"Your Phantump is going to be fine," said the nurse. "It will take a few more hours to recover, though. What was Valerie thinking? Taking a six-badge Trainer to fight an Admin…you're lucky none of your Pokemon died."

Marcus's head was bowed. "I know."

"Rest assured, I'll have a talk with Valerie after this," the nurse muttered as she walked away. "Can't believe she would go to those lengths…"

Marcus turned to Medicham. Medicham barely saw it; since she had been released from her Pokeball half an hour ago, she'd done nothing but stare off into space, unable to even meditate.

"It's not your fault," Marcus whispered.

But it was.

An explosion of Fire energy licked against a snow-covered tree. Medicham heard a scream that she didn't recognize but knew instinctively came from someone she knew, someone dear to her. She twisted to behold a body falling in the snow, staining it red-

More memories that were not her own.

Medicham shook her head slowly and silently.

"Marcus, you all right?"

Marcus's head turned to see the other two occupants of the Pokemon Center. Apparently Calem and Serena had been on a special tour of the Pokeball Factory when Team Flare had attacked. They'd aided the staff and managed to hold off Team Flare long enough for several Ace Trainers to arrive, whereupon Mable and the two Executives had abandoned their attendant Grunts and fled towards Route 15.

"I'm fine," Marcus told Serena. "It's…"

"It's hard," said Calem. "I know. It's happened to me. But next time that happens, just recall your Pokemon before they can get hurt."

"But that's not-"

"Would you rather your Phantump die or live?" Calem asked. "Against Team Flare, the established rules of battle are worthless."

"Calem," Serena warned, "he's dealing with a tough time. Don't berate him."

"Serena, he needs to learn," Calem protested. "Face it; if he had recalled his Phantump to get him away from that Weavile, none of this would have happened. Honestly, it's as much his fault as it is the Admin's-"

Marcus rose from his seat so fast that Medicham didn't even see him move. He was across the room in three quick strides.

Calem gasped as Marcus punched him square in the face.

"Stop it!" Serena cried.

Calem clutched a hand to his bleeding nose. "You…know I'm right, Marcus."

"Calem!" Serena stepped between them. "That is enough! His Phantump nearly died, and all you can do is tell him that it's his fault? How…how can you be so heartless?"

"I'm not being heartless," Calem retorted. "I'm being honest. He needs to-"

"Oh, I know," said Serena furiously. "He needs to learn. What happened to you, Calem? A month ago, I thought I knew you. You were…my neighbor. My friend. Now look at you! You fight with unfair tactics, constantly berate and verbally beat down anyone who doesn't meet your standards, and whenever anyone calls you out, you dismiss them! And I've stuck by you! Because I'm your friend! But this…this isn't you. So I'm done."

Serena turned on her heel and began moving towards the Pokemon Center door. "Don't bother following me," she growled. "Until you get your life in order, until you realize just how much you're hurting the people around you…I don't want to see you again."

The Pokemon Center door slammed closed, leaving Marcus and Calem alone.

Calem, still holding his bloody nose, glared at Marcus. "What is your problem? I'm trying to help!"

"That was not helping," Marcus retorted. "Do you realize how much it hurts to be told that you made a mistake? That you let your Pokemon get injured?"

"Yeah," said Calem. "It's necessary. I learned that lesson the hard way. But you don't get it, do you?" Calem chuckled. "I get it, you know. You hate me. You've hated me ever since I beat you. You know what? Get over it. I won, that's the end of it. And yet you keep trying to justify your loss by calling me an unfair battler." He scoffed. "It's always someone else's fault, isn't it? It's my fault for being 'unfair'. It's Team Flare's fault for hurting your Pokemon. Why can't you see that it's your fault? You're the one who trained your team, imparted your strategies to them, gave the orders that led to every single one of their defeats. But I know your type. None of those were your fault. Because you're so perfect that you can't possibly lose to anything besides circumstances under your control. So don't you dare whine at me about how much it hurts. If you don't want my advice, then go away. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find Serena after you chased her away. Good-bye, Marcus."

He turned and followed Serena out of the Pokemon Center, leaving Marcus alone, standing in the center of the room with fists clenched.

He turned back to Medicham. "Go find Heliolisk. Tell him that Phantump's going to be fine."

