The chapter title will make sense very soon. It got changed when I realized just how the battle played out when I played the game. For those of you who don't know, I write these chapters as I play my copy of Platinum, with a Mudkip (now Swampert) I traded in to the start of the game, from a copy of a different DS Pokémon game. Full disclosure: I had a battle with Barry planned for this chapter. I was halfway done with it, and then my POS computer decided to restart on its own. I never saved anything either, so it was all gone by the time I got back to writing. I may or may not put the battle in this chapter before I post it, but as of right now, I'm too pissed off to even think about doing it. Also just as a quick heads up: I've never had trouble defeating Byron in Platinum.

The Mud Fish

It was another emotional goodbye between Chris, and the Medina's. But between the gym challenge, and Team Galactic, there was still much to do. With his Pokémon having been fed as well, Chris rides with a full stomach to Jubilife harbor for his ferry ride to Canalave City. Once he's there, he knows that he's not waiting on anybody, so he goes right about his business, getting his bike loaded up onto the ship. Before said ship sets sail, and he loses cell reception, Chris receives a phone call from his friend Lucas.

"Hello?" Chris answers the phone casually.

"Hi Chris." Lucas's voice says on the other end of the line. "Are you on the ferry to Canalave yet?"

"Yeah, just got on. We haven't left port yet."

"I'm sure you will soon, so I won't take up too much time. Professor Rowan is hoping you'll stop by the library after you battle with Byron at Canalave Gym."

"Does he plan on waiting for me?"

"The reason we came to Canalave was so the Professor could examine some old books on Sinnoh's history. I don't know what exactly he's hoping to find, but I can guarantee we'll be here for a while. Maybe even till sundown."

Chris nods before he speaks. "Okay. Tell him to expect me."

"Great. Thank you Chris. I should be here with him, so I'll see you later."

"See you then." The horn on the ferry then blows, signaling that the time has come to set sail. "We're about to sail your way. I'll talk to you later, Lucas." Chris says, as he hangs up the phone.

Twenty minutes later...

For the first five minutes of the ride, Chris had tried to just stay alone and lean against the railing, watching the water-type Pokémon that would pop their heads above water while listening to his music. But he just couldn't stand still like that after a short while. Then when he turned around, he saw that plenty of the other passengers had their Pokémon sitting or standing by them. Once he saw someone with a Ludicolo standing by them, he decided to walk towards the front of the ship to find room for himself, and Hawke. He even managed to find the perfect seat to sit in, as he brought out his closest friend to keep him company.

Hawke and his trainer weighed about the same, so Chris was more than content to let his partner sit next to him while the two enjoyed the sight of the large river in front of them. Chris continued to listen to his music, knowing that his partner was happy to sit in silence with him. All was going well, until Whitechapel's "Orphan" began to play in Chris's headset. The songwriter's story was a far different one to Chris's, yet the message was obviously enough to resonate with him. Hawke started to notice his friend's emotions, but didn't know how much it was getting to him until he covered the top half of his face with the palm of his right hand. That was when Hawke tried to comfort his human. He gently reached to his shoulder with his ridiculously strong hand, and rubbed it as softly as he could. Chris looked up into his Pokémon's eyes. "Pert? Swampert?" Hawke says with a concerned tone.

Chris takes one of his wireless headphones out, gives his Swampert a weak smile, and speaks in an even weaker tone. "I'm okay, Hawke. I was just... thinking about my parents." As a Pokémon, Hawke would never be able to completely understand human emotions. But he understood his trainer. Still being as gentle as he can, Hawke reaches over, and pulls Chris closer to him in an effort to comfort him. Chris is very appreciative of Hawke's efforts, resting the side of his head on his Pokémon. "Thank you." He says.

Not even a couple of minutes later, the horn of the ferry blows again, and Chris sees Canalave City as he looks up. He and Hawke stand up, heading below deck to ensure the crew get his Harley ready to set on land. The same crew member who Chris spoke to when he was getting his bike loaded onto the ferry was the one speaking to him now. "I thought you might've been a trainer when I first spoke to you, Mr. Harper." He says, while looking at Hawke. "You can stay down here if you like. We'll unload you with the bike."

