Hilbert approached the old warehouse with the tiniest knot in his stomach. The area was in a part of town nearly opposite of the Dreamyard, though just as if not shadier. People he had passed minutes ago gave him weird looks and he gave them a nonchalant glance. It was hard for him to be intimidated by randoms on the street. Both from his confidence in himself and his team but also because he knew none of those people would ever compare to someone like Grimsley. It had been weeks since he came home from Castelia yet he still randomly remembers Grimsley's bisharp.

The warehouse was old. Likely built decades before and abandoned for another. Any remaining paint flaked at the slightest breeze and any exposed metal was completely rusted or had graffiti over it. The front of the building had two doors: a normal-sized one at the bottom corner, which was closed though the four paned window was smashed, and a large metal door like garages have. It was opened about halfway, enough for most people to walk under while only slightly ducking, though Hilbert wondered if it could fully open or close anymore.

There were a few smaller buildings. A temporary office made from a trailer and a smaller warehouse with a similar large door that was opened even less. Inside there was some vehicle used in construction. Whatever it was it was different from the two decaying forklifts which had been left to sit outside for who knows how long. Their tires were all slashed, their seats were shredded, and, like the warehouse, there was no clean paint to be seen.

Hilbert entered the warehouse and felt the air change. It was as cool as outside, if not cooler, but it smelled off. Not as bad as Castelia's sewers, definitely not good in any way, but not something mild like how Hilbert always thought the Dreamyard smelled. It was completely inoffensive while being unlikeable.

Getting over the weird air, Hilbert studied the interior. The exposed brick walls were plastered with graffiti, explaining the faint scent of spray paint he had noticed. Several stone pillars helped support the roof and the walls had large glass windows with flat bottoms and rounded tops. Most of them had cracks in the glass or were shattered completely. There were a few people there before him, some in groups and a couple on their own, who all stayed against the wall. Some of them sat on milk crates which, aside from trash, were the only objects in the warehouse.

Hilbert felt he had seen enough. The fight wasn't for several hours so he figured he'd go home. Without looking he took a step behind him to the door, felt something touch him, then jumped back in surprise. His leg had bumped into someone trying to enter. The other person also jumped back outside so Hilbert could only see his legs.

"Sorry," said Hilbert. The person responded saying it was fine and tried to enter again, this time with no resistance. When he was inside and stood up he and Hilbert looked at each other and widened their eyes.

"You?" Hilbert and Cheren said in near perfect unison. The last time they had met they battled over a pokemon with Hilbert barely winning.

"Weird meeting you again, especially here," said Cheren. He looked Hilbert over with a puzzled look.

"Yeah," was all Hilbert could say. He looked Cheren over just because Cheren did it to him. The two boys stood in silence until Hilbert finally thought of something to say. "I take it you know what's going to happen tonight?"

"You mean with the battles?" Cheren asked and Hilbert nodded. "Yes, I do. I had heard about these kinds of fights that happen from time to time and figured I'd check it out. What about you?"

"Same, I guess. Though it won't be my first."

"Hm," said Cheren. He began walking and Hilbert walked with him. "Do you participate in these often?"

"Not really. I just went to one before and thought I'd go to another one. They're good training."

"I would imagine. Are you also a trainer?"

"Yeah obviously. Oh, wait. You meant like licensed and everything?" asked Hilbert to which Cheren nodded. "No, I'm not."

"So you aren't trying to collect badges? But I remember seeing you in the Striaton Gym?"

"Huh?" Hilbert had to think back hard. The first time they met was practically gone from his memory until Cheren mentioned it. "Oh, right. Now I remember that. Well, my sister and I work at the gym."

"Oh?" said Cheren. He seemed genuinely interested or even impressed. Before he could ask anything Hilbert spoke up.

"I'm surprised you could remember that."

"I've always had a rather excellent memory. Sometimes I'll even mention something in a conversation with a friend that they told me years before that they didn't even remember."

Hilbert chuckled. "Must be useful for being a trainer, huh?"

"I believe so," Cheren said with a grin. "You'll be surprised what trainers forget when it comes to battling."

"Example?"

"The most common thing I noticed is that many people forget the basics. Like type match ups, abilities, or even simple strategy. I've seen a lot of trainers start to believe that just because the enemy pokemon is teetering on passing out it means all of its attacks are also weak. If anything, a pokemon nearing the end of its strength is even stronger."

"A pokemon is stronger when it's weak from battling?" asked Hilbert with genuine confusion.

