(That same Evening)
It is Andrew and Katie standing in front of the Pokemon Center in Andrew's hometown of Sacramento.
"Hey Andrew." said the guy.
"Mr. Freedman?" asked Andrew.
"Yeah I need you to help me with something." said Mr. Freedman.
"And why would I do that?" asked Andrew.
"I know you and I did not get along while you were going to school." said Mr. Freedman.
"You were one mean principal." said Andrew.
"I know I was." said Mr. Freedman.
"So my next question would be what do you want me to do?" asked Andrew.
"I just need you to come in and motivate some of the students." said Mr. Freedman.
"What would you want me to do?" asked Andrew.
"I want you to have a battle there." said Mr Freedman.
"Who would I battle?" asked Andrew.
"Our guest speaker." said Mr. Freedman.
"And who that be?" asked Andrew.
"She is a former Champion and she is the same person who talked when you graduated." said Mr. Freedman.
"Ok fill me in here." said Andrew.
"Mrs. Sidney Vaughn." said Mr. Freedman.
"Who is she?" asked Katie before could respond.
"Well she was the Champion about 6 years ago. She was California's first and only Champion till me, and most of all she was the last person I lost to." said Andrew.
"When did that happen?" asked Katie.
"It was about two months before I became the Champion. I bumped into her near Sacramento and I thought I would challenge her. I beat her first two pokemon, but after I did that I got dominated the remainder of the battle. Things have changed since then, I have bettered myself as a battler." said Andrew.
Before Katie could say something Mr. Freedman interrupted them with a question of his own.
"Will you do it then?" asked Mr. Freedman.
"I will do it. Just tell me when it is." said Andrew.
"It is this Saturday. At the school gym." said Mr. Freedman.
"Ok I will be there." said Andrew.
"I must call her and tell her you want the battle." said Mr. Freedman leaving.
After he leaves Andrew now shifts his attention back to Katie who was looking at him.
"Well what is it you wanted to tell me?" asked Andrew.
"I...have devloped feelings for you Andrew." said Katie.
They looked at each other for a few seconds. You could tell Andrew was thinking of what to say back her.
"Katie I do like you but, you want to put these feelings on hold." said Andrew.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Katie.
"You must focus on your journey and making it to the Champion's Cup. Tell you what we will talk about how we want to move on with each other after that is all said and done with." said Andrew.
"Ok. I also look forward watching that battle you are going to have." said Katie.
"If you want you could help me some." said Andrew.
"With what?" asked Katie.
"Just come to my families lab tomorrow and I will tell you." said Andrew.
"What about Brady and Emma?" asked Katie.
"They can come too. My family will put them to work." said Andrew.
"Does your family even know you are here?" asked Katie.
"Crap I forgot to tell them. I hope they did not change the lock on the door." said Andrew.
"You can be somewhat forgotful." said Katie.
Andrew just stares at Katie for a minute.
"You know it's true." said Katie.
"You know what just come to the lab tomorrow with or without Brady and Emma I do not care." said Andrew.
"Ok. I will see you then." said Katie walking back into the pokemon center.
"You two are a great couple." said another guy walking over to Andrew.
"Shut up Will." said Andrew.
"Is that anyway to talk to your older brother." said Will.
"Why are you out this late at night?" asked Andrew.
"We have a sick pokemon at the lab and I had to run and get some supplies." said Will.
"Then everyone is up then?" asked Andrew.
"Yeah they are." said Will
"What pokemon is it?" asked Andrew.
"It is one of the starter pokemon we just got." said Will.
"Then lets stop standing around and lets get to the lab." said Andrew.
They both walk back to the lab and when they got there everyone standing around looking at Andrew as he walked in.
"Where's the hurt pokemon?" asked Andrew.
"There is none." said Will.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Andrew.
"Well we all seen you fly in." said Will.
"How?" asked Andrew.
"It is not that hard to miss a flying green dragon type pokemon. Especally on a sunny day." said Will.
