Here's chapter 10! Next stop, Pastoria City. But first, Koa has to make it across the Marsh.

Hazard (Male Joltik)

Echo (Male Golbat)

Rascal (Female Tyrunt)

Anubis (Male Houndour)

Trainer Tips

If you get stuck in the bog, you can

count on being there for a while.

There's no need to panic.

Just struggle and squirm for a bit.

Bicycles cannot be ridden on marshy

ground, incidentally.

Koa stared at the sign, wondering which lunatic had tried to ride their bike across the marsh and made them decide to put up a sign about it. He set out across the thick mud, stepping only in the lightest patches. He knew that in the deepest areas, the mud could easily reach up to one's waist or stomach. Fortunately, mud was one thing he didn't really mind. In fact, it was more of an exciting challenge to him.

It didn't take long for him to adopt a pattern - slog through the mud until he reached an area too deep or sank too far, then wriggle out and start all over again. Progress was slow but steady, and he kept his mind focused on the fact that this was the shortest leg of his journey. As he walked, he focused on his plans for the future. Great Marsh was first on his list of course. But he had another problem on his hands - his team. Thanks to everything that happened on his journey, his team had changed rather drastically from his Plan. Which meant that it might - and just thinking the thought made him shudder - be time to reconsider his Plan.

Right now he had four pokemon, plus his egg, which was a mystery. Egg aside, he had decent coverage for most types, but there were some significant gaps - ground and rock pokemon posed a threat, for starters. A fighting type would give him a real edge, although he didn't want to travel all the way back to Eterna to try and find a Tyrogue. Nor did he really want a Machop. For some reason, he'd just never really felt like catching one. Perhaps he could catch something in the Great Marsh? Toxicroak was an option, though he wasn't sure how he felt about them either.

He continued to mull over his team as he trudged onward. As he took his next step, his feet suddenly slid from under him and he pitched forward. Flailing blindly, he caught himself in the mud, sinking up to his chest. One hand was trapped awkwardly in the mud, while he held the other free. A brief flare of panic edged through him. His heart started to race. He'd read about these. 'Mud-holes'. Dangerous pockets of extra deep mud that could trap errant travelers for hours.

Koa took as deep a breath as he could, and began wriggling his body and twisting, trying to free himself. The problem was, he couldn't lift his legs high enough to step out of the hole.

"Need some help?" a familiar voice called from above him. He peered upwards to see the last face he expected to. Avis, perched on the back of an unusually large Staraptor, hovering above him. "Grab on," she called. She dropped a rope down to him, and he grabbed it. A moment later, Staraptor flew upwards, yanking him out of the mud. They landed a few feet away, on a patch of drier ground. Which was to say, they only sank an inch or two into the mud.

Koa stood up, peering at Avis. He honestly hadn't been expecting to find anyone out here, least of all the investigator he'd run into in Oreburgh. "What are you doing out here?"

"Saving you?" she asked, wryly. She shook her head and continued, her tone leveler. "Actually, I was just flying to Pastoria. What about you?"

"Same. Or technically, walking to Pastoria," he corrected.

Avis glanced at their surroundings dubiously. "Walking? In this?"

Koa shrugged, dusting off his hands. "I don't mind the mud much."

"Well, if you feel like getting out of it, I could show you a shortcut. Through dry land."

Koa glanced around. He was maybe a quarter of a way through the marsh, and he figured he had another day and a half of travel to make it to Pastoria. Just because he didn't mind the mud didn't mean he liked it. "Sure, I'll take it."

"Just follow me." Avis returned her Starator and began confidently trekking in a northerly direction. After several minutes, they reached a line of thick, dense brush and trees. Mud oozed around the tree roots and around the base of the bushes.

He glanced around. "Where's the shortcut?"

"Look there," Avis gestured to a small, thorny shrub that nearly blended with everything else.

Koa didn't really see what was so special about a bush. Everything beyond the brush looked like dense, muddy forest anyway. Not a place he felt like walking through.

Avis released a Kriketune and pointed at the bush. "Blade, use Slash!"

Kriketune gave a harmonious cry, one of its blades glowing white. With a flourish, it slashed the bush to pieces. "Thanks, Blade." She returned the pokemon, slipping the pokeball into a pocket on her trench coat. "Follow me." She stepped into the small gap created by the bush's absence. Hesitantly, Koa followed. Once he stepped into the forest, he gasped. Though impossible to see from the outside, a tiny path wound through the trees. It stood just a few inches above the muck, enough to create a dry passage.

"I used to explore all around here when I was younger. I found this path a couple years back, and I've been using it ever since." Avis said as she walked. "This route will get us to Pastoria by the end of the day, most likely."

"Us?" Koa asked as he followed her.

"Sure, if you don't mind the company. I need to stretch my legs anyway. Flying is great, but man is it rough on the legs. Especially without a saddle."

Koa shrugged. "Fine by me," He replied. Now that he wasn't in the middle of heading somewhere, he didn't mind her presence. It could get pretty quiet on the road with only him and his pokemon for conversation. And given that none of his pokemon spoke human language, conversations could get pretty one-sided.

A few minutes of silence fell between them, only broken by the occasional cry of a pokemon or snapping of a twig. "So what's your deal?" he asked finally. As long as they would be walking, he might as well learn a little more about his temporary traveling companion.

