"Alright, it's a new day, new opportunities." Ash said, jogging in place. "Whats on today's schedule?"

"Don't you want to challenge the gym here?" Rosa asked.

"Already checked, he is on some business right now." Ash said.

"Could we perhaps find more battles for my data, I know several companies on the Main Street are known for their workers skills." Elliot said.

"Training Pokemon, simply to have them fight in pointless battles, is that really what qualifies a good worker, or a good person?" A familiar voice asked, causing Rosa to shiver.

"N, hey it's good to see you." Ash said. "Right, you two haven't met, Elliot this is N, N this is Elliot."

"I see you still have your goal of entering the Unova League." N said, having heard the earlier conversation.

"Yeah, I've actually earned two badges already." Ash said proudly.

"Then may I ask for another battle, too see if you are raising your Pokemon correctly?" N asked.

"Sounds good to me, but maybe we should find somewhere less indoors." Ash said, looking around the Pokemon Center.

Later on Liberty Pier

"Alright N, what are the rules for this match?" Ash asked.

"I would like a three on three battle against you." N said calmly.

"Sounds good for me. Riolu come on out!" Ash called out.

"Sewaddle come out." N said. "Use String Shot!"

"Use Double Team!"

Sewaddle strung Riolu up in their silk, keeping him from creating clones.

"Ri! Ri! Ri!" Riolu struggled before launching forward, striking Sewaddle with his head.

"That wasn't Force Palm or Ice Punch, and definitely not Dig." Rosa said.

"It looked more like Headbutt." Elliot said.

"Sewaddle use Razor Leaf!"

"Riolu take it!"

Riolu stood back up, taking the leaves as they struck the silk, cutting Riolu free.

"Now use Ice Punch!"

"Use Bug Bite!"

Sewaddle leapt at Riolu, biting down on the fighting type before being struck by a freezing fist.

"Get rid of them with Headbutt!" Ash called out.

"Use String Shot!"

Riolu struck Sewaddle, sending the bug flying as a string attached to the bug wrapped around Riolu's fist and wrapped the other end around a post.

"Sewaddle return." N said. "The way Riolu speaks it speaks volumes about your relationship with him. Now come out Woobat."

"Riolu use Ice Punch!"

"Woobat use Heart Stamp."

Riolu leapt at Woobat, stopping short while still trapped by the silk from Sewaddle, then immediately getting a kiss from Woobat, sending the fighting type crashing back down to the ground.

"Riolu return! Pikachu you're up! Use Thunderbolt!"

"Woobat use Attract."

Woobat sent out a stream of hearts, encircling around Pikachu, causing him to become confused.

"Woobat use Gust."

"Pikachu dodge it!"

Pikachu was tossed around by Woobat's winds, knocking him back.

"Woobat use Heart Stamp."

"Pikachu use Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu realigned his thoughts and emotions long enough to strike back the moment that Woobat made contact, sending the psychic type tumbling back, covered in sparks.

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu raced forward, slamming into Woobat, knocking them out.

"You and Pikachu fight with such ferocity and yet the energy you have is shared, you both have your hearts in this fight." N said curiously. "Woobat return, come out Drilburr."

"Ash, Drilbur is a ground type and pretty fast." Elliot pointed out.

"Not as fast as Snivy is!" Ash said, sending out the grass type in place of Pikachu. "Snivy use Energy Ball!"

"Drilbur use Rapid Spin!"

Drilbur leapt into the air, spinning and dissipating the Energy Ball before coming back down.

"Snivy use Vine Whip!"

"Drilbur use Rapid Spin."

Drilbur's claws gripped Snivy's vines, wrapping the grass type close.

"Snivy use Energy Ball!"

At close range Snivy was able to get off an attack, launching the two Pokemon apart.

"Drilbur use Metal Claw."

"Snivy use Tackle!"

Snivy rushed forward, ducking between Drilbur's claws slamming into the ground type, knocking it onto their back.

"Snivy use Vine Whip once more!"

Snivy slipped vines back out of their back snapping them on the prone Drilbur.

"Once again you leave me perplexed Ash Ketchum." N said, "You fight with such tenacity and ferocity and yet your Pokemon, they do not sound angry or hurt, they enjoy the battle."

"Well of course, as long as everyone is having fun that's what's important." Ash said with a smirk.

"And you still have the goal of becoming a Pokemon Master, despite knowing your Pokemon might be hurt along the way?" N asked.

"Well, when you put it like that, it sounds bad, but I'm not forcing them to fight. If any of my Pokemon showed a want to do something else other than fighting I would listen." Ash said. "You know I once had an Aipom, and we did a few gyms together but then I traded her to my friend Dawn for her Buizel who was more interested in battles… anyways I'm getting off track. You know N, you have the right idea that there are trainers who would do things to harm their Pokemon."

"You actually agree with him?" Rosa asked.

"Not exactly, I think every trainer has good intentions, even if we don't know it, but if you really want to make a difference a good way to start is entering the Unova League too." Ash said. "I know you're going to say that Pokemon would get hurt, but you could help bring ideas forward if you win, be the change you want and all that."

"Be the change." N said. "Very interesting, perhaps I will look into it. I am sure we will meet again Ash Ketchum."

"See you around N!" Ash said enthusiastically.

"Rosa, what is it?" Elliot asked.

"Something about N doesn't feel right, every time I see him, I get this gut feeling." Rosa said. "I mean he knew who Ash was and his dream before we even spoke to him."

"Ash did say he's competed in multiple leagues, there is a chance N was at one of them." Elliot pointed out.

"I guess, I'm probably being paranoid." Rosa said, shaking her head.

Ash's Current Team and their Moves

Pikachu: Quick Attack - Thunderbolt - Iron Tail - Volt Tackle

Riolu- Force Palm - Ice Punch - Headbutt - Dig

Snivy: Tackle - Vine Whip - Energy Ball