"It is really great see you all again." said Andrew.
"Its been a while." said Tanya. (Andrew's older sister)
Andrew was speechless. He looked at everyone and he smile on his face and he looked at peace for the first time in a while.
"You must have had a long day we all should get some sleep." said his Mom.
"Yeah I am. So where am I sleeping?" asked Andrew.
"You already forgot where you slept you must have spent." said him mom.
"I thought you would changed it by now into a guest room." said Andrew.
"No." said his mom.
"All we will see you all tomorrow." said Andrew right before he walked outside to their house in the back behind the lab.
The house was nothing special it was an old fashioned white house black roof. The house is two stories. On the bottom was a living room which at this time had some of the new starter pokemon sleeping on the couch. And upstiars has four bedrooms and one bath. One room was for my sister and brother-in-law, one was for his mom, another was for his niece you left on her journey, and the last was Andrew's room. Will moved out and moved in with his wife and they live across the street. Andrew walks into his room sets his backpack down and layed on his bed.
"Sometimes I do miss sleeping in my own bed, but I would not give up what I have earned for it." said Andrew thinking about his life.
He fell asleep a couple mintues after saying that.
(The Next Morning)
We find our three travelers just waking up from a long nights rest. Katie is up even before Emma and Brady. She was already dressed and ready to go when the other two started to wake up.
"Your up early Katie." said Emma.
"We have a long day today." said Katie.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Emma.
"Andrew invited all of us to the lab." said Katie.
"To do what exactly?" asked Emma.
"I am not quite sure he did not tell me last night." said Katie.
"Brady and myself were actually going to walk around town to see what is here." said Emma.
"He did say you do not have to come it is up to you." said Katie.
"We will stop by after were are done sight seeing." said Emma.
"Sure, I will let him know." said Katie.
"Now you can go ahead and leave now we still want some more sleep." said Emma.
"I will see you then later." said Katie.
After saying that Katie made her way out of the pokemon center and to the lab. She did not have any difficulty finding the lab since it was near the pokemon center. She walked into the lab to see that even this early it was already packed. There was three assistants running after a Torchic, a Mudkip, and Treeko. A few minutes later she heard Andrew's voice towards the back.
"I found the three pokemon." said Andrew yelling for the assistances to come over.
"These three are very pesky and love playing." said one of the assistances back to Andrew.
After hearing that female in a lab coat with long brown hair walks over to Katie who was standing in the door way just looking around.
"Can I help you?" asked that female.
"Who am I talking too?" asked Katie back.
"I would be Tayna, I am help the professor." said Tayna.
"And who is the professor?" asked Katie.
"If you are the new trainer Randy will be back later, he is out getting something." said Tayna.
"I am not I am looking for Andrew. He invited me over to help." said Katie.
"Who might you be?" asked Tayna.
"I am Katie Hopkins." said Katie.
"I will go tell you are here." said Tayna walking off.
She walked towards one of the back rooms in the lab. Inside the room Tayna walks into was Andrew with two assistants trying to keep the three starter pokemon from running off. The Torchic was eating some food and Mudkip fell asleep on a desk. While the Treecko just stared off in space out the window. Andrew bends down and picks up the Torchic since she was done eating and he started to clean her face off since the three pokemon ran around outside and got mud on themsleves.
"Hey Tayna." said Andrew still holding the Torchic.
"I think she like you." said Tayna.
The Torchic was rubbing her head against Andrew's chest. Andrew scratched under peck and when he was doing that the Torchic closed her eyes and she was kicking her feet.
"How did you know Torchic's like that spot?' asked one of the assistants.
"I grew up with pokemon around me you pick up on what they like quickly." said Andrew.
"Can you give me the Torchic now." said the other assistant.
As that assistant streched his hand over to Andrew. The Torchic pecked his hand. Andrew, Tayna and the other assistant laughed. Andrew sets the Torchic down on the table and he walks out. Tayna followed him out.
