Hope everyone's summer is going wonderfully. With Ecruteak behind Chris, and a quick route trip with Waz ahead, the trainer from Cherrygrove had better get ready for some changes. Days of training, relaxing, and exploring await, as well as an intense battle! Thank you for joining me again for another chapter! Please Review and Subscribe if you enjoyed it!


Chapter 28

"You son of a bitch!"

Waz and Chris had slowly traversed the beginning of the route, leaving plenty of time for discussion about one another's exploits. After burning the afternoon light, the duo had camped out for the night by a large tree stump, where they continued their conversation. Waz had brought up the Gym Battle against Morty, leading to Chris revealing his victorious team.

"You beat a Ghost-type trainer's Pokémon with a fish that only knows normal type moves?" Waz could not get over how silly it all sounded. "I knew you had more guts than brains, but that's just ignorant."

"It worked didn't it?!" Chris laughed, throwing a playful jab into Waz' shoulder. "I didn't play the type advantage card like somebody. That Kirlia/Haunter combo didn't hurt your chances!"

"That's what we trainers call a strategy," Waz shook his head. The young man would most likely never understand Chris' rationale. "So you said you have a cruise at the end of this week?"

"Yep," Chris sighed, not ready to think that far ahead. "Cruising through the Whirl Islands, a week's stay at Cianwood City, and then a straight trip back to Olivine."

"Sounds like one hell of a nice setup."

Chris nodded. It would be an interesting, and hopefully relaxing trip. Chris knew he could expect a Gym battle with Cianwood's Gym leader, but other than that, his schedule looked free. The trainer couldn't wait to meet back up with Luke and see how his fellow trainer had fared. A reunion battle would be a must.

"Have you heard of the Whirl Islands tournament?" Waz' question snapped Chris back to the present.

The trainer knew the islands had deadly whirlpools surrounding the entrances. "There's a tournament on those treacherous islands?"

"It's part of the tournament circuit that rotates through the region," Waz shrugged. "I'm sure they'll have some sort of arena set up on the water, away from the whirlpools."

This seemed to jog Chris' memory. "Oh yeah. I had forgotten about the Johto Circuit."

The Johto league challenge officially began in the spring. Trainers had exactly one year from the day the challenge started to collect all eight badges, qualifying for the Silver Conference. If they did not collect them in time, they would have to repeat the process over again. This was just one of many reasons why so few trainers could achieve greatness. Sprinkled in among the gym battles were optional tournaments that took place across the region. These tournaments showcased which trainers were excelling, making their case for a deep run in the Silver Conference, and those who still had a long way to go. The Goldenrod Double Battle Tournament was one of these sanctioned events. Like that event, most of these official tournaments had their own spin on the battling.

"What's the stipulation?"

"The battles are one-on-one," a large grin covered Waz' visage, "and exclusively Water-type."

Chris smacked his own forehead. "Well... I do have a Water-type."

"That's the spirit," Waz laughed. "Doesn't matter if he can actually learn any water moves."

"What water type will you be going with?"

"Same one that got me to the quarterfinals of the Goldenrod Tournament," Waz grinned, flicking a Poké Ball into the air.

The sudden light of the device's release mechanism momentarily blinded Chris, but when he regained his bearings, he wasn't surprised by who he saw. Wartortle stood tall, exuding confidence like few Pokémon Chris had ever seen. The same sly grin which occasionally appeared on Waz' face was etched on his partner Pokémon. The trainer from Cherrygrove would have put money on the Turtle Pokémon being the influence for Waz' occasional, subtle grins.

"Warr," the Water-type came up to Chris and extended a clawed hand.

"This fella is quite forward," Chris grinned, extending a hand to meet Wartortle's. "Does he get that from you?"

"You know damn well it's the other way around," Waz shook his head. "Ever since I've known this guy, he's been pushing me to be more outgoing. He knows I'm usually only comfortable around people I know."

"So you could say he's helping you... come out of your shell?"

There was a long silence, with both men staring intensely at one another.

"Eh, ya get it?" Chris nudged the trainer with an elbow.

"I may murder you."


