"The second Castelia Gym Battle between Zeno the Challenger and Burgh the Gym Leader will now begin!" The Harlequin announced, backing away from the battlefield. "Only three Pokemon are allowed on either side and the battle will be over when the other trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle! Additionally, only the challenger may substitute Pokemon! Now begin!"

"Lycanroc, use Accelerock!" I ordered and my Dusk Form Lycanroc sped forwards. He zigzagged between the cocoon structures that once again littered the battlefield, heading straight for Leavanny.

"String Shot!" Burgh yelled right before Lycanroc slammed into Leavanny. The Bug type shot the web as she was bodied away, but not at Lycanroc. The string latched onto the nearest cocoon, ripping it from the ground and sending it hurtling towards both Pokemon.

"Stone Edge!" I shouted quickly.

Lycanroc howled as he slammed a paw on the ground, a huge glowing stone jutting out of the ground, piercing the cocoon up into the air. Lycanroc suddenly yelped in pain as Leavanny struck him from behind with Leaf Blade, spinning her body to go for another slash.

"Get away with Double Team!" I shouted and Lycanroc's form shimmered before a dozen copies materialized around him. Leavanny's Leaf Blade slashed through the Lycanroc, its form fading away.

"Accelerock around the arena!" I commanded and the rest of the Lycanroc's began sprinting around all the cocoons to confuse Leavanny.

"Only one way to deal with this!" Burgh yelled. "Leavanny, String Shot another cocoon!"

Leavanny planted her feet firmly as she webbed another cocoon and began pulling it along the ground. She spun her body, pulling the object with her, swinging it faster and faster around the battlefield. One by one the Lycanrocs were being taken out.

"Let's shake things up with Rock Climb!" I shouted and the real Lycanroc slammed both front paws on the ground. The earth shook and suddenly Leavanny quickly rose into the air atop a large rock structure. Lycanroc's talons glowed as they grew longer and sharper. He pulled himself forwards, leaping up and digging into the rockface. He climbed his way up with incredible speeds, eyes fixed on his target.

"Bring it home!" Burgh shouted and Leavanny, straining to keep hold of her String Shot, pulled the cocoon around the corner of the giant rock straight towards Lycanroc.

"Don't worry and slash right through it!" I yelled, pumping my fist.

Howling, Lycanroc propelled himself the rest of the way, slashing one paw against the cocoon as it shot towards him. It ripped apart into many strands of webs, but Lycanroc ignored the falling strands as he let the momentum carry his claws into Leavanny's side. She cried out as she was slammed back to the ground and Lycanroc landed on all fours as the rock shattered into tiny pieces.

"Accelerock!" I yelled. "Quickly, before she gets back up!"

Lycanroc bunched his muscles, but right away I knew something was wrong. As he began to run, he seemed to be straining. Then I realized the strands from the cocoon were stuck to him, slowing him down.

Leavanny rose just as Lycanroc was about to barrel into her. She gracefully spun to one side, slashing downwards with Leaf Blade. Lycanroc yelped as he tumbled away onto his side.

"Shatter her with Stone Edge!" I shouted. "Then use Double Team!"

Dozens of pointed rocks began swirling around Lycanroc as he pushed himself to his feet. He howled and they all shot towards Leavanny.

"Behind a cocoon!" Burgh shouted and Leavanny leaped backwards, but the webbing was torn asunder and the Bug type cried out as several of the rocks slammed into her.

"Accelerock!"

As Leavanny stood, her eyes widened as multiple copies of Lycanroc hounded towards her. She bent her knees, both sickles glowing a sharp green. She dashed towards them, slicing through as many as she could. She spun around to face the last Lycanroc, but he had already slammed his paws on the ground, shooting her up on top of another large rock. He hurled himself after her, climbing by repeatedly digging his long claws into the rock and propelling himself upwards.

Leavanny threw back her head and shot a thick strand of webbing down towards him. More swirling stones appeared around Lycanroc and they shot upwards, splitting apart the String Shot and one managed to glance Leavanny's side. She stumbled and fell over the back side. As Lycanroc bunched his muscles one last time to jump over the top, Leavanny came around the side of the giant rock, running along the side while keeping herself tethered with another String Shot that she clamped with her jaws. Her speed suddenly increased as air gathered around her and she slammed a leg into Lycanroc's stomach, sending him skywards. She used the remains of her momentum to propel herself into the air as well, overshooting Lycanroc. She twirled, planting both of her sickles together. They began to glow as she slashed downwards, aiming for his head.

He howled in pain as the hit landed and he slammed to earth. But as he did, several large glowing rocks jutted out around him and into the air. Leavanny's eyes widened as one punched her in the gut, sending her back up before she plummeted to earth. Both Pokemon lay on the ground, fainted.

I returned my Pokemon, raising an eyebrow at Burgh. "You used Rock Climb against me."

