Note- School is back in session, but that can't stop Heart and Soul from trucking right along! We drop in on Chris and his team after a successful—if not arduous—trip through Mt. Mortar. With his training with the Karate King behind him, and Mahogany Town ahead, what new adventures and challenges await The Crew? Who and what will Chris find in a town and region known for secrets and tradition? Find out today in Heart and Soul! Hope you enjoy! Please Review and Subscribe!


Chapter 43

The sun beamed down through the clear, blue sky over Route 42. A faint breeze had picked up as the day waned, bringing with it the chill of late fall. Chris had no issue with the cooler temperatures at first. After all, he had just spent over two months in a damp cave. Even so, it didn't keep the trainer from grabbing Eevee as he attempted to dive into the nearest lake. "It's almost November," Chris reminded him, trying to ignore the dull throbbing in his shoulder. "Jumping in that cold water and walking around in this wind is a recipe for sickness." Chris spun around to catch Nidoking tiptoeing toward the water as well. A guilty smile met the trainer's exasperated look. "Let's just be glad we didn't have to swim across those wide lakes. Even after all our training, and even if the water were warm, I'd be huffing and puffing on the bank if I made it across."

"Ty'!" The Volcano Pokémon pointed to a nearby island that sat in the shadow of Mt. Mortar. It was a fairly large amount of land to find in the middle of a lake. What kept Chris' attention, and presumably what had grabbed Typhlosion's, was the apocalyptic level of destruction to the surface and edges of the island.

"It looks like a freakin' war zone," Chris said. "Must have been some crazy trainer battles there."

As the team turned their attention and feet east, Chris felt a growing excitement building in his gut. A look at his PokéGear's map had revealed just how close they were to Mahogany Town. An hour or two would see them at the town's doorstep. And that close proximity meant a forthcoming Gym Battle. Only two badges to go, Chris reminded himself. Kiyo had questioned the possibility of the trainer not qualifying for the Silver Conference. At the time, Chris had scoffed at the notion, and his thoughts hadn't really changed since. He'd pushed himself and his team to six Gym victories in three months. Even after an impromptu two month training session, Chris felt they were still ahead of the curve. With the Silver Conference starting in early April, and the registration deadline two weeks prior, that gave the team five months to finish their Gym challenge. A part of Chris wondered what he would do with all the extra time after. He'd want to continue battling to keep his team sharp, but where would he find quality opponents?

"Stay focused on the present," he muttered.

"Cro'!" the Bat Pokémon's cry came drifting back to his trainer.

Chris raced down the path to find his team's scout in a stare down with a wild Mankey. Flashbacks to his near death experience with a pair of Fighting-types sent the trainer's heart racing. A sharp pain in his jaw let him know just how tightly it was clenched. "Wing Attack!"

Crobat swooped down before Mankey had even realized a battle had begun. The Bat Pokémon struck the Fighting-type with consecutive shots, and went to deliver a third, but found the Pig Monkey Pokémon unresponsive on the ground. The sight seemed to release the tension in Chris' muscles. He felt heavy breaths pressing against his sealed lips. The trainer stepped over and knelt beside the unconscious creature. He pulled out his last remaining berry and fed it to Mankey. As the creature slowly chewed, his limbs began to move again. His eyes snapped open and he gave a screech at the sight of the trainer kneeling over him. Chris fought off the urge to call one of his teammates forward for protection. Instead, he remained motionless as Mankey leaped back to his feet and brought his paws up in a defensive position. He bounced back and forth on his toes for a pair of seconds before seeming to realize that no one was attacking. With that understanding, he scrambled back into the underbrush.

Chris stood back up and immediately his vision went white. He felt his knees wobble as a dull throb pulsed in his temple. He threw an arm out and found Scyther's shoulder for support.

"Scy'?"

"I'm alright," Chris assured. "Just a little dizzy." The trainer pointed to the treeless incline before them. "I'll feel better when we finally make it to Mahogany Town. Let's knock this last stretch out."

The team legged it up the small knob without any further distractions. Upon reaching the crest, they stopped to admire the view. The quaint town of Mahogany sat nestled in the valley below. The woodland that surrounded it pushed out in every direction, even stretching up to the base of the knob they now stood on. South of the town lay a large hill with a rock face too steep to safely climb. The road to Route 44 cut through the trees just to the east of town. And looking north, two small towers could be seen among the trees bordering either side of the Route 43 bound path. Chris had never seen structures like these, but his mind refused to let him dwell on anything at the moment. "Let's keep moving," he said.

They made it to the base of the hill before being swallowed up by the woodland. Many of these trees still held their leaves, though they had changed to a multi-color feast for the eyes. The foliage obscured the late afternoon sun, and as the breeze picked up, Chris felt a slight chill run through him. Living in a mountain still can't prepare you for that touch of winter, Chris silently conceded. His mother's words outside of Ecruteak came rushing back. He'd need an updated his wardrobe ASAP. And her suggestion of a haircut had now become a dire matter.. Chris could see the ends of his mangled, greasy bangs hanging just at the top of his vision. Being warm-natured, he'd always loved how his low cut hair helped his scalp breathe. It had also made grooming a piece of cake. He hoped that even a small town like Mahogany would have a barber.

"As for something I can do now..." Chris opened up his PokéGear. He typed out a quick update and sent it to both parents. He knew his mother especially would be grateful to hear from him after such a long silence. He couldn't believe she'd gone two whole months without sending a swarm of police to storm Mt. Mortar.

"You look ready to battle!"

Chris looked up from his PokéGear and found a young man leaning against a tree to his right. The boy possessed short, black hair and a youthful face that outweighed the stubble he tried to pass as a goatee. A Poké Ball spun atop his index finger. One look at the boy's smarmy grin sent douche chills up Chris' spine.

"You're a trainer?" the Cherrygrove native asked.

"Of course."