Medicham sighed. Heliolisk had been surprisingly invested in Phantump's recovery. He'd been practically uninjured from the battle, but he'd remained in the Pokemon Center, staring protectively at Phantump's Pokeball until Marcus had ordered him outside.

She stood and left Marcus truly alone. She looked back as she walked through the doors and saw him sitting back down, anguish in his eyes.

"How is he?"

Of course Heliolisk was standing right next to the Pokemon Center.

"Why do you care?" Medicham asked. "You've been nothing but dismissive of us ever since we met you."

Heliolisk glared at Medicham. "Do you believe I do not care for my subjects?" he asked. Then he huffed. "I guess you would, seeing as you certainly don't."

"What did you just say?" Medicham snarled.

"I spoke the truth," Heliolisk said. "You abandoned him to his fate. Under my plan, you all would have fought together. You would have been able to protect him. But under your plan, the backline became split from the frontline. Everybody fought who they pleased. There was no coordination, no working together. And while Phantump and the rest were fighting for their lives, you were gallivanting with the Zoroark and not providing any support. Some leader you are."

"I…" Medicham hesitated before opting for a confrontational approach. "I didn't see you leading anything either. From what I saw, you spent most of the fight tormenting a Magcargo."

"Firstly, no, I did not lead anything," said Heliolisk. "As you made it very clear, you're the leader. I merely followed your instructions, which amounted to 'remain in the back', a task which I succeeded at with aplomb. And secondly, in case you have forgotten, I was the one who saved Phantump's life while you were still flailing around with the Zoroark."

"I was not flailing around!" Medicham protested.

"Admit it, leader," said Heliolisk. "Look at the Gym Leader's team! They worked together, covered each other's weaknesses, and won their battle in quick and decisive fashion. Your team had more members and yet did far worse. And that is because you did not come up with a proper strategy, and you abandoned the rest of your team to face off against that Zoroark! You are a failure as a leader, and you would be far better off ceding the position to someone who actually understands what being a leader entails!"

Medicham felt herself sinking lower and lower as Heliolisk's tirade continued, unable to refute his words. He was right; Phantump's injuries were her fault.

And so much else.

Cloyster - transformed from the innocent, wide-eyed Shellder from the beach into a being whom Medicham had last seen gazing upon Phantump's body with tear-stained, haunted eyes. Kriesh - thrown headlong into a war against another group just like Team Rocket; Medicham could see the fear and conflict in her gaze every time they fought Team Flare. Houndoom - his fearful words echoed in Medicham's mind constantly as he felt himself torn between a desire to atone for his actions and fear of being discovered and condemned.

Even Marcus - she'd failed to protect him, failed to fight the Absol back, and Marcus had nearly died for it.

All her fault.

For she was their leader. She was supposed to protect them, wasn't she?

With disgust and hatred pervading her mind, Medicham turned and stormed back into the Pokemon Center, eyes not locked on anything, unfocused as her mind tormented her with painful thoughts.

"…in a surprising turn of events, Kanto-Johto Gym Leaders Jasmine and Lieutenant Surge have arrived in Kalos for what they refer to as a 'business trip'. Could their arrival be related to the ongoing Team Flare crisis? We attempted to interview the two foreign Gym Leaders upon their arrival. Alexa?"

"Yes," said the blonde woman that looked somewhat similar to Gym Leader Viola as the television screen shifted to her image. "I braved the crowd of cheering fans to attempt to speak to Lieutenant Surge. My question, though, met with a response of, I quote: 'Ehuh' before he swiftly moved to speak with a nearby group of fans. Jasmine was similarly forthcoming, being quoted as saying: 'We would appreciate some privacy during our visit, if you'll please excuse us'."

"Thank you, Alexa." The screen flipped back to the news anchor. "Well, it seems we'll have to wait for more news as to exactly why these two foreign Gym Leaders are here. Stay tuned, because next we'll be talking about the heroic defense of the Pokeball Factory just yesterday! But first, a word from our sponsor, Lysandre Labs!"

"Marcus?"

Marcus looked up from where he was sitting.

"Your Phantump is fully healed," said the nurse, holding out Phantump's Luxury Ball. "Incidentally, it also seems to be getting somewhat close to evolving. Keep an eye out for that."

"Thanks, I will," said Marcus, grasping Phantump's Pokeball tightly. "Medicham, come along."

Medicham barely registered her Trainer's command. Slowly, she stood from her seat, head still lowered, and stumbled after Marcus as he stepped out of the Pokemon Center.