"Put yourself in a pokemon's shoes for a moment," Cheren said while nodding. For a split second, Hilbert imagined Houndoom wearing his sneakers. "When in the wild, a pokemon typically only ever fights seriously when it's life or death. So when they're backed into a corner, thinking they're about to die, that's when they fight the absolute hardest. When it seems they have no other option is when you should be weary of them the most."

Hilbert didn't say anything. The two had stopped beside one of the stone pillars and Cheren laid his back against it. When Hilbert first entered the warehouse and saw other people, he had been keeping his hand in his pocket ready to grab a pokemon if need be. Now he pulled Houndoom's ball out and enlarged it. Every fight they had where Houndoom was pushed to the brink and fought back ferociously replayed in Hilbert's mind.

He always took the fights seriously. Even his battle with Cheren, flash in the pan that it was, he wanted to win and battled like it. But he definitely didn't feel as though his life was on the line. As though his whole life led him to that point and dictated the rest of it. He felt a twinge of guilt as he stared at Houndoom's ball before shrinking it and putting it back into his pocket.

'I won't let you guys fight like that alone anymore. I promise,' he thought. "Never knew pokemon saw trainer battles as something to lay their lives down for."

"Well it is just part of their survival instinct. Most are more inclined to the fight part of fight or flight, especially when their trainer is involved."

"How do you know so much about pokemon? I don't even think Cress knows much about pokemon's survival instincts."

"Oh, yes, Cress. I remember he was the one I battled for the badge. From the way you talk about him, are you close to Cress?"

'Shit, probably shouldn't have mentioned Cress so casually...' Hilbert thought. "Not really. He's just my boss but he and his brothers try to keep the gym trainers trained and whatnot."

"Ah. Well, I went to a pretty good school in Castelia. A bit more specialized than others and one of the teachers was Professor Juniper. She made it a goal to teach her students to understand pokemon more than just surface level stuff."

"Oh, you're from Castelia?"

"Not exactly. For the last couple years of school I lived there with some family but before then I lived here. How about you?"

"Also from Striaton. Never went to a special school though."

"Oh?" said Cheren in a tone Hilbert wasn't sure how to take.

"Yeah," Hilbert looked around the warehouse as if something was going on or about to happen. "I think I'm gonna head out."

"Alright. I won't keep you."

"Mhm."

As Hilbert was walking away, Cheren called out and ran up to him. "Meant to ask. What's your name?"

"Oh, guess you wouldn't have known. It's Hilbert."

"Hilbert...alright. I'm Cheren," the two shook hands.

"Yeah, I know. I remember Cress had said it when we first met," said Hilbert. Cheren grinned.

"Don't have such a bad memory yourself."

"It's alright, I suppose," Hilbert returned the grin. "Well, see you."

Cheren nodded and the two turned from each other. Hilbert left the warehouse with a smile and thought about the upcoming battle.

Later that night, when the sun had long since set, Hilbert was back at the warehouse, this time with Hilda. The two were inside, standing near a wall, with dozens more people in the building.

"This place smells weird," said Hilda.

"Was better earlier, when there weren't so many people," said Hilbert. Aside from the crowds, the only other changes from earlier were the addition of construction lights set up by the fight organizers, powered by loud, humming generators. There was also someone playing music on a giant boombox at the back of the warehouse.

"When do the fights start?"

"What time is it?"

Hilda glanced at her xTransceiver. "Nine-twenty."

"Then they'll probably start soon."

"Good," Hilda said as she stretched. As Hilbert was leaving the apartment Hilda had woken up and asked him where he was going. He told her, asked if she wanted to go, and she said yes. Though she had yet to fully wake up.

"So how's your new pokemon?" Hilbert asked. He had wondered how Joltik was since he last saw her giving Hilda problems before seeing her resting on his sister's head.

"She's great!" Hilda said with a smile. "I wouldn't say she likes or trusts me as much as Whirlipede or even Cubchoo, but I'm sure she'll get there."

"Two bug types, huh? You becoming a specialist?"

"Not planning on it. But I guess if I get a third one I'll start studying under Burgh."

"I don't know what you see in them."

"What do you mean?"

"Bug types. I like Whirlipede and Joltik seems kinda cute, I guess. But most bug pokemon are just creepy," said Hilbert with a fake shudder.

"Pussy," said Hilda with a chuckle.

"Ah, shut up."

