• Hey Trainers! Be sure to check out Corsola Beach, our newest section on the forums, in partnership with our friends at Corsola Cove! At the Beach, you can discuss the competitive side of the games, post your favorite Pokemon memes, and connect with other Pokemon creators!
  • Due to the recent changes with Twitter's API, it is no longer possible for Bulbagarden forum users to login via their Twitter account. If you signed up to Bulbagarden via Twitter and do not have another way to login, please contact us here with your Twitter username so that we can get you sorted.

MATURE: Nori Carino: Official In-Training [COMPLETE!!]

Month 4: April of Change (second part)
    • April of Change (second part)
    April 7th, 2015​

    Just like the first day, the second day of school was just class orientation, except for officials' training. From here on out, seventh grade students would have two classes a day, going through all eight in order in an AB CD EF GH pattern, before looping in a BA DC FE HG one. To his annoyance, his battling class teacher expected big things from him. Thankfully it was as much academic as it was practical. He looked it up, and it wouldn't be necessary next year. Nothing to do but coast this year, he figured.

    To the boy's chagrin, Eddie found him at lunch as he was wandering the halls. The Gym Trainer started blabbing; the boy ignored it and kept walking. That was, until he heard a familiar voice with a light Solaceon accent from his right.

    "Well, well, well. Look who it is." Spike strutted up with an even more inflated air of self-superiority than a month ago. He was dressed in clothing that would befit any punk "Softy Nori Carino. This your new boyfriend?"

    Eddie arched an eyebrow. "Who's this raggedy little shit?" he inquired, sparing only the slightest glance as though the bully was unworthy of his attention.

    "Spike Caras," Nori explained. "Some tryhard I met in sixth grade, mostly went after my friend Lux. And I mostly got the better of him."

    "So he's back at it trying to save face, huh?" The dark-skinned teen snickered.

    "Who's tryin' to save face?" Spike fired back. "Someone shoulda saved yours, ugly."

    "Pft. Big talk from a guy who's dressed like a wannabe gangster. What's with the hair?"

    "Grows this way. Where's yours?"

    "Like it short." Eddie ran his palm along his scalp. He always kept it in a buzz cut. It never occurred to Nori, but thinking about it now, Eddie must've had a barber willing to do that for cheap. "Anyway, lemme see if I got this right. This kid's whooped your ass a buncha times, now you're trying to pick a fight again?" He took a step forward with threatening undertones. "With me here to back 'em up?"

    "Didn't he whoop you too?" Some of the onlooking students went ‘ooo’ at this. Nori grinned. This was getting good. "And here you are stickin' up for him."

    "Yeah, he did," Eddie freely admitted. "I don't like this kid. In fact, think he's a little pussy baby."

    "And you're a jerk!"

    Ignoring it, Eddie continued. "But you got a problem with him, you got a problem with me and the others. We at Sunyshore Gym stick together."

    Nori wasn't sure how to feel about this. The solidarity even in the face of their dispute was a nice gesture, but he wasn't sure he wanted it.

    "Ooo, I'm so scared!" Spike sarcastically quipped, before addressing him. "What's wrong with you, softy? Gotten even softer and hidin' behind this twat?"

    And that was why he was uncertain he wanted it. "I'm not hiding behind him!" he shouted. He turned to the Gym Trainer. "And I can fight my own battles."

    "Really? Wouldn't think that. Can barely fight with Pokemon."

    "I did it just fine before." Nori smirked mischievously. "And at least with Spike, he didn't complain when I beat him up. You had to go crying like a pansy and made a big spectacle of it."

    More intrigue from the crowd. His public apology and Eddie's actions during it were seen by a lot of people, and probably heard of by many more. Spike agreed. "Gotta agree there. Kind of a bitch move."

    Eddie stomped right up to the bully. "You wanna start somethin'?"

    "I ain't scared of you."

    "Then let's have it out in the fields, kid." He took out a Poke Ball.

    "Ain't got no Pokemon yet."

    "So a fistfight, then?" Nori suggested, trying to contain his joyous laughter. This was great. Two people he didn't like were fighting each other. Perfect!

    "Pft," Eddie waved. "Screw that."

    "Scared I'll kick your ass?" Spike punctuated this with a light shove. People held their breath to see what Eddie was going to do about it.

    "You ain't worth my time, kid."

    To everyone's disappointment, he turned on his heels and walked away. Nori still found it in him to smile. Eddie backed off. From Spike of all people. It was too bad he was still a stupid bully who hated him, because he'd want to be friends with him otherwise.

    "Guess you're a bitch after all," Spike mocked, before turning his attention back to Nori. "And I ain't forgotten what you did, softy. Smug little fucker, too. Gonna get you back someday."

    That day wasn't going to be today. With this, Spike took his leave as well. Nori would've been more than happy to throw down, but knew it was better not to get into trouble on his second day of junior high.

    ##########​

    April 8th, 2015​

    Wednesday was Nori's first proper day of school. Luckily, there was little drama in his classes. Spike wasn't in the same group as him, so it was just schoolwork and light conversation with others. Far less intensive than what he went through daily at the Gym.

    Nori ate his lunch in the halls, near his locker. He didn't like the cafeteria. It was too crowded and too noisy for his taste, plus he had to sit and eat around others. He never liked eating with strangers.

    After he finished, he decided to head to the Square. It was an open indoor space for students to congregate, located near the middle of the school. Nearby stairs allowed access to both floors; you could look down on it from the second. The drama and music rooms were located beyond huge sliding barricades. Each had a small stage in front of it. Several vending machines were on the second floor, and the snack shop was just around the corner on the first.

    He was lounging around on the first floor, when a booming female voice called out to the entire student body. "Read all about it!" He turned and saw Arumi. She was dressed in a normal if somewhat formal getup today, rather than her disguise from the day they first met.

    "Island Academy Shut Down Amidst Allegations of Mass Brainwashing!"

    "What?!"

    Arumi caught sight of him, or at least inferred she'd gotten his attention. "I see I have an interested reader!" she declared. With flair, she presented him with a stapled-together set of sheets, twelve pages double-sided. "Here, our school's weekly newsletter! It's the top story under news from other schools around the world!"

    Nori gave the green papers a quick glance. "Yes, I heard about this." It was weird, something at the Flaming Haze University to cover a scandal with Team Rocket infiltration. Which created a bigger one when the memory sealing failed on multiple students. It was nothing to worry about and not relevant, just Arumi referencing something. "But what does some private Pokemon college have to do with us?"

    Arumi idly handed out more to willing (and some unwilling) students as she elaborated. "I'm making sure teens stay informed of major incidents going on around the world! Especially when it concerns teens our age! Or schools! Or especially teens our age at school!" She twirled a finger. "Some news places like to keep things local or regional, but there's more to news than that!"

    Nori agreed. "I always liked the news for that reason. I like learning what's going on in the world."

    "Really?!" Arumi gasped in marveled awe. Her eyes sparkled. "Then you should join the news club, and be a part of our mission!"

    "Your mission?"

    A beat. "Okay, it's kind of my personal goal," she admitted. "But if you have an interest in media at all, you should consider it!"

    "Reporting, huh?" He liked the news, but it never occurred to him to help put it together. "You know, I just might do that."

    This had caught his interest. He didn't have to join a club, but that didn't mean he couldn't. Sure, he was going to be a Pokemon Rehabilitator - as long as he could beat Eddie on the 20th - but it could be a good backup. And maybe, he thought, he could learn some useful things there.

    Arumi clapped him on the back. "Glad to hear that! We meet up in the video production room, each day, after school and at lunch!"

    "Well, I apparently need to get back to the Gym as quick as I can. Every day, no matter what," he droned. "But I'll drop by at lunch tomorrow."

    "Excellent! Maybe you can give me some insider info!" She was beaming ear to ear, though when she realized what she'd asked and how she'd asked it, changed to giving him baby Growlithe eyes with just a bit of sheepishness. "Uh, please?"

    Nori smirked, dispelling her worries. "Happy to." He'd tell her anything she wanted about the Gym.

    "See you then, then!" Nori walked off as Arumi continued to distribute the newsletter.

    ---​

    After school had ended for the day, Nori found himself accosted by Eddie as he was making his way out. The boy's suspicions were roused by the Gym Trainer's casual conversation.

    "What do you really want, Eddie?" he decided to ask directly, as they exited. He wouldn't be doing this if he didn't want something.

    His expression turned cold. "Heard you made friends with a certain wannabe reporter."

    "I'm not dating her."

    "Quick to say that. You better not be."

    "I'm not! What's wrong with being friends with a girl?"

    "It's being friends with her."

    Kallisto's convertible was waiting in the parking lot. Eddie marched over with purpose, exchanging quick words. Tono and the head Gym Trainer immediately got out and rushed over.

    "Nori, really?!" said Kallisto.

    Tono was aghast. "I thought you were just naive and blinded by anger much of the time, but it appears your better judgment has left your frontal lobe altogether."

    "Another thing you don't want me doing? What's the big deal this time?" he asked. This wasn't like when they told him not to date anyone. This was a mix of disgust and horror. The three Gym Trainers gave an outline of their disdain.

    "Arumi Schrader is every negative stereotype about reporters rolled into one. A disgrace to her prestigious family name."

    "She's nuts, kid. No respect for privacy."

    Ollie didn't get out, but shouted from the car. "She's stalked people before! She might start stalking you, too!"

    Kallisto took a deep breath, far more composed. "I don't like to speak ill of others or make negative assumptions about people's motivations." He thoughtfully closed his eyes, and eventually shook his head. "But Arumi...I don't know what to think about her."

    Nori didn't get it. Maybe Arumi was in-your-face, sure. But she was peachy and pleasant compared to them. In fact, he had a good idea what it was.

    "What, are you scared of her?" he taunted.

    "No!"

    Eddie's reaction was instant, and Nori threw this response right back at him. "You were quick to say that, you know."

    "Fuck off!"

    "You're afraid she'll dig up dirt on you, aren't you?" It was a shot in the dark.

    "Nori, stop being presumptuous," Kallisto ordered, stern and serious, as if insulted. His tone softened with his next words. "The point we're making is she's not the kind of person you want to be friends with. Sorry if we didn't make that clear last month."

    "We would not wish that young woman on our worst enemy, let alone a..." Tono considered this. "...fellow Gym resident, I suppose."

    "Trust us," the head Gym Trainer affirmed with a nod. "I know we're not on the best of terms. But we're looking out for you here."

    "I didn't ask you to do that, and I don't want you to!" With this, Nori stomped away.

    "Fine, kid! Just don't say we didn't warn your sorry ass!"

    Screw them! Even if they were telling the truth! He had enough trouble making real friends as it is! He was always popular, he got along with most people, but he had few real friends! That's why it hurt. That's why it hurt so bad to lose Lux! If Arumi could be a friend, he'd welcome her with open arms, no matter what kind of person she turned out to be! Even if she was a nutty negative journalist stereotype who stalked people and had no respect for privacy! She would still be a friend!

    ##########​

    April 9th, 2015​

    After Nori returned, the Gym Trainers thankfully dropped the issue. The boy, on thinking about it, wasn't sure of his accusation. Maybe they really did just hate Arumi for who she was. She seemed to have a history of bothering them at the Gym. But it wasn't his problem. He wasn't going to let anything deter him. He decided not to waste any time in accepting her invitation.

    At lunch the day after, Nori searched until he found the video production room. It was at the very end of one of the hallways. At first he accidentally poked into a large room that appeared to be a set of some kind. It had green screens, lights, and various cameras, microphones, and other equipment at the ready. The walls of the main room were painted black. A teacher's desk was tucked in the back near another entrance to the set room. There were four large tables in the room, a couple televisions, and three tiny side-rooms on the left with computers.

    Five students were sitting at one of the tables. Their heads turned. Arumi immediately stood and came over to him.

    "Hey, Nor'!" the braided-haired girl said. "Glad you could make it!"

    "Hey, uh." Nori rubbed the back of his head. He was curious. "Did you hear the Sunyshore Gym Trainers were talking trash about you after school yesterday?"

    She gave an enthusiastic nod. "I did! It's no secret they're not fans of me. I guess I just rub some people the wrong way, you know?"

    Nori laughed. "I don't just know, I understand." He rubbed people the wrong way all the time. But when people got to know him, like Lux did, they were always very close.

    A teenaged male with light brown hair sighed in exasperation. He was dressed as formal as one could get without donning a full-on suit or uniform: a white dress-shirt, miniature red tie, black dress pants, and brown fedora. "They don't like you because you're too pushy, Arumi. If someone doesn't want to give you an interview, there's nothing you can do."

    "But you have to be pushy sometimes!" she stated, making the teen shake his head in disbelief. Arumi held out a palm, presenting Nori. "Anyhoo! Everyone, I'm sure you know him already. But this is Nori Carino! He'll be joining our club!"

    "Nori Carino is joining us?" a boy around his age asked. The strawberry blond male was in a star-patterned shirt with red shorts. He wondered, did he actually wear that outside?! April was hardly shorts weather in Sinnoh! "I thought he'd be a shoe-in for the battles club."

    He smirked. "I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?"

    "Guess so!" The other boy laughed.

    Arumi grinned. "Why don't you introduce yourselves, everyone?"

    "I'm Yuki Omi," the shorts-wearing boy said. "I just joined the club too!"

    "Lorant Floyd Robertson," said the one furthest back, simple and to the point. The tallest among them, he had a skin tone between Arumi's and Eddie's, as well as white hair in a buzz cut.

    "I am called Beau Alagiah," introduced the other girl of the group. She spoke with a refined, eloquent tone. She was in a frilly designer pink and white shirt and a long ankle-length purple skirt. Her lavender-colored hair was poofy, for lack of a better term, and she had crescent-moon shaped earrings. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

    The one who criticized Arumi went last. "The name's Gino Parsons," he said in a welcoming tone. "Good to meet you, Nori."

    "And good to meet all of you," he replied. All of them, even Lorant, gave him friendly and welcoming smiles. "So what do you do here?"

    Gino explained. "We're a tight-knit group of students who want to be involved in the news in some way when we get older. Lorant's most comfortable behind a camera. Arumi's our field reporter. Beau and I want to be news anchors."

    "I'm more into sports," Yuki added.

    "Good to know," said Gino, with a determined look of approval. "Our club's resident sports buff graduated last year. So we could use someone who can cover our school's teams in detail."

    "My sweet Sato..." Arumi dreamily sighed.

    Beau rolled her eyes, and elaborated further. "We of the news club engage in a number of activities. The lesser among them include studying video production, journalistic training, and discussing the news."

    Discussing the news? "Cool!" Nori said. He loved listening to it! It was already looking like a great idea to come here, he always wanted to talk to people about it! "Hey, you hear about that shooting on that interview show?"

    "Oh yeah! Joanne and Paz!" Yes, Arumi knew its name! It was run by a mother and daughter, held debates and interviewed famous people, and was notorious for heated arguments and occasional on-air incidents. "That preacher shot that nudist right in the dick!"

    Yuki and Beau were mortified. Lorant remained stone-faced, and Gino was dismissive. "Uh, sure," he said, not concealing his disinterest. "Before you got here, we were talking about those protests about a new series of solar walkways being planned to be built on the east side."

    "I heard about that!" said Yuki.

    Beau nodded. "They are proving to be an eyesore for some residents."

    Nori could understand that. Maybe? It wasn't that interesting to him. Compare a scandal with a semi-popular radio show to political boringness that wouldn't go anywhere like most protests did. Plus it only affected Sunyshore.

    "Getting back on track," Gino said. "Our main purpose here is the school newsletter. We all work together putting it together, typing it up, printing and distributing it. It's a lot of work at the keyboards."

    Nori adjusted his bangs. "Uh, well, I won't be any help there. I barely know how to use a computer."

    Everyone but Arumi was aghast at this. Lorant grunted. Yuki went, "Really?!"

    "How could you not know how to use a computer?" asked Gino.

    "I refuse to believe that!" Beau shouted.

    Arumi came to his defense. "Oh, come on, guys! Give him a break, you should know why he doesn't!" She got up, and as if she were on-camera, paced about and gesticulated. "Nori Carino grew up in a trailer park with his single mom. A lot of things we take for granted like phones, internet, TV, video games, and computers, he never had growing up!"

    "Mhm." He nodded.

    Gino nodded. "Ah, that's right."

    "Oh, my apologies." Beau still looked horrified, and Nori knew exactly why. She was trying to process how he could live like that. He got that so often he could tell exactly when someone was thinking that.

    For his part, he smiled at them. "It's okay, I'm used to it." It never bothered him unless someone decided to be classist.

    To that point, Yuki groaned. "I can't imagine life without my cell phone and Poketch." Beau nodded in agreement.

    "In any case," Gino asked him. "Are you actually interested in joining the club?"

    "Sure, why not? I've always liked the news."

    "Then welcome aboard."

    They shook hands to make it official. Arumi clapped and cheered. The others save the stoic Lorant also clapped. There was one thing he wanted to make clear though, just in case Arumi hadn't.

    "It'll be part-time, because they want my back at the Gym right after school every day, but I'll pitch in any way I can." He paused, glancing into one of the side-rooms. "Just not with the computer stuff."

    Arumi slapped him on the back. "It's okay, we'll help ya out learning it, Nor'. Won't we?" She looked out at the others, who nodded. Nori felt a warmth rising in his chest. He was worried he was going into another potentially hostile environment, but everyone here was kind. At worst, slightly dysfunctional.

    The boy sighed. "Can't believe they're making me learn it in school."

    "It is a highly useful skill to have in our world," Beau stated.

    Nori couldn't deny that. He didn't like computers, but it was good to know how to use them, just in case. And he did always look forward to learning new things.

    ---​

    In the afternoon, Nori finally got his cast removed. He was given eye-shielding goggles to wear as he sat with his arm strapped down. Betsy-Ann watched and held his arm to steady it further as the coach cut through the cast with a medical sawblade. Afterward, they had him do some basic stretches and exercises with the arm. Eventually the coach left, and it was just him and Betsy-Ann in the room.

    "Surprised ya ain't had no one sign that there thing," Betsy-Ann remarked."Did no one ask ya?"

    He shrugged. "Didn't see the point. A few did." He smirked at her. "You didn't."

    She laughed. "Got me there." She picked it up and handed it to him. "Here ya go, a l'il keepsake, in any case."

    Nori reflexively accepted it. He knew a couple kids who kept their casts after breaking their arm. Yet with mixed emotions, he placed it on the table. "When I look at this, I can only remember how it got broken."

    Betsy-Ann huffed. "I know that Kallisto can be a regular 'ol pain in the rear."

    Nori blinked. "Wh-what?" he stuttered. From her tone, she was serious. Not just admitting a dark secret that went unspoken by everyone either. She said it bitterly. "You...don't like him, either?"

    "Let's jus' say me an' him have a l'il history."

    Again, he sat dumbfounded. Kallisto and Betsy-Ann had a history? Something that he did to make her hate him? "What happened?"

    "Ain't the time," she dismissed. At first, Nori was annoyed. How could you say that and not say anything?! However, the rural medic-in-training eased this with a gesture and promise. "Won't keep mum on ya forever. Cross my heart."

    "Okay, looking forward to it." Speculation ran rampant in his mind.

    "Best skedaddle for now. Take care, ya hear?"

    "I will." Nori halted as he got up. After a moment's thought, he snatched the cast. "I guess I'll take it anyway." Maybe he could use it as motivation. A reminder of everything, and a reminder not to forgive Kallisto. Betsy-Ann giggled as he left the room.

    ##########​

    April 10th, 2015​

    The first two blocks of every Friday would be Nori's Officials' training. It was something he was looking forward to. There was so much more he needed to know besides Pokemon, and Volkner wasn't a good source.

    Instead of a classroom, he went to this strange unfurnished side-room. It was so cramped he was reminded of his family trailer. When you walked in, you were met with a small corridor with old textbooks straight in front of you, a boiler or heater at the end, and wooden stairs just to the right. The second floor was only slightly more open. The wood floor had enough room for a table and chair; another shelf of books was behind where you walked up. There were only three light sources: two string-lights on each floor, and a single tiny window that a human couldn't squeeze out of that overlooked the sports field. Pipes and vents were exposed freely above, and cobwebs littered the untiled roof. It was like a random shed built into the school.

    As he waited, Nori wondered what type of person his official teacher would be. Finally, the door opened, and he had his answer. He turned to see a woman with very short black hair coming up the steps. Nori recoiled. "Your eye!" he blurted. She had a patch over her right eye!

    "Lost it chasing a Pokemon Hunter," the woman quipped. She was dressed in a simple white and beige outfit, something between a casual and formal suit. "Damn silver-haired cunt. This close to killing the bitch, but she threw a henchman and one of her Pokemon in front of the bullets. What about it?"

    "Nothing, nothing," Nori said. "I was just surprised."

    "Everyone is," she bitterly muttered. "Bastards made me retire, even though I shoot at a distance with one eye better than some bumblers can point blank with two."

    Nori shuddered at the woman's tone. He could already tell, she didn't want to be here. Was she going to end up being just as bad as Volkner? They had the same attitude, the only difference was he was a Gym Leader and this woman seemed to be a former special agent.

    She crossed her arms. "Rin Kakoku. I'll be your teacher for Officials' training. You'll be learning law, history, athletics, fieldwork, and psychology."

    "Psychology?"

    She reached into her pack. "Reading others, people and Pokemon."

    "Oh, uh, like body language?" He heard about that, mostly on his radio dramas. Like how someone might give away that they're hiding something by their little actions. "A lot to cram in..."

    "So I don't want to piss around." At once, she dropped a textbook on his desk. "Read this."

    "Is this the law book?" he inquired.

    "A law book. We'll be covering the basics first. We'll cover criminal, civil, and Pokemon law in-depth later." She shooed him to begin. "If you have questions, ask." With this, she took out her phone and leaned against the wall.

    ---​

    This was so hands-off compared to every other teacher Nori had that it initially threw him for a loop. Instead of getting a lecture along with the textbook, he was reading it completely on his own. He took notes on anything that stood out or seemed important.

    That's not to say the teacher wasn't paying attention. Periodically, Ms. Kakoku (he asked if she was a Ms. or Mrs. and got that answer) would speak up and ask him questions about pages he'd recently read. He was always able to answer.

    Before long, the bell rang for break. "Good enough on that for today," she said. She plopped some papers on his desk. "Homework. I'll have a test for you on chapters 1-2 next time."

    A test, already?! Nori winced. "All right." He'd have to find the time to study between work for his other classes and training for exhibition day.

    "We'll start on history after."

    ---​

    Nori already had a history class, so he wondered what the point of this one was. "That blond rat gave you the Pokemon Training History textbook, right?"

    "Yes," Nori said, trying not to giggle at her description for him. "I've read about halfway through."

    "Good." And with this, Ms. Kakoku produced some papers. "Let's see how much you remember."

    Nori glanced down at it. Another test?! There had to be at least a dozen pages here! Flipping through, some of them expected written answers too! He could only groan and get to it.

    ---​

    "So how'd I do?" he asked after the fact. He was worried. He'd only been reading it on and off and hadn't been taking notes; it hadn't been a huge priority with all that was happening at the Gym. He wasn't even sure if he'd read some of the content that was on there.

    The former agent didn't answer, continuing to flip through. At points, probably the written ones, she hummed and hawed. It took five minutes after he had asked to get an answer, although it came in the form of a question.

    "What's that blond rat been teaching you?"

    "Um, mostly Pokemon with a bit of physical activity." That about covered it. "I didn't fail, did I?"

    "Passing, but I expected more." That was a huge relief to Nori, although Ms. Kakoku was equal parts disappointed and irritated.

    "He's been pushing the battling stuff over the past month," he explained.

    "Typical."

    "He said if I don't shape up by the 20th, he's going to say I'm a lost cause."

    "Again, typical."

    Nori wondered at this point. "Do you have a history with the blond ra–I mean, Mr. Denzi?"

    "Don't respect him. All he's good for is battling." That explained that, at least. Gym Leaders were officials too, so maybe he had a reputation? Yet that wasn't entirely fair. Volkner did have his machines, right? "You're musing something, aren't you?"

    Nori blinked at the sudden question. "Just about what you said. But Volkner's good at cars and machines, too."

    "Keeps them to himself, that's his problem." The woman shrugged. "Body language thing for you. If someone leans or lounges back when talking to you, means they have a problem or aren't interested. If they cross their arms, even more of one."

    Reflexively, he sat up straight. He didn't mean to give off that impression. "Like when you were leaning against the wall?"

    "Smartass." She didn't deny it, Nori noted. The former agent started down the stairs. "That's it for today. Now get out of here," she said, without looking back. It wasn't even officially lunch yet.

    "Okay," the boy replied. He wasn't going to complain about some extra free time. "Thank you."

    ##########​

    April 11th, 2015​

    On the weekend, Nori got up ready to train. The lessons had been mercifully short and to the point the past month. With Official's class with Ms. Kakoku at the school, that meant all the Gym Leader would be doing was teaching him Pokemon.

    After breakfast, he came downstairs into the arena with Pachirisu on his shoulder, where he saw Kallisto and Tono lounging on the bleachers. There was no sign of the other two. As for Volkner, he was headed for the back door.

    "Hey, so what do you have planned today?" the boy called out.

    "Nothing." He didn't so much as look back.

    "What?"

    "Train on your own."

    "Wha..." Nori couldn't find the words at first. Volkner wasn't going to train him? He wasn't doing his job? "Don't tell me you've given up on me already!"

    Kallisto jumped to his feet. "Volkner!" he snapped.

    "You teach him if you're so worried."

    "As if!" He didn't want Kallisto telling him what to do! The boy stamped a foot as the Gym Leader left the room. "What's his problem now?!"

    "I think you had it right. He's given up." The head Gym Trainer sighed. "Not on you necessarily, but on himself."

    "But if I lose and I'm gone, doesn't he lose to Flint?"

    The bespectacled teen pushed up his glasses. "That should indicate to you his present level of apathy."

    "Quitters can't win!"

    "I wholeheartedly agree." Him and Tono being on the same page about something. That was a rarity. "So, what do you intend to do?"

    There was only one thing he could do. "Train for the 20th! I'll show him. I'll show Eddie, too! We'll get stronger and win!" His Pokemon jumped off his shoulder, flexing his tiny limbs. He grinned. "Let's go, Pachi. It's time for some serious training."

    "Best of luck."

    "Call if you need anything."

    He nodded respectfully at the Gym Trainers. He wouldn't take them up on that offer, though. He had no idea what Eddie was up to, and didn't want to chance them telling him what he was doing. So all he could do was train his Pokemon, level them up, and beat him. Show that stupid Gym Leader that he could battle! It was that simple, nothing to do but do that.

    ---​

    Once Nori had left the arena and went upstairs, Kallisto addressed his best friend. "Do you think he can do it?"

    "Against Eddie?" he mused, pressing a finger to his forehead. "We shall see. If he wises up and uses real strategy, he can win."

    "You may need to be there for him."

    Tono crossed his arms and harrumphed in reply to this.

    "You're the only one left he might listen to."

    "If he wants and needs it, he will ask me."

    True. Nori wasn't afraid to ask for help, but he didn't ask for it every time he needed it. And Kallisto had the feeling that if the boy didn't swallow his pride, he was headed for failure.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 4: April of Change (third part)
    • April of Change (third part)
    April 12th, 2015​

    Nori and his Pokemon trained for the entirety of Saturday, stopping only to eat, drink, and use the bathroom. On Sunday, he decided to hang out downstairs. He wanted to be around people, but not the Gym Trainers. Betsy-Ann wasn't around, so the lobby was the next best place. He mostly sat back and read the History of Competitive Battling, while letting his Pachirisu rest beside him.

    Around half an hour after he went down, a blonde girl around 10 or 11 walked in. She was wearing a pleated blue skirt that reached to her knees, a white t-shirt, and blue and white jacket. "Hello!" she called out. "I'd like to challenge the Gym!"

    He closed the book. "All right."

    She squeed. "You're Nori Carino!"

    The boy smiled. It'd been a while since he'd gotten this sort of reaction from someone, but he didn't mind it. "Yup!"

    "Cute Pachirisu!" The squirrel wagged his tail, running over and allowing her to pet him. She kneeled down to do so before peering up at Nori. "Hey, can I get your autograph?" The girl jumped over the squirrel and hustled over. She dug around in her little bag for a notepad and pencil, holding them out with wide pleading eyes.

    "Uh, sure!" This was...the sixth time he'd been asked for one. The first was actually before he became famous himself. It was some random person back when he was seven when he was hanging out with his former friend Claris. He scratched out a signature and handed it back to her.

    "Woohoo! Thank you!" she said. "You're so awesome!"

    Nori giggled, rubbing the back of his head. He had to be blushing a bit right now. "Thanks."

    "So you work here? Can you take me to the Gym Leader?"

    "You need to register first."

    "Sure!"

    He brought her over to the head receptionist. This was the first time Nori was helping someone do this, but he'd seen it done enough times to know what to do. "Hey, this girl wants to challenge the Gym."

    Mrs. Stetcher was a wrinkled woman in her 50s with flowing gray hair, thick glasses over her green eyes, bright red lipstick, and large earrings. She had been working at the Sunyshore Gym even before Volkner was the Gym Leader.

    "I'll have to see your trainer card." She was professional, but hardly uptight despite appearances and her formal attire. The girl handed it over. "Mona Morris, Sunyshore City. It says you've been a trainer for two months. Do you have any badges?"

    "None, ma'am!"

    "How many Pokemon?"

    "Three! My Roselia, my Glameow, and my Shellos!"

    "I see. I'll notify the Gym Trainers now."

    Nori had seen this routine several times before. Mrs. Stetcher would inform them over the intercom or, if they didn't answer, call one of their phones. After which one would come by to escort them to the puzzle. Except in the event of repeat challengers, who skipped it.

    To Nori's chagrin, it was Kallisto who emerged from the double doors. Mona's eyes lit up on sight of the fit teen.

    "Wow! Kallisto Keravnos!"

    He chuckled and flashed a smile. "That's me."

    "Um, can I get your autograph, too?" She again offered the pencil and notepad.

    "Sure thing." He took out a pen of his own. Nori didn't think it was possible to write one's name with pride, but the head Gym Trainer proved him wrong. "There you are!"

    "Thank you!" Mona bowed in gratitude. "So do I do the puzzle now?"

    "Guess you already know how things work here." She was in fact already running into the room to do so. The head Gym Trainer rolled his shoulders and glanced at Nori. "Eddie's not here, so you can hang out and watch if you want."

    Nori shrugged. He may as well.

    ---​

    True to Kallisto's word, it was just Tono and Ollie in the arena, not even any stray spectators. At least he could tolerate those two. Ollie was rude, but there was still that good inside him. Tono was cordial most of the time. And neither had done anything too bad to him. Yet, as he worried.

    "This is the first challenger I've seen who's had no badges," he remarked as they were waiting.

    "We have had two since the year's start," said Tono. "You have not been present for them."

    "But isn't Volkner the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh?"

    "Gym Leaders are able to adjust their teams according to the challenger's strength. Their job is to test trainers, not destroy them." He pushed up his glasses. "Although there is a hierarchy of power and ‘intended’ order based around it, that does not mean you have to follow it."

    "Yeah!" the hefty teen said. Ollie gesticulated wildly as he explained, "Like, if you tried to do it in Sinnoh, you'd have to go to Eterna! Then to Pastoria! Then backtrack to Hearthome! Then go waaaaay over to Canalave!" He stretched his arms as wide as he could, laterally and then diagonally. "Then waaaaay back to Veilstone! Go to Celestic from there! Up to Snowpoint! And come down here!"

    "The order of Canalave and Veilstone is subjective," his fellow Gym Trainer remarked.

    "You'd still be going all over the place!"

    Nori nodded. "So it's okay for her since she's new?"

    "Correct. Moreso that Sunyshore is her hometown." Tono took a sip of his water. "That said, it is frowned upon to diverge too far from the order if you're not a region-native, are attempting to take the shortest path, or have another reasonable excuse. And there are some Leaders who do refuse battles with inexperienced trainers." He glanced at the door to the back. "Volkner used to, until he learned Flint accepted all challengers."

    "All the Gym Leaders are really good at their type, no matter who they are!" Ollie chimed in.

    "The skill differential between Volkner and Gardenia may be wide, but this does not mean the Eterna Gym Leader will make for an easy battle if you choose to face her last." He chuckled with derision. "Her choice of type notwithstanding."

    The boy took all of this in. He knew the basics of the Gym challenge from classmates who talked about it, but there was so much more to it than even they seemed to realize. This was actually interesting. "You guys are doing more to teach me than Volkner these days."

    "You could learn more," said Tono, "If you would simply drop your issues with us and listen occasionally."

    "And I'm doing that." The boy smiled. "Occasionally, I'm looking by my issues and listening. Doesn't mean I'm letting them go."

    "Fair."

    "Yeah, I getcha, man."

    At least these two understood. Funny, he thought, the smartest and arguably dumbest of them. Compared to Kallisto who wanted to pretend they never happened, or Eddie who was seemingly trying to aggravate the problem at every turn these days.

    The challenger side door opened, Mona excitedly rushed inside. She looked up at the pillars and the balconies in awe, marveling her first time in a Pokemon Gym.

    "So, did she pass?" Tono inquired for clarification.

    Kallisto grinned. "With flying colors."

    "So I have to fight a Gym Trainer next, right?" She pointed at Nori. "I want to battle him and his Pachirisu!"

    Ollie spoke up. "Uh, you know you don't have to–"

    "Nope! Want to battle him!"

    "It is not–"

    "But I want to battle him!" she also interrupted Tono's words. "If I can!"

    Kallisto stretched and grinned. "Seems she's set on this. It's up to you, Nori."

    Okay, he'd been challenged several times on exhibition day, not to mention when he wasn't in the Gym. But this was the first time a challenger had wanted to face him. He shook his head. "But I'm not a Gym Trainer. I can't battle her."

    "It is no issue," Tono informed. "Under the Gym Battle Qualifying Act, any person who is a resident of a Gym may battle a trainer for evaluation purposes. That is the word used. Therefore, a literal resident is as acceptable as us, even though the spirit was to allow the likes of janitors or security guards to fill in."

    So it was a loophole? If it was okay, he was fine with it. Although was he really suited to fighting a new trainer? You were supposed to just test them, not go all out, right? Pachirisu didn't know his own strength, and he wasn't sure how it'd work to hold back.

    The glasses-wearing teen gave Mona a glance. "If you do not wish to," he said to Nori, "I shall. I am typically the one who handles the more inexperienced trainers."

    He answered with a shrug. "Well, why not?" A bit of whimsy had struck. "Let's try this out and see."

    The young girl whooped. "All right!"

    "Heh, came at the right time."

    Nori immediately regretted accepting. "Eddie!"

    His opponent for the 20th smoothly entered the room from the right-side door, jumping onto the bleachers and lounging back on them. "Too late to back out now, kid. Let's see what you've been up to."

    ---​

    The battle was a joke. A complete laughingstock. Mona's Roselia, named Poppy, had been hitting Pachirisu with attack after attack after attack. Yet Pachirisu endured all of them without trouble. He'd been staying away from using his Pokemon's stronger moves, but even a single Quick Attack or Electro Ball was worth three or even four attacks from the Grass and Poison type.

    At one point Pachirisu landed Sweet Kiss. The tiny flowery Pokemon flailed around helplessly. They could've ended it right there, and Pachirisu almost did on instinct. Nori had to tell him to stop, and after a bit of waiting, ordered Grass Knot.

    "Ugh, sorry for stringing you along," he said as soon as the attack landed, tripping and knocking Poppy to her senses. "I know, this is dumb."

    "Hee! I'm having fun!" Mona said. "It's real sweet you're trying to give me a chance!"

    She had to have known she'd be outmatched. So why did she challenge him? He glanced over at the Gym Trainers. Eddie and Ollie were not amused. Kallisto seemed almost embarrassed. Tono, serving as the judge, was stifling amused laughter? Nori was still self-conscious about this, but as long as his opponent didn't mind...

    "Okay, Poppy!" Mona cheered. "It's time for the big one! Wrap your Vine Whip around Pachi!"

    Pachirisu tried to escape this, but actually got caught. In a show of strength, Poppy lifted him into the air. The squirrel vainly struggled, looking to Nori for orders.

    "Now use Magical Leaf!"

    Her opponent bound, Poppy used the chance to fire off a barrage of foliage. That would've hit anyway due to being mystical glowing homing leaves.

    "We almost have it!" said Mona. "Throw Pachi into the ground!"

    Poppy did so. Nori sighed. Well, he couldn't just sit there and do nothing. It wasn't fair to his Pokemon, right? And he did have to make her work for it. "Pachi, Discharge."

    The squirrel was dazed from being driven headfirst onto the floor, but as Poppy was going to do so again, he expelled electricity everywhere. Much of it went straight through the vines over to Poppy. The little flower Pokemon squealed and promptly collapsed on the spot.

    "Poppy is unable to battle," Tono ruled with a wave of his hand, and some relief (and disappointment?) in his tone at the charade being over. "This means Nori Carino and Pachi are the winners."

    Nori immediately checked on his opponent's Pokemon. Seemed fine, nothing healing couldn't cover. "Sorry," he apologized, taking a step towards the girl. "I uh, guess we still overdid it."

    "Oh, that's okay!" Mona assured him. "I just wanted to tell my friends I battled my idol!"

    Nori blinked. "I'm...your idol?" A bit of blood crept to his face.

    "Yeah! You're close to my age, but you're an amazing trainer! I want to be just like you!" She skipped up and held out her hand. "Thanks so much for the battle!"

    Trying to keep a cool facade, he shook her hand. "You're welcome."

    Mona stared at her hand in amazement for several seconds afterward. She giggled and scooped up her Roselia, cradling the Pokemon in her arms. "You did great out there, Poppy! Take a good rest!" She brought the Roselia back to her ball.

    "You know," Tono spoke up. "Kallisto was doing what he's doing at an even younger age."

    Mona smiled cheekily. "Yes, but Nori's closer to my age now."

    There was an awkward pause as the Gym Trainers exchanged glances. "Don't even think about it, kid," Eddie threatened.

    "Think about what?"

    A sigh. "Oblivious retard," he heard the dark-skinned teen grumble under his breath. Nori tilted his head. Was there something he wasn't getting here?

    "Are you done with this?"

    All six's heads turned to see an exasperated Volkner in the rear doorway. He'd evidently been watching the battle. likely just peeking out.

    "You can battle me once your Pokemon are healed."

    "Huh?" a confused Mona asked. "But I lost."

    "A qualifier battle isn't necessary for a new trainer with no badges."

    Nori was struck with realization. "Wait, this was a setup, wasn't it?!" He gave an accusing point towards the Gym Trainers. "You just wanted to see what I've been doing!"

    "Enough," Volkner instantly shut him down. "None of your drama in front of challengers." He motioned to Mona, gesturing to the left-side door. "We have a healing machine. When you're ready."

    She shuffled her feet. "Oh, um. I need more time! I wasn't ready to face you today, Mr. Denzi!"

    The blond man pressed a palm to his face, over one eye. "Then come back when you are."

    "Okay! Bye, Nori!" She waved to him. "Bye everyone! I'll be back in a couple weeks!" With this, the blonde girl skipped off whistling a tune.

    "Okay, she's gone." The boy puffed and glared at Volkner. "Now, why aren't you doing your job and training me?" he demanded. "Why did you let him watch me when I can't watch him?!"

    "He's free to watch Gym battles, just like you. And if that's your issue, he'll see any training we do." Volkner started to walk off to the back once more, getting in some parting words along the way. "I've taught you enough, and it's sink or swim time. I'm not taking sides."

    "What about Flint!?" Nori screamed. The Gym Leader turned on a dime and sneered. "Do you want to lose to him?"

    "Watch your mouth," he barked. Nori was unintimidated by his so-called teacher's sudden shift in attitude. "I've done enough for now. If you're still a fuck-up, it's not my fault."

    The other Gym Trainers considered this for several moments. "When you put it that way, I understand," Tono remarked.

    "Yeah, makes sense," Ollie agreed.

    "I..." Kallisto hesitated, but ultimately shook his head. "I'm sorry Nori, but he has a point."

    "Really?! What the hell, guys!? Okay, sure, he has a point from one point of view, but it makes no sense! He's logical, not sensible!"

    They were unfettered by his words. "Eddie is training for the 20th, I suggest you keep doing the same." Volkner started turning to set out again, only to face his future opponent. "Speaking of, I want to have a talk with you in private about the battle."

    The dark-skinned teen was confused, but stood up. "A'right, sure."

    "Rest of you can break."

    Nori stormed away. He knew a lecture was coming from Kallisto or Tono or even both, maybe all three of them with Ollie included, and he didn't want to hear any of it.

    ##########​

    April 13th, 2015​

    Nori decided he needed an edge if he wanted to win next week, and knew just the way to get it. Eddie was being secretive about his training? Why not enlist the aid of someone who excels in uncovering secrets? To that end, he went to the media room during lunch to find Arumi.

    He found everyone but Arumi inside. The other four were hard at work, each at their own side of the table.

    "Nori!" Yuki called out. He scooted his seat aside and motioned for Nori to sit beside him.

    "Hey!" he said, taking him up on the offer. The strawberry blonde male gave him a happy smile as he pulled up a chair. "Where's Arumi? And what're you guys working on?"

    "She's out," Gino plainly stated. "And just a list of school news and upcoming events. Like the plans for Golden Week and how to submit ideas for any celebrations." The teen patted down a wrinkle on his clothing. "You know, nothing too out-of-scope. Things people will care about."

    "That..." Nori paused. That was very specific. "...seems like a veiled jab at someone."

    "Smart," Lorant spoke.

    "Huh? I don't get it." Yuki didn't catch on, so Gino explained.

    "A heads-up for you both. Arumi's an idiot."

    Beau nodded. "She is an overly-enthusiastic cretin."

    Yuki put his hands on the desk and stood. "What're you talking behind her back for?"

    "You haven't had to spend two years of your life working with her," Gino grumbled.

    Beau followed suit. "Her last name is the only reason she is here."

    Arumi's last name, Schrader. The Joy family was the most prominent family in Japan, followed by the Jenny family. After them were the Schraders. If you tuned into any news station in Japan, you'd likely find a Schrader working there. Unlike the Joys and Jennys, conformity in their appearance wasn't a thing. But much like them, they still worked outside the country, particularly in the major regions - and in their case, especially all throughout Europe.

    "And the video production teacher, Mr. Rekted, gives her all the leeway in the world as a result." The poofy-haired girl sighed.

    Gino elaborated further. "Like I was saying, she has all these ideas for stories that you can hear about on the regular news. We just want to do some small-scale reports about our school and maybe our city, that's it. The things you wouldn't otherwise hear about."

    "Major Drug Bust in Kalos! Forty Kilograms of Illegal Performance Enhancers Found!"

    A collective groan came from the three senior members of the news club as Arumi made her grand entrance. She paraded in, holding up her phone in one hand and several sheets of printed webpages in another. She threw the papers down and pointed to the ceiling.

    "That's gonna be our latest headline!"

    "Gods," muttered Lorant.

    "What?"

    "Arumi," Gino complained. "No one wants to read about athletes doping halfway around the world."

    "No, you got it all wrong! They're for Pokemon!" she clarified. This didn't seem to change much with the three senior members. "Shady drugs that steel a Pokemon's mental capacities, but degrade the mind and cause dependency with prolonged use!"

    Okay, for a second there, Nori was hoping they'd be useful to him. There were so-called vitamins like ‘Carbos’ and ‘HP Up’ that were more like steroids, except legal and with no known ill-effects. But he wouldn't dare consider anything dangerous for his Pokemon.

    "No one cares!" the light-brown haired teen snapped. "It's in Kalos! We're over here! This is never going to become relevant to us!"

    Then again, he had a feeling Gino was right. This had nothing to do with them, and these drugs likely weren't circulating in Japan at all. Even if they were, he wouldn't go looking for them. Mostly likely, it was just Arumi spouting things again.

    "But you can see it, right? Right?" The reporter girl grinned wildly and expectantly. "A lot of kids our age are into battling! We even have a battling club and junior battling team! And some people are willing to do whatever it takes to win! You can see what I'm getting at, right?"

    "I can! I can!" Nori immediately put up his arm and bounced. "I definitely can!"

    "See?" she pointed. "That's one! And he works at a Gym, so he'd know!"

    Yuki agreed. "Well, if you say so Nori, I can see it too."

    "And that's two!"

    "And that teacher is going to make three." Beau buried her hands in her face. "Gods," she whined.

    Gino shook his head. "Damn it, we're outvoted."

    Arumi clapped, blissfully ignorant or uncaring to their distaste. Nori was leaning towards it being the former "Great! Got the whole thing in my head! We gotta start getting it ready for Wednesday!"

    The three senior members looked absolutely miserable. Their faces couldn't be any longer if they were made of rubber and you stretched them. "If you have a problem, say it to her," Nori rasped.

    Beau whispered back. "We have tried, on numerous occasions. Allow me to demonstrate." She cleared her throat and spoke with polite formality. "Arumi. The three of us - that being myself, Gino, and Lorant - do not wish to run this article. All we want is to run a normal, local, not sensationalized school newspaper."

    "It's absolutely not going to be sensationalist!" she sharply clarified, before getting a bit of cheer back. "We can still have that other stuff, of course. But you're not thinking big enough, guys! We can start being real reporters right now if we wanted to! All we have to do is put in the effort!"

    The lavender-haired girl rolled her eyes and rested their gaze on Nori, as if to say, ‘I told you so.’

    "So if we're ready?" Arumi clapped and jumped into the air. "Let's get rollin'!" She twirled her fists around each other.

    Begrudgingly, the three got up and set to work. Arumi approached the two boys.

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence, you two."

    "Oh, um." He ruffled his hair. "You're welcome."

    "If Nori thinks it's fine, I think it's fine too." Yuki nodded.

    "Wish they had more motivation. More ambition! Used to be so much easier last year. Not to mention, my precious Sato was here!"

    Nori nodded. "By the way, there's something–"

    "Are we working or not?!" Gino snapped.

    "Ah, yes! Yes!" Arumi hustled to join the others. "Sorry, let's talk more another time, Nor'." He got the feeling that other time wasn't going to be today. Well he was here and a member of the club, so he may as well help. He'd be the best one to add his thoughts on the subject too.

    ##########​

    April 14th, 2015​

    On Tuesday, Nori had another chance to test himself in battle against a challenger. Volkner had no issue with him being an acting Gym Trainer, as long as his opponents were fine with it. And this time, Kallisto got Eddie to leave.

    Diane Perlanne was an experienced trainer from Hoenn, who had made it to last year's League. She first brought out her Whiscash to face Pachirisu. Despite Nori suffering a panic attack over the use of Muddy Water, a pair of Grass Knots and two Quick Attacks brought it down, with it only managing to land that and a weak Magnitude. Her second Pokemon was her starter Sceptile, which used the battlefield's pillars to its advantage. It was able to cling to them and strike from all sorts of angles.

    "Finish it off, Sceptile! Dual Chop!"

    "Um, Thunder Wave?"

    The light burst of electricity struck true, but didn't deter the leaping dragon-like lizard from knocking out his Pokemon with a one-two jab from the blades on its arms.

    "Pachirisu can't continue," Volkner ruled.

    The boy sighed. "Sorry, Pachi. All right." He went and collected his Pokemon, and letting the squirrel recuperate beside him. "It's your turn, my Demon."

    "Hold on!" Diane protested as the teal monster appeared with a roar. "That's no Electric type!"

    "It's my only other Pokemon."

    "You don't have any others?!"

    "I don't."

    "I came here ready to fight Electric types, not Poison types!"

    "Quit bitching, bitch!" Ollie shouted from the stands. "You said you'd fight him!"

    Tono piled on. "Perhaps if you were more flexible in regards to the unexpected, you would have finished higher than top 64 in the Hoenn League." Nori blinked at this. Did he look her up, or something?

    The challenger clenched her teeth and glared at the Gym Leader. "Settle down, you two," he told them. "But they're right. In Sinnoh, Gyms being restricted to a single type is only an informal rule. You either lost to his Pachirisu, or you'll face the Demon."

    "Fine," she grumbled. The boy wasn't sure how to feel about this. At least, besides being some of the reasons why he hated overly competitive types.

    ---​

    The battle did not go as Diane anticipated. While Nori was concerned about her Pokemon's speed, that simple last-second paralysis turned the tide. With this, the Demon easily overwhelmed her Pokemon. The battle ended when she tried to have Sceptile escape by clinging to a pillar, only for it to seize up and fall off into a Poison Jab.

    "Dammit!" she cursed. "Sorry, Sceptile. Rest up for now." The redheaded girl started muttering to herself. "How could I lose?"

    "Not bad. But not acceptable," said Volkner, dryly. "Come challenge us again when you're better prepared."

    Diane nodded and crossed her arms. "I will be. But I'm fighting a real Gym Trainer next time."

    Volkner conceded this, seeing the challenger off with a wave. As soon as she had left the arena through the right-side door, Ollie chortled.

    "Hey, Volkner! If she makes it, you should use Ambipom!"

    "I will be."

    The Gym Leader left for the back, leaving the four of them to chat. The first one to speak was Ollie, who bounded over to Nori with energy.

    "You whooped her ASS, man!" the hefty teen complimented. "How'd she even get to the Hoenn League, anyway?"

    "Were you not paying attention?" Tono asked, annoyed. "She was caught off-guard. She was not expecting the obvious, that Nori Carino would be using the Demon. Her Sceptile's speed advantage was neutralized, and it was swiftly overpowered." He shook his head in derision. "I took a moment to look her up." He actually did?! "That was also how she was defeated in the Hoenn League. An unusual Pokemon paralyzing her starter."

    "It can be difficult for some trainers to adapt to the unexpected," Kallisto remarked, before turning his attention to Nori. "Very nicely done, Nori. You're definitely getting better."

    He scowled. Why was he acting so chummy? "Stop acting like things are the same between us."

    The glasses-wearing teen rolled his eyes. "Real mature. He is simply complimenting you. There is no need for hostility."

    Ignoring that, the boy continued, "So will you be stomping her next time? She did make it to the League before, after all."

    The other two looked to Kallisto. They were actually inquisitive about it, wondering the same thing! And why wouldn't he? She beat all the Gyms of Hoenn and made it to the League! Certainly perfect Kallisto Keravnos battling material, right?

    "No," he said, shaking his head. "I think I'll let one of you have this one."

    "How about Eddie?!" suggested Ollie. "So both of 'em could fight her!"

    "Seems reasonable enough." Tono tapped his chin. "Although I suspect she might want to challenge either myself or you for our comments during the battle."

    "Too bad we decide who fights who! Hahaha!"

    As they were plotting, Nori took the chance to walk away and head upstairs. He couldn't stand being around them sometimes. He once again found himself wishing he could hang out with a friend like Lux, or at least one of the people from the news club. If only he was allowed to stay after school...
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 4: April of Change (fourth part)
    • April of Change (fourth part)
    April 15th, 2015​

    In the morning at around 8am, Nori and his Pokemon were hard at work in the training room. He was squeezing in as much practice and exercise as possible. His Pokemon needed to be in top form before they faced Eddie.