Heliolisk had left his position by the Pokemon Center; likely he was out in the field with the rest of the team, throwing out his orders and bossing everyone around. A practice that Medicham, being the leader, was supposed to stop.

Medicham sighed. Some leader she was.

-lying on the ground, left cheek frozen from the snow, eyes locked on the undergrowth in front of her, waiting for-

Medicham let out a pained grunt, clutching her hands to her head. Why were these unwanted memories assailing her? Where were they even coming from?

"Everything alright, Medicham?" Marcus asked.

Medicham looked up at her Trainer. Briefly she contemplated shaking her head, but what would that do? Marcus wouldn't understand.

So she nodded instead.

"All right." The acceptance in Marcus's voice pierced Medicham like that Zoroark's claws. He trusted her. And what had she done with that trust but hurt those that she was meant to protect?

They rounded a corner, and Medicham beheld the rest of the team. She stopped, watching them closely as-

-two Pokemon rolled over in the snow, laughing as they pelted each other with snowballs. She laughed too, flinging herself forward to join in-

-Drapion and Kriesh engaged in a mock battle, Kriesh blocking Drapion's Thunder Rend with a well-placed Earth Impact, the rest of the team surrounding them.

Cloyster saw Marcus and Medicham first. "Guys, they're back!"

Drapion and Kriesh stopped dueling as Marcus and Medicham walked up to the team. Medicham's eyes locked on Heliolisk, who was standing in the back; the Electric lizard returned Medicham's gaze and smirked.

"How's Phantump?" Houndoom asked.

Marcus said nothing, but a smile played across his face as he released Phantump from their Pokeball.

Phantump looked around slowly. Their eyes locked onto the team and they smiled, waving a stubby hand. "Hey, everybody!"

The reaction was one of subdued but clear relief. "Good to have you back, Phantump," was Kriesh's contribution, a sentiment that all the rest, as though emboldened by Kriesh's words, echoed.

Medicham noticed that although Heliolisk didn't join in with words, he seemed relieved as well even as he hung back. A stab of guilt ripped through her body as she realized she'd forgotten to tell Heliolisk of Phantump's status in the midst of her anger towards the Electric lizard.

"I'm glad you were practicing without me," said Marcus. "Remember, the next Gym is Double Battles, so we need to remember to practice those."

He gazed around the clearing at his team. "We're gonna head out to Anistar City next," he said. "We've only got two Gyms left. Olympia should be fine with all of our type advantages and preparation, but…" Marcus paused. "I'm not going to lie; Wulfric is going to be tough. He demands five-on-five battles, and as far as I know, every single one of his Pokemon has a well-planned-out strategy that backs each other up, and I'm pretty sure they all have Abilities as well."

This led to some dismay among the rest of the team. Medicham frowned. Did any of them have Abilities?

She was pretty sure Heliolisk had one. Solar Power sounded a lot like an Ability. But if Heliolisk was the only one who could fight on the level of Wulfric's team, Marcus was right to be worried.

"So we're going to have to train for a while after Olympia," said Marcus, "unless something drastic happens. Which I really hope it won't. It would be nice to have a quiet week for once."

His eyes turned to Heliolisk. "That thing you used against that Weavile." His voice quivered at the name, to none of their surprise. "Was that an Ability?"

Heliolisk nodded. "It is called Solar Power," he said. "The Heliolisk line is known for having heat-based Abilities. Some among us possess Dry Skin, which enables them to-"

"We know about Dry Skin," Kriesh interrupted. "We faced a Heliolisk at the Electric Gym with that Ability."

Heliolisk shot a side-eyed glare at Kriesh. "Do not interrupt me when I am speaking, Fearow," he ordered.

"It's Kriesh," Kriesh retorted.

"Whatever," said Heliolisk. "Anyway, Solar Power is the opposite. Instead of repelling heat, my body actively intakes heat, and Solar Power allows me to convert that heat into energy, energy that I can use to strengthen my attacks."

"Which raises the question," Drapion growled, "of why ya didn't use it against us?"

"The rapid utilization of body heat and expulsion of energy places a sizable strain upon my body," Heliolisk explained. "As such, I only deign to use Solar Power against those who I deem it necessary to use it on, or against those who have personally slighted me. I chose not to use it against you because I did not consider you worth its use. And, seeing as I won our fight, I was correct in that assumption."