Chris brought his hands to his hips. "I may have to sit this one out. We've been out training for a long time, and we're just looking to get some rest in Mahogany Town."

"Not a problem," the boy quickly replied, drawing a relieved sigh from Chris. "We'll just make it a one-on-one battle."

Pain set into the nerves just beneath Chris' forehead. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to find the proper dismissive words to say. "I… we just—"

"Ask your team!" the boy excitedly interjected.

Chris turned to the party of six. Though none of them verbalized it, Chris could see the fatigue in each of his Pokémon's ring-clad eyes. Even the often eager Typhlosion and Nidoking looked as though they would pass for the time being. "I don't think—"

"Eevee!" The Evolution Pokémon jumped to the front of the pack.

Chris swallowed a heavy sigh. "Are you sure?" he asked.

The Normal-type adamantly nodded. "'Vee."

"Alright, then." Chris forced a smile onto his face. "Let's see how beneficial that training really was."

"Come on out, Loudred!"

The boy's capture device burst open in the air and the Big Voice Pokémon materialized below. He let loose a roar that was only amplified by the built in speakers his ears possessed. The cry stabbed the inside of Chris' skull and made his already fatigued mind want to shut down. Out of all the opponents… Chris silently bemoaned.

"We're ready when you are!" the opposing trainer announced.

Quick and precise, the thought cut through the fog of Chris' mind. "Start things off with Quick Attack," he directed.

Eevee dashed forward without any trace of fatigue. His impressive straight line speed brought him within striking distance before the other trainer had even called his move.

"Echoed Voice!"

Loudred took in a deep breath, causing his square body to comically expand like a balloon. Eevee tackled his fellow Normal-type, driving the creature off of his feet and onto his back.

"Follow up with Swift," Chris commanded. Something about the atmosphere of a trainer battle had momentarily brought the young man out of his exhausted stupor.

As a faint white glow surrounded Eevee's body, Loudred suddenly sat up. The creature's swollen figure somehow still hadn't lost his earlier intake. He opened his mouth and a visible sonic wave rippled out. Chris had no time to direct his teammate, but Eevee took the initiative. He pounced back, providing himself with just enough time to launch the incomplete attack. A barrage of energy stars immediately collided with the sound wave. Both attacks melded and ultimately canceled one another.

"Howl!" the other trainer commanded.

Loudred lifted his face to the sky and let loose a guttural wail. The sound sent another wave of pain through Chris' skull.

"Shut him up with Shadow—" Chris stopped himself, remembering nearly too late about Loudred's Ghost-type immunity. That hesitation allowed the Big Voice Pokémon to finish up his strength enhancing move and proceed forward with a Stomp attack. Chris called for a counter. "Bite!"

Eevee charged ahead and opened up his energy filled jaw. As Loudred brought down his foot, Chris realized just how risky a move he had called for. The Big Voice Pokémon had increased his strength and now drove a gravity boosted foot toward a traditionally fragile species. Eevee's dark fangs closed down on the foot. Loudred grimaced, but still managed to throw his weight into the Stomp, pressing the Evolution Pokémon's knees into the dirt.

"Hang tough!" Chris encouraged.

At his trainer's command, Loudred lifted his foot to stomp down again. That's when Eevee whipped his head sideways, swinging the Big Voice Pokémon's leg with it.

"Quick Attack!" Chris called.

Eevee released his hold on Loudred's foot and launched himself at his off balanced foe. The top of the Evolution Pokémon's head smacked Loudred's face and sent the creature staggering back.

"Don't back down!" the opposing trainer encouraged. "Hit 'em with an extra loud Echoed Voice!"

Memories of Sprout Tower flooded Chris' mind. He remembered the sage's Noctowl using this same move to overpower Nidoran. Loudred's second Echoed Voice would be twice as powerful as the first. It would be wise to avoid it and deliver the safe strike with Eevee's third Quick Attack.

"'Vee!" The Normal-type threw a quick glance over his shoulder, finding Chris' eyes in that brief moment. It reminded Chris of that same confidence he had shown atop Mt. Mortar.

The trainer snuck a peek at their observing teammates. The five Pokémon watched on with a keen interest in their tired eyes. He turned back and found Loudred already inhaling as much air as would fill him. In that moment, Chris felt the rest of his exhaustion disappear. "Counter with Swift!"

A white glow overtook Eevee once more. He planted his feet into the ground and lowered his head to rest upon the fur surrounding his neck.

"Let him have it!" Loudred's trainer roared.

"Hold steady!" Chris directed.

Loudred bent his body forward. A large sound wave spiraled out from his wide maw. The spherical blast rippled out toward Eevee at an alarmingly fast rate.

"On my signal," Chris said. He watched as the blast sliced through the air, kicking up small rocks in the dirt it passed over. When he was sure that Eevee had finished prepping the attack, he made the call. "Fire!"

The white energy around Eevee vanished as a dozen stars filled the air in front of him. The swarm met the sound wave an instant later. The two attacks once again melded and twisted together. Several of the energy stars spiraled into the ground or spun away over the trees. A low drone echoed out as the sound wave bent and collapsed in on itself. The remaining energy stars burst through and peppered the Big Voice Pokémon. With a groan, Loudred toppled backward and landed on his hindquarters. His gaping mouth and expressive eyes slowly shut.

"Shoot!" came the opposing trainer's shout.

Chris stepped over to Eevee's side and knelt beside his teammate. Eevee beamed at him, ignoring the beads of sweat that poured over his fur clad forehead. "Guess our training wasn't wasted," Chris said, with a grin of his own. The other five Pokémon slowly gathered around them. Flaaffy and Crobat were the only other party members to voice their congratulations, but the rest of the team couldn't hide their impressed looks. "I can't wait to see what all of you are now capable of," he told them.

"Good battle, man," the young man said, having made his way over to the group. He extended a hand that Chris took.