"Your friend is here." said Tayna.
"Ok." said Andrew walking back towards the front door.
Tayna went back to one of the other rooms and inside was a computer.
"Hey Katie where are Brady and Emma?" asked Andrew.
"They wanted to go sight seeing before coming here." said Katie.
"There is a lot here to see, and thats fine." said Andrew.
"Is this place always this busy?" asked Katie.
"On a good day." said Andrew laughing.
"What do you mean by?" asked Katie.
"We only have three new trainers coming, but any more this place would be hell to be in. We have a lot of people running around like chickens with their head cut off." said Andrew.
"That bad." said Katie.
"Yeah." said Andrew.
"Now what do you need me to help you with?" asked Katie.
"Follow me outside." said Andrew.
Andrew and Katie walk towards the back door right before going outside Andrew stopped and hung up the lab coat he had on. They then walked outside. Once outside Katie looked around and was shocked to see all that was around.
"Are all these yours?" asked Katie.
"No, some are my brothers, my sisters, and my neice's." said Andrew.
"So what did they all do?" asked Katie.
"My brother was a pokemon trainer. My neice is a pokemon trianer and right now she is on her journey, and my sister was a Pokemon Coordinator just like my mom was." said Andrew.
"Were they sucessful?" asked Katie.
"Yeah they were. My mom won one grand festival, and my sister won three." said Andrew.
"What about you brother?" asked Katie.
"He made it all the way up to the Champion's Cup and lost in the second round and after that he decided he wanted to be a professor." said Andrew.
Andrew leads Katie to an old looking arena not much was on it but you could tell it was an arena.
"What is this?" asked Katie.
"Well this would be my family's training area. It has been used so much and you cannot really tell what it was." said Andrew.
Katie looked over and seen six pokemon standing near one side.
"Are those six the ones you are using in your battle against Sidney?" asked Katie.
"Yes I am using those ones. I have Charizard, Lucario, Glaceon, Gengar, Flygon, and Swampert." said Andrew.
"Then what do you want me to do?" asked Katie.
"I need you to watch my five other pokemon while I do some one on one training with Lucario." said Andrew.
"What do you want me to do with the five pokemon?" asked Katie.
"I have talked to them and they know what they are doing." said Andrew.
"So what are they doing.?" asked Katie.
"They are just going to rest right now. Just keep an eye on them and if you want you can call out your pokemon and they can together." said Andrew.
"Ok that I can do." said Katie.
"I know you can." said Andrew.
"Why are working with Lucario?" asked Katie.
"Well I am working on Lucario's physical attacks, and him using his aura." said Andrew.
"Aura?" said Katie with puzzled look on her face.
"Yes, Lucario can use aura to predict a pokemon's movement and sence a pokemon's attack when its coming at him." said Andrew.
"Oh ok I never heard that before." said Katie.
"I will be right back I have to go get some pads to wear on my arms." said Andrew.
"Why?" asked Katie.
"This training method I am about use is somewhat unorthadox." said Andrew.
"Ok." said Katie.
Andrew walked into a small shed next to the arena and walked out with pads on both is right and left forearm. He then walks over to Lucario who was just standing waiting for Andrew.
"Ok Lucario give me your best shot." said Andrew.
At first Lucario looked puzzled but, ran right at Andrew and puched at him. Andrew blocked each shot with the pads. Lucario then jumped back and looked at Andrew.
"Come on Lucario, you can do better then that." said Andrew.
Lucario shows a dertmined look and quickly charged at Andrew. he punched with his right paw then his left then right again and finally kicked. Andrew brought the pads up to take the blows from each punch. Once Lucario kicked the pad the power from that kick sent Andrew back a couple steps and had a smile on his face.
"Great job, my friend" said Andrew.