The next few days were mostly routine as far as route traveling was concerned. Chris encouraged his team to travel outside of their devices with Waz and his team. It was during this time that Chris got to know the Sevii Islander's team. Torkoal was at the opposite end of the social spectrum compared to Wartortle. A hard worker in his own right, the Coal Pokémon preferred to train with few observers, and remained quiet for most of their travel. Haunter on the other hand, was constantly badgering Chris, almost to the point of annoyance. The Gas Pokémon would never let a joke go, and loved to spook the unsuspecting Magikarp. Chris was surprised to find a rare powerhouse like Gabite on Waz' team. The Cave Pokémon seemed to understand her strength well, and remained reserved, often consulting with Waz to the side as to not draw attention to herself. Chris knew that if he and Waz ever battled, she would be one of his primary threats. Waz' Kirlia seemed to be his last teammate, a male who always seemed to have something to prove. The Emotion Pokémon constantly trained and would always cast a glance back at his trainer, looking for some form of validation. Kirlia remained subtle with this attitude making Chris wonder if Waz had noticed. The Psychic-type seemed to be growing stronger at a very impressive pace. Unlike Chris' team, Waz' crew had a pronounced leader. Wartortle's forwardness and confidence made him a natural leader. Even an eternal jokester like Haunter showed respect for the Turtle Pokémon when he spoke or addressed the Gas Pokémon.

This atmosphere motivated Chris to try and identify one of his teammates who could take over that role amongst the Pokémon crew. The team had developed a strong culture of friendship, but Chris knew it was only a matter of time before each teammate found their roles for the bigger picture. The trainer wanted to help expedite that if he could. After joining the team only a few days prior, Flaaffy's motherly qualities were already apparent. After a teammate had a rough battle, Flaaffy was by their side, encouraging the Pokémon. Chris could see her attitude serving as a glue for the team, especially during hard times. She was a solid candidate for that leadership position. Nidoking certainly had the look, but Chris could tell the Pokémon was much more comfortable playing a supportive role, jumping into the fray for his team in a heartbeat. Scyther and Crobat had certainly formed very strong bonds with Chris, quite quickly in fact, but these Pokémon were too reserved for a leadership role. The trainer understood that these two were respected by their teammates for their commitment and effort in battle. Magikarp had slowly become the beloved mascot of the team, a fact that both stumped the trainer, but also brought him an overwhelming feeling of pride. Regardless of the battle, whether against a Gym Leader or wild Pokémon, the crew threw their full support behind the blissfully unaware Fish Pokémon. After winning against Morty, the group had even begun to acknowledge the Water-type's growing skill in battle. Finally, there was Chris' starter. The trainer was really unsure where he fit in. All of Chris' team acknowledged the Fire-type's strength, and respected any decisions the Volcano Pokémon made, but Quilava really seemed uncommitted when it came to being a leader. He acted when something directly affected him, but rarely did otherwise. One very notable exception was his motivating speech to Magikarp, a sign that perhaps the fire starter could one day take that leadership role.

Despite their intentionally slow progress, Olivine City was soon on the horizon. The picture of the city resting just beyond the hills, with the blue expanse behind it, was a picture that Chris wouldn't soon forget. The slower pace had allowed for Chris' team to get in much more training than expected, and fueled by the impressive performance of Waz' team, the trainer from Cherrygrove could tell a noticeable increase in his crew's strength and chemistry. Waz gave Chris and his team several helpful pointers along the way, including certain moves that would be awesome for his Pokémon to know. Some of these tips Chris actually managed to implement, though most of the potential new moves would have to wait until his team had grown stronger and the trainer had time to properly teach them.

But by far, the Pokémon who grew the most was the ever eager Nidoking. The Drill Pokémon actually learned two powerful physical moves which Chris couldn't wait to unveil in battle. On Waz' suggestion, Chris had also begun to work with the fully evolved Pokémon on learning ranged, coverage attacks like Ice Beam and Thunderbolt. These were still a work in progress, requiring Nidoking to channel his energy in a way foreign to the physical Pokémon.

"Your team has been rolling," Waz acknowledged. "I don't think we'll have any problem with Olivine Gym."

"Speak for yourself," Chris laughed. "Not even sure if I'll have time to battle Jasmine. Only two days left till the ship heads out."

"How about a battle to hold you over then?" Waz suggested.

"Can't turn that down," Chris nodded. "One-on-one sound alright?"

"Yeah." Waz agreed. "I don't want to wear down my team right before a Gym Battle."

Talk of battle between the two trainers fired up Chris' team. The groups continued down Route 39, past MooMoo Farm, for a ways before actually choosing a spot to battle. They settled on a grassy patch, away from the main route's pathway. Chris was unsure of who to go with, especially since Waz could choose anyone from his well-balanced team.