    The door suddenly opened. "What are you still doing here?" a hostile Volkner asked.

    "Training." He didn't so much as spare the Gym Leader a glance.

    "You need to get to school."

    "I know how long it takes to get to school walking."

    "Get moving in case there's delays."

    "When I'm ready. I'm training."

    The Gym Leader threw up his arms. "Fine. I don't care."

    He slammed the door and left them in peace, but this only served to anger Nori further. He was the one who said they had to work their hardest at training! And now he was complaining when they were doing just that?!

    "Grr, Quick Attack! Hit the bag over and over!" With a measure of fear, Pachirisu obeyed. He repeatedly sideswiped it, passed to the other side, and struck it again. "And you, parkour!" The Demon had no problem with this or his tone, being just as laser focused as her trainer. "Ten minutes left! We need as much training before the 20th!" They needed to get stronger! Level up as much as they could! That was the only way they were beating Eddie!

    ---​

    In contrast to the last time Nori entered the video production room at lunch, when he walked in that Wednesday, it was just Arumi and nobody else.

    "Hey, Nor'!" She leaped out of her chair, running over with a newspaper. "Check out the national news!" she said, holding it out. "Joyous Elopement! Evette Ties the Knot Against Parents' Wishes!"

    He blinked. "Er, okay?" He gave the start of the article a quick skim. A member of the Joy family in Johto who was a Pokemon trainer instead of a Pokemon nurse had married her traveling companion from three years back, and moved to Galar with him. "This is news? It seems more like a tabloid."

    "Oh, it gets better!" she said, flipping the paper over and pointing at a mugshot. It showed a woman with disheveled pink hair and green eyes. "Here's the part that made it national news! Her mom got arrested! She had the meltdown of a lifetime, right in her Pokemon Center!"

    Nori read a little more of the article, properly this time. "Why's it such a big deal?" he concluded at the end. "Why can't people be who they want and marry who they want?"

    "I know, right?! Like, expectations are a thing, but you can't be too uptight about it!" Arumi grinned. Too true, Nori thought. "One thing's for sure, I'm not going to end up like her!"

    "Like the mom?"

    "Like the daughter!"

    Nori tilted his head. "You don't want to get married?"

    "I do want to say I do!" Arumi giggled at her wordplay. She clasped her palms together. "My sweet Sato...he's everything I aspire to be. He's so dreamy...but he's a year older than me, so he's at the senior school this year."

    For a while, Nori was wondering if there was something there. Guess not, she was interested in somebody else. It was a small relief, actually. Sure, he wanted to spite Kallisto, but he wasn't sure what he'd do if Arumi was into him.

    "Anyway, I'm not going to be like Evette Joy! I'm going to do my best to live up to my family name!"

    He nodded. "Just don't push yourself too hard trying to be something you're not." He could get if Arumi wanted to do that, but hardly blamed that Joy for wanting to get away from expectations. Especially from parents who still nagged you when you were an adult. Nori paused, handing the paper back to her. "That said, what's this story have to do with us? I know the others will probably get on your case about it."

    "Nothing, I just wish I could find a story like this to report on myself. A story of my own, not something I'm repeating from others!" She chuckled. "Being a Schrader's not easy! You have to have a reporter's image, and you need the credit to back it up! That means being in the right place at the right time to find the perfect story you need to live up to your name! And let's not talk about how hard it is to be the first one to report on something! But doesn't matter what it takes, I'm going to find one someday!"

    "It sounds like you want to be a journalist," he remarked.

    "Of course I do!"

    "But aren't your family reporters? As in, the people who tell you the news, not find it?"

    "Hey, you can be both!"

    Made sense. Nori wasn't sure why, but he suddenly recalled an incident from a couple months ago. "Hey, here's something. A couple months ago, I heard of this old sea dog–"

    No sooner had those last words come out of his mouth did Arumi hold out her palms. "No way!" She shook her head. "Nuh-uh! Not that desperate for a story!"

    The boy blinked. What was so scary about that guy? Sure, he looked like he walked out of a horror movie, but the stories had to be ridiculously exaggerated. Why not find out the truth behind him? Since no one else seemed to know? And since it was local, wouldn't the others be into the idea as well?

    That was it! Nori thought of something else. Local and juicy! He couldn't help but smirk deviously about it. "Well, how about Kallisto Keravnos, then?"

    "What about him?" Arumi curiously asked.

    "What if I told you he was a jackass?"

    "I'd laugh and say, nice one! Everyone knows all the good Kallisto's done. His altruism and charity work have been well-documented. A jerk wouldn't do those things!" She smiled. "If you told me that, of course."

    The boy sighed, plopping down in a chair. He should've known better than to expect anything different. Of course, he'd forgotten that Kallisto is perfect. How could he do those things to Nori? Even for someone like Arumi who dabbled in finding all sorts of bizarre news stories, it had to come across as absurd.

    The reporter girl patted him on the back. "Hey. I get ya. Know he can be harsh! Like, I personally know. Got lectured by him for my conduct a couple times. But it's his way of looking out for others. He means well, don't take it too hard."

    She didn't know the real Kallisto. "Well," he started. "What if he was secretly really a jackass and no one realized it?"

    Arumi took pause. She sat across from him, giving it serious thought. "Well that's a tricky one," she said, devoid of her usual bravado. "Just someone saying that's the case isn't enough. Especially when dealing with a reputable person like him. Without real proof, that'd be libel. At best. Plus you'd have people tripping over themselves coming to his defense, even with the proof."

    "That's what Volkner said..." the boy said with a defeated sigh. Proof. It made sense. The club stated you needed to cite your sources in articles, which is a kind of proof. So it'd be one's word against another's. He may have been the Demon Tamer, but compared to Kallisto? He was nothing.

    "There's a lot I don't know about reporting." The boy glanced away. "Or Kallisto."

    Arumi clapped her hands. "Well, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about either!"

    The reporter girl lived in Sunyshore for her whole life, as far as Nori was aware. And she was a huge newshound who frequented the Gym. Arumi undoubtedly knew Kallisto well. If anyone could tell him about a weakness in the head Gym Trainer's armor, it'd be her.

    "Tell me about Kallisto's love life."

    Nori blurted that question out. He quickly glanced away. Arumi whistled, chuckling. "Oh-ho! Starting out with a spicy one! Didn't think you were the gossipy type, Nor'! You and I are gonna get along just fine!" She reached over the table and patted him on the shoulder.

    It wasn't gossip. But, well. Since Kallisto's lack of any was what led him to attack Nori, the boy figured he may as well learn the context. And from her reaction, Arumi knew about it.

    "Okay! So! Lots of girls and even a couple boys have confessed to him, but he's turned them all down. A cheerleader named Chasity at Gama High's been making a persistent effort, that said. She's gotten him to have lunch with her one weekend, further than anyone else's gotten. That aside, he's been staying single. Or so he says. There's rumors floating about he's dating someone in another region, or even his cousin."

    "He said to me he's not dating anyone. And, I believe him." Arumi actually took out a notepad and jotted that statement down. "I guess tangentially, what do people think of the other Gym Trainers? Or his other friends?"

    "He mostly hangs out with them and sometimes his cousin, don't know about anyone else. Tono Takuma's his best friend, and the captain of the battling team at the senior school, what with Kallisto stepping back from that. People think he's haughty, but a good, reliable person. Edward Hankstein's got an unpleasant personality. You'll find few who like the guy, but everyone respects his skill with Pokemon."

    Arumi paused before getting to the last one. "As for Ollie Gooch..." She twirled a finger and shrugged. "Well. Long story there. People admire his dedication, at least? People are surprised Kallisto forgave and puts up with him."

    "Forgave him?" Okay, now she was talking interesting info. "For what? I know he's had a rough history at the Gym, but never heard what besides being bullied by Tono and Eddie."

    "I didn't hear the specifics," the reporter girl stated, and with this Nori deflated. Maybe it was kept private. "But Ollie was even worse two years ago when he first joined the Gym. I heard there was a big public argument between him and Kallisto in December 2013 that changed things, but I couldn't dig up what led to it." She shook her head at herself. "He's gotten better since then, but he used to have a bad reputation as having a big ego and nothing to back it up. Ever run into those?"

    That wasn't very specific, but it was enough for now. As for Arumi's question, he answered, "A wannabe bully called Spike Caras, I guess."

    "I heard about that! What happened between you two?"

    "Long story, I'll tell you later." He'd want to go into full detail, from how they met, to how they became enemies over Lux, to the incident at the water park, and how he conked the bully with his cast. "I guess for now in short he's an enemy of mine, but how about Kallisto's enemies? Rivals?"

    "Well, he has his detractors, sure. But he hasn't paid them much heed. Hasn't had to, none of them have been serious. As for rivals, that's tough to say. Skill-wise, Kallisto's in a league of his own. Hard to find any casual trainer who compares to him. But I can think of three."

    "Who are they?"

    "First, Haruna Okazaki, a member of the battling team at the high school." That name had come up once or twice in conversation before, but Nori hadn't thought anything of it. "She felt she was in Kallisto's shadow until he stepped back. She's come close to beating him, but never has. These days she's more a rival to Tono, between how he rejected her and how she feels his captain position's undeserved."

    "Tono rejected her?" Nori asked, muffling a laugh.

    "Sure did! Didn't say why, either. That really got her going! Uh, in the wrong way."

    Nori knew full well why, but decided not to say just yet.

    "Second, there's the last person to defeat Kallisto in a Gym qualifier, two years back. One Ivan Turgenev. It was clear-cut too, although some of it was attributed to Kallisto feeling off that day." Of course they'd make an excuse like that. Didn't Kallisto say his last loss came when someone used a Mightyena against him? "He's openly spoke about wanting a rematch with Ivan someday."

    Nori nodded. Maybe he could use the internet to look that guy up? He sounded Russian, probably a traveling trainer. "And the third?"

    Arumi drummed her fingers on the desk. "Well, I want to stress that this one's just a rumor. But there was someone early in his Gym Trainer career who barely beat him. It was a close match. It came down to one mistake on Kallisto's part, though some say it was a lucky hit."

    "Someone he lost to that he felt he didn't deserve to?" Was he getting that right? Arumi confirmed this with a thumbs up. "Do you know the person's name?"

    "I think it was something like Calix Blomgren?"

    "Wait, WHAT?! Blomgren?!"

    A nod. "Yuppers."

    "My friend was Lux Blomgren!"

    "Huh." Arumi leaned back. "Small world, eh?"

    "Do you think he knew?"

    "Maybe he did! Maybe he didn't! Either way, if he has a grudge, I doubt it'd extend to a relative."

    Nori had to admit, she was probably right. Lux did say his brother fought Kallisto in the past and had trouble with him. But if Kallisto knew, he would've said something about it. Or would he have? Nori couldn't shake the thought. Did Kallisto do something to make Lux's parents move? No, no, it sounded crazy. Yet he could see Kallisto doing it for the right reasons, at least, right in his own mind.

    "Anyhoo," Arumi continued. "Kallisto was resentful for a while after that battle. He tried to get a rematch out of Calix, but was turned down by him and Volkner. He went into a months-long slump, and eventually ended up taking a sabbatical to train with his cousin. It's still a sore spot for him, one that Haruna likes to remind him of. And it all started with that one loss."

    "I see." That was not a connection he was expecting to learn about today. He wished more than ever Lux was here to ask him about it. Nor did he ever imagine Kallisto having a losing streak. But, his next question. "Does Kallisto have any big supporters?"

    "Does he ever! His cousin's a big one. All the Leagues are too. He's expected to become a Champion, easy, and all the regions of Japan want him to represent them. A few foreign regions have reached out too, particularly Galar. Even the Officials have their eye on him. They tried to recruit him to the International Police, but he turned them down."

    Arumi had been coming through with every question he'd been asking. One thing kept standing out from her answers, however. "You keep bringing up this cousin of his. I know he's from a family known for battling. Are they someone big?"

    "Don't you know? Wait, never mind. Guess you wouldn't be asking if you did, huh?" Arumi chuckled, dramatically pausing for effect. "She's his second cousin, and she's only the Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia Carolina!"

    "What the hell?" Nori squeaked out. Her? He was related to the frigging Champion? When he heard Kallisto came from a prestigious family of trainers, he wasn't expecting actual top-level relatives! And her of all people! The stupidly promiscuous Sinnoh Champion! This was insane! What the HELL was going on here?

    "My turn!" Arumi chimed in with a giggle as he was processing what he'd heard. "You're trying to dig up dirt on him, aren't you?"

    Nori recoiled, but reluctantly confirmed this.

    "I knew it! Why's that? You jealous of him? Don't worry, off the record. Stays between us friends." She compounded it with a wink and lip-sealing motion.

    Nori trusted her to keep quiet, but glanced around the room. It was still just them. To be extra sure, he leaned in and whispered. "He broke my arm."

    "Huh?" It was now Arumi's turn to be struck dumb. She was silent for five seconds before stammering, "A-are you sure?"

    "Last month. He and his friends told me not to date any girls because Kallisto isn't dating anyone." After a second, he added, "Probably why Tono rejected Haruna, by the way." The braided-haired girl vacantly nodded, leaning forward. "So I told them off, and they attacked me from behind. Last thing I saw before I was knocked out was Kallisto's hair."

    His vision was blurry, sure, but two-toned orange and pink. Kallisto had a distinct appearance. There was no mistaking that it was him, not one of the others. Though there had been two people kicking him, and he strongly suspected it was Kallisto and Eddie.

    Arumi remained silent for half a minute. Nori had known her to be a motormouth, so it was unnerving. "What?" he eventually asked.

    "I'm trying to think why you'd lie about that."

    "I'm not lying!" he snapped.

    "I know," she said. "I don't see why you would. But like I said, you'd need proof. Right now it'd be your word against his. And with him, a lot of people might take his side if they knew anyway."

    "But if I could prove it, that'd be your big scoop, right?" He laughed. "Plus I'd get back at him!"

    "Mmmmm...well, your arm's fine now, right? No need to worry about it." Nori tried to voice protests, but Arumi made her discomfort perfectly clear. "I don't want to get involved in this. At least not right now."

    Not right now. At least, there was hope. "I get it," he begrudgingly accepted. He couldn't blame her, especially with what she said about people jumping to his defense. "Thanks for the info, Arumi."

    She smiled. "No prob, Nor'. Just try not to rock the boat too hard. Don't want to make the news for the wrong reasons, after all."

    "I know."

    The door opened, and the rest of the club started to file in. "We're back," announced Gino.

    All of them were carrying stacks of papers. "We have the printed copies of our latest newsletter ready for distribution," said Beau.

    "Great, guys!" Arumi jumped to her feet. "Thanks! Let's get to it, team!"

    Nori, still sitting, asked, "I still have one more question for you."

    "Sure, Nor'! We'll chat more after school!"

    "It's real fast." He hadn't forgotten why he came here. "Can you spy on Edward Hankstein for me? He's been watching some of my training, but they won't let me watch any of his. Some intel would help before I battle him. Or even just what you know of his battle strategies."

    "Sorry, I'm really gonna be busy the next few days. I'd do it if I could!"

    He put his head down on the desk, resting on his hands. There went that idea.

    Yuki trotted up and gave encouragement. "I know you can win no matter what, Nori!"

    "Easy for you to say," he remarked to the strawberry blond boy. He turned to Arumi. "Thanks anyway." It was a long-shot anyway, but what he learned about Kallisto today was even better. That was, if he could make it by Eddie on the 20th. None of it would matter otherwise.

    ##########​

    April 17th, 2015​

    "Hey, Ms. Kakoku."

    Friday came, and therefore, so did Nori's second day of Officials' training. The one-eyed woman was all business as she marched up the stairs of the strange unfurnished side-room.

    "Did you do the homework I assigned?" she immediately asked.

    The boy glanced away, sheepishly. "As much as I could. Didn't finish all of it, sorry."

    "You had all week."

    "I didn't have time, okay!" he protested. "I had homework for a lot of classes."

    "I didn't sign up for this, and I sure as hell don't want to bother if you're going to slack."

    "But there's just so much! With everything! I can't keep up with it all!" His stress had been building, bubbling over the surface over the past two days, ever since he learned Arumi couldn't help him. It was all coming out now. "I've been trying to prioritize, mostly on the Gym. I have to face Eddie on the 20th. I have to win, or else Volkner's going to rule me a lost cause. I told you that! I've been trying to focus on training, so I haven't had time to study."

    His teacher waited for him to finish, and said simply, "It means you haven't been making good use of your time."

    "Well, can't you help me train?"

    "That's the blond rat's job. Mine is to teach you what you'll need as an Official."

    "Well he isn't doing a very good job of it!" He paused, and added, "Actually, no. He hasn't been doing it at all!"

    "Not my problem." She dropped a paper on the table. "A test on the law material from last week. I hope you've been keeping up."

    ---​

    There was nothing to do but do it. Nori tried to put his stress behind him and do the test. At least he was able to focus for the forty or so minutes it took. After he finished, Ms. Kakoku spent about fifteen minutes grading it.

    "So...?" he hesitatingly spoke up as she came to the end. "Did I do okay?"

    She threw it down. "A solid B."

    That was the smallest of reliefs. As long as he could keep up with the tests, he'd be fine. "By the way, sorry for asking again. But could you please help me train for the battle? I'm sure you know a few things Volkner doesn't. And if I can't win, well, it doesn't matter how good I do here."

    "Later," she dismissed. She reached into her bag and dropped a history textbook on the table. "Start on chapter 1 of this. And after break, we're going to start physical training."

    "Okay?" Nori flipped open the book. It was a condensed version of the entire history of Japan. He got to reading it.

    ---​

    After break, they went outside. The physical training turned out to be running around the sports fields. Nori asked if she was looking for speed, but she just said to run laps until she said to stop. That's fine, the boy thought. He could pace himself that way.

    He sprinted for the first lap to show off, but went to a quick jog beyond that. After three laps, he spoke up as he passed by. The one-eyed woman was only watching, not even with a stopwatch or anything. "Done yet?"

    She shook her head. "Not yet."

    ---​

    After three more laps, he again asked, "Done yet?"

    "No."

    "How many more?" he asked as he ran by. Ms. Kakoku didn't answer.

    ---​

    The boy slowed down after a couple more laps. He was athletic, sure, but not a marathon runner. Plus he hadn't had a run like this in months; the most he'd been able to do was work out in the Gym. His jog had become less vigorous.

    "How long?" he asked, when break had ended and he was still going.

    "Until you get tired."

    "Really?" he rasped, staring at her in disbelief. But, he kept going.

    ---​

    He kept going and going. Eventually he lost track of how long he had been running and how many laps he had done. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath.

    "Keep going," Ms. Kakoku ordered, right away.

    "I'm too tired."

    "You can still go."

    The boy shook his head. "Fine..." he reluctantly conceded.

    ---​

    It continued with no end in sight. Nori had to slow down considerably, to where he was just walking. It was starting to get painful. Every step felt like he was walking barefoot on burning nails. His legs barely felt there. His heart was vainly beating against his chest. It was starting to hurt to so much as breathe. He hadn't even been given any fluids.

    Finally, he reached his absolute limit. With a determined squint, Nori forced himself to finish the remaining lap in a jog. Promptly, his legs gave out. He toppled over, struggling to catch his breath. His throat was so dry. It hurt so bad he was crying involuntarily.

    Ms. Kakoku stood over him. "Come on."

    "No more!" he begged. "Can't...go on."

    "You can still go."

    Nori tried to stand, but even moving his arms was too much. His legs felt like they were being sawed off, and even that little bit of exertion wasted precious oxygen.

    "I physically can't!"

    "When you throw up, we'll call it."

    "What?" Was crying not enough?!

    "Keep moving."

    "No!"

    "Now."

    "I'm...not...throwup! So...screw! Off!" Nori defiantly threw up not one, but two middle fingers at his Official teacher. At that moment, the school bell rang. "There! The bell! I win!" The boy tried to laugh, but started wheezing instead. Still out of breath, all his limbs still hurting, still begging for a drink.

    "Hmph." Rin Kakoku shook her head, standing over him and looking down. "You're a waste of Official resources as you are."

    "What's...with the insults?!" the boy growled, managing to roll and push himself up into a sitting position, although needing to use his hands and elbows for support..

    "That was a compliment," she nonchalantly remarked. Finally, she reached into her bag and threw a bottle of water at him. Nori wasted no time unscrewing the lid and downing nearly the entire bottle in one swig. "You threw off my lesson plan by lasting this long. Study chapters 2-3 of the history book."

    She started to leave. Nori muttered in irritation. What was the point of this?

    Without turning around, Ms. Kakoku added one more thing. "Oh, and I'll be watching on Monday. Good luck." With those genuine words, she left, leaving the boy to recover on the grass.

    ---​

    Nori had to walk home after school instead of using his skateboard. He was feeling the aches and pains all throughout his afternoon class, and didn't want to chance it. It was bad enough that he was tempted to ask Kallisto for a ride back, but he'd already left by the time Nori got outside.

    When he finally arrived back at the Gym, he spotted the head Gym Trainer in the parking lot. The heterochromic teenager was on his skateboard, performing to a group of three kids and an adult male, He was dexterously moving around, weaving between parked vehicles and making sharp turns with the aid of lampposts, while performing kickflips and other stunts. When he spotted Nori, he kicked the board up and waved to him.

    "You took long," he remarked. "Did something happen?"

    Nori clutched his legs, the cramps catching up with him after that walk. "It's because of my Official teacher," he explained. He figured he should explain it to someone besides Volkner. "She made me run laps until I couldn't. She wanted to make me go until I threw up, until the bell stopped her." He leaned against a car for support. "I'm still hurting."

    The head Gym Trainer nodded. "Smart that you didn't ride you skateboard back, in that case."

    The three kids gasped in surprise. The two boys were obviously twins, probably around six or seven, the girl appeared to be their younger sister. All had light brown hair and green eyes.

    "Whoa!"

    "Cool!"

    "You mean you skate too, Mr. Nori?" asked the girl.

    "M-Mr. Nori?!"

    Kallisto laughed. "Kids, huh?" He turned to them. "A little skateboarding advice. Don't skate when you're hurt. You might fall and hurt yourself more. It's the number two rule, I'd say."

    "What's the number one?" asked one of the twins.

    "Look where you want to skate. Don't get distracted and look elsewhere. It just takes one second to wipe out."

    "Who are these kids, and why are you even out here?" Nori asked. He didn't particularly care, but he was curious. It was unusual to see Kallisto outside the Gym during hours without any of his friends.

    "A challenger stopped by right after school. She's battling Tono right now." He tapped his chin, smiling warmly to himself. "Her kids were happy to meet me. They actually fans of my skateboarding. It's rare to meet people who are into that side of me, so I figured, hey! Why not make their day by putting on a show for them?"

    The boy sighed. He wanted to find a reason to badmouth Kallisto, but he couldn't. There was nothing bad to say about entertaining some little kids.

    "So is that their dad?" Nori asked, gesturing to the adult.

    "He just came to gawk." Kallisto shrugged. "Volkner's been waiting for you, he didn't seem too happy."

    He sighed. "I know." Of course, it was because he was so late. He had a good reason, but the Gym Leader probably wouldn't care.

    "Want me to come in and help mediate?"

    "Don't bother, don't stop on account of me." He could explain it himself, and if Volkner didn't care, well, Kallisto wouldn't have been able to help either.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    Cynthia's last name is taken from her grandmother in the anime. And yes, that lore was just dumped. I actually removed a joke about the Gym Trainers looking at magazines - which was the original ORIGINAL reason they attacked Nori - until their concept change. It puts a statement of Ollie's in M3-4 in context, too.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 4: April of Change (fifth part)
    • If this chapter is clunky in places, it's because I haven't been able to give it a second editing pass yet but wanted to get this out today as planned. Our lovebird Cupid that we've had for seven years passed away yesterday. Adopted her from the SPCA, after she'd been given up three times. It was sudden, possibly a stroke of some kind. The last lovebird we had left, and it's the first time I've not had birds around me in the house since 1995.

    Okay, chapter's been updated. There's only two changes of note that aren't wording or typo:
    • Yuki briefly holds Nori's shoulders instead of patting them.
    • Nori muses Eddie's choice of Electabuzz first a bit more, pondering expecting him to use his uncommonly-seen Purugly or even Octillery. When it uses Light Screen, he gets why he used it.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    April of Change (fifth part)
    April 19th, 2015​

    Mercifully, Volkner let Nori be after that incident. He told him what happened and that he was going to start training. The Gym Leader begrudgingly left him alone. As far as Nori saw it, that meant he could train how he wanted, without anyone to get in the way.

    In fact, Nori spent the entire weekend hard at work. He was laser focused, driven by determination and rage. He caught up on his homework while having his Pokemon train, if not exercising with them. When he wasn't doing any of those things, he was asleep or eating. He was away from the Gym for nearly all of Saturday. He had his Pokemon do general things that would build their strength and stamina. Sometimes he'd join them for a run. He even had them spar with each other, as well as a few battles together against other trainers.

    Sunday was more of the same, except at the Gym. He was so mad. He wasn't going to lose. He wasn't going to let all of this be for nothing! He was barely able to sleep the previous night, but that didn't matter! It meant more time for training! And work! He did his homework while his Pokemon trained. It got to the point where he exhausted Pachirisu, and even the Demon needed a break. He was still antsy, and his mind wasn't flowing enough to do algebra, so he went to the exercise room to work out.

    He wasn't sure what happened. All he knew was he was in there, and suddenly, he was in the medical room. Betsy-Ann and Kallisto were watching over him.

    "Wha..." he groaned.

    "You passed out," Kallisto informed.

    The red-haired teen was side-eying the head Gym Trainer, although he didn't notice her leer. "Dehydration's what did it. Ya worked yourself too hard."

    The heterochromic teen nodded. "I found the Demon trying to drag you down the stairs." Nori glanced to his left, finding she was sitting in a corner of the room. She was also glaring at Kallisto, who was keeping a nervous eye on her. "I know you were trying to train your hardest. But it's not doing you any good to burn out now."

    "Fine, I get it. Go away."

    Kallisto nodded. "I'll leave you in peace, then."

    The boy collapsed back after the head Gym Trainer left. This was starting to get to him.

    "Need a hug?"

    Nori glanced up to see Betsy-Ann right up close. "Please."

    The boy practically latched onto her. He'd needed this for a while. He missed Lux's hugs, his mom's hugs, Maylene clinging to him like a lost puppy...

    "Mmm...ya give good hugs." the medic in-training remarked, gently stroking his back. "Nice 'n tight."

    She eventually let go and stepped over to the counter. The medic returned with some crackers and a bottle of water.

    "Got some vittles for ya."

    "Thanks." Nori unscrewed the lid and gulped down a third of the bottle in one swig. Sweet salvation! He smiled at his Pokemon. "Both of you."

    His Nidorina nodded, although made a motion with her front paws. Nori knew that as her wanting in her ball. He patted his pockets, finding her capsule was still in there. He brought it out to recall her and slipped it back inside.

    Betsy-Ann sat beside him. "Ya really do how to make a gal worry, ya know?" she said, patting him on the back.

    "Sorry," was all he could say. "I'm a stupid moron who overworked myself. Should've known better."

    The teen simply smiled in reassurance. "Aw, it ain't no big deal. Yer alright now." Her pats gradually found their way to his head. "Might wanna eat somethin' proper-like soon, and take it easy the rest'a the day."

    "You're right."

    "Atta boy."

    Nori stood shakily, his legs feeling like jelly. "I should...probably go do that."

    "I'll be rootin' for ya tomorrow."

    "Thanks."

    Nori was glad there was at least one person at the Gym who supported him. Betsy-Ann was so nice. She was almost something of an older sibling looking out for him. He didn't even want to think of where he'd be without her.

    ---​

    Kallisto Keravnos sat on the couch of the trainer's lounge, waiting for Nori to come by and eat. The young future official had earned some of his respect back over the past week. He'd been taking his training very seriously, perhaps to a fault. For all his flaws and troubles, Kallisto couldn't take that away from him. He could indeed acknowledge criticism, and put in effort where it was needed.

    After ten minutes, Nori indeed came into the room.

    "Hey,"

    The boy didn't even glance in his direction. "I'm making food," he stated. Nori poured a pot of water and turned the stove on. He sat down at the table, and Kallisto joined him.

    "Do you need a bit of help getting ready?"

    The boy narrowed his gaze. "I don't trust you."

    Kallisto nodded. "I guess I can't blame you."

    He meant it. He was willing to help take some of the pressure off, even if it was last minute. But it was easy to see things from Nori's perspective. It wasn't hard to think his strategy and secrets might be leaked back to Eddie.

    "I'll say just one thing, then." The boy eyed him warily, yet attentively. "Be ready for anything tomorrow."

    He was quiet for the longest time, his irritation festering beneath the surface. "Are you being vague on purpose just to annoy me?"

    The head Gym Trainer shook his head. "I don't know what Eddie's strategy is." He wouldn't leak it to Nori anyway as much as he wouldn't leak Nori's strategy, whatever it may be, to Eddie. But in this case, Kallisto was telling the truth. "The past week, he's been keeping his training as secret as yours. Even from me, which is unusual."

    A defeated sigh. "Okay."

    Kallisto thought about saying more. Ultimately, he got up and left, leaving it at that.

    Regardless, he couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen tomorrow. Eddie and Volkner had been too quiet. They'd met a couple times privately, and neither had told him what was going on. His speculation was they were setting Nori up to fail. It made sense. Eddie had been very vocal about wanting to see the future official gone, ever since April 1st. And Volkner had been on his case since his loss to Sofie Shadden. What were they willing to do?

    If true, they were going too far over a petty grudge. Kallisto at that moment vowed to take action to save Nori's job if it came to that. Even if Nori didn't want him to or it meant throwing Eddie and Volkner under the bus. And maybe, he thought with a deep breath, that was how he could atone for what he'd done last month.

    ##########​

    April 20th, 2015​

    The day had finally arrived. Exhibition day, April 20th.

    Nori had the day off school, with no say in the matter. He actually wanted to go, not only to not fall further behind on his schoolwork, but to better prepare mentally. His battle with Eddie wasn't scheduled until the evening, the last battle of the day - a request made by the Gym Trainers so more people could watch and that it fit with the requirement for being special - so he didn't get why he had to stay here and help. Especially if they were going to kick him out if he lost.

    Exhibition day officially started off at 10am, and Nori had to accept a couple challenges beforehand. They were simple one-on-ones. He managed to beat a Kadabra with Pachi, and a Glaceon with the Demon. Eddie just sat back and watched.

    There were intermissions every two hours. These lasted for one hour for lunch and dinner, and half an hour between 3:00 and 3:30. Informal battles still took place during that time, monitored by one of the Gym Trainers. During the lunch break when wandering around, he found a familiar face in the right hallway area.

    "Hey, Ms. Kakoku," he greeted.

    The eyepatch-wearing woman was passively leaning against the wall. She glanced up at him. "Never was one for formal shit. Call me Rin when we're not in class."

    "Sure, Rin." It was weird to be calling a woman much older than him by her first name, but he could get if he found it weird to be called Ms. Kakoku. "So what do you think so far?"

    "Of what?"

    "About the battles I've had?"

    "No comment." She popped a stick of gum into her mouth. "Have your real one and I'll tell you Friday."

    "Okay."

    That made sense. He hardly cared about these battles, either. Maybe he'd watch from the balconies for a bit to avoid a stream of challenges.

    ---​

    Eddie did have a double battle with someone after lunch. However, he didn't take it seriously, using his Carnivine and a Solrock of all things (that he apparently caught in Mt. Coronet a month ago). He actually lost, but didn't take it too hard. Nori fully expected he wouldn't see any of Eddie's better Pokemon before eight.

    Sometime after 3pm, Nori went to the lobby. School-age students would soon be coming in droves to watch and participate in Sunyshore Gym's monthly tradition. In fact, one of the first people who showed up was Yuki.

    "Nori, hey!" the strawberry blond boy greeted, hurrying over as soon as he saw him. He was wearing a tropical pink shirt with the logo of the Sunyshore Dunkers basketball team on the front.

    "Nice to see you here, Yuki."

    "Of course!" he said with a grin. "I come here every exhibition day! I was cheering for you the last two months!"

    Was he? Those days were like a fog to him. But if he was there in March, "You cheered me over Kallisto?" he inquired.

    "Mhm! Kallisto's great, but I think I like you better." Nori chuckled, slightly embarrassed about the praise. "Plus, who doesn't like cheering for the real underdog?"

    "But I thought you liked sports?"

    "Pro battling's a sport! More of one than poker." He grumbled and rolled his eyes at that last statement. "Battling is in my top three alongside basketball and soccer! Baseball's number four, if you were wondering." Nori was. It was one of the most popular sports for people in Japan, if the radio news was anything to go by. "I heard all about your battle! I can't wait to see you get back at Eddie!"

    "Did you hear the part where if I lose, I get kicked out by Volkner?"

    "What? No, I didn't." Yuki was stunned momentarily, but quickly shook it off. "Well, I just know you're going to win!"

    The boy wasn't sure what to think about that comment. It was nice to know there was someone else cheering for him, and someone he knew at that. But simply saying he was going to win was kind of like blind faith.

    "So, um. Nori," Yuki asked, suddenly a bit awkward. "I was wondering something."

    "Ja, ja, excuse me herrs and frauleins," came the voice of a teenage girl trying her hardest to sound like an older German man. "I am important doctor coming through!" The individual, dressed in a long white lab coat over a light gray shirt and red tie, barged between them. She was glancing down, wearing a white cap, glasses, and a black mustache that didn't match her chocolate brown hair. She hurried into the right hall and into arena from there.

    Yuki blinked. "Er, was that...?" he asked, with uncertainty.

    "That was Arumi." Among the other blatant tells was that while she was posing as a guy, the small lumps on her chest gave away she was a girl.

    "Why's she dressed up like that?"

    "Ask her yourself tomorrow." Nori shrugged. He looked up at the clock. Whatever Yuki had to ask him would have to wait. "Well, I should get back soon."

    "I'll be right there rooting for you! Good luck!" He briefly held Nori by the shoulders.

    "Thanks. I think I'm going to need it."

    That was nice. He didn't know Yuki well, but seemed the two of them could be good friends from the sounds of it. Even if some of it did stem from being a fanboy of his. Maybe he should get to know Yuki a bit better?

    ---​

    At dinner, Volkner briefly spoke with Eddie, after which the Gym Trainer went with Kallisto and Tono to talk some last minute strategy. Nori was left to oversee things in the meantime. He was surprised they didn't have Ollie do it. There wasn't much to it, just decide who gets to battle, and say whenever somebody won. He did so with cheer, having a little fun with his announcements when he still could.

    When they got back, Nori went off to eat. Although he wasn't that hungry, he nevertheless made himself a sandwich. It was a simple cheese spread on wheat bread, nothing special. Something to remind him of home, the home he might be forced to return to soon.

    As he went downstairs afterward, he was greeted by a number of staff members in the stairwell area, led by Betsy-Ann. They met him with clapping and words of encouragement.

    "Uh, thanks? But, what's this about?"

    "Thought I'd round up some folks here to wish ya luck," the medic in-training said.

    "You're all cheering for me?"

    "O'course. Everyone here likes you. And though a few don't agree with what you did, ain't no one thinks Eddie didn't have it comin'." Betsy-Ann looked down the hallway. "Mrs. Stetcher's busy, but she told me she's been workin' here thirty years. Seen many Gym Leaders and Gym Trainers, and he's the biggest piece of work of 'em all."

    "Worse than Ollie?"

    Jenny McCabe, one of the security guards and the only female among them, spoke up. "He at least tries sometimes."

    "No secret that pisshead's just riding Kallisto's coattails!" the pudgy Hartman added. "Even Dan and Lyle see that!" The other two guards, no doubt.

    "It is news to me."

    "Well now ya know!" Betsy-Ann snorted. "We're pullin' for ya. Give'em hell out there!"

    "I'll try my best."

    Nori always tried to be friendly with the staff. It seemed to be paying off. Still, he wondered. If it came to him and Kallisto, who would they choose? Betsy-Ann made her stance clear, but what about the others? Surely they'd been around long enough to see his darker side, right? Or would they...?

    ---​

    The boy decided to step out for a while before his battle. As he did so, he spotted someone vaguely familiar in the lobby, getting a snack from the concession stand.

    "Is that you, Kelsey?" he chanced asking.

    The blonde girl turned around. "You remember me?"

    He did, so it seemed. "I haven't seen you around. How's everyone been?"

    "We go to Autumn Valley Middle School now." He thought so. He hadn't seen Jamie or her friends since the start of the school year. He couldn't have missed them every time he was in the halls. "Well, Arty and Marie started dating and left on a journey together. Jamie couldn't come today. But she wanted me to tell you, she's sorry for what she said to you."

    Nori placed a hand on his hip. "It took her that long, and she couldn't tell me in person? Doesn't she live close to here?"

    "She's ashamed to face you. Plus, her dad wouldn't let her."

    The boy sighed. "She's just upset because I got away."

    "She is."

    "Well, tell her thanks." At least she did apologize, even if it was hollow.

    "And you won't have her back?"

    Nori considered this for a moment. "As much as part of me wants to, I think it'd be better if we don't." As much as it'd be nice to actually date her and see what Kallisto would do about it, he was sure he made the right choice.

    "That's what I told her. And I thought you'd say that, too." She laughed ruefully.

    "I should get back soon. My battle's going to start any minute."

    Kelsey checked her Poketch. "Right, it's almost eight! I should get back to my seat, too!"

    "Nice seeing you again."

    "Same here. Good luck!"

    "Thank you."

    A surprising number of people he knew had come here. And a lot of them had come to watch his battle. He wouldn't be surprised if Spike was in the audience too. Of course, he wished Lux could be here too, but that was a pipe dream at this point. It would be a miracle if they could ever meet again, really...

    ---​

    A number of battles on exhibition day were planned ahead of time, as opposed to being spontaneous or decided on that day. One could put in an application through mail, website, or in-person to have their battle featured. These were usually the first match after and last match before a break. Other battles were case-by-case, with the floor generally open during break periods. But the final one of each day was more than any presented as an event. They were often the best battles, and often featured either Volkner or a Gym Trainer.

    They took place after 8pm, after whatever battle was in-progress finished. Nori couldn't remember the February one besides nobody from the Gym being involved, but in January it was a full battle between Kallisto and Tono, and in March Volkner faced off against the outgoing Elite Four member, the Normal-type expert Basil. Today, it would be him.

    As the battle between two students from rival middle schools came to a close, Nori and Eddie were instructed to get to the battlefield. Nori received some encouragement from the packed audience along the way. A lot of people were looking forward to this battle, and no doubt given Eddie's reputation, a lot were cheering for him. It was a contrast to when he fought Gasha Qian in the Veilstone Gym to determine the fate of the Demon. Perhaps the only person cheering (albeit silently) for him there was his one-time friend Prema.

    He took his position with Pachirisu on his shoulder. Be ready for anything. Kallisto said that, but it was obvious. Eddie's an experienced trainer, he definitely knew a lot of strategies. Nori's would be to counter them and hit his Pokemon so fast and hard it didn't matter.

    "This will be the final battle of today," Volkner introduced. "It will be featuring two of our own, ‘the Demon Tamer’ Nori Carino against Edward ‘Eddie’ Hankstein. You know half the backstory, so I'm not repeating it. The other's," and with this the leader pointed right at him. "That he's made little progress on his technique. If he doesn't show any improvement here, he's out. Gone."

    Way to remind him of the pressure. The crowd murmured, even more intrigued by the stakes. Why couldn't Eddie like, have to quit or something if he lost? This was stupid. At least the audience wasn't against him. Yet even so, it felt much harder than when he fought Gasha. Maybe it was because he didn't have spite to run off of. Or that the crowd was expecting things of him.

    "This is a standard battle. Switching is allowed, with no limits. Send your first Pokemon out at the same time."

    Nori turned his head and nodded. Pachirisu hopped off, raring to go. Eddie had meanwhile chosen to start off with a yellow bipedal creature with prong-like horns and a vaguely tiger-like body pattern. His Electabuzz. An interesting choice, given Pachi's ability would limit what it could do. He was expecting Eddie to use his Lickitung, or maybe even Octillery regardless of type disadvantage.

    His opponent showed faux surprise. "Whoa, kid!" he dramatically declared. "The look in its eyes! You corrupt it or something?"

    He did have a point. Pachirisu was wearing a very fierce expression. "Pachi just hates you," explained Nori. "Just like I hate you."

    "Gonna hate me a lot more once we're done here."

    They had to win this. They absolutely had to. If they lost, everything up until this point, the last eight months of his life will have been for nothing. Four of which would've been completely wasted here. They had to pull out all the stops here, do everything in their power. Use all of their speed. And show them their grit!

    "Okay, begin." Volkner waved his hands and stepped back, and the battle was on.

    Eddie gave the first command. "Light Screen, Electabuzz!"

    "No! Quick Attack!"

    With swift speed, Pachirisu dashed forth and collided into their opponent, but this didn't manage to prevent Electabuzz from waving its hands and creating a shimmering veil of light. That was bad. In fact, maybe that was the worst possible thing. That must've been why he was using it! Most of Pachirisu's moves were special in nature. He could switch to the Demon, yes, but he wanted to keep her fit for Eddie's second.

    "Now, Ice Punch!"

    Nori smacked himself. He was losing focus already! Eddie's Electabuzz was no slouch close up, and they ran right into it! Pachirisu didn't see it coming, getting smacked upside the head with their foe's icy fist.

    "One more time!"

    Two months ago, Pachi would already be close to defeat. But to his relief, the squirrel's training - and maybe getting used to getting beaten repeatedly - had been paying off. He escaped the second blow, and didn't seem worse for wear.

    "Okay," the boy huffed. "What to do now, Nori?" he asked himself.

    Eddie wasn't giving them any time to decide. "Follow through! Low Kick!"

    An idea came to him. "Grass Knooooooooo..." He drew the word out, giving the signal as Electabuzz started to twist. "–ot, now!"

    Pachirisu's timing was perfect. He stomped the ground right as the tiger-like Pokemon had lifted its leg. The ensnaring vines were so abrupt that it spun and fell over. Nori saw their chance.

    "Super Fang."

    "Grab at it!"

    Electabuzz was having trouble getting to its feet to do so. Pachirisu focused, jumped in there with glowing teeth, and chomped down hard. As the opposing Pokemon was reeling, Nori pondered if they could get off another.

    "Again."

    With hesitation, Pachirisu did so. He only managed to scrape a foot with his fangs, getting shoved away in the process. He was left on all fours, momentarily catching his breath.

    "Dumbfuck," Eddie growled. "Psychic! Throw it at a pillar!"

    Electabuzz mentally grabbed hold of his Pokemon. Ugh! How could this thing use a stupid move like that? It quickly shoved the white and blue squirrel into one of the pillars. He was down, he was wobbly, but he wasn't out.

    "Fuckin' remember anything?" the dark-skinned teen mocked. "Can't use strong attacks over and over!"

    Nori cringed. "Shut up!" He was hoping to end it quickly, that's all! The small silver lining was that Psychic took effort to execute, but this was not looking good.

    "Now show it Swift!"

    "Um, Electro Ball?" They had to strike back.

    And it hit! Weakly. That stupid Light Screen. However, the wildly moving homing stars impacted his Pokemon far worse. Eddie grinned like a predator eying its prey. Electabuzz pounded a fist into its palm.

    "Get in close."

    "Run away! Agility!"

    For the next minute or so, a game of chicken ensued. Electabuzz chased after Pachirisu, who ran as fast as his little legs could carry him backed by a speed boost. Eddie didn't mind; in fact he actually seemed to enjoy it. Nori was relieved at that much. It was buying him time to think. He couldn't use Thunder Wave. He could use Sweet Kiss. He should've from the start, maybe he still could. Could he Discharge? Maybe. But he wanted to make that count for the effort it took. That Light Screen was still there...

    "All right, you had your fun, kid. Another Swift."

    He should've known. "Wait right by that pillar," Nori said. Pachirisu did so, shakily. The boy shut his eyes. He heard the star missiles flying through the air. "Whirl behind."

    This was crazy. He'd seen Kallisto do this once or twice. Could Pachi do it on the spot? The squirrel waited tensely, and dove behind just as the attack got close. Some of them still hit, yet most ended up hitting the pillar instead. It somehow worked! The crowd gasped and cheered. Kallisto actually gave him a thumbs-up.

    "Crafty," Eddie sarcastically complimented. "Think it's time we end this. Psychic, Electabuzz! Bring it closer this time!"

    Once more, Pachi was caught, and there was nothing they could do. Yet Nori saw it. The curtain of light, briefly becoming visible again as it blinked out of existence. This stupid stunt of stalling actually worked. They had one chance!

    "Pachi, Discharge."

    As if also sensing this was their only chance, the squirrel put everything into this. And Electabuzz felt it. It growled, focus dropping entirely as Pachirisu smoothly landed on his feet. The other Pokemon was left gasping for air.

    "Shit!" cursed Eddie. "Get Light Screen back up!"

    "No way. Quick Attack."

    A repeat of the opening moves played out. The only difference this time was after Pachirisu made contact, Eddie's Pokemon paused, clutching its belly. And it toppled over!

    "Electabuzz can't continue," ruled Volkner.

    The crowd roared. Nori lightly smiled, and his Pokemon wagged its tail in delight. One down, one to go! Eddie slowly reached out, shaken by this loss. Even the other Gym Trainers, and even Volkner seemed surprised! They showed them! No one believed Pachi could've won against one of their Pokemon, and they just showed them! Just Magnezone left!

    "Eddie!" shouted Kallisto from the stands. "Keep focused! Don't let it get to you!"

    "Do not let this ridiculous fool get in your head! You still have the advantage!" Tono yelled.

    Of course they'd coach and encourage him. Eddie snapped out of it at once. "Heh, you're right. Sorry." He turned to Nori, his next Pokemon in-hand. "Well, not bad, kid. But your luck's run out."

    He threw the ball, and out came...a red tank-like octopus?! "Octillery?!" Nori gasped. Pachirisu was stunned, not to mention a good portion of the audience. Even Kallisto seemed taken aback.

    The boy took a deep breath, processing this. Okay. He had to be using this instead of Magnezone for a reason. What could it be? He'd seen it use Mud Shot, it wasn't a bad pick against Pachirisu. But what about the Demon? That worked well too, and it knew Octazooka and Psybeam and Aurora–

    "Pachirisu vs. Octillery. Begin."

    Too late, he had to trust his instinct. "Pachi, come back. Uh, return."

    "Don't let it! Wrap!"

    Nori panicked. The octopus reached out with its tentacles. Pachirisu ran, but...but he made it! He got away! The little squirrel quickly scampered behind him. Nori wasn't sure of the rules on Pokemon being outside their ball and being called back, but screw it!

    "Go, my Demon."

    Octillery was advancing, but came face to face with the teal beast. At once, she bucked it in the face. The octopus was normally steadfast against physical blow thanks to its Suction Cups ability, but this was so sudden it didn't have a chance to grip the floor. It was sent a few meters back.

    "Damn it!"

    "Swap confirmed," stated Volkner. Pachirisu was still hurt, a good attack or two might knock him out. But this would be a chance to recover his stamina. The squirrel crawled back onto his shoulder to watch. "Continue."

    Eddie sighed in annoyance. "Fine. Psybeam, Octillery."

    Placing its front tentacles down, the red Pokemon spat out a pink laser with rings. This actually hit the Demon even as she hopped to avoid it, although she shrugged it off, effective or not.

    "Approach and strike." He let her decide how.

    "Get ready to dodge!" said Eddie. Octillery squirmed aside as she got near, although she still managed to catch it with her feet. Its trainer countered, "Octazooka, point blank!"

    Hm. Nori wondered. "Flip over top."

    She did so, somersaulting over the octopus' form and striking from behind. The boy grinned. The Demon was in the perfect place! Octillery wasn't getting away, and it couldn't turn around fast enough!

    Eddie blew it off. "Think you're hot shit? Wrap!" Octillery reached out behind and ensnared the Nidorina's body and front legs. The dark-skinned teen snickered. "Gotcha."

    Okay, they could still attack. But, Nori thought fast. "Roll back!"

    Nidorina did a backwards somersault, yanking Octillery off the ground with sheer force and slamming it headfirst into the ground. Eddie muttered in annoyance. Nori knew what was coming next. He'd seen it from them before: wrap around the foe then slingshot in. He thought he had an answer.

    "Double-Edge, Octillery!" As he figured.

    "Crunch."

    Nidorina was faster. Before the octopus could reel itself in, the Demon went right up and bit down hard. Suddenly, both Pokemon were latched onto each other.

    "Octillery, roll and throw!" Eddie countered. Showing its own power and using its tentacles as leverage, the red octopus flipped backwards. At the same time it released and hurled Nidorina off and away.

    The Demon moved with it, flipping upright and landing on her feet. She crouched to charge.

    "Now, Mud Shot!"

    The octopus spewed a hunk of wet dirt in her face. Undeterred by the temporary blindness, she made a blind lunge that Octillery easily slithered away from. Eddie smirked.

    "Soak it!"

    Nori flinched as a massive amount of strange-looking water came out of its maw, completely drenching the Demon. It didn't seem to hurt her for some reason. But it gave away their position!

    "Right there, Shadow Claw." She caught it right between the eyes with this blow.

    "Lucky critical," Eddie muttered, keeping his cool even as she followed through with Cut. "Slingshot away!"

    Nori blinked. The Demon was going for a third follow-up. But before she could, Octillery gripped the floor and pulled itself backward. The octopus launched away at a high velocity, evading the swipe and putting a considerable distance between the two Pokemon.

    "That's a new trick we've been practicing. And here's a new move." He suddenly got a look in his eye that unnerved Nori. "Ready to scream, kid?" he asked, with a Cheshire grin and cruel laugh. "Octillery, USE SURF!"

    The boy froze up in horror. "No, no, no..." he mumbled, squinting. Not that move! The red octopus produced an ungodly amount of water, rising to its apex and riding it forward. The huge wave of water was headed right for them! Nori yelped, trying not to scream. He took several steps back, barely catching himself from running off entirely. His Pokemon still had mud in her eyes. This wasn't looking good.

    Impulsively, he reached for the Demon's ball. "Come back, quick!" he urged, managing to hit her with the beam just before the wave crashed over her. He picked up Pachirisu. "Go! Agility!"

    He literally threw the squirrel into the fray. Pachi landed, jumped, and rocketed through the air. He landed right behind Octillery.

    "What the FUCK??" seethed Eddie. He pointed fiercely. "Wrap!"

    "Discharge! Full power!"

    "Shit!" Eddie grit his teeth, knowing there was no stopping this.

    Pachirisu gave this attack everything he had. Octillery lit up like a lightbulb as it was zapped by the intense burst of electricity. And, it went limp!

    "Octillery can't continue," Volkner announced.

    The boy, catching his breath, managed to cheer with the crowd. He'd won! He'd actually beaten Eddie! Two Pokemon to none! "Woohoo!" Even trying to freak him out didn't work! Pachirisu looked over at him with a grin. The squirrel ran towards him. The boy raised his hand, high-fiving his Pokemon's tail. "Yes! How do you like that?"