Drapion emitted a disgusted sigh that Heliolisk pretended not to hear.

Having not understood any of Heliolisk's speech, Marcus only had his initial nod to go off of. "Right, so Heliolisk has an Ability…except he's the only one of us not officially on the team." He sighed. "Heliolisk, do you want to be on this team?"

Surprisingly, Heliolisk hesitated for a few moments. But at length he shook his head. "I never asked to be on your so-called team," he said, his faux-regal demeanor returning. "I only travel with you because you force me to."

"All right," said Marcus, sounding disappointed. "I…I'll see about getting you to a rehabilitation facility."

Heliolisk tilted his head. "What do you mean?" he asked in a somewhat more dangerous tone.

The questioning tone of his voice told Marcus all he needed to know. "I can't just release you. You know that. A rehabilitation facility will…" He paused, searching for words. "...grant you an environment where you can…attend to your ideals more privately."

Unfortunately, from the narrowing of Heliolisk's eyes, he saw through the wording of Marcus's statement. His eyes narrowed to slits. "You would have me imprisoned?" he growled. "I will not suffer such unjust treatment! My subjects! I command you to explain to your Trainer in the most severe terms that I refuse his so-called 'rehabilitation facility'!"

"There are several things wrong with that statement," Drapion growled. "Starting with the fact that we aren't yer subjects, an' ya aren't our leader. Ah'm not gonna say one word in defense of ya, an' ah think it's safe ta say that goes fer everyone else."

Wordlessly, Medicham nodded. So did the rest of the team.

"You dare turn against me?" Heliolisk snarled. "Very well! I defeated you once! I shall do so again!" Electric energy crackled around his body as he lowered himself into a crouch. "Lord's Command-"

That was all he got out before Marcus recalled him into his Pokeball.

There was a muffled explosion from inside the Pokeball, and then silence fell. Marcus let out an explosive breath, gazing around at his team. Every single one of them had been in the process of leaping either towards Heliolisk or to a spot between Heliolisk and Marcus.

"I'll drop him off at the Pokemon Center," said Marcus. "They'll arrange for his transfer. And…once I'm done with that, let's get to Anistar."

He turned and walked off. "Keep practicing double battles!" he called over his shoulder, and then he disappeared back into the Pokemon Center.

For once, the walk was uneventful. That is, Medicham thought ruefully, uneventful for Marcus.

Medicham herself, on the other hand…

-so close! Just a little farther, just a little, until she was-

"-order for you to succeed, you must leave-"

"-have we here? It seems Bringer-Of-Visions's plan worked to-"

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the barrage of unwanted and unknown memories to the back of her mind. Why did these keep coming? They had nothing to do with her!

Medicham shook her head and continued walking. So it was all the way to Anistar; a calm day that Medicham could not enjoy, with memory after memory hammering at her mind.

The room was lit only by a single electric lamp that did not flicker but looked as if it would. It was populated by a small metal table, a small metal chair, and a single, teal-haired occupant sitting in the chair with her elbows resting on the table and her hands on her chin. Her eyes darted to and fro warily as if waiting for something to jump out of the walls at her.

She flinched as the door opened. In strode three figures; the two visiting Gym Leaders, Jasmine and Lieutenant Surge, and a woman she recognized as Drasna of the Elite Four.

"Team Flare Admin Mable," said Drasna. "You are hereby-"

"Stop!" Mable cried. "Just stop! I'll tell you anything I can!"

Surprise danced over the trio's faces. Jasmine looked at Surge. "Why, Surge, your skills at interrogation are getting better and better."

"Mable, I'm glad you're open to cooperation," said Drasna. "Who is in charge of Team Flare?"

"Lysandre," Mable answered promptly.

"Of Lysandre Labs?" Drasna asked. Mable nodded. This brought a mutter from Surge - "Next she's gonna be saying Lusamine's-" - and a hush from Jasmine.

"And where is Team Flare's base of operations?"

This did not bring a prompt response. Drasna frowned. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes," said Mable.

"What is it?"

"You wouldn't understand," said Mable. "The thing is, I know that the instant you learn the location of Team Flare's base, you're going to send everything you have at it. And it's not going to be enough. It's going to be a disaster. You have to start evacuating Kalos now. That is the only chance you have."

"We do not plan on evacuating," said Drasna. "Phase 1 of Galactic Protocol has been engaged. We will-"

"Engage Phase 2 right now!" Mable sounded positively hysterical.