"To battle," Waz nodded at Gabite, prompting the Dragon-type to step forward.

"Darn," Chris mumbled under his breath. The trainer did not yet have a reliable counter for a Dragon-type, let alone a powerful one like Gabite. He looked over his team, seeing eager looks in each of his Pokémon' faces. As he thought about it, he knew the one team member whose improved strength he had yet to fully test. "Let's go Nidoking!"

The Drill Pokémon jumped forward, obviously eager to demonstrate what he had learned. The rest of Chris' team looked deflated after not being chosen, but Nidoking managed to sense this, and let loose an excited roar to energize them. The trainer was happy to see this, especially knowing that Nidoking would need all the support he could get.

"You ready?" Chris asked.

"I'll give you the first move," the sly smile appeared once more for Waz.

"Appreciate it!" Chris nodded at Nidoking, who took off at full speed at the Cave Pokémon. Chris knew he'd have to balance his aggressiveness with some caution, but for now, he wanted to dictate the pace.

The Drill Pokémon closed in on Gabite, prompting Waz to respond.

"Send it back with Dragon Claw."

Gabite's claws glowed white as the Dragon-type swung at her approaching opponent.

"Up!"

Nidoking showed off his improved agility, with a cat-like pounce over the attack. As Nidoking came down, Chris followed up with a true counter. "Earthquake!"

The Drill Pokémon landed just behind Gabite, sending out powerful shock waves in his opponent's direction. On Waz' direction, Gabite leaped away from the wave of earth, but couldn't escape the entire force of the attack. The upheaval planted Gabite into the ground, but Chris knew the Pokémon would be back up soon.

"Follow it up with Megahorn!"

Nidoking was quick to race forward once more, this time, leading with his glowing horn.

"Sandstorm!"

"Shoot." Chris had been afraid this might be where the battle headed.

After getting to his feet, Gabite brought her arms together and a vortex of sand suddenly engulfed the battlefield. The wind whipped sand up around Chris as well, but he could still make out the two Pokémon battling. Nidoking swung his horn at the stationary Gabite, who seemed to not realize Nidoking was still attacking. This perception changed quickly though, as Gabite suddenly disappeared in the storm.

"Be careful Nidoking!" Chris tried to warn his Pokémon. "This Gabite has Sand Veil. It makes her tougher to hit in sandstorms!"

Nidoking seemed to hear his trainer's words, but could not avoid a sudden swipe from his left. The Dragon Claw landed firm, knocking Nidoking down hard. The upper half of Gabite was momentarily visible after the attack, but soon the Pokémon had faded into the obscured battlefield once more. Nidoking jumped back to his feet, but seemed unsure of where to attack.

"We're gonna have to stay on our toes and be reactionary!" Chris shouted to his Pokémon. He knew this was not a great strength of Nidoking. He didn't have a choice though. Waz had control of the pace now. The Sandstorm prevented Chris from hearing Waz' commands, but the audible interference worked both ways. Chris would have to try and use that to his advantage.

"Come back towards me," Chris directed, "but keep your eyes on the battlefield."

As Nidoking backed away, Gabite suddenly rushed towards Chris' Pokémon, her claws glowing once more.

"Megahorn!"

Nidoking's reactions had greatly improved since his laboring days as a Nidorino. The Drill Pokémon managed to step inside Gabite's guard, before the Cave Pokémon could bring his arms in, and delivered a powerful blow with his energy fueled horn. The attack drove Waz' clearly injured Gabite back in to the sandstorm's haze.

"'Atta boy!" Chris roared his approval. That had been a critical hit for sure. "Back on your toes!"

Chris and Nidoking waited anxiously for another charge, but there was no movement around Nidoking.

"It couldn't be a ranged attack," Chris quickly analyzed the opponent's options. "This line of Pokémon are terrible special attackers. So where..."

The trainer's question was quickly answered.

The ground exploded beneath Nidoking, throwing the Drill Pokémon off balance. Gabite emerged from out of the ground and drove her body into her opponent. The super effective ground-type move launched Nidoking into the air.

"Keep your focus!" Chris mentally kicked himself for not realizing Gabite, who was part Ground-type, would have Dig. "Send another Earthquake her way."