The two continued to joke around for some time until the crowd of people around them began to quiet down and shush each other. Some of them continued to murmur still, though someone's voice was able to be picked up. They shouted from the center of the room. From a glimpse through a gap in the crowd, Hilbert saw it was Pierce.

"Alright! Battles are starting!" he shouted before calling up two people. Pierce gave a run down of the rules to them. The two nodded then headed back and faced off from each other. When Pierce shouted go the two men released their pokemon: a timburr and a trubbish.

The battle was much closer than most people expected. When the pokemon were revealed there were murmurs amongst the crowd that it would have been an easy win for the timburr, a fast and agile pokemon, since it could likely just blitz the trubbish as it laid still. The timburr's owner seemed to think so by ordering attack after attack. But the hits didn't seem to do much to the pokemon that resembled a garbage bag.

While the timburr was attacking, the trubbish released a small purple haze from its mouth that covered the timburr before going away. Every minute or so, the timburr seemed to flinch as if it was struck. The trubbish released some thicker spits of venom on Timburr and when the little fighting type was crouched on one knee, the trubbish charged forward on its trainer's order and delivered a heavy Take Down to end the fight. The two trainers returned their pokemon, then approached each other, then shook hands.

Hilbert found that odd. Last time he battled in a similar setting he didn't even speak to his opponent before or after fighting. Let alone shake his hand. Nor did the other people he saw fight. He thought it was going to be a one off incident, but the next battlers did the same. Then the next. Hilbert was wondering why they had done it when he heard his name called. Hilda shoved him through the crowd, partly to get him out there and partly to move to a better spot to watch.

Standing in the spot he was pointed to, Hilbert watched someone else move through a crowd. Their name was called first, though Hilbert didn't hear it, but they were in the far back and had a lot of people to move through. When they stepped onto the floor Hilbert was surprised but a little pleased to see Cheren standing across from him. He grinned as did Cheren. Pierce went over the rules again.

'Who should I use? When we fought he had a pansage and I had used Tranquill. I don't know what else he has and he might expect me to use Tranquill again...'

Pierce interrupted Hilbert's thoughts by shouting. "Go!"

Hilbert tossed out what he felt was the safest bet. Palpitoad gave a happy cry while a heavyset pokemon with a fur pattern resembling a wrestler's unitard let out a fiery snort.

'Pignite? Perfect!' thought Hilbert.

"Pignite, Rollout!" shouted Cheren. His pignite jumped and curled itself into a ball that began rolling towards Palpitoad. As it rolled it picked up pieces of trash and dirt and small pebbles.

"Palpitoad, Mud Shot!" Palpitoad puffed out his cheeks before spitting out a wad of mud at the approaching pokemon. The pignite was hit head-on and while it didn't exactly slow down, the mud did cause it to lose some traction and be unable to readjust itself when Palpitoad hopped out of the way. On Hilbert's order Palpitoad shot another ball of mud which also landed.

"Flame Charge!" Pignite stomped its feet as fire surrounded it and it ran at Palpitoad. The mud left over on the floor did next to nothing to slow it. Having actual footing and being able to see clearly, Pignite was able to pivot when Palpitoad tried to dodge. Palpitoad was sent rolling back but got up quickly. Cheren and Hilbert then gave their orders at the same time.

"Use Flame Charge!"

"Muddy water!"

Again Pignite stomped, became ablaze, then charged. Palpitoad puffed out its cheeks again, this time almost twice as large as before, then shot out a strong stream of brown water. It turned into a wave as it approached Pignite, picking up anything on the floor on the way. Despite staring at a wave of water almost twice its size, the pignite charged on head first. The wave struck it hard. Hilbert expected Pignite to be flown back by the force, but it held its ground. Some of the water even turned into steam. The pignite had held on until the wave started to subside by seeping into cracks and turned into a few puddles on the ground.

'It still took a bit of damage,' thought Hilbert. "Muddy Water again!"

"Heat Crash!"

As Palpitoad shot out another wave, Pignite snorted into its hands to make a ball of fire. Despite its heavy look and short body, the pignite was able to jump high, higher than the wave, and held its hands up. The ball of fire grew in size as it was in the air and hardened in some spots to become more like magma. Pignite soared towards Palpitoad and successfully landed its attack, which sent dust and chunks of concrete flying in multiple directions.

Pignite slammed Palpitoad so hard into the ground that it caused a small crater. Cheren ordered another Heat Crash and Pignite jumped high into the sky with another fireball.