"Hm?"

"What's your goal as a trainer I mean?" Koa said, picking his way over a fallen branch. "You don't really strike me as the 'I want to become the strongest and beat the Sinnoh League' type."

Avis glanced back at him with a wry smile. "Straight to the point aren't you? Not gonna discuss the weather first?"

Koa shrugged. "I hate small talk."

"Same!" she exclaimed. "Anyways, you're right. My goal is actually to become a member of the International Police."

Koa raised his eyebrows. That was one he hadn't heard before. Many trainers aspired to be gym leaders, league champions, or master a certain type. The International Police, from what he could recall, were exactly what their name implied. A specialized Police force that operated across all regions. They were apparently behind the takedowns of several budding criminal organizations. "That's actually pretty cool. What made you go for that?"

Immediately her body tensed. She walked slightly faster, her hand drifting to fiddle with a button on her coat. She shrugged. "I just figure, I have a knack for solving puzzles. So if I can make a difference, and help stop people and pokemon from getting hurt, I oughta use it, you know?"

"Huh..." Koa said after a second. It almost seemed like she had something she wasn't saying, but then he couldn't blame her for not sharing. Either way, the International Police sounded like a cool goal. It had to be nice, getting to stop criminals for a living. Especially if it was anything like his encounter with Team Blackout. The memory of the incident still brought a smile to his face. "So what do you have to do to get in?"

Avis relaxed slightly. "Oh, it's a whole process. And there are at least like five different methods. You basically have to be able to showcase your skills, as an investigator and as a trainer. You can do it with badges, or by working in the local police stations... There's a lot of other ways as well. Bottom line, you have to be very good at what you do, and have great character."

"Whoa. Sounds hard..." Koa murmured

"That's part of the reason I'm investigating Team Blackout." She paused, a scowl darkening her features. "That, and once they upgraded to pokemon poaching, I had to do something. I can't stand pokemon thieves." She spat the word. "Regular criminals are bad enough, but people who steal pokemon are a special kind of evil, if you ask me."

He was slightly surprised by the vehemence in her tone, but pleased. He still remembered his rage towards the thieves who'd stolen Clefairy. "I can't stand them either," he snarled. "Oh yeah, I actually ran into one of those scumbags back in Hearthome. I beat him up and got him arrested."

Avis whipped around and faced him. She stood just a couple feet from him, her gaze boring into him. "Tell me everything! Now." Her voice burned with cold anger.

Koa quickly related everything he could remember about what happened. Telling the story again made him realize how crazy he probably seemed. Blake would've had his head if he found out. Just the thought of his cousin made a twinge of guilt fill him. He still hadn't called him...

The icy look faded from her eyes and she relaxed. "Well... I'm a little annoyed you never bothered to, you know, use that card I gave you and call me." She turned around and started walking again. "But I can't blame you, honestly. I don't think I would've thought to call me either. And he did get caught, so that's enough for me." She shot him an amicable smile over her shoulder. "Anyways, what's done is done. Now that I've told you about me, you might as well tell me about you."

"What about me?" Koa said hesitantly. He didn't really want to start divulging all of his dreams. At least, not the part about catching a legendary.

She shrugged. "Well, what kind of pokemon do you have?"

Now that was a question he was all too happy to discuss. "Well, my first pokemon was a Zubat. He's absolutely amazing. Then I have a Joltik, a Tyrunt, and my Houndour."

"Whoa! A Tyrunt? How'd you come by that? They're basically exclusive to Kalos, aren't they?"

"Well... it's a bit of a story, but basically, I was exploring a cave and found a fossil. Almost got killed by a pack of Golbat, but it was worth it."

Avis nodded, impressed. "Are you planning on challenging the league?"

Koa shook his head. "No. Not really my thing." For another moment, silence fell. "One of my goals is to climb Mt. Coronet. I want to be an explorer." He decided not to mention the bit about Spear Pillar yet.

Avis raised her eyebrows. "Oh wow, that's pretty neat! I don't think I've met anyone who wants to be an explorer. Are you gonna try and find the... what's it called... Sphere Pillar?"

Koa blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected someone else to know about it. "Spear Pillar," he corrected. "And yeah, actually."

"You're not scared? I mean I'm not one for curses but I've heard the stories and read the reports. One guy went missing for three weeks and before just showing up in Celestic Town with no memory of even getting there. Not to mention they say ghost-types and angry wild pokemon just attack on sight."

"I know," he said firmly. "But I'm not going to let that stop me. If I can climb it and reach the Spear Pillar..." I can change things. Make it right. "Someone has to try. I like the challenge."

"Good luck then," Avis said earnestly. "Take a picture, if you make it. It'd be cool to see that."

"Will do."

For the rest of the day, they made occasional conversation, discussing their teams and respective journeys. He enjoyed her company well enough since she seemed to enjoy walking in silence as much as she seemed to enjoy a conversation. Before long, they emerged from the hidden trail. The sun had nearly set, but in the distance, he could see the gate of Pastoria City.

Wearing matching smiles of reliefs, they started towards the gate.

"Ho there!" A voice called. Koa glanced back to see two trainers approaching them, a young man and woman. They both wore orange caps, vests, and boots, signifying their status as Ranger Trainers.