Burgh smiled as he pocketed his pokeball. "Bug types are nothing if not adaptable."

We threw out our second Pokemon at the same time. Mawile landed on the ground, her back jaw snapping open and shut a couple of times. She turned and leaped onto my shoulder, hugging my head.

"Yes, you're adorable," I laughed, picking her up and setting her back down on the battlefield. "Now if you please? We have a battle to win."

Mawile nodded confidently and turned to face her opponent. Instead of Escavalier like I had been expecting, this time Burgh had sent out a Durant.

Doesn't change our strategy, I thought, narrowing my eyes.

"Stone Edge!" Burgh shouted, as dozens of sharp rocks sprung up around the Bug/Steel type.

"Sucker Punch!" I shouted quickly. "Then Iron Defense!"

Mawile launched herself forwards, a sudden burst of speed putting her right in front of Durant. She knocked him backwards with a solid punch just as the stone shards shot towards her at point-blank range. A sheen of silver coated her body right before impact, causing the rocks to bounce right off her body.

"Interesting use of Iron Defense!" Burgh sounded awed. "Durant, Guillotine!"

Durant's jaws elongated and glowed sharply before he began running towards Mawile. My eyes widened. He was faster than he looked.

"Dodge!" I shouted and Mawile leaped upwards as he passed by below, snapping his jaws futilely. "Power-Up Punch!"

Mawile growled and landed back on the ground before kicking off and punching Durant from behind before he could turn back around.

"Now use Sucker Punch!" I shouted as Burgh yelled, "Iron Head!"

Mawile slammed her fist into his head right before it glowed silver. Then he headbutted her in the stomach, sending her crashing into a cocoon. She groaned, trying to sit up, but found herself stuck fast.

"Now's our chance!" Burgh held out a hand. "Finish her with Guillotine!"

"We're not done yet!" I shouted. "Fire Fang!"

Mawile smirked as her back jaw burst aflame. The fire quickly spread along the whole cocoon, freeing her and she leaped aside as Durant skidded along the ground, snapping his jaws where she'd just been a moment ago.

Mawile rolled along the ground, coming back up on her feet. Her fist glowed orange as she ran back for Durant. The Bug type turned around, gigantic glowing rocks jutting out from the ground towards her. She smashed through the first one with her fist before flipping herself around the others. Her eyes widened as Durant rushed towards her, jaws sharpened into a Guillotine.

Switching from Power-Up Punch to Sucker Punch, Mawile was propelled towards him, slamming her fist atop his head, driving his jaws into the ground. She flipped her body, her back jaw gripping around Durant's middle tightly. Flames burst from the jaw, burning Durant as Mawile put more pressure into the bite. She released before turning herself around and landing one more solid punch. Durant skidded away, fainted.

"Durant is unable to battle, which means Mawile wins!" The Harlequin announced, positively shocked. "That leaves Gym Leader Burgh with one last Pokemon!"

"That doesn't mean I'll lose here," Burgh said, returning his Durant. "I'm sure you know what's coming, Zeno?"

"Of course," I said, holding out Mawile's pokeball. "Return!" Mawile was zapped back into her pokeball and I clipped it to my belt. "I also implore you once again to hold nothing back against me!"

Burgh bowed. "With pleasure." He flicked his pokeball and Heracross once again appeared on the battlefield.

I unclipped the lone Master Ball and enlarged it. "Let's show him what we're made of." I heaved the ball and Mahina appeared on the battlefield. Her moonlit white fur shimmered as she roared. She clawed at the ground, apparently eager to fight.

"Now that is quite an interesting Pokemon!" Burgh exclaimed.

"You ain't seen nothing yet!" I produced a disc and flung it towards Mahina's head. A compartment opened in her head and the disc inserted itself before it retreated back into her head. She shook herself, the spikes protruding from her head turning a sky blue color. Her tail fin and eyes began to glow the same color as she pawed the ground, growling as the memory finished uploading.

"Quite interesting indeed!" Burgh's eyes widened before he slid a finger over his belt buckle keystone. Energy shot from it, connecting with the flowing energy from Heracross' Mega Stone. "But we shall not be outdone! This bond we share is truly exquisite. A true work of art, always being refined. Never let a single blemish tarnish its beauty. Heracross, Mega Evolve!"

Heracross bellowed as he mega evolved, his wings coming out from his back as he flew straight for Mahina. Her eyes narrowed as she ran forwards, slashing one paw down, slashing the air. The Air Slash slammed straight into Heracross, blasting him backwards.

He flew back up just in time to see Mahina leaping at him, claws glowing in a Multi Attack. Wind gathered around her claws as she struck, slamming Heracross down into the ground. The ground trembled before an eruption of stones blasted around Heracross, slamming Mahina into the air before she crashed back down.