"Actually, how far is the Pokémon Center from where we unload?" Chris asks the crewman, an idea sprouting in his head.

"Only about a quarter of a mile. And then its just another quarter mile to Canalave City's gym, just past the drawbridge. That gym lets you call to set up a time for a battle, by the way."

"I'll walk my bike to both places. I haven't spent quality time with my partner outside of his ball in quite some time now."

"Well, if it's the two of you out, then you'll need to head down the ramp with everyone else."

"That's fine. Thanks for your help."

The crewman nods to Chris, as he and Hawke head back up top. The ramp already lowered, he and Hawke walk down it together, and get a good look at Canalave City. To their left, Chris sees his Harley being set down on the ground carefully, and steps up to grab it by the handlebars, put it in neutral, and start walking with Hawke by his side. A quarter mile walk to the Pokémon Center gives Chris plenty of time to find Canalave Gym's number, and call it to set up a time to battle Byron. Three in the afternoon was the time Chris got, which gave him and his Pokémon plenty of time for lunch.

After setting his bike in a parking spot and dropping the kickstand, Chris looks over to see that the drawbridge that was mentioned to him is within his sight. Then he pauses in confusion as he sees a dark, lengthy figure standing at the very top of the bridge. As he squinted to try to make out what it was that he was looking at, he noticed that the figured seemed to have white hair on its head, and that its legs seemed like they didn't even have knees. He only looked away when he heard none other than Barry's voice calling out to him, and saw him approaching. He looked back to the drawbridge, and the figure was gone now.

"Are you okay?" Barry asks, noticing just how fixated on that location Chris currently is.

Chris slowly nods his head. "Yeah, I just... thought I saw something." He looks back at Barry, and nods. "How have you been Barry?"

"Really good. Just won the badge from Byron. And then I actually had a battle with Lucas. Did you know that he has the same number of badges as us now?"

"I did. I ran into him yesterday in Jubilife."

"He's traveling with Professor Rowan, and finding time to get the badges. It's kind of impressive. He couldn't beat me though."

"So what now?"

"I'm gonna get my team healed at the Center, and move on. The Professor wanted me to meet up with them at the library, but I'm not sitting around for that."

"You know if he's asking you, it's probably important."

"So are the badges. I'm gonna be the best in the world, Chris."

"Alright. Just saying."

"Yeah, yeah. So anyway, Byron uses Steel-type Pokémon, just so you know."

Chris nods. "Thank you Barry." He says back to his rival in a somewhat surprised tone.

"Sure thing. Anyway, I'll see you around!" Barry finishes, before dashing off inside the Pokémon Center and leaving Chris shaking his head.

"That guy can never slow down." Chris then looks at his Swampert, realizing that depending on the Steel types that Byron uses, Hawke may very well be far too much for him to handle on his own. "This battle might be all you, bud."

Hawke gets an excited look in his eyes, as he raises his fists up to flex. "Swam. Pert!" Chris smiles, then he and Hawke take a walk around the city to find a good place to eat. Conveniently enough, Chris found a restaurant that made food for both humans and Pokémon. A busy place, but he still had plenty of time to spare by the time he and his team were properly fed. It was not at all far away from the Pokémon Center either, so Chris was happy to take a leisurely stroll through the City, and take a look around in some of the shops to kill some more time.

Once he was finally back to his Harley, Chris recalled his partner into his ball, and lit a cigarette in solitude. He sat down on the seat of his bike, taking his drags in silence and getting lost in his thoughts. Then one of those thoughts in particular had turning his gaze back up towards the top of the drawbridge, looking to see if that dark figure he had seen earlier had returned. It had not, leaving Chris in total bemusement. He shook the feeling from his mind as he finished off his cigarette, and kick-started his engine. He recalled Hawke back to his ball. The traffic on the way was heavy the further away from the docks Chris got, but fortunately the drawbridge not being raised before he got there did save him some time.