    Eddie took a step forward. "That was dirty!" he accused. "You're really an amateur like Tono says if you have to use brute force and cheap tricks."

    "Well," said Nori, with a shrug. His harasser walked right into this one, so he couldn't help himself. "You just lost to this so-called amateur, so what does that make you?"

    "I ain't lost yet."

    With these chilling words Eddie recalled Octillery and sent out a third Pokemon? It was his Magnezone, which hovered menacingly over Pachirisu. The little squirrel was confused, as was most of the crowd, really.

    "Hey!" Nori yelled. "What's the big idea?!"

    "This is a standard three-on-three," Volkner answered. He said so in the plainest, most natural way possible.

    "But I don't have three Pokemon!"

    "Well, you should've caught something else!" Eddie tauntingly replied. "You've gone to the wild a lot."

    "THAT'S dirty!" He stomped a foot. "I had other things to worry about!"

    Volkner shook his head. "That's how it is."

    "Swift that little rodent, Magnezone!"

    Nori choked on his protests. Pachirisu was taken completely by surprise, the star-shaped missiles critically hitting him from all sorts of strange angles. It was all too much.

    "Pachirisu can't continue."

    "Maybe your Pokemon are stronger, kid," Eddie conceded, with cold sincerity. He snickered in a low, sinister voice as he lowered his gaze. "But you ain't better."

    Nori wanted to collapse, just like his Pokemon. What in the world was he going to do now?
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 4: April of Change (sixth part)
    • April of Change (sixth part)​
    April 20th, 2015​

    Nori shut his eyes, the gravity of the situation crushing him. The crowd was murmuring, most of them booing this twist. But they couldn't get him out of this one. This was an unfair battle, rigged against him. It was down to one Pokemon a side, a fresh Magnezone against the Demon, who'd taken some hits from Octillery. Last time they were in this situation against Eddie, a damaged Nidorina against his ace, they'd lost. And it was only a Magneton back then.

    "Volkner, really?!" an aghast Kallisto spoke up, rising from his chair.

    "Quiet! No causing a disruption during a battle!" the Gym Leader instantly shut down.

    Reluctantly, the heterochromic teen sat, although he continued to glower at Volkner and even Eddie. He turned to Tono, fervently whispering to him. It appeared from his expression they were quietly arguing about this.

    Volkner turned to Nori, tapping his foot. "Hurry it up. Or are you forfeiting now?"

    He almost wanted to. There was almost no chance of winning here, but that didn't mean he couldn't try. He sent out the Demon, who instantly got hold of the situation. She was ready, at least.

    "Dumb luck you avoided my Soak plan," Eddie taunted. Nori studied his body language, and he did not look deterred in the slightest. "But you still ain't gonna win."

    Soak plan? Wait. It changed her type, didn't it? Was he going to destroy her with very effective Electric attacks? Nori shuddered. He was very lucky Pachi managed to beat Electabuzz, and that he more or less concluded something like this could happen. This was still very bad. Magnezone could fly, and Shock Wave wouldn't help even if they could use it properly. There was one trump card they could play...but how could they go about it?

    Volkner waved his arms. "Last matchup. The Demon versus Magnezone. Begin."

    "Start it off with an Iron Head, Magnezone!"

    "Fight as you will, Demon."

    The crowd was surprised by this unusual order, and maybe his apathy. Volkner glared. Nori didn't care. Not like Volkner liked anything he did anyway. May as well spite him and throw Eddie off. There were many times in the past where he placed his trust in the Demon, and he was doing so again.

    Her first action was to meet their foe's charge. Her paws began to glow with ethereal energy. She swung and struck with Shadow Claw, but was clipped by charging Steel type in the process. Both Pokemon kept moving after their respective attacks, eventually turning to face each other again.

    "Let's see what you do against Body Press!"

    Again, the two Pokemon moved towards one another. This time, the Nidorina did a handstand and started kicking as Magnezone descended on her. She landed a couple strikes and knocked it back, but it just kept coming. Nori winced as it landed on her.

    As Magnezone was hovering off, the Demon suddenly sprang at it. She climbed atop for a brief moment, hammering away with her paws.

    "The fuck?" said Eddie. "Shake it off!"

    The magnet Pokemon began jerking around wildly. The Demon was moments away from hitting another Shadow Claw when she lost her grip. She swung anyway, just barely missing. The teal creature landed on her back from about three meters up, fortunately unhurt.

    "Well, seems we're a match in melee, huh?" said Eddie. "Let's see how you handle us at ranged, though! Metal Sound!"

    The trio of magnets emitted a horrible noise. It was something of a cross between nails on a chalkboard, scraping metal, and a high-pitched squeal. Nori winced and shut one eye, although didn't need to plug his ears like some of the audience and even Eddie himself had to. As for his Pokemon, she stood strong. Annoyed and growling the whole time, but unbothered.

    "She's keeping focused!" yelled Ollie. "It won't work!"

    "I can see that!" Eddie shouted back. She actually sprang up and managed to barely clip its underside with yet another Shadow Claw. "Float out of reach and use Lock-On!"

    "Wait."

    Nori spoke, catching the Demon's attention as their opponent took aim. He knew what was coming. Zap Cannon. After a moment's thought, she realized it too, and ran towards a pillar to take cover.

    Eddie scoffed. "Try this. Thunder!"

    From a cloud materializing above came a blindingly intense bolt of lightning. His Pokemon tried to evade anyway, but it was fruitless. The electricity crashed down on her with an ear-splitting boom.

    The Demon shuddered. Her legs quivered. And yet, she refused to go down, steadying herself and standing taller than before. Nori exhaled, shakily from how much he was hyperventilating. That was way too close. He thought for sure they'd lost there.

    Eddie crossed his arms, standing proudly. "You're outta your league, kid. We're just better than you, admit it."

    The boy growled. "Stop hiding up there, pansy."

    "I ain't gotta listen to you." Well, the taunt was worth a try. "Go around the other side and use Flash Cannon!"

    As Magnezone started to move, the Demon got a burst of defiant energy. She started scaling the pillar, much like she had in the past. Eddie had no time to warn his Pokemon; as soon as it was in sight, the teal beast lunged. She seemed about to swipe, but Nori shouted, "Grab on!"

    She switched her tactic in an instant, going from a double pawed Shadow Claw to latching onto one of the magnets. The Magnezone briefly faltered from the sudden extra weight.

    "Again?" Eddie dismissed as Nori's Pokemon was precariously hanging off. "Get rid of it."

    Magnezone once more shook and tilted its body. Nori held his breath. Yet this time, the Demon held firm. In fact, she used the momentum to flip onto the magnet Pokemon.

    "The antenna!" he shouted, getting a gut feeling. "Get the antenna!"

    "Use Thunderbolt!"

    The Electric attack lasted only a split second. The teal creature violently yanked the little yellow rod jutting out from the main body. Magnezone screeched in pain. It lost control of its levitation, sending both Pokemon crashing to the floor.

    The Demon jumped off just in time, landing rough but on her feet and instantly lunging again. She was fighting like a cornered beast, gracelessly slashing and kicking their foe. And it seemed to be working.

    "You got this," he spurred with some claps. Eventually she transitioned into a proper Double Kick.

    Eddie seethed. "Get back, Magnezone!"

    It was trying to do that the whole time, but the Demon stayed on it. She was not allowing it to get away, let alone into the air. Nori smugly turned the boasting around. "We may not be better. But we are stronger."

    "That is not how it works, you imbecile!" yelled Tono from the stands.

    "Change direction! Back and forth!" Magnezone did so, ramming the Nidorina. It got as much horizontal distance as it could while the Demon was stumbling. "Now Tri Attack!" Eddie wasted no time going back on the offense.

    "Head through."

    Nori was confident about this one. The three triangles swirled out towards the Demon, and she proceeded to dodge it by acrobatically leaping through the space between them. The Magnezone blared like an alarm, responding too late to escape the subsequent Shadow Claw.

    "Shit! Shit!" Eddie cursed. "Fend it off with Iron Head!"

    "Block it."

    With a flex, the Demon got up on her hind legs as Magnezone rushed forth. She managed to catch it in her paws, keeping her grip even as she was being pushed back by the sheer force. Suddenly, she lashed out and bit the thing, stopping it cold.

    "Ha-ha!" Nori did a small dance. "Give it a toss!"

    "Thunderbolt!"

    The Demon tossed it like a disc, right towards a pillar. The electrical attack went completely wide. Magnezone struck hard and clattered to the floor, upside-down.

    "Exactly there," he said. That was perfect. "It's time. Let's use that."

    She looked back at him, raising an eye. She knew what it was, and he could get why she was confused. They went over when they planned to first use this in a public battle, multiple times over the past month. But the situation had changed! It was now or never!

    "Yes, I mean it!" he reiterated. "Demon, Earth Power!"

    Eddie's jaw dropped on hearing the move's name. "WHAT?! FUCK!! Magnezone, get out of there!!"

    The Demon concentrated on two legs, closing her eyes. She clenched her paws, tensing every muscle in her body. Magnezone struggled, wobbling as it tried to regain its equilibrium. It got upright, but it was too late. The spiky monster's eyes shot open, bloodshot from rage. She raised her front paws with a roar.

    The ground beneath Magnezone erupted. Dirt and sand flew in a radius around it, consuming the gray Pokemon in a scintillating ring of earthen energy. The ovular Pokemon blared and screeched as it was ravaged by the powerful effective attack. The spectacle lasted four whole seconds. The Demon fell to all fours halfway through, crouched, shuddering, and fuming.

    Eddie clutched his scalp. The attack faded, and his Pokemon wasn't moving. "No, shit! Damn it, no! Get up!"

    The Demon evidently wanted to make sure the job was done. She roared and jumped forward to start her next and final attack, galloping in hot with her head lowered. The horn on her head was aimed right for the primary unit's eye.

    "Finish with style," Nori said. He was sure he'd already won, but wasn't about to chance it.

    She performed a vicious Skull Bash, flipping her foe vertically and crushing it between the pillar and herself. With a quick hop, she flourished with a kick that sent it into a roll. If there was any doubt as to whether the battle was over, it was erased when Magnezone swayed like an uneven tire for several meters before falling over and rattling to a stop.

    "And that's our win." He snapped a finger and winked, as the Demon shrieked in triumph.

    The stunned Volkner didn't give his ruling. Yet the crowd did it for him, cheering his victory. Nori basked in their adoration, taking a bow. He shot a look to the Gym Trainers. Even Kallisto was shocked, although unlike Tono and Ollie, he was robotically clapping along with the audience.

    "BULLSHIT!" Eddie screamed over the roaring masses. "How did that end it?! Since when does the fuckin' Demon know fuckin' Earth Power?! Fuck!" The sneering teenager fell to his hands and knees, pounding the floor with a fist.

    She learned it near the end of last month, when he was training in the forest. He was saving it to pull a victory out against Kallisto, but he needed this one. He wasn't sure if he could've won without using it. At the very least, not so quickly and decisively.

    The Demon looked to Nori with a cruel, yet playful smirk. He nodded his approval, and she pranced towards to the opposing trainer. Eddie looked up to see the teal monster staring him in the face. She snorted. The dark-skinned teen screamed, pushing himself onto his rear and scampering away with his hands. Both Pokemon and trainer laughed, and so did the audience.

    "That's our show for today!" Volkner was still struck dumb. He'd turned away, a hand on his forehead as he processed this. Normally the Gym Leader would be the one to give the closing speech, but with him out of commission, Nori decided to take the chance to do it himself. And with far more energy than he ever had, too. "Hope you enjoyed this exhibition day! I certainly did! I'd like to say hi to my friends in the stands, and to Lux Blomgren, wherever he is." Yuki and the disguised Arumi both waved to him from the crowd. "Come back next month on the 20th for more! And of course, you're always welcome to stop by and watch challengers, any day the Gym's open!"

    With some final applause, the audience started to leave. Nori was on cloud nine. They'd done it! He and his Pokemon had won! They tried to make it unfair, but they won anyway!

    This was it. This is what it truly felt like to win a battle! He couldn't help but jump around in celebration.

    ##########​

    The first thing Nori did after coming down from the euphoria was get Pachirisu healed and give him the good news. Even the Demon, normally stoic and serious, couldn't help but get caught up in the mood. The second thing he did was rub it in some more. In a reversal, the Gym Trainers actually avoided him! They just congratulated him and uncomfortably left. Nori couldn't help but double over laughing at that one.

    After the Gym closed, Nori went upstairs to the trainer's lounge. He'd only been able to have a few snacks, so he fixed himself a proper dinner in the form of a can of ravioli. Pachi got some nuts and leafy greens, and the the Demon got a poultry mix. As he and his Pokemon finished eating, he simply relaxed with them. The Demon slept to his left, and Pachi to his right on the chair's armrest.

    A couple minutes after, the door creeked open. It was Volkner.

    "Hey." He stepped inside. Nori peered at him with a huge smile. "What?"

    "Soooo?" he asked expectantly. "What do you have to say?"

    The blond man didn't reply for ten seconds. Nori continued to stare with wide-eyes, and not a shred of hostility. Yet. The Gym Leader eventually grumbled. "Congratulations. You happy?" he bitterly spat.

    "Very!" he replied with genuine glee and a tiny giggle.

    The Gym Leader sighed, shaking his head. Nori turned his gaze into something of a glower.

    "What now?"

    "You should know what."

    "No?"

    His words were harsh and mocking. "You've been mad at me ever since I lost to Sofie, all because of your stupid feud with Flint. And you hate me just as much as them, don't you? You let Kallisto and his goons get away with everything, but you get on my case for every little thing you don't like. And you set me up to fail today, just to get rid of me. But guess what?" His positive attitude returned, he declared, "I succeeded, and I did it my way. I won! So there! Haha!"

    Nori figured this defiant attitude was going to piss his so-called teacher off. He was actually half-expecting Volkner to flunk him anyway, and wanted to get in one final shot at him before that. But he was wrong. The Gym Leader actually appeared mildly amused by it.

    "I guess so," he admitted. "But I'm in a difficult situation with Kallisto. I hope you can understand." And he lowered his head? "I was out of line the past month and a half. I was out of line today, too. I know an apology won't be enough. So I'll do what I can to make it up."

    This took Nori, and even Pachirisu aback. The little squirrel nearly fell to the floor before his trainer caught him. Nori placed the Pokemon on his lap, still in disbelief. Volkner was apologizing? And he meant it? Was this the same guy he'd known the past four months? There were times where he was kind and helpful, sure, like in the wake of Kallisto's assault. But more often than not, he was a jerk, to put it lightly. Right now, he was showing actual remorse, and even humility.

    The man turned away. "I don't hate you, just. Never been a good teacher, sorry. Or, good with people."

    Nori reflected on things. It did feel like Volkner didn't want to teach him from day one. Yet it turned out it was because of worrying about his own inability, not because he didn't want to train Nori specifically. And he was saying he wasn't good with people? Yes, Nori could one hundred percent see that.

    The boy sighed. He wasn't about to forget this, and Volkner came close to crossing the line. He made that perfectly clear with his firm words. "If you're trying to push me by making me mad, it worked. But I'd prefer you don't, thank you."

    A nod. "Noted."

    "And it was stupid to put me in an unfair fight."

    The Gym Leader shook his head at himself. "Yes. This was unprofessional of me."

    "As long as you get that." He couldn't keep hating Volkner if he was genuinely remorseful, unlike how Kallisto and the others were at times. It just wasn't in his heart.

    Pachirisu happily clapped at the sight of the two making up. The Gym Leader glanced around the room. "Do they keep their beers here?" he asked.

    "Uh, the Gym Trainers? I don't know. I don't think so?" The boy never looked. That stuff smelled putrid anyway. "Hey, reminds me. If you know, that's underage drinking, right?"

    The man went over to the fridge. "It's no big deal. Their responsibility." Nori figured he'd say something like that. One of the things he'd been learning in law, the drinking age was 20 years. All of them were way underage, although none were as bad about drinking as some of the adults in his trailer park. People rarely cared about little crimes like this. And Nori wasn't about to narc on them himself. He doubted people would care anyway, especially since it was Kallisto.

    Volkner settled for a fizzy cola, cracking it open and having some on the spot. He came back with another can in his left hand, passing it to Nori. The boy was surprised on seeing it was a ginger ale. "You remembered I like these!" he gasped. He'd only mentioned that offhandedly once or twice.

    The Gym Leader sank into one of the chairs. He took a swig of his cola and sighed. "I don't like how you did this. But the fact that you managed to defeat Eddie means there's something to it."

    "Well, you win how you have to, right? I know some people look down on brute force and training hard. But I won with it." He actually wasn't sure if he could've won any other way, given Pachi needed the training. The squirrel did an amazing job. He gave him a pat, reaching out to lightly do the same to the sleeping Demon. "We got that stupid jerk back from earlier this month by beating him two on three."

    The blond man chuckled. "So you did."

    "I know I can't overpower everything, and even when I do I need to be smart about it. But I think it is a valid strategy in battle."

    "As you've proven. And, you have proven you do know traditional strategy as well. When you want to use it."

    "Or have to."

    The two sat quietly for a minute, enjoying their beverages. Eventually, Volkner threw something of a small bombshell at him.

    "You didn't have to win today. All I was looking for was what you'd do."

    Nori drummed his fingers. In the back of his mind, he may have had a feeling, given it happened before. But he wasn't about to take that chance. "I thought I couldn't lose," he said. "No matter what. Just like against Gasha."

    "You didn't give up, and you won. You have what it takes to handle serious battles."

    Again, silence. Nori watched Volkner carefully. He was evidently musing something difficult, maybe something he didn't want to say?

    He eventually did speak up. "I was surprised when you chose to have the Demon choose to fight without orders. Again. Despite being told not to."

    The boy shrugged. "I mean, she knows how to do so. And it really threw them off. Why's that so wrong?"

    Volkner finished his drink before going into a small speech. All of it was cordial and respectful. "Nori. Most Pokemon are trained to follow their trainers commands exactly. Some will not so much as dodge an attack without being asked to. Trained Pokemon battling on their own is something that only master trainers employ, or in certain restricted battles. Your Nidorina is a special case, a Pokemon that has naturally honed battle instincts. The problem I have is not that you are doing this. You are going to be working with a lot of Pokemon who will have violent instincts. If you leave them to their own devices in battle, they might do something you will regret. And it will be on you. This is why I want you to battle like a normal, basic trainer. Give Pokemon orders, and have them follow them."

    The boy shook his head. "I can understand that. But, why can't I do both? I can just tell those really bad ones to stop if they go too far, or just call them back like I used to. Plus I don't think it's very good to force Pokemon to do everything you say, nor would it go over very well to suddenly start doing that with the Demon. They should have their say too, and you saw how it helped me."

    He wasn't sure where his words were coming from. As if sensing she was being spoken about, the Demon tiredly looked up.

    "In fact, come to think about it, I think that's why I managed to tame...no, befriend her." The teal creature gave him a funny, yet happy look. "She was very strong herself, but with me, she was even stronger. I let her be her. And when we battle, she sees some things I don't, and I see some things she doesn't. We're a real team that way. I don't think she would've listened to a normal trainer who tells her what to do all the time."

    Did that make any sense? He had the feeling for a while. He looked at the Demon. She actually nodded to confirm, and barked something. From her body language, it seemed like a yes. Or, was it no?

    "And, uh, besides!" He nervously laughed, playing it off just in case. "You've seen how people get thrown off by it. Especially those who like to counterattack all the time. And master trainers do it! So, doesn't that give me a headstart, if the goal is to make me a great trainer?"

    Once more, a curtain of silence descended upon them. The Demon shook her head and went back to sleep. Pachi hopped down and started chattering encouragingly to her, patting her with his tiny paws. She pulled away in irritation. Yeah, at least Nori could get that much from context. She probably had confirmed their friendship, and he'd ruined the moment with his doubt and addendum.

    "Heh." Volkner snickered. He vaguely smiled. And then, he laughed. It was genuine laughter. Nori had never seen the Gym Leader do this before. The boy's mouth hung open and his eyes stretched wide as Volkner cracked up. "You're so naive," he remarked through breaths.

    The boy could only sigh. "That was dumb and made no sense, right?" If he had 1000P for every time he tried to look cool yet looked like a dork instead...

    Volkner wiped a tear. He'd been laughing so hard he was crying. Nori could only cringe at himself. "The opposite," he clarified, all-smiles. "You're making too much sense. I can see now why they chose you for this position."

    Making too much sense? That didn't make sense! But at least Volkner wasn't making fun of him. Well, maybe he was a little, but he approved of what he was doing and how he was doing it. That was the important part. Right?

    "You do understand that approach won't work with every Pokemon?" the blond man asked, more seriously.

    He blinked. "I know. Every Pokemon's different. What worked for the Demon won't work for everything."

    "Good. Keep doing what you're doing. We'll see where you go from here." He nodded. "Get some rest. We'll talk more about things tomorrow."

    With this, he got up to leave. Nori breathed a sigh of relief, laying back and continuing to sip his ginger ale. For the first time since mid-March, it felt like things were going to work out.

    ##########​

    After Ollie left with his parents, the remaining Gym Trainers of Sunyshore Gym got in Kallisto's convertible and drove back in uncomfortable silence. They'd even asked if they could skip cleanup, thankfully getting permission to do so. For about ten minutes, they said nothing. Kallisto focused on the road. Tono was looking at his phone on the passenger side. Eddie was quiet in the back.

    Kallisto had been expecting something out of Volkner, but he was stunned it turned out to be a battle where Nori was at a blatant disadvantage. However, he was even more shocked that the future official won anyway. To say nothing of the others. Eddie was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, ranting and raving until they calmed him down, and still out of sorts now. Tono was uncharacteristically silent, and Ollie was worrying that he was becoming the weakest trainer in the Gym if he wasn't already. As for Kallisto himself, he had mixed feelings. Nori had grasped victory from a seemingly impossible position. His boasting was immature, yet they couldn't say he didn't earn the right to brag. They only gave him some brief compliments before taking their leave. Kallisto wasn't sure what else to say, and the others had no interest in speaking with him for one reason or another.

    "Sorry, still can't get over this." Eddie muttered in frustration. "How could I fuckin' lose? I had everything thought out. Volkner even gave me the numbers advantage. But I lost! I still fuckin' lost! Shit!"

    "I didn't see that 2-on-3 coming." In multiple ways. He assured his friend, "But you did your best out there."

    "Easy for you to say."

    Kallisto sighed. "I'm not sure what else to say." That went for Eddie as much as it did Nori. A loss like that had to be devastating. He'd beaten some trainers with only a handful of his before - be it in proper battles or explicitly giving a handicap to them - but there was a difference in those cases wherein the expected weaker trainer was given the advantage. Volkner had later told him the point of the battle was a test, although Kallisto didn't agree with it.

    He would've told Nori in advance if he knew what they were planning, even lent him a Pokemon if he was willing. It would've been within their boundaries. Perhaps that's why he was left out of the loop. Tono had known for a couple days, and had apologized profusely for not letting him in.

    "Credit where it is due." Tono looked up from his phone. "Nori Carino is far more capable than he appears."

    Both he and Eddie nodded in concurrence. It was no fluke. Nori may favor power over strategy, but he could train Pokemon and think on his feet. And somehow, it was enough to defeat Eddie two Pokemon to three. This had been a test of both skill and character for him, which he exceeded expectations on.

    "If I may, I analyzed the battle," Tono volunteered. His best friend studied battles extensively. It was a hobby in his spare time, and a tactic he used to plot strategy against serious opponents.

    Eddie shrugged. "Knock yourself out."

    He reached into his jacket's inner pocket and pulled out a black notepad, illuminating it with his phone's light. "The tide first turned when his Pachirisu, Pachi as I believe he calls it, defeated your Electabuzz."

    Kallisto concurred. "He did a good job with training the little guy."

    "In RPG terms, he level grinded." It wasn't actually an improper comparison, given Pokemon had a semblance of levels. "You already realized it earlier, but that allowed him to swap his Nidorina out against Octillery to foil your status plans. He must've realized that's what you had in mind." Tono paused. "Of course, there was his dirty tactic of switching in the middle of Surf."

    "Figured it was overdue, but wasn't gonna pass up the chance to mess with him." Eddie shook his head. "But Earth Power, shit."

    "I didn't even know Nidorinas could use Earth Power," Kallisto remarked. There were some things that even he could be surprised by, he supposed.

    "They have to be very high level. Most trainers will have evolved theirs by then."

    "And he was saving it all this time to use now?"

    Kallisto sighed knowingly. "It was meant for me."

    It had struck him when seeing the brief disconnect between trainer and Pokemon. Why else would Nori keep a move like that hidden from them for so long? He hated him, he wanted to beat him. And with her level of power, Kallisto didn't doubt the Demon could severely weaken or even bring down one of his Pokemon with that attack. Maybe even Raitora.

    Tono tapped his chin. "Hm. I can see him pulling a stunt of that nature."

    "Thanks, Eddie. He had to resort to playing his hand against you. Might've been me in your shoes."

    "Fuck off." Eddie grumbled before realizing something. "Wait, you scared of losing to him?"

    "No comment."

    He wasn't about to admit this to anyone except Tono, but he was. He almost lost to Nori last month. If Xurkitree hadn't managed to land that last Thunder, the Demon would've brought the Ultra Beast down. He'd underestimated her, perhaps overestimated his Pokemon. Contrary to people's beliefs, Kallisto didn't mind taking losses. If it was a hard-fought battle against a tough opponent, or someone who was better than him, he could admit it. It was an opportunity to learn his weaknesses and patch them up.

    He just hated losing when the win was undeserved. He always had, be it someone like Nori Carino there hypothetically or a half-Swedish sixteen-year-old challenger he fought when he was Nori's age. Calix Blomkvist? It was Blomsomething, at least. It was dumb luck, a loss that shouldn't have happened. A black stain on his record. One that he'd never been able to scrub.

    "In any case, yes," said Tono. "If it had not been for that move, a Nidorina weakened by a battle with your Octillery would have stood no chance against a fresh Magnezone. Stunts notwithstanding."

    Kallisto nodded. "Jumping onto it, yeah."

    "Didn't see that coming," Eddie agreed. "Gotta say, that was impressive."

    That, Kallisto could agree with. "Very esoteric." Arguably a strategy so stupid, only a genius or idiot would've thought of it. Or perhaps a savant.

    Tono harrumphed. "There was little to be impressed with, in my opinion. It was just a vicious, desperate attack without any sort of technique. Nothing more than a base attempt to overpower."

    He could only chuckle at his best friend. "Harsh as always." Tono had a very specific idea of what a trainer should be, and everyone else was a fool or amateur.

    "If you think that, why don't you try fightin' him all out?" countered Eddie.

    Tono pushed up his glasses. A wicked grin came over him. "I intend to do so when the time is right."

    ##########​

    April 21st, 2015​

    Nori woke up bright and early the next morning. He jumped out of bed with delight and a ‘hoo!’ which roused Pachi from his little bed on the table. For the first time since Lux disappeared, he felt like himself. The only thing that could've made it better was if his dear friend was still by his side.

    Volkner was leaning against a wall as Nori went downstairs after breakfast. He looked up from his car magazine and smiled.

    "Good morning, Nori."

    "Hey, Volkner."

    So far, so good. It was like night and day with Volkner. Sure, he said all those things and was being kinder than ever before. He even called him by name, which was horrendously rare and usually done with negative connotations. But the boy was still wary of him. He was kind of like this after Kallisto attacked him, only to flip when he lost to Sofie. They were on the same page for now, but who could say when he was going to turn on him again?

    The man approached and stood before him. He awkwardly fidgeted for a couple seconds before speaking. "So, um. I was thinking. I haven't been the best teacher. Treated you wrong more than once. You're a good kid. Not a...bad one like I thought." He took a deep breath and looked straight at him. "I want to make up for the last month and a...no, the last four months. Is there anything you want from me?"

    The boy's face lit up. But before he could speak, Volkner cut in.

    "Uh. Besides dealing with Kallisto. Only things I can do."

    The boy huffed. "Aw, there goes my first thought. I'm not really sure. Can I think about it more?" Volkner nodded, as if to say take all the time he needed. "I guess one thing for now. I was sent here to learn how to battle like a pro. I think I want to learn some of that advanced strategy stuff."

    "I can do that. But only so much."

    "What? Why?" he asked. "Aren't you supposed to be my battling teacher?"

    "It's not that," said Volkner. "You're unorthodox. Simple, in a good way. But you can think. Gives you a huge advantage on its own. You're finding your own path. Don't want to change that."

    Was Volkner trying to say he was developing his own strategy? Maybe he somehow was. What was it, though? That foreman's words, flashy and powerful, sometimes echoed in his mind. It didn't sound too bad. That's why he went for a stylish finish at the end of the battle. But it couldn't just be that.

    The blond man continued, "What I can do is teach you training techniques and strategy that's both broader and very specific."

    "Like how to counter certain things?"

    "Yeah."

    The boy nodded. That would do, the first part in particular. Nori wasn't sure if his training techniques were optimal. He was just having his Pokemon use the equipment. Surely there was more to it than that, right? And what about when he left the Gym?

    "Mind if I...ask something, too?"

    "What is it?"

    "Flint and Sofie. You'll have to battle her again sometime, officially."

    "For the Elite Four position, right? We're part of your test, aren't we?"

    A curt nod. "Yeah," he confirmed what Nori had been suspecting. "Can I count on you to win when the time comes?"

    The boy flashed a smirk. "Depends on how much training you give me."

    Volkner snickered. "Heh. Got me there." He leaned back against the wall.

    "The most important thing about a pro team is synergy. How well your team works as a whole. Dunno if this was on purpose, but you've been doing a bit of it by slowing things with Pachirisu's paralysis before throwing the Demon at them." It wasn't, sort of. Nori was aware it worked, but it was spur of the moment whenever it happened. Like against that teenage girl and her Sceptile.

    "I get it. That's why they're called teams, aren't they?"

    "Exactly. Though your Pokemon need to work on their own, too." He nodded his approval. "Just a little lesson for now." The man checked his watch, double-checking it with the clock on the wall. "Should get moving before you're late."

    "Okay, thank you."

    Nori was about to start back up the stairs, when he remembered something. It was a good idea to ask about it now, while Volkner was in a good mood.

    "Hey, one more thing." The Gym Leader looked at him inquisitively. "I joined the news club. Is it okay if I stay after school to work with them sometimes?"

    Instantly, the man before him transformed into the Volkner he knew. The blond man slumped, shook his head, scowled, and put a palm to his forehead, all at once.

    "I take it that's a no?" Maybe it was too much to ask.

    "It's fine," he assured, also in a more familiar tone, that of annoyance. "Just let me know when you plan to, and don't bring her here. She's a pain in the ass."

    He didn't have to say who he was talking about. Nori understood completely. "Okay," he promised. "But she might still come in on her own." He decided it was better not to tell him she was here yesterday.

    Volkner walked away, derisive yet chuckling to himself. "Don't know how you put up with her."

    "Arumi's fine once you get to know her."

    ---​

    When he made it to school, the aforementioned future reporter was one of the first people he ran into. She was parading around the entrance area, and as usual, was shouting her latest headline while handing out papers.

    "Official In-Training Nori Carino Emerges Triumphant, Maintains Prospects at Sunyshore Gym Exhibition!"

    The boy was descended on by his peers, getting congratulations left and right. A girl with sky-blue hair even ran up to him and asked him out. He was tempted to say yes on the spot, but only told her with a smile that he'd think about it before going to speak with Arumi.

    "Nice job, Nor'!" she said with a wild grin. "I saw the whole thing!"

    "You were there?" he pretended to show surprise.

    "Of course!" She posed triumphantly. "Sneaking in was easy! Couldn't get a statement though. Hey, could I get one now?"

    "I'd have to think of one. I'll let you know soon."

    "Okey-dokey!"

    She handed him the article. It was one sheet, double-sided. She must've did this last night, all on her own. It had a brief outline of the battle and the history surrounding it, some statements from people that were probably given unknowingly, and even touched on the Gym Trainers' reactions.

    "But what if I lost?" he asked, out of curiosity.

    "I would've wrote the truth!"

    "You'd be rubbing things in..." he groaned.

    "Former Future Official Nori Carino Loses Position in Unfair 2-on-3!" She winked. "Don't worry, everyone knows that was rigged. Made your victory even sweeter, though!"

    "He just got lucky."

    Heads turned as Spike and some others marched towards him. A couple of them Nori recognized from around the battling cages; there were six in total.

    "Not impressed, softy," taunted the bully. "Any other day of the week, any rematch, you would've lost."

    "But I won," he replied, unimpressed with Spike's insults. "That's what matters, right?"

    "Say what you want, softy. Don't mean you ain't a luckshitting little shit." With this, Spike snapped his fingers, turned on his heels, and left. The others scattered off, a couple of them eying Nori as they did so.

    Arumi patted him on the back. "Don't take it too hard, Nor'. With greatness comes criticism!"

    The bell rang. As it quieted down, Nori replied, "I wasn't, not from him at least. Who cares what that idiot bully thinks?" He cared even less about the others. "You know, I have more to say than just a statement, but we'll talk more at lunch." He could give her a whole interview if she wanted. He hadn't forgotten that, even if she seemed to have.

    "Great! See you then!"

    The two parted ways and went to class.

    ---​

    On the way to the video production room during lunch, Nori continued to get praised as he walked through the halls. A teacher even came up and asked that he join the battling club. Nori politely declined, on account of already having a club.

    The five were waiting for him, greeting him with clapping as he stepped inside. Gino and Beau gave verbal praise. Lorant stoically nodded. Arumi whooped. Yuki ran up and grinned, patting him on the shoulders.

    It all brought a smile to Nori's lips. Everything was looking up.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    The first major battle of the fic is in the books. It was actually one of the first things I worked on, intended to be a key moment in the plot. I worked in the hows after: the prank/assault on April Fools and the reason for Volkner getting so pissed and making the battle how it was. The biggest change in development was Earth Power. That being learnable on Nidorina in the Crown Tundra made the ending a lot less clunky, but part of the original idea was used to ground it.

    Edward "Eddie" Hankstein's Roster:
    - Magnezone {Ace}, Octillery {#2}, Electabuzz, Carnivine, Lickitung, Solrock / Manectric, Machoke

    Small extra feature here: all the Gym Trainers were given full rosters, although not all of them got mentions or have/will see use - those are behind backslashes and might be subject to change.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 4: April of Change (seventh part)
    • April of Change (seventh part)
    April 22nd, 2015​

    Nori was able to give Arumi the full backstory behind the battle on exhibition day, from the details of the prank, to his loss to Sofie Shadden that got Volkner angry, down to their reconciliation after he beat Eddie. He touched on Kallisto's involvement as well, though both agreed it might be best to downplay it. In thanks, she said she'd buy him lunch tomorrow. He readily agreed, as he was starting to get tired of the stuff from the Gym. He'd been having soup or pasta in a thermos since school had started to mix things up, but even that was getting old.

    The school's meal center was located next door to the cafeteria. Nori hustled out after class to get in line. He passed by Eddie on the way, or rather, Eddie saw him and immediately went the other way. He'd been doing that the last two days. To his chagrin, there was already a considerable line for food. Luckily, Arumi was already there. She waved and motioned to stand with her. Nobody complained.

    "Thanks again for the help yesterday, Nor'! It made for a great extra for the newsletter today!" She slapped him on the back and laughed. "First time I'm eating with a friend this year! I used to eat with Sato about once a month. Oh, by the way!" She grinned. "Wanna be my wingman and help me win his heart?"

    "Um, I don't know this Sato," he replied. "And every guy has different things they like. But if you need advice, I can try to give it?"

    "Works for me!" She snapped her fingers over her head, winked, and did a finger pose. "By the way, you see the national news?"

    He tilted his head. "Uh, did I make the news somehow?"

    "Just a blurb in the sports section of the regional. And you made the back page of the local!" He actually did? He wanted to see that, but Arumi whipped out a different newspaper. "Elm Labs' Robber Still at Large! 13-year-old Amara Parisa Wanted by Police!

    Nori took the paper and skimmed the article. One thing that stood out was she was on the blacklist prior to this, people not legally allowed to own Pokemon. The boy closed his eyes. He was threatened with being put on that if he hadn't been able to tame the Demon. He didn't care at first, but having owned them for a while now, he could fully understand what it'd be like for those who had an interest in Pokemon. He couldn't imagine life without them anymore.

    "So...it's a Pokemon thief," he stated with a shrug, passing it back to her. "What's so special about her except being around our age?"

    "Call it reporter's instinct!" Arumi stated with another wink and finger snap, stuffing the paper back into her coat. "You don't just steal something from a prestigious lab just like that! But this girl did, and she's eluded police so far! I just know she's not going to be easy to catch! We could have a future great thief in the making here!" She wildly and dramatically gesticulated as she talked the subject of the article up. "I can see it now! Twenty years from now, legends are going to be passed down of the Great Snatchy-Fingers Amara! It's not just her though, there's also the scandal with security and how they let it happen, and, and..."

    She paused to catch her breath, giving Nori time to point something out.

    "It's an interesting story, but I know the others will be like, what does this have to do with us? That's way out in Johto." He personally found it interesting, but had to admit, it wasn't relevant to their current situation.

    "Nothing," she stated. "Besides showing you're never too young to be great. That's our hook. Of course, you and I are proof too."

    That was true. Although, Nori was more wondering what this Amara's motivations were. Why would she risk everything stealing a Pokemon from a prestigious lab? She had to have a good personal reason, right?

    Arumi rolled her shoulders. "This is the exact kind of story I want to find for myself to report on someday." He couldn't blame her, it was likely a great one. Changing the subject, she went, "So hey, heard they hired a new lunchman a week ago."

    At that moment, the girl in front of them got her food and left. They stepped forward, and the new hiring in question greeted them. "Alola, dude and dudette."

    Nori froze up. "Oh, no."

    "Hey!" Arumi recognized him. "Weren't you the former lifeguard at Tonsen Land?"

    "Sure am!" Nori was hoping it was just a guy who sounded like him. And looked like him. And acted like him. But it was him. "Then I worked at WyldSyde Sports, till I got fired for shreddin' for a prospective boarder."

    Arumi glanced at Nori questioningly. She was a newshound, she had to have known about the waterpark incident at least. Maybe not the sporting store incident, to which the lunchman also appeared to have forgotten. The boy nodded, and shook his head. She got the message, zipping her lips.

    "Name's Billy Ordride!" he extinguished any doubt about his identity. "Whatcha having?"

    "Uh, whatcha offering?" the boy nervously asked.

    "Well you can head into the soup!" he declared, with an enthusiasm that made even Arumi cringe. "We got miso, chicken, mushroom, tomato, veggie, and of course, ramen. No chowder though, heh. Got sandwiches. Rice and rice balls. Don't confuse'em with donuts like a Benny. Got fruit and veggies if you wanna be fit as a fiddle like me. Bentos and kyoshakas too."

    "Uh, it's kyushoku," Nori corrected.

    Ordride shrugged. "Yeah, sure. Got some real messy mushburger too. Don't ask what's in it. Give you real bad backwash. That 'ol aggro goober's secret recipe. Total fakie chef. Know that even as a grommet."

    "He's right," Arumi whispered. "Stay away from that." He had no idea what half of that meant, but with Arumi's confirmation, got the general gist.

    "Rest of the menu's up there, so just–"

    "Ordride!" a voice boomed from the back of the kitchen. It was so hoarse and deep, Nori didn't want to speculate what the owner looked like. "Are you chatting with the kids too much again?!"

    "Sorry, don't mean to be a Jake!" he yelled back. He spun and turned back to them. "So you buying grub or you just hodads?"

    The reporter girl spoke up. "I'll have the rice and dumpling bento, with vegetable soup and orange juice!"

    "Um," Nori quickly scanned the menu, being quickly overwhelmed. He'd never had this much to choose from before in his life! He made an impulsive decision. "The...daily special with ginger ale, please?"

    Arumi whistled. "Daring."

    "Tubular!" Ordride said with a fist pump. "I'll set to fixin' it!" The man quickly got to work, taking out the ingredients with a flourish. "Hang there and watch these rad moves!"

    Moving and grooving to an inaudible beat, he set about Nori's meal first. He whipped a paper plate down, picked up some spinach, sprinkled it around, scooped some meatballs, did a twirl, and accidentally flung a few onto the stove behind them. One somehow knocked over a can, spilling the liquid within over the appliance and onto the floor. A stray ember from the element licked the fluid, igniting a small portion of it.

    "Oh, shit..."

    Ordride turned off the stove and took the pot off the element at once. He lunged for a bottle of water and unscrewed it. Alarm bells went off in Nori's head.

    "Wait, that's a grease–"

    It was too late. He dumped it over the flames, and this caused them to spread further. "SHIT! SHIT!" he cursed, stumbling away from the blaze, which was quickly threatening to grow out of control. "FIRE! FIRE! UWAHHH!!!"

    A panicky student pulled the fire alarm. Nori's stomach roared its disapproval over the screaming bell. He slapped it quiet and stomped away, shaking his head. Arumi was right in behind him.

    "I guess he's getting fired again," he grumbled.

    "Start a fire, get fired!" Arumi joked, somehow able to find humor in this. "He got fired the first time for not watching you, right?"

    "I think he got fired from his sports job because of me, too."

    "And he doesn't recognize you?!"

    "Seems not." Would the fourth time be the charm? Or maybe he wouldn't hear from the guy again. That would be the best case.

    "Guess we'll have to do lunch some other time!"

    The boy sighed as his stomach growled again. "Didn't bring any myself today." He figured why bother, when Arumi was planning to treat him?

    "Heh heh heh." Arumi deviously rubbed her fingers together. "Lucky I have my secret stash of snacks in my locker! Should keep us going till we get home!"

    "That would help a bit, thanks." Of course, they'd have to leave the stupid building and wait for the stupid fire department to fix this stupid moron's mistake before that. Not how he wanted the day to go.

    ---​

    Betsy-Ann was waiting for him in the lobby when he got back. "Nice to see ya!" the overall-wearing medic greeted. "How was school?"

    Nori paused. "Well, the kitchen partially burned down."

    "Ya didn't do it, did ya?" she teased.

    "Sort of."

    She blinked. "I was just kiddin'," she asked, with equal parts curiosity and unease.

    Nori had just wanted to see what her reaction would be. He fully intended to clarify, "The former new lunchman did it when preparing my order. Then he tried to put out a grease fire with water. From what I heard, the head lunchlady put it out, but the stove, counter, and floor got wrecked."

    The rural medic in-training breathed a sigh of relief and laughed. "Ah, yer just bein' funny. Glad yer okay at least. Worried me for a tick, there."

    "Sorry." The boy chuckled. He was sort of responsible, in a technical sense, but the real problem was that guy being a stupid moron who didn't know basic kitchen safety. "Nice chatting, but I should get going. Need to have real food, instead of just some chips and a chocolate bar."

    A nod. "A'course."

    ##########​

    April 24th, 2015​

    As usual on the morning block of Friday, Nori went to that sideroom in the school. He was still uncertain what purpose it served. Some forgotten storage room where they stick their old textbooks? His Official teacher probably wouldn't know for sure, either. Five minutes after classes started is when Rin Kakoku walked in.

    "So, what'd you think of the battle?" he asked the one-eyed woman as she was coming up the stairs.

    "Not bad. Not good. Congratulations, in any case." She smirked. "I wouldn't have let your work go to waste even if you lost."

    "What? What do you mean?"

    "I'm saying I would've spoken up if the blond rat tried to gas you."

    Was she saying if he failed Volkner's test, she would've helped him? "You could've told me that before!" he angrily snapped, slamming a fist on his desk.

    "If you knew, you wouldn't have done what you did. I wanted to see how you'd perform when backed into a corner. You passed."

    "I still would've, because screw Eddie!" He could see the logic, but that didn't mean he liked it! Knowing would've taken a lot of stress off, and he'd still fight to his fullest.

    It didn't register. "But don't get cocky. One wrong move in the field and you could end up like me. So we'll be working on investigative work later, and for now, firearms practice."

    "Firearms?!" a shocked Nori echoed. "You mean, guns?!"

    "Yes," came the reply, as if it were nothing.

    She was already on the way down the stairs. Nori ran over to the railing, wildly waving his hands to get her attention. "Hold on, hold on! Wait a minute, wait a minute! Guns?! Why?!"

    "Three reasons," said his official teacher. She raised a finger. "One, target practice. You'll need to know how to recall a Pokemon quickly if you need to."

    That made sense. There were a couple times early on with the Demon where he had to bring her back before she seriously injured a Pokemon. One time, he even had to run after her, using his knowledge of the city to cut her off. If something was trying to escape, evade the beam, or was far away, he'd have to know how to aim well.

    Up went a second finger. "Two, your equipment will include a tranquilizer gun for subduing Pokemon. It's to be used for those purposes only. This is a privilege, and will be revoked if you abuse it."

    He nodded. He wouldn't do that. Knowing himself, he might be reluctant to use the gun anyway. While having one was logical, it was was still horrendously awkward.

    "And third, as an official, you might be called into the field."

    Nori tilted his head. "For what?"

    "Emergencies, disaster relief, and region-wide threats. Incidents where they need as much manpower as possible."

    The boy cringed. He thought he was just going to help Pokemon and that's it. He could even see the reason for the tranquilizer. But he had to be available for other things too? Would that mean he'd be using a real gun if that happened?! And shooting criminals?! Sure, he liked those radio shows like Crime by Starlight, but he didn't want to do that himself!

    "Let's head to the fields." The woman, very enthusiastic for once, continued down the steps. "I'll teach you everything there is to know about guns."

    He'd actually used a BB gun a couple times before, but felt it was better not to mention that. It'd be way different from a real one, anyway.

    ---​

    Over the course of the next hour, Nori learned how to handle a pistol. Ms. Kakoku was surprisingly helpful and engaging, a contrast to how she usually told him to do something or passed him a book and let him have at it.

    "Unlock the safety," she told him. She demonstrated how to adjust a gun to get it ready to fire, and fasten it so it doesn't accidentally discharge while holstered.

    "Both hands. You need to control the recoil." Sure enough, when he had fired with one hand, the gun flew back. It took him by surprise and made him nearly drop the weapon. Opposite force, she said, yet there was still a lot of kickback when using two. It took him several tries to get used to it.

    "Check your sights." The little protrusions on top of the weapon. He was not only instructed how to hold a gun, but how to aim properly. They were using a simple training pistol, but she said the same basic principal applies to any weapon. She also demonstrated her boast about shooting with one eye was entirely truthful; she hit a tin can off one of the soccer posts from the other end of the field.

    They practiced with stationary targets at first, which Nori eventually got consistent at. After this, she brought out her Pokemon - a huge bird made of dark black metal - and moved to using a moving target. Nori was worried, but Ms. Kakoku assured him the bullets were dummy rounds. They wouldn't hurt her Pokemon, and ‘probably’ not a human. Nori was decent at hitting the bird when it was moving predictably, but when it was flying erratically, he could only hit through luck.

    The one-eyed woman checked her watch. "We'll stop here before the rabble comes out. Good job, Corviknight." The bird screeched happily, swooping down for a pat before she returned it.

    "So?" asked Nori. "Um, was that okay?" He thought he did, but his standards weren't hers.

    Ms. Kakoku spoke, "Your aim is good for a greenhorn. But you're hesitating too much. You need to be quicker on the draw, aim faster, and don't delay pulling the trigger. A second of delay can mean the difference between life or death."

    He sighed. "Sorry. I get nervous holding one of these." Even if it wasn't a real gun with real ammo, it was too weird. It made him feel like a criminal or police officer.

    "We all do the first few times." A beat of consideration. "All things, you were about average."

    "Thanks." He was sure he'd get used to it, eventually. But right now, he couldn't get over it.

    As the bell rang, the woman reached into her pocket and threw a small cylinder at him. "Here, take this."

    Nori cleanly caught it out of the air, to her approval. He studied it, and quickly realized what it was. "A laser pointer?"

    "So you can practice aiming a Poke Ball beam anytime. Don't shine it in anyone's eyes."

    "Well, duh."

    "Meet back in the room after break. We'll be starting on fieldwork."

    Practice to recall a Pokemon in case it starts going out of control. Nori glanced around for anything nearby. One of the soccer goalposts was about eight meters away. He lined up his arm and pressed the button. He didn't quite hit it. He moved his hand and found he was a little too low. He tried this four more times until getting it.

    ---​

    With Volkner's edict that he could stay after school and help the news club, Nori decided to do just that today. More time away from the Gym Trainers was always welcome.

    Arumi wasn't present, nor was Gino. Beau and Lorant were working on the article for Golden Week, leaving Nori and Yuki to...well. He wasn't sure.

    "So what am I supposed to be doing here?" he asked. They both had photocopies of a handwritten paper by Beau about the incident with Billy Ordride. Arumi had gotten out a quick article for it the day after, but they were going to have a more detailed account of it for their usual Wednesday paper.

    "Editing," said Yuki.

    "They said that, but how?"

    "You know, finding typos, going over rough sentences, stuff like that." The other boy shrugged. "Didn't you have to do that in Language class? Like, write short stories and exchange them with others?"

    "Yes, minus the exchange part. We had to read them to the class."

    "I am curious," Beau asked, looking up from her work. The poofy-haired teen always insisted on writing on paper first before typing anything on a computer. She shared that in common with Arumi, despite her distaste for the Schrader. "What did someone like you write about?"

    "Well I like crime dramas on the radio, so I wrote a crime story." He huffed, an incident coming back to him. "I got in trouble in second grade for having a scene where a cop gets shot saving his criminal wife."

    They laughed. Nori frowned.

    "You're not laughing at me, are you?" Sure, it was a silly story, but he was seven when he wrote it!

    "At censorship," Lorant stated.

    "People should be able to write about what they wish," said Beau. "That goes for fiction as much as the news."

    Yuki nodded. "But yeah! It always helps to have another set of eyes to look at your work! If you can get one, that is..."

    "Of course, you are free to interpret them as you wish," the poofy-haired girl stated. "A case in point, a writer friend of mine the other day got criticism online from a group of cretins who believe Pokemon names should not be capitalized."

    "There's roving gangs of extremists on the internet who complain about capitalization?" That wasn't even proper capitalization!

    They laughed again. Nori groaned and cringed.

    "You are laughing at me..."

    "No," Lorant shook his head, the stoic teen actually smiling. "At how you put it."

    "It's a funny way of putting it. Kinda cute, too." Cute?! Really, Yuki? What?

    Beau nodded. "The internet is sometimes a terrible place. In a way, you are quite fortunate to be free of it."

    "Let's...leave it at that." The strawberry blond boy glanced down, making Nori wonder if Yuki had been bullied online. He didn't want to get into it, in any case.

    Back to the editing, though. He wasn't sure if he was doing a good job or not, but it was nice to be here with friendly people. They were filling the void in his heart left behind when Lux was ripped away. Sort of. Nori and Lux were best friends, and he was the latter's only friend. Here, he had stepped into an established group. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but he did wish he had a more personal friend here...

    ##########​

    April 25th, 2015​

    A fierce battle was nearing its conclusion in the arena of Sunyshore Gym. Both sides were down to their last Pokemon. A Pachirisu was running around the field in attempt to evade its burrowing opponent.