"I think we're the ones giving the orders here," said Surge. "That said...what's got you so convinced that we'll lose? We've beaten Teams like Flare before. This isn't anything new."

"No," said Mable. "You don't understand. I..."

She leaned closer, and seven words streamed from her mouth in a whisper, seven words that set chills in the hearts of all three of the figures opposite her.

"Lysandre has a Legendary on his side."

"Sleep."

The instant he was out of the Pokeball, Heliolisk felt a jolt of Psychic energy strike at his mind. He could feel his eyelids drooping at the suggestion. Mentally, he raged. How dare they? How dare they treat him as if he were some common criminal? He was their lord!

Heliolisk's mind thought back to a lesson. One of many his father had taught him back in the desert.

Lord's Command: Electrify, Heliolisk thought, sneakily sending a jolt of Electric energy into the metal surface under him just as his eyelids shut completely.

Electrify was an interesting little move. It imbued the target with Electric energy. That was it, nothing more. Normally, Heliolisk manifested Electrify in a bolt of lightning. Yes, it was functionally similar to Electrocute (or Thunder, as the humans preferred to call it), but it was easier to use and more versatile, even if it sacrificed some power compared to Electrocute.

His father had often used a complicated move he called Electric Permutation, which imbued the ground with Electric energy that his father could then draw upon to strengthen his attacks. Heliolisk had often tried to duplicate that move, but found he could not. His father had told him that it was beyond him; his father only was capable of using the move as well as he did because of a TM. But his father had taught him to use Electrify in a similar fashion; it was much weaker and could only be drawn on once, as opposed to Electric Permutation which could be utilized several times.

One of the uses of Electric Permutation, incidentally, was to ward off sleep. This was done via careful application of self-shocking, stimulating the muscles into action. Thanks to this technique, his father had become known as the Unclosing Eyes, because when he was called upon to keep watch against a threat, he would not sleep until the threat was dealt with.

It had taken several months for Heliolisk to learn to do it himself. Even he would admit that it was difficult, not to mention exhausting. But now, with someone forcibly trying to put him to sleep?

Now was the perfect time.

Heliolisk carefully shocked himself, staving off the psychically-introduced sleep. He watched through half-closed eyes, taking care not to move a muscle, slowly scanning the room via sight and sound.

He was lying on a table in what he instantly realized was a room in the Pokemon Center, with an Audino standing over him, inspecting him. Heliolisk forced himself not to wince at her invasive touch as her hands brushed over his body.

"Good condition," she said. "I know you can't hear me in there. But trust me, when you wake up, you'll thank me for this. You'll live a very comfortable life at the rehabilitation facility."

Heliolisk suppressed a shudder. An obvious lie. He knew exactly where he was going - some kind of prison, where he would be kept for the rest of his days, regardless of the fact that he'd done absolutely nothing to deserve it.

Audino looked away. Now Heliolisk saw that the window facing the room had a human staring through it. Audino nodded. The human turned and walked away, disappearing through a door with no haste in his step.

Why would he need to hurry? Heliolisk was asleep, wasn't he? Heliolisk forced down a chuckle.

Now it was just Heliolisk and the Audino in this room.

The Audino was similarly unconcerned. She sat down on a nearby bench, yawning. "What a day. All those Team Flare Pokemon…thank goodness the Admin Pokemon were taken to the League."

Her eyes wandered over to Heliolisk's face. All of a sudden, they narrowed. Heliolisk at once shut his eyes completely, but it was too late.

"What the-"

There was no help for it. "Lord's Command: Electrocute."

No need to hold back.

Audino shrieked as the Electrocute slammed into her. The telltale barrier of a Protect rose up too late. If Heliolisk had been able to access Solar Power, Audino would have been knocked out. But in here there was no sunlight, and the air was cool; there was too little heat for the Ability to work. And so Audino remained conscious, though she dropped to one knee under the blast.

"Disarm!" Audino cried, reaching out one arm. Heliolisk rolled, falling off the table in the process. His back erupted with pain as the blast of Fairy energy that emanated from Audino's arm sailed overhead.

Heliolisk rolled to his feet, ignoring the agony of his back. "Lord's Command: Electrify."

The simple jolt of Electric energy was enough to finish off the Audino. She fell to the ground, charred and unconscious, even as the door slammed open and the Pokemon Center employee reappeared in the window.