"How about a battle?" The girl called. "Jeffrey and I have been looking everywhere for someone to have a proper Tag battle with."

"And you two fit the bill," Jeffrey said, grinning. He gestured to his companion. "This is my sister, Allison, by the way."

"Pleased to meet you," Avis replied, shaking both their hands. "I'm down for a Tag battle if you are," she added, glancing over at Koa.

Koa sized up his opponents. He'd never had a Tag battle before. Unlike a usual Double battle, Tag battles were done between a group of four people, with two on either side. He supposed it could be a good experience. "Sure."

Jeffrey and Allison glanced at each other and grinned excitedly. "Let's do this then."

A minute later, they stood in a clearing several feet apart, Jeffrey and Allison on one end, Koa and Avis on the other. Jeffrey tossed out his pokeball. With a flash of light, a Monferno emerged. It shouted a loud cry and blew a small burst of flame into the air before grinning dangerously. Allison smiled at its antics, before sending out her own pokemon, a small round blue thing with a white belly. It took Koa a moment to remember its name - Marill. Koa took one look at the Monferno and tossed out Anubis' pokeball. The Houndour emerged onto the field, then sat down patiently, looking for all the world as calm as ever.

"Well in that case..." Avis said. She took a pokeball out. "Go Noctowl!" A large owl-like pokemon emerged. It glanced about the battlefield, twisting its head and cocking it sideways as if analyzing its competition.

"So who wants to go first?" Jeffrey called. The four trainers looked at each other, an internal debating raging. Koa glanced at Avis.

Avis frowned, then looked across the field at Jeffrey. "Why don't we go first, since you challenged us?"

Jeffrey and Allison glanced at each other. "Sure, that seems fair."

"Anubis, Ember!" Koa called. He figured a Thunder Fang or two could take out Marill, but he also didn't want to give away his best move.

"Counter with Bubblebeam!" Allison called.

"Monferno, Mach Punch on Noctowl!"

"Dodge, Noctowl. Extrasensory!"

The flurry of commands echoed over the battlefield. Monferno sprinted across the field first, displaying the blinding speed typical of Mach Punch. Noctowl leaped into the air, the attack passing harmlessly underneath. Its eyes glowed blue and unleashed a wave of psychic energy at Monferno. The attack struck it, knocking it across the field. Meanwhile, Anubis' Ember and Marill's Bubblebeam collided, creating a small burst of smoke. A few bubbles managed to break through his attack, striking Anubis' chest and making him wince.

"Anubis, Howl!" He called. Anubis threw back his head and howled, waves of energy surrounding him and making him glow. "Think you can give Anubis cover to get to Marill?" he asked Avis in a low tone. She nodded.

"Noctowl, Air Slash!" Noctowl hooted in acknowledgment before flying high into the sky. Its wings glowed whitish-blue and it began to flap them, sending powerful blades of air hurtling through the sky at the opposing pokemon.

"Dodge!" Both rangers shouted. Marill rolled into a tight ball, then began to spin in place, using Rollout. It launched itself across the field, out of the way of Air Slash. And right into Anubis waiting jaws.

"Thunder Fang!" Koa called. Rollout and Thunder Fang met head on. Electricity crackled across Marill's fur, shocking it. A second later, Anubis was forced back from the force of Rollout. Meanwhile, Monferno had dodged the first wave of Air Slash, only to be struck by Noctowl's Peck. Judging by the Monferno's heavy breathing and scratched body, it was nearing its end.

Both sides glared at each other from across the field.

"Mach Punch, at Houndour!" Jeffrey called. Monferno screeched and lunged across the field. It vanished, reappearing a second later beside Anubis.

"Bi-" Koa didn't have time to finish the command before the attack slammed into Anubis, sending him sliding across the field. He grimaced. Fighting-type moves were particularly effective against a dark-type like Houndour.

Avis smiled. "Noctowl, turn up the noise with Echoed Voice." Noctowl opened its beak, letting out a loud shree. Soundwaves pulsed towards the opposing pokemon, striking them both. Both Marill and Monferno attempted to counter with Bubblebeam and Ember respectively.

"Ember," Koa called. Anubis blasted a stream of red hot embers across the field at his opponents. With Marill and Monferno distracted, the attack hit its mark, striking them both. Then Echoed Voice struck again, finishing them off.

"Good job, Anubis!" Koa called. Jealousy flickered briefly through him. Noctowl had carried the match. Anubis really was far behind the rest of the team.

Jeffrey and Allison returned their fainted pokemon. "That was impressive," Jeffrey admitted, crossing the field towards them. "Especially your Noctowl," Allison added, staring adoringly at the large bird.

"Thanks," Avis replied. She let Noctowl bask in the praise for a moment more, before returning it.

"This is our first proper Tag battle," Jeffrey said. "It was pretty fun, but next time, we definitely won't lose!"

Koa nodded in agreement, his mind still on Anubis and the battle. Avis bid the two farewell, then started for Pastoria. He followed her, Anubis trotting obediently at his side.

"What's bothering you?" Avis asked, once they were out of earshot. Her tone was direct, but didn't sound demanding.

Koa shook his head. "Nothing. Your Noctowl is really impressive."