    Suddenly, a long-tailed grayish cat burst into the squirrel from below. This Dig attack proved too much, and after a moment of being dazed, the white and blue Pokemon fell over unconscious.

    "Yay! We did it, Wagahai!" Mona cheered her Pokemon's victory, holding out her arms. The Glameow ran over, and she pulled it into a hug. "We won! We beat the Gym Leader!"

    Kallisto, who had been observing on the sidelines with the other Gym Trainers, had to admit. That last maneuver the Gym Leader performed was a stroke of genius. The best way to avoid a Dig is to move and misdirect. Continuously moving could work, but an alert Pokemon could follow their foe's footsteps and hit anyway. Seeing if they could pull that off was a brilliant way to test a newer trainer. He had many reasons for still working at the Gym, and being able to still pick up little intricacies like this was one of them.

    Volkner smirked. "Well done," he congratulated. He kept the formalities brief. "Here. A Beacon Badge."

    The girl's eyes sparkled as he handed her the tiny lighthouse-shaped pin. "Our first badge!" She leaped into the air with joy, her Pokemon doing the same.

    After a moment of consideration, the blond man reached into his jacket and retrieved a disc. "Since you show promise, have this too. A TM for Charge Beam. How you use it is up to you. It's single-use, so use it wisely."

    "Thank you, sir! I will!"

    Kallisto was surprised at this act of charity. Volkner hadn't handed out one of those in over half a year. What made him change his tune and give one to a rookie trainer?

    "Can leave when you're ready." With this, the Gym Leader went to the back. Mona skipped over to the observing Gym Trainers as he did so.

    "Say, where's Nori?" the young girl asked.

    "He is upstairs eating," Tono informed.

    She pouted. "Oh, I kinda wanted to see him again."

    Eddie grumbled and shook his head. "What, you got a crush on him or somethin'?!"

    Mona checked the stands, the doors, and the balconies. "Don't tell him," she said, leaning in and speaking more quietly. "But a little one! He's so cute and so awesome!"

    Kallisto cringed. This random girl liked Nori?! This random girl who only met him a couple weeks ago for like half an hour at best, and probably only knew him from the news? The others were just as stunned at her declaration.

    "Are you jealous?" she asked, smiling in amusement.

    "Absolutely not."

    "Teehee! You are!" The head Gym Trainer shook his head, mostly at himself. He blurted those words, and now an eleven-year-old girl was seeing through him. "Well, don't worry about it."

    "It would be unwise for a lot of reasons," he said. It was for the best to dissuade her from this. "You'll be traveling on a journey soon, and he'll still be here. A long distance relationship at your ages wouldn't work out."

    "If you say so." She shrugged, not seeming to believe him. "But I should get going now! Tell him I said hi! Bye!" With a wave, she skipped off with her cat Pokemon.

    After she was gone, Eddie vented his frustrations with a borderline roar. "Man, can't fuckin' believe that kid has fangirls!"

    "I know," Kallisto agreed. "It makes sense, but I didn't want to think about it." Nori had decent looks, a decent personality, and was reasonably well-known as the Demon Tamer. Of course people would know him, and some of them would want to be with him.

    "Uh, but don't you got a lot of fangirls too?" Ollie pointed out.

    "There's a big difference between myself and Nori. I wouldn't just accept anyone who liked me. He would. Maybe even just to spite me. And he could end up in a bad relationship because of it."

    His best friend spoke up. "Are you saying that girl is a bad seed?" he asked. Kallisto noted that something was simmering beneath Tono, but couldn't tell what it might be.

    "I'm saying they don't know each other," he clarified. "They might not be compatible."

    Tono sighed. "I believe you are worrying too much. She made clear her interest is only a passing crush. No different than a hormone-addled teenage girl ogling Aldric Everhart."

    Eddie arched an eyebrow. "Ain't that the guy you listen to, tub 'o goo?"

    "Hey," the chubby teen protested, "I just like his music!"

    "That doesn't mean Nori won't start a relationship with one of his fangirls." Being honest, he was surprised Nori hadn't already done so. Maybe his words really did get through to him.

    "You may just have to accept he eventually will at this point," Tono said. "That said, I doubt he would be able to hold onto anyone. Once any prospective girl meets the real Nori Carino, they will want nothing to do with him."

    He shrugged. "Maybe. You never know what some will put up to be associated with fame." He knew that personally.

    It bothered him, but it caused him to remember something. Nori turned down that girl who they saw him with. The person who perhaps was the cause of everything that had happened. He wasn't stupid about getting into a relationship. Maybe Nori was right. Maybe nobody would think any differently of him if Nori had a girlfriend and he didn't.

    But that was then and this was now. With what had happened since then, Nori's judgment could certainly be clouded. And if something untoward happened...well, he would worry about about that if it ever came to that. For now, he was praying it wouldn't.

    ---​

    Nori had been experimenting with cooking. He decided to see how ramen with macaroni sauce would taste. He had trouble mixing it together and had to melt some extra cheese slices to fully coat it. It ended up looking like a gooey yellow monstrosity, but the taste was good. He wondered how well it would do with pasta sauce to make it like spaghetti, but he couldn't find anything that fit.

    He practiced with the laser pointer after eating. His aim on the draw had steadily been getting better. He also had a bit of fun having the Gym's Shinxes chase after the red dot. Eventually he got bored, and not feeling like doing homework, decided to see what was going on downstairs.

    It was quiet in the lobby, with only a pair of trainers engrossed in conversation together. The security guards were patrolling. Betsy-Ann wasn't working today. Volkner was in the back. That just left the arena. Reluctantly, he went inside to see what the Gym Trainers were doing.

    "Hey, Nori." Of course, Kallisto was the first to greet him.

    "Hey uh! Yo!" Ollie called out to him. "That girl the other day! What's her name! Mona! She said to say hi!"

    He blinked, taking a moment to remember who that was. "Oh, well that was nice of her," was all he could think to say.

    Tono harrumphed. "I do not know what she sees in you." The glasses-wearing teen walked up to Nori. "You are anything but a commendable trainer. In fact, you are everything one should not be. Mark my words. I'm going to expose you as the fraud you are very soon."

    Nori slowly stepped away. "Oh...kay? Did something happen?"

    "Nothing important, Nori." Kallisto dismissed. Nori put his hands on his hips. That made him think it was something important, but they probably weren't going to tell him. "Well, there is one thing I'm sure you'll be happy with. The day after tomorrow, I'm taking a break for rest of April. Going to see my cousin in Celestic for Golden Week and visit the shrine."

    "Why not leave tomorrow?" More days without Kallisto was a welcome thing, but what would be better was even more days without Kallisto.

    "Eddie's birthday's tomorrow."

    "My sweet sixteen!" the dark-skinned teen mockingly declared in a high-pitched voice, imitating a valley girl accent. "Heh, sorry."

    It got a chuckle out of Ollie and Kallisto. Nori didn't get it, and Tono glared. "Never remind me of that again."

    "Well, happy birthday in advance. Anything planned?" the boy asked, more out of curiosity than anything. "I take it I'm not invited?"

    "Presents, food. We're holding a small celebration at the Gym." Kallisto smiled at him. "And you can come if you want."

    "If there's cake, sure." Even if he didn't like these guys, he couldn't say no to cake.

    Eddie laughed. "Gonna be a lot more than cake, kid."

    ##########​

    April 26th, 2015​

    Eddie's birthday party took place in the trainers' lounge. The Gym closed at 6pm to accommodate the mildly lively celebration. A few of the regular staff members were in attendance, including the janitor Mr. Kubo, the other receptionist Ms. Wils, the ones who worked in the concession stand, and three of the four security guards - Jenny McCabe being the only one absent. Even Rick the Foreman was here, much to Nori's surprise.

    Everyone greeted him as he walked in. Kallisto was standing with Eddie near the table. He waved. "Glad to see you made it, Nori."

    "Surprised you stopped by, kid," the sixteen-year-old remarked.

    "Happy birthday." Nori handed Eddie a scrap of paper. "Sorry, all I could bring you was a card I made." Nori put just enough effort into it to be meaningful, but didn't go all out because it was still Eddie.

    "Sure, I'll read it later." The dark-skinned teen haphazardly stuffed it into his pocket. About the reaction he expected, and the other reason he only wrote simple birthday wishes on it.

    The head Gym Trainer grabbed a red can from the table and held it out. "Want a beer?"

    The boy stared at it in disgust. "I'm only twelve!"

    "I AM SOOOOO WASTED!"

    All heads turned to see a prancing Ollie. He flung off his shirt, held the can in his hand as high as he could, and tried to pour it into his mouth. Most of it splashed on his face. As it emptied, he barfed up some chunks of something and collapsed on the floor.

    Tono's eyebrow twitched. He was leaning in a corner away from everyone else. "This isn't alcoholic, you infantile ignoramus," he scolded.

    "That's why it's fine for you to have it." Kallisto smiled and offered it once more.

    "It still smells horrible! I bet it tastes horrible, too!" It may not be underage drinking technically, but he bet it still sucked! He snatched the can from Kallisto, opened it, and took a sip. As soon as the rancid liquid grazed his tongue, he spit it out. "Bleh! I knew it!"

    "You need to live a little, kid," Eddie spoke after taking a sip of his own drink. Even Kallisto shook his head.

    There was a chime, and the voice of Mrs. Stetcher came through the speaker. "Your pizza's here."

    Kallisto nodded. "I'll go get it. What kind do you like?"

    "Food's food." Nori shrugged.

    The head Gym Trainer nodded, leaving to get their dinner. Tono approached as he did so. "Have you had pizza before?" he inquired. "No aporophobia intended, I am simply curious."

    "Aporowhat?"

    "Aporophobia. It means, dislike of the poor, or of being poor."

    "Oh." Tono was saying he didn't mean anything by asking that. "I've had pizza at a couple friends' places, yes. I'm not a picky eater." Sometimes he was just happy to eat. He knew how stereotypical that sounded for someone from an impoverished background, so he didn't say that part out loud.

    "Not even if it's pineapple?" Ollie wheezed from the floor.

    In an instant, Tono rushed over and drove his foot directly into his fellow Gym Trainer's gut. "Shut up. That is a meme that needed to die before it started."

    The hefty teenager grunted. "You kick like a girl!" he fired back through clenched teeth.

    Eddie shook his head at their antics. "Another internet argument?"

    Tono nodded, flying into a rant that drew everyone's attention. "No one complained about it until that celebrity chef had an infamous meltdown on international television. He believes that as a popular connoisseur of cuisine he can dictate what should and should not be about food. And because of it, pineapple is being singled out when there are innumerable other toppings that are objectively ridiculous. Anchovies, mushrooms, macaroni, hot dogs, corn, prawns, bananas, ketchup, soy sauce - you slob, Ollie - wasabi, haggis, and fucking Tauros testicles to name but a few."

    "Um, but aren't you being hypocritical?" Nori pointed out. He totally agreed with Tono, people should be able to decide for themselves what they like. But wasn't he like that when it came to certain things?

    "It is a matter of personal tastes and how you go about expressing it. I think you're a disgrace to Pokemon training, but I won't force my opinion on others."

    "But you said yesterday–"

    "–that I would expose you as a fraud. That is all I said." He smirked.

    It went totally quiet. All eyes were on them. Even Ollie stumbled to his feet and braced against one of the chairs to see his response. For the first time in a couple months, Nori was hoping Kallisto would show up. He looked to the doors. When there was no sign of him for five seconds, he replied.

    "Are you challenging me to a battle or something?" he tentatively asked.

    "I am not doing so yet," he confirmed. "But it is how I intend to prove my point, someday."

    The boy sighed. "Sure, whatever."

    Kallisto entered moments too late, cheerfully oblivious to the confrontation. For the best, thought Nori, as he went and got a plate. The head Gym Trainer would have things to add that he wouldn't want to hear. If things kept going like this, it would almost be not worth it to stick around for cake. Nori intended to leave as soon as he got his piece, though.

    ##########​

    April 30th, 2015​

    For the first time in forever, the days flew by for Nori. Part of it had to do with Kallisto not being around. He even had a day off school, which he used to get out of the Gym for a while. The Demon enjoyed it, being able to hunt in the wild like she used to. Before he knew it, it was the last day of the month. As usual, he was left in charge. And for once, he didn't have to worry about the maintenance crews! Foreman Rick and his team got to work right away.

    More importantly, he'd been promised a story from Betsy-Ann. After he got back from school, he went to the medical room. Her and Coach Norling were on-hand even when the Gym was closed, in case one of the workers got injured. He knocked, and a few seconds after, the rural teenager opened the door. They smiled at each other.

    "Nice to see ya, Nori."

    "Same, Betsy-Ann. So are you ready to tell me about you and Kallisto?"

    "A'course." She checked with the coach, who gave his approval. "Mind if we head upstairs for this?'

    "Sure, we can go to the trainer's lounge."

    He guided the assistant medic upstairs. He wasn't sure if she was allowed up here. He brought Lux upstairs twice, so it was probably okay, right? If not, he still wasn't going to let it stop him. Not like anyone would know, and besides, the rest of the staff came up for Eddie's birthday.

    "Nice l'il abode y'all got," she remarked, plopping down on the two-seater couch. It felt like bringing Lux upstairs, too. "Comfy stuff. Wish I could come here more often."

    "Want me to make you something?" he offered. He wasn't sure what yet.

    Her smile got deeper. "Thanks, maybe in a bit. Set a spell and listen."

    The boy sat on the big couch. He'd been wondering about this ever since she offhandedly mentioned it. Betsy-Ann was another person who had a negative experience with Kallisto. What happened? What did he do to her? He was finally about to find out the answers to those questions.

    "Happened a few years back. Both'a us were in eighth grade at the time. Like many girls my age, had a l'il crush on Kallisto." Nori figured they were the same age. The teen sighed to herself. "Got acquainted with him, further'n most got. Turned me down like all the rest, though. Told me he wanted someone who could stand with him, not behind him."

    "Hm." He politely listened, not pointing out he was in the opposite perspective once. He wanted to be worthy of Claris Willins. Despite being a child actress, Claris and her parents never minded who he was. She like liked him regardless, until their big argument. Of course it would be more common the other way around...

    "Wasn't the best specimen back then. So I took his words to heart and cleaned myself up. Lost some weight and started workin' to be a doctor." She laughed at herself. "Lofty goal, I know. But ma and pa helped me pull out all the stops. Wife of a friend of a cousin knew a Joy who owed her a favor. Couldn't get me into Pokemon doctor classes, but did get me into people classes. Got to where I was an understudy, then I asked 'em again in tenth grade."

    She paused, curling her lip. "Turned me down again, with flimsy reasons this time. It was all a lie. He had no intention'a datin' me. Just wanted to string me along. An' worse, after's when the trouble started."

    Nori nodded and waited for her to continue, much as he wanted to cut in. There was nothing wrong with Betsy-Ann! Maybe Kallisto saw it differently, but why couldn't just say no to her outright? Why'd he have to give her that false hope? How many others had he done this with, Nori wondered?

    "That cheerleader, Chasity. Said she had a claim on him. Sent her friends to harass me. Called me fat and ugly. And other things I ain't repeatin'."

    At this, Nori couldn't help but interrupt. "That's stupid! You're not fat or ugly! If they think you are, they need to look in a mirror that shows their insides! Then they'd see a...a...a really fat burn victim with a skin condition!"

    He winced. That came out stupid. To his relief, Betsy-Ann chuckled happily. "Yer a real charmer, ya know that?"

    Not really, all he was doing was stating facts. Betsy-Ann wasn't a supermodel, sure. But who was? Besides that stupid Champion who wanted to make sure everyone know she was.

    "Anyways, went to Kallisto 'bout it, but he didn't do nothin'. Got so bad I had to change schools." That sounded like him, all right. Not speaking out against others, and the few times he does, he doesn't do enough to change anything. "Decided I'd keep at my goal. Didn't want it all to go to waste. An' look at me now! Ain't never thought it'd bring me here on a job shadow, though. What gets me madder than a puffed Palpitoad is he thinks nothin' of our history."

    Just like with him. He wanted to bury their history and forget everything.

    Betsy-Ann relaxed. "So that's it. Lookin' back, don't know what I ever saw in him. Way better guys'n him out there."

    "Anyone is better than him," Nori remarked. Who in her right mind would want to date Kallisto? "He's just...I don't know! But he's not a good person!"

    "Admire ya lots for standin' up to him, Nori. Think yer the only one with the guts to say that 'bout him."

    "Thanks. And thank you for sticking with me." Betsy-Ann was doing a lot to ease his mind. Just having someone reasonable to talk to meant a lot. Arumi helped too, but the assistant medic was much more down to earth and usually at the Gym where they could talk anytime. "So did nobody else know what happened?"

    "Oh, a'course they know. Don't care much, though. It was all that dang cheerleader, not like he sicced'em on me himself. He ain't done nothin' wrong in his life. Well, till you came along." She mulled this over. "Dunno what you did to push'em to that point. Mind tellin' me?"

    "Happy to," Nori said, eagerly rubbing his hands together. He would've found a way to bring this up even if she hadn't asked. "He said he didn't want me dating anyone because he isn't. Something about making him look bad?"

    "That so?" She leaned in, a devilish smirk on her lips. "Ever think about callin' his bluff?"

    "Yes. But the right girl hasn't come along yet. I was thinking though, what if people knew what he did to me?"

    The rural teen sat back and shook her head in derision. "Prolly just defend 'em anyway. Might even say you deserved the thrashin'."

    The boy blinked. There it was again, that thing everyone kept saying. Volkner, Arumi, Betsy-Ann. All of them said most people would defend Kallisto no matter what. People liked him, sure. But they loved Kallisto. They practically worshiped the ground he walked on. He was a perfect guy who could do everything but wrong.

    "Anything else you wanna talk about while we're here?" she asked.

    "Well, what can we do about him?"

    She waved a hand. "Jus' don't bother. He ain't worth the time."

    Nori deflated. "Nothing else, then..."

    Knowing that Kallisto was getting away with everything did not sit well with Nori. The boy had badly wanted to get back at him, in a way that he could get away with. What could he do? How could he get revenge on someone so perfect, that everyone but a few people loved? Was it truly hopeless?

    "Hey."

    He looked up to see Betsy-Ann motioning with a finger.

    "Come here."

    Was she...asking him to sit with her? The boy nervously did so, taking the seat next to the assistant medic. She put an arm around him, transitioning it into a comforting hug.

    "It'll all work out," she whispered. "Jus' you see."

    He hugged her back, albeit lightly. They were two people united by their distaste for Kallisto Keravnos. She was like an older sister to him, or at least, what he imagined how one would be. Yet, he wondered. What if it didn't work out? What if Kallisto one day decided he was going to crush him underfoot? He could easily do that, and no one would be able to help him.

    "Forget'em for now," she said as she released him. "Ya said you'd fix me some grub, didn't ya?"

    "Oh, sure!" he said, getting to his feet. "What do you want?"

    "Whatever ya make."

    "Okay!" He went off to the counter. Maybe he could try something simple with a twist? He was by no means an expert chef, but he knew his way around a kitchen and was always glad to show his skill to others. And he was going to make the best meal he could for one of his best friends!

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    A/N: All of those are real pizza toppings. I had a macaroni and hot dog pizza out of whimsy a couple weeks ago. It was actually decent. Also while that running gag about Pokemon name capitalization is usually a first chapter thing, it's where the in-character conversation went, so...

    Also, mentioned this before, but expect a possible slower pace in the May chapters, just so I can finish up more of them.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (first part)
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (first part)​
    May 1st, 2015​

    The first day of May was a dreary one. A typhoon, or at least its remnants, was set to hit Sunyshore in two days. The clouds overhead were bleak with dread and occasionally spitting down on the world below.

    For the first time since the school year started, Nori was caught up in all his classes. Ms. Kakoku's lesson for the day was more fieldwork and firearm training.

    "Pokemon tranquilizer guns are made to pierce even the toughest Pokemon hides," the one-eyed woman explained. They had just gone over gun maintenance. "The key is knowing where to aim. For instance, if you encounter a rampaging Gyarados violently thrashing about and need to use your gun, shoot for the lower body, unless the situation calls for an immediate subdual."

    He asked what about using your Pokemon to subdue it? That is an option, she said, but not always practical. She likened the gun to using a sleep or paralysis move on the Pokemon, and to be cautious about using it. Make sure you have your own Pokemon out for protection, recall it immediately if it's yours, and so on.

    All in all, his officials' class went perfect. Nori ate lunch in the room they were in before leaving for the Square. Shortly after his arrival, Arumi marched in, shouting something plucked from the headlines.

    "Woman Arrested for Aggravated Stalking of Gym Leader!"

    Nori blinked. "Here?" he asked, glancing around. "Volkner?!"

    "No, out in Kanto!" She happily presented him with the school newsletter. It shared the front page with news of the school's closure until next Thursday due to Golden Week. "Twenty-year-old Elena Joule was arrested on Shōwa Day after being found in the Pewter Gym after hours for the fourth time! When they searched her house, they found thousands of pictures of Gym Leader Brock on her hard drive and over fifty-five pieces of fanfiction she'd written about him, over two-thirds of which were erotica!"

    Fifty-five?! He remembered this one kid who always wrote about marrying Cynthia in creative writing class. But this was even crazier! He glanced the article over, but found little insight into this person's mind. She declined to give a statement, it seemed.

    "The Gym Leader was said to be rethinking his life decisions and was quoted as saying, ‘Ugh, so that’s what it feels like.’" She imitated his voice, although it was probably a poor impression.

    Nori pocketed the newsletter. "Glad you found another story to write about, but what's the point of bringing up crazy stalkers?"

    "They're a real thing, Nor'," she warned. "If you become famous, you should be careful."

    "Yeah. Kallisto had to deal with a stalker before," came a voice from the side. Nori fired a glare at the smirking Eddie. "Cool your jets, kid. Just overheard ya." The Gym Trainer did eye the reporter girl warily, however.

    Arumi nodded. "I remember that. Never seen Kallisto get that pissed at someone before." Nori was tempted to say that she should've seen what he did to him, right in front of Eddie, but Arumi kept talking on. "Culture, even the media doesn't like to talk about it much, but girls can be just as bad as guys. And even less incidents of girl on guy abuse gets reported."

    Very true. Eddie added his two coins. "No guy wants to be known for letting a woman dominate him. Besides freaks who are into that."

    Arumi sighed. "And that's why." She shook her head. "There's littler things too, not just abuse."

    "I know," said Nori. "Back in sixth grade, there was this girl named Jamie. She wasn't a stalker, but she could be pushy about how she liked me. I gave her a chance, and almost regretted it." He sighed. Now that he really thought about it, he wasn't sure what he ever saw in her. "I don't know what I was thinking there. Maybe I was just..."

    "Vulnerable?"

    "I guess." He shrugged. "I was walking home with her a day after my friend Lux disappeared. I think he knew deep down she wasn't right for me. And when she said to not care about him, that's when I said forget it."

    Maybe that was part of why Lux ran off that day. His purple-haired friend might've not been able to stand him being with the wrong girl, but didn't know what to say, or couldn't bring himself to say it. If he hadn't even humored Jamie though, would Lux still be here?

    Suddenly, he was pulled into a huddle by Eddie. "You sayin' that shit was a misunderstanding?" he rasped.

    Nori smiled. Not turning down his volume in the slightest, he replied, "I'm glad we got it out of the way when we did." Eddie cringed, backing off while pressing a hand to his forehead.

    Ignoring him, the boy turned his attention back to Arumi. "But Lux. One time, he even stood up to Jamie and got her to back down. Even though he was usually very quiet. I still miss him so much."

    "Still whining about losing your little faggy friend?"

    Another voice. Spike Caras came striding in from the halls. Before he could open his mouth to spew anything more, Eddie got his bearings back. He jumped into action with a shove that nearly sent Spike to the floor.

    "You better watch your fucking mouth, kid," he threatened.

    "Oh?" the bully taunted, unabated by this. "Comin' to his rescue? Didn't he fuck your ass on exhibition day? He make you his bitch? Is your boyfriend after all, bitch."

    Nori shook his head. "Spike, just stop," he said, more embarrassed to be in his presence than at the insults. "Seriously. You're acting like a stupid moron."

    "What kinda kiddie insult is that? Stupid moron. You say it all the time, fuckin' asswipe." Hey, sure it might be, but it was like a catchphrase of his! And it was way better than people who think edgy swearing makes an insult! "Betcha that's what you are. A little ass wiper." Like that!

    Eddie leered. "You trying to pick a fight with him?"

    "Nah. Know he fights like a girl, anyway." Spike reached into his pocket and retrieved a Poke Ball. "Got my first Pokemon. Gift from my pops for Golden Week. Gonna be able to journey when summer break rolls 'round. So I challenge you, softy!"

    Oh, just this? Nori smiled and nodded. "Happy to."

    "A'right," the bully punched into a palm. "Let's go to the cages for your poundin'."

    Spike stomped off ahead of them. Nori let Eddie lead the way, with Arumi deciding to tag along.

    "This guy's asking for it, isn't he?" the reporter girl said, wickedly rubbing her hands together with glee.

    Eddie concurred, surprisingly tolerating of Arumi's presence for the moment. "You have to be pretty retarded to challenge the Demon."

    "In his first fight no less," Nori added.

    "Big cohones, small brain." The dark-skinned teen chuckled.

    The field of Gama Memorial Junior High had a cage for baseball in the near left corner. There were three sets of soccer goalposts: one perpendicular to the building, and two that were lateral. On the far side of the field within another cage was where Pokemon battles could take place. It was a large rectangle soft-divided into three areas. Observers could safely watch from stands outside.

    "Hankstein? Carino?" A teacher was usually on-hand to supervise. It's why a few kids occasionally left school grounds to battle. The burly man scratched his head. "Arumi Schrader too?"

    "Yeah," said Eddie, pointing back at Spike. "This kid signed his Pokemon up for an ass-kicking."

    "With which one of you two?" Beat. He eyed Arumi. "Three?"

    "Me," Nori said.

    A nod. "Want me to clear it out for you so you can use the whole field?"

    The boy blinked. "We can do that?"

    "Comes with the power," Eddie remarked. "And yeah, we do. Want as many people as possible seeing this."

    Nori was about to speak up to say no, he didn't mind, but Spike quickly agreed. "Heh, works for me."

    "All right, finish up everyone!" the teacher shouted. "We're going to see a battle between Nori Carino and..." He looked at the bully.

    "Spike Caras!" he gave his name.

    ---​

    After the ongoing battles finished, Nori entered the battling box, with Eddie and Arumi standing behind him. The teacher said he would leave them to it and left, another sign of the power held by Eddie and presumably himself as well. The other students didn't mind and seemed interested in watching, but Nori still felt a little uncomfortable interrupting their battling.

    "Right, check this out!" Spike said. Nori had been wondering what kind of Pokemon he would be facing. It was a huge orange-brown bovine with sharp horns, a dark brown mane, and three lashing tails.

    "A Tauros, eh?" Arumi said, jotting this down in her notepad. "You don't see that as a starter Pokemon every day! You may even be the first in the world!"

    New trainers usually began with something easy to raise, like a government-approved starter or a commonly found small Pokemon. This was anything but one. Then again, Nori hardly had a traditional starter, either. A Nidoran, maybe. But not a highly experienced Nidorina. He supposed Pachi was his formal starter, which could technically fit the bill.

    "From my aunt's farm back in Solaceon," Spike explained. "Knew this guy when he was just a calf, back when I still lived there. Now we're ready to fight through Sinnoh! And you're gonna be the first one we beat!"

    Nori had known which Pokemon he wanted to use even before seeing his opponent. He sent it out, and there were many surprised and amused gasps as the small white and blue squirrel appeared with a hop and cheer. Pachi sized up his opponent and quickly got into position with gusto.

    "Huh, your Pachirisu?" Arumi asked.

    "You ain't going all out with the Demon?" Eddie questioned. He seemed mildly annoyed, but in a way that he was only looking for a good explanation.

    Nori smirked. "I think using her here would be excessive anyway. Plus, Pachi could use a bit of training."

    This was a good enough answer for both of them. But Spike growled. "You makin' fun of me by usin' somethin' weak?"

    "Pachi isn't weak," Nori plainly stated to the bully with a smile. Didn't he see how he beat Eddie's Electabuzz? "You think he is?"

    "Of course it is! Just a little rat! It's a Pokemon for kids, girls, and faggots like Lux."

    "This guy and his fuckin' slurs..." the Gym Trainer muttered.

    Arumi whispered, "Didn't you use one a bit earlier?"

    Eddie waved a hand dismissively. "It's as much of one as dumb or lame to me." Arumi looked away, as if acknowledging but not wanting to touch that one.

    "Anyway," Nori stated. "This squirrel's going to zap your bull down."

    "Might even say he'll shock you!" Eddie remarked, to the amusement of just about everyone but Spike. Nori in particular outright laughed. He didn't expect that sort of wit from Eddie.

    Arumi clapped him on the back before leaving the cage. "You got this, Nor'."

    Eddie, meanwhile, stepped to the side to act as the judge. "A'right, it's a battle between Nori and this tryhard kid." The dark-skinned teen raised his arms. "Now fight!"

    The spiky-haired bully motioned with his fist. "Let's go, Austin. Take Down!" Nori was momentarily surprised. He didn't think Spike was the type to give nicknames. On the other hand, he thought Kallisto would but he didn't, so what did he know about the thought process? The bull Pokemon roared, whipped himself into a frenzy, and barreled forth.

    Pachi took a preliminary step away. "Electro Ball," said Nori. The squirrel backflipped and batted a pulse of electricity at their opponent. Austin hadn't even gotten halfway to Pachi before the sphere struck its lower body. It stopped cold, staggering.

    "OOOOOOOO!!" went Eddie. "Right in the breadbasket with that one!"

    There were chuckles from the observers at the commentary. Spike sneered at the dark-skinned teen, though otherwise kept focused. "Fuck'em up with Horn Attack!"

    Again, the bull Pokemon charged. Nori had less time to react, but on noticing something, decided on a bold play. "Agility underneath?" He wasn't sure about this, but...

    "Ohhhh..." Eddie dramatically gasped, leaning in close. As Pachi cleanly slid beneath Austin's head and between all four of its legs, the dark-skinned teen snapped back so far he nearly fell over. "OHHH!!! And he makes it through! And look at that dumbass, flailing like he just vanished!"

    Spike screamed. "Austin, it's behind you, dammit!"

    "Grass Knot," Nori said, trying to take advantage before they could react.

    The Tauros didn't have time to turn around, as Pachi stomped his feet a couple times. The bull actually fell over from the ensnaring vines.

    "Have a nice trip, see you next fall!"

    Spike took a step towards Eddie. "Shut the hell up, already!"

    "Super Fang," Nori asked of his Pokemon, striking while they were stunned. Pachi did so, Austin groaning in pain as the fangs sank into him.

    "Assurance! Hit back!" The Tauros sent Pachi into a stumble with a desperate body blow. It bought the bull Pokemon enough time to get to its feet, but Pachi had already recovered.

    "Oh, and he lands his first attack!" Eddie replied with exaggerated praise, slowly clapping with limp hands. "Don't look like it did much, though!"

    "But this will!" Spike replied. "STOMP A MUDHOLE!" Austin bucked up, ready to come down with his front hooves.

    "Roll and finish it," Nori said with a smile and hand gesture. Pachi easily avoided and let loose with a Discharge, right as his opponent was standing up to try to hit again. With one final roar, Austin fell over unconscious.

    "And he's gone! The little squirrel beat the big bull!" Eddie applauded, more genuinely this time, although his official ruling was far more cruel. "The hick kid loses!"

    "YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

    Nori looked up to see Spike charging at him. With a yelp, the boy hopped aside. The bully blindly swung, missed as he tripped over Nori's sweeping leg, and crashed down knee first.

    Eddie laughed. "Ohhhhh! And the sore loser goes down like a bitch, just like his Pokemon!"

    Nori scurried away, hearing a string of mostly incomprehensible curses coming from Spike as he rolled around holding his joint in agony. He shuddered, hoping it wasn't dislocated. Pachi came running up in concern, looking to his trainer, the bully, and the bully's Pokemon.

    "That should be good. Let's go, Pachi."

    With a chirrup and wagging tail, the squirrel climbed onto his shoulder. Nori took one last glance at Spike and left the battling cage, shaking his head. Not just at the bully, but over the whole situation.

    ---​

    When Nori left school that day, he was quickly joined by Eddie in the halls. The boy grumbled as the Gym Trainer approached with a wave like they were old friends. No different from Kallisto.

    "Yo, nice goin' thumping that tryhard kid, man," the dark-skinned teenager congratulated. "Heh, twice."

    Well, it wasn't sarcasm. What should he say to Eddie? After some consideration, he settled for a simple, "Thank you."

    "Wonder what the fuck he was thinking, that he could take you?" he pondered aloud. "You whooped three of my Pokes with two of yours."

    "Ugh, that again?"

    "Look, man," he said. "It was Volkner's idea, Blame him if you're still pissed about it. Couldn't say no. Didn't want to say no, either. Wanted to see you go down."

    Nori nodded, still cautious. "That lines up with what he told me."

    "Was pissed I lost at first. Thought about it some more since, and figured," and with this he extended a hand. "Dunno how the hell you pulled it off, but you beat me fair when I wasn't playing fair. Can respect that."

    He was humble enough to admit when he'd been wrong? The boy took several seconds to accept the gesture, between the mild surprise and uncertainty. "Again, thank you."

    Eddie's grip was crushing. He grinned wickedly. "Still think you're a little bitch, though."

    "And you're still a huge jerk!" Nori snapped. He returned in kind, tightly squeezing the Gym Trainer's hand. He should've known that apology was too good to be true. Nevertheless, the two shook on their mutual distaste, but newfound (if strange) respect for one another.

    ---​

    As the two exited, they heard raucous cheers nearby. The source of it was immediately evident: a large group of people swarming around Kallisto's car. Every single one of them was screaming his name, chanting it, congratulating him, or saying they loved him. He had put up the roof, driving slowly - if at all - as so not to run anyone over.

    "I know you're happy!" Kallisto shouted through the window. It was barely open a crack, yet people were still trying to reach through. "But I need to get back to the Gym!"

    They were not listening. In fact, their number was growing with students from the middle school. Nori snickered.

    "Shit," muttered Eddie. "We gotta do something."

    "Do we have to?" he feigned pouting.

    "Well, I ain't walking back."

    Nori was half-tempted to skate off and let them figure it out themselves. The sight of Kallisto's rabid fans kind of made him mad, however. What was their problem? And why were they giving it to Kallisto of all people? That is, more than usual?

    "Everyone!" he impulsively shouted. "The Champion Cynthia just landed over there!"

    It was a painfully blatant lie that he only did to say he didn't try. However, a large chunk of the crowd was so wrapped up in the moment they instinctively hurried over to see. Another chunk believed it seemingly because it was so bad and obvious they decided there was no way he was lying. This got another large chunk to follow them out of curiosity or just to be sure, and that cleared out enough of them.

    Kallisto honked and slammed on the gas, speeding several meters away. Eddie threw some nearby stragglers aside as the vehicle pulled up. The door flew open.

    "Get in!" shouted Ollie, as Tono scooted over to make room. Nori wasn't going to, until he was shoved in from behind. Eddie leaped in beside him and slammed the door shut. People quickly realized they had been duped and were rushing back, but Kallisto didn't give them the chance to surround them again. He got the car out of the parking lot and sped off.

    "Thanks, Nori," Kallisto said, keeping his eyes on the road for any lunatics who might try to run in front of them. Thankfully, no one did.

    "Hey!" he protested. "I don't want to–"

    "They'd maim you when they found out you tricked them, kid." Eddie barked. "Just get your belt on."

    Left with no choice with two Gym Trainers on either side of him, he did so. "What the hell's happening?!" he yelled.

    "Yeah, the fuck's this, Kallisto?"

    He stayed focused on the road. "Tono, you tell them."

    "It was announced today that Kallisto will be receiving the National Medal of Valor." He pushed up his glasses with a proud beam at his friend. "The youngest recipient in the award's history for Pokemon, and that is counting the days where it included military service."

    "He's getting a medal?" Nori asked in irritation. "For what?!"

    "I shall give you the short version. The National Medals of Acuity, Verity, and Valor were created in 1882."

    "After the lakes?"

    Tono glared. "Are you the type who constantly interrupts your teachers with questions?"

    "No. Why, is there someone annoying like that in your class?"

    "Anyway," he didn't address, although noticeably paused before answering, "The answer is yes and no. They were originally named for the three gods of the lake. However, the names were changed in wake of World War II to be more religiously-neutral while retaining the spirit of the initial names. While other medals have been introduced since, the original three are still considered among the highest awards one can receive."

    The boy nodded. "So what are they for?"

    "The Medal of Acuity is granted to those who excelled in the field of information. This has ranged from the media to famous scientists. It has been traditional for either a member of the Schrader family or a Pokemon Professor to present the award.

    "As for the Medal of Verity, that is given to those who excelled in work done for the benefit of humanity or Pokemon. The ones most associated with the medal is of course the Joy family. It is common for either them or a community leader from the recipient's hometown to present the award.

    "Finally, the award which Kallisto is to receive. The Medal of Valor is for those who exemplify strength and courage, be it in a competitive, municipal, persevering, or military context. Completing the trifecta, the Jenny family and Champions are most associated with it, and aside from the Imperial days, are the ones who most often present it."

    The boy nodded. "So he's so great at Pokemon they're giving him the medal early?"

    "I said it is Champions who are associated with it," Tono stated. "Not every Champion has received the award, and some trainers who never became Champion have received it."

    "And future Champions, too!" Ollie piped up.

    "There's a difference between being a Champion and having the qualities of a Champion," the head Gym Trainer spoke up. "If that makes any sense."

    Eddie clapped. "Well, should say, congrats man."

    "Yeah, congratulations, I guess." He said that if only to be polite.

    "Thanks, Hankstein and Nori. But I really don't deserve this."

    Why did they always have to be so modest about these things? At least in this case, Nori could agree with Kallisto. He definitely didn't deserve an award like this. Was there some way to stop him from getting it, the boy wondered? Probably not. Either way, it'd be a ceremony he wouldn't be attending.

    Actually. "Are you saying that because of how you jumped me from behind and broke my arm?" the boy asked.

    Kallisto shook his head. "Just because I've always wondered if I could be stronger, or be more of a role model for others." The boy caught his smile in the reflection of the rear view mirror. "Besides, I told you I was sorry and tried to make up for it, didn't I?"

    Nori sighed. Sorry and doing good doesn't erase your bad. But it seemed pointless to argue that, especially in here at this moment.

    "So when are you getting it?" asked Eddie.

    "May 6th," he said with a smile. "The compensation holiday."

    "By the way," Nori asked. "Random question."

    "Shoot."

    He just remembered. "Why don't you nickname your Pokemon?"

    "That is random." Kallisto nervously chuckled. "I'm...no good at giving them. I'd want to think of them myself, but every one I've come up with, they've hated."

    Nori sighed and rolled his eyes. That answered that, even if it seemed so superficial...

    ##########​

    May 2nd, 2015​

    On Saturday, Nori went downstairs with Pachi on his shoulders. When he stepped into the arena, he found Tono and Ollie engaged in a practice battle. A black and white Pika-esque Pokemon was quite literally flying circles around a bipedal blue duck. There was no sign of the others.

    "Just Ice Punch it," dismissed Tono. His Pokemon's fist glowed a faint white, and it delivered a precise uppercut to the flying squirrel. "You have no reason to stall or showboat here, this isn't one of those idiotic Contests."

    Ollie winced as his Pokemon was knocked to the ground. "We were just disorienting you!" he yelled.

    Tono scoffed. "Ice Punch again, Drake."

    "Dodge and Nuzzle!"

    The duck drove his fist towards Emolga, who rolled aside at the last second. Acting fast, it leaned in and rubbed its cheek against Drake, causing the duck to shudder in discomfort. Pachi hopped off Nori's shoulders, cheering his fellow squirrel on.

    "Now let's win! THUNDERBOLT!"

    "Protect!"

    Drake raised his arms, yet seized up before he could form the barrier. Emolga let loose a burst of electricity, shocking the duck into unconsciousness.

    "Hey hey! We win!" Ollie whooped. Hearing the battle was over was enough for Pachi to run over and congratulate Emolga on the victory. The two squirrels high-fived, sparks flying off their paws as they did so. This got the two trainers to take notice of Nori.

    "Didn't know they were friends," Nori mused.

    "Yeah, all the Gym Pachirisus like her," Ollie remarked. "Don't you see them watching whenever I use her?"

    "Not really." With that Nori did glance up, and noticed a couple of Pachirisus were in fact looking down from the far balcony. Ollie didn't use his Emolga as often as he did his Lanturn, Electrode, or Stunfisk, and he never had Pachi out whenever he watched him. And the hefty teen wasn't the type to keep any of his Pokemon out of their balls.

    Ollie shrugged, turning to his Pokemon. "Nice going, Emolga. We're definitely going to win this tournament!" He brought her back, ignorant to the conversation she was having. Pachi squeaked in disappointment, dejectedly walking back to his trainer's side. "So how's that, Tono?"

    Tono crossed his arms, tapping a finger on his arm. "Acceptable, I suppose. I admit, I had forgotten your Emolga knows Knock Off."

    The hefty teen chuckled in delight. "Why didn't you try using Disable, though?"

    "Because I am aware your Emolga knows Encore. Remember, that move is only useful against an opponent who does not see it coming. And not every Pokemon will fall for it." He briefly glanced over at Nori. "Niche moves have their uses, but you need to know when and how to make use of them."

    "Oh." He scratched at his short ruby-colored hair. At that, Nori noticed that Ollie had gotten a haircut sometime in the last few days.

    "It's rare to see you two training together," Nori remarked. "Any occasion, or is it just because Kallisto and Eddie aren't here?"

    "We're training for the tournament, man!" Ollie declared.

    Nori tilted his head. "What tournament?"

    Tono explained. "Each year at Gama Memorial Senior, a tournament is held to determine the inaugural captain of the battling team. It is open to anyone on the team or any member of the battling club who receives at least one other nomination." He pushed up his glasses. "This year's tournament saw an unusually high field of thirteen, narrowed down to eight as of yesterday."

    "I won my first match!" declared Ollie, pointing to himself and standing tall.

    The boy nodded. "Nice."

    "I, as the incumbent, received a bye to the second round." Tono turned to his fellow Gym Trainer. "Also, I cannot stress this enough. Do make sure you train as much as possible over Golden Week, Ollie. Everyone else serious about this will be doing so, and so will you if you want any hope of winning."

    Ollie stamped the floor. "I told you, I'll do it when I can! But I'm still going to enjoy the break!" Tono sighed and shook his head. "Let's get to strategy for now! You know my opponent, and I know yours!"

    "I doubt I will need your help against her, but I can prepare you for Adam Brandon. We'll start by watching some of his videos from the League five years ago." He went over to his bag and got his laptop.

    "Well, good luck with the training," Nori said, whistling for Pachi to follow. They seemed to be busy.

    "Thanks, man!"

    "Hmph."

    Well, somebody was bitter. He was just wishing them luck, did Tono think he didn't mean it? All the more reason to not stay in the arena, in any case.

    ---​

    "Well, fancy seein' you, Nori," Betsy-Ann warmly greeted as he stepped into the medical room. Today would be the first in a series of holidays in which there would be no school. The Gym would be formally closed starting tomorrow until the 7th, not by Volkner's choice either. There were simply too many staff that wanted those days off. For the future Pokemon Rehabilitator, he welcomed it as a reprieve from the others. "To what do I owe this occasion?"

    Pachi greeted her with a squeak and wave. "Howdy, Betsy-Ann. Just stopping by." he said, briefly slipping back into his own light accent. Spending so much time around others who didn't speak rural made him lose it, although he still did things like call his mom Ma by habit.

    "Hear you-know-who's gettin' an award?"

    "Firsthand," he replied. "Ugh, he does all that bad stuff and they still want to say he's courageous?"

    "Just the way it is." The rural medic shook her head in derision. "But enough about him. How you doin'?"

    "I'm okay. How about you? Any plans for Golden Week?"

    "A few, yes. Thinkin'a hitchin' a ride home to Sandgem to see mom and pop. If that don't work out, guess I'll jus' enjoy the break." She smiled. "Might even come see you, if yer not doin' much."

    "No, not much. I...don't really have anything to do."

    "Oh."

    "All my friends are in Veilstone, and I can't really travel there." Pachi stroked the back of his trainer's head.

    "Yeah, that's a real bummer there. Ya really got nothin' here?"

    He smiled. "They all moved away, aren't real friends, or are planning to see their parents."

    She laughed, patting his head. "Point taken. If I can't go, you and me'll hang out some."

    A nod, "Sounds great, Betsy-Ann." Sure, she was older than him, but so was Rashid. And better still, she wasn't weird like he could be sometimes.

    "So what'll you be doin' on your own? Trust ya ain't gonna sit on your laurels."

    "Same thing I always used to do. Train, listen to the radio, and maybe get out and explore the city."

    "Might not be such a great idea to get out tomorrow. Hear them remnants of that typhoon are supposed to be sweepin' through."

    Nori grinned. "That's exactly why it's such a great idea to get out tomorrow."

    The red-haired teenager tilted her head. "You pullin' my leg?"

    "I reckon I ain't."

    She laughed and shook her head. "You got a real knack for adventure."

    "It's cool, too! Like you know how different Sinnoh looks in winter? It'd be cool to see what it's like during a storm!" When he was a little kid, he was an aspiring storm chaser. Until his mom shut it down. "Plus, it'd be good training for my Pokemon. I even got a new raincoat for it with some money Volkner gave me!"

    Pachi squeaked in surprise, as if asking a question. Did he understand that?

    "Well, just stay safe, ya hear? Can get pretty dangerous with the wind blowin' things everywhere."

    He nodded. "Don't worry, I will be!"

    "So!" Betsy-Ann clapped her hands. "Up for watchin' some funny Pokemon vids? Know ya came here to slip away for a bit."

    It was like she could read his mind. "Sure." Hey, more time in here meant more time not in the Gym. He didn't get why people were so into these videos, but he'd take any excuse he could to spend more time with his friends and less time around Kallisto and his friends.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    So for how the next few 7-8 updates will work, I'm only going to drop them when I've finished drafting the next chapter in the queue, or two weeks after, whichever comes first, and resuming normal pace or faster once it's all finished. I've technically almost finished the ninth one down the line, given I split it in two. Hopefully it'll be worth it.

    Also random aside: that no nicknames quirk of Kallisto and the reason behind it was transplanted from original ideas for Nori. It fit him better in a couple ways, plus Nori started doing so per some of his character development.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (second part)
    • May of Ordeals (second part)​
    May 3rd, 2015​

    When Nori woke up the next day, the clouds were already dark and ominous. He grinned. The storm was brewing. This was going to be great! He loved bad weather. Snowstorms, thunder and lightning, hail, all those things fascinated him. When he was very little he wanted to be a meteorologist and then a storm chaser, like how some kids might want to be an astronaut or a fireman. His mom dashed those dreams quickly, but that still didn't mean he couldn't like the weather!

    He got up, ate breakfast, and did some exercise with his Pokemon. Then it was putting on his new jade-colored rain jacket and hat, saying bye to the few staff on hand, and heading out into what was soon to be a delightful mess!

    ---​

    The storm started to pick up shortly after 10:30am. It started with a little bit of wind, followed by drizzle. Both got more intense as the minutes went by. Nori brought out the Demon and Pachi to enjoy it with him.

    He walked a couple blocks with them before asking, "So how is it?"

    He could've looked to see that. The Demon was marching in step, savoring the elements with delight. Pachi was following almost right underneath, in a futile but cute attempt to stay dry. The teal Pokemon snickered and nodded at his question, whereas the squirrel chittered in concern. The Demon gave her fellow Pokemon a dismissive glare, saying something to him. Whatever it was, it made Pachi force a weak smile. The squirrel nodded, and started walking out in front. In reply, the Demon rolled her eyes with a smirk. It was good to see his Pokemon getting along, sort of!

    Around fifteen minutes of walking later, things had gotten even wilder. The winds were stronger and the rain was coming down in buckets. Nori tightened his hat until the string was snug under his chin. It had a wide brim and a strap to stop it from falling off in weather like this.

    A teenager in a black hoodie ran by him, holding a plastic bag with a few groceries. His clothing was soaked, hardly the right thing to be wearing in this weather. He glanced back and halted. "Nori Carino?!" he asked.

    He tilted the hat up. "That's me!" He supposed the Demon gave it away. She was a Nidorina with a very distinctive appearance, after all. "Nice weather, huh?"

    "I guess!" the teenager said, although not really believing it. "What are you doing all the way out here?!"

    "Having fun!" he replied. He looked to his Pokemon. His signature one was thinking the same thing as him. "Speaking of, want to have a battle?"

    "Right now?!"

    "Right now!"

    The teen mused this. "Okay, only since I always wanted to!"

    "Cool! We'll go over there!" He gestured to a narrow strip of grass along the side of the road. Not the best place for a battle, but the most easily accessible!

    "All right, let's go Pachi!" The Demon was ready to fight, but he chose his little squirrel. Both of his Pokemon were stunned by the choice, yet Pachi was game. He jumped into the fray with a cheer.

    "Bolt, go!" the teen said, sending out a little Luxio. A male, from the looks of it. He howled and glared at Pachi on emerging, unnerving the squirrel.

    The Demon dismissively shook her head, making some sort of remark that both Pokemon overheard. Pachi seemed hurt by his fellow Pokemon's words, and this Luxio named Bolt glared at her. She actually outright laughed at the attempt to intimidate.

    "By the way, that's a confusing name!"

    The teenager winced. "I was nine when I thought of it!"

    "I guess!" Well from his age, his opponent probably had some experience at least! Or maybe it was just a pet. Either way, he was hoping to have a few battles in the storm, and this was the first!

    "We'll start!" said the teen, Nori at that moment realized, he'd somehow forgotten to ask his opponent's name. "Bolt, use Bite!" Too late now, it'd have to wait until after.

    "Pachi, Electro Ball." He spoke loudly and clearly, not screaming his orders over the storm like his opponent.

    As the little Luxio was advancing, he got a sphere of electricity right in the face. He shook it off easily enough.

    "Quick Attack, Bolt!"

    "You too."

    The two Pokemon charged for another. Even with a stat drop, Pachi was able to match his opponent. The two attacks bounced off, like the droplets hitting the pavement. Speaking of, they were doing that. It looked awesome.

    "Double Team!"

    Nori looked up from the distraction. He...probably missed the chance for something there. A massive gust compounded a line of Luxios appearing before Pachi. Which was real? Wait, it didn't matter!

    Pachi even realized what he wanted, using Discharge without needing to be prompted. Good, that training was starting to pay off! Nori glanced out at the treeline, which was rocking back and forth.

    Unfortunately, he didn't hear the cry of a small black and blue feline being electrified. Bolt's trainer yelled, "Mud Slap!"

    The Demon huffed, and Nori cringed as Bolt - who was way off to the side - threw a hunk of wet dirt right into Pachi's side. His Pokemon stumbled in surprise. That had to be getting amplified by the storm somehow...