"Same to you," Chris said, rising to his feet. As he did so, he felt his leg muscles tense and lock up. His vision went white once more. He felt the boy's grip tighten and a sudden pull.

"You good?"

Chris blinked. He found Nidoking's shoulder against his own. His fellow trainer had both arms wrapped around his extended arm. "Sorry… I zoned out," Chris replied.

"Looked like you did a bit more than that. I thought you were gonna' topple over."

"Yeah," Chris said, rubbing his forehead. "I think I mentioned that we'd just finished a long training session. Guess I still haven't fully recovered from that."

"I'll let you go then," the boy said. "Thanks again for the battle."

Chris gave him a thumbs up before turning away. He closed his eyes and massaged his temple. The throbbing pain slowly dissipated. When he looked up, he found his team watching him closely.

"I don't know about you guys," Chris mumbled, "but I think I could use a good nap." The team slowly voiced their agreement, but Chris caught Scyther's skeptical eye.

A short descent brought them to the bottom of the hill and the entrance to Mahogany Town. The homes and business held much of the same quaint charm as those in Ecruteak. Many of them possessed the same tiled roofs, though these were an earthy brown hue. The streets they passed were wide, but never filled with swarming traffic. Chris took advantage of this and made a beeline for the Pokémon Center. He passed through the doors as the sun sank beneath the tops of the trees that lined the western hills.

The Pokémon Center held the same basic layout as those he had stayed in prior, but was much smaller. The open entrance and drop off station held few occupants, none of whom stood at the nurse's counter. Chris returned his team to their devices and handed them over to the Pokémon physician. She wrinkled her nose and narrowed her eyes at him, but he didn't register the look as significant. He plopped onto a nearby couch and felt every muscle in his body relax. It had felt like an eternity since he'd sat on anything this comfortable. Through sinking eyes, he found a TV mounted overhead. The display advertised the upcoming Lake of Rage Winter Classic. In his two months cut off from the world, Chris had nearly forgotten about the Global League Pokémon Tournament circuit. Memories of the chairman speaking to him at the Whirl Islands Tournament came rushing back. He had mentioned that this would be their last tournament in Johto for the year. The TV proclaimed that it would begin in less than a month's time. Might be interesting if we're still around, Chris thought.

As highlights from the previous year's tournament rolled across the screen, Chris' eyelids dropped lower. Soon, the last bit of light had vanished, and the trainer found himself in a peaceful slumber.


"Sir."

Chris dismissed the finger tapping his shoulder.

"Sir."

A hand was there now. Soon that hand was shaking him. Chris' eyes fluttered open and he found one of the center's aides at his side. A paper towel lay pressed between her hand and his shoulder. He found that strange, but grew increasingly more concerned upon seeing the impressive angle with which she kept her head tilted away from him.

"I'm... sorry," he finally managed.

"Your Pokémon are on the counter," she replied, before quickly stepping away.

Chris slowly rose to his feet and worked his stiff legs over to the counter. He found another aide working on the computer there. "Do you have any rooms available?" he asked.

The aide looked up and did a double take. "We, uh, do," he answered. "I can get you in room six, if you'd like."

"That'd be perfect."

"There's also a community bath located right beside it," the man added.

Chris frowned at that, a growing concern building in his gut. He swiped the room key and his six Poké Balls before heading for his living quarters. As he entered the hallway that held his room, he found a mirror on the wall. He nearly did a triple take at his reflection. Dark rings hung under his eyes. His right cheek and forehead were swollen and covered in black bruises. He turned around and pulled up his shirt. A similar sight could be found on his shoulders and lower back. He let his shirt fall back down at the sound of a nearby door opening. A girl stepped out and her eyes found Chris. Her horrified expression momentarily turned to concern, but didn't stay that way for long. Her door slammed shut a moment later; the sound of a lock clicking accompanied it. Considering I look like a zombie, Chris thought, at least she didn't scream.

The Cherrygrove native entered his room and slipped the backpack off his shoulders. He went to sit it on the bed, but one glance at the moss covered bottom quickly changed his mind. Setting the bag on the floor, he dug out his hygiene supplies and made for the communal bath. He was thankful to no longer have to stick his toothbrush into a rushing waterfall; it made for a lot easier experience and less wasted toothpaste. He then jumped into the unoccupied men's showers and spent nearly an hour on as thorough a cleaning as he could manage. He went slow and gentle on the bruises across his head, back, arms, and legs. He found dirt and moss in his hair and fingernails. The black pitchstone from the punching columns proved to be particularly hard to scrape off his knuckles—especially the one he had hurt. When he finally stepped out of the shower, he felt he had at least eliminated the smell and scum that had pushed the others away from him. The bruises would just have to heal over time.

Arriving back at his room, he sat down on his bed and thought about what still needed to be done prior to sleep. His eyelids closed before any ideas could come to mind.


"Sir? Sir!"

Chris' eyes snapped open and he nearly butted heads with the woman leaning over him.

"Yes?" Chris managed, furiously wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Hello?"

The woman—who Chris now recognized as a maid—let out a relieved sigh. "Thank Arceus."

"Is there something wrong?"

The woman chuckled. "Honey, I thought you were dead."

"Dead…"

"Have you been out of this bed at all since your first night here?"

Chris frowned. "First night? I've only spent one night here."

"May want to check the date, sweety."

Leaning over to grab his PokéGear, Chris flipped open the device. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the date. "I've been asleep for two days?"

The woman nodded matter-of-factly. "I came in to clean the room yesterday and you were laying in that exact same spot and position. I decided to come in a bit later today, but when I found you exactly as you were the day prior… I thought I had a corpse on my hands. Those bruises on your face certainly didn't help things. Looked like you'd picked a fight with a Hitmontop!"

"Hariyama, actually," Chris muttered. He wiped at his eyes again. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I guess I didn't realize how tired I was."