Avis frowned, eyeing him thoughtfully. "Don't get too excited over the win," she said, a note of sarcasm in her voice. In a more serious tone, she continued. "You shouldn't feel bad about the battle. I mean, you told me you haven't had the chance to train much with your Houndour."

Koa nodded again. "True..." He knew she was right, but he wasn't happy about it. Anubis really needed a lot more training. He almost felt he'd let Anubis down. That was among one of several things he planned to rectify in the coming days. Along with calling Blake. But first, a hot shower and a good meal were in store for his pokemon.

xXx

Koa stood in the empty communications room at the pokemon center. Avis had already gone in for the night, though they'd agreed to meet up tomorrow. He'd had himself a good meal, then taken a very, very long shower. After that, he'd had to wash all his clothes. Twice.

Now the clock on the wall indicated it was almost midnight. Despite his efforts, he'd been unable to sleep. Ever since his battle with Jeffrey and Allison, he'd felt a nagging sense of guilt. The brother-sister duo reminded him a bit of him and Blake. Despite being technically cousins, he'd always felt a close kinship with Blake. But ever since their squabble at Oreburgh, Koa hadn't spoken to him. It occurred to him Blake didn't even know any of his pokemon.

As hard as it was to admit, he realized he'd overreacted. Blake only came off as naggy because he was probably worried. Koa was well aware that Blake had experienced loss before. He'd hoped to get some sleep, maybe call Blake in the morning. Clearly his brain had other ideas.

Nervously, he dialed the number. After a few moments, the screen flickered to life, showing a surprised yet tentative Blake on the other end. Koa wasn't exactly surprised that his cousin was still awake. Blake had always been more of a night owl.

"Hey," Koa said.

"Hey."

A long silence drew out between them.

"I'm sorry I-" Blake began.

Koa interrupted. "No. I'm sorry I blew up on you back in Oreburgh. I really uh... overreacted, I guess."

"Well, I kinda freaked out on you too," Blake admitted. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. "When I heard that you'd been hurt, I guess I just assumed the worst. But I never gave you a proper chance to explain how it happened. So for that, I'm sorry."

Koa nodded, not sure what to say. Another long silence dragged out. Finally, Blake broke it.

"So, I never got to meet your team. Show me your starter! Did you ever get that Shinx you wanted? What about your plan?"

Koa chuckled sheepishly. "Well... I'll show you my starter first, then tell you the rest." He reached for his belt, selecting the familiar luxury ball. With a press of a button, Echo emerged in a splash of white light. He promptly plopped himself across Koa's back and head, and screeched at the screen. Koa rubbed him behind the ears before looking at Blake, who looked bewildered.

"You caught a Golbat as your starter?"

"Zubat, actually," Koa corrected. "And trust me it was an accident." Echo made an exaggerated sad squeak. Koa scratched behind his ears comfortingly. "But a good one." With that, Koa launched into the story of how he'd first encountered Echo at the honey tree. Blake didn't look thrilled hearing how he'd entered a dangerous cave with no pokemon, but said nothing. When Koa finished, he nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, I have to say, I am surprised. I'd never expect you to keep a Zubat of all pokemon, Little K."

Koa rolled his eyes amiably. "He grew on me, I guess."

"So what's the rest of your team? I assume you probably have a Staraptor by now, or a Luxio."

Koa laughed and released the rest of his pokemon. With each release, Blake looked more surprised. The pokemon huddled around Koa, peering curiously at the screen.

"Well well, Little K. A Joltik? And is that... I don't believe it! Roark wasn't kidding. You really did get yourself a fossil pokemon! Incredible!" Blake peered closely at the screen. "And I see my Houndour is back where he belongs."

Koa stroked Anubis' fur. "Thanks for him, by the way. His Thunder Fang has really helped."

Blake smiled. "You're welcome, Little K. I'm just glad to see he's back where he belongs. Looks like you've got an impressive team so far. Any plans for new pokemon?"

Koa frowned. After a long moment, he shook his head. "Honestly... I don't know anymore. Everything changed so much from how I planned it..."

"I see that look in your eyes. And I know just what you're thinking. It's good to have some plans, but think of it like this. The more focused you are by a plan, there's a bigger chance to miss out on an awesome pokemon!"

Koa nodded thoughtfully. He'd never thought of it in that context before. He'd always thought of not planning as being careless, but Blake did have a point. If he'd stuck to his Plan, he'd never have caught Joltik. "So... you're saying I should find a balance?"

"Precisely," Blake said, smiling proudly. "So, tell me about the rest of your journey," he said excitedly. "Where have you gone? And what badges have you gotten?"

Breaking out of his thoughts, Koa began relating the tales of his journey. He ended up talking long into the night with Blake. By the time he hung up, it was almost three o'clock in the morning. Koa felt oddly happy, however. He hadn't realized how much his fight with Blake had weighed on his conscience until now. It also gave him renewed confidence. Tomorrow, he decided he would visit the Great Marsh and catch himself a new pokemon. And hopefully, by the time he reached the Marsh, he would decide what pokemon he actually wanted.

xXx

"So, any ideas what pokemon you want to catch?" Avis asked. She sat across from him, riding the tram through the Marsh. Unlike regular routes and areas throughout Sinnoh, the Great Marsh served as a preservation, much like the Safari Zone of the Kanto region. Quite a few rare or non-native pokemon could be found in its muddy depths. Of course, to get them a trainer had to be willing to brave that mud. Fortunately, Koa didn't mind mud much. Not to mention, the tram that ran through the center provided easy transportation to all the areas.