    "Now Spark, Bolt!"

    "Er, Grass Knot."

    Wait, Pachi had Volt Absorb. He was slipping here, he had to focus on the battle. Nori shook his head at himself. Even Pachi was confused about it, yet carried out the order to perfection, sending their opponent to the ground.

    That still works. "Use a Super Fang, Pachi."

    "Dodge!"

    He couldn't. As Bolt was trying to stand, Pachi was right on him. He sank his fangs into the Luxio, who meowled in pain.

    The teenager cringed. His Pokemon really felt that one, and was already starting to look very fatigued. "Let's go for a big one, Bolt!" he yelled with determination. "Use Charge!"

    "Oh yeah?" said Nori, covering his mouth to contain his smirk. "Agility!"

    The Demon looked up at him, wondering what he was thinking as Pachi playfully ran a few circles around their foe. He waved a hand to say ‘trust me’.

    The teen smiled in triumph. "If you're doing that to dodge, it won't work! Bolt, use Thunder!"

    Perfect. Nori rubbed his hands together. It was an obvious tell that made his opponent realize he'd made a mistake on the spot, but it was too late to back out now. The lightning crashed down on Pachi, reenergizing him in an instant. His Pokemon flexed.

    Nori laughed madly. "Now finish with a Discharge!" Their opponents could've done something, but seeing their best attack turn out useless stunned them into inaction. The little squirrel fired a burst of electricity point blank, dropping Bolt unconscious.

    "We win!" he said, celebrating with his Pokemon. The Demon appeared unimpressed, watching the little squirrel in disgust. She stepped forth and barked a challenge. Nori grinned. "Looks like she wants to go too! Up for round two?"

    "N-no way!" the teen said. "I gotta go home!" he protested, shielding his face as another gale blew rain towards him. "Plus it's starting to pick up! You should head back to the Gym!"

    His smile only got deeper. "Nuh-uh. Gonna enjoy this as long as I can!"

    ---​

    Some time later, Nori found himself a little further north, on the outskirts of some familiar woods. The remnants of the typhoon were assaulting Sunyshore in full force at this point. The torrential rains were whirling about, drenching things from all angles. The drainage ditches were barely holding out against the sheer volume of water pouring from the skies. The winds were around 60-70 km/h if the reports were true, with howling gusts that could reach 110 km/h. Small trees were hunched over groaning in agony as branches snapped apart and leaves flew off long before their due date. Trash, rocks, and even small Pokemon were no match for the storm's fury.

    Nori was clutching Pachi in his jacket, the little squirrel holding on for dear life as his trainer eagerly watched the Demon face off against a trio of very upset wild Aipoms. To be fair, they were the ones that swooped in and started attacking without any provocation. Were they crazy or just angry about something? Either way, the Demon was taking it to them.

    She had instantly jumped on one with a slash, mule kicked another behind her, then turned and bit the third, tossing it aside. When the first tried to come back at her, she grabbed it by its prehensile tail and used it as a bludgeon against the other two. It looked like a mugging gone wrong.

    As she slammed it into the ground, one of the others made a desperate lunge for him! Nori hopped away with a yelp, although it faceplanted in front of where he was standing. Fight or flight kicking in, he wailed and kicked it in the face as hard as he could, sending it to its back. He knew from Pokemon safety that sometimes fighting back or otherwise intimidating was the best option. He was about to drop Pachi just in case, because having your own Pokemon was the safest way, but the Demon was there to follow-up. She ruthlessly slashed the monkey and hurled it into the two others as they were trying to stand. The three were stilled, an unmoving cream and purple heap of fur.

    The boy hesitated. Should he do something about them? Well, he didn't have any Poke Balls and the potions in his pocket were for his Pokemon in case of an emergency. Plus, there was no guarantee they wouldn't start attacking again. He felt bad about the whole situation, but what could he do? Nothing, it seemed.

    More importantly, Pachi was now loudly voicing his displeasure. "All right, come back for now!" he told the squirrel, bringing him back to the security of his capsule. This craziness had to be too much for him.

    He glanced down at the Aipoms, briefly wondering if there really was something he could do. He picked one up, finding it was heavier than it looked. He couldn't carry these all the way to a Pokemon Center, not in this mess. He scoured around, looking for anyone, anything. And he spotted a picnic table a short ways away. Not much, but the best he could do for them.

    "Okay, let's get them over there." The Demon rolled her eyes, but carefully dragged one with her jaws while Nori strained with the other two. It took them a minute to get over and place them beneath. One stirred as they did so.

    The Demon bristled. "Relax," he told the monkey, hesitantly reaching out to give it a pat. "Take shelter until it passes." It weakly nodded in appreciation, thankfully getting the message.

    That was that taken care of. "You okay to keep going?" he asked the Demon. She cackled and nodded, as if she was having the time of her life. His enthusiasm for the storm had evidently rubbed off on her, and fed back into him at that. "Then let's keep going!"

    That uncomfortable incident aside, this was great! He hadn't had this much fun since Lux was around! They started off once more. Half a block's walk later, he heard a voice call out to him.

    "Hey, Nori!"

    It was a voice he did not want to hear. He turned to see Kallisto Keravnos approaching in a golden coat, having just pulled up on the road nearby. Eddie and Ollie were following behind, the former extremely annoyed. The Demon immediately went on guard.

    "Why now?!" Nori screamed to no one in particular. "What are you doing out here?"

    "We could ask you the same question, kid!" Eddie shouted. They had to shout to be heard over the winds.

    "I asked first!"

    "We're going for a drive!" yelled Kallisto. "Nice day for storm watching, huh?"

    "Well, I'm training!" And watching the storm too, but they were the last people he wanted to be around today! The Demon was spoiling for a fight, but he recalled her and made towards the woods.

    "Where you going?!" shouted Eddie.

    "Away from you!" came his reply. "This is my four days off from you jerks and I want to take it!"

    "Hold on, Nori!" Kallisto shouted, barely audible.

    "No, I won't hold on!"

    "I wanted to ask you something!"

    "Ask it in a few days!"

    "I need to ask now, if that's okay!"

    The boy marched through the forest. The trees here were holding fast in the storm, thankfully. He looked over his shoulder after a few moments to see Kallisto was still there. "Stop following me!"

    "Nori, slow down!"

    "No!"

    He ran faster in attempt to shake them. He heard Ollie scream and curse, likely having slipped in some mud or something. This did not deter them, and in fact only seemed to make Kallisto move faster.

    "It's not safe!"

    "Go away!"

    "Nori, I want you to come to my awards ceremony!"

    "Stop it!"

    The boy hung a sharp left into the outcropping beyond the small wooded area. It gave an incredible view of the furious ocean. Nori froze up. It was a horrific sight, waters surging and crashing against the cliffs, as if reaching out to drag down those on land. Yet he couldn't look away, too overwhelmed to move.

    "Hear me out!" Nori snapped from his reverie, turning to find Kallisto was STILL following him! A powerful gust blew rain directly into the head Gym Trainer's face, forcing him to shield his eyes. "Ugh, this storm is getting bad! We should head back!"

    "You should head back!" Nori yelled. "I don't want to watch the storm with you, I don't care about your stupid award, just leave me alone!"

    "Nori!" Kallisto advanced, and the boy moved to get away.

    The next thing Nori knew, he was falling. His leg had slid out from under him, and he fell to the soaked ground. He lost his hat and went rolling, and suddenly, he was falling again. His screams were quickly silenced as he hit the surface. His vision became a blur as the salty waters started to choke him. The boy flailed his arms, reaching out for anything as he tried to get to the surface. Finally, his hand brushed something. He managed to grip it, mustering all his strength to pull himself up.

    Salvation. Nori hacked and coughed up some water, shutting his eyes as a wave crashed into him. He savored what little air he could get as he clung to the rock for dear life.

    "Help! Help me!" he cried. He vaguely heard Kallisto and Eddie shouting from above. He peered up.

    He caught a glimpse of them right as they left. His arms slipped and he fell back into the ocean. And he wasn't alone.

    A large torpedo-shaped fish was swimming towards him. His consciousness faded as it opened its massive jaws.

    -=~=-,,-=~=-=~=-,,-=~=-​

    "Fuck, he fell!"

    Kallisto Keravnos' two friends were far quicker to react than he was. Ollie ran off, and Eddie charged towards the cliff. It was only when he saw his fellow Gym Leader seemingly about to dive in that he found the strength to react.

    "Eddie, no!" He lunged and grabbed him. "You'll be killed!"

    Eddie pulled away. "He'll be killed!" He ripped out a Poke Ball and was milliseconds from throwing it, when Kallisto held his arm to prevent that.

    "Octillery can't handle those waves!"

    "Fuck that!"

    "Enough!" He tried to yank Eddie towards the woods. He was stronger than his friend, but Eddie was fighting with everything he had. "We need to go now!"

    His friend stood on the tips of his toes to look over him. His eyes stretched wide. "He went under!"

    "Eddie–"

    "Fuck you!" He flicked his wrist to send out red octopus anyway. "Go! Down! Save Nori!" She didn't have to be told twice, launching herself off the cliff and into the stormy seas below.

    "You idiot!" He slapped Eddie. "You killed your Po–"

    Eddie violently shoved him away. "We're in enough shit–"

    "It's fine!" he assured. "We'll tell everyone–"

    "Shut the fuck up, you fucking know it won't sit in your conscience!"

    And that made the head Gym Trainer freeze. "Damn it. You're right," he confessed. It was bad enough after breaking his arm, this would be worse. "Sorry, I was only worrying about us."

    As far as he was concerned, this was Nori's own fault. He'd run away like a damn idiot, wasn't looking where he was going, and fell. On one hand, nobody had to know about this except the three of them. Yet Eddie was right, they had to do something. If only he could. Ludicolo was in storage, and he wasn't going to risk the life of one of his oldest Pokemon.

    "Too late for that!" Eddie ran over to the edge of the cliff. "Octillery! Where is he?"

    Kallisto followed. The red octopus was clinging to the rocks, her Suction Cups helping her stay firm. She grimly shook her form.

    "Fuck! FUCK! You sure?!" screamed Eddie. "You couldn't find him at all!?"

    It was too late. They'd done all they could. "Call her back!" he urged. "We need to leave!"

    To his relief, Eddie obeyed. "Fucking shit! Shit! The fuck happened?!"

    "Calm down! We'll drive to Tono's and talk about this." As Eddie hurried away, Kallisto took one last look around. Nori's hat was still where it had fallen. After a moment's thought, he impulsively kicked it into the ocean and ran for his car.

    ---​

    There were two reasons why Kallisto decided to let his best friend in on the incident. One, he was bound to find out anyway, and he did not want to keep any secrets from him. And second, he was hoping his friend could give a clear-headed view of the matter.

    Tono Takuma lived in a modesty luxurious home, two full floors with a large backyard that included a deck, swimming pool, and a small battlefield. When they arrived, he was practicing with his Pokemon outside. A perfect opportunity to practice under the conditions of Rain Dance, as he said. His parents weren't home, which made things easier. They went inside to explain the situation.

    To Kallisto's dismay, it quickly devolved into a three-way shouting match between his friends.

    "What are we gonna do?!"

    "I told you to ease off!"

    "Damn it, damn it!"

    Kallisto was keeping calm, but that was by necessity. There was nothing good to panicking at this point. Right now, they needed to slow down and assess. He was hoping Tono would help him do that, but it was not the case.

    "It wasn't me! I slipped!" Ollie pointed a finger. "You should've been there, Tono!"

    Tono shook his head. "Do not blame me for not being present to rein in your recklessness! I bet this was Edward's fault!!"

    "I was the one trying to save the kid!" With this, the seething Eddie turned to face him. "This is your fault, you damn boy scout! You just had to pull over and stop, and if you hadn't stopped me–"

    "ENOUGH!" he screamed at the accusation. "Everyone, CALM DOWN!"

    The three went hush at once. Kallisto had only ever yelled at someone once before in recent history, to tell off a persistent stalker. He didn't like it, but he knew that would get their attention.

    Kallisto started pacing. "It wasn't my fault. It wasn't any of your's fault, either. It's Nori's."

    "But we chased him!" Eddie argued. "No, you chased him!"

    "And he ran," he didn't miss a beat. "All we wanted to do was talk, and get him to safety because of the storm. He didn't listen, and look what happened." The head Gym Trainer sighed, shaking his head. "This was a horrible accident. All we can do right now is pray to the gods for a miracle."

    A solemn silence fell over them as reality sunk in. Nori was more than likely gone. Kallisto thought there was no sense in playing the blame game, but if it was anyone's fault, it was Nori's own. Maybe it was true that he would still be here if they hadn't stopped to talk to him, but that was irrelevant.

    "So what are we gonna do?!" Ollie repeated.

    "First, we need to get our story straight." He lowered his gaze. "Understood?"

    The other two nodded, but the hyperventilating Ollie protested. "We should come clean now! It'll be better that way!"

    "No," Kallisto sharply replied. "That's not going to help anyone. We'll be hurt for our minor role, but Nori will be hurt even more for running off and not listening to others - especially when one of them is me. He'll be remembered as..." He paused, not wanting to finish that thought.

    And that was the hardest part about this. Yes, coming clean about this incident would be the safest and proper thing to do. But it would be for the benefit of no one. He was going to protect himself, his friends, and even Nori. He was praying to the gods that they would give the young boy mercy.

    "And if he turns up alive?" Tono asked.

    Kallisto tapped his chin. "We'll deal with that when and if it happens." He was hoping, but was preparing for the worst.

    "Kallisto."

    "What is it, Tono?"

    "Are you sure you want to go this route? It could well backfire."

    That was true. There was always that small chance. So they would simply have to be careful. Tell the truth, but maybe not the entire truth. It was all for the best...

    He nodded. "I am."

    A long, drawn-out pause. His friends did not reply. They barely responded physically. Kallisto held his breath. They couldn't be having doubts, could they? Not now, not in this situation. So then what would they do?

    To his relief, Tono nodded. "Then I am with you."

    "Me too!" Ollie agreed. "Don't wanna get in shit!"

    Eddie was the only detractor. "This is some goddamn bullshit." He pounded the table with each syllable of the last two words.

    Kallisto fired a glare. "You're still a part of this whether you like it or not, Hankstein." As much as Eddie might want to be honest, he might not be prepared for the possible consequences. That said, it was a good thing that Eddie insisted on trying to save Nori. With that, no one could hold it against them.

    "I know that," he said, grumbling yet relenting. "I'm just sayin', it's some bullshit."

    With the four of them in as much agreement as they were going to get, Kallisto nodded. "Okay, this is what I was thinking..."
     
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (third part)
    • May of Ordeals (third part)​
    May 5th, 2015​

    Kallisto had first gotten the news about receiving the Medal of Valor from his cousin on April 29th. He kept quiet until it was made official on May 1st, first announced in an assembly at his school. The rest of that day was dedicated to preparing for the ceremony. He gave a couple interviews and called as many people as he could to officially break the news and invite them over. Unfortunately, Cynthia already told him she wouldn't be able to attend due to a scheduling conflict, but she gave her regards.

    On the 2nd, he went and got fitted for his tuxedo. The rest of the day went to planning. He'd decided the ceremony would be a good chance to bury the hatchet with Nori, if not through a VIP invitation, then by including and giving thanks to him in his acceptance speech. And worst case, not even Nori would be crazy enough to cause problems there.

    Maybe, he thought, that's what led to the incident on the 3rd. It was coincidence they ran into him; he was actually out shopping for clothes for the others - Tono aside, who said he'd wear what he usually does - while enjoying the storm. They went and gave a statement on the 4th when Nori was reported missing. Besides mentally preparing for...the possibility of hearing Nori's body had been found...Kallisto was able to push the incident out of his mind. There was no sense worrying about it. What happened had happened, and it was in fate's hands.

    After dropping Eddie and Ollie off, he got a cleaning at the dentist's office. They ordinarily weren't open on a holiday, but they made an exception for him. Afterward, he got a haircut from his classmate's father. Then it was making appearances all over Sunyshore until dinner.

    Today would be final preparations. Kallisto was pleased everything had been going to perfection. He started the day off by picking up his tuxedo with Tono and taking it home. After that, they went for a drive. Tono had suggested a trip to the local Mynwest Court, which the head Gym Trainer didn't mind. Due to work and school, they rarely had a chance to visit places like these. It would be a chance for Tono to get some training battles in, and for Kallisto, a chance to watch others for a change.

    "I must say, however," Tono spoke up as they were on their way there. "They did an excellent job on the tuxedo."

    He smiled. "Only the best for the best." He glanced aside. "What they said, not me."

    His best friend chuckled. "It is accurate. It would do no good for your, or their own image to supply you with a shoddy piece of tailoring." Very true. For how much money his family put into it, he expected nothing but top quality. Jokingly, Tono added, "Now all you need is a mask to go with it."

    Kallisto laughed. "Maybe a cape, too." He could probably ask one of the dragon tamers of Blackthorn to help if he were serious. Just about every major trainer in Japan knew him, although he'd met few of them personally.

    "And perhaps a top hat?"

    "Might not go well with my hair." He ran a hand through it. People loved his special two-toned hair color, and how it seamlessly went from dark orange to pink at the tips.

    "I suppose you don't have a team of magical girls whom you aid, either. Let alone a destined girl who leads them."

    Kallisto grinned. "I'm sure I'll meet her some day." He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I've already met her."

    "We never know what the future may hold." He chuckled. "Speaking of, to think at one point Haruna had her eye on me."

    Kallisto nodded. His friend's dismissive tone confirmed something he'd long been wondering, if Tono's harsh rejection of her wasn't out of loyalty to him. "I'm curious," he asked to verify. He didn't at the time, but his curiosity had been renewed. "Did you do it just because of me?"

    "I would have done so even had you not asked." He shook his head. "Real women, particularly those such as her, are far too much work."

    He shrugged. "Might change your tune someday."

    "That, I sincerely doubt." Tono placed an arm on the side of the convertible. It was a good day to drive with the top down. "And what's worse is Haruna has held a grudge against me ever since."

    "You know what they say about a woman scorned."

    "All the more reason not to bother." He could respect Tono's opinion, even if he disagreed. "She needs to let this go." His best friend snickered. "Who does that remind you of?"

    "I'd rather not talk about him right now."

    "Understandable." This was the first time Tono had brought him up since the incident. He was handling it best out of all of them. They had to calm down Ollie before going to the police - who was starting to blame himself for panicking and not helping with Lanturn - and Eddie was still uncomfortable over the whole thing. Even Kallisto had a strange nightmare the night after. It was the same one he usually had, except this time, Nori was commanding the Mightyena. He dismissed it as the product of fears, however.

    As they drove, Kallisto felt a buzzing in his pocket. He reached in to take out his phone and passed it to Tono. All sorts of people could be calling him right now, but he had to focus on the road. "Who is it?"

    "Volkner." Tono answered. "Hello, this is Tono." A pause. "He is driving." Another pause. "We are headed to Mynwest Court. I am staying sharp before the tournament resumes." And another. "Yes...okay, I will let him know." He nodded. "See you soon."

    "What did he want?" the head Gym Trainer asked, raising his hips enough for Tono to slide the phone back in his pocket.

    "He wants to speak with you."

    Kallisto nodded. "All right then."

    ---​

    Battle arenas had a tumultuous history. The first commercial one in Japan could be traced back to the Battle Tents of the 1920s in Hoenn. In the old days if you wanted to battle someone, you had to find a Gym (which weren't in every town), head to the wilderness (potentially out of the way), or find an open area and hope nobody stopped you. Yet they not only provided these locations, but gave people different ways to battle. They were a revolutionary idea that drew so much attention away from the Leagues that they eventually got shut down.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, arenas started to see a resurgence when the League challenge exploded in popularity post-war. Nowadays, there were plenty of places you could go if you wanted to practice, train your Pokemon, or battle someone. Commercial chains like these, semi-private places like the Battle Maison in Hoenn, and even some Pokemon Gyms like theirs allowed it with regularity. Kallisto even heard a rumor from Cynthia that someone was looking to revive the concept of alternative kinds of battles from the old Battle Tents, though she didn't know much beyond that. He figured they would do well if it panned out; being different was part of how Contests became popular, after all.

    Mynwest Court was just one of many modern battle arena franchises, but it was among the most notable. It was founded in 1954 by Armando Mynwest Sr, a dual citizen of the US and Mexico and one of its top professional battlers. It was called a court because trainers' battling skills were judged there. It started as a regional franchise that crushed existing ones in terms of service and quality, spread across the continent as its reputation grew, earned enough money to buy out other places, and soon went global.

    How it worked at a Mynwest was you walked in, went to the counter or a booth, and got registered. You could sign up with someone else to have a single battle together, or could be matched with someone random. Alternatively, day passes allowed access to the gathering room where food and drink was served, and you could meet prospective opponents. Annual and observer passes were also available. It was a serious and to the point place: you came here to battle, or to watch battles on the closed circuit monitors. Another counter in the gathering room let you set up matches. These were not set in huge arenas of screaming fans: they were small to medium sized rooms with no distinct features, and a single large one per franchise. The smallest of these only had space for their trainers and Pokemon, and maybe one guest per side. The largest seated a couple hundred at most. A smart device app let you watch battles from anywhere, even at home, for a fee.

    Kallisto was given a hero's welcome before he even walked through the doors. He made it clear he was only here to cheer on Tono, however. After he had his observer pass and Tono his battle pass, he wished his best friend good luck and signed a few autographs before heading outside to wait for Volkner.

    Eventually, the familiar cobalt blue convertible pulled up. Kallisto always had to chuckle to himself when he thought about the Gym Leader driving one of these. Volkner would never admit it, but he knew full well that type of car said you drove for the experience, rather than practicality. That's why he bought one too, for his image.

    "Hey," he said, rolling down the windows. Volkner had heavily customized the vehicle, so that you could use a crank or a button to do so.

    "Hey, Volkner."

    "Let's talk in private."

    He scratched his head. "Okay?"

    Kallisto got inside, and Volkner drove to the far side of the parking lot. He turned the engine off, and rolled the windows up.

    "So what's this about?" the head Gym Trainer asked. It was unusual for Volkner to want to talk on a holiday. The only thing that came to mind was that it pertained to his upcoming ceremony.

    Volkner was quiet for the longest time. As though he were trying to think what to say, or how to say it. When he eventually spoke, he lobbed a grenade. "There's something you're not telling me about Nori."

    Kallisto's lip curled, but he otherwise retained his composure. He was always ready for this to come up in conversation. "Volkner, I've told you the same thing I told the police," he calmly replied. "We saw Nori as we were driving by. We went to say hello, maybe give him a ride out of that mess and ask him about attending the ceremony, and he got mad. We followed him into the woods, but we turned back shortly after Ollie slipped."

    There was one part of their story that Kallisto admitted was difficult to believe, yet it was the truth. The fact that they just so happened to run into Nori on their drive. It was coincidence, perhaps fate. They hadn't been looking for him, and had no idea he'd be crazy enough to be out during the storm. But when you see someone you know out there, of course you're going to stop and try to talk a little sense into them.

    The Gym Leader was again quiet for about fifteen seconds. "So what do you think happened?" he eventually asked.

    "I can't say for sure."

    "The others have been acting strangely. Ollie won't answer his phone, and Eddie's been quiet."

    "They're just grieving. They feel like Nori wouldn't have disappeared if we hadn't shown up."

    "Hm."

    That was something that had come up in their discussion. Kallisto didn't understand it at first. Tono had been the one to point out that no matter how foolishly Nori handled the situation, it was true he wouldn't have done so if not for their presence. So if they felt guilt over that, he could understand.

    He decided to return the question. "What do you think happened?"

    "About that." Something about Volkner's tone and how quickly he replied, made Kallisto nervous. "I had my suspicions, so I had Octillery, Lanturn, and Eelektrik search the coast. And they came back with this."

    The blond man reached into a bag and retrieved a green hat. Nori's green rain hat.

    Kallisto gasped. That's right, he'd kicked it into the water. "Oh, gods. I guess that's what happened to him," he said. It was a good thing he'd been taking some acting lessons along with his public speaking ones. "He must've gotten lost and fell in the ocean somehow. Gods. What was he thinking?! How could he be so reckless?!"

    "He wouldn't," said Volkner, shaking his head. "He's aquaphobic. He wouldn't go near the water if he could help it."

    The sirens blared through Kallisto's mind, and he could not help but show panic for the briefest of moments. He managed to twist it into irritation. "Volkner, what are you getting at?" he demanded.

    The Gym Leader narrowed his eyes. "Like I said, there's something you're not telling me."

    Kallisto grit his teeth. Volkner's sleuthing had raised an indisputable point. As far as everyone knew, they were the last ones to see Nori before he disappeared. His fear of water had been well documented, seen by many last exhibition day. He wasn't sure what he was thinking getting rid of the hat, but it pointed to Nori's fate. And anyone who knew of his phobia would know there's more to it.

    He gathered his bearings and returned the glare. "You can't go around accusing people of things without hard proof, especially of this magnitude. That's the sort of thing can ruin lives. You should know better," he replied with restrained anger. "I know you're grieving over this too, and that your ass is in the fire if he doesn't turn up. But lashing out and trying to blame others isn't the right thing to do."

    Kallisto sat firm. Worst case scenario, they would somehow end up accused of pushing Nori in. That was absolutely not true. They had no reason to do that! But when people get an idea in their head, it can be hard to get it out.

    After twenty seconds, the Gym Leader relented. "I suppose you're right," he said. Internally, Kallisto breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll just say this. If you do know anything else, say it now. All I wanted to talk about."

    He nodded. "Okay. Have you called the police about it yet?"

    "Yes."

    There was no helping that. Kallisto got out of the vehicle, but added one last thing before he closed the door. "Just leave it to the search and rescue crews from here. Don't stress about it yourself. Let them do their job."

    The blond man nodded, started up his vehicle, and drove away. The head Gym Trainer kept his composure. But on the inside, he was panicking.

    This was not good. The one thing they left out was that they saw Nori fall in. That one fact would change the entire narrative for the worse, and he had no idea what people would think about them over it. Kallisto immediately took out his phone to dial Ollie. He needed to make sure everyone was still on the same page. And be ready in case the police came to ask more questions.

    ##########​

    May 6th, 2015​

    Finally, the day arrived. Kallisto went over his planned speech one final time after a quick breakfast of raspberry jam on toast. The presentation was set for 6pm, so he had plenty of time to get everything right. That aside, Kallisto stayed at home and answered phone calls from people congratulating him, and the occasional person who had gotten his number somehow. He sighed after the third such call from someone unknown. He was going to have to change it after this, and go through the hassle of telling people the new one.

    Tono arrived a little before 2pm. True to his word, he wore a Mario shirt with casual slacks. After exchanging pleasantries, the head Gym Leader left to change. Their ride would be arriving shortly.

    "How do I look?" Kallisto asked as he left his bedroom. It was an elegant five-piece black tuxedo made of the highest quality materials which shimmered in the light. It came with a buttoned white dress shirt beneath and a blue bow tie. The collar and lapel were his personal color of golden yellow, as were the insides of the pockets. The back of the flaps were a bright pink, nearly white.

    "Dashing," praised Tono. "It brings out the best in you."

    "Thanks," Kallisto replied.

    Tono looked at the clock. "So when are they showing up?"

    "They said two sharp." It was a few minutes away, so they had some time.

    "I will hold them to that," Tono said with a joking grin. "If they are but one second late, I shall let them know."

    "Thanks for having my back, by the way." Kallisto suddenly felt compelled to say. "All these years, I mean. Not just talking about the past few days."

    "It is my honor and privilege."

    To his surprise, Tono held out his arms. What the heck, Kallisto thought. They gave each other a brotherly hug. Tono had a borderline undying loyalty towards him. Kallisto couldn't ask for a better friend.

    "Just so you know and aren't too embarrassed," he said as he let go. "I'm going to talk about you a lot in my speech.

    "I thought so."

    "I wouldn't be where I am without you, Tono. And I want everyone to know how much you mean to me." His friend glanced away, nodding yet flush red. "Did you have a speech by the way?"

    "No," came the immediate reply.

    "Double checking. Know you hate public speaking."

    "I will say to you in private, however. You mean just as much to me, if not more. You are my inspiration, my fulcrum, and my best friend. To me, you are like a dragon - not to be confused with the game series."

    Kallisto chuckled. "Funny you say that when my ace is Raitora, a tiger."

    "I was speaking strictly in the sense of Japanese symbolism. You are powerful, wise, unfettered, and a capable leader. Fearsome yet benevolent."

    Yes, he could see that. He was about to say as such, when there was a knock at the door.

    "Looks like that's our ride." The Officials had sent a limousine to pick them up. It wouldn't be Kallisto's first time in one, but it would be the first limo that was sent for him.

    "Two on the dot." His best friend was momentarily shocked, yet smiled. "Shall we, then?"

    He grinned. "Let's."

    ---​

    The awards ceremony was set to take place on North Beach. As its name suggested, it was the northernmost beach in Sunyshore, the final destination of many trainers before setting off towards Victory Road. That is, if they weren't taking a ferry from one of the ports or flying to Valily City directly.

    "Yo, yo, yooooo!!" boomed a loud, boisterous voice over the sound system as the limo pulled in. "Alola, dudes, dudettes, and grommets! It's me! Your MC! Billy Ordride! Sunyshore's famous whitewater wizard! Yeah!"

    Kallisto could see the man, who was about as well-toned as he was, and wearing nothing but an open tie-dye T-Shirt, swim trunks, and sunglasses. He was bouncing to a beat as he jived.

    "But we're hanging loose here today on this compensation holiday for an even bigger kahuna." He stood and pointed directly at the limo. "Give it up for Kallisto Keravnos!"

    The head Gym Trainer was greeted by more familiar faces than he could count, and hundreds of others that were unfamiliar. There was simply an ocean of people and chairs, with plenty of standing room near the back. Volkner was right there as he stepped out onto a cyan carpet with Tono. The blond man gave them a silent nod, following in behind as they walked down the aisle.

    "Congratulations," Haruna was the first to speak to him. Simple and to the point. She was in a formal if not elegant violet and black dress, and had her crimson-orange hair tied into a single ponytail. "Hate it a little, but you earned this."

    "Thank you, Okazuki." He slapped hands with her as he passed by.

    Kallisto continued to move forward, flanked by Tono and Volkner. He recognized many faces from the school battling teams, former Gym challengers, from the Gym itself, or just from around town. There were plenty of Joys, Jennys, and Schraders as well. He even spotted Arumi Schrader in the crowd near her parents.

    As he locked eyes for her for a brief second, she waved to him. She jumped up while shouting, "Future Champion Honored in Beachside Ceremony!"

    He grinned and gave her a salute as he kept going. Soon, he came to a part of the aisle lined with Gym Leaders. Six were here from Sinnoh: counting Volkner, only Flint and Gardenia were unaccounted for. In addition to some former Gym Leaders, a few others had flown in from other regions, such as former Saffron City Gym Leaders Kiyo and Koichi and present Leader Sabrina, Celadon City's Erika, Olivine City's Jasmine, Lavaridge Town's (and former Hoenn Elite Four member) Bernard, Bayzon City's Miller, and even Driftveil City's Clay - who actually waved to them - to name a few. But one of the Sinnoh natives stood out.

    "Priest Warutsu," he greeted the Dark-type Gym Leader of Celestic Town. "I'm surprised you made it here."

    "But of course, child." The monk was dressed in his traditional Kannagi attire; a form-fitting violet robe with silver trim along the shoulders, sleeves, and waist. The 50-year-old had tan skin, white irises, and by choice a clean-shaved head. "One of our own is being honored here today. I am here not only as a representative of the Kannagi Shrine, but as a Gym Leader."

    "Well, it's good to see you."

    "Likewise, Kallisto." He looked him over. "If I may, you appear troubled."

    Kallisto sighed. "Recent events."

    "I understand, child." They didn't need to say what they were talking about. Warutsu put his hands together in prayer. "It is in the gods' hands."

    So it was. Kallisto continued walking. The entire Elite Four of Sinnoh were present, including the outgoing Basil. The deceptively ordinary man waved to him along with Bertha and Lucian. Even Xing had made it, despite their situation. Kallisto nodded in assurance at the self-conscious Flying expert while walking by.

    As he got closer to the front, there were many more people he was familiar with, too many to count. But one person in particular caught his eye. A muscular, imposing man who towered a full head over Kallisto. He had slick platinum blond hair and cold blue eyes, and was dressed in a red jacket reminiscent of Russian military attire.

    "Good day to you, little Kallisto," the man droned.

    "Ivan Turgenev." The last person to defeat him in a Gym qualifier, by cruelly exploiting his fear of Mightyenas. "I never thought we'd meet again like this."

    "I am now Champion of Tiksi." A region in no-man's land in Russia. It was remote, but it was Turgenev's home. He could respect wanting to represent his motherland as such. "And I have heard you have been wanting a rematch."

    He smirked. "I have been. I'm not the same trainer I was two years ago."

    Turgenev chuckled sinisterly. "When you have proved yourself worthy, little Kallisto."

    Kallisto could only grin and nod. There were several other Champions present, and he would be among their ranks someday. And when that day came, him and Turgenev could fight as equals.

    It was not much further now. A massive wooden stage had been constructed at the far end of the beach. The MC was positioned on the far right, next to a sound system. The first two rows of chairs were reserved for only the most important of individuals. Tables were set up in front of those, including one front and center, for him and his finest friends.

    The last two people to greet him were Eddie and Ollie. They both slapped hands with him, both having bought simple black suits for the occasion. All five of them sat at their table. Already seated were two of the most important people in Kallisto's life. His great-aunt Kara Carolina was here in his cousin's place. There was also Mizuto Fujimura - the police officer who always came to check on him in those weeks he was homeless, and now a member of the International Police.

    That left two seats, which were intentionally unfilled. They belonged to the two missing people, Nori and Arianne. There was nothing that could be done about the former. He had emailed his old friend with a VIP invitation, hoping she would check her inbox in time, but that didn't pan out. He remained hopeful that she watching the ceremony and if not was certain she would hear about it anyway; he planned to talk about her in his speech.

    There was no sense dwelling, however. He shook hands with both adults. "Thanks for letting me be here, Kallisto!" the jovial man said, scratching his light green mustache.

    "No. Thank you, Mr. Fujimura. You deserve to be here. I'm glad you made it."

    He chuckled. "It's Mr. Jenny, now."

    "Oh, congratulations! Finally tied the knot, huh?"

    The officer grinned. "My lovely wife is out there in the audience. I knew we were meant to be together from the moment we met."

    "That's very sweet," Cynthia's grandmother chuckled. "I remember the first time when I met my husband. It was in the cavern with the mural near the shrine. Oh, how we spoke for hours!" The graying blonde woman laughed. "You have your eye on anyone. Kallisto?"

    He shrugged. "Waiting for the right girl."

    "That is wise beyond your years," she remarked. "Many young men your age rush into things, and end up regretting it."

    Kallisto nodded. He was sure Ms. Right was out there waiting for him. Perhaps he had already met her without realizing it. Time would tell who it would end up being.

    "So when do we get to eat?!" Ollie exclaimed, slamming his fists into the table while wielding a fork and spoon.

    Tono facepalmed. "Are you capable of thinking of anything but food?"

    "Yes, but I'm just hungry!" Kallisto could see through this. Ollie had actually been trying to diet lately, operative word being trying. He hadn't been committing to it yet, using food to ease his grief.

    Eddie snickered. "Y'know, you could've gotten snacks and refreshments any time."

    "What?!" he gasped. "Why didn't you tell me?"

    "Messin' with ya. Wanted to see how long it'd take to notice." At least Eddie seemed to be in good spirits today.

    Everyone laughed, even Ollie. "Be right back then!"

    "Don't fill up too much!," Kallisto shouted as his friend got up and merrily skipped away. "Dinner's after the presentation!"

    Kallisto turned to the Gym Leader, and the man who had helped tutor him over these past years. "You're quiet today, Volkner."

    "Just how I am. Never been one for parties."

    He shrugged. "Fair enough."

    "It's your day today, man." Eddie patted him on the shoulders.

    "Yes, this day is all about honoring you," Mrs. Carolina agreed.

    "I know," replied Kallisto. "But I'm glad I can enjoy it with all of you."

    ---​

    Over the course of the next few hours, many people went on stage to speak of their experiences with Kallisto and how he had touched their lives. Even Cynthia had prerecorded one in her absence. Ollie gave a surprisingly touching speech, with Eddie giving one closer to a short statement. A couple other classmates gave speeches, including Haruna - who surprisingly cited him as her greatest rival, and that she strives to reach his level someday. Mr. Jenny and Mrs. Carolina talked as well, the latter telling stories of him as a baby that he rather she hadn't. Volkner, other officials, and even a couple people he'd nearly forgotten about all came to give speeches long and short about him.

    Finally, it was 6pm. The sun was beginning to dip over the horizon. There was a gorgeous view of Valily City behind the stage. The skies were painted orange and red and violet, the sea below shimmering, the whole land peaceful. It was a perfect moment that Kallisto was certain he would remember for the rest of his life.

    "All right!" the MC declared. "Finally time! Kallisto, surf on up onto stage!"

    Kallisto stood. The applause and cheering started as a lull, but quickly became a deafening roar. He turned to his captive audience, waving and basking in their appreciation as he walked up onto the wooden platform.

    "Now presenting the awards!" Ordride said. "Give it up for Mrs. and Mr. Josephine Jenny, and Mr. Steven Stone!"

    Kallisto gasped as the former street officer rose from his seat. He was quickly joined by his wife, a Jenny with light turquoise hair in full uniform, and went arm-in-arm up the stage. "You didn't tell me you were presenting the award."

    "We wanted to surprise you," Officer Jenny said with a grin. She had a rump in her belly, very much in the late stages of pregnancy.

    Another huge surprise was his old classmate. He hadn't seen Steven since they were in the same advanced Pokemon Training summer class together, back when they were ten. "Nice to see you again, Kal," the silvery-blue haired teenager greeted, clad a black suit with purple squiggles, and cuffs above the elbows.

    "Steven! I haven't seen you in so long!" They promptly shook hands. He was one of the few people that Kallisto felt a true kinship with. Both were from affluent families, both preferred Pokemon of a certain type while training others, and both had at least one thing they excelled at besides Pokemon (athletics in his case, geology in Steven's). They made a vow to both be Champions. His old friend had beaten him to it, but everyone knew Kallisto was destined to be one as well.

    "You're looking well these days, Kallisto."

    "Same for you. How's Champion life?"

    He shrugged. "Not all it's cracked up to be."

    "Well, I'll see for myself soon."

    "I'm sure you will, friend."

    "May even come after you!" he only half-joked. He had idly considered trying to become a multi-region Champion, just like Lance the Dragon Master won both Kanto and Johto individually.

    Steven flashed a competitive smirk. "Just try."

    With these words exchanged, Mr. Jenny started things off. "Valor is a word that has an important meaning to us. It evokes images of both strength and bravery. Be it a soldier fighting on the frontlines, a police officer facing down a dangerous criminal, or a normal civilian risking their life to aid others. It means courage in the face of danger. Yet valor isn't just about having the power to overcome. To us, it most of all means the strength to do what you must, even if it is not what you want."

    "And I don't mean to steal the show for a bit here," Officer Jenny chimed in with a light chuckle, patting her belly. "But that is why I am officially announcing my retirement from the force to look after my daughter, who will be named Kalissa in honor of the most courageous boy I know."

    The head Gym Trainer was downright stunned. They named their child after him? The crowd made their thoughts on it loud and clear, but it took several long seconds for Kallisto to respond. "I...I don't know what to say," he eventually mumbled into the microphone, bowing to them. "Except, thank you. This may be an even greater honor than the medal. I'm not worthy of either."

    Officer Jenny took his chin and tilted it up. "Hold your head high. I cannot think of anyone in this world more worthy of the Medal of Valor," said the now-retired officer. She reached into her coat pocket and passed a small cyan-toned box to Steven.

    The Hoenn Champion stepped forth. "The word valor can be traced back to the 14th century. It comes from the Latin words valeo, meaning strength, and valorem, meaning value - most often of the moral type. Its most modern common use is in association with medals such as these, many of which are associated with military accomplishments. It is the root word of the more commonly used valiant."

    Steven was always the scholarly type, so this sort of speech came as no surprise to Kallisto.

    "However, the intent of the Medal of Valor can be traced back to risshi, the original name of the lake that is its namesake. The first Kanji in risshi roughly means to stand up. The second can mean hope, intent, resolve, or aspiration. Together, they roughly mean as finding or fixing one's goal in life. This differs slightly from the Chinese definition, which can mean determination. However," he paused. "The Great Azelf, one of the three essences of the soul that represents willpower, is said to have granted us the resolve to stand up against life's hardships. That is what the Medal of Valor ultimately represents."

    Steven smiled. "My friend. I may have become a Champion before you, but there's no doubt in my mind you'll be the very best of them some day." He smirked. "And yes, the very best like no one ever was."

    Just about everyone laughed at his joke. That corny 90s song was still a source of mocking to this day.

    "The thing about you is, you have overcome your hardships while helping people with their own. You have striven to lead others by example. You have went from a homeless boy on the streets for two weeks to one of the greatest young Pokemon Trainers in not just Sinnoh, not even all of Japan, but the world. And your best is yet to come." With these words, Steven opened the box and held it out. Placed neatly within on grayish-blue velvet was a medal of pure gold and silver, emblazoned with a sword and the Kanji for risshi. "That is why with the power vested in me by the Officials, I present to you, Kallisto Keravnos, with the Medal of Valor."

    He placed the box in Kallisto's palms, who accepted with a childish wonder. This was it. This represented nearly everything he had worked towards at this point. It said to him that it was all worth it, and he was finally being recognized for that.

    "If I may?" asked Mr. Jenny.

    Kallisto grinned. "Go ahead."

    The officer delicately took the medal out of its container, and there in front of the roaring audience and everyone watching from afar, pinned it on his lapel. The cheering and clapping was so loud, Kallisto felt the stage vibrating. This truly was it. These were his people. Everyone who had loved and supported him over the seventeen, nearly eighteen years of his life.

    Steven, the Jennys, and the MC all cleared off. It was just him on stage, in the spotlight of the setting sun. He searched his breast pocket for his notes. His planned speech came rushing back to him as he gripped them in his fingers. He was already aware they were now more of a guideline, but skimmed them nonetheless.

    "Wow, I just..." He wiped his brow. "Wow, everyone. I really don't know what to say about all this. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the privilege to be here today. I had this big speech prepared, but there's now so much more I want to say. So, forgive me if I start talking in circles a bit figuring it out."

    Light chuckles from the audience. They fully understood. This was his moment. Kallisto wished it could last forever. He looked at his watch. 6:08pm. He didn't want to keep them here too long, so he resolved to go until 6:50pm at the latest.

    Where to begin? Probably where he originally intended. "I guess to start, I should acknowledge that I couldn't have made it here without all my partner Pokemon. I wanted to be a trainer just like mom and dad were, ever since I was six. I wanted to follow in their footsteps, and live up to my family's name, I still remember the day mom came home when I was eight, with a shiny Mareep following behind her. I was amazed by the fact that I'd been given such a rare Pokemon, with her gorgeous purple fleece. After months of training, I caught my first Pokemon, a Lotad. And of course, you all know the story with Raitora. The Electric type has always been my favorite, so I was happy that I was able to study under Volkner Denzi, one of the foremost experts on Electric Pokemon. Everyone, give him a round of applause."

    The blond man remained seated. He waved to the crowd with a grumble, shaking his head.

    "Of course, though I have many Electric types, from the abandoned exotic Zebstrika I caught here to the Dromazolt revived from a fossil, I love and value each and every one of my Pokemon."

    Kallisto felt like an actor on stage. His heart was pounding, his knees were weak, butterflies were in his stomach. But he spoke clearly and concisely. Every sentence carefully crafted in his mind, each pause calculated, every gesture articulate. They were his audience, hanging on their seats for his next word.

    "That said, I always had my doubts. I mean, yes. I have other hobbies and interests besides Pokemon, such as my athletics. But I always worried as to whether I was living up to expectations or not. Was I truly great? And if I was, would I be great enough? So many have gotten close to the top, only to falter at the very end. And that was my biggest fear, that I wouldn't make it."

    He paced. "I hate to say it, but no one remembers the second best. And to be truly remembered, you need to go above and beyond." He paused briefly to consider how he was going to word this next part. "When people talk of famed swordsmen, they talk of the legendary Miyamoto Musashi - a man who could cross blades with a Sword of Justice and win. You hear of his greatest rival Sasaki Kojiro less often. Some don't even know he invented the move Aerial Ace. You hear even less of the man purported to defeat him, Muso Gonnosuke, to where the encounter could be apocryphal."

    There were a few murmurs in the crowd. "I see a lot of you are confused as to why I'm talking about samurai. Let me explain. It was not just his record and unending talent with a blade that made Miyamoto Musashi's legacy. He was a ronin, a writer, a philosopher, a teacher, a father, an inspiration. Ultimately, it's the mark he left on the world that made people remember him. That is why I want to–"

    Kallisto caught it out of the corner of his eye. He turned just in time to see a screaming figure flying through the air, and a glimpse of a Pokemon as it dove beneath the water's surface. The person came crashing down in front of him, managing an inelegant somersault that whipped them onto their back. They were wearing a very old black and gold nautical hat and a jade-green outfit. The person scrambled to their feet, escaping the security trying to haul them away.

    "Wait, back off!" Kallisto shouted to the swarming guards, as Nori Carino turned to face him. His hair was raggedy, his limbs were quaking from pain and anger, and his soft red eyes were empty with fury.

    Something about him absolutely terrified Kallisto. Yet much like everyone else, he was only able to look on in stunned silence.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (fourth part)
    • ????????? ??​

    There was a voice. A distant one. Who was it? He couldn't tell. Was he dead? Was he alive? He was in a bed. It was comfortable, reminding him of home.

    "Ma?"

    "I asked, are you awake, boy?"

    His vision slowly returned. The first thing Nori saw was a hunched man who bordered on inhuman. His skin was gray, and his wrinkled face seemed permanently contorted into a sneer. His gray hair was a wiry mess, including his mustache and poorly-trimmed beard. He held a cane made of fishbones in one hand, and...the glint of something in another. He wore a grimy coat that was full of tears and holes.

    The boy's eyes shot open and he gasped in horror, realizing he was face-to-face with the old sea dog. "Oh. Um." He swallowed, gathering his composure. To his relief, the man was patient. "Y-Yes, I am well?" he replied in the same language. If this guy was speaking Japanese, he'd better do so too.

    "Very good, boy," the sea dog replied. He spoke in a harsh, loud, clear voice. "You have been unconscious for two days."

    Two days?! It all came back to him. The storm, Kallisto, the fall, the ocean. The first thing Nori did was pat himself down. Where were his Poke Balls?! He snapped up and looked around. He saw his raincoat at least, but where was everything else?!

    "If you are looking for your Pocket Monsters, they are on the table, still resting in their capsules. I had to remove them while drying your clothes."

    Nori glanced over, and sure enough, there they were. He collapsed back onto the bed in relief. He'd have to let them know what happened later on...no doubt, they were as worried as everyone else. He weakly nodded in appreciation.

    "Why are we speaking Japanese?" he meekly asked. He could speak it fine, but most people around the world spoke English normally.

    "I refuse to dirty my tongue with the language swine forced upon the world. Those who could not defeat us in Pocket Monsters, and so resorted to atrocity." The sea dog seemed to harshly glare. It was difficult to tell with his twisted guise. "Now, would you be so kind to explain to me who you are and what you were doing?"

    "I am Nori Carino." Should he have used watashi there? He didn't like ore, and boku probably didn't fit anymore. "Um, and you are?"

    The sea dog shook his head. "I cannot go revealing my identity. It would be an unnecessary risk to myself, and shake the foundation of our country even today. Refer to me as they all do."

    A quiet nod. "Okay, Mr. Sea dog." Well, he said sea dog-san, but that was roughly what it meant.

    "You can drop the honorifics, boy. Now, I asked you what you were doing and you did not answer. Tell me."

    ---​

    May of Ordeals (fourth part)​
    May 5th, 2015​

    Over the course of the next fifteen minutes, Nori explained everything to the sea dog. He explained his position as a future official and what led to it, his time at Sunyshore Gym, a little about Kallisto as backstory, and finally, as much as he could remember about the incident. Some of it was hazy right now.

    The sea dog took it all in, occasionally asking for clarification on some matters. When Nori had finished, he nodded. "I see. You are in quite the predicament, young Nori Carino."

    The sea dog walked over to a cooler of some kind. It had the Japanese characters for water filter etched on the side. He poured two cups, handing one of them to Nori. The boy, suddenly realizing how parched he was, drank it all in one swig.

    "That Kallisto," the sea dog remarked. "The only reason he would care for honor is if it benefits his image. And the people idolize him in spite of his many faults, perhaps even encouraging them. This is how corrupt our society has become since the glory days of our empire."

    "Do you happen to know Kallisto?" he asked, thinking little of his last statement.

    "Word of his exploits have reached my ears over the air waves. I was never impressed at what I heard, and your account has only cemented my suspicions."

    Nori took a proper look around the room. The sea dog's cabin was almost as bad on the outside as it was on the inside. The roof had some cracks in it, feeling like it could collapse on them at any moment. There was a table with a single chair in the center of the room, and besides the bed, a hammock of some kind was on the back. Metal shelves had all sorts of things lined on them that Nori didn't look too closely at. A fire pit of some kind near the only intact window. A large fishing rod, a few nautical hats, and a white uniform with gold trim on the shoulders hung from the wall. The latter was well-maintained and had a number of medals pinned to it.

    "News of your being missing has been on the local stations," stated the sea dog. Suddenly, Nori noticed how unnerving the man was, but wasn't about to show it. "The involvement of him and his cohorts, however, has not been reported."

    At this, Nori could only sigh heavily. Of course they wouldn't. He probably just told everyone he had nothing to do with it and completely believed him. "It is hopeless. There is nothing I can do about him. He is too perfect."

    Nori was not expecting the sea dog to reply to this with a slap that nearly sent him flying off the bed. "Where is your honor, boy?" he barked, like an officer talking down to a grunt. "Even I have come to realize that retreat is an option sometimes. But this is not one of those instances. You need to teach that scum some respect." He sneered. "A person shows his or her true colors in situations such as this one. This Kallisto's actions caused you to fall into the sea. Instead of aiding you or taking responsibility for his actions, he ran like the coward he is. Stand up to him and make a statement. If you do not, he shall continue to walk on you forever."

    Stand up to Kallisto. So far, he'd been taking everything him and his friends did in stride. Maybe he fought back a couple times, but he'd never seriously gone on the offense against them. Was that what it would take to turn things around?

    The sea dog took his cup and poured some more water. "I remember you, boy," he said, as he handed it back. "February 2nd, this year. You and your friends came to stare at me. You were not the first, and you shall not be the last. And like almost all of them, your friends all ran at a mere glance. But you stayed. You looked into my eyes and left without fear. You have the true spirit of the Japanese in you. That is why I had my Sharpedo save you. Do not make me regret doing so."