She waved away his apology with a hand. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Chris slid off the bed and nearly toppled to the ground when his legs gave way. He looked up and found concern back on the woman's face. "I really am okay. My legs just haven't woken up yet."

Her face relaxed somewhat. "Tell 'em there's no excuse after a two day nap," she replied.

"Yes, ma'am."

Chris grabbed his belongings and wobbled out of the room so the maid could clean. Once in the hallway, he found a chair to sit in and plan his next course of action. He checked the time and found it to be early evening. So I've nearly wasted this day too, he thought. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his eyes. It was November and he was in northern Johto. The Lake of Rage brought significant snowfall to this area, even more so than the mountainous Blackthorn City. And in the winter, the Ice Path between Mahogany and Blackthorn could become a death trap. It would make the most sense for him to get out of northern Johto before nature impeded his progress.

"That means winning the Glacier Badge," Chris said aloud. The trainer stood and his sore legs held firm. The familiar pain in his temple returned, as did the white light that filled his vision. His right hand found the wall beside him, and he clung to it until the inhibitors had passed. Still? he silently questioned. He stepped carefully down the hall, through the lobby, and out onto the street. A cool gust of wind found his face and he shivered. With few long sleeved shirts, and even fewer pants, Chris would be a goner if he did not update his wardrobe. The problem would be the lack of space in his pack. He'd always been one to hang on to clothing, even if he rarely wore it. And most of the shirts he'd brought had been his favorites.

Currently, there were more important things to worry about. His feet pulled him west, toward the visible Mahogany Gym. He forced himself to turn and make for a cluster of trees at the town's center. The late evening sun had begun to dip behind the hill's foliage, casting the street in its warm orange glow. The trainer brought out one of his long sleeved shirts and gingerly slipped it on as he reached the shadows of the trees. While he had his backpack in hand, he also tossed out his six Poké Balls. His teammates appeared around him in a flash of light. Chris glanced at their surroundings and found quiet, nearly empty streets. Mahogany had never boasted a large populace, nor had it been keen to spill its secrets to the rest of the region. In a lot of ways, it reminded Chris of how isolated and quiet the town of Azalea had been. But in the popular Johto conscious, Mahogany Town had possessed an edge that the other lacked. Chris had never been privy as to why.

"Ty'?"

His starter's question brought the trainer out of his thoughts. "I—I just wanted to talk with you guys about our plan moving forward."

The Drill Pokémon brought his clawed fists together. "Nido!"

"That's the thing," Chris said, rubbing his neck. "You guys think we're ready for our next Gym challenge?"

"'Vee!" The Evolution Pokémon nodded toward the closest peak of Mt. Mortar.

Crobat bobbed his head. Scyther crossed his arms and gave a slow nod.

Chris leaned over to his starter. "The Gym Leader specializes in Ice-types." Typhlosion's eyes took on a red glow and he flashed a fanged grin. The trainer turned back to face his team. "He's a new leader, too. You guys think we can give him one of his first real tests?" The team replied with a thunderous affirmative. In truth, the new leader had held his position for nearly a year. But compared to the other Gyms across Johto, that might as well have been no time at all. "Then first thing in the morning, we'll do just that!"

Night had come when Chris finally returned his team to their devices. Staring down at the time, he couldn't believe seven o'clock marked its start. He decided to take a quick lap around the town before heading back to the Pokémon Center. Heading north, he passed by a few small neighborhoods and shops. The trainer spotted a clothing store but it, like all the other businesses Chris had seen, was closed. Lamps had come to life at every corner, but none of the lights seemed to fully illuminate. The low lighting, mixed with the nearly empty street, created a sort of otherworldly ambiance. It reminded Chris of the stories he had heard about the Distortion World. Each step echoed out from the pavement until it was eventually lost in the cool night air. The stars shone brightly in the cloudless sky. It seemed strange to be in a population center and still be able to see the sea of constellations so clearly.

Turning west, Chris began to make his way back toward the part of the city he had traversed upon his arrival. A small building to his right halted his progress. The structure looked ordinary enough, possessing a roof pattern and exterior tile like many of the buildings around it. It was the sign on the door that grabbed Chris' attention. Stepping over, he got to where he could read the words clearly: 'History and its ramifications can hide in plain sight.'

The structure didn't appear to be a home, but Chris knocked just to be careful. When he received no response, he pulled on the door, but found it locked. A singular window rested to the right of the door, but the room inside was too dark to make out. The trainer made a mental note to come back during the day.

He set out west once more, and had made it less than a block when goosebumps sprouted up along his neck. He spun to the right.

A paved route extended north from where he stood. A field of grass lay beside it. Through the darkness, Chris thought he could make out a line of trees beyond the field. Squinting harder, he thought he could see a structure nestled between a pair of tall trees. One of the towers. His feet were now driving him south in as fast a walk as his sore legs could manage. That brought him to the Mahogany Gym.

The structure possessed no elaborate decor or homage to its Gym Leader's type specialty. Without the official Johto Gym seal over the entrance, Chris might have easily mistaken it for a warehouse. As he stared at the unremarkable building, his mind drifted toward his lineup for the following day. The team didn't have a natural edge over Ice-types, but he'd find a way to make it work. They'd get their seventh badge.


Chris awoke to the barrage of alarms he had set the night before. Eight hours of sleep seemed insignificant compared to the forty plus from before, but he forced himself out of bed. His legs felt slightly more sturdy as he strolled to the shower and back. When he'd thrown on his other long sleeve shirt and pants, Chris exited the center.

The morning sky was clear and brilliantly blue. The sun had already peaked over the horizon and warmed an otherwise chilly day. As he made for the gym, a sharp pain stabbed his side as his stomach let loose a deep growl. To Chris' horror, he realized he hadn't eaten in nearly three days. Digging through his pack, he managed to find a pair of granola bars among the wrappers. Both were in his stomach less than a minute later. A nearby water fountain provided the drink that completed the hardy meal. With the Mahogany Gym in sight, that would have to do for now.