"Well, I've given it some thought. A grass-type might be nice. And a water type could be good too. If I see a Tropius, I might catch one. Or a Tangela," he mused. "I think this time though, I'll keep my options open. My cousin said that if a trainer stays too focused on a plan, he can miss out on catching a great pokemon."

Avis nodded. "I like that! I usually just wing it, and catch whatever I like."

"You don't plan, at all?" Koa asked.

Avis shook her head. "Nope. I just see something I like and BAM. I catch it. That's how I caught Blade. I was flying on Aster, my Staraptor, and saw it in a field. It was so cute, I couldn't resist."

Koa shook his head. "I don't know if I could ever do that. I like to at least have some idea of a plan."

"To each their own, I guess," Avis said, shrugging.

"Now approaching Area 3, and Area 4." A robotic voice called over the speaker system, accompanied by a soft ding.

"Well, that's my stop. See you later," Avis called. She gathered her things and exited the tram. Several minutes later, the same voice rang out over the intercom.

"Now approaching Area 1, and Area 2."

Once the tram stopped, he hurriedly exited. After the tram departed, he paused to take in his surroundings. Only one other trainer had gotten off at his stop, a young white-haired man who looked to be around 16 or 17. A Hitmonchan stood at his side, a serious expression on its face. After a moment's pause, the two headed in the opposite direction, towards Area 1. Koa breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted was someone scaring off a pokemon he wanted to catch.

Area 2 of the marsh was one of the last stops on the line, and consisted of dense patches of swamp trees and mud. Although that wasn't saying much, considering that the whole marsh consisted of swamp and trees. In the distance, he could just make out a small lake. Koa took a single pokeball off his otherwise empty belt, and released the pokemon within. "Alright Echo, we're here to catch a new pokemon."

At this, Echo shrieked excitedly, doing a loop in the sky.

"Remember," he continued, "no battling. I just want your help spotting pokemon." The Golbat stared at him very seriously, then nodded in understanding.

Koa fingered the case of Safari Balls he'd been given. Unlike the rest of Sinnoh, the Great Marsh expressly forbade battles with the wild pokemon in its territory. Instead, Trainers were given a time limit, and a set of special pokeballs and bait. A Trainer had to pretty much rely on luck and skill of a good throw to catch pokemon. Koa found it rather annoying, but rules were rules. He just hoped he didn't lose out on a cool catch.

"Ready Echo?" The Golbat nodded once more, before flying high into the sky. Satisfied, Koa started into the marsh. He hadn't gone very far before a Croagunk emerged from the trees and crossed his path. It paused and stared at him for a long second, before letting out a long, drawn out crooaakk. Then it continued plodding along, vanishing into the trees. Koa shrugged it off and kept walking.

Croagunk wasn't exactly his type, anyway. For the next couple hours, he wandered the marsh. He saw several Croagunk, some Psyduck and Marill by the lake, and a Golduck as well. But nothing seemed to catch his eye. He was beginning to get a little nervous - he'd already used up 3 of his 5 hours. If he didn't find something soon, he'd have to call it quits, or buy more time.

Just then, Echo swooped down from above, letting out an excited shriek. He flapped around Koa's head, trilling eagerly and darting about. "What's up, Echo?" he asked. Echo flew a few feet away and turned back, eyeing Koa expectantly. "What did you find?" he asked excitedly.

He jogged after the Golbat, trying to dodge the deepest patches of mud as he ran. As he followed, he soon picked up the distinctive sounds of a pokemon battle. Ahead, a group of trees formed a sort of alcove, tucked away from the rest of the marsh. And within that alcove, a Shroomish stood, facing down a massive Croagunk.

Koa quietly found a spot hidden within the trees and crouched down to watch. Echo alighted on a branch somewhere above his head, but he kept his gaze fixed on the battle that unfolded before his eyes.

The Shroomish looked like it had taken a few hits. Its body was scratched, and covered in mud. Its opponent, a Croagunk, towered above it. Unlike Shroomish, it appeared mostly unharmed. Koa guessed the Croagunk to be female, based on its markings. The Shroomish he wasn't sure about.

With a defiant cry, Shroomish leaped forward with a valiant Headbutt attack. Croagunk stepped out of the way, but to Koa's surprise, Shroomish landed and turned nimbly, spraying it with a burst of Stun Spores. It made a loud croak of distress, and dropped to one knee. Once again, Shroomish used Headbutt. The attack connected, but just as it did, Croagunk's hands glowed white and it lashed out, connecting point blank with Shroomish. Koa recognized the tactic as Revenge.

He flinched in sympathy as the Shroomish sailed through the air, crashing into the mud. Almost immediately, it hopped back to its feet, its tiny body shuddering with the effort. Koa couldn't help but be impressed. The little guy definitely had some guts. Still, he suspected it was much weaker than its opponent. It likely wouldn't last more than another hit, especially since it was at a disadvantage.