    Nori could not pretend to understand the extent of what the sea dog was talking about. All he knew was that he was fortunate to even be alive right now. He never thought such a small, seemingly insignificant action could make such a huge difference. And even without the sea dog saying so, he was never going to waste it.

    "This dishonorable scum and his cohorts have been abusing you for four months. Tell me, boy. What do you intend to do about it?"

    "Maybe..." the boy slowly began. "Expose him for who he is? Tell everyone what he did to me. Tell everyone what a dishonorable scum he is. Even all his fans will not be able to stand by him for almost killing me and leaving me to die."

    And it's that what Nori absolutely couldn't forgive. It was okay to make mistakes. But not owning up to them was another thing. Kallisto had chased him off a cliff and ran off instead of trying to help him. He only cared about himself in that moment, and that spoke volumes about his character.

    However, he shook his head. "But that would be snitching, so–"

    "There is nothing dishonorable about that in itself, young Nori Carino. There are some things that the world must hear. If an incident goes unreported, the perpetrator shall get away with it. And it shall continue unchecked. There are times to remain silent, but there are also times where you must have the courage to speak out."

    "I understand," he replied. It still didn't sit well with him, but he could understand.

    "You now hold the key to his downfall. Never forget that." The sea dog glanced towards the shack's fire pit. "We shall be eating broiled Remoraid and shellfish. Tonight, think about what you would do and say."

    ---​

    Nori had never eaten anything quite like this before. The Remoraid had a funny taste to it, tangy yet vaguely salty. Not to mention, it was clear he was cutting apart and eating a Pokemon with a knife and chopsticks. He knew some of his food came from Pokemon and not normal animals, but it was never this obvious! The mollusks were also strange, especially since they were eating them shell and all. The boy was never a picky eater though; and it was always great to get food into you when you hadn't eaten for several days. But he never wanted to try anything like this again if he could help it.

    "Tomorrow," the sea dog said, having finished long before he did. Nori was having trouble eating around the fish's bones. "My Sharpedo shall carry you to a beach where you can return."

    Nori remembered something else at that moment. "Kallisto has a ceremony scheduled for tomorrow. He is receiving some award for valor."

    The sea dog clenched his hands in utter disgust. "He is receiving the Medal of Valor? Our country has fallen further than I thought."

    A thought came to mind. "Do you think I should I interrupt it?"

    The sea dog laughed. It was a slow, methodical chuckle that sent chills down Nori's spine. "A bold idea. You would've made a fine officer, had you been born 90 years earlier." He gave an approving glower. "Do you know where this ceremony is set to take place?"

    He shook his head. "No."

    "Then let us listen to the news. We shall surely learn where and when you shall make your strike."

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~​

    May 6th, 2015​

    The old sea dog...Nori wasn't sure what to make of him. He was decent and not anything like the rumors, but something about him felt off. Especially all the stuff in his shack and some of the things he was talking about. Only one thing was for sure, he owed the sea dog his life.

    They heard the award would be presented after 6pm. Nori spent the day getting his Pokemon up to speed and going over what he wanted to say. When it came time to leave...he froze up. He was going to be riding a dangerous aquatic Pokemon across the ocean! An awesome way to make an entrance, maybe, but the prospect terrified him. The sea dog had to practically threaten him into going through with it.

    "Nothing to do but do it..." he told himself before he reluctantly got atop the Sharpedo. There was no other way out of here. It didn't seem friendly or hostile, one way or another. His ride was the least of his concerns, however. As he tried to look out at the open waters, he found himself hyperventilating. "Come on, Nori. Just...just close your eyes until you get there."

    "Best of luck, young Nori Carino."

    "Thank you, sir."

    "Wear that cap with pride."

    "I will."     A replacement for his lost hat. The sea dog told him it belonged to an old crewmate who died young. He wasn't sure if he'd use something like this long-term, but it would suffice for now.

    Even though he was not looking aside from the occasional peek, he could still feel the water rushing past his legs and waves that splashed into them. He kept one arm on his head to keep his cap on, clinging to the sea dog's Pokemon for dear life with the other.

    After several minutes, he saw their destination. A stage on North Beach with a whole crowd gathered in front of it, and a lone person standing atop. He could recognize Kallisto from anywhere. Yet he could also see a problem, a few guards posted at the back of the stage. They saw his approach and reached into their jackets, yet nobody - least of all Nori - was expecting him to be launched off the back of the shark.

    "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Nori screamed as he flew through the air. Whether by instinct or by luck, he managed to roll as he crashed down onto the stage. His knees, elbows, back, and chest were all throbbing, but he knew he couldn't let a little...okay, a lot of pain stop him now.

    As he scrambled to his feet to escape the guards trying to yank him off the front, he heard Kallisto's voice. "Wait, back off!"

    They did as he asked, allowing Nori to take stock of the situation. It was just him and Kallisto on the stage and...some guy trying to get up on the corner. The head Gym Trainer was already wearing the medal.

    "Ack! I'm late!" He slapped his cheeks. "It's fine, it's fine Nori! This is better! They could revoke it!"

    Kallisto ran over. "Nori! Thank the gods–"

    "Shut up!" he yelled.

    He heard a familiar voice from the PA. "Whoa there, freaky guy! You can't just–"

    "You shut the hell up too!" he screamed at Billy Ordride. Of course he'd be here, but right now, he had bigger things to worry about than that idiot! "Everyone shut up, because I have something I'd like to say, please!"

    Kallisto's eyes stretched wide. The head Gym Trainer reluctantly stepped back, waving and offering him the microphone. Nori stomped up, clutching his ribs. He was short on breath, and he was worried he might've fractured something, but he let none of that stop him.

    "My name is Nori Carino!" he boomed to the stunned audience. "The Demon Tamer of Veilstone City! Currently training to become the world's first Pokemon Rehabilitator under Volkner Denzi!"

    They sat captive at his brash, confident speech. Nobody was sure what to make of him or had any idea what he was about to say. There had to be hundreds, if not a thousand people watching in the crowd. And there were cameras too! The whole world was going to see this!

    He started. "Three days ago, I was out training my Pokemon in the typhoon. Kallisto and his friends - besides Tono Takuma, but I'm sure he's complicit - happened to drive by and got out to bother me. I told them I didn't want to see them and walked away, but they kept following me. I ran, and they chased me. I ended up slipping and falling off a cliff when Kallisto kept coming. And you know what they did? Nothing! They ran away like the cowards they are! They left me to die! They may have even wanted me to drown! If it wasn't for the old sea dog, I'd be dead now!" He adjusted the nautical cap. "But I'm alive! And I'm here to tell you a hard truth!"

    There was a lot of confused chatter. A few boos as well, which didn't come as a surprise to him. Nori stole a glance at Kallisto. The head Gym Trainer was frozen to the spot, pale and utterly terrified.

    "You think Kallisto's an amazing incredible guy who can do no wrong? Well, you're wrong! He's an honorless jackass who only cares about others when it suits him! Why else would he run off instead of trying to save me?"

    Kallisto looked as if he wanted to beg, to protest, to say anything in his defense. Yet he remained still, the only sounds coming from his throat being gurgled choking. There was more discontent among those watching, but Nori pressed on.

    "There's something else, too!" He had been making wild, dramatic gestures as he had been giving his speech. "He tried to tell me I couldn't get a girlfriend and broke my arm when I refused! Then he tried to pretend like it didn't happen and acted I was just supposed to forgive him! What kind of person does that sort of thing? Kallisto Keravnos, that's who! He's tried to tell me how I'm supposed to be and how I'm supposed to do things, because he thinks he knows best!" He snatched the mic from the stand, walked over, and pointed right at Kallisto. The kind of point one does when shaming or making fun of someone. "There's a lot you don't know about him, and more than a couple other people who've been affected by him in the same way."

    The collective crowd was stunned into silence at this point. Everything had been coming out exactly as Nori had hoped so far. No small feat, considering he was speaking strictly from memory and the heart. It was time to wrap up with a dramatic plea. He marched to the edge of the stage.

    "So I implore you, people of Sinnoh! Know him, see him for who he truly is!"

    That went perfect. He said everything he wanted to about Kallisto, and gotten it out there in public. He gave a deranged cackle to the stupid perfect jerk, who at this point seemed like he was about to drop dead from a heart attack. The only thing left to do was wait for the reaction.

    It started as a lull. The faint sound of disapproval from a number of scattered pockets. A few glares here and there. Nori stood confidently at first. Until the jeering started, and the hostility spread like a disease. He could make out a multitude of comments in the audience. Insults directed at him, praise for Kallisto, accusations of him lying, or some combination of all three.

    "Hey!"

    "Uh, excuse me–" he heard Billy Ordride's meek voice in the background.

    "I'm telling the truth!"

    "If you could just–" Even speaking over the PA, the surfer was barely audible over Nori and the audience.

    "Oh, so you're just going to believe him? Keep up your dumb blind faith?!"

    "Could somebody–"

    "You know what it is? You can't accept it!" He pointed at the audience. "You can boo me all you want, but I'm going to keep saying it because it's true!"

    Many people had risen from their seats, looking seconds away from storming the stage. Security had their hands full trying to maintain order, although a couple were advancing on him.

    At this point, Nori was just repeating insults. "Kallisto's a jackass! Kallisto's a scum! Kallisto's dishonorable! Kallisto's–"

    The mic was suddenly snatched from his hands. "Hold on!" the head Gym Trainer shouted, and with this, everyone stopped and snapped to attention. "If you'll allow me a few words."

    Nori leaned in to speak. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

    "I do." He nodded. "If I've ever done anything to upset you, I apologize."

    The boy rolled his eyes. He'd done a lot to upset him, and he was only now apologizing for it? That's dumb, he thought! If Kallisto was really sorry, he would've done so sooner. Or better yet, backed off a long time ago.

    "But Nori," the head Gym Trainer said. "I know you and I haven't been on the same page as of late. We've had our disagreements, yes. But you're taking your prank a little too far."

    "A prank?!" he screamed, loud enough to be picked up over the microphone.

    "You said you were going to crash my ceremony and tell the crowd some embarrassing secrets about me. But exaggerating, and outright lying about things as serious as this?" Nori was too dumbfounded to protest as Kallisto knelt down to level with him. "I know, you're upset. You're blaming us for what happened three days ago. But you're the one who ran off when we just wanted to talk. We ended up losing track of you after Ollie slipped, and couldn't find you. The thought crossed our mind that you might've ended up in the ocean, but we didn't want to endanger our Pokemon in that storm."

    "That's a–"

    "Please, let me finish."

    But it was a lie! They saw him go in, they caused it! Besides, was a little risk to their Pokemon which were built for swimming more important than saving someone's life?!

    "I get where you're coming from though, even if it's wrong. To be honest, I'm just relieved you're here to say these things."

    "What the h–"

    He was interrupted as Kallisto switched off the mic and pulled him towards the middle of the stage.

    "Look, just accept this," he quietly urged.

    "What?!" the boy rasped.

    "Take this and go. Please."

    "No way!"

    "I may not be able to stop them from arresting you otherwise." Kallisto's eyes flicked out towards the crowd, which was growing restless. "Or them from mauling you." He was genuinely concerned. Not for himself anymore, but for Nori. He hated this pity!

    This whole thing was insane! Why? Why did nobody believe him about this? He wasn't lying! He knew what happened! He knew what he saw! So then why? Why was he the bad guy here?

    "Fine, I've said my piece," he spoke, halfway between crying and screaming. His breathing was becoming labored. His vision was cloudy, his nostrils were stuffed, and his own throat was suffocating him. Everything hurt. He went to the side of the stage, jumped down, and wandered off, looking to get far away from everyone and everything.

    "Sorry about this, folks. He can be a little silly and dramatic," he heard Kallisto covering in the background. "But speaking of Nori Carino, I was going to say I wanted to give special mention to three people who couldn't be here today. Now I guess it's just two!"

    Nori wasn't sure where he was going. At that moment, he could've walked right off a cliff again and not cared. He doubted anyone else would either. He somehow made it to the road before too long. He thought about just crossing without looking, when a blue vehicle pulled up before him. The door swung open.

    "Hey."

    It was Volkner.

    "Don't say anything. Just get in."

    ---​

    It was fortunate that Volkner had been there for him, Nori thought. Or was it? Did any of this matter? He thought for sure people were going to believe him about Kallisto. He thought the worst of it was over, and that things would finally turn around. Not only did everyone think he was just some crazy liar, he had the gut feeling his troubles were only beginning.

    "Glad you're alive." The Gym Leader said. He was relieved, but appeared uncertain how to fully express his emotions.

    Nori pulled his legs up. "Right now, I want to curl up and die."

    "Don't talk like that."

    He was just stating what was on his mind. Nori didn't want to die. But he was sure few people here would care if he was gone. Maybe they'd grieve for a while, but then they'd forget about him and go on with their lives as if nothing happened. How could they do that? He never would. There were still times when he thought about Lux, for example.

    "Figured he had something to do with it," the Gym Leader muttered.

    Nori lowered his feet to the floor of the convertible. He slowly turned to the Gym Leader, although remained languid. Did he hear that right? "You mean, you believe me?"

    "Their story was flimsy."

    It was? Maybe there was hope! Maybe he could make it out of this and get Kallisto punished! "So you can tell the Officials about them!"

    "A number were in attendance. And that was being broadcast to the nation. They'll know anyway."

    The boy laughed. Everyone saw it! Everyone! Everyone knew what he said and what he accused Kallisto of doing! "So you can pile on!"

    "I think it's you I'll have to stick up for."

    Like a balloon pressed to a needle, all the air left Nori. He struggled to find his voice for a full minute. "What?!" he eventually squeaked.

    "Don't worry," assured the Gym Leader. "I'll make sure you keep your position. Someone owes me a favor."

    "So...so..." Nori was starting to snivel. "He's going to get away with this? All of it?! Just because Kallisto is perfect to everyone?! Because they believe him over me?!"

    A grim nod. "Yes. They might still believe you. But they'll blame you, forgive him, or both. He has too much support, from the public and in the Officials."

    "That's...that's garbage!" The tears started flowing.

    "It is."

    "Why?!" he cried. "What can we do?!"

    "Nothing. For now."

    "But why!?"

    It was rhetorical. No amount of explanation could justify this to Nori. Had the whole world gone crazy!? Or was he the only one who was crazy? Why wouldn't they understand? Why was he the one who was wrong about this?! He sobbed over these questions the entire rest of the way back.

    ---​

    Volkner pulled into the garage at the back of the Gym. Nori was briefly surprised at this. The Gym Leader was unusually prohibitive of anyone coming here to where not even security was permitted. Even Eddie said the couple times he was invited here last month, they only spoke in the Gym Leader's office or went to a private training room. And here he was casually letting Nori see it.

    It was a wide-open space something between a warehouse and a garage. Along the sides were tall shelves lined with various electronics, vehicular parts, and tools for working on both. A rolling set of stairs allowed easy access to the upper sections. The Gym Leader parked in the back center of the room. A speedboat and vintage vehicle were to the left and right respectively, tools for working on the vehicles were scattered about, and the smell of oil was ripe in the air.

    Nori exited the vehicle, and his legs almost immediately gave out. The boy only managed to make his collapse gradual, laying down on the dirty floor. He was used to laying down on hard surfaces like these sometimes.

    "Get up, there's too much grease," Volkner advised. He held a box of tissues in one hand and was extending the other to help him sit up. Nori accepted both, leaning against the car and blowing a torrent of snot out of his nostrils. He needed to blow twice to empty them entirely, plus a second tissue to dry his face of tears and mucus.

    "Thanks," he sniffed, voice shaky.

    "Don't mention it," the Gym Leader murmured, bringing over a pail to discard the used tissues.

    Nori tilted his head back, resting it against the convertible's door. "Why did no one believe me about him?" he pondered aloud, to no one in particular.

    "Right now, it's your word against his," explained Volkner, walking off to get something from a bag. He returned with the rain hat he had lost.

    Nori quietly closed his eyes, clutching his nautical cap. The sea dog was going to hear about this. If only he could do something...but he wouldn't.

    "There's circumstantial evidence to support your story," the blond man stated. "But nothing decisive."

    That's...right. He vaguely recalled what Arumi had told him, and even Volkner before. What he said wasn't concrete. "But...but it's the truth," he fought off more tears.

    "One that's inconveniencing."

    "What do you mean by that?"

    With this, Volkner puffed deeply. He went towards a table on the side of the room. "You take tea, right?" he asked as he switched an electric kettle on.

    A nod. "Yes...that'd be nice."

    Nori sat pondering this as the Gym Leader prepared some hot drinks for them. The truth that Kallisto caused this incident is inconveniencing. What could he mean by that? Who would be inconvenienced?

    After several minutes, it was ready. Nori stood and sulked over to a table between the two vehicles in the garage, where he sat across from Volkner. He delicately stirred his instant tea. He took a sip. Plain, maybe bland. Probably orange pekoe. He never understood what was so orange about it. It was more than enough for him, however.

    After a sip of coffee, Volkner launched into his explanation. "There's three sides to this. First, the public. Have you ever learned something you didn't want to believe?"

    "Not really, no."

    "Hm." The Gym Leader shrugged. "Not everyone is as open-minded as you." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "They see their hero, and they see a, uh, no offense, seemingly crazy kid interrupting his speech and throwing out serious allegations against him."

    Arumi said something like that before too. That some people would defend Kallisto no matter what. "But they're not even considering what I said!" he argued.

    "Even with those who might, there's little evidence. Like I said, it's your word against his." Volkner shook his head. "They treat these issues carefully. It's a good thing. Some people will lie to attempt to destroy others' reputations. It's separating the truth from fiction before condemning someone."

    Nori...couldn't fault that. He'd heard stories of people who were ruined by simple accusations, even if they turned out to be false later! But he was telling the truth here! What could he do?!

    "Which leads to the next point, Kallisto himself."

    The boy lightly sipped his tea. He was drinking a tiny bit at a time. He wasn't sure if he'd hear anything that would make him choke or spit it out.

    "I don't doubt your story is true. I told the police it was unlikely you would go near water due to your fear of it." The Gym Leader shook his head sadly. "However, it is not as though he pushed you into it. You could be seen as culpable for being reckless."

    "But he lied!" Nori protested. "He said he had nothing to do with it, when he did! Sort of! They didn't lose track of me, they saw me go in!"

    "Regardless," Volkner grimly said, "That leads to the last part. The Officials."

    The Officials? But he was going to be an official too. Unlike Kallisto, who actually wasn't one despite working at a Gym, and had turned them down before. What did they have to do with this?

    "Kallisto is universally recognized as not only a future Champion, but one of the best trainers in the world. The JPLA wants him to represent the nation. He is everything that a perfect Champion is: good looks, from a famous family, worked hard to live up to his name, a philanthropist, and not just a master with Pokemon, but talented in other areas. Throw in his life story, and well..." The man looked down, taking a long swig of his coffee before continuing. "Something like this won't hurt him, much as he worries about it. They and the public give him more leeway than he thinks - especially for all the good he's done in the past. And as far as some of them are concerned, the only people who could hate him are bad or crazy."

    "But...but I'm not! I'm not crazy or a bad person!" He paused. "Am I?" He seriously was starting to question whether he was.

    Volkner chuckled. "People who think differently often get called crazy. But it's them who see things others don't."

    That made sense. Even if it made no sense...

    "Many people don't want to see things from perspectives other than their own. They'll argue with you, demean you, insult you, sometimes even threaten you or use their pull or power to shut you down," explained Volkner. "Not just with opinion. The hardest thing to handle can be logic and fact."

    Nori sighed. "So you're saying even if I prove everything I've said about him, nothing will change."

    "No," came the reply. "The truth is reality. And reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." The Gym Leader crossed his arms. "Kallisto may have gotten away with breaking your arm and will likely get away with leaving you to drown, but he still did those things. And if he continues, it's going to catch up with him some day."

    "So you're saying...?"

    "Just that."

    Nori wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything productive. It was no solace knowing that. Who could say when Kallisto was going to do something like this again? He could get away with anything he wanted, as long as everyone who mattered kept taking his side! Which they would! And he was just supposed to wait around and hope for things to work out?! He'd have better luck praying to a god!

    Volkner stood. He walked over and put a hand on Nori's shoulder. "Just relax for now. Overthinking things isn't you."

    It wasn't, but it was so hard not to! Why couldn't he deal with this in a straightforward manner like always? At least...well, he hoped Kallisto wasn't and never became actively malicious towards him.

    "Guess I'll stick around for the rest of the day. Lemme know if you need anything."

    "Food, I guess. Haven't eaten all day." It brought back memories of home. He could handle it, but that didn't mean it was comfortable.

    A nod. "I'll order a pizza, then."

    ---​

    While waiting for the food to arrive, they let out their on-hand Pokemon to get some air and exercise. And in Nori's instance, to update them on what happened with Kallisto.

    "I'm sorry," he told the two Pokemon. "It didn't work. No one believed me."

    They stood horrified for several long moments. Eventually, Pachi collapsed, falling to his hands and feet. He cried softly - Nori didn't know Pokemon could cry like that. Volkner's Electivire came over and put a chunky, comforting hand on the little squirrel. The snarling Demon's reply was more volatile. She roared something, prompting Volkner's Luxray and Ambipom to try and stop her. She easily knocked them aside, walking with purpose towards the hall.

    "Demon, don't..." he meekly called out. This got her to pause and glare back. "He's not here right now. Still at his stupid ceremony."

    The teal beast grumbled. Volkner's Pokemon tried to reason with her, only to seemingly be told off as she stomped to a corner of the room.

    They tried to follow, but the Gym Leader called them off. "Let them have their moment," he told them. Reluctantly, they two Pokemon obeyed, letting Nori approach his Pokemon on his own.

    "Please, don't kill him." She glared up at her trainer, still seeming set on it. "I mean, we'll get in a lot of trouble for it. And, I'm not worth that much."

    The Demon struck him. Without claws. She stared up expectantly. It took Nori ten seconds to realize that was a slap, something like ‘what is wrong with you?’

    He sighed. "You're right. We have to do something. I don't know what. But if you hurt him, I'll lose you. I don't want to...that's not worth it." Not to mention, he might get charged for it.

    That finally got her attention. By this time, Pachi had come over. Begrudgingly, the Demon nodded, although she rolled her eyes when the squirrel chirruped at her. His Pokemon were some of his only friends. He was happy that she was willing to sacrifice herself like that, but he'd hate himself over it.

    The Gym Leader let out a, "Heh."

    "What...is it?" Did he do something wrong?

    "Starting to get how you do it."

    "How I do what?"

    "Bond with your Pokemon."

    Nori wondered. He wasn't doing anything but be himself and let them be themselves. That wasn't special, so what was it really?

    Volkner's phone buzzed. "It's here. Hope you don't mind a ham and pineapple."

    "Food's food." Didn't Tono say something about people hating pineapple because of some chef? "Why?"

    The Gym Leader smiled as he went to the back door. "My favorite. Didn't think you'd mind."

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    A/N: This painful twist makes more sense once you realize/remember the character archetype Kallisto falls into. There's more fallout to come in the following chapters.

    For the record: WW2 was different (mostly toned down) in my fic's universe despite some similarities, not important enough to get into detail for now, however - it's mostly backstory stuff in the context of the greater metaseries. Will say that while the in-universe account here is badly biased, large (non-nuclear) explosives were involved at the end.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (fifth part)
    • May of Ordeals (fifth part)​
    May 7th, 2015​

    The issue of Kallisto continued to trouble Nori for the rest of the night. He was so concerned about being able to get to sleep, that Volkner gave him a pill. While worried about taking others' drugs, the Gym Leader explained it as simple melatonin, which is naturally produced in the body.

    His sleep was a dreamless nightmare, from which he was roused from by a knocking at his door. "Hey, it's me," Volkner said.

    Nori groggily rolled over, clutching Pachi in his arms. He'd slept cuddling with his Pokemon much like a stuffed animal. It was 8:40. "Ah..." he groaned. "School."

    Lethargic, the boy got up, got dressed, and grabbed his bag. There wasn't time to do anything else, not even feed himself or his Pokemon. At least they have lowered metabolism in their capsules, so it wouldn't be much of a problem for them to go without a meal.

    The Gym Leader was waiting outside, passing him a breakfast bar of some kind as his stepped out. One worry covered, at least. "I'll drive you there today."

    "Thanks..." He wiped his eyes with a yawn. There were still some tears and tiredness in them.

    "How'd you sleep?"

    "I got to sleep at least," he remarked. "I wish I could've slept longer, but the medicine worked. Thank you."

    A nod. "You can have the day off training if you want."

    Nori thought about it. "Maybe training will help take my mind off things."

    "Offer stands."

    ---​

    Nori thought that school would be the respite he needed from the chaos of the last few days he was conscious for. How wrong he was.

    It felt as if there was something in the air. He wasn't sure what it was, to the point of passing it off as just his imagination. Until he went to the video production room at lunch.

    As he opened the door, the hostility burst towards him like a blast of hot air from a stove. Beau, Gino, and Lorant all simultaneously fired glares at him. Arumi uncomfortably glanced away, and Yuki...he wasn't sure how to describe his wide-eyed look.

    "What?" he asked, tentatively stepping inside.

    "You should know what," Beau haughtily snorted.

    "No?"

    "The stunt you pulled on Wednesday. What else?"

    He shuddered. "Don't tell me you're mad at me..." Were his friends going to turn on him to? No, no. He did not need this right now.

    "As a matter of fact," said Gino, narrowing his gaze. "We are."

    "You are an embarrassment to our club," added Beau.

    His worst fears realized. Suddenly, Yuki was out of his chair. The other boy desperately grabbed onto Nori's shoulders. He looked him square in the eye. "It was just a prank, right?"

    "Why would I lie about that?"

    "Please, tell me you were lying, Nori!"

    He shook his head. "Then I would be lying."

    Yuki let go, his arms slowly falling to his side. "Nori..." he sniveled in disbelief.

    Gino stood, and pointed to the door. "Leave."

    "What?!"

    "We don't want you here today." Gino, Beau, and Lorant continued to glower at him. "Depending on things, we might not want you here at all moving forward."

    Not in the mood to argue, Nori sighed and did as they asked. He was telling the truth about this. He wasn't going to lie and say he was lying. That would make him feel even worse!

    As he did so, Gino spoke up once more. "Don't bother, you two."

    "Local Student Thinks He's the Boss of Me!" Arumi announced. As he left, Arumi was right in behind him. "Nor'!" she cheerfully greeted.

    He turned to face her. He assumed the other was Yuki, but there was no sign of him. Yet Arumi was grinning ear to ear. Her hands were behind her back, and she was stifling some giggles.

    "Guess what?" she asked, standing on the tips of her toes. "You got Billy Ordride fired again!"

    That was right. That moron was the MC. But, he couldn't find it in him to smile about that.

    The reporter in-training sighed. "Sorry, I know."

    "How's the news?" he asked.

    "it's bad. I guess you already know that."

    "No one believes me."

    "You've made a few doubters, but..." She shuffled her feet.

    "Not enough."

    There were bound to be people who believed him about Kallisto. That's just how it worked. There was no such thing as a universal opinion in the world, especially across different cultures. But the important thing was, they were a minority, as far as people who mattered were concerned.

    "Were you there?" he asked, suspecting she was. A nod in reply. "What happened after I left?" he inquired with dread.

    "He played it off and finished his speech. He talked a little about you. He said you were always bold and brash, with a stubborn streak, but ultimately a free spirit with a ton of potential that just needs a bit of tempering. He said he was proud to be training with you, hopes that you grow to greater heights someday, and not to hold your actions against you."

    "But they still are."

    "Yeah."

    It was good to know Kallisto didn't completely destroy him. This was still his fault, though. If he admitted what he'd done instead of trying to twist it, his reputation wouldn't have taken this bad a hit. And he was sure Kallisto's would be just fine!

    "Sorry. Wish I could do more."

    "Thanks."

    She went back inside, leaving Nori to slump against the nearest locker. He fended off his sorrow with anger. He knew what he was going to do the moment he got back to the Gym.

    ---​

    The head Gym Trainer was actually waiting for him in the lobby. Kallisto flashed an empty look, and Nori coldly glared.

    "I want to talk to you," he said.

    "I wanted to talk too." The head Gym Trainer motioned to follow. "Let's go upstairs so we don't make a scene."

    No problem with Nori. They went to the trainer's lounge, not speaking or looking at each other along the way. Neither sat down.

    "I cannot apologize enough for what happened, Nori," Kallisto said, lowering his head. "I've damage controlled as best I could for you. What's done is done, right?"

    The boy gave the facts, deadpan. "You chased me when I didn't want you to, and when I fell, you ran instead of trying to help me."

    He nodded. "I should've helped."

    "But you didn't."

    "I know." He slumped further, looking down at the floor. His limbs were limp, and for a moment, Nori though the head Gym Trainer would fall to his knees. He peered up, opening his mouth to say more, but Nori cut in.

    "It says a lot that you ran. It says even more you lied about what happened." He stared menacingly at Kallisto. "And don't think I didn't see you were afraid of the truth coming out."

    "If you'll let me explain?" Nori put his hands on his hips, but didn't stop him. "I thought it would be better for everyone if I lied."

    Nori had been keeping his cool up until this point, internally impressed with himself. But that set him off. "How is it better?!"

    "For us, it's obvious." He straightened his posture, although continued to not make eye contact. "For you, if people knew what happened, they'd think badly of you."

    "They think bad of me anyway!" he snapped, causing Kallisto to turn away. "Why didn't you come clean when I told the truth?! You keep lying and lying about everything you've done to me! All the stupid lies! They add up, you know!" After a few moments, he added the big part. "My reputation's being destroyed thanks to you!"

    "You destroyed your own reputation, you arrogant airhead."

    Nori turned and threw a punch. Tono was nowhere near him, but his haughty expression and pushing up his glasses nearly made the boy walk over to do it for real.

    "Tono, you're not helping," Kallisto sternly told him.

    "I apologize for eavesdropping and intervening," Tono said. "I could not help myself."

    "Who asked for your opinion?" Nori fired back.

    "This is not my opinion, these are facts." The glasses-wearing teen shook his head in derision. "If you had not melodramatically interrupted Kallisto's ceremony, your reputation would have been fine. Instead, you had to confront him publicly and make a massive viral video making spectacle of your grievances."

    "Well, duh!" he dismissed. "How else was I supposed to get the message out?"

    Surprisingly, he and Kallisto were in agreement about the nerd's sudden intrusion. "Tono, could you not?" he asked, a little more firmly than before.

    "I feel compelled," he defended. "Because he refuses to acknowledge this as the accident it was. He is blaming you, when he should be looking in a mirror. And I have figured him out."

    Nori seethed, but Kallisto shrugged and motioned for him to speak. What the hell did Tono know about him?

    "This is not a matter of justice for you anymore. You just want to see Kallisto go down in flames, do you not?" He walked up and looked him dead in the eye, as if daring him to hit him. "You want to see his life destroyed simply so you can feel a little better about your own miserable self. You are akin to those foolish champions of justice on the internet."

    At once, Nori shoved Tono away. He went flying back into the one-seater chair, smoothly and conceitedly sitting down in it. "Shut up!" he screamed, resisting the urge to rush him.

    "Do you want to know why I can say those things with truth?" he said, resting an arm down with a predatory grin. "You have chosen to make a career out of reforming Pokemon. These Pokemon have been ostracized by society for their behavior, yet you are one who chooses to believe in them. You believe they are troubled, have made mistakes, or just need someone to understand them. Even I can admit that is admirable."

    Nori took pause. What does that have to do with anything?! And what was with the praise all of a sudden?

    "And yet, you cannot believe that Kallisto made an honest mistake. You cannot forgive him, blinded by the bias of being personally wronged and your own twisted assumptions. And so you refuse to forgive him. You believe amends would have to come in the form of throwing everything he has away. There is not a person alive who would acquiesce to such a demand, and do not lie - you would not if someone you wronged asked that of you either. You only see things from your own point of view." Tono stood, resting his chin on the back on his hand. "That is why you truly are a self-centered egoist."

    That was...no! He considered others' points of view! He just didn't see an excuse for it this time! Kallisto was selfish! And yes he wronged him, so of course he'd be angry! Just like a lot were mad at the Demon...but she's a Pokemon and he's a human!

    Kallisto turned to him, the discomfort palpable. "Do you have anything to say?" he asked.

    He wanted to! But he couldn't think of anything Tono wouldn't just throw back! Yes, he did want to help Pokemon that made mistakes! But this was different! Somehow! It had to be different!

    The head Gym Trainer frowned. "As much as I didn't prefer him to intrude, Tono's raised some points. And you can't say anything in your defense."

    "You truly are a fool, like my old bully."

    "You know," said Kallisto, his usual confidence returned. "While I'm not Ceutholic, I know they have a saying. To err is human, to forgive is divine."

    Okay, that was something Nori could argue against. "Don't others say not to forgive the unrepentent?" He barely cared for religion anyway.

    Tono rolled his eyes at that. Kallisto could only deflate and sigh. "I guess if you see it that way, it can't be helped." He shook his head. "But you know, Nori? I never hated you. Not once. In fact, I really did want to be friends with you. You've seen what a lot of people think of me. Sometimes I wonder if I really am on the right path, if I'm really doing the right things, but few are willing to tell me when I'm wrong."

    Well yes, there was a lot of wrong he was doing, but he wasn't listening whenever he called him out on it!

    The heterochromic teen turned back. "No offense to you, Tono. But even you're not the voice of reason I'm looking for sometimes."

    "None taken."

    "But I thought you might be, and boy I was ever on the nose about that. You taught me that you can't ask too much of others, no matter what you've done for them before or what you plan to do to make it up. I was wrong, so I'll try to make it right."

    The boy could only glare. "Nothing you would do would make things right with me. Not anymore."

    "I thought you'd say that," Kallisto said. "And, I guess with that, you also taught me that you can't ever take back some things. Sometimes you can permanently burn a bridge. I already know your answer to this, and it's clear we can't ever be friends. So that makes us rivals."

    "We're enemies!"

    He shrugged. "If that's how you want to see it." The head Gym Trainer made to leave with his best friend. As he was passing by, he stopped and turned his head. "Well, I've said what I wanted to. Just...think about what I said, okay? I know you might not think it, it's not too late to go back."

    "You left me to die..." the boy growled. "There's no going back from that! In fact, I bet you wanted me dead, didn't you?"

    The two were nearly out the door, only for Tono to turn around. "Enough of your idiocy!" he screamed. "Why in the world would Kallisto want you dead? You are nothing. Irrelevant. You are no threat to him. A bug to be squashed if you prove annoying, as you were yesterday. As worthless as a squirming centipede."

    "What's it to you!?"

    "I see someone disparaging my friend, I am obligated to intervene. And I know you can agree. From hearing of that Lux friend of yours, you would never turn your back on a friend."

    "Don't talk about my friend!" he fired back.

    "Hypocrite. So. Nori Carino." Once more, Tono gave a toothless smile. His lips were pursed thin, like a knife ready to thrust into the chest. "Answer me this, truthfully. If by some hypothetical, you happened to make a mistake with the same gravitas as Kallisto, would you of your own volition give everything up in shame? Do you truly believe that to be penance?"

    Nori could only stutter.

    "Your expression says it all." A shake of the head. "If you would not do so, you had better respect Kallisto's own decision. Even if you disagree with it."

    Kallisto slowly nodded. "Thank you, Tono," he said, patting his friend on the shoulder. He gave a somber look. "Nori, I know things are never going to be the same between us. I'm going to try to be a better person from now on. I hope you can do the same." With this, the two did leave.

    Nori fell to his knees after they left. He hated this. He hated that he couldn't argue against that. He knew Tono was just trying to get in his head, but what he was saying made sense! And maybe this really was just one big accident. Maybe Kallisto could change. Did he really deserve another chance? No matter what he'd done in the past?

    ---​

    The two Gym Trainers made their way back downstairs. "That was really well thought out, Tono," he complimented. He'd raised a few brilliant points, some of which Kallisto himself never would've even considered - at least, not enough to speak of them outwardly. "You're really starting to come into your own."

    "I am inspired by the best, and am doing it for the best." He stood tall and proud. Kallisto chuckled, blushing lightly at the praise. "I will point out one thing that Nori Carino was correct in saying, that said. All of this could have been avoided. Particularly if you had told the truth to begin with."

    Kallisto perked up. "I know," he agreed. Tono truly was his most loyal and best friend. He mentioned wanting someone to be his voice of reason? Tono stood up and did just that. "Like I said, I'll just have to become a better person."

    That said, he never imagined this conversation going that well. He was hoping Nori would listen for once. Even if his points were dismissed, it'd be a chance for the aspiring official to vent. He was initially skeptical about Tono's intrusion, but it ended up being for the best. The way he said things and how he shut down any arguments Nori could've made were simply marvelous. Alas, sometimes the truth can be harsh and hard to accept.

    "I noticed you had little reaction towards his reputation being destroyed," his best friend made a sudden remark. "You are fine with it, are you not?"

    Kallisto made a teasing remark in reply. "You're one to talk."

    "I am guilty, your honor," he said, imitating a voice from a game. "It was inevitable once that video started making the rounds, no matter how much damage control you did on his behalf. But it could not have happened to one who deserved it more."

    True. Nori did deserve what he got. He did his best to make sure it wasn't irreparable, however. He was a firm believer that anyone could change, and that everyone deserved another chance.

    "You must also have known he would dig his own grave."

    With this, the head Gym Trainer smirked. "I won't confirm or deny that."

    The possibility had occurred. That said, he would never admit it to anyone, but Nori was right about one thing. When he appeared from nowhere and started spouting off, Kallisto thought it was all over. He nearly broke out into thankful prayer when few people believed him. The most that came of it was Steven questioning him after. His old friend remained skeptical, but so far, nothing came of it.

    "That said, calling him out in private is not enough for my tastes."

    Kallisto craned his neck. "You mean you're going to challenge him to a battle?"

    "Yes. This exhibition day will be that fraud's reckoning."

    That's right, Tono did mention on Eddie's birthday that he wanted to do that. This was something Kallisto was very interested in. It took every trick Nori had to beat Eddie, and though he was considered stronger than Tono, the gap between them was small. His best friend did falter when it came to raw power, but he made up for it by being a master tactician. Kallisto was privy to that firsthand.

    Going back to Nori himself. Until yesterday, Kallisto thought the boy was just a free spirit. But no. He was crazy! Who in their right mind does things like practice during a typhoon and crash government-sponsored ceremonies? Kallisto had a sinking feeling that this wasn't over, and there was no telling what Nori was going to do next. He was a loose cannon. And someone who, if he didn't learn, was ultimately going to end up alienating everyone around him with his actions.

    Kallisto thought back to yesterday. Mr. Jenny's words echoed in his mind. Valor means the strength to do what you must, even if it is not what you want. There were many possibilities in his mind.

    What could he do? What did he have to do? For Nori's sake?

    ---​

    Nori, without a word to anyone, decided to take Volkner up on the offer to have the day off after all. He needed time to process everything that had just been thrown at him.

    Kallisto was wrong. He was 100% wrong to do what he did. So then, why? Why couldn't he argue about it? Were they just better at arguing than him? Or, did they have real points? Maybe, Kallisto was completely right? No! There were too many things wrong with that! Volkner said it was wrong. The sea dog said it was wrong! Even if everyone else said Nori was wrong! But...what if the people supporting him were wrong? What then?

    There was an abrupt pounding at his room's door. The boy yelped and froze up. Should he answer it? What if it was one of them?

    "Nori? Ya in there?"

    Betsy-Ann? Yes, that was right. She had good reason to dislike Kallisto. When other girls were harassing her for asking him out, he did nothing. He could've stopped it, yet he didn't. Why? Could it be for the same reason Kallisto didn't save him?

    He stood and carefully opened the door. He peeked outside. It was just her, no one else.

    "Mind if I step in?"

    He nodded, allowing her to enter. The rural medic took a look around.

    "Nice clean room ya got," she remarked, with a nod of approval. Again, Nori wondered? What was so strange about having a clean room? "Cozy, too."

    Nori sat down on his bed. To his surprise, Betsy-Ann joined him. If she wasn't older or his trusted friend, he'd probably get nervous right about now. As it was, he simply relaxed.

    "Feelin' any better?" she asked.

    He could only sigh. "It's somehow got worse..."

    Betsy-Ann quietly nodded. Without saying anything, she comfortingly wrapped her arms around him. Nori sighed, resting his head on her shoulder.

    "Him and his friend," he said, trying to fight off the bulk of his tears, "They said a lot of things just now. I couldn't argue with their points, and he's still trying to make peace after what happened."

    The medic gently rubbed his back. Nori closed his eyes. "Don't take what they says too hard. I reckon they was jus' tryin' to get to ya."

    Kallisto was wrong about some of the things he said and did. Right? Even if him and Tono had some real points. Yet it didn't change the fact it felt wrong to simply accept it and let go. Was that his instincts talking? Or was he being too stubborn?

    As Betsy-Ann cradled him much like a mother or older sister might, she added, "Kinds like that'll piss on you and say it's rainin'."

    "Maybe..." he sniffed.

    Maybe Tono really was just trying to get in his head. Maybe the pressure was finally getting to him. Tell a half-truth, give a trick of confidence. Something that could convincingly sway someone. That was it, right? Right? But if it was that, why wasn't his self-doubt going away?!

    "Oh, Nori..." his friend said, suddenly holding him tighter. "So glad yer still with us. I thought you was dead. I bawled like a baby when I heard ya went missin'..." She was actually beginning to cry now.

    "O-oh," he stammered, finally returning the hug. "I...I'm sorry for making you worry." He was so caught up in everything, it never occurred to him that there were people here who were going to take his disappearance hard.

    "Always thinkin'a others." She patted his head. "Yer real kind."

    He exhaled, relaxing into her. "I just don't know anymore," he mumbled. "What am I going to do? What can I do about him?" If he did nothing, Kallisto and his friends were going to keep walking over him.

    "Don't stress it none. We'll think'a somethin'." She paused, letting out a sigh of her own. "I jus'. Dunno what anymore, either. But I'll be by yer side if the creek don't rise."

    It was a comforting sentiment. Maybe she could figure something out.

    ##########​

    May 8th, 2015​

    The next morning, Nori was surprised to find Volkner waiting for him in the trainer's lounge when he went in to eat. The thick scent of breakfast was ripe in the air.

    "Hey," the Gym Leader said, passing him a plate which had a bacon and egg bagel on it. "Know yesterday was rough."

    "Uh, did you make this?" the boy asked. It smelled fresh, not like something heated up.

    The blond man awkwardly nodded. "Thought it'd be, y'know..." He shook his head at himself, too bashful to find the words.

    "Well, thank you," Nori said with a small bow. He sat down and had a bite. "Mm. It's really good. Thanks."

    "Yeah, don't sweat it," Volkner quickly moved to change the subject. "You...want the day off school?"

    Nori sat back in the chair. He got up to fetch himself a glass of fruit juice. As he was doing so, he said, "I'd better go. It's Friday."

    "Officials' class, right." The Gym Leader understood at once.

    At least he could talk about this with Ms. Kakoku. She was an official, right? So she would have her own opinion about the matter, and maybe could tell him more about his situation. Best case, she could do something to help.

    Volkner had some more news for him. "Tono wants to battle you on the 20th. One-on-one."

    Nori looked up from his breakfast. "Okay. Happy to."

    "I thought you would be."

    He couldn't be too excited about this. The boy was looking forward to the chance to shut that nerd's mouth, but in his current state of mind, he couldn't find it in him to do anything beyond vaguely smile. "Will you help me train for it?"

    The Gym Leader smirked. "Just ask." He made to leave, adding one more thing before walking out the door. "I'll drive you again today."

    A nod. "Thank you."

    ---​

    Nori got to school early, heading straight to the unfurnished room. He had half an hour to himself, quiet save for the lull murmurs of his peers outside. He didn't want to be around them right now, maybe not ever again. It was clear he was no longer the Demon Tamer, Nori Carino. Instead, he was that crazy maniac who hated Kallisto Keravnos and interrupted his big ceremony. Most didn't outwardly show their disdain like the news club did, but there were whispers whenever he walked by people.

    Well, it was fine. Screw them. All he needed were those who cared about him. Right? He let Pachi out to play and explore as he studied, waiting for Ms. Kakoku to show up. Pokemon weren't allowed out of their balls inside except in designated areas, but he didn't care. Wasn't like he had an Onix or Gyarados out.

    Nori sat at the table as Pachi got his fill of the old dusty room. Eventually, the squirrel hopped up for pettings which Nori took comfort in. At least, at worst, he always had his Pokemon. His Pokemon sat in the window afterward, enjoying watching the playing teenagers and Pokemon outside.

    The bell rang, and it rang again. There was no sign of his teacher. Nori let Pachi stay out for as long as possible. The minutes ticked by. Nori wondered if she was coming at all. The boy finished all the homework he could. Even Pachi eventually got bored and simply dozed on the table.

    Only at 9:20 did the door finally swing open. Nori quickly recalled the squirrel, and nearly dropped the Poke Ball as the door slammed. He squeezed the capsule tight in his palm as someone came stomping up the stairs. This was going to get ugly.

    "What is the matter with you?!" Rin Kakoku screamed, like a general talking down to a lowly cadet.

    "I–"

    "I don't want to hear your excuses! You have a real attitude problem!" she barked. "You rudely interrupt a sacred ceremony honoring Kallisto Keravnos, you spread all those lies about him, and you don't admit to it!"

    "I'm–"

    "Shut your mouth!" she said, nearly swatting him on the lips. Nori dodged by reflex. "You need to have more respect for those above you! You're going to have bosses you hate, and that attitude of yours isn't going to fly with them! Understood?"

    "I–"

    "Yes or no?"

    "Screw you!" he said, getting to his feet. She wasn't even letting him get a word in!

    "You're on thin ice!" she threateningly warned. "You're damn lucky Kallisto is a forgiving person and insisted no charges be pressed against you, but that doesn't mean you're getting off scot-free in my book! This Sunday, you're making a public apology to him."

    "No!" He'd done one of those once already, he was NOT doing it again!

    "This isn't a choice."

    "Is too! You can't make me!"

    The woman threateningly advanced, once more to slap Nori upside the head. Adrenaline kicked in and he was able to block it. She nearly sprained his wrist with the sheer force of her blow, but Nori was able to back away. When she continued to move towards him, Nori dropped the Poke Ball at his feet.

    Pachi emerged sleepily, yet one look at the enraged official was all it took to understand the situation. He hopped to his feet and glared, screeching as electricity crackled from his hands and cheeks.

    "Are you threatening me with a Pokemon?!" the woman yelled.

    "Self-defense!" he argued. He realized too late she could probably hurt or even kill Pachi with her bare hands if she wanted. Or her gun. But he knew this was totally legal! "What's my problem? What's yours?!"

    "You need to learn some discipline!"

    "And you need to learn to shut up and listen to the other side!"

    "I don't give a shit!" Ms. Kakoku angrily said. "Ignorant remarks like that hold no weight!"

    "If you don't care, I don't either!" He flashed his middle finger.

    "That's it!" the woman said, and for a moment, Nori was worried he'd made a life-threatening mistake. He was about to reach for the Demon when the woman turned on her heels. "I am NOT teaching you, you arrogant brat!"

    "Wait, what?!"

    "Good luck finding someone else who will take you." Showing she was not above vulgarity, she flipped him off right back and stomped away. A few of the stairs cracked under her boots, and the room shook from her whipping open the door and kicking it shut behind her.

    And Nori was left in horror over what he'd just brought on. She was being unreasonable, sure. But did he just ruin everything for himself?!
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (sixth part)
    • May of Ordeals (sixth part)​
    May 8th, 2015​

    "Hey."

    Volkner was sitting on one of the padded seats in the lobby, rising from it as Nori walked through the door. The boy froze up.

    "I heard what happened," said the man as he approached.

    Nori had been dreading this conversation the entire day. His words came out in a quick burst, as he tried to hold back his panicked tears. "I know, I screwed up!" he admitted, not just to Volkner, but to everyone in the lobby. "I pissed off my Official teacher and she quit! I'm sor–"

    The Gym Leader interrupted. "Stop worrying. I'll be teaching you from now on." The blond man quickly raised a hand to his cheek, scratching it. "Uh, everything I can."

    "Wait, what?" Nori looked up at him. "You mean, I'm fine? I'm still going to be an official?"

    Volkner nodded. "As long as you work at it."

    Nori stood there processing this for several long seconds. Volkner stepped in? Volkner was going to make sure he was going to continue learning to be an official. The Gym Leader had saved him. He nearly latched onto Volkner, who stepped back in almost a panic. Still, Nori bowed his head incessantly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!" he cried.

    "Okay, just..." Volkner awkwardly shuffled away. "Enough, already..."

    He looked around. Everyone in the lobby, from the staff to a couple challengers had been watching that. "Oh, s-sorry," he stammered. The Gym Leader seemed even more embarrassed than he was, however. Nori moved towards the left hall to continue the conversation away from prying ears. Volkner followed, and in fact motioned to keep coming towards the back room.

    "If you need a private space, you can come here," the Gym Leader told him. Nori nearly tripped over his feet at this. Not even Kallisto or the security guards were allowed back here unless specifically invited. "I'll have a key cut for you later. Just don't lose it."

    At a loss for words, Nori could only nod.

    Volkner's Ambipom was right there as they entered. The purple monkey waved to them with its hands and tails as they walked by into Volkner's office. It was a cozy, yet barren room. It had a single dark green filing cabinet, a small table at the back, and a large desk in the center. At the back was a sink, next to a coffee machine and a printer. There were four chairs in the room: a commemorative folding chair of the 1998 Sinnoh League that was still in its original bag, a simple padded seat at the table, and two comfy swivel chairs on either side of the desk.

    They sat down. Papers were haphazardly strewn about, almost completely burying the man's laptop. Also present was a coffee mug with various pens, pencils, and highlighters in it, an electric pencil sharpener, and a photo with what looked like the man's parents, his sister with her husband, and his nephew.

    "Just need you to sign this," the man said, passing him a clipboard.

    "Okay," he agreed, giving it a look over before doing so. He knew a bit of legalese. This was a paper acknowledging that Rin Kakoku had quit, and that from now on Volkner Denzi would be responsible for all of his training. "Um, why are you doing this? Isn't it going to be tons of work for you?"

    "I'm not losing to Flint," the man answered immediately. As he was pouring himself a cup of coffee, he added, "Plus uh, you've...you know, kinda grown on me. I guess."

    Nori quickly rearranged the man's desk. Nothing major, simply putting some of the papers together to clear some space for the mug. The man gave him a nod as he put his coffee down. "If you didn't step in..." Nori trailed off.

    "There was never anything to worry about," Volkner said, leaning back. "They were just going to assign you a new one."

    Did he hear that right? Volkner didn't have to teach him? "So...you're doing this because you want to?" he asked, leaning in.

    He gazed up at the Gym Leader expectantly. The man turned away. Nori stared at him with wide-eyes for five seconds.

    "Fine!" he admitted. "Yeah, I'm with you all the way! Is that what you wanted to hear?"

    "Yes, I'm happy to hear that." He got the feeling, but hearing it from the Gym Leader brought him a warm smile. The embarrassed Gym Leader could only shake his head.