He passed through the unremarkable entrance and immediately felt as though he had stepped into a meat locker. One look at the center of the open space provided the obvious culprit. The battlefield looked to be painted in standard Pokémon League fashion, with the same earthen makeup as all previous Gyms. But scattered throughout and around the battleground were massive columns of ice. Each frozen fixture had a thick base that tapered off to a fine point. A massive temperature unit hung from the ceiling directly above the battlefield. This place is like a massive walk-in freezer, Chris thought.

Movement on the battlefield brought the trainer's gaze back down. Two creatures leaped between the frozen pillars. Each time they passed one another, they clashed in a stunning display of consistency and timing. The slower of the two Chris identified as a Sneasel; the second looked like a dark blur.

Chris scratched his head. "I wonder—"

The Sneasel suddenly pounced off the nearest ice pillar and shot toward the trainer. Chris' instincts from the last two months kicked in and he dropped into a defensive stance. As Sneasel's outstretched claw whistled by his ear, he grabbed the Dark/Ice-type's arm and twisted to swing him away. As he planted his right foot, it gave way, and Chris ended up pulling Sneasel to the ground with him. The Sharp Claw Pokémon landed stomach first and let out a gasp. Seeing this, Chris fell back onto his rear and let out a long sigh. As he reached to rub his knee, he found another set of claws just beneath his jaw.

"Those who prefer stealth strike the instant one's guard drops." Chris looked up and found a man standing only a few paces away. One look at him told the trainer exactly who he was. His unmistakable dark red hair had stood out from the first time Chris had viewed the man's profile in the league manual. "Did you forget about the second Pokémon?" he asked.

Chris looked down at the claw at his throat and followed it back to its owner. The creature possessed a weasel-like appearance, not unlike his fellow assailant. This Pokémon, however, had a large, red crown and matching feathers along his collar. Despite obviously being a Weavile, this Pokémon did not possess the natural smugness of his species. He held a reserved, almost somber look.

"I guess I just thought one surprise would be enough," Chris finally replied.

The man nodded at Weavile, and the Sharp Claw Pokémon backed away from the would-be challenger. The Gym Leader strode forward and extended a hand.

Chris eyed the hand. "Is this a sincere offering?"

"Should you take me at my word after what just happened?"

"Good point." Chris latched on to the man's hand just as he had begun to retract it. His red eyes widened. "What can I say?" Chris said with a shrug. "I'm an optimist."

The man yanked Chris back to his feet and asked, "Are you here to challenge for the Glacier Badge?"

"You're insinuating that you attack all your guests?"

"You had a certain...look. Like you were bouncing on the tips of your toes. That's something that I only see from visiting trainers."

"That's probably just my body shivering in this cold," Chris countered with a smile.

The man cracked a boyish grin, and Chris saw at that moment just how young the Gym Leader was. Even with his hair pulled back into a bun, and the scarlet stubble that covered his chin, the man couldn't have been older than twenty. His expressive red eyes and pale, wrinkle-free face only confirmed it more. From this close, Chris got the sense that he had seen this man before. The league manual had listed his name as Kamon.

The Gym Leader released his hand. "You're my second challenger of the day..."

"Chris."

"Chris," the Gym Leader repeated. He nodded toward the battlefield. "I'll hope you fare better than the first." The trainers split and took their places at opposite sides of the battlefield. The leader pointed a finger at the challenger. "How many badges have you earned?"

"Six."

Kamon motioned to Weavile, and the Sharp Claw Pokémon dashed through the same doorway Chris presumed the leader had lurked behind. The red haired trainer watched the passage carefully as he spoke, "While we're waiting on my official, I'll give you the rundown. This will be a four-on-four battle. The challenger is the only one allowed to make substitutions. We will release our first Pokémon simultaneously."

Chris tried not to grimace when he heard that they'd be battling with four Pokémon a piece. With Gyarados in the PC, three of his six current teammates possessed an Ice-type weakness. Try not to let it come to that, Chris told himself. The Gym Leader had no way of knowing the makeup of his team. He held the element of surprise.

Hurried footsteps echoed through the open passageway. A moment later, a dark haired man came stumbling into the main room. He pulled at the official's uniform with one hand, and juggled four Great Balls wildly in the other. He scrambled over to the Gym Leader, nearly crashing into two different pillars of ice, and sloppily handed Kamon the capture devices.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness," the man said, bowing low. "I was feeding the Pokémon and lost track of time."

"It's okay, Kirk."

The official pulled at the bottom of his uniform before sprinting over to his place on the sideline. He withdrew two flags from his back pocket. "This will be—"

"I've already filled him in, Kirk," Kamon interrupted.

The official stood silent, with his mouth open for several seconds. He finally closed it, and pushed his disheveled black hair away from his eyes. "Okay. Then both trainers may release their Pokémon!"

"You ready?" the Gym Leader asked.

Chris maximized the Poké Ball he had just pulled from his pack. "Absolutely."

"The battle will begin the instant both Pokémon are revealed!" Kirk reminded them.

Chris and Kamon both launched their respective capture devices into the air. The challenger's burst open to reveal the eager grin of Eevee. When the light had faded from the Gym Leader's corner, a long necked, aquatic creature resided there. She possessed a grey, knob covered shell on her back. Lapras looked down at Eevee and his trainer with a solemn stare.

Chris immediately took Kirk's last words to heart. "Shadow Ball," he directed.

Eevee had charged and fired his attack before Kamon had even made a command. The Gym Leader waited to direct his teammate until the attack had nearly reached his companion.

"Tank the hit and use Hail."