And now here he was. Canalave City Gym. The way the building was built had it sticking out like a sore thumb from the rest of the city, more so than any of the previous gyms Chris had challenged. Despite that, once he saw the battlefield as the rows of lights flickered to life as he walked inside, Chris had a feeling of déjà vu due to how similar this battlefield was to that of Oreburgh City's gym. And the resemblance of the man who stood across from him on the other end of the battlefield, to that of Roark from that gym made it clear to him. Chris gazed at the man's smile, then spoke out to him. "You've got a son who's also a gym leader, don't you?"

"Indeed I do." The man starts. "And you've obviously defeated him if you've made it this far."

"I have."

The man shakes his head. "That's no surprise. My son still has much to learn. And in his place," The man pauses to activate his first Poké Ball, and prepares to launch it into the air. "I, Byron, will take your challenge!" Byron loads up, and throws out a Magneton into the battlefield. The living magnets float above the ground, waiting for what Chris's first selection will be.

Chris cracks a smile, knowing that his closest friend is about to run roughshod over this Magneton. He activates Hawke's Poké Ball. "Hawke, post up!" Chris's Swampert emerges from its short nap, with an energized roar as he stares down Magneton.

"Now this one looks quite impressive." Byron starts. "But looks can be deceiving. Magneton, Tri Attack!" A burst of energy somehow dripping of fiery, electrical, and icy energy fires from Magneton's magnets, firing off at high speed to Hawke. Hawke puts up his arms in an x formation to absorb the blow. And absorbing the blow proved to be absolutely no issue. The glare in Hawke's eyes even startled Byron, who realized that Hawke's look was no deception.

"Hawke, use Mud Bomb!" Turning some of the sand on the battlefield into hard packed mud, Hawke sends a massive ball of it hurdling right at Magneton, which has no chance to move out of the way. So vulnerable to a ground-type attack, Magneton slams down to the ground hard, and cannot get back to the air.

"So you are a challenge." Byron says, as he recalls his Magneton. He pulls his next Poké Ball off his belt, and activates. "Challenge accepted. Go, Steelix!" One of the most terrifying cave dwellers known to man, the massive Iron Snake Pokémon is Byron's next choice. It was a sight for Chris to behold, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't impressed that Byron had one. But he made sure that feeling quickly surpassed.

"Hawke, Brick Break!" Hawke launches himself into the air to strike Byron's Steelix.

"Steelix, Iron Tail!" Steelix's tail swiftly moves towards the oncoming Hawke, and the tail collides with Hawke's powerful arm. It's a stalemate. Steelix nearly gets knocked off balance, whilst Hawke lands back on its hands and feet.

"Let's keep on them, Hawke! Use Mud Bomb!" Hawke takes another hard packed blob of sand from the battlefield, turning it into mud as he launches it right at Steelix.

"Steelix, Ice Fang!" Icy energy drips from Byron's Steelix's mouth, as it rumbles forward. The Mud Bomb hits Steelix, but it seems to power through it with relatively low damage, as its fangs clamp down hard on Hawke once he's in range. Yet even this was working against Byron, as now Chris was able to see that the pain was getting to Steelix.

As Steelix attempted to double back, Chris spoke. "You're not going anywhere. Hawke, Muddy Water!" Hawke's tail started to glow blue, as the growths on its cheeks simultaneously glowed their natural orange color. Hawke let out a blast of Muddy Water that nailed Steelix as it tried to retreat. Now in major trouble, Chris stays on Steelix. "Now, take it down with Brick Break!" Hawke leaps back into the air, and Steelix turns around in time to take the edge of Hawke's hand on its own dome. Steelix crumbles down to the ground, and cannot rise back up.

Byron doesn't say a word as he retracts his Steelix. "It is no coincidence that you have made it this far, boy. I'm down to my last one, so this will be where I make my stand! Let's see how you deal with the defenses of this one. Go, Bastiodon!" Byron throws out his last Poké Ball, and sends out a prehistoric Pokémon, much like his son did. If Roark's Rampardos was a spear that could pierce anything, that Byron's Bastiodon was a shield that couldn't be pierced.