    "Well, getting to it," Nori said. He didn't intend to fluster him there. "There's a lot to learn."

    "I'm condensing it."

    "Wait, you can do that?!"

    "If you're up for learning a lot in a short period."

    Nori nodded. "I am." He was sure Volkner would cut out the unimportant stuff too, which would help.

    "Just what I was hoping you'd say." The Gym Leader grinned. "You'll have to do that with your regular classes once you're working anyway, so it'll be a good start."

    He was wondering about that. He didn't expect that he'd be able to just stop school once he was a Pokemon Rehabilitator, but was wondering how it would work with him having a job with the Officials. Having shorter classes that taught more certainly worked!

    "Funny," Nori decided to speak up about something. "She calls you a blond rat. Ms. Kakoku, that is."

    Volkner sat tall. "My outfits are fashioned after a Raichu." Nori figured. Volkner tended to wear a lot of orange with white. Like the outfit the Gym Leader wore the first time they met, or the orange t-shirt with a white circle on it with brownish jeans he currently had on. "First Pokemon I had. Uh, as a Pichu."

    "Why not a Luxray?" Nori suggested. "To go with your ace?"

    "Thought about it."

    "Yellow and blue go well together. Matches your hair, I mean. Those colors work well!"

    "Hm." Volkner got up, looking himself in the mirror over the sink, as if visualizing it. "Just might go with it if I change the wardrobe."

    ---​

    As Nori left, he found himself overwhelmed by melancholic joy. He really dodged a bullet today. This was all his fault, he'd driven Ms. Kakoku away. But what was he supposed to do? Why should he have to apologize to Kallisto? It should be the other way around if anything! Or nothing, because Kallisto had already dropped it. Right? No, he didn't know anymore. All he knew was he would've felt awful if he'd gone along with it, but refusing was almost even worse.

    His breath was shaky as his eyes oozed tears. He'd nearly lost everything, and would've if Volkner hadn't saved him. He had still been doubting the Gym Leader at times, and now he felt bad about doing so. Volkner truly meant everything he said last month. He really did have his back, no matter how bad things were before.

    The question lingered in Nori's mind. What now? And, what if more people were expecting him to beg forgiveness from Kallisto? He doubted the head Gym Trainer would do anything about it! Or, maybe he would. It wouldn't hurt to ask, right?

    He peeked into the arena from the balcony. Tono and Eddie were talking with a sulking Ollie, but Kallisto wasn't with them. He went upstairs and checked the trainer's lounge. Not there, either. As he was wandering the hallways trying to figure out where he could be, the head Gym Trainer came out of the bathroom.

    "Oh. Hey, Nori."

    "Hey uh, Kallisto?" he asked. "Did um, you hear anything about me having to make a public apology to you?"

    He scratched his head. "No, why?"

    "Say, if my Official teacher said I'd have to."

    He nodded. "Well, I'll do my best to make sure it goes smoothly."

    Exactly the response Nori was expecting. He would've just let it happen. "If it happened, could you stop it for me?" he asked. He briefly glanced back, thinking he heard footsteps, but there was no one there. "We already kind of sorted it out ourselves." As much as they could, anyway.

    The head Gym Trainer shook his head. "Sometimes, it's best to do these things in public. I wouldn't ask this of you, but if someone else is, you probably should."

    "I see," he said, lightly closing his eyes. "Well, that was all hypothetical anyway."

    Kallisto sighed in exasperation. "Nori, if your teacher really is asking this of you, it's best that you listen. The wisdom of those above you can do you a lot of good.

    He shrugged. May as well tell him. "She did, but it doesn't matter anymore. She quit when I told her off and refused."

    "She what?!"

    "It's fine. The Officials already found me a much better teacher."

    Another, even more disappointed sigh. "If you keep going how you are, you're going to make that teacher quit too. And then what? You'll have no one left to teach you, and no one who wants to work with you."

    "I doubt that." Nori stretched his wrist. It still ached from where he was struck. "Well, I was just wondering what you'd do and if you knew."

    The head Gym Trainer sighed. "Some things are for the better, Nori. You might not like them, but you have to do them for your own good."

    The boy shrugged. "I didn't have to do this, and didn't like it either. And I'm good! Anyway, you should get going."

    "All right, we'll leave it here. But think about what I told you."

    The thought had occurred. Maybe he could've made things better for himself with a public apology. But was it worth giving up his dignity? And the other question was, what if he was right? What if everyone else was wrong? Then he would be wrong to back down, wouldn't he? If he wouldn't, who would?

    Someone else rounded the corner from the opposite direction Kallisto had gone. Nori put his hands on his hips as Eddie walked up.

    "Yo."

    "How much did you hear?"

    "Not the whole thing, and don't care," he said. "Just wanted to tell you somethin'."

    The boy rolled his eyes. This should be good. What could this jerk possibly have to say to him that'd be worth listening to?

    "Wasn't cool with that shit they tried to pull on you," the dark-skinned teen claimed. "Even tried to help ya before I got stopped."

    Nori snapped. "So why didn't you say anything?!"

    An uncomfortable shrug. "Saw how that went for you." Eddie sighed. "Wasn't cool with them beating on you either. But you saw how good speaking out went for you."

    With this, the boy was forced to stop and consider. He studied Eddie carefully. It didn't seem from his body language that he was lying. So why would he bring this up now? Maybe if he was also being held back in some way by Kallisto...or was he saying he was too afraid to speak up? That seemed true of several people, really.

    "Take my advice," he said, the defeat in his tone lending credence to the latter theory. "Let this shit go, man. Kallisto's already done it. Quit while you're ahead."

    "I can't forgive him," Nori said. "But...I might back off. Maybe." Just because it felt so hopeless and a waste of time. Maybe forgetting everything really was the only way things were going to return to normal, but that wouldn't mean forgiving. He could clench his teeth for another year, and hopefully by then, Kallisto would be gone.

    Eddie nodded. "All right. Look after yourself."

    The sentiment was surprising, and a little comforting. Yet the boy could only plop down in the halls as Eddie took his leave. He'd been given an overwhelming mountain of things to think about today.

    ---​

    Kallisto went back downstairs into the arena, pushing Nori out of his mind for now. He could do so knowing that sooner or later, the future official was going to have to confront his own personality faults. As he figured and repeated ad nauseam, if Nori kept it up, he would continue alienating those around him until there was no one left.

    But there were more pressing concerns, ones he could deal with at the present time. "Sorry about that," he apologized to his fellow Gym Trainers for having to run to the restroom. "Nature came calling hard all of a sudden. I think something at lunch didn't agree with my stomach."

    Ollie smirked. "It's all good, man. Get the shits sometimes myself." They both chuckled slightly, to Tono's distaste. He let out a mighty yawn, rolling his right ankle as he did so.

    "Looks like you've picked up on your own."

    "Yeah, good now. Was just mad at myself." Ollie sighed, glancing at Tono. "Being real, know I had no chance of beating that guy, Haruna, and Tono all in a row."

    "Do you see now the folly of strictly training one type?" Tono asked, tapping a foot. "If you had a normal team, you would have been able to win."

    It was a close battle. As far as Kallisto was concerned, Ollie had done everything right. He was on point, not making a single mistake throughout the entire battle. But Adam didn't make any mistakes either. It was unfair for Tono to blame his loss on Ollie's choice of type.

    "We all have our goals as trainers," Kallisto pointed out to his best friend. "Like how you don't just want to be a great trainer, you also want to become a battle analyst. If Ollie wants to train only Electric types, that's his decision."

    "Thanks, Kallisto." Ollie gave a toothy grin. "Believe me! I know how bad things can go if you're fully monotype! But I still wanna do it anyway!"

    Tono sighed with disappointment. "I suppose that is how it is. I can respect your decision, at the very least."

    "Yeah. And at least I just barely lost to someone good!"

    The head Gym Trainer nodded. Ollie was rapidly maturing, which was a delight to see. One month ago, he would've cursed and threw a complete fit. He wished the same could be said about Nori. On the other hand, it was not wanting to be like Nori that was motivating Ollie to change.

    "As an idle curiosity," his best friend spoke up, now addressing him. "Have you fought Adam Brandon in the past?"

    He shook his head. "No, that was Preston." One of the previous Gym Trainers, who had stepped back four years ago to focus on his music career. "I did watch, though."

    "Yeah?" asked Ollie. "What'd you think of him? Back then and today?"

    Kallisto shrugged in response to this. "Some challengers stand out, others don't. I don't mean that in an insulting way, I just don't remember much." You meet so many people working at a Gym, most people only remember the ones that stand out for one reason or another. For example, the winners of the League tournament, people with colorful personalities, or someone who crushed you. "As for today, I think he hasn't improved a significant amount since five years ago."

    Tono considered this, rubbing his chin with a finger and thumb. "So he has a clear ceiling, is what you are saying?"

    "I wouldn't say that in the strict sense," he replied. "I think Adam's problem as a trainer is that he sticks to the tried and true too often. He's good at the fundamentals, but has trouble leaving his comfort zone. It's the ability to do that which separates the good trainers from the great trainers."

    "Roughly the same as my own thoughts on him, then." Tono nodded. "I am preparing for the possibility of facing either, but between him and Haruna Okazaki, who do you believe has the better chance of winning?"

    "Haruna," he answered immediately.

    "Yeah, Haruna," Ollie agreed.

    "Got to be her." Even Eddie concurred as he stepped back inside. "She's got that guy's number."

    "Simply checking."

    Despite Adam's skill as a trainer, there were two people in the battling club who he'd never been able to beat. One being Kallisto himself, and the other being Haruna Okazaki. It was never close whenever they fought. Naturally, there was always a chance of victory, but given past history, the odds favored Haruna here.

    "What about your next match?!" asked Ollie. "That Ryoma Homura guy?"

    Kallisto nodded. "Focus on your present opponent, and don't underestimate them."

    "Who do you take me for?" he dismissed. "I admit, I was not expecting to face the twelfth seeded trainer. Yet I am well aware that he was able to get this far for good reason. Rest assured I have no intention of taking this lightly."

    "Right." He was just checking; it was good to see his concerns were unfounded. One of Tono's own weaknesses as a trainer was not giving certain opponents enough credit. But Kallisto knew firsthand what his best friend was capable of when he fully prepared for a battle. As long as Tono did that, there was no doubt he'd become the team captain for the year.

    "I've never even heard of him before!" Ollie chimed in.

    "He is an eleventh year and an immigrant from Orre, happily adopted son of two mothers." Tono always made sure to do research on his opponents, whenever possible. "As you should know, battling is an integral part of that region's culture."

    "What little they can do with the state it's in," Kallisto remarked.

    "The result of letting a powerful God-Fragment run amok." Tono shook his head in derision over the disaster that rendered the region nigh-uninhabitable. "His parents worked in other fields, and moved here to give him a future. He has ironically chosen one of the most common paths in his home region."

    "So you're gonna crush him!" Ollie bellowed and laughed.

    Tono smiled, actually expressing respect for the foreign trainer. "I do not intend to hold back. But I look forward to seeing how he performs against me."

    ---​

    When he got his thoughts in order, Nori went directly to the medical room. He greeted Coach Norling and Betsy-Ann, asking if they could talk. The rural teen agreed, and they went into a quiet side room to have a chat.

    He explained what happened today to the rural teen, including the conversations he had with Kallisto and Eddie.

    "I admire you lots, Nori," she suddenly blurted as he finished. "You're unafraid to stick to your guns and face the music head-on."

    "But how do I know when I'm being too stubborn? Like, when should I back down?" That was his biggest worry. He knew you shouldn't change just to conform or because someone told you to, but when's the right time to do so?

    "Jus' gotta use your instinct. If somethin' stinks to high heaven, don't do it."

    "But what if I'm not sure about my instincts?"

    "That's when you talk to someone ya trust for another opinion." She smiled at him. "But about this all. I'm thinkin' ya need to get out more. Not jus' on yer own either, but with friends."

    Nori leaned against a wall. "That's probably true. But I don't have a lot of friends to get out with."

    She tilted her head. "I not a friend to you?"

    "Oh, well, I mean yes."

    "Anything wrong with me?"

    "Nope!" He clapped his hands. "You're perfect!" He wasn't expecting her to ask him to hang out. He'd considered asking her once or twice, but worried about her taking it the wrong way or not wanting to hang out with someone several years younger. Seems it was all unfounded. "What did you have in mind?"

    "Might could catch a flick. Been wantin' to see the new Crayon Shin-chan movie." The teen threw up her arms into a big shrug. "Sue me. Guilty pleasure 'a mine."

    "Oh, I've seen that series before." Mostly at friends when he still had ones his age. And his kindergarten class showed a couple episodes. "That sounds good to me."

    The teen with raggedy red hair grinned. "Looks about set, then. Just gotta figure out a date."

    "A d-date?!" She did mean a day for it, and not a date, right?

    "Sure." She playfully winked, not helping his unease any. "Jus' as friends, y'know?"

    ##########​

    May 10th, 2015​

    Nori decided to take Betsy-Ann's advice and get away from the Gym on Sunday. It would let him think about what he wanted to do about the Kallisto situation, and give him some much needed time to relax. Or so he thought.

    He walked to the park near Lux's old place, feeling nostalgic for his old friend. A new family had already moved in. He had been minding his own business for about twenty minutes, letting Pachi frolic in the grass with some other small Pokemon from around the neighborhood, when a group of Kallisto's fangirls chanced upon him. The situation quickly escalated into a battle, another ‘standard’ three-on-three.

    At least, it was more of an annoyance than anything. Pachi was more than happy to shock her Kricketune unconscious, impressing some of the little kids who were watching. One said he was cute and strong and awesome. He brought the little electric squirrel back and had the Demon handle the rest. Unleashing the feral beast within her soul, she wrecked the Hippopotas without breaking a sweat, and it was down to just a Pelipper.

    Pachi squealed, cheering on his fellow Pokemon as she avoided a Water Pulse. The Demon fired a glare in the squirrel's direction, and got hit by a Wing Attack while distracted.

    "Ha! Take that, creep!" the girl shouted.

    Nori huffed. The Demon took the attack no problem despite being knocked into a stumble. They had resorted to playing keep away. However, his Pokemon's focus was more on her comrade at the moment. She roared at Pachi. The white and blue Pokemon stepped back in fear.

    "Stop it and focus!" he told her. "Just finish this thing with Shock Wave." She nodded, focused, and tensed up.

    "Look out, Pelipper!" the fangirl warned, pointlessly. The Demon was still taking about a second too long to prepare the move, but it was otherwise a proper Shock Wave. The quick burst of electricity sent the pelican crashing to the ground. She pounced, pummeled a couple times, and stepped off her unconscious foe.

    "And that's that," the boy declared. The little kids cheered his victory. It helped his mood that they were firmly in his corner, if only due to the fangirls' abrasiveness.

    "Hold on, we're not finished yet!" his opponent protested, reaching for a fourth Poke Ball.

    Nori shook his head. "You're just wasting your time." He already won two on three, and both his Pokemon were still ready for more. Well, maybe. It seemed the Demon was done, if only due to boredom. The boy nodded, recalling her to punctuate his point.

    "Kallisto would do it!" one of her friends argued. "He'd let us use as many Pokemon as needed against him!"

    "Well, I'm not Kallisto!" he snapped. "The Demon could probably take every single one of all of your Pokemon, anyways! Be lucky I even agreed to your stupid uneven battle!" Pachi squealed an agreement as they left.

    He had a feeling this was going to continue no matter where he went in public - if not by Kallisto's fans, then by people who just wanted to test their mettle against him. His only chance at any relaxation was sadly, back at the Gym where he could find privacy.

    ---​

    When Nori returned, he went straight to the medical room. It was just Betsy-Ann inside.

    "Howdy, Nori."

    "And howdy to you, Betsy-Ann," Nori said. Being around her so often was causing him to occasionally slip back into his own light rural accent. "The coach not around?"

    "Ollie had a spill when boardin' round back. Gettin' checked out there."

    Nori nodded, chuckling lightly. "Accidents happen."

    "Ain't that the truth," she agreed. "That said, I wasn't expectin' ya back till late. Thought you was settin' a spell away from here."

    "One of Kallisto's fangirls made sure I couldn't."

    The overall-wearing teen rolled her eyes. "Folks like that ain't worth a hill of beans." Certainly true. "So how's about Tuesday afternoon after school look for getting out of here?"

    "I'm sure that works." He would have to get permission from Volkner, but he was a hundred percent sure the Gym Leader would agree. "Why not the weekend, though?"

    Betsy-Ann grinned. "I get out a bit early that day, so I'll pick ya up from yer school."

    "Sounds good."

    ##########​

    May 11th, 2015​

    Nori had also decided he needed more things to do on a regular basis that weren't at or around the Gym. To this end, he decided to chance heading back to the news club. He needed something different - a school club seemed obvious. And it definitely wasn't going to be the battling club given how many Kallisto fans there had to be there. Besides, he got enough battling at the Gym.

    Though the hostility around the school from last week had quieted down, Nori knew it hadn't vanished entirely. That contributed to him freezing up when he came to the door to the video production room. He placed a shaky hand on the knob. If they said no, he'd look elsewhere. He wanted to give them another chance, yet he was dreading their response.

    After ten seconds, he mustered the strength to turn the handle and gently push the door open a crack. He heard voices, so they were in there. With a deep breath, he pushed it further and peeked inside.

    At once, their heads turned to look at him. Gino, Beau, and Lorant all gave him cold glares. Yuki's eyes darted away, averting his gaze. Arumi's expression was blank.

    "Um, hey," he sheepishly asked. "Can I come in?"

    The silence was deafening, such that the ambiance in the halls, the ticking clocks, and even his own breathing sounded much louder than they were. Nori cursed his own stupidity. He should've known better. You never know unless you ask, but this one was too obvious.

    He gave them one final look. Gino grunted as Arumi nudged him. Well, more like drove the tip of her elbow into his gut. "Fine," he begrudgingly muttered.

    Nori blinked. He wasn't expecting them to listen to Arumi, but wasn't going to question this. He entered and shut the door behind him before they changed their minds.

    He mouthed thanks to Arumi, who flashed a thumbs up. Yuki's mouth hung open for a moment, before forming a huge smile. His eyes were nearly sparkling. He nodded at the boy close to his age. Yet as he was moving to sit, he noticed the continued leers from the others. He involuntarily slinked away. It was too good to be true after all. They may have let him back, but they still didn't want him here. At least there were still two people here welcoming of him. He ultimately sat down at the only side of the table that was open, across from Yuki.

    "So to catch you up on what we were just about to talk about," Gino stated, shuffling some papers. "The five of us are heading to Gama Senior on Friday afternoon to cover a battle there."

    The five of them. So was he not invited?! He opened his mouth, and said, "Why there?" He decided to be tactful, much as he wanted to yell at them on principle. He wasn't interested in going to see some high schoolers fight Pokemon anyway. He could see that at the Gym several times a week!

    "It's not just any battle, Nori!" Yuki chimed in. "It's the final battle of their annual tournament to crown the battling team's captain!"

    "It is an event our club attends each year, alongside the battling club," Beau added. "It is an opportunity to work with those above us on the professional filming, production, and coverage of a top level battle."

    "And my opportunity to see my sweet Sato again..." Arumi swooned.

    Beau snorted, very uncharacteristically of her typically refined attitude. "Take my advice. Do not bother him."

    The chocolate brown-haired teen turned to him. "What do you think, wingman? Nori?"

    Right, he agreed to help her with Sato. "Mmm." It was hard to say. He couldn't disagree that Arumi going up and acting like she was now would probably not go over well, but doing nothing and just hoping he noticed her wasn't the answer either. So a healthy medium. "You should give him his space, but do make sure you go see him."

    "Sounds great!" She flashed a grin and thumbs-up. The poofy-haired girl rolled her eyes.

    The boy leaned back in his seat. "Now that you mention it, I remember hearing the guys talk about something like this." Maybe it was earlier in the month. It was a haze now, between his apathy towards them and all that had happened since then.

    "Yup, the semifinals are today and tommorow!" Yuki declared, before leaning across the table. "Hey Nori, can you give us any insider info about this? Like, anything Tono's been doing?"

    Tono was involved? Of course! Maybe he should find a way to attend this, just to see him in a serious battle. Especially since his battles on exhibition days were distant memories the boy rarely paid attention to anyway. "Well, him and Ollie were training for it earlier in the month." Now that Yuki brought that up, his memory was jogged. It was funny how that worked sometimes. "Besides that, I don't know. We're not on good terms these days."

    "And whose fault is that?" Heads turned as Lorant suddenly spoke.

    "Kallisto's," Nori replied, plainly.

    Beau shook her head. "It is quite immature of you to blame him for your own shortcomings. This is precisely why we did not–"

    "Okay guys!" Arumi cut in. "Just take your chill pills! You don't need to sling mud everywhere. We're just here to talk news, that's all!"

    The poofy-haired teen relented. "Point taken, I suppose."

    "Okay." He nodded his thanks at Arumi, who returned the gesture. What had gotten into Beau all of a sudden, though? Probably something he couldn't just ask, so he continued. "What I can tell you is that Tono's been training all month for this battle, sometimes even putting off Gym duties. He's said he's never going to lose to Haruna."

    "A small wonder given their hatred for one another," Beau remarked.

    Arumi grinned. "Never underestimate a woman scorned!"

    "For once, I concur with you."

    Gino had a question. "What kind of training has he been doing? Do you know anything specific about his techniques?"

    "Like I said, I don't know. A lot of it's been away from the Gym, and I've only seen him doing basic drills when he's at the Gym." Come to think of it, it sort of reminded him of what Eddie was doing, just not as extreme. There's a chance it was for the same reason. "He might be training that way since I'm going to be battling him on the 20th."

    That got the club talking amongst themselves. Yuki chuckled.

    "That's kinda funny!"

    "How?" he asked.

    "I mean it's just ironic!" the strawberry blond boy declared. "You battled Kallisto in March, Eddie in April, and Tono in May! So in June, will you be battling Ollie?"

    That never occurred to him. "Maybe?" he said.

    Yuki giggled. "It's double ironic too, since you'd be battling them toughest to weakest!"

    Lorant sighed, speaking again. "He has it backwards."

    "It's just how things worked out. I didn't plan it like this." It didn't even occur to him he had (or would be having) major battles with one of the Gym Trainers three exhibition days in a row until Yuki pointed it out. "Besides, all the Gym Trainers are tough in their own way. Even Ollie."

    "A wise way of thinking," remarked Beau.

    "Don't underestimate anyone!" added Yuki.

    It was just the truth. Nori himself had made people regret taking him lightly several times - in battle and on the schoolyard - and he wasn't about to make the same mistake himself if he ended up having a serious battle with Ollie somewhere down the road.

    ---​

    Yuki caught up with him after lunch break ended and the others were on their way to class.

    "Hey, Nori?" the other boy asked, pressing all of his fingers together. "Um, I wanted to tell you that..." He wavered, before awkwardly bowing. "Well, that I'm sorry for how I treated you."

    Nori nodded. "It's okay."

    "Thanks," he said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I hope we can still be friends."

    "You mean we aren't?" He flashed a sly smirk.

    It took a while for his statement to register. When it did, Yuki beamed ear from ear. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that, Nori."

    "Thanks for the support, Yuki," he told him. "I know you were on my side the whole time, just afraid to show it."

    He laughed. "I was worried what they'd think." The sports-loving boy looked around. He leaned in close for a whisper. "But...did Kallisto really do those things to you?"

    Nori solemnly nodded. "He did," he rasped back.

    Yuki glanced aside. "I don't know what to think. I know he wouldn't do it on purpose, but..." He trailed off. Nori got why. Being so into battling, Kallisto was likely an idol for him. Yet he was his friend. The two were in conflict, and Yuki wasn't sure what to believe. "Will things work out between you two?" he asked.

    "Maybe," Nori admitted. He was starting to believe Kallisto may have just been making mistakes. Maybe he was worthy of a second chance. "We'll see. It all depends."

    "I'm hoping they do. I don't know what I'd do if..." Once more, the words eluded him. Yuki checked his watch. "Well, we should get going. I'll see you tommorow."

    "See you tomorrow, Yuki."

    They went their separate ways, both with melancholy smiles. Nori figured it was bittersweet for Yuki. But for him, it was more a restrained joy. He had another real friend here. Albeit a complicated one, due to the situation with Kallisto. And it did get him thinking. Maybe he could never like Kallisto after all he'd done. But maybe at least, he didn't have to hate him?

    That aside. More importantly regarding tomorrow, he was going to see that movie with Betsy-Ann. He could hardly wait. Maybe he could hang out with Yuki or Arumi sometime? Time would tell!
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (seventh part)
    • My birthday today. But posting this today anyway! Nearly at the end of the second act.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    May of Ordeals (seventh part)​
    May 12th, 2015​

    Nori wasted little time in hurrying out of school on Tuesday, being one of the first ones to leave the building. Volkner had given his okay, and he couldn't wait to get away from the Gym with someone for a short while! It was a cloudy, yet calm day. He saw Kallisto's white convertible there waiting for Eddie, quickly turning his attention away. He wasn't sure what kind of vehicle Betsy-Ann drove. Maybe he should've asked that ahead of time?

    "Over here, Nori!" she called out to him with a wave, thankfully making the task of finding her in the parking lot easy. The teen was leaning against a black pickup that had seen better days. There was rust along the bottom, and the paintjob looked like a bunch of Glameows and Scythers had been filing their nails on it. Nori could tell by the shape that it was an older model, not one of those modern ones with homogenized frames (as Volkner had complained about).

    "Betsy-Ann!" He hurried over. She was wearing light blue overalls that were distinctly feminine and a light pink shirt underneath. The jeans ended just below her knees, with her socks pulled up all the way. "Good to see you!"

    "Likewise," she said as she got inside. She reached over and opened the passenger side for him. "Your chariot awaits," she joked.

    Nori laughed as he climbed in. He'd been waiting for this since forever! He hadn't been able to spend time with a friend since with Lux way back in January - he hardly counted the trip in February. Betsy-Ann turned the key, and the engine sputtered before it roared to life.

    "So you drive a pickup?" he asked.

    "Hand-me-down from my daddy," she mumbled, with a hint of irritation. "Gets a lot of laughs from folks for bein' a stereotype."

    "Didn't mean anything from it," the boy meekly replied.

    "Know ya didn't," she assured him. From the sounds of it, a lot did. He recalled her words, that she was bullied by a cheerleader and her friends who thought Kallisto was hers. "But if I had my druthers, I'd be drivin' a sports car like my dolls I had as a kid. An' yeah, know it's a bit kidlike'a me to say that."

    Nori smiled at her. "I'm sure you'll be able to afford whatever you like once you're a real doctor. They make tons of money, after all."

    The teen laughed as she pulled out of the driveway. "Ya got that right."

    ---​

    Kallisto and his friends were sitting in his convertible in the usual spot, waiting for Eddie to get out of school. He had the top up, in case it started raining.

    The finals of the tournament to determine the captain of the battling team were now set, and it was what most people were expecting. Tono had defeated that hotshot eleventh-year yesterday, and Haruna Okazaki had earned her spot today. They had the rest of the week to prepare for a full six-on-six battle on Friday.

    "What's taking Eddie?" Ollie voiced. They had gotten out slightly early, but the bell had already sounded. He was usually right out, if not waiting for them when they pulled up.

    "Knowing that buffoon, he is probably being held after class for his failings." Tono derisively shook his head. "If he cannot even complete ninth grade, he has no hope of being the professional trainer he wishes to be."

    "I think that's a bit assumptive," Kallisto remarked. "Hankstein knows he has to pass high school. I'm sure he's putting in the effort." And given how hard he took failing last year, it was doubtful they would see a repeat of that this year. Even when training to face Nori on the 20th, he was using his spare time to study.

    "Then what do you suppose his reasons are?" Tono asked.

    He shrugged. "Who can say? Maybe he got caught up talking to someone, but that's just idle speculation. I'm sure he'll let us know."

    "Dude!" Ollie spoke up. "What if he fails ninth grade again?"

    "That will be on him," came the reply of Tono.

    Kallisto leaned back. "I'm sure we won't have to worry about that. He's learned and grown from last year. He can apply himself and work hard when he wants to, and I have no doubt he will."

    "And if he does not?" Tono asked in turn.

    The head Gym Trainer again shrugged. "I'm sure he won't let it stop him."

    His best friend harrumphed. "Does he expect to become the world's first uneducated Champion?"

    "Ain't that happened recently? Like with some kid?"

    "Ollie's right," remarked Kallisto. "There've been plenty of Champions who've had less of an education than Eddie has now."

    "You are overlooking two facts." Tono raised two fingers. "First, they did not choose to abandon their studies, and one in fact turned the position down to focus on them. Second, the times have changed. More is expected from Champions than ever before. You would not see an Akira Kasshu in this era."

    "Who's that?!" Ollie asked.

    "The Champion of Kanto from 1931-1934," explained Kallisto. "He grew up illiterate, but was a savant when it came to Pokemon and karate."

    "And he lost both his titles eventually, in both cases to someone far more intelligent than he could ever hope to be," his best friend dismissed.

    "Uh, sounds like you don't like the guy," Ollie said, scratching his butt.

    "Gee, you think? Do I sound like I like him, let alone respect him?" Tono snorted. "It was indicative of the times that he managed to become Champion, let alone hold onto the position for as long as he did."

    Kallisto turned back, shaking his head in disappointment. "I know where you're going with this. You're going to compare him to Nori, aren't you?"

    Tono chuckled deviously. "No, but I suppose I could see how you could make the comparison. They both favor brute strength over strategy."

    "It'd be unwise to underestimate someone based on that," Kallisto advised.

    "But of course. If you are concerned about my battle with Nori Carino, rest assured. I am considering every avenue."

    Kallisto hummed. He said that, and yet Tono was frequently tripped up by people pulling something unexpected. And Nori was someone who was difficult to prepare for, between that and the Demon's raw power.

    "Hey, speaking of, there he is!" Ollie pointed, and sure enough, it was Nori. "Where's he going?"

    Tono squinted as he walked over to a black pickup and got inside. "Is that not the vehicle belonging to that would-be doctor?"

    It was. Kallisto remembered her. Betsy-Ann Jostein. A girl who had confessed to him twice in the past, changed schools, and had by some twist of fate came to do a job shadow at the Gym. But what was Nori doing with her? Alarm bells went off in his mind.

    "Yo guys, sorry I'm late," came the voice of Eddie as he opened the rear door. "Held back by a teacher 'cause I failed a test. Uh? What you guys staring at?"

    "We need to do something about this." Kallisto grimly said.

    "About what?" He was in the dark.

    "We'll tell you on the way back." Tono and Ollie silently agreed as he fired up the engine. They needed to have a serious talk. This had to be handled with utmost care. And soon.

    ---​

    Betsy-Ann pulled into the theater's parking lot at around 3:40pm. There was heavy traffic on the way, although mercifully, the theater itself wasn't too busy.

    "Looks pretty empty," Nori remarked.

    "Part'a why I picked now," the teen explained. "After school on a weekday almost a month after release? Ain't a lot clamorin' to the coop now."

    "Really?" he pondered. "The movie's been out for like a month? Why didn't you see it sooner?"

    "Ain't in no rush. Meant avoidin' all the folks trippin' over each other, too."

    Nori nodded. "Oh, like waiting for everyone else to leave before you do? I do that sometimes."

    "Best yet, means I," and with this she let out a chuckle and corrected herself. "We can snag any seat in the house!"

    "Yup!"

    "So let's kick back and forget about all them," The teen stretched. "Today and now's about us havin' some R&R and laughs."

    Too true. He didn't want to think about Kallisto and his friends at the moment. He knew he would have to address what they'd brought up eventually. But right now, he wanted to push it all out of his mind and have some fun. He was having increasingly little of that these days...

    ---​

    The Gym Trainers wasted little time upon making it to the Gym. They'd briefed Eddie on what they witnessed along the way. To Kallisto's utter shock, he undersold it, reiterating as such as they pulled in.

    "Man, I still think you guys are overreacting."

    "And?" asked Kallisto. "What if we're not?" He saw how Betsy-Ann was looking at Nori. And he did not like the look in her eyes.

    "Don't get why you give a shit about this."

    "Do you really want to sit here and do nothing about it?!" he demanded. Kallisto had the power to make a difference. And sometimes, one person could make all the difference in the world.

    "His life to fuck up." Eddie shrugged. "That's if it is what you think."

    Kallisto grumbled. This was not something to be taking chances with. They needed to get to the bottom of this, no matter what. He could only pray to the gods that they weren't too late.

    They went inside and into the arena. Step one would be talking to Volkner about it. During morning hours on school days, he ran the Gym on his own. Anyone who already qualified could challenge the Gym at that time, but anyone who hadn't would have to wait until they returned. It was an inconvenience for prospective League-goers, and Kallisto had always wondered why Volkner hadn't hired at least one other Gym Trainer to work while the rest of them were in school.

    It appeared they caught him right after a battle. He was shaking hands and presenting a badge to an elderly woman in a loose purple shirt and cargo pants. Kallisto had never seen her come into the Gym, so it was a safe assumption this was her first time in one.

    "Thank you very much for the battle, Mr. Denzi," the woman said as she pocketed the Beacon Badge. She was standing next to a Wormadam wrapped in dirt and rocks. "This should surprise my grandson. Hopefully with this, he'll come to respect my Pokemon raising abilities..."

    "You never know, Mrs. Raison. I've seen my share of finicky kids." He appeared to briefly glance in their direction. Probably a fair assessment, Kallisto thought.

    "Oh, please. Call me Liv. You are my senior in Pokemon, after all."

    "In any case," he said, "You have a knack for this. Are you sure you haven't gone a journey before?"

    "Oh, the thought had crossed my mind. Yet back in the day, I only took care of them." She chuckled. "I suppose it's never too late to start, however."

    Volkner nodded. "Something to think of."

    "You never know unless you try." The elderly woman started out. "You take care now. All of you." She briefly acknowledged them before leaving the arena, her Wormadam hopping behind.

    When you work in a Gym, you meet people from all walks of life, all united by Pokemon training in some way. Kallisto had to admit however, if this woman decided to take Volkner's suggestion, she would be the first elderly novice trainer he'd seen planning a journey. It would make for an interesting tale, at least.

    The Gym Leader looked at them after she left. Kallisto wasted no time in approaching. "Volkner, there's something we need to speak to you about."

    "Something up?"

    Kallisto paused. How to word this? As he was thinking how to go about it, Ollie bounded in and thoughtlessly blurted it out.

    "We saw Nori getting in a truck with that hillbilly chick who works in the medical room!"

    As Kallisto was about to scold Ollie, Volkner spoke up. "Yes, I know," came his blunt reply. "They're seeing a movie. He asked if he could go."

    "And you said yes?" Kallisto asked.

    "Yes."

    "And you don't see anything problematic about it?"

    "No."

    The head Gym Trainer sighed in agitation. He couldn't believe this. How could Volkner not see the risk involved here?!

    "Stop worrying about it," said Volkner. "If something untoward happens, Nori will let us know. Start getting ready for the day." Over his protests, Volkner went to the back.

    "So there you have it," said Eddie, waving and holding out a palm. "No big deal, right? Just a couple friends hanging out."

    "And if they're not?" Kallisto wouldn't put it past that girl to make a move on Nori, simply out of spite. And given what happened, he didn't think Nori would turn her down either.

    "Like he said, the kid'll make it clear."

    Tono walked over. "Kallisto. Am I correct in assuming you wish to take action before anything can happen?"

    "I don't know," he said. If he was wrong and they did something, they'd be ruining an innocent person's life. But if he was right and they did nothing...Nori's life could end up ruined.

    "Might I suggest we wait and see what happens? The behavior of Nori Carino and her tomorrow should be telling. We might even be able to ask him directly, if we are cordial enough."

    "Oh yeah!" Ollie said. "If she does anything, he's gonna brag, isn't he?"

    Kallisto nodded. "That's probably the best we can do..." It was a highly delicate situation. There were too many red flags here to dismiss it as paranoia, but it might well be nothing. For now, they could only sit back and hope for the best...

    ---​

    True to Betsy-Ann's word, the theater only had around two dozen other people in it. They got seats that were just close enough that the entire screen was in their fields of view. She bought some popcorn, drinks, and snacks for them as they watched the film.

    Although not picky by any means, Nori couldn't get into eating the popcorn. It's not that it tasted bad, it just wasn't filling enough for his tastes. But the movie was fun, and the other snacks were good. They were hideously expensive, but Betsy-Ann didn't mind spending the money.

    The movie was over an hour and a half long. It involved cacti attacking a town in Mexico - not cactus Pokemon, but kaiju-sized killer cacti. It was bizarrely quirky, yet still amusing. Betsy-Ann was in stitches at several points during it.

    "That was a real laugh riot!" the teen said, still giggling to herself as they left the theater. "What'd you think, Nori?"

    "It was pretty funny," he said, although without too much enthusiasm. He shrugged. "It was enjoyable, just wasn't my style of humor."

    "No accountin' for taste I guess, but glad ya still liked it."

    "Yup! I just enjoyed spending time with a friend!" He suddenly felt the need to sigh. "Wish I could've done more of this with Lux when he was still around."

    "Know he's still a sore spot for ya, but no sense dwellin'." Rarely did a day go by where Nori still didn't think of his purple-haired friend. How would things have gone had his parents not moved, he wondered? At least, Betsy-Ann was helping to fill some of the void left behind when they were yanked from each others' lives. The medic in-training pulled out her phone. "Mmm, 'bout time for supper. Wanna grab somethin'?"

    Nori put up his hands. "No, no, I couldn't ask that," he said. "You've already spent a lot on me today, and well, I can't really do anything for you."

    "Yer already doin' plenty jus' by bein' here," she assured him. "'Sides, I don't mind one bit."

    "Really? Why not?"

    "Cause I like ya, that's why."

    "W-wait." Several things flashed through Nori's mind all at once. "Y-you don't mean you like me that way, do you?" They were so far apart in age!

    "Sorry, meant as friends." Betsy-Ann laughed at herself. "Almost like a l'il brother to me, ya know?"

    "Really?" he asked. "I kinda thought of you as a big sister sometimes. At least, I assume it's what it's like having one."

    "So it's settled, otouto-chan." She giggled.

    It was a joke, but one Nori cringed at. He was pretty sure she wasn't technically using that right anyway.

    "So Mick Ds work for you?" Betsy-Ann asked, unlocking the truck.

    "Sure." Despite how ubiquitous the chain was worldwide, he'd never had a chance to try it before. And although kids loved to make jokes about what the D stood for, it had to be good if it spread globally.

    ---​

    "Hitmonlee, finish it with High Jump Kick!" screamed the prospective challenger at the top of his lungs, voice breaking as he did so. He growled at his squeak, slapping his cheeks to pep himself up. An older teenager named Rafael, wearing loose clothing and a headband. He was a prospective Fighting type expert, so it was only natural to allow their own resident strict type expert to have this battle.

    The brown Pokemon with cream-colored legs leaped into the air. The Fighting-type came down, kneecap aimed directly for his foe.

    Ollie Gooch laughed it off. He grinned at his electrical Graveler. "Finish yourself! Explosion!"

    Something he liked doing whenever his Pokemon who could were weak. Not that it was a bad strategy, of course. Compared to the usual members of its species, Ollie's was a slate gray with clamp-like hands, with light blue gems and dravite sticking out of its body - the latter most notably giving it a set of eyebrows.

    As Hitmonlee's blow struck true on the glowing Pokemon, but it wasn't enough to stop the final attack. There was a scintillating flash of light and a loud pop that sounded like a firecracker going off. Rocks and electricity flew everywhere around the blast radius. Kallisto squinted. Eddie had to turn away, but Tono had simply put on his glasses' shade clip upon hearing the order.

    When the dust settled, the damage was laid bare. Graveler was naturally out, body charred black. Hitmonlee's legs were wobbly like jelly, yet he was still standing. Volkner waved a hand. "Graveler can't continue. Hitmonlee can."

    "Won't be able to for long! Lanturn, let's finish this!" He recalled his unconscious Pokemon and sent out the blue and yellow fish, who emerged with a merry flop.

    "Argh! Come on Hitmonlee!" roared Rafael, as the kicking Pokemon mostly struggled to stay upright. The hot-blooded encouragement was enough for the challenger's Pokemon to get it together.

    "Ridiculous," muttered Tono. "That black belt, that is. He's a tryhard."

    "Seems to be working, at least," Kallisto remarked. Yet even he had to know it was only a matter of time.

    "Hitmonlee against Lanturn. Begin." Volkner waved his hands, and the battle was on.

    Rafael grit his teeth. "Rolling Kick, Hitmonlee!"

    "Lanturn, SURF!"

    Yes, that would do it. The Fighting-type swept out a leg. It stretched and extended far, striking his target even from ten meters away. Yet this was never going to be enough. Lanturn endured the blow and summoned the wave. Rafael screamed ‘no!’ helplessly as it washed over his Pokemon, rendering the Hitmonlee unconscious.

    "Hitmonlee can't continue. Ollie wins."

    "Ha! Yes! I did it!" the chubby teenager taunted. "And that's why Electric's better than Fighting!"

    "Urgh! I am sorry Hitmonlee! I have failed you!" The black belt recalled him and bowed to Ollie. "You have incredible strength, Mr. Gooch."

    "You're damn right I do!" He put his hands on his hips and bellowed heartily.

    "It would not kill you to have a little modesty!" Tono yelled.

    Kallisto put a hand on his friend's shoulder, shaking his head. "Just let him have his moment." He'd been applying himself hard ever since Nori had beaten Eddie on the 20th, and especially since the incident at the birthday party. It was rare that Ollie won a battle so decisively, so it was his moment to enjoy. "You earned it, Gooch."

    "I must redouble my training, upon which I will return once more!" declared Rafael. "And at that time, I will emerge triumphant!"

    "So over the top," Eddie muttered in disgust. Him and Tono certainly thought he was a tryhard, but the head Gym Trainer figured he was simply flamboyant.

    "If you're going to go the route of a type expert," Volkner suddenly spoke up, "You may want to find someone to train under."

    "I have attempted that!" the black belt stated. "However, there is no expert of Fighting types in Sinnoh who is not retired! And I cannot afford to relocate!"

    "Think about it anyway."

    Once more, he bowed. "Until next we meet on the field of battle, then! UOOORGH!" He saluted them all and marched off.

    With this, the three of them got up and walked over to Ollie. Congratulations were in order.

    "Nice goin', man," Eddie was the first to do so.

    "Even I must admit, you have been improving greatly these past few weeks." That much was evident from his battles in the tournament.

    "It's like I told you all along," Kallisto said to him. "If you apply yourself and work hard, there's nothing you can't accomplish."

    He grinned. "Thanks, guys! Got the best mentors I have for this!" He flashed a thumbs-up in Volkner's direction. "I wanna be the very best Electric master there is!"

    "Like no one ever was?" cheekily asked Eddie.

    All of them but Tono laughed, Volkner even cracked a smirk. His best friend huffed in annoyance. "Will you stop with that?!" It had become something of a running joke for them ever since Steven had brought that song up when he was getting the Medal of Valor.

    The left side door opened, and Nori stepped inside. Kallisto immediately studied him. He was smiling, but there was a hidden discomfort beneath it.

    "Uh, hey guys," he awkwardly spoke up, shuffling his feet. It was as though something happened that he was very unsure of. Not a good sign, thought Kallisto.

    "Yo, Carino!" Ollie greeted, too caught up in his glee to read the mood.

    "Er," he said, ruffling his hair. Kallisto held his breath. "Who was that dramatic weirdo with the headband?"

    "A guy whose ass I kicked, that's who!"

    The boy blinked. "Oh. Nice job." He nodded at Ollie, who stood tall and proud at the praise.

    "So how was the movie?" the chubby teenager asked.

    Kallisto gasped, moreso when Eddie followed it up with, "Heard you went and saw one with that medic chick." That was not the right thing to say here!

    At once, the boy went on guard. "How did you know about that?" he coldly demanded. His gaze fell upon Volkner.

    "Sorry, they were asking," the Gym Leader apologized. "Saw you."

    "Well, it's none of their business." He glared at them. "But the movie was good."

    Kallisto stepped forward. "Nori, we were just concerned about a few–"

    "You mean you were, weren't you? Well, piss off, Kallisto! You're not worth my time!" He flipped him off with bravado and stormed right back out of the arena.

    "Well, damn!" Ollie exclaimed.

    Tono glared at the others. "Nice going, guys."

    Eddie waved a hand, as if asking them to talk to it. "Don't blame this shit on me."

    At the very least, that was telling. "Something's gotten into him," the head Gym Trainer remarked.

    "Something has always gotten into him," his best friend dismissed.

    "I don't know. This time seems different." A few days ago, Nori would've answered honestly, or at least not with this much hostility. "We'll need to watch this closely." He couldn't say for sure if it had been something Betsy-Ann said to him. Or worse, did to him.

    The Gym Leader sighed as he turned to leave. "Give it a rest, you guys."

    Kallisto wouldn't. He couldn't. If something untoward was happening here, it was his responsibility to put a stop to it. Especially if no one else was going to. But for that, he needed a bit of help. And he knew just who he needed to contact. He would have to call her as soon as he got home.

    ##########​

    May 13th, 2015​

    To Kallisto's relief, his confidant had happily agreed to help him with this problem, and would start on it first thing tomorrow. It was a load off the head Gym Trainer's mind. The sooner he could get to the bottom of this issue, the better.

    He sat with Tono and Ollie at lunch in one of the side-rooms of Gama Senior's arena. The battle team coach allowed them this space for quiet discussion, one of the perks Kallisto enjoyed from his fame.

    "I am quite surprised that girl agreed to do this," remarked his best friend. "And with no strings attached, either." He was enjoying a miso soup with some rice balls.

    "Well, I promised her something." He'd rather have not, but he wanted to add some extra incentive to make sure she'd agree. "But I'm sure I won't regret it."

    "Hopefully not," his best friend said, as if dismissive of the notion.

    "I'll make my boundaries clear. And get out if something does happen." He didn't think there'd be any problems, but there was always the possibility. He figured as long as he played it cool, there was nothing to worry about. For now though, eating.

    Ollie's eyes were fixated on him as he brought the double bacon burger to his mouth and bit into it. "Man, I sooooo want that," he moaned, a bit of drool leaking from his mouth. By contrast, he was eating a garden variety salad with no dressing.

    Tono rolled his eyes, sighing in derision. "If you are falling to temptation this soon into your diet, you have no hope of completing it."

    As the food slid down his throat, Kallisto spoke up. "These are all about discipline and moderation. It's okay to have bad food once in a while, but it has to be little things." He saw all these people, like girls worrying about their body, get into the mindset that you can't have anything. Avoiding it entirely was still letting it control you, and in the worst case, could bring about the opposite problem.

    "I know..." Ollie sighed and ate some of his salad. He seemed to shudder as the leafy greens touched his tongue.

    "The worst thing you can do in a diet is fast, by the way," he said. "That makes your body absorb more when you actually do eat."

    "I know," Ollie repeated, more firmly. "Eat better and get more exercise. Don't starve myself like one of those anorexic cheerleaders."

    Kallisto smirked. "It's not as widespread as you think. From what I've heard, it's mostly those trying to make the team in a misguided way."

    Ollie sighed. "Wish I had a body like that chick who's into you." He quickly realized what he said, hastily correcting himself. "Er, um, I mean like, eating and not getting fat. Not like, uh, tits and stuff."

    He chuckled at himself with Tono, Kallisto himself only smiled and nodded. Eddie liked to give Ollie flak about his ‘moobs’ in the past. He finally had enough at one point and asked why he was staring at them all the time. It was the first time Ollie had ever stood up on his own to the borderline hazing Tono and Eddie put him through, Needless to say, Eddie let that part of the subject slide after that.

    "It is good to see you are able to joke about that these days," Tono remarked.

    "Thanks, still hate it." He had been contemplating surgery at one point, but his parents wouldn't agree to it. It put him off trying to lose weight for the longest time. But he'd made the decision to seriously attempt it again after Eddie's birthday party last month, as part of his quest for self-improvement.

    There was a sudden knock at the door. Ollie instantly stood, doing a couple jumping jacks before running to open it. He'd been trying a bit too hard at times, making any excuse to sneak some exercise in. Yet like he said, every little bit helps.

    "Good day to you," came a refined female voice. "Does Kallisto happen to be in?"

    "Oh uh!" Ollie turned around. "It's for you, man!" He hustled back and plopped down.

    Kallisto stood and invited the girl inside. She was dressed in eloquent feminine clothing, and had poofy lavender-colored hair. "There is no need. I have but a simple message for you." She muttered under her breath. "For some reason..."

    The head Gym Trainer nodded. "Sure. What is it?"

    "A certain individual wants you meet in the music room after school."

    Kallisto nodded. He was not expecting results so soon. Although this could just as easily be for another reason. "Will do."

    "Now, if you shall excuse me, I have a cousin of mine from across town I need to yell at for making me play messenger." The girl turned on her heels and took her leave.

    "Well, this may be it," Kallisto said, shutting the door and turning to the others. "Or, it may not be."

    "Want us to come along?!" his hefty friend inquired, to which he shook his head.

    "Just wait in the car."

    While he couldn't say anything definitive for sure, Kallisto couldn't shake the bad feeling he was getting. He was praying to the Great Mesprit it was simply anxiousness.

    ---​

    In spite of a few reservations about the circumstances, Kallisto did as instructed. He was unsure why his contact was asking to come here of all places, or how she managed to secure the room for this meeting. He called Volkner to let him know he might be a bit late, and told the others to fill in Eddie.

    He sat on the stage, legs dangling over the side. He had been waiting for nearly fifteen minutes. She was late to her own meeting, and he wondered if something had happened. He pulled out his phone, looking at the time. 3:20pm. He was about to call Tono and tell them to drive back without him, when a voice called out to him from behind.

    "So you did come!"

    Suddenly, a pair of arms were around his neck. Kallisto shook his head at himself. He should've known.

    He hopped down from the stage to escape her light grip. She stood up tall, no doubt purposefully giving him a prominent view of her pink panties. He quickly yet politely averted his gaze, pretending that was an accident. Her blonde hair was tied into pigtails, and she was in her cheerleading uniform: a black and violet outfit that vaguely resembled magical girl attire, complete with frilly miniskirt. She had personalized both by cutting them short and removing the sleeves, an act she got away with due to her position as head cheerleader. She wore long, knee-length socks, and instead of the outfit's shoes, was in heels that were about 3cm high.

    "Chasity," he spoke, somewhat perturbed. She always insisted he call her by first name. She was never subtle about her attempts to woo him, but she'd never gone this far.

    "Oh, Kallisto!" she said, climbing down. "Thank you ever so much for placing your faith in me."

    "You're welcome, Chasity. You're the first person I thought of to help me here." Well, that wasn't exactly true. His first thought was Arumi Schrader. But after some consideration - particularly her friendship with Nori - he decided that wasn't an avenue worth pursuing. Chasity was his second choice, and maybe should've been his first between her dislike for Betsy-Ann and personal connections.

    "For you, Kallisto, anything." She slyly chuckled, adding extra emphasis on the last word.

    "So has your friend dug anything up?"