Shadow Ball exploded upon contact with the base of Lapras' long neck. As the energy dissipated, a chilling cry echoed through the air. A thick, grey cloud quickly spread over the battlefield. The shapeless mass darkened as snow began to fall from it.

"Follow up with Swift!"

Energy poured out from Eevee and shot forward in the form of a barrage of stars.

"Hydro Pump," Kamon directed.

Lapras opened her mouth and a torrential current of water burst out. The concentrated blast smashed though the energy stars and raced toward Eevee.

"To the left!" Chris instructed.

Eevee pounced that direction, but the pressure behind Lapras' attack proved greater than either challenger realized. The concentrated current managed to catch the Normal-type's hindquarters as he jumped, spinning him around like a top.

"Ice Beam!"

"Dodge and approach with Quick Attack!" Chris called a moment later.

Eevee managed to quickly recover and do as he was told. He darted forward, juking around the beam of ice without slowing.

"Hydro Pump."

"Strike and move!" the challenger immediately countered.

Lapras had charged her attack by the time Eevee had reached her. As the Transport Pokémon opened her mouth to fire, Eevee pounced and tackled her lowered jaw. The blow knocked the Water/Ice-type's mouth shut and snapped her head back. Eevee spun past and landed on her opponent's uneven shell. As Chris went to call for a Bite attack, chunks of ice began to fall from the ominous cloud overhead. A large piece struck Eevee's back as he looked to gain balance, drawing a cry from the Evolution Pokémon.

"Ice Beam!" Kamon commanded.

Lapras twisted her neck around and fired a pale beam into the face of her dazed opponent. The attack launched Eevee backward, leaving a cloud of frozen condensation in his place. Lapras had twisted her body so that her back was to the sideline. Chris had expected his teammate to fly off and strike a frozen pillar at the battlefield's edge. Two months ago, such a direct attack would have knocked the Normal-type out instantly. Even now, he wasn't sure just how much stamina his teammate had built up. But as he braced himself, he realized that Eevee was not on the battlefield. That brought his gaze back to the condensation cloud hanging over Lapras' shell. Either his teammate had been completely frozen or...

"'Vee!"

Eevee dangled from the creature's back, his front paws gripped around one of the shell's knobs.

"Way to hang tough!" Chris roared. "Now, let's find somewhere to Bite!"

Eevee pulled up on the knob and kicked off Lapras' side with all his strength. That propelled him into the air and onto the crown of his opponent's head. He opened his mouth wide and bit down on the blue flesh with a dark pair of fangs. Lapras let out a melodic cry of pain and violently swung her head side to side.

"Hang on!" Chris encouraged.

At that moment, another wave of ice fell from the cloud. A small piece grazed one of Eevee's ears, and a second shard found the back of the Evolution Pokémon's head. Lapras gave another violent shake, and Eevee was flung to the ground in front of her.

"Use Quick Attack to get away!"

Eevee seemed a bit shaken, but managed to rise to his feet. He came up on his toes and prepared to circle around his slower opponent.

"Ice Shard!"

Lapras swung her front flippers up and flung the remaining water from her Hydro Pump into the air. Her eyes took on a pale glow, and the airborne water instantly froze. Without any hesitation, the flurry of ice shot forward. The shards struck Eevee head on and sent the unsuspecting creature tumbling backward.

"Eevee!" Chris called.

The Normal-type stopped his backward momentum and rolled onto his stomach. Through gritted teeth, he willed himself back to his feet. Before either side could make a move, another wave of hail rained down. Several pieces struck Eevee this time, dropping him back to his stomach.

"Hydro Pump."

"Shoot," Chris hissed. He watched on, his knuckles pale from stress and the cold, as his teammate fought to his knees. His head swiveled up and he found Lapras rearing back to fire her high powered blast of water. She went to snap her head forward, but stopped at her trainer's request.

Eevee had dematerialized into a shapeless mass of red light. Chris followed the light back to the Poké Ball he held in his hand. He stared at the device, unsure of when he'd brought it out.

"Chris has chosen to substitute," Kirk announced.

The challenger wasn't sure if Eevee could even still continue, but he decided to go along with the official. Perhaps the Evolution Pokémon would be back in fighting shape after a break. Chris dug out a second Poké Ball and launched it into the air. Flaaffy burst into existence. She took a moment to study her opponent before nodding back to Chris.

Kirk brought up both flags again, announcing, "The second battle may commence!"

Both trainers called for their moves simultaneously.

"Cotton Spore!"

"Ice Beam!"

Flaaffy shook violently, launching her wool coating across the battlefield and onto her attacking opponent. Lapras ignored the soft patches that landed and latched onto her body. She opened her mouth and a frozen beam spiraled out to strike Flaaffy. The Wool Pokémon staggered backward, but remained upright. As the attack faded, Flaaffy's trainer prepared to make an important guess. He watched Kamon look from Flaaffy to the wool covering his Lapras. As the Gym Leader opened his mouth to speak, the challenger made his move.

"Power Gem!" Chris directed.

Energy swarmed around Flaaffy's body as she summoned the army of jagged rocks. Chris looked to his opponent and saw Lapras lethargically lift her flippers up. The sight brought a smirk to his face. Flaaffy wasted no time in firing her finished attack. As the stones spiraled forward, they met resistance in the form of Ice Shard. The quick strike attack proved no match, however, as the rock barrage blasted through and found its target. Another round of hail fell at that moment, but the precipitation seemed less intense, and the ice much smaller.

"Now, Thunderbolt!"

Shrugging off the falling shards that struck her shoulder, Flaaffy dipped her head and channeled an electrical current through her. Kamon called for an attack to meet it, but his voice sounded hollow. With a roar, Flaaffy unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning. The concentrated voltage surged across the battlefield and found Lapras before she could even launch her attack. She flung her head back and let loose a pained cry. Kamon twisted away from the battlefield, unable to watch as his teammate recoiled from the dancing sparks across her body. Chris wasn't surprised to see him step forward a moment later and nod to the official.