After hearing it brought a smile Lucario's face. He looked like he was enjoying training again. Lucario seemed eagar to continue with the training. Andrew brought both pads closer to examine what was left of them. The kick opened up one of the pads. The ripped pad was on Andrew's right forearm.
"I see you are ready Lucario for more." said Andrew moving around the pads.
Lucario brought his paws togther and shortly after they were spreated and griped to what looks like a blue bone.
"Come on Lucario use that bone rush now." said Andrew.
Lucario then rushed at Andrew and attacked the pads. Lucario brought the bone rush down with so much force that it ripped the right pad off and exposed Andrew's bare forearm. Lucario noticed that and quickly stopped his attack. Andrew tossed down the other pad off and examined his right forearm. He noticed a few scratch marks but nothing to serious. He walked back into the shed, put the pads down wrapped up his forearm with bandages grap a basket and walked back out.
"What's the basket for?" asked Katie walking over to Andrew.
"I need you to get some of the berries from an old friend who lives near here." said Andrew.
"Who am I suppose to get them from?" asked Katie.
"She lives down the road some. Her name is Beca, she grows her own type of berries, they help the pokemon gain vital nutrients to keep them healthy and and they gain some energy back." said Andrew.
"What are they called?" asked Katie.
"They are called Wigbi Berries." said Andrew.
"Ok I can do that." said Katie.
She walks over to Andrew grabbed the basket and walked out from the back gate, Glaceon followed her out. Katie and Glaceon walked for about 10 minutes till they found the house. They both walked up and rang the door bell. An elderly opened the door and examined Katie and Glaceon very closely.
"Who might you be my dear?" asked the elderly lady.
"I am Katie Hopkins, Andrew sent me over to get some Wigbi berries." said Katie.
"And let me guess the pokemon with would be Andrew's Glaceon." said the elderly lady.
"Yes it would be, and also I am looking for Beca." said Katie.
"You found Beca and I can tell that Glaceon apart from others." said Beca.
"If I may ask how can you tell?" asked Katie.
"Well no one takes care of his pokemon like Andrew does." said Beca.
"He does do a good job." said Katie.
"Do you work at the lab or are one his friends?" asked Beca.
"You can say I am one of his good friends." said Katie.
"Let me go get some Wigbi berries." said Beca before wallking into the kitchen.
Katie looks around the house and sees a lot of ribbons from Contests. She walks over to an old trophy that was sitting in the corner of the front room. Beca walks back into the front room with the basket full of berries and walks over to Katie.
"I see you found my Grand Festival trophy." said Beca.
"You won one?" asked Katie.
"My this is not my only one I have three others. I made pokemon contest my life, up intill I could not do it any more." said Beca.
"You must have been dedicated to pokemon contest." said Katie.
"I was, and I still love watching some of them on TV." said Beca.
"What about your family?" asked Katie.
"Well my daughter works at the lab as an assistant and my son a father and has two kids of his own." said Beca.
"You have lived a happy life." said Katie.
"Have? I still am living one." said Beca.
"How do you know Andrew?" asked Katie.
"I use to babysit him when he was younger. Ever since he was young Andrew dedicated his life to pokemon." said Beca.
"He is still that way." said Katie.
"I know I watch his battles as often as I can." said Beca.
They both sat on a couch and still talked some.
"It looks like Glaceon is a little hungry, I will go get him something." said Beca.
Beca stands up walks back into the kitchen and grabs some poffins and a bowl. She then returns to the front room sets the bowl down and fills it with poffins and Glaceon walked over to it, and he ate it up.
"Andrew's Glaceon is very picky when it comes to poffins, but for I me I know what he likes." said Beca.
"He sure is enjoying them." said Katie.
"Let me ask you something my dear, is there more between you and Andrew?" asked Beca.
"Why do you ask?" asked Katie back.
"Andrew usually comes by to get them, he never sends anyone else." said Beca.
"Then why did you ask me if I was an assistant earlier?" asked Katie.