Croagunk seemed to realize this as well. It advanced upon the exhausted Shroomish, one of its hands glowing purple. Poison Jab. Against a grass-type like Shroomish, it would no doubt end the fight. With a triumphant croak, it struck out at Shroomish. And then something happened that took Koa completely by surprise.

Shroomish leaped into the air, the Poison Jab passing harmlessly underneath. It sprang off Croagunk's outstretched arm, sailing through the air and landing neatly behind it. Paralysis seized Croakgunk's muscles and it froze. Glowing tendrils of light began to seep from its body, drifting to the exhausted Shroomish. The Mega Drain revitalized it, the scratches disappearing before Koa's eyes. With a loud cry, the Shroomish used Headbutt, sending Croagunk flying into a tree. It crashed to the ground and lay still.

Koa stared, wide-eyed, barely resisting the urge to cheer for Shroomish. Echo made an odd trilling noise that Koa took to mean he was impressed. Whipping out his Pokedex, Koa scanned it.

Shroomish, the Mushroom pokemon. Shroomish live in damp soil in the dark depths of forests. They are often found keeping still under fallen leaves. This Pokémon feeds on compost that is made up of fallen, rotted leaves.

At that moment, he decided he wanted to catch it. He hadn't planned on it, but it felt right. It had such spirit and strength. He quietly took out a Safari ball and primed it. The Shroomish took barely a moment to stare at its downed opponent before it started to move away. Crossing his fingers, Koa tossed the ball. It arced through the air, striking Shroomish cleanly. The usual red light emerged, surrounding Shroomish. Then the light shattered and the ball fell uselessly into the mud.

The Shroomish whipped around a look of annoyance on its already grumpy face. Koa simply stared, confused. Impossible. For the pokeball not to work meant that Shroomish already had a trainer. But all the pokemon in the marsh were supposed to be unregistered. Could it have been a glitch? Koa quickly threw another ball, with the same result. Shroomish made an angry trilling noise and glared at him.

Koa emerged from his spot and knelt in front of Shroomish, who backed away a few steps. "Where's your trainer, Shroomish?"

Shroomish made another angry noise then turned and trotted away, leaving tiny footprints in the mud. It disappeared behind some trees. After a moment, Koa decided to follow it. Echo fluttered after him, oddly quiet. Something felt odd about the whole situation. Shroomish didn't seem lost, yet it couldn't be with a trainer, since he hadn't seen anybody else in this area. He briefly recalled the white-haired trainer, but dismissed him. He'd had a Hitmonchan. Trainers were forbidden from having more than one pokemon.

Thanks to the convenient footprints in the mud, it took less than a minute to catch up with Shroomish. He found it on a patch of slightly drier land, glaring down a small tree. Now what was it up to? As he watched, Shroomish gave a loud cry and charged the tree, striking it with a Headbutt attack. The tree shook, and a few leaves fell to the ground. Shroomish backed up and charged the tree again. It continued its pattern, striking the tree over and over.

Koa watched, intrigued. Shroomish appeared to be training. The exercise wasn't all too different from what he would drill his own pokemon on. But still, where was its trainer? A loud crack! Shook him out of his thoughts.

The sapling that Shroomish had been attacking split down the middle. Shroomish stared at it triumphantly and let out a loud cry.

"That was amazing!" Koa shouted, unable to contain himself. He raced over to Shroomish, who seemed vaguely annoyed by his reappearance. "You're awesome!"

Shroomish frowned and headbutted him, making him stagger. It shot him a glare before trotting off back into the marsh. Koa followed, keeping a fair distance. Every now and then, it would look back and scowl, but kept walking. For the next several minutes, he followed Shroomish, his curiosity growing. Shroomish seemed to be looking for something. A few pokemon watched curiously from the mud, but didn't approach. Then he saw the Toxicroak.

The frog-like pokemon was over four feet tall and looked to be the prime of its species. Its red throat sac bulged and it let out a loud croak. Shroomish seemed to see it as well, and its eyes gleamed. With a cry of challenge, it sprinted across the mud at the Toxicroak.

Koa's jaw dropped. That Shroomish was nuts! If it challenged Toxicroak, it would surely lose. Intrigued, Koa crouched down to watch. Win or lose, battles generally didn't cause serious injuries, so he didn't plan on interfering. Plus, he doubted Shroomish would appreciate it.

Toxicroak stared at its diminutive opponent. Then, without warning, it fired a Sludge Bomb. The poisonous muck sailed through the air towards Shroomish. Shroomish leaped out of the way, only to be struck by a second blast from Toxicroak. It rolled across the muddy ground several feet, before getting to its feet. It charged towards Toxicroak, who raised a purple, glowing claw.

Toxicroak launched a flurry of Poison Jabs, but to Koa's surprise, Shroomish danced around every one of them, coming in close enough to land a Headbutt attack directly on Toxicroak's chest. It slid back, but seemed unfazed. An orange aura surrounded its body. Its claw glowed, then it threw a sharp jab at Shroomish. Shroomish leaped away, but too slowly. The attack clipped it, sending it spiraling through the air. It rolled through the mud, but hopped to its feet, still determined.