"Mr… uh, Kamon has forfeited this matchup. Flaaffy takes the round!"

At the sound of her name, the Wool Pokémon took on a brilliant white glow. The light expanded out as Flaaffy's stature increased. Sparks of increasing size danced around the Electric-type, culminating in a wicked streak of lightning that stretched from ceiling to ground. The white light faded, but a warm, red glow soon took its place. A round, yellow face turned to look at Chris. In that moment, he wished his teammate's children could have been here.

"Ampharos," came the Electric-type's voice. She looked herself over, taking note of the red orb that now resided at the end of her tail.

Chris came over and knelt beside her. He was surprised to find himself looking up at her in this position. "All your hard work has paid off," he said. "And you can still get even stronger." Ampharos gave him a warm grin, which he returned. His smile faded somewhat upon noticing the silence across the battlefield. He twisted to look around his teammate, and found Kamon watching the two closely. The Gym Leader had a strange look in his eyes. Oh well, Chris thought, beginning to rise to his feet. He's probably just realizing... how much trouble… he's…

"'pharos'!"

"Chris!"

The voices bounced around in Chris' ears. He saw the ground come up to meet him—the ice that now coated it twinkling before his eyes.


When Chris awoke, he found two sets of eyes looking down at him.

"Did I win?" Chris heard himself ask.

When he didn't immediately get a response, he started to move.

"Wait!" came Kirk's voice. The young official knelt beside him. Chris squinted at the first aid kit clutched in his hands, and then at the low ceiling

"I… fell?"

"Y—yeah."

"So we didn't finish our battle?"

"No."

Despite the man's shrill cry, Chris sat up. A warm washcloth fell in to his lap. He found a yellow paw on his shoulder an instant later. The attached creature held a worried look on her face. The trainer's mind began to work once more. The massive air unit that had resided in the central chamber had been replaced with the painting of an unreadable word in red. Looking around, he realized he now sat in a small room. Through the low lighting, he found black uniforms and various kinds of weapons hanging from the walls: swords, knives, shuriken, and bows. A pair of ancient looking spheres hung around several tattered black masks near the back of the room. A soft, ornate mat lay under him. Everything clicked as he turned back to face the creature beside him. "Ampharos! Are you alright?"

She waved away his concern before giving him a stern nod. "Amph'."

"I'm perfectly fine," Chris replied, smacking one of his biceps. "Good enough to break some ice!"

Movement at the room's entrance grabbed everyone's attention. Kamon walked with pace, a Sneasel at his side. "I heard a yell," he said. "Is everyone—" he stopped as his eyes found Chris. "You shouldn't be moving yet."

"What's going on?" Chris asked.

The Gym Leader exchanged a worried look with his official. "You passed out during our battle," Kamon explained. "You hit the ground before we could catch you. And when you tried to pop back up, me and Ampharos guided you here."

"I walked here?"

Kamon came over to squat beside the challenger. As he scanned Chris' face, the same nagging sense of familiarity gripped the trainer's focus. The Gym Leader had released his hair from its bun, and the dark red locks now hung down to his shoulders. Sneasel stepped over to his trainer's side to study Chris, and that's when his brain made the connection.

"My gosh," Chris breathed. "I know you."

Confusion overtook worry on Kamon's face. "What?"

"You battled my brother," Chris added. He could still visualize Matt's opponent. The striking red eyes and intense expression. The long, dark red hair. A Sneasel, just like the one that had worn down and defeated Matt's Feraligatr, standing at his side. "You beat him to win the Silver Conference."

Kamon's expression mirrored his Gym's typing. He stood up. "The ground must have given you a concussion. I've got a doctor on the way."

"You went on to battle Ethan at the Elite Four. I remember watching on T.V." Kamon had begun to walk away, but Chris continued. "You two had the best trilogy of battles I've ever seen! That was the final piece that earned Ethan his moniker as Gold. You were—"

"Enough."

Kamon spun around and Chris' mouth closed involuntarily. The Gym Leader's eyes were slits. The former challenger struggled to maintain eye contact. "Your health is the priority here," Kamon's words were as sharp as the mounted blades around them. Without turning to the official, he added, "Make sure he drinks plenty of water. I told you earlier to have fluids on standby." With that, Kamon strode back out the door with Sneasel in hot pursuit.


The doctor arrived not long after Kirk had returned with several bottles of water. She stepped through the door in typical doctor attire: white coat, stethoscope, Blissey assistant, and all. She gave a quick greeting before diving into a preliminary analysis. As she and her partner Pokémon worked, they asked about Chris' medical history. As Blissey transitioned into a concussion screening, Chris realized Kamon had returned. The Gym Leader leaned against the back wall and watched in silence. The doctor stood him up and had him go through a myriad of drills, including the transition between kneeling and standing. She took several notes after seeing him stumble back to his feet from a sitting position. Blissey brought out a metal device from the doctor's massive medical kit and wrapped it around Chris' legs. It rumbled and squealed for nearly two minutes before Blissey shut it off. Blissey then slowly moved the device up Chris' body, providing him with plastic headphones once she had reached his skull. The doctor brought out a tablet and swiped through several screens. She whipped out a stylus and made several more notes before conferring with Blissey. All the while, Chris anxiously waited and Ampharos, Kirk, and Kamon watched on. The doctor finally turned away from her partner Pokémon. Chris felt his heart skip a beat, as thoughts of Luke and his damaged body flashed through his mind.

"Great news," she said with a smile. "You appear to have not suffered a concussion on your fall. A quick scan of your legs also revealed no significant structural damage."

Chris frowned at her wording. "No significant damage?"

"The analysis did reveal signs of patellofemoral pain syndrome—sometimes referred to as runner's knee. It can occur when overworking your muscles and tissue. And based off our scans, most of the muscles in your body have been at least minorly overworked. None of this has worked its way into your cartilage, thankfully."