Repeating the attack's execution, Nidoking landed on the ground, driving his momentum into the ground to fire an explosion of earth in Gabite's direction. There would be no hiding underground. Unfortunately for Chris, it was from above that Gabite's next attack approached. The Cave Pokémon drove her claw into Nidoking's side, spinning Chris' Pokémon to the edge of the makeshift battlefield. Good timing was on Chris' side though, as at that moment, the Sandstorm dissipated. There Gabite stood, in the middle of the grassy arena.

"Now, Dragon Rush!"

Gabite began to charge Nidoking, who was still making his way back to his feet. Chris noticed that Waz' Pokémon was not running at full speed though, prompting Chris to quickly try and find why. There wasn't much distance between the two Pokémon, so why wouldn't Waz' Pokémon charge full speed?

The answer hit Chris like a bomb. "Ice Beam!"

Chris knew his Pokémon was still learning the attack, but at this close of range, the doubly super effective move would not miss. Nidoking managed to stand back up and nod to his trainer. The fully evolved Pokémon clenched his clawed fists and reared back his head. As Gabite picked up speed, Nidoking brought his head forward, firing a beam of ice energy towards the fast approaching opponent. Gabite's eyes widened, realizing what kind of damage the attack what do. The concentrated stream of ice burst apart inches away from the Dragon/Ground-type, shocking both trainers and Pokémon. Gabite took two more steps, her body now completely surrounded by a blue aura, and tackled the stunned Nidoking. The collision caused a small crater to spread beneath both Pokémon's feet, as Nidoking was launched backward, toward the wall of earth that ran along the side of the grassy plane. The Drill Pokémon smashed into the natural formation, and remained motionless.

"Nidoking!"

Chris and the group raced over to their teammate who had thankfully begun to come to.

The trainer placed a hand on his partner's shoulder as he tried to stand back up.

"You battled with all you had," Chris praised the Drill Pokémon, a gesture which seemed to ease Nidoking's disappointment. The trainer brought out his best potions and quickly went to work treating the dual type. As he did so, he noticed Waz approaching him.

"That was a great battle, man," Chris stood up and extended a hand.

Waz looked at Chris for a moment, seeming a bit surprised by the trainer's gesture after such an intense battle. An appreciative smile appeared on the young man's face as he shook the opposing trainer's hand. "Thank god you didn't want to wait another day to battle."

Chris gave the trainer a puzzled look. "Why's that?"

Waz nodded towards Nidoking, who was looking at him curiously. "You would have won."

Nidoking and his trainer shot each other a knowing glance. The Drill Pokémon made it back to his feet and was swarmed by his other teammates. Flaaffy gave him a huge hug, whispering words of support. The dual type looked over her shoulder and saw the other three males nodding their approval. These gestures together seemed to erase any frustration still left in Nidoking. The fully evolved Pokémon pounded his chest. "King!"

"There ya go," Chris had stepped back to let his Pokémon enjoy the center of the group's attention and praise. The trainer looked down at the ground and smiled.

We'll have Ice Beam perfected by tomorrow.


The rest of the afternoon was much more relaxed, with wild battles being the only source of excitement. Since the battle, both parties had dropped whatever guards still remained. The Pokémon mingled together, very excited by their new found companionship. Chris was especially interested in the conversations that Quilava and Wartortle were having. Gabite and Nidoking also seemed to have a common thread between them, with both Pokémon talking late in to the evening. That night, the two trainers returned their teams to their Poké Balls. They stepped onto the paved streets of Olivine City close to the midnight hour.

The city was a bustling seaside metropolis, filled with booming businesses, gorgeous views, and whose landscape was ruled by a solitary lighthouse.

Chris took in all the sights he hadn't seen since he was a young child. "It's like a smaller, more enjoyable Goldenrod."

"I like this place already."

Several local bars were jammed packed, including the ones on the outskirts of town. Tourists and locals alike seemed fueled by the atmosphere, filling the streets even at this late of an hour. Chris had to admit, the city vibe was infectious.

"How about we hit up the town after we're finished at the Pokémon Center?" Chris' voice brimmed with excitement.

"You've got to be shitting me," Waz let out a loud yawn. "I'm exhausted. Go ahead and live it up."

The trainer from Cherrygrove could not understand Waz' fatigue until the trainers stopped at one of the city's many Pokémon Centers. After giving his party over to Nurse Joy, and taking a seat, a wave of exhaustion came over Chris. After speaking with the front desk, the two trainers discovered that a two bedroom room was available, but that it was a bunk bed. Chris threw a look at Waz, raising his eyebrows.