But Chris had faith that Hawke could break that shield. "Hawke, use Brick Break!" Chris's Swampert charged forth, his arm raised in the air to prepare to strike Bastiodon.

"Bastiodon, Iron Defense!" Bastiodon's body shines as it hardens, the effort lessening the damage dealt from a move the rock/steel-type is highly vulnerable to. "Now, Metal Burst!" That same shine now explodes out of Bastiodon's body, and sends Hawke careening back. Hawke manages to dig its hands and heels into the ground enough to slow to a stop a few feet in front of Chris. Now Byron is the one going on the offensive. "Now, use Stone Edge!" Bastiodon stomps heavily on the ground, and makes large, sharp stones blast from the ground to deal massive damage to Hawke. Hawke lands flat on the ground, only one of his eyes open in response to his pain. "Now, Take Down!" Bastiodon charges forth to Hawke.

The sound and feeling of the ground shaking from Bastiodon's heavy movements stirs Hawke back to focus, and Chris knows it. "Hawke, use Mud Bomb!" Hawke quickly forms up a massive ball of mud with the battlefield's sand, and sends it right into the eyes of Bastiodon. The desired effect is immediate, as Bastiodon loses all control from the mud in its eyes, and the ground-type damage it is so vulnerable to. "Press the attack! Use Muddy Water!" Hawke's tail and the growths on his cheeks glow once again, as he blasts Bastiodon for a critical hit with the Muddy Water. Bastiodon cannot withstand the raw power of Chris's very best Pokémon, and its legs give out. To Byron's total shock, Chris and Hawke have swept his team.

"My sturdy Pokémon," Byron starts with a heavy sigh. "Completely dominated by one. You are one of the finest challengers I have ever seen, young man." Byron begins to walk towards the center of the battlefield, as his fallen Bastiodon rises back to its feet to walk towards its trainer, a dejected look plastering its face.

"Thank you, sir." Chris responds, as he and Hawke approach Byron and his Bastiodon.

"You were more than strong enough to defeate my prized team of Pokémon." Byron pulls a trey from the satchel around his waist. "In recognition of that power, I give you this: the Mine Badge." Chris reaches out, and takes the badge from the trey. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Chris opens his case, and places the Mine Badge in its fitted spot. "Only two more left."

"Correct. I hope you have some warm clothes boy. Your next challenge will be northward, in Snowpoint City."

"I'll manage. It was a pleasure Byron, but I'm expected elsewhere."

"Of course. No rest for the weary as they say." Chris gives the gym leader a polite bow, and then turns to head for the exit. "Farewell, Mr. Harper." Byron says, as he kneels down besides his still dejected Bastiodon.

After leaving Canalave City's gym, Chris only rode another seven minutes to get to the library. It was an interesting contrast to him that the library would be so close to the gym, but he certainly wasn't complaining. At the same time Chris parked his Harley, a very familiar looking Jeep parked up right next to him. Standing off his bike now, Chris could see Dawn in the driver's seat of this Jeep. He walked to the back of the truck, and was greeted with a warm hug from his first ever lover. "What a surprise!" Chris said, as he hugged Dawn back.

"I'll say." She responds, pulling back to look Chris in the eyes. "Professor Rowan called me, asked me to meet him here because he wants my help with something."

"He wants the same from me and Lucas." Chris extends his arm to point at the library. "Shall we?"

Dawn smiles. "We shall." The two young trainers walk inside the library, receiving a greeting from the man at the front desk.

"Hello." He starts. "This is the Canalave City library, please keep quiet while you're on the premises." Dawn and Chris both nod at him, then make their way up to the top floor. Once there, they find Professor Rowan and Lucas awaiting them. Lucas had to look away for a moment when he saw Dawn, and Chris could tell that he was hiding a blush.

Without saying a word yet, Professor Rowan motions for Dawn and Chris to join them at the table. "In absence of Barry, I do appreciate your timely arrival Dawn."

"Your very welcome, Professor. But what is this about?"