"What about the fainting?" Chris asked.

"Your blood pressure is low, Mr. Aedan," the doctor replied. Her expression grew firm. "Very low. It's on par with people that have been stranded or lost in the wilderness for weeks. Between your overworked muscles and low blood pressure, it's no surprise to hear you've been fainting. When we stand up, our circulation goes to war with the force of gravity. To put it simply—in your state, gravity has been winning." She motioned toward the trainer and his Ampharos. "What exactly have you been up to?"

Chris took a deep breath before summarizing the previous two months as succinctly as possible. Kirk's eyes had widened to the size of saucers by the time the tale had been told.

"Are you sure you trained with Kiyo?" he blurted out.

Chris nodded. "He reminded me every time I tried to call him 'sir.'" The Cherrygrove native shot the young official a curious look. "How do you know him?"

"Oh, he trained with Chuck back in Cianwood," Kirk answered.

The nurse cleared her throat, silencing the young men. "That's quite an eventful couple of months, Mr. Aedan. It goes a long way in explaining why your body is so worn out and lacking in nutrients. And I would hope you are wise enough to know that a couple of granola bars do not make up for nearly three days of fasting."

Chris shot the doctor an apologetic look. "What should my next step be, ma'am?"

"Normally, I'd recommend rest from all physical activity for at least a month," she replied, drawing a look of horror from her patient. She brought up a hand. "But your case is different. You've been pushing your body hard these past two months. To suddenly put your body on hold now would be like instantaneously stopping a vehicle moving a hundred miles an hour. To stick with that analogy, my plan for you is to comfortably and safely bring your speed to a healthy level." She pressed something on her tablet and a paper began to print from an opening on its side. A moment later, the document was in Chris' hand. "I want you to continue being active, but at a slower, more safe level. I'm talking about things like walking, light climbing, and leisurely swimming. No running. No biking. And no more… uh, martial arts."

Chris grimaced at the thought of slowing down, but he knew better than to argue with a medical professional. "You said I'd need to work on my nutrition too. What can I do for that?"

The doctor pointed near the bottom of the page. "I've written down a list of foods and drinks I'd like you to buy," she answered. "My primary concerns are replenishing your body's calcium and Vitamin D intake. Listed are some supplements and foods that can help you with the former. Getting out in the sun can help your body with its production of Vitamin D, but as we're heading into winter, you won't receive nearly as much as you need. There is a brand of supplement that many people in northern Johto take during this stretch of the year. I would recommend it to you as well."

"Thank you, ma'am," Chris said with a bow. She extended a hand in reply, and the two shook.

"Take care of yourself, Mr. Aedan," she said, casting a glance at Ampharos. "Remember that you are part of the team as well." She turned and made for the door. As she passed Kamon, she handed him a small sheet of paper and mumbled something inaudible. Then she was gone.

"That's still so crazy that you trained with the Karate King," Kirk exclaimed. "Back when I wanted to be a trainer, I always thought it would have been so cool to train under Chuck."

Chris' eyebrows rose. "So you didn't become a trainer, but you still wanted to be involved in the scene? Why'd you change your goal?"

Kirk's eyes flashed toward the Gym Leader and the Sneasel beside him. "Ya' know… things change. It's really not important."

"Something that is important," Kamon suddenly added, "is how you're going to pay for that doctor visit."

Chris stepped over and gently took the paper from his hand. He recognized the sheet as a billing statement. Sweat began to pool around his shoulders as he saw certain figures scattered throughout. His blood nearly ran cold when he saw everything added up. This would take up all the money I've saved, Chris thought. That'd only leave me with the emergency account mom set up. That secondary account would not hold him over to the end of his journey. Between food and vitamins for his Pokémon, the food and necessary supplements for himself, and general travel expenses, he'd be lucky to make it to the new year.

"You look like you're about to faint again."

Chris looked up and found the Gym Leader's eyes studying him.

"I may need to sit down," Chris admitted.

"Go over to the mat," Kamon advised.

Chris did as he was told. His legs nearly gave out as he dropped onto the ornately designed rug. Ampharos was at his side a moment later. She wielded a worried look that he tried to counter with a smile. "We'll be fine," Chris said. "We won't let money troubles stop us from our goal." Chris pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand. "Once I'm back to full strength, I'll join an amateur fighting league and make some extra cash. You and the crew can be my trainers." That brought a chuckle out of the Electric-type. She shook her head and pointed to his black eye. Chris flashed his eyebrows in response. "See, we already know I can take a good beating."

"We never got to see if that was true on the battlefield," Kamon interjected. He stepped over to the trainer's side and snatched the billing statement from his hand. He shot the trainer an icy glare when he tried to take it back. "This payment is due by mid December. That gives you a little over a month to pay it off." He waited a moment to let that sink in for Chris. "That leaves you with two options. You could put your Pokémon journey on hold and try to get a high paying job that hires sixteen year olds. Or," Kamon's eyes flashed as he spoke, "you can take the next month to recover and prepare for the conclusion of our Gym battle… on one condition."

"And that is...?"

"You spend the first week at my Gym as an unpaid worker."

Chris' mouth fell open. He turned and found Kirk gawking back at him. He looked to the Gym Leader once more. "How will the bill be paid?"

Kamon's eyes narrowed. "It just will be."

The Cherrygrove native felt Ampharos' paw on his shoulder. He found a reassuring grin on her round face. "Amph'."

"I'll take option two."


A tale of triumph and terror! Chris finds himself with a fully evolved comrade, but no badge to accompany her. An internship with the Gym Leader—a man Chris seemingly recognizes—is about to begin. What awaits the trainer in the upcoming week? The answer will be revealed in the next illuminating installment of Heart and Soul! I hope to see you then! Please Review and Subscribe!