"Sometimes I get random people wanting Wigbi berries so I always ask that and also Andrew called when I was in the kitchen right before you got here." said Beca.
"Are those berries that good?" asked Katie.
"Let me give you one." said Beca taking out this small redish green berry out of the basket.
She hands it to Katie and Katie looks at it for a moment and pops it in her mouth. Chews it and swallows it.
"These are good. I can see why people would want them." said Katie.
"I know. I grow them every year. It takes a lot work but in the end its well worth it." said Beca.
"Why not sell them then?" asked Katie.
"Well my dear I only have two trees of these berries. I have tried to plant more but they did not grow well. These berries demand so much just to grow one." said Beca.
"I understand that then."said Katie.
"My dear probaly should get back before Andrew calls again." said Beca walking Katie to the door.
Katie and Glaceon walked back to the lab and entered the same way they left.
(Back at the Lab)
"Its about time you got back." said Andrew who was sitting under the oak tree with Lucario.
"You two look like you trained hard." said Katie.
"We have, but we need some of the berries for Lucario can finish his training." said Andrew.
Katie hands him over the basket and then sits down next to him on his right side because Lucario was on his left. Andrew gave Lucario three of the Wigbi berries and they both got back up. Andrew called over Glacoen and Gengar. He explained to them that he needed them to attack Lucario. Lucario took his spot on the arena and right in front of him about 10 steps away Andrew stood.
"Lucario I need you to close your eyes. You are only going to see thourgh your aura. I need you to counter the attack that comes at." said Andrew.
Lucario looks at Andrew then closes his eyes and his four small black appendages rised up on his head ready to go.
"Gengar and Glaceon use shadow ball." said Andrew.
Both pokemon prepared a shadow ball. Glaceon in front of his mouth Gengar in right hand. Glaceon shot is off first. Lucario quickly turned to his right to see Glaceon send off the attack. He then waited till the shadow ball was coming right at him. Lucario smashed the ball with a bone rush. He then quickly turned around to just in time as Gengar shot his off. Lucario then brought small rock around his chest he then shot them off and destroyed the shadow ball.
"Lucario go ahead and open your eyes." said Andrew.
Lucario opened his eyes to see Andrew standing in front of him. Right after Lucario opened them Andrew set his hands on Lucario's shoulders.
"Great job, you have grown so much since you were a Riolu." said Andrew looking at Lucario.
Again Lucario had a smile on his face, that smile quickly turned to a look of determination because Lucario wanted to go again.
"Ok one more time then you need some rest we have been training all day." said Andrew.
Andrew then walked back to where he was standing and readied all three of his pokemon. Glaceon shot his off first. Lucario was able to make short of that shadow ball. Gengar then relased his before Lucario could counter he fell to one knee. Andrew looked around and seen Flygon above him.
"Flygon use dragon pulse." said Andrew.
But before Flygon could attack Lucario manged to recover and blasted the shadow ball with an aura sphere. Andrew walked over to Lucario and looked at him. Lucario opened his eyes and looked at Andrew, but Lucario was panting somewhat from being worked to hard.
"You ok my friend?" asked Andrew.
Lucario held his head up.
"I will take that as a yes." said Andrew.
Lucario and him sit down under the same oak tree he was when Katie came back. Katie was still under there looking at Andrew.
"You must be tried." said Katie.
"I am actually fine, I worked Lucario harder then myself." said Andrew.
"Lucario looks like he ready to battle." said Katie.
"I know he is and so am I." said Andrew.
"It must be hard to think about knowing you will be facing the same person who beat you last time you two faced." said Katie.
"It is, but I fill like I am more ready this time then the last time I faced her." said Andrew.
"I will be there watching that match." said Katie.
Andrew looks down at his cell phone and the time is 6:30 pm.
"Lets go get some dinner." said Andrew.
"Where at?" asked Katie.
"I know this small restaurant just north of here." said Andrew.
"Ok lets go."