He was carrying a Pokeball. Heliolisk's Pokeball.

Time seemed to slow as Heliolisk's eyes fixed on that foul object. Three times had Marcus forced him into that thing against his will. There would not be a fourth.

"Lord's Command: Discharge."

The blast of Electric energy burst out in all directions. The Pokemon Center employee staggered, dropping Heliolisk's Pokeball as he lunged to the side to avoid it. Heliolisk charged straight forwards, towards that object.

"No!"

The employee's cry fell upon deaf ears. Heliolisk slammed his foot down on the Pokeball. It was made of surprisingly stern stuff, but three slams were all it took to crush the thing into an unrecognizable lump.

"Why are you doing this?" the employee asked pleadingly. "We just want to help you!"

"Help me?" Heliolisk snarled. "You seek to imprison me. No longer will I suffer your foolish lies! Lord's Command: Electrify!"

The employee screamed in pain as Electric energy ripped through his body. In that moment, Heliolisk twisted, eyes scanning the place for a way out. He spied a window, small, but he knew he could get to it.

"Lord's Command: Discharge." Electricity burst forth, shattering the glass before Heliolisk. Heliolisk did not even spare the fallen employee a glance. He leaped, hurling himself out of the window and onto the grass below.

It was nighttime outside, and so the streets were empty. It only took five minutes for Heliolisk to reach the safety of the nearby forest.

Only then did he finally stop.

Only for a moment, though. His real subjects were waiting, after all.

He wouldn't dream of keeping them waiting.

The sounds and sights of the familiar forest were music to Heliolisk's eyes and ears. He could even hear the cackles of his subjects ahead of him. The Haunters and Gastlys and Phantumps all were laughing gleefully ahead of him. He could not see them, but he knew what they were up to anyway. One of them must have spotted him, and they were throwing a celebration for his return.

Heliolisk pushed aside a branch and beheld the forms of his subjects, flying around through the treetops and looking as if they were having the time of their lives. He frowned. It was good that they were celebrating his return, but they should not be allowed to run too wild. He would have to rein them back in; doubtless they had been aimless without his guiding hand.

Heliolisk allowed them to continue for a few more moments before he strode forth. "My subjects!" he called grandly. "I have returned!"

The reaction…was most assuredly not what he expected.

Unless he was mistaken, every single one of his subject was staring at him in abject horror.

"N…no…" one of them whispered, voice shivering. "It…it can't be-"

"Remember…" another hissed. "Remember…what we discussed."

"Where is he?" another asked in a tone that suggested it did not want Heliolisk to hear.

"Come now," said Heliolisk, anger filling his voice, "what is this? Are you not pleased to see me? Why do you not leap up and cheer at the return of your lord and master? It seems my disappearance has brought along more aimlessness than I thought. There will have to be punishments for this."

His eyes locked on the Gastly who had made the first whisper. "You. You greet me with fear instead of loyalty. You shall be the first example of what happens to those who…who forget my…"

His voice trailed off as a massive thudding noise began emanating from the forest to Heliolisk's left. Slowly, Heliolisk turned to face the direction from where it was coming from, abandoning the Gastly altogether. He only barely registered his subjects moving away from the noise.

One of the trees was shoved roughly aside as a massive hulking beast of a Pokemon shouldered its way into the clearing. Heliolisk did not even recognize this Pokemon; it looked almost like a Steel-type, moving robotically and with purposeful but slow strides that left massive rectangular footprints in the ground. It was colored blue, with coppery bands around its wrists and ankles and a similarly-colored oval diagonal across its chest that crisscrossed what appeared to be a mockery of a lightning bolt. Yellow swirls traveled up its arms, and two yellow eyes glared down at Heliolisk.

"Leave my forest at once," Heliolisk demanded.

The new arrival looked up at Heliolisk's subjects. It spoke, its voice booming across the clearing. "I TAKE IT THAT THIS IS HIM?"

Murmurs of agreement rose from his subjects.

The robotic Pokemon turned back towards Heliolisk's, eyes flaring with anger. "I AM GOLURK," it boomed. "THESE POKEMON ARE UNDER MY PROTECTION NOW. YOU WILL NOT GO NEAR THEM. YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO THEM. YOU WILL LEAVE THIS FOREST AT ONCE, OR I WILL THROW YOU OUT."