Heracross flew backwards, firing dozens of Pin Missiles, hindering Mahina's process of standing back up. She roared, a deafening sound of grating metal that forced Heracross to shake his head madly. Mahina slashed one paw down, flipped her body while slashing another paw before completing the move by slashing the wind with her tail. Three sharp bursts of wind shot towards Heracross, who tilted his head forwards and rocketed towards Mahina. His horn glowed bright green as he powered through the Air Slashes and slammed his horn into Mahina, gripping her tightly within his grasp. He shot her with Pin Missiles at point-blank range, only for him to get blasted in the face with three balls of energy. He stumbled back, releasing his grip on her.

Mahina roared as she immediately slashed upwards and fired another Tri Attack. Heracross groaned, electricity sparking along his body as he fell to one knee. Shattered stones flew up around him, firing towards Mahina. She slammed both front paws down, a sudden burst of wind deflecting the Stone Edge. She pounced at Heracross, both Pokemon tumbling along the ground as she slashed at him with her glowing claws.

The Bug type's eyes suddenly glowed as he began pummeling Mahina with all he had, pushing her off of him. He rose, soaring towards her with one glowing fist drawn back, aiming for her head. Then sparks of electricity danced along his wings, stopping him midflight and he tumbled to the ground. As he looked up, Mahina brought down her glowing claws, the burst of wind slamming his head back into the ground, cracking the metal floor.

Mahina shook herself and limped back towards me. She stopped, turning her head back to see Heracross trying to lift himself back up, arms quivering under his weight. Then his mega form faded away and he fell limply. He had fainted.

The Harlequin drew his hands down his face in horror. "Heracross is no longer able to battle! Mahina won! Which means Zeno the Challenger is the winner!"

"Always knew you could do it oh buddy of mine!" Robert cheered, clapping his hands wildly.

Alex rolled her eyes. "So we're not going to do third time's the charm? Oh well. Guess that means we can get another day to spend here in the big city instead of spending that time training and challenging him again."

"You both fill me with happiness," I told them dryly before walking across the worn battlefield to where Burgh awaited me in the middle. He held out the badge. Gold lining encased shining green gems in the shape of a bug's wing.

"I present to you the Insect Badge," Burgh said as I grasped it. "Just because one work of art didn't turn out as you may have hoped, you kept at it, and in the end, you made a masterpiece of it. It was truly something to behold, that bond you and your Pokemon share."

I bowed my head to him. "Winning or losing, there's a lesson to be learned from both.. So thank you, Burgh, for both battles."

"Oh, and one more thing before you leave," Burgh said as I turned to follow my friends. He hesitated for a second, but seemed to make up his mind. "Don't let what Team Plasma says influence you to make rash decisions."

I opened my mouth, surprised. "How...?"

"Zeno," Burgh shook his head with a smile. "I've spent my whole life studying the smallest of Bug types, reading their movements, figuring out what's going on in their heads. I've learned a thing or two about reading people from that," He said, tapping the side of his head. His expression turned serious. "While there is truth to what Ghetsis spoke of, and their ideals certainly aren't wrong, you must listen to your own heart and the heart of the one you worry about. If you do that, then you shouldn't stray from the path that must be taken. Just take care in how you approach it from here on out."

I closed my eyes, then nodded. "Yeah, thanks Burgh." I turned and left after my friends, my mind filled with turmoil.


Two days later, Alex, Robert, and I made our way North of the central park and towards the desert-filled Route 4. As we walked through the tunnel leading out of the city, I turned to Robert. "Any news on what Hugh's been doing?"

He nodded. "I talked to him this morning. He'd just gotten his starter."

"Really?" Alex whistled. "That was fast. Did he get the express ride to Nuvema or something?"

Robert shrugged. "Hugh's always had somewhat of an anger problem, but this time..." Robert shook his head. "I just hope he doesn't hurt himself."

"Why not just invite him to come along with us?" Alex asked. "Knowing our luck, we're definitely going to run into these Plasma goons again. Personally, I'd love to kick their butts after what they pulled."

I sighed. "We've had run-ins with a criminal organization, realized we might end up as targets of dangerous assassins, and now you want to go after Team Plasma?"

She shrugged. "Can't be anymore dangerous than it already is. Plus-" She met my eyes. "We both know you're not going to back down now."

I met her gaze. "Of course."


She watched them exit the gate and into Route 4. She set the newspaper down on the bench, stood up, and walked back towards Castelia City. Once she was in the safety of a dark alley, she threw the brown wig off and removed the shades she'd been wearing. Pure white hair flowed down her back as she stalked down the dark narrow path. A shadow hopped from the fire escapes, following her from above.

So you refuse to give up then, she thought angrily, coming to a stop, slamming the side of her fist against the brick wall. I warned you three. Mess with things you're not supposed to and you'll pay the consequences. Her red eyes narrowed. So it's come to that then.