"Allow me to explain. You two may have forgotten already, but I study the evolution of Pokémon. The more I study, the more mysteries appear and multiply. Pokémon that evolve, and those that do not. What makes them different from each other, I wonder? Do those that are immature as living beings evolve into ones more mature? If so, we do we make of legendary Pokémon that do not evolve? Are we to assume that the legendary Pokémon of the world are perfect as creatures?"

Chris had to hand it to Rowan. The man had a way of using his single tone voice to inspire wonder in those who listen to him. He even had Chris pondering these very same questions as he continued. "This is where you three come in. In the three lakes of Sinnoh, there are said to be mirage Pokémon. If we can obtain data on them, it may shed some light on how the process of Pokémon evolution works. I need help from each of you three on this grand undertaking. Help me find these Pokémon that are considered to be mirages."

"You bet, Professor." Lucas exclaims, eager to take on this assignment from his mentor.

"If it'll help advance your research, we'll be glad to assist you." Dawn says with a bright smile.

"I owe you more than I could ever put into words Professor." Chris says, looking Rowan right in the eyes. "Asking is all you need to do if you ever want my help."

Its hard to tell under that facial hair, but Chris could swear he saw Rowan crack a smile. "It makes me happy to hear you are all so eager. Now because there are three lakes, I'll be sending you each out individually to a different lake." Rowan pauses to look at Lucas. "Lucas, you go to Lake Verity."

"Yes sir!" Lucas responds.

Rowan pauses again to look at Dawn. "Dawn, I'd like for you to go up north to Lake Acuity."

"So my travel plans stay the same then. Thank you, Professor."

Rowan pauses once more to look at Chris. "And that leaves you with Lake Valor, my boy."

"Valor it is. Hopefully those government employees aren't blocking it off to the public anymore."

"Inform me if they are. I will make the necessary phone calls to allow you access." As Rowan finishes his sentence, a massive earthquake shakes the ground. Just before the tremor, Chris swore he could hear the faint sound of a distant explosion. As the tremor subsides, Rowan checks on the young adults. "Has it stopped?" He asks. "Are all of you unharmed?"

The power in the building went out during the tremor, but flickered back on quickly. The T.V. turned itself back on, and was on the news by default. A story was already airing about the explosion. An image of a fire raging was plastered on the television screen. "What you've just witnessed is actual footage from the scene." A voice speaks. "It was taken by a cameraman who happened to be there. It's certainly impressive. Who knows what that explosion could expose by the lake?"

"An explosion?!" Rowan says in shock.

"Team Galactic." Chris says in an angry tone. "It has to be."

"But why at Lake Valor?" Professor Rowan asks as he ponders the meaning of this. He pulls out his phone, and dials a number. "Let's get outside. I'm concerned about the town. Be careful going down the stairs." Rowan advances downwards to the bottom floor of the library, as he talks on the phone to an associate. Once outside and joined by the young trainers, Rowan speaks. "That tremor... wasn't a natural occurrence."

A sailor suddenly appears in the parking lot of the library with Rowan and the trainers. "Hey, hey! Old dude and kids! Something big just happened!" He says with his voice in a state of panic. "They're saying there was a huge explosion at Lake Valor!" Just as swiftly as he arrived, the sailor ran off.

"Professor," Dawn starts. "I'm going to the lake! I have a bad feeling about this!"

"Be careful, Dawn!" Rowan calls out, as Dawn climbs into her Jeep, and drives off. Rowan turns his attention to Chris. "I'm worried about Lake Valor. You must find out what is taking place!"

"I've got a good idea. I'll let you know what I find!

"I've arranged for transportation to get you and your bike to the lake faster." Rowan sends a GPS location to Chris by phone. "Ride to this area. A helicopter capable of carrying your motorcycle will be waiting for you."

Chris nods. "On it." He gets saddled up on his Harley, and kick-starts the engine.

I apologize for how long this chapter took after my promise. I plan on replacing this shitty computer in the next couple of weeks, so hopefully this doesn't happen again.