"Throw me out?" Heliolisk chuckled. "Who do you think you are? This is my forest and these are my subjects." He began to charge up Electric energy. "You are nothing but a waste of my time. Lord's Command: Electrify."

A surge of Electric energy shot from Heliolisk's frill, a surge that had served in the past to down nearly every enemy that so much as crossed Heliolisk's path. It slammed into Golurk with an audible crackling noise.

Golurk didn't even flinch.

"What?" Heliolisk hissed. Why hadn't Golurk fallen? He must have done something, some kind of Protect. Of course a behemoth like Golurk would have Protect.

But Protect wouldn't last forever.

"Oh, that is it," Heliolisk snarled. "You think you're so tough, don't you? Let's see how you handle this. Lord's Command: Electrocute!"

A massive bolt of Electric energy, one of the strongest he could produce without tapping into Solar Power (which he couldn't, sadly, because it was nighttime), sailed out from his body and slammed right into Golurk, ripping and clawing at the robotic Pokemon's form.

Golurk still did not flinch, did not even move a muscle.

Heliolisk's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out as he stared open-mouthed at the completely untouched Golurk. His mind felt as if it was locked in a neverending, inescapable loop of 'what' and 'how' as he simply stared, unable to comprehend that this thing had just taken one of his strongest attacks without even a scratch.

"VERY WELL," Golurk boomed, raising one massive foot. "STOMPING QUAKE."

And Heliolisk knew pain.

Heliolisk groaned, his eyes slowly sliding open. He could feel grass beneath him, though only under his right side. It was still nighttime. His body ached.

What hit me?

Then Heliolisk remembered.

That damn Golurk. How in Distortion did it tank my attacks so well? No one's done that before! Even that Magcargo, though it lasted for nearly a dozen Electrifys, still was thrown onto the ground from each one!

Another of his father's lessons then came to his mind. His father had always told him to watch out for the Flygons and Dugtrios that inhabited the desert. They were, as his father called them, 'Ground-types', and thus immune to the electricity that every Heliolisk wielded.

Could Golurk have been a Ground-type? It must have been for it to shrug off an Electrocute of that magnitude.

Heliolisk suppressed a snarl of rage. Not only had his subjects stabbed him in the back, but, realizing that they could not possibly fight against him and survive, they had gone crying to Golurk to fight that battle for them.

But why? Had he not always treated his subjects well? Had he not granted them safety and protection?

They must have had their minds poisoned against him. For there was no possible reason they would have turned against him otherwise.

Heliolisk's mind flew back to Marcus's words.

It was obvious that they hated you. I mean, seriously, they were cheering when you left!

Ah, yes. It all made sense now. Marcus's team had poisoned his subjects' minds against him, ensuring that even if he escaped them and returned to his forest, his subjects would throw him out.

That Medicham had, of course, been the ringleader. Did she think he was blind? He'd seen her glares. He'd seen how she'd always tried her hardest to undermine his authority. And obviously, after he'd made his perfectly valid points about her role in allowing Phantump's injuries (if she'd just gone with his plan, Phantump would have been perfectly fine), she'd refused to accept that, and instead rallied the rest of the team to turn on him in misguided vengeance. Which, of course, led Heliolisk right into the traitorous Ghosts that she'd convinced to turn against him.

Pathetic. Simply pathetic.

Heliolisk had been content to let bygones be bygones. To leave Marcus's team alone and forget that all of it had ever happened. But no, that Medicham had had to go the extra mile. She'd had to make sure Heliolisk's life was completely and utterly ruined.

So Heliolisk would pay her back in full. The rest were just following her orders; they would be spared as long as they did not resist. But Medicham…oh, he would make sure she paid for every moment of humiliation he had suffered at her hands, both directly and indirectly.

Helpfully, Marcus had told the entire team, including Heliolisk, the location of the next Gym: Anistar City, to the east. So Heliolisk would travel there. Once there, he would find Medicham, deal with any of her allies that chose to stand with her, and then…probably electrocute her until she begged for his mercy and repented for all of her crimes. He'd grant it, because he was a merciful lord and would spare her pitiful life as long as she repented for her slights against him.

Then, and only then, would he depart. He would find a new forest or desert or whatever, a new group of subjects, and he would rebuild his kingdom.

And so Heliolisk set off towards Anistar City, dreams of revenge dancing in his mind.