In a near mirror image to the fight against Croagunk, Toxicroak primed another Poison Jab. It charged, sending up small splashes of mud. It raised its fist. Shroomish stared it down. Toxicroak swung its fist and—

Shroomish leaped upwards, dancing across Toxicroak's arm and landing behind it. Its head glowed faintly and it leaped forward, striking Toxicroak on the back with Headbutt. Unfortunately, Toxicroak was a good deal larger than Croagunk, and the attack only made it stumble forwards. Rage sparked in its eyes. It whirled around with frightful speed, smashing Shroomish in the face with Poison Jab. As it sailed through the air, the enraged Toxicroak opened its jaws and blasted a Sludge Bomb at the airborne Shroomish. Koa flinched in sympathy as the attack struck, sending Shroomish into a tree. It slid to the ground, out cold.

Toxicroak, however, didn't seem satisfied with the victory. Eyes still blazing with anger, it stalked across the mud, the long claws on its hands glowing vivid purple.

Koa leaped to his feet. If it attacked Shroomish now, it would be bad.

"Echo!" he shouted, already racing towards Toxicroak. The word had barely left his mouth before Echo descended upon Toxicroak with shocking fury, battering it with his wings. The startled Toxicroak staggered back, eyes wide. Taking one look at the trainer and angry Golbat, it gave a loud croak, then stalked away.

Koa let out a breath of relief, then hurried over to the fallen Shroomish. It had gotten to its feet by the time he arrived and was glaring sullenly at the ground. "Are you okay?" he asked. Its skin was still covered in poisonous slime, and its body looked a bit battered. Shroomish scowled and stalked away from him. Then, without warning, it collapsed and toppled into the mud.

Echo let out a scree of concern. Koa dropped to his knees and scooped up the unconscious Shroomish. Its body felt oddly warm, yet dry. Its eyes were squeezed shut, and it gave a low moan. Koa swallowed nervously. It had a fever, and now that he was seeing it up close, it looked injured worse than he initially thought. Most likely the combination of pushing itself too hard, coupled with such intense battles, over-exhausted it. Shroomish needed a pokemon center, fast.

Cradling the injured pokemon, Koa sprinted through the mud towards the tram stop. When he arrived, the station was empty. Panic filled Koa and he glanced up and down. In the distance, he saw it approaching. It had barely stopped before he leaped onto the tram. This time it was empty, though he wasn't surprised. There was still another hour to go. Most people were still out trying to make the most of their last hour.

The whole time he rode the tram back, he couldn't take his eyes off Shroomish. He felt bad for it, but guilty as well. Maybe if he'd stepped in sooner... Rationally, he knew it couldn't be helped. Pokemon got into battles on their own all the time. It was in their biology, their nature. Shroomish had pushed itself far beyond its natural limits, which was the real reason it was hurt. What really ticked him off, was why it was out there all alone. Its trainer should have been looking out for it, protecting it and helping it get stronger.

The tram jolted to stop and Koa leaped out of his seat. The Great Marsh featured an on-site pokemon center for treating any injured pokemon, so he wouldn't have to go far. He sprinted into the lobby. Before he could say a word, two nurses descended upon him like a couple of motherly Pidgeot. In a flurry of activity, they whisked Shroomish away to their healing centers. He spent a few minutes explaining what happened to the rangers, then found himself a spot in the lobby of the pokemon center to wait for news on Shroomish.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait too long. "Mr. Averon?"

Koa looked up, watching as Nurse Joy approached.

"Good news, Mr. Averon," Nurse Joy said. "The Shroomish you found will be just fine. It was simply suffering from a bit of overexertion. I've given it some medicine, and it'll be fine after some rest. It's a good thing you found it though, otherwise, it would have been much worse."

"Oh..." Koa said softly. That was good, at least. "But what about its trainer?" he demanded. "Shouldn't they have been looking out for it?"

Nurse Joy shook her head. "We contacted all the trainers who entered the Marsh today. None of them own a Shroomish. I've spoken to the local police, and they are in the process of finding out who its OT is."

"Okay..." Koa said. "May I stay for now? Until you find its trainer, that is?"

"If you wish," Nurse Joy said. She nodded to him, then left.

Koa mulled over everything that happened. Why had Shroomish been fighting so hard? Usually wild pokemon would know to rest, even when they fought.

"Koa!"

He looked up to see Avis jogging towards him. She stopped in front him, taking a second to catch her breath, then took a seat across from him.

"What happened?" she asked. "I was looking in the lobby for you, and they told me you went this way. Did something happen to Golbat?"

Koa quickly shook his head. "No. But I found an injured Shroomish. I mean, I tried to catch it at first, but the ball didn't work. Then it was fighting this crazy Toxicroak, but it got hurt, bad."

"What about its trainer?" Avis asked.

"I don't know. The police are looking into it now."

"Hmph..." a contemplative look descended on her face. "I'll be back." She stood up and darted away before Koa could say a word. Well, that was pretty weird. He shrugged it off. Right now, he was more worried about Shroomish.

A short time later, Nurse Joy returned. She looked to the officer next to her, a young woman with dark hair and a harsh gaze. "I understand that this Shroomish does not belong to you, correct?"

Koa nodded.

The officer continued. "We were able to make contact with its OT. If you wish, ownership of the Shroomish may be transferred to you. If not, he will likely be left here, at the Marsh."

