The New Normal – 9-8 – Interlude – Intermission

(John POV)

Putting down my phone, I walked out of the house and back into the training fields. Right after my talk with Karen, Cynthia had called, apparently having coincidentally having watched Shin's challenge against me on TV. She asked me how I was doing, and I utterly failed to hide how livid I was.

I gave her a quick rundown on what happened and what we discovered, and my girlfriend quickly shared my rage and anger. I half-expected her to tell me to calm down, but she had other plans in mind.

"I can tell I won't be able to calm you down, so all I will say is this." She said firmly, "Crush this man. He has hurt someone you loved – so there is no need to hold back. Use everything you can to break him until he doesn't dare to challenge you again."

"The world has seen your nicer side – but it's time to unleash your Pokémon's full potential. I know what your Pokémon are capable of, so it's now time to remind the world once again. Show them why your strength should NEVER be challenged."

That was probably more supportive than anything else she could have said.

Returning back from my own thoughts, I saw that the farmhands were mostly off for lunch, so there were none to disturb me as I released Tyrant into the field.

Tyrant emerged silently, simply staring off into the distance as I was doing. A moment of silence stretched out between us, but neither one of us felt the need to say anything. He could sense my emotions – there was no need for me to explain how I was feeling.

Tyrant had grown up with Whitney. He watched her grow, just as I did. He watched her smile and laugh, just as I had. He watched her train with her Pokémon and create an unbreakable bond of love with them, just as I saw. To see her hurt like that was more effective of a motivator than anything I could have said, and his blood boiled just as mine did.

As ever, Pokémon and trainer were of one mind. My rage was his, and his was mine.

"…King?" He grunted out a question after a small period of silence.

"…This isn't like our other fights. I'm not here to win honourably or show off my strength. That would be too good for him." I replied slowly, my fists clenching instinctively. "I want him gone, completely humiliated. I'm not going to ask you to hold back for this. I want you to use everything you can to crush him and his team. Don't hold anything back – not after what they did to our sister. Do you understand me?"

Tyrant let out an agreeing huff, before raising himself to full height and slapping himself on the chest. Just the once. But the strength and surety that it conveyed was everything I needed to know.

I patted him on the thigh, "Thank you, Tyrant. Now let's warm you up, shall we? We have a fight to dominate."

A savage grin broke out on Tyrant's face – as it did on mine. If Shin thought he could rile me into accepting a challenge, then he's going to understand the full consequences of that decision.

Tyrant would show no mercy, for I had none left to give.

(Karen POV)

Karen put down the phone, closing her eyes for a few moments and trying to expel all of her anger, just as the old hag had taught her.

She made sure to paint a smile on her face and bury that anger deep within. A large part of her wanted to fly over to wherever Shin was hiding and rip him apart for what he did to someone as pure and innocent as little Whitney.

For what he did to her family.

But she knew it was not her place to take revenge, and she trusted John to deliver it on her behalf. She could feel the sheer fury radiating out of him, so she knew it'd be a match to watch.

Therefore, her role was to be the supportive sister while John was on the hunt. To be a friendly face to Whitney and to comfort her during these dark times. And most importantly, to make sure that she and her two friends don't end up doing anything rash.

This was the first time they were hurt by something like this, and she wanted to make sure that their friendship still held as steady as ever.

'…We haven't hosted a celebration party for Whitney's victory over Giovanni yet, have we?' She thought to herself. '…Maybe I could bring her to a nice restaurant…'

She quickly decided that bringing Whitney somewhere nice to enjoy some nice views and good food was probably better than wallowing in her memories in her room. And while they were at it, why not enjoy a nice performance from the Kimono Girls? Maybe if there was some time she could even have them hang about with Brock and his siblings as well.

Nodding to herself, she went to pick up her phone again to make a few calls. She quickly confirmed a reservation for everyone at a nice restaurant and secured tickets for the next Kimono Girl performance, which conveniently had spaces open for tomorrow.

She was lucky that it wasn't too busy at the moment.

Satisfied with her preparations, she finally made her way to John's place. Before she stepped inside, she checked herself in a mirror to make sure that her anger was completely hidden from her face. Letting out one last breath, she entered the house.

It was time to be a good sister.

(Giovanni POV)

Giovanni put down the phone, finishing up with the call that he just had with his subordinate. He never intended to be snooping around like this, but one of his subordinates had coincidentally spotted a crying Whitney hanging around the Indigo Plateau's Pokémon Center, and felt obliged to report it to Giovanni.

With that piece of information in mind, he now knew why John had stormed out of the meeting with his face twisted with rage. He had never seen John so angry before, but now he instantly understood.

Whitney was a bright young girl, completely innocent and deserving of all that happiness that she got. She had made fast friends with Silver, despite how…difficult his son could be at times. But she pushed past her son's abrasiveness, and now Silver was always talking about how he wished she would come over to play with him again.

Giovanni was quick to admit that he had a soft spot for young Whitney. She reminded him of the reason he fought so hard for the continued prosperity of Kanto, to see children like her be happy and worry free. So, seeing her cry like that - it made him displeased.

It didn't take him long to put two and two together, realizing that Shin was the cause of Whitney's tears. He didn't know the full story, but seeing his 'friendly' challenge to John was all that he needed to know.

He was going to speak to John about the details and to express his sympathy, but to see this Johtonian harm someone as sweet and as kind as Whitney?! The very thought of it darkened his mood, and the beginnings of a plan clicked into place.

It had been a long time since he made use of his business and underground connections for a personal matter like this, but he thought that this situation warranted it.

And so, he moved to pick up the phone once again. It was time to make a few calls.

A.N. I would have included POVs for Sabrina and Janine, but they're a little too young to be thinking about how to destroy Shin's reputation like this. But instead, you get 3 POVs, all of which focusing on a different reaction to this.

John is familial rage. Karen is familial love. Giovanni is cold revenge. Because that's the impression that Whitney has on these people.

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