(Dinner)
Andrew stood up returned all his pokemon and Katie and him walked out the back gate. The two of them make it to the restaurant and take a seat next to a window.
"Andrew why did you take this battle?" asked Katie.
"Actually I have never thought about that. I am conflicted is it for redemption or motavation." said Andrew.
"Are you going to hold back or give it everything?" asked Katie.
"I will give it everything I got and much more." said Andrew.
"You do hold back some battles?" asked Katie.
"Yes I do, I did when I battled Daniel in Nashville." said Andrew.
"What do you mean?" asked Katie.
"I did a lot when I was battling his Lucario. I can tell you simply that my Staraptor is faster then I let on. I could have out maneuvered his Lucario at any point in that battle." said Andrew
"Why do you do that?" asked Katie.
"I do it beacuse, when a trainer outside the typical league challenge, challenges me it for personal benefit, I like to get a fill how each trainer battles. So in order to see that I have to let them give me their all when I give 60%." said Andrew.
"Even at 60% you are still tough." said Katie.
"That's just because I work hard with my pokemon." said Andrew.
The food they have ordered finally reached the table and they both ate that food.
"You were right this place was really good." said Katie.
"We better getting going before it gets any later." said Andrew.
(At the Pokemon Center)
Andrew walks Katie back to the pokemon center. They both look at each other.
"I will see you tomorrow then." said Katie.
"After my battle with Sidney." said Andrew.
"Yeah." said Katie.
"Are you staying for the Contest next Monday?" asked Andrew.
"We should be." said Katie.
"Then I will see you later, and good night." said Andrew.
"You have a good night too." said Katie walking into the pokemon center.
On his way back to his familiy's lab Andrew runs into a famililar face before making his way back.
"Andrew I want a rematch, and I want it tomorrow." said Dan.
"I am sorry, but I cannot do tomorrow. How about we settle for Monday or Tuesday." said Andrew.
"Why not tomorrow?" asked Dan.
"I already have a match." said Andrew.
"Cancel that match on him." said Dan.
"I will not cancel my match tomorrow, it is against the last person that I lost to so I need that match." said Andrew.
"Ok we will have our battle Monday after the first round of Contest." said Dan.
"Agreed we will battle here at the pokemon center, same rules as before." said Andrew.
"I will agree to that." said Dan.
"Then I look forward to Monday." said Andrew walking off.
Dan walks back to where Cat and him were staying to see Cat waiting for him.
(Elsewhere)
"So Dan did he agree to your match?" asked Cat.
"He did and it is on Monday." said Dan.
"Why not tomorrow?" asked Cat.
"He has prior battle planned, and it is one battle I want to see." said Dan.
"Do you know where it is held at?" asked Cat.
"No I do not, but we will just follow the crowd there, Most people should want to see that match." said Dan.
"Ok this should a good match and it should help some to watch Andrew before your battle." said Cat.
"The one problem is I do not know what pokemon he is going to use on me." said Dan.
"Is there much difference?" asked Cat.
"Yeah there is. In our battle Andrew used Ageislash and in tomorrow's battle I can only guess he will use Gengar. He did not have Charizard in our last battle so that is an obstacle in itself. It also makes it hard prepare for the battle." said Dan looking down to the floor.
"You did do a lot of training yesterday so you should be." said Cat.
"I can only say I am as ready as I could be not knowing what pokemon Andrew will have." said Dan laying down on his bed staring up at the ceiling.
Here is Chapter 52, I know I did not mention much of Brady and Emma. It was hard to do so when this chapter focused more on Andrew and Katie and even some of Dan. We have one big battle next chapter. It will be a tough one for Andrew, since the person he battling is the one the gave Andrew a loss in his last attempt against her.
Trainer Update:
We learned that there is something between Andrew and Katie.
Poke Update:
None
DD Update:
None
(Dan is concerned about the unpredictablity of Andrew. Is it more of an advantage for Andrew, or a disadvantage for Dan?)