Koa blinked, taking in the information. "Yeah, I want it," he said quickly. He narrowed his eyes. "Who's the OT?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."

Koa bit back an angry retort. It didn't matter. He'd wanted to catch a grass-type, he'd liked Shroomish's spirit, and now he could become its trainer. That was all that mattered. "Thanks," he murmured.

The officer nodded and handed him the pokeball. "He's yours now. But if I find out that you didn't take good care of it-"

"I will!" Koa snapped.

The officer grinned, clearly satisfied. "I'm glad that's settled. I'll take care of the transfer on our end. Have a good day." With a sharp nod, she strode away.

"Make sure to let Shroomish rest for today. After that it should make a full recovery," she said brightly. "Have a nice day, Mr. Averon."

Once she'd left, he stood up. All he wanted now was to go back to his room and meet Shroomish.

xXx

He was halfway to the pokemon center when Avis appeared from in front of him. "So I can't stick around long, but I found out something about that Shroomish."

"Wait what?" Koa asked. "How'd you find out anything already? And you're leaving?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I have to take care of something for one of my investigations. But forget that. I know the name of Shroomish's OT."

"How? I thought that was classified? And should you even be telling me? I thought the police couldn't reveal information like that or something."

She held her finger. "One. I'm not part of the police so it's not exactly against the law for me. Gray area." She held up a second finger. "Two. Remember something. Law and justice walk different roads. I think you deserve to know his name."

A smile spread over Koa's face. "Ok. Thanks."

She gave a sharp nod. "His name is Liam Akihiko."

Koa felt sure he knew that name, however. Liam... Then it struck him. The rich brat from the pokemon Mansion. Anger seared through him. Granted, there could be plenty of kids named Liam in the world, but an odd feeling told him that it could be the same Liam. He had seen him at the mansion with a Shroomish after all. Had the brat dumped his Shroomish? The thought alone made him hot with rage. For now, he would do his best to raise Shroomish. But by Arceus, if he ever saw that kid again...

"Thanks for telling me."

She waved him off. "I'll see you around, okay?" With that, she released her Staraptor, hopped on its back, and flew away. Koa was left with a sense of lingering bitterness. Was Shroomish's trainer really the same Liam?

xXx

An hour later, he sat relaxing in his room at the pokemon center. Shroomish's pokeball rested in his hand. He pressed the button and watched as Shroomish appeared before him. It looked around, perplexed, then frowned even deeper when it saw Koa.

Koa took out his Pokedex and did a quick scan. Apparently, Shroomish was male. He didn't bother reading the moveset yet. That would come later. Taking a deep breath, he began to explain as much as he could to Shroomish, though he had an odd feeling Shroomish already knew.

"So what do you say, Shroomish? I want to become a strong trainer, but my real dream is to be an explorer. You know Mt. Coronet?" Still frowning, Shroomish nodded. "I want to get strong enough to climb it and find the Spear Pillar."

For nearly a minute, Shroomish just sat there, frowning. Of course, a Shroomish's face tended to look like a perpetual frown, so it was a little hard to tell what he was actually feeling. Finally, he nodded.

A wide grin broke across Koa's face. "Great! Now... what should I call you?" he mused, tapping his chin.

Shroomish gave an annoyed grunt and shook his head.

Koa frowned at him. "What? Don't you want a nickname?"

Shroomish stared intensely at him and nodded, then nodded his head.

"What does that even mean? Yes and no?"

Shroomish hopped up and down, then mimed an exaggerated motion of some kind that Koa couldn't quite decipher. He stared at the frustrated Shroomish for several seconds, trying to puzzle it out. "Are you saying you do want a name, but not yet?"

Shroomish nodded eagerly.

"Okay," Koa said slowly. Shroomish seemed to have a natural fighting spirit. Maybe... "Does that mean you want a name when you evolve?"

Shroomish nodded again, his whole body moving as he did. He gave an excited cry of confirmation.

"Okay, then it's settled. We'll figure out a good name for you once you evolve."

Shroomish grinned at that and rumbled appreciatively.

Koa smiled back. "Now that that's settled, I'll introduce you to your teammates."

One by one, he released all his pokemon. Echo was the first to greet Shroomish, with a cheerful shriek. Then Hazard and Shroomish locked eyes. Tiny sparks started dancing across Joltik's fur, and a fire blazed in Shroomish's eyes. Koa sensed the start of a rivalry between those two. Rascal approached Shroomish and let out a roar, to which Shroomish seemed unimpressed. Snorting in frustration, she stalked off and threw herself down on the floor, as if pouting.

Koa chuckled. By now, the team seemed so used to her antics that her aggressiveness didn't faze them anymore. Finally, Anubis approached. He sniffed Shroomish curiously, then barked a greeting. Shroomish gave a low grunt in reply, which seemed to satisfy the Houndour.

Grinning happily, Koa lay down on his bed, watching his pokemon. Planning was good, he decided. But, so were surprises.

Hazard (Male Joltik)

Echo (Male Golbat)

Rascal (Female Tyrunt)

Anubis (Male Houndour)

Shroomish (Male)

Hope everyone enjoyed! Koa has caught a Shroomish, though under somewhat unusual circumstances. Next up, Koa vs Wake!