"Palptioad, Mud Shot straight up!" Hilbert called. Even though he had just been forced into the ground face first, Palpitoad was still able to do as he was told and look straight up to shoot a ball of mud at Pignite, hitting the fire type in the eyes. Palpitoad then rolled out of the way of the attack and got some ground between him and Pignite.

"Nice! Now, Aqua Ring!"

Palpitoad was panting hard as it once again puffed its cheeks to spit out a ball of water that stretched and twisted to turn into multiple rings that overlapped all over himself. The rings shrunk, as if soaking into Palpitoad's body, and some of the grime and scratches washed away.

Hilbert glanced at pignite then to Cheren. Cheren glanced at him.

"Pignite, Roll Out!" he said. His pokemon nodded and was soon rolling towards Palpitoad.

"Mud Shot!" Hilbert cried. Palpitoad shot some mud, but Cheren and Pignite expected it.

Pignite was told to roll sharply to the side, which let it dodge the Mud Shot, but then it rolled into the crater from earlier and used it as a jumping point. Pignite's curled body was launched higher than either of its jumps and nailed Palpitoad right on the head. Palpitoad was tossed back but before he could even stand up Pignite rolled into him again. Pignite was moving faster than before and Hilbert knew Palpitoad couldn't dodge it.

"Palpitoad, Mud Shot again, but shoot directly on the ground!"

Palpitoad wasted no time in covering the ground in front and to the side of him in a layer of mud. When Pignite came rolling it sped up in the mud but couldn't turn and rolled right into a pillar. It uncurled and stood dazed. Palpitoad shook its body as if it had just been sprayed with water but continued to pant.

'I should have used Aqua Ring at the start,' thought Hilbert. 'Palpitoad's far too weak now...'

"Pignite, Heat Crash!"

"Palpitoad, Muddy Water!"

Pignite readied its ball of fire and jumped high. Palpitoad held the water in his mouth until Pignite began to fall. The stream of water struck Pignite but didn't seem to slow it at all. Pignite still fell fast while steaming. Cheren shouted another order, though Hilbert couldn't hear it as the pokemon collided into a large cloud of dust and steam and smoke. The people closest to the battle, including Hilbert and Cheren, coughed and didn't stop until the dust had settled.

Hilbert looked up to see Cheren's pignite was on a knee. It was breathing heavily and appeared ready to topple over, but didn't. Hilbert then saw Palpitoad face down. Aside from his tail twitching, he didn't move.

The crowd cheered after Pierce announced Cheren to be the winner. Not many of them cared who won, only the ones that managed to place a bet at the very start of the fight, but they all found it exciting. Hilbert sighed as he returned Palpitoad.

Cheren returned Pignite then walked to the center of the floor so Hilbert did the same. Both of the boys were straight faced before giving small grins and taking the other's hand.

"That was a good battle, Hilbert," said Cheren. Hilbert agreed and their hands dropped.

"I'm surprised Pignite was able to take that hit. Thought for sure it would go down."

"Just before they connected I managed to tell Pignite to use Endure. Luckily he got it off."

"Endure?"

"It's a move that allows the user to keep itself from fainting, even from powerful blows. But you have to time it right. Had Pignite failed it would have been a draw."

"That's a crazy strategy," said Hilbert. He noticed Pierce giving him an odd look so he walked back into the crowd, with Cheren beside him.

"I don't get to try it out often, so it's not my most comfortable plan, but you backed me into a corner."

"Well, I'm glad I wasn't a pushover," Hilbert chuckled. He and Cheren were now through the crowd and against a wall. Hilda had followed them. "Oh, Cheren, this is my sister Hilda."

"Nice to meet you," said Cheren.

"Likewise," said Hilda. "That was a great battle, both of you."

"Thanks," the two boys said. Hilbert wiped his forehead and was surprised by the amount of sweat there was. The warehouse had gotten quite humid, but he didn't think it was that bad. He wiped his face with his shirt then saw Cheren dab at his face with a handkerchief.

"Intense battles always make me feel like I just stepped out of a sauna," said Cheren. "Well, I've had my battle. I'm going to go now."

"Alright. Oh, before you go," said Hilbert. He lifted up his wrist with his xTransceiver. Cheren was wearing one as well. "Wanna exchange?"

Cheren smiled. "Sure."

"So, you got a new friend?" Hilda asked with a cheeky grin when Cheren was out of sight.

"Hm...not quite. I wouldn't call him a friend."

"You wouldn't?" Hilda sounded genuinely confused. "Then what?"

"He's my rival."