"I call top bunk."

"You motherfucker."


The next morning, the two trainers got cleaned up and ate a quick breakfast. Both young men were eager to explore the lively city. The trainers released their teams once they were away from the bustling streets. They stumbled across several fruit stands, prompting Chris to purchase lunch for the group. Once they reached the beautiful white beaches, Chris realized he had not packed for such conditions. They stopped by several beach vendors, with a determined Chris looking for the best prices.

"Have you always been this conservative with money?" Waz prodded.

Chris chuckled and shrugged. "Just how I was raised."

The trainer finally found a pair of flip flops and swimming trunks for a good deal. The trainers found a somewhat secluded spot on the beach for their Pokémon to roam. Chris grabbed a chair to soak up some rays, while Waz headed out into the water. The Cherrygrove trainer peered through his sunglasses to check out what his crew was up to. Unsurprisingly, Crobat was resting beneath a nearby beach umbrella. Scyther also seemed to be in a relaxing mood, lying on his back in the sun, watching the rest of the beach with a half-opened eye. Chris shook his head. Even in this carefree environment, the Mantis Pokémon refused to let his guard completely down. Flaaffy and Nidoking had assembled a massive pile of sand, their hearts set on building a massive sandcastle. The trainer searched the waves for a few seconds before spotting the golden scales of his Pokémon close to the beach. The Water-type was swimming with confidence, bringing a strong wave of pride to his trainer.

That left Chris' starter, whom Chris was shocked to find swimming by Magikarp's side. At first, Chris thought Quilava might just be keeping a protective eye on Magikarp, but the Volcano Pokémon could have done that from the shore. As he looked closer, Chris noticed Quilava studying Magikarp's swimming techniques, or more specifically, the way the Fish Pokémon battled through the waves that struck him.

The Fire-type was trying to build a resistance to water.

A shadowy figure swooped past Chris' legs, almost knocking him out of his chair. Chris eventually realized it was Waz' Haunter, who had decided to now take refuge beneath Waz' empty beach chair. The trainer spotted Kirlia beside the chair, locked in to his punching routine. Scanning the beach nearby, a puff of smoke gave away Torkoal's position. The Fire-type had buried himself almost entirely beneath the sand, absorbing all of the sand's heat. Chris did not see Waz on the beach, but after looking out to sea, Chris found the young man surrounded by Wartortle and Gabite. The trio was locked into an intense swimming session, powering through the current as waves blasted into them. Chris stood up slowly, recognizing their training as identical to what Chris' team had done over a month ago. The difference was, these three were swimming on a whole other physical level. After a long session, the three teammates made their way back to shore.

Chris prided himself on staying in great shape. Standing a couple inches over six feet, with broad shoulders, and a good frame to build on, the trainer had always worked hard to keep his body toned and fairly muscular. But as Waz emerged from the ocean, Chris was greeted by a bowling ball of a human being. Despite being several inches shorter than Chris, the Sevii Island native had a naturally muscular build that immediately thrust self-esteem issues on Chris. The young trainer looked like he could kick through a brick wall.

"You been wrestling Ursaring, bro?"

"Nah," Waz jokingly flexed, "just a few Krookadile. Waz turned his attention back to the water, pointing at Magikarp and Quilava. "How'd you get a Fire-type to go swimming?"

"I didn't give him much of a choice the first time," Chris grinned, thinking about the miserable look on Cyndaquil's face all those weeks ago. "After surviving the first time, I guess he just decided to run with it."

"I admire his toughness," Waz nodded approvingly. "You won't see Wartortle intentionally taking Thunderbolt's any time soon."

"War!" the Turtle Pokémon roared his disapproval. Chris could tell that, much like Quilava, Wartortle was a proud warrior.

"Hey," Waz shrugged, "I'm just speaking the truth. Eventually we're gonna have to start preparing for your evolution. You won't be fast enough to dodge a lot of attacks. You'll have to be ready to take those Thunderbolts!"

The Water-type threw up his hands and walked away. Waz smiled, seeing his Pokémon's fists finally unclench.

"He'll understand soon. We always come around to each other's tough love eventually."

"I dealt with a similar situation with my Nidoking when it first evolved into a Nidorino." Chris was reminded of his own growing pains through Nidorino's struggles. "I really had to work with him to adapt to his increased size and strength. It took some patience on both our parts."

