you two waiting here for me?" He asked. JJ nodded, Fay didn't.

"I was doing work anyways. But I couldn't help but listen to what happened. If you want to talk to her, she's in our room with Brittany."

"I don't, but thanks." Niko said silently.

"So…what's next, then?" JJ asked. "Are you going to challenge Palmer again?"

"No."

"Oh. So…back to Kanto, then?"

"I guess so." Niko said, looking away. They were silent for a few more minutes until Fay broke the silence.

"That reminds me, Niko. Professor Oak told me that your Mom called. She needs to talk to you, as soon as possible."

"Really? What's up?"

"He wouldn't say, but it sounded urgent from the email. I'd give them a call if you can." Fay said. Niko got up, and walked over to a video call, slowly dialing the number. The screen was black for a few moments before suddenly showing Niko's living room back in Pallet Town.

"Mom?" Niko asked calmly. His mother showed up on the screen, tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Niko…your father…he's very sick." She said in between sniffling.

"What's wrong with him?" Niko asked, his voice rising a little. His mom tried to come up with words, but couldn't. Instead, he saw Jake appear. "Jake…what's wrong with Dad?"

"Niko, please come back here as soon as you can. It looks like Dad might be…might be…just come back, please."

"Okay." Niko said, and Jake hung up. He sat there for a moment, staring at the black screen. There's no way. No, this isn't happening to me. He thought before a tear ran down his cheek.

"Niko…?" JJ asked, getting out of the booth and walking over. He leaned over and saw Niko crying. "Are you okay?"

"JJ, I'm going back to Pallet Town first thing in the morning." Niko said definitively.

"I'm going with you. Whatever it is, I'm here." JJ said, and walked back to the booth to give his friend some peace.

Author's note: Woah...a lot to take in in this episode. The season finale is next! What will happen with Niko and his family? Can the group stay together? What about that offer Lauren was given by Palmer? Will she take it? Find out in the final episode!