"I getcha," Waz looked over his other Pokémon. "The problem is, he's always been really shifty and unnaturally quick for his species. He's gonna have to come to terms with the fact that he's just never going be a fast Pokémon. I guess I will too."

"You might could have him talk to Torkoal." Chris suggested. "That'd be an excellent source of knowledge once Wartortle finally has to face that issue."

The other trainer seemed to agree. "Torkoal doesn't speak much, but he and Wartortle seem to respect one another. He wouldn't care at all to help out his fellow turtle."

The two trainers relaxed on their beach chairs for the majority of the afternoon, half keeping an eye on the Pokémon, and half watching for any Olivine beauties. Waz was constantly pointing out any girls of visual merit he spotted. The whole scenario seemed hilarious to Chris. Such a reserved young man, who barely spoke to people he didn't know, was unloading to his new pal about women he didn't know. More than once, Chris would tell him to introduce himself, drawing a quick 'nah' from the Sevii Island native. The young trainer from Kanto was quite the introvert.

"You have any siblings?" Chris asked after a while.

"Unfortunately," Waz' tone surprised Chris, "I have an older brother."

"Same," Chris said. "Your's a jerk off?"

Waz sighed. "A real asshat."

"What's he up to?"

"Who the hell knows?" the Sevii Islander stretched out farther in his chair. "He's a year older. Competed in the Kanto challenge his first year. He's here in Johto this year."

"So we may get to face him eventually?"

"I hope so," a wicked smile came across Waz' face, "I wanna crush that piece of shit."

As evening approached, the two parties decided to check out the nearby lighthouse, a world renowned monument, now renovated to be a historical landmark. The lighthouse still functioned, but it was certainly more of a tourist center now. It was an enjoyable visit, but hunger soon called.

"I had thought about leaving enough time to challenge the Gym here," Chris said, before downing down some fish, "but I'm glad I didn't rush it. My Pokémon needed this break."

Waz nodded in agreement. "I've heard Jasmine isn't somebody you want to battle unprepared. She's considered the leading expert on Steel-type Pokémon."

"What are you gonna get into after I leave tomorrow?"

"After relaxing today," Waz thought for a moment, "I'd say it's back to the grindstone. We've got to get ready for Jasmine."

"Who are you thinking about battling with?"

"Torkoal will be my number one option," the wheels were already turning in Waz' head. "If he can get past her Magneton, Wartortle can go toe-to-toe with her Steelix. I think we'll have a great shot."

The trainer from Cherrygrove agreed with his logic.

"Speaking of battling," Chris segued, "I can't wait to check out the Whirl Islands and Cianwood City. Plenty of battles to be had there. Even better, it'll be the first time I've seen either place."

"An islands and island," Waz playfully chided. "Take it from me."

The two trainers headed back to the Pokémon Center, completely drained by the intense Olivine sun, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Chris gathered his supplies and ate a quick breakfast. He could not believe today was the day of the cruise. So much had happened since he had first received those tickets. Despite planning out the past two months based on this cruise, Chris had really been so focused on his journey up to this point that he had not given much thought about what was to come. There were a lot of new sights and battles ahead for Chris and his team. The trainer could barely contain his excitement.

"Big cruise today," Waz could sense Chris' anxiousness, "Hope you have a great trip there and back." Waz extended a hand to Chris, as Wartortle did the same for Quilava.

"Thank you man," Chris shook his friend's hand, as Quilava did the same. "It's gonna be a blast. You might wanna stick around in case Luke doesn't show. Free cruise!"

"I appreciate it," Waz turned to walk down an opposite street, "but nah. I'll stick to land for now."

"Train hard," Chris said, as the two trainers began to turn away, "and get those last few badges!"

"You better do the same."

With that, the young teams headed their separate ways.

Chris looked over his crew and grinned. "Hope you're ready, guys." The trainer headed toward the docks. "We've got a boat to catch."


The cruise is upon Chris. A lot of uncertainties and unknowns await the young trainer. How will the Whirl Island's tournament go down? Will a Cianwood Gym battle bring Chris another gym badge? And where's Luke? These questions, and others, will be answered in the next chapter of Heart and Soul! Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the summer. I am about to begin my first major teaching job in a few weeks! Wish me luck! I will try to get the next chapter out when I get a chance! Love you guys and gals! I'll see ya in the next chapter of Heart and Soul!