    "Oh, but of course. I would never leave you unsatisfied." She suggestively winked and brought out her phone, a newer model in a tacky pink case. She tapped a couple times and turned it around, showing a text exchange with her friend, Beatrice Alagiah. After (no doubt deliberately) scrolling down from a picture of her in a swimsuit that may as well not have been there, she reached the end of the conversation. "She sent this to me just after break today, and seemed quite upset! But I simply can't open it for the life of me!"

    Kallisto took a look. It was a ZIP file, likely a sound or video recording sent in that format to prevent compression like text messages often did. "Here, I'll take care of it."

    She happily allowed him to take her phone, holding his hand for a second when passing it over. She always found ways to initiate physical contact. Kallisto took out his own, scrolling the menus down and initiating a file transfer.

    "Done. It's on my phone, now." He held out the phone with two fingers to give it back.

    "Oh, you are a lifesaver! You are very smart with technology." Not really, he thought. Tono was the one who taught him how to do these things. Chasity did a small bounce, her chest responding in kind. "Do you wish to watch us practice? My squad is working on an extra special cheer for that best friend of yours." After a brief pause, she irreverently added, "And there's one for the Empress, I suppose."

    He smiled. "Thanks, Chasity. But I need to get back to the Gym."

    She pouted. "Oh, but of course. Just don't forget, you promised me dinner."

    "Lunch. And I haven't forgotten." He wouldn't renege on a promise.

    "So until then!" Chasity blew him a kiss, and ‘accidentally’ bumped into him while walking by, brushing her silky-smooth arms against his. "Oh, sorry!" she apologized. "I can be quite clumsy."

    "Think nothing of it," he cleverly said, internally smiling to himself. With this, the cheerleader hurried out of the room.

    Kallisto had mixed feelings about Chasity Kanehori. If he was choosing a girl strictly for his image, it would be difficult to find someone better. Popular, connected, surprisingly intelligent, and attractive. Even his cousin had remarked that she could be a supermodel if she worked at it. Yet her personality was dissuasive; the cheerleader could be a real witch when she wanted to be, and she was possessive of him despite not being his girlfriend.

    On one hand, Kallisto didn't think it would turn out badly if he accepted her into his life. On the other hand, he knew he could do far better than her. The same situation as most girls, in other words. He was grateful for her help today, and considered her an acquaintance. But he saw her as nothing more than a friend at best.

    For now, Kallisto looked at the file. He unzipped it, and as expected, it was a video file. Taken around lunchtime, if he was reading the timestamp correctly. The preview showed Betsy-Ann sitting at a picnic table outside with a pink-haired friend of hers who appeared to be a member of the Joy family. A pit rose in his stomach even before he opened the file.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5: May of Ordeals (eighth part)
    • Surprise! A quick one days later! Wanted to get this out for the fic's birthday, but stuff happened. Wasn't expecting it to run this long. In fact, aside: the "Month" designations for chapters are an artifact: it was only as long as there were months, and they replaced "Chapter" stylistically. The scope of it blew up, albeit in a good way.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    May of Ordeals (eighth part)​
    May 13rd, 2015​

    "So how'd your date go?"

    "Oh, stop wit' that."

    "You even got dressed up for the occasion." A giggle.

    "Wasn't gonna go out lookin' like a ragamuffin. An' not like I had on my Sunday best."

    "But you dressed better than when you work."

    A pause. "All right, ya got me. Wanted to look nice for it, ya know?"

    "He is a cutie."

    "Real sweet, too. He's a good friend."

    "You wish he were older?"

    "A gal can dream, can't she?"

    After getting back to the Gym, the first thing Kallisto did was head up to the trainer's lounge with the others. They gathered on the large couch to watch and listen to the perturbing exchange. Eddie and Tono sat on his left and right respectively, and Ollie peeked in from behind. There was a little more to their conversation, but this is what stood out.

    "There you have it," he said as he gauged his friend's reactions. Tono's expression was unreadable. Ollie's face had almost comically dropped. But it was Eddie who responded first.

    "Yo," he spoke up, unimpressed. "What if it's just chicks joking around?"

    "And what if it's not?" He restrained himself from shouting. "We need to act now, Hankstein."

    "Do what you want, but leave me outta this." Eddie got up and walked out the door.

    Kallisto could not believe that - someone he thought was always going to have his back turned away, and now of all times! How could Eddie ignore something like this?!

    "What do you guys think?" he asked his remaining friends.

    Ollie clapped and cackled. "Let's get her!"

    "I will support whatever you decide," Tono neutrally stated. He crossed his arms and tapped a finger. "One thing I will say is that we shouldn't make a fuss about it, just to be certain."

    That was the sort of support he was looking for. What Eddie was doing now - and what Nori did 99% of the time - was not constructive. "Thanks, Tono. That sounds good," he replied. He was wondering if it was better to go public or not, but his best friend had preemptively told him not to. "In that case, I know what I'm going to do."

    ##########​

    May 14th, 2015​

    Nori woke up on Thursday to an unusually quiet Gym. Normally at around this time, there would be footsteps and murmurs from below, the sound of the staff getting ready for opening hours at 9am. On rare occasions, there would be a challenger in the lobby waiting to face Volkner. Today, there was only a lull.

    He didn't think much of it as he prepared breakfast. He made himself peanut butter toast and got his Pokemon a few treats, enjoying a pleasant meal with them while he listened to the news on the radio. When they were all done, he got his backpack, recalled his Pokemon, and went downstairs.

    It was as dead as it sounded. He found the lobby virtually abandoned. The concessions stand was closed up, Mrs. Stetcher wasn't in her usual booth, and the lights were dimmed. The boy peeked into the arena, finding no one present. He did hear some faint murmuring from the right hallway. He hurried over to find Marshall and Brodski in conversation.

    "What's going on?" he asked the two.

    Brodski shrugged. "Go ask Mr. Denzi."

    He went and did just that. He went to the back room, pounding on the door. "Hey, Volkner!" he shouted. There was no need to use an indoor voice when barely anyone was around. "Are you back there?"

    "I'll be right over!" the Gym Leader hollered back. The door swung open after several seconds. The Gym Leader didn't even have his coat on, just his dark brown jeans and the white undershirt. "What's happening?" the boy asked. "Is the Gym closed or something?"

    "Yes," came the terse reply.

    "Why on a Thursday? Is it some sort of holiday?" The boy paused. "Birthday?"

    "Dealing with something internal."

    Nori tilted his head. "What sort of thing?"

    The Gym Leader closed up like a Shellder. He turned away, looking up at the ceiling while twiddling his thumbs.

    "Is it...not something I should be asking?" Nori slowly asked.

    Gradually, the Gym Leader faced him, although continued to avert his gaze. He scratched his cheek. His mouth opened a couple times, but no words came out of them. "I guess I should tell you," he soon conceded. The blond man took a deep breath before he said his next words. "We had to let one of the staff go."

    "What?! Wh-who?" Nori wasn't sure what it was, but he instantly feared the worst.

    Volkner took a deep breath. He again turned away, lowering his head. "The assistant medic. Betsy-Ann Jostein."

    "What? No way. Why? Kallisto did it, didn't he?!"

    Volkner didn't answer. No, it was more like he couldn't. His silence said more than he could with any words or gesture, although he managed a nod to erase all doubt. Nori screamed, almost a primal wail. Without waiting for answers from the Gym Leader that probably weren't going to come anyway, he stormed out of the Gym.

    ---​

    Nori had half a mind to march directly to Gama Memorial Senior and confront Kallisto right there on the spot. The only reason he didn't was because he wasn't sure how some preteen kid going into a high school would go over, let alone to yell at one of their most beloved students. But he had a plan in mind. He wasn't going to wait until they got back to the Gym, if it would even be open today.

    As he left school, he quickly spotted Kallisto's convertible in the usual spot. The fat piece of trash, the nerd with his head up his ass, and the king himself were there, with the huge jerk approaching.

    "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GUYS DO?" he screamed at the top of his lungs. He got everyone's attention by doing so, just how he wanted it.

    Eddie took one look at him, and to them, and said, "Told ya." The dark-skinned teenager walked off, leaving his friends behind. Nori paid him little heed.

    As for the other three, they were wide-eyed. "We were stopping a pedophile!" Ollie shouted.

    "Hebephile," corrected Tono. "There is a fundamental difference."

    "Whatever, she was trying to take advantage of you!" the fat teen insisted.

    "No, she wasn't!"

    There were many angry shouts and insults from around him. As Nori got closer to the convertible, someone grabbed him from behind. He whirled around and nearly punched them square on the jaw, stopping just short when he saw it was Volkner.

    "Nori, calm down," the Gym Leader urged.

    "No!" He would not, COULD not calm down right now.

    "Wait!"

    Most of the onlookers went quiet as this sharp word cut through the air. The driver's side door swung open, and Kallisto stepped out. He raised a hand, silencing the rest of them. He looked straight at Nori.

    "This is all my doing. Don't blame anyone else."

    He was up and admitting it? Right in front of everyone? He glanced around for reactions, and most of them seemed confused. Something felt off, but regardless, Nori voiced his discontent. "I can't believe this. Why did I ever think you had a point with any of that stuff you said? You just want everything your way! In fact, I bet this is still about not wanting me to have a girlfriend!"

    The nerd harrumphed. "This has nothing to do with that. And in fact–"

    "Shut up!" he snapped at the nerd. "I wasn't talking to you!"

    Kallisto looked back at his friend, waving him off. "Hate me if you want. I know you'll understand what I did some day, and thank me for it."

    In reply, Nori advanced threateningly. He'd been wanting to fight Kallisto ever since he jumped him from behind anyway. Yet the head Gym Trainer made no attempt to get his guard up. In fact, he stepped back, held his arms at his side, and stood wide open.

    "Look. Here," he offered himself up, giving the boy pause. "I'll give you one free shot at me."

    Nori instantly drove the tip of his foot directly into Kallisto's nutsack. The head Gym Trainer clutched at it, yet remained standing. He didn't scream, he didn't fall over. In fact, he coyly smiled up at Nori while lightly wincing.

    "There you go," he said, only angering the boy further. How did that not hurt him?! He kicked him as hard as he could and he wasn't wearing anything! "Feel better?"

    "No!" Nori wanted to kick him in the face next. But what was the use?! He'd probably just not get hurt by that either somehow! He flipped Kallisto off and stormed away from the whole situation.

    Volkner quickly caught up with him, able to keep pace with Nori's run with a light jog. The boy glared at his mentor. He was not in the mood to deal with anyone. Yet, the persisting Gym Leader was able to change his tune with only six words.

    "She wants to talk to you."

    He froze up. "Where?!"

    ---​

    Kallisto and the others were going for a drive. They had unexpectedly been given the day off by Volkner. While Tono had suggested using the opportunity to train, the head Gym Trainer and Ollie had no idea what they were going to do. Not only today, but moving forward.

    The heterochromic teenager sighed. Part of him did not want to intervene here, yet he also felt he needed to. Perhaps he could've acted less drastically? Perhaps it would've been better to confront Betsy-Ann herself? It was too late at this point, however.

    With this, there was certainly no chance of mending fences with Nori. He did his best to make sure his friends wouldn't get caught up in things as well. Yet on that subject, his biggest concern at the moment was Eddie. It was so out of character for him to walk away like that. The others had tried to call him, but he wasn't picking up, so they could only speculate what was going through his mind right now. He could only pray Eddie was only distancing himself from this incident.

    ---​

    Along the way, Volkner had confirmed many of Nori's suspicions. This was related to thinking she had an interest in him. Yesterday evening, Kallisto had spoken with the Gym Leader about his concerns, showing him a video of Betsy-Ann talking with her friend about him. When Volkner dismissed it, he asked several senior members of the staff for their thoughts. Coach Norling in particular was uncomfortable working with her given the allegations, and ultimately, Volkner's hand was forced.

    The Gym Leader brought him to the woods he had been in so many times before. He bid him well and left for the Gym. Nori couldn't thank his mentor enough. He'd taken time out of his day to help keep him under control and make sure he didn't do anything he'd regret. Most importantly, he gave him the chance to see his friend one last time.

    Betsy-Ann was waiting for him a ways off the beaten path, in a small clearing. She waved, and he went to join her.

    "Thought you might like some closure," she said to him while leaning against a tree.

    He slowly nodded. That, he did. One of Nori's biggest regrets was how things ended with Lux. He didn't get a chance to say goodbye, his friend was just gone. It nearly happened again.

    "That rotten egg-suckin' dog. Can't a guy and gal just be friends?" she said, shaking her head. "When it gets down to it, him and his goons could piss off a priestess."

    "I wouldn't have minded."

    "Huh?"

    "If you really did like me like that, I wouldn't have minded. Screw the age difference. Besides, it'd be fine when I grow up."

    He wasn't sure what he was saying or where any of it was coming from. He moved towards her, but she held out a hand and lightly stopped him.

    "Don't go talkin' like that, Nori," the teen said. "Y'know yer only thinkin'a that to spite Kallisto."

    Nori sighed, looking down at his feet. "I...I guess." What was he thinking? He'd never even thought about it until now, and was uneasy over the possibility of her thinking of him that way.

    "Relationship built on that wouldn't be healthy, for either'a us."

    "I know..."

    It was one thing to like someone and have them like you back. But he knew there was a stigma here, same as with him and Maylene. And if it was just to piss off Kallisto, well. That wouldn't be good, even if they liked each other and were the same age.

    Kallisto. Nori scowled. This all was because of him. Who was he to decide how he should live his life? The boy's hands balled into fists. He said it was to protect him, but who was it really for? And who was he to intervene, especially on something that wasn't there? Nori inhaled through gritted teeth, breath trembling as he heavily exhaled. Kallisto thought he had to be a certain way in order to succeed. But then there was the assault, nearly drowning, letting his friends get away with so much, indirectly destroying his reputation, and now this. So much of his misfortune could be traced back to Kallisto and his friends. He tensed his muscles so hard he started to shake.

    A comforting hand went onto his shoulder. "You gonna be okay?"

    "I don't know," he freely admitted as he seethed. He took in a deep breath and held it for as long as he could.

    "I reckon you'll recover," the teen patted him, gently rubbing his back.

    Nori gradually let it all out. It did calm him down a little, but the cause was still festering within like a dead Skuntank lounging in the sun. Yet the worst part about this wasn't what he would have to go through.

    "What about you?" he asked. The worst part was what could happen to her. "They said you were a hebbyphile."

    "Hebephile. And I ain't that type." She sighed, leaning back against the tree. "I'll be leavin' town, though. Goin' home to Sandgem. Much to get away from him as it is to get away from this."

    "But will you be okay?" That's what he was most worried about, more than not being able to see her again. Even if she did like him and for the right reasons, some people would hate her forever or think she just likes kids. That'd follow her forever, right?

    "Lucky it's being kept hush. Only ones who know are y'all and some of the senior staff, and they ain't gonna blab."

    Wait, as in, nobody else knew? Her reputation might be fine? Maybe? Except. "I..." He shuffled his feet. "I might've blown up on them in public. I'm sorry. I didn't say what, but still."

    "Don't worry about that none." She didn't seem too concerned. Nori could only hope that was from knowing for sure, and not blind confidence.

    "I'm going to miss you."

    "Me too."

    Nori reflexively opened his arms. Betsy-Ann surprised him by rushing for him and embracing him, actually lifting him off the ground slightly. He in turn latched onto her as tight as he could. This might been the last hug he'd have in a long time. He was going to enjoy it for all it was worth.

    "Thanks for everything, Betsy-Ann," he whispered, fighting back the urge to sob into her shoulder.

    The teenager nodded. "Till next we meet, Nori."

    ---​

    She held him for over a minute, until he reluctantly broke it off. With a tearful wave, Nori ran off as fast as he could without a further word, crying and quietly screaming. As he did so, Betsy-Ann plopped down on an old log. She felt pathetic.

    There was one thing she didn't tell Nori at the end of last month. Ever since her failed second confession to Kallisto, she decided to move on. Yet try as she might, she couldn't get a date her age. No one would give her the time of day.

    The painful truth was, she did have some interest in Nori. He had a lot going for him: cute looks, confident yet modest, a little sweetheart, would be there for her when she needed it, and needed her just as much. Yet she likely never would've gone through with it. There was too much problems.

    His age for one. Even after July, there'd still be some folks throwing shade, and she wasn't just talking about them who think it's eighteen everywhere. Most over the age difference. Five years is a heck of a lot at their ages. Some'd say she was taking advantage of him, which was in fact some of Kallisto's crazed ‘logic.’ But she knew that better than he did. She knew if she asked Nori he'd say yes, just since he was so emotionally vulnerable. And that was something she might've never been able to get over, no matter the years-long threaded boundaries she'd set on intimacy.

    It had to be hard on the boy, seeing another one of his friends get ripped away, like that Lux friend of his. She didn't want him to think of her as anything but a friend, especially at this point. It was all for the best anyhow. He deserved better than someone like her.

    And maybe, this was a chance at a fresh start. Away from that darn Kallisto. May have been due to self-validation, but at least he had the decency not to drag her through the mud any further. She couldn't even begin to fathom what was going through his mind.

    But him and his friends better watch out, she thought. She saw that look in Nori's eyes before he left. All his doubt about them was gone, and knowing him, he wouldn't rest till all their tails were cut.

    ---​

    Fueled by hatred, Nori stomped his way through the Gym as he entered. He ignored the people calling for him and went straight to the back. He was the only person in the history of the Gym to be given free reign back here, much less given a key to the place, and needed to use that privilege.

    A large purple monkey with a cream face and body and two tails waved hello as he walked in. Nori and Pachi - who he had filled in - greeted Volkner's Ambipom. The Gym Leader's Pokemon acted as security during the day, with the strongest Gym Pokemon taking up the mantle at night.

    He passed by the wandering Galvantula and entered the garage area. He spotted the Gym Leader easily enough - he was working under his vintage vehicle. His Toxtricity and Luxray were sitting nearby, and his Chatot was perched atop the brown automobile.

    "Hey, Volkner?" he called out to his mentor.

    The Gym Leader pulled himself out from underneath. He wiped his forehead with a rag and inquisitively glanced at him.

    "So that challenge from Tono for exhibition day."

    He paused. Kallisto had taken his friend away from him. They said it was to protect him, but there was nothing to it. He was willing to bet it was worrying about that dating thing again, if not something even dumber. Whatever the head Gym Trainer's reasons, all the goodwill and benefit of the doubt Nori was thinking of giving was gone. For him, and all his friends. He'd had enough. And he was going to make them pay. Starting with the nerd.

    "I want to win this," he declared. "I want to crush him and rub it in his face. Can you help me?"

    The Gym Leader, after a moment of surprise, wryly smirked and began to devilishly chuckle.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    A/N: And that's 'act' two of this fic finished. Like before, here's some behind-the-scenes for it: Betsy-Ann was a later addition despite being a focal point, if evident from her showing up at the end of February and only getting mentions in March. Her interest was never much because of the reasons she mentioned (the most I considered was a non-romantic kiss on the head), but I downplayed it anyway.

    The news club also went through changes. They were faceless (besides Arumi) at first. Then I made them a hive, so to speak. Then I differentiated them just enough, making Lorant quiet to make things easier, with one other (Yuki) being a more major character.

    Next will be another Gaiden chapter, where just like before, there will be some more notes and changing viewpoint to a totally different character.
     
    Last edited:
    • GAIDEN: May Your Flint Burn Bright (first part)
    • Rin Kakoku was intended to stay around longer, but I realized in-planning there was only so much I could do with her - and might've even caused problems if she was on Nori's side. She also wasn't in at all, instead her role was fulfilled by Agent Studd from February. However, Arumi (and Billy Ordride) was my designated comic relief and he really didn't fit with how much things escalated, so I changed it. He's another future character; actually, he debuted in the non-canon (and fic of a fic which was Nori's first fic) Marvelous Journey Awry. If he felt like Platinum Looker...well. It was because he WAS Looker initially there, just not by name.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    GAIDEN: May Your Flint Burn Bright (first part)​
    May 9th, 2015​

    In the mountains of northern Sinnoh, there was a city blanketed in snow for over half the year. The frigid temperature of higher elevations and the high amount of Ice-type Pokemon, including the Abomasnows, made sure that summer and its surrounding months were the only times the ground was not coated in white powder. The main roads and sidewalks in the city were heated to keep them consistently clear, which also meant less plowing and shoveling to do by the city. Which also meant they were the most congested.

    Flint Donaldson always had to wear extra layers whenever he went outside. Ironic, for the aptly named Heat of Snowpoint. He was more used to the warmer climate of Batalson Island. If he had things his way, his Gym would be in the Survival Area, where he lived the first eight years of his life. Yet the League wouldn't let him put it there - they thought of Batalson as more of an extension, rather than a full-fledged part of Sinnoh. And so he was instead the flame of a snowbound land.

    The Snowpoint Gym was his little corner of paradise on the northeast side of town. It was good to be back after his little vacation, and he even had a new partner! A funny little minecart he nicknamed Coco - derived from what they call them down in South Africa, and because she loves chocolate.

    From the outside, the Gym looked like a giant fireplace. It was made up of reddish gray bricks of shale to give the building a high thermal mass. His original idea for the building was to make it look like a sauna on the outside for the sheer audacity of it. His Gym Trainers advised him that was a bad idea for a Fire type Gym, however. But there was in fact a sauna to the right of it, and a big open space to the left and behind it for battles and play.

    It was a bit of a story how he ended up moving the Gym here. The old one near the town's center was over a century old, and as far as Flint was concerned, in desperate need of renovations. Most importantly, it was so small and so close to the city that his Steelix had no place to get out and stretch.

    Gneiss was his first Pokemon, and he had considered becoming a Ground-type Gym Leader because of her. Little Flint was a silly, adventurous boy who always worried his parents sick. One day when he was nine, he went wandering into Stark Mountain without friends or adults. He got lost and was confronted by a group of Koffings, until an Onix came bursting out a nearby wall to protect him. She followed him out of the cave, and accepted when asked to join him. The legendary scolding and months-long grounding he got was worth making a lifelong friend!

    One day not even a month into his Gym Leader career, Gneiss discovered a heated underground reservoir when burrowing around. A happy little accident, as they say. Archeologists determined it led into the ancient temple of the city, a sort of ‘vein’. The water flowed in from the ocean, being heated by an unknown phenomenon. It so happened some of it was funneling away into an underground hot spring that evoked fond memories of Tonsen Land.

    Flint got into contact with the owner of the theme park - an old friend of his father's - and bought the land out with him. In the process, he relocated the Gym right next door, since hey, they didn't say where in the city his Gym had to be. Thankfully, they had some fast contractors who got it up within a few months. He'd been trying to recommend them to Volkner for ages, but his friend wasn't having any of it.

    Flint parked his SUV in his designated stall, got out, and locked it up. As he was walking up the stony path leading to the entrance, he saw one of his Gym Trainers, Alicia Hardee. Whenever out and about, the dark blue haired girl always dressed in an orange jumpsuit like she was heading on an expedition. Very warm clothes, that said. It was a stark contrast to her friend, a ravenous haired girl with a long braid. She had on a simple blue and white shirt, with a matching thick skirt that didn't reach her knees and long socks that extended to her knees with her fluffy brown boots.

    "Hey girls!" Flint greeted them. "Meeting with some hot dates?"

    While her friend giggled at his jesting, Alicia rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you too," she bitterly muttered. Same as always.

    "Kidding, of course!" He laughed. He knew all his Gym Trainers well, and Alicia claimed she didn't have an interest in dating. Of course, she was just twelve. He wouldn't be surprised if she changed her tune one of these days! "So how's things been going?"

    "See for yourself," his Gym Trainer spat, walking off without her friend.

    "Gee, must've not been good times when I was away," Flint mused the obvious aloud.

    "Don't worry about a thing!" her friend said with a wink. "Candice will make sure she's in good cheer!"

    The red 'froed man grinned. "Heh, always liked your fiery spirit! Must be how you're not cold in that skirt! Y'know, you and her remind me so much of me and Volkner!"

    Candice giggled. "I can see that! Welp, see ya later!" She hurried to catch up with Alicia.

    A great girl, that Candice. Pretty skilled with Pokemon too, from what he'd seen. And to think she'd never even thought about about journeying! He'd have scouted her, but she said she preferred Ice types. Quite the irony, given her warm heart! Just the kind of friend Alicia needed.

    Flint stepped through the front doors into the Gym's reception area. It was laid out in an innovative way. The back of the building had the battlefield. It was custom designed to favor the Fire type. The sandy ground was heated from the cavern below. It absorbed water, caught rolling rocks, and dampened shaking earth. He may have taken some inspiration from the Lavaridge Gym. Or he may have not! It's not as if the two were the same, after all. The right side of the building were rooms for guests to relax, get refreshments, and watch some battles. The left side was the puzzle. Flint came up with a fun one. While he couldn't match Fantina's game show or Gasha's mini Contest stage - but then again, who could? - he was quite proud of his little steam and vent pressure maze.

    "Honey, I'm home!" he called out. A woman with silvery green hair wearing a black vest over a red shirt and casual black slacks came out of the arena to greet him.

    "You're late, dear," said Hinata Hanabusa. His longest tenured Gym Trainer, given she'd been with him since the beginning. They knew each other in and out, only natural since they met as kids, to where people called them like an old married couple. They went along with the joke in public. Never even considered each other though for one reason or another, plus she was actually married now anyway.

    "Sorry, honey. Traffic, y'know?" He shrugged. "Thought I could be smart by not taking the main roads. Then I got stuck behind a snowmobile convey."

    Hinata laughed. "The bane of us all." Snowmobile enthusiasts had been causing traffic problems and the odd accident for years now, especially those that tricked theirs out to ride on the roads. Some of the more disgruntled citizens had chosen to start a petition outlawing their use in the city, but Flint figured it was just part of life. Their way of having fun!

    "So how's things been the last week?" he asked his Gym Trainer.

    "It's been business as usual. Here, and at home." She said that last part with derision, alluding to her marital problems the last year. Flint was happy to be there for Hinata if she needed the help and support. After a moment, she smiled and added, "Though we had a bit of excitement here yesterday."

    "Heh heh, a rowdy challenger?" The red-haired man grinned.

    "You could say that," his Gym Trainer replied. "Some girl came in complaining about child labor laws."

    Flint whistled. "Hoo boy. Lemme guess, she complained about Alicia too, not just Kimmy?"

    "Of course she did."

    "Met a couple like that before, like when I went to Veilstone this one time and saw these kids who called themselves Hams or something. Never pleasant dealing with those types." From what he figured, this girl was either hardline culturally insensitive, had nothing better to do, or both. "Ain't even like she thinks! Kimmy's here 'cause she wants to be! And like, you got that kid with the floaty who works with Wake. Not just us!"

    Kids could totally own and train Pokemon before they got a license to travel! And thinking they were making twelve-year-old Alicia work! Woof. Better to not even address that one.

    Hinata smiled. "You should've seen Kimmy herself mouth off at her. Right before beating her in her qualifier."

    Flint winked, grinned, and flashed a thumbs-up. "Hey hey!" He clapped. "Thought she was the type who had nothing better to do than complain and spread her strong opinions around. But a challenger! Good on Kimmy!"

    "You've been training her well."

    "Heh, have you and the others to thank for that. We're all one big family here, remember that!" Hinata chuckled in agreement. "And? Where's our interim Gym Leader? How's he been doing?"

    "He's upstairs. He's had some confidence issues, but Tai Ying and I have been helping him through it."

    "Know he has it in him to take over some day. Which, I'm hoping is going to be when I promote to Elite Four! He just needs to light that spark of confidence in himself!" With this, Flint paused. Well, better ask just to be sure. "But speaking of my promotion, how's Sofie been doing?"

    Hinata crossed her arms. "You need to have a talk with her," she said, like a wife scolding her husband.

    The Gym Leader chuckled. "Sorry honey, I guess I'll get right on that."

    Classic, classic Sofie. He invited her along on the trip to Galar, but she turned it down. Used some pretty charged language about the region, too. But she is who she is.

    He went up to the second floor. A mostly staff-restricted place. There were three rooms up here, besides the obvious like bathrooms and such: their break room which doubled as the meeting room, a small battlefield for sparring, and an indoor play area for their Pokemon. Especially handy for when it was not-outside weather!

    Flint went straight for the break room. It was a wide-open space, plenty of room for them and their littler Pokemon to relax. Just as he thought, a young girl with blazing blue hair dressed in a simple black shirt and pants was here with a balding elderly man in his 50s clad in a traditional Mitsutri clan kimono. With them were their best partners: a black lamp with a purple flame within and ribbon-like hands in Kimmy Wilkins' case, and an orange-yellow monkey with huge ears and a fluffy swirly tail for Tai Ying Chung.

    He sat back and watched the show for a bit. Lampy the Lampent was playing patty-cake with the Simisear, as the two sang along.

    "Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man!" Kimmy used a different version of the lyrics. She turned to Tai Ying to continue.

    "Bake me a cake as fast as you can!" came the jovial reply.

    "Roll it!"

    "Pat it!"

    "And mark it with–KYAA!!"

    Kimmy yelped as Simisear pushed too hard, sending her Pokemon into a stumble on the floor. The Ghost and Fire type lay still for a few seconds, before snapping up and saluting. Everyone laughed.

    "Well, you two are having fun!" Flint declared, walking inside.

    "Mr. Donaldson!" the young girl beamed wildly, rushing over to greet him.

    Tai Ying nodded. "Good to see you back, Flint."

    "Good to be back, Tai Ying." He turned to his youngest Gym Trainer. She might've only turned nine last month, but she was a true blue prodigy with a love for Fire types! And tomorrow marked her six-month anniversary at the Gym! "And hey, little Kimmy! Heard you beat a mean girl yesterday!"

    "Yup! She said you were making me work like a slave, whatever that is!" She got sort of an evil look in her eyes as she did a fist pump. "But I showed her what you showed me! Lampy and all my other Pokemon beat her Pokemon up!"

    He ruffled her hair. "Heh heh heh! Nice going. Got a bright future ahead of you." Some like might look at her and raise an eyebrow. Still more might be confused at her being below the usual trainer license age. That was just for the Gym Challenge, though! There were plenty of little fireballs out there like Kimmy!

    A vague smile came to Tai Ying's lips. "She has been improving greatly indeed. Anyhow, how was your trip?" the elderly Chinese man asked.

    "Went well!" he replied. "Nice to take a week off. Even got a new Pokemon!" He brandished the Dusk Ball he had caught her in.

    Kimmy gasped. "Lemme see! Lemme see!"

    All too happy to oblige, he sent his new friend out. A rectangular box-shaped Pokemon with stone wheels for feet. A face peeked out from under the fiery coals on her back.

    "Wow! Is that a Carkol?" the little girl asked. No surprise she recognized it. Kimmy knew every Fire type native to Japan by heart, and many of the ones that weren't native!

    His Pokemon flashed a wild beam, her orange teeth glimmering. Not wanting to be shown up, Flint matched his Pokemon's expression. "Call her Coco! Coco the Carkol!" He patted her under the chin. "Welcome to your new home!"

    Kimmy bounced right up. "Nice to meet you, Coco! My name's Kimmy, and that's Mr. Chung!" The elderly man bowed as his name was spoken. Kimmy gestured. "This is my best friend, Lampy! And this is Mr. Chung's best friend, Simisear! Oh, and I have Growly and Ponyty too, but they're napping right now!"

    Flint sent out another of his Pokemon, a fluffy brown humanoid bunny Pokemon with long ears. "Lagomo, show our new pal around the place."

    "Can we come too?!" asked Kimmy.

    He flashed a thumbs-up. "Of course you can! Hey, might be even better if you're the one to show'er around, heh!"

    "Yay! Let's go, everyone!"

    The Gym Leader watched as Kimmy led the entourage of Pokemon out into the halls. He chuckled. "She seems to be settling in nicely! Gonna need more Fire types if I want to stand with the Elite Four! Of course, I'm not gonna just retire my others, heh."

    "Flint." Tai Ying spoke up, his tone suddenly cold like the air outside. "Sofie's behavior is becoming unacceptable."

    "Wow, rare to see you flip the switch and become all business-like. Must've missed something serious. What happened? Where is she?"

    "A lot happened. And she just went upstairs with Firuz."

    "All right, I'll go check on them."

    Three of his five Gym Trainers had implied something'd gone on with Sofie while he was away, but all had been vague so far. He figured it was just Sofie being Sofie, maybe moreso without him around.

    So up and up the stairs he went! The third floor was all about Flint Donaldson! Smaller than the rest. It had his office and a room he slept in whenever he couldn't make it back home at night. Plus his own personal bathroom. A little home away from home, as it were.

    Flint heard a rustling from inside his bedroom. He opened the door and peeked inside. "Sofie, Firuz, you guys–WHOA THERE!"

    He was greeted by the sight of Sofie with her pants down and shirt up. Entwined with her and pressed against the wall was Firuz, who had stripped entirely. The Gym Leader immediately shut the door.

    "Didn't mean to walk in on you two lovebirds!" he said with a laugh and whistle. So it finally happened! He hoped he hadn't spoiled their mood. "Just come out when you're finished up!"

    "He was finished before you got here," Sofie dryly replied. "I give him a chance, he doesn't even give me five seconds."

    "It was my first time!" Firuz protested.

    "A virgin at nineteen. For fuck's sake."

    After twenty seconds, Sofie came marching out, clothes in their proper location. Flint wagged a finger at her. "Come now, Sofie. Everyone loses their innocence at a different age. Lost mine when I was twenty-three."

    "Yeah?" she asked. "That when Volkner fucked you in the ass?"

    "How did you know?" Firuz' jaw dropped in horror, although Sofie was nonplussed. The Gym Leader laughed some more. "Kidding! He's a swell guy, but he doesn't swing like that. Between us?" He leaned in. "Don't think he swings any which way."

    Sofie pushed him aside, tossing a stained tissue to the floor. "Whatever, I'm going to get cleaned up and get myself off." She pointed a thumb backwards as she stomped off. "Since this small-pricked shit couldn't."

    "Hopefully not in that order, since you'll just get sweaty again, heh." As she was nearly down the stairs, he hollered, "And just watch where you do it! You don't want to scar little Kimmy, now!"

    Nothing to be said if she had those urges! He'd have to have that talk with her a bit later. But for now, there was someone else he wanted to speak with. The slightly muscular yet short guy with wild fiery orange hair sitting on his bed - just a small cot with a mattress, really - covering his shame.

    "Real handful, ain't she?" Flint remarked, sitting beside his Gym Trainer and putting a hand on his back. Firuz sighed. "Hey, don't feel too bad about it. That's how most guys' first time tends to go in real life. All that stuff you read in fiction about picking it up right away's just that, fiction!"

    "I thought she liked me back..." he droned.

    "Don't think you're her type." He had to confess, just to himself of course, he was more than a little surprised at what happened. Firuz had never hid his attraction towards Sofie, but she'd dismissed him up until today. "But hey! You know she likes strong, tough guys! You could grow to be one!"

    "I guess..."

    Flint glanced down at his Gym Trainer's lap as he shuffled his hands, taking note of something. "Doesn't look like you used anything, either."

    "She said she was on the pill..."

    The Gym Leader chuckled. "Well, you don't know if she's clean. But hey, can't take it back now."

    Firuz' face again went wide in horror. He looked down at his manhood, pondering what he had just done.

    "Don't worry about it!" he told his Gym Trainer. "I'm sure it'll be fine. But let's get off the subject now. So how'd your time as Gym Leader go?"

    Firuz uneasily glanced away. "I don't want to talk about it right now..."

    He patted Firuz on the back again. "Perfectly understandable! You just had your first time and your first heartbreak! We'll talk more tonight, okay?"

    "Okay..." Firuz turned away before asking, "Um, do you mind if I use your bathroom to clean up?"

    "Go ahead!"

    With a thankful nod, his Gym Trainer gathered up his strewn-about clothes and went to do just that.

    Well! Again, not what he was expecting when he got back today! But hey, he was happy for them both. And who could say? Maybe this really was the first step in a blossoming love! He sat down in his big comfy chair and spun around with it. It was good to be sitting here again! He'd have to call his parents and baby brother and friends know that Flint Donaldson was back in town!

    ##########​

    May 10th, 2015​

    "All right, let's get this meeting started!" They were all here at the table in the break room, having had a nice dinner of pulled pork with rice and veggies. "Tai Ying, what are the stats from last week?"

    The elderly man opened his binder. "Last week, we had eleven challengers, three of which were Gym Battles. Of the latter, two of them won Kiln Badges, one did not." He turned the page. "Of the eight qualifiers, there were three failures: one who did not complete the puzzle, one defeated by Kimmy, and one defeated by myself. Of those who passed, three did so by defeating Alicia, one through Hinata, and one through myself."

    "An average week, from the sounds of it. Besides the higher than usual puzzle completion rate, heh. Any other challenger news?"

    "Yes," he nodded. "We have had a request for a late night challenge by one Walter Nutt."

    Flint mimed fanning himself. "Woof, that's an unfortunate name. Not the worst I've heard, but not one I'd want to have in school! And hey, who am I to say no to that? League says we gotta be flexible for those with weird schedules. Or in some cases, Leaders with weird schedules have to be flexible for those with normal ones, heh. You set it for the usual time?"

    "11pm next Saturday," Tai Ying confirmed.

    "We'll be ready for him!" Flint dramatically paused before adding, "With a fresh pot of coffee."

    Everyone laughed. Well, just about everyone.

    "Good work, everyone!" Kimmy said, right before noticing the glum girl in question. "What's wrong, Alicia?"

    "I've been on a losing streak lately..." she said with a sigh. "It's not fair to my Pokemon to keep failing them. They're starting to get frustrated with me."

    Kimmy put a hand on her fellow Gym Trainer's back, rubbing it. "Aw, it's okay! I'm sure you'll get better."

    Flint assured her. "Kimmy's right! We all have our slumps. Hey, did you know even Kallisto Keravnos went into one before? Hard to believe since he's been undefeated in two years, huh?" He grinned. "It'll be fine, Alicia. You win some, you lose some!"

    "Hmph," came a sudden voice from the doorway.

    "There's my budding Dark-type enthusiast!" he greeted Sofie as she stepped inside. "Heh, funny how I didn't push you towards anything, but you found a type you like, all on your own."

    "If I may?" she asked.

    Tai Ying was eying her like an intruder, but hey, she's sat in on these before. "The more the merrier, I say!" Flint declared.

    The okay given, she stepped forth and said her piece. "Your job as a Gym Trainer is to get run over before the Gym Leader. That's it."

    Alicia was on her feet immediately, looking like she might start swinging. "Why, you..."

    "That is completely out of line!" snapped Tai Ying.

    Sofie smirked and crossed her arms. She tilted her head. "I'm not wrong, am I?"

    Hinata looked about to speak up, but she thought better of it. Flint was content to let them get it out of their system. It'd be no good to interrupt it now and tell them to stop, just because it was getting a little heated. Nobody'd be happy that way.

    "Our job is to TEST trainers, just like the Gym Leaders!" Tai Ying barked. "It is a noble position to be proud of, one important to our society that only a select few are willing to do. So hold your head high, Alicia."

    That little speech helped. She did indeed look up proudly, if still discontent. That smile of hers was pretty forced, but it was one all the same.

    Yet Sofie kept pouring on the fuel. "You're making a career out of losing."

    "Sofie, why are you being so mean?" Kimmy asked.

    "I'm telling the truth. That's it." She put her hands up in a shrug and shook her head. "As long as you're a Gym Trainer, you have a ceiling. That's facts. Sure, you could be a Kallisto Keravnos and crush everyone you don't like before they even get to the Gym Leader, but you'd still just be a Gym Trainer."

    "But..." Firuz chimed in. He hesitated as all eyes fell upon him. With a gulp, he said, "But it lets you get a lot of practice for when you really go out to be a trainer..."

    "Yeah?" Sofie replied. "Practice for losing."

    "All right, settle down, everyone," Hinata spoke up.

    Flint had to agree. Now it was getting a little too personal. "We don't need to act like children here! Heh, actual children being excused." He gave Kimmy a thumbs up.

    "No one answered my question," Sofie argued.

    "Hey, you're not wrong." The other reason he'd been quiet was since he had been thinking of a rebuttal, and now he knew just what to say about this. "Most of us are way stronger when we put in the effort! You're right, our job is to lose...but to make'em work with it! And remember everyone, we're really all here for one reason: to train together as Fire-type enthusiasts!"

    And that pepped his Gym Trainers up. Kimmy clapped and hurrahed, as did Firuz in a more restrained fashion. Hinata and Tai Ying both nodded in agreement with smiles. Alicia agreed solemnly, sort of melancholy. And as for Sofie?

    "You barely are a Fire-type trainer!" she yelled.

    "And I've been fixing that." It was a running joke that he, Flint Donaldson, was more of a Fire-type move enthusiast. Heck, he only had five of the type at present counting Coco: Vanara the Infernape, Eldhäst the Rapidash, Inugami the Houndoom, and Raphael the Turtonator! Not even a full team!

    "As for you Alicia, take it easy." He winked and flashed a thumbs-up. "We all have more losses on our record here than wins. But if you need to, training's an option. I'll give you the Flint Special Tutoring Course!"

    Hinata concurred. "It's okay, Alicia. If you're feeling your skills aren't up to snuff, I can lend you a hand too."

    "Me three!" added Kimmy.

    Firuz twiddled his fingers. "I'll help how I can, I guess."

    Of course, Tai Ying was supportive as well. "We are all a family here. If you need assistance, you need but ask."

    "There's your friend Candice too!" Flint reminded her. "Certainly got real skills, that one. Sure she can help you, and hey, know she already has been helping."

    Alicia was now on the verge of crying, for the right reasons of course. She wiped some tears from her eyes. "Thanks, everyone..."

    Sofie only shook her head at the display. "Disgusting," she muttered under her breath as she turned to leave.

    "Where are you going, Sofie?" Kimmy asked.

    "All this friendship stuff pisses me off." She punctuated this by slamming the door behind her.

    Alicia sneered. Good, that meant her mood was picking up! "Wonder what's crawled up her, lately?" Back to the usual Alicia, heh.

    Tai Ying crossed his arms. "Have you spoken with her, Flint?"

    "Not yet."

    "See that you do soon."

    "Sure, but now's not the time. Still got a meeting to get through, after all!" Tai Ying accepted this. "With that distraction out of the way. Let's move onto Gym upkeep. Hinata, if you would?"

    She nodded. "Of course."

    ##########​

    May 13th, 2015​

    "Excuse me! We'd like to register for the Gym, please!"

    Flint happened to be right down the hall trying to have that talk with Sofie, when the voice of a challenger accosted him. With a shrug, he walked out to personally greet them. Challengers take priority! Turned out, it was not one but two. Both looked about fifteen or sixteen, and both had black hair, though the shorter one by about 8cm had ruby-pink eyes and the taller one had sapphire-blue.

    "Welcome, welcome!" He dramatically gestured. "Welcome to my humble little Gym. We'll just need to get you checked in. Just some formalities, they should be over in a lick and snap!"

    "Oh, I like licking snaps," said the taller of the two.

    Flint grinned. He already liked this one. She eyed the other girl, who nervously chuckled. Ah, to be a young couple in love!

    He brought them over to the front desk, saluting the receptionist - Diane Leech. "So what are you ladies' names?" he inquired as she got to work. "I of course, am the Gym Leader, Flint Donaldson! And this is my student, Sofie Shadden!" He motioned to her as she casually watched from the hallway.

    "Shinobu Maehama," introduced the taller one.

    He leaned in with an inquisitive smirk. "Maehama, as in the guys who made the shirt on my back?"

    "The very same. I'm actually the heir to the company," she formally introduced. Heh, it was like she flipped the switch from flirty jokester to level-headed lady.

    "Excuse me," Sofie spoke up, approaching them with a raised eyebrow. "Are those ninja clothes?"

    "Teenage Mutant Ninja Tailor!" she sang. Indeed, she was in a light blue outfit designed for ease of movement! Nothing quite like how she just described it though. Made of soft, quiet material. Even came with a nice gold-yellow scarf. Seemed like they'd be comfy in the hot and in the cold. "I sewed them myself. It's a tribute to the battling coach my family hired when I was ten, Master Iga."

    "Scored Koga's old rival, eh?" Flint asked. "The stuff money can buy. But I bet you just didn't like the socialite look."

    She confirmed with a nod. "It's never really been my style. I love yours, by the way." She directed this at Sofie's punk-goth attire, who turned away and crossed her arms. Shinobu presented her girlfriend with a peppy gesture. "And this is my little pet wolf!"

    "I'm Nori Masuda," she calmly introduced herself with a small bow. She was certainly elegant herself. A beret that matched her eyes with a generic wolf button on the left side, and black and red clothing with that distinct style you'd find in Kalos! Her name was amusing to Flint.

    "Masuda, eh?" he quipped. "Heh, bet that gets a lot of jokes about if you're related to that guy who helps work on those virtual journeys. And Nori, too!" He vigorously clapped. "Also bet you get compared to a certain other Nori."

    She laughed a little sheepishly. "I get both of those a lot."

    He tilted his head, studying her a bit further. "Heck, you even look a bit like him!" he concluded. "Dark hair, reddish eyes. Wouldn't it be funny if you were long lost family? It's gonna be a little confusing once you make it to Sunyshore Gym!"

    "If she makes it to Sunyshore Gym," Sofie cut in. "She looks like a casual trainer."

    He smirked. Nice to see she had a good sense for that, but not a very nice thing to say or necessarily the right conclusion. "Never count anyone out, Sofie!" he wagged a finger. "There's no stopping someone with League aspirations!"

    "Well," Nori pressed her thumbs together. "I don't really want to enter the League. I'm just traveling with Shinobu and doing the whole journey thing with her."

    Shinobu snickered. "I like doing all sorts of things with you." She winked and nudged Nori, who practically drooped as she blushed profusely.

    "Will you two get a fucking room, already?!" Sofie snapped.

    Flint chimed in, barely containing his own chuckling. "I think they're going to get one of those rooms tonight." Shinobu laughed and applauded, evidently approving of that one. Nori and Sofie both got redder, for different reasons of course.

    "Gods, don't go along with this!" Sofie complained.

    "Nothing wrong with a little joking. But hey, seems like you're all checked in." The girls nodded as the secretary handed back their trainer cards. "So let's get you over to the puzzle!"

    The puzzle room was only a short jaunt down the hall. Sofie tagged along as he led the two challengers there. He opened the door and stepped inside. It was a dimly lit room, overall maybe like something out of Fuego Ironworks by happenstance.

    "A dark room..." Nori mused aloud. She took out a cell phone, presumably looking a couple things up about it. "It says this is a steam and vent maze."

    Shinobu snickered. "It's steamy, you say?"

    "Yup, it's gonna get hot in there," Flint replied.

    "Is it hard?" the ninja girl asked.

    "The difficulty is on the stiff side." Gym Puzzles were never much, but Flint's was considered the second toughest in all of Sinnoh, behind Warutsu's. With a grin, he added, "You might find yourself playing there for a while."

    "Sounds like we'll be having some fun, then." Shinobu licked her lips, making Nori nervously turn away. "Let's get started, shall we?"

    "Don't fool around too much!" He called to them as they set off. Leaving the double entendres aside, he clarified, "Seriously. Ten minute time limit. Had to put it in after a kid got heatstroke in there. Holler if you start to feel lightheaded, and we'll shut the steam off and be in right away!"

    He closed the door. Tai Ying was already ready and waiting their triumph at the other end. "Man, do wonder though," he remarked to Sofie. "I wonder how we're allowed to do these things. I mean, anywhere but a Pokemon Gym, these'd be serious workplace safety violations! Hahaha! I heard there's a Gym out in Galar that blindly drops its challengers in icy pits? Can you believe that?"

    "Pft."

    Yeah, he could tell what was on her mind. He shrugged. "Relax, she's just showing her love in her own way."

    "Neither of them take battling seriously."

    Huh, and here he thought it was about the PDA, maybe that they're two girls. "May be true, maybe it's true. But hey, doesn't mean they can't be strong. Just look at me! I've been called a pretty chill guy. Ironic for a Fire-type expert, isn't it? Although I suppose I'm not much of one without a full team, but I'm working on that!"

    Sofie waved dismissively. "Ramble, ramble, ramble. Remember, it's not just me versus that other Nori." Well! That was a hilariously rude thing to call him. Flint actually chuckled over it. "You're going to have to battle Volkner. He'll be going all out, so you better not slack either!"

    "I know that! But hey, maybe you're not wrong. Heh, the teacher learning from the student." He could only snicker at the irony there. "We're always learning, even from unexpected sources. Maybe I should be training myself more and not just you. But that's way down the line, could be years before that happens. Don't want to burn out now! Why I'm taking it easy. Make sense?"

    "Sure." She rolled her eyes.

    "Great!" The Gym Leader grinned. "So for now, let's await in the arena their triumph!"

    "You do that. I have more important things to be doing."

    Flint could only smirk as she went off in the direction of the maze exit. There'd been an irony on his mind ever since visiting Volkner in mid-March. Sofie could be like him, with her passion burning bright and all. But she more often reminded him a little of Volkner back in the day! She was a little cruder and ruder, sure, not to mention actually had some style. But she had the same mindset towards battle and with no sense of fun!

    He recalled an incident back when he and Volkner were on their journeys...

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~​

    June 25th, 1998​

    Flint was eleven at the time. A ripe young age to be journeying. He'd recently met a traveling companion a year younger than him. Ran into her down in the Great Marsh, back before it became a tourist attraction. Many people know her as Hinata Hanabusa! They were hitting it off well on their trip up Route 212, when she suggested stopping by the mansion situated there. N.V. Backlot was always welcoming to visitors, as long as they let him get his boasts in. Still is like that to this day, in fact.

    They could tell before they got in the doors that something was going on! The mansion was way too lively for it to be otherwise. Unless a bunch of kids like them decided to visit it all at once! And hey, wouldn't you know it? He saw a spiky-haired blond boy with a black coat in the lobby!

    "V!" he hurried over and greeted his friend. "Didn't expect to run into you here of all places!"

    Volkner slowly turned around. After some initial horror, he sneered and shook a fist threateningly. "Go away, Flint!"

    "Hey now," he put up his palms. "I have every right to be here, same as you! And is that any way to treat an old friend?"

    The spiky-haired blond rolled his eyes. "We're not friends, we're rivals!"

    Hinata stepped in. "Is there something going on at the mansion?"

    "Figure it out yourself!" snapped Volkner as he stormed off. "Or better yet, leave now!"

    So they just talked to another guest, and found out, Mr. Backlot was holding a competition in his Trophy Garden for young trainers! Winner gets an evolutionary stone of their choosing! May not seem like much these days, but back then, this was a huge deal. Before the Underground started getting mined, stones were hard to get up in Sinnoh! So him and Hinata decided to enter, right at the last minute. She had her Vulpix, and he'd just caught a Bellsprout down near Pastoria that would've loved to have one of those stones. And of course, Volkner was entering for his Pikachu's sake.

    The competition came in stages. A certain number of entrants passed each round, the rest got eliminated. He couldn't remember all of it; maybe Hinata would? But he knew it came down to him, Volkner, and two others at the final leg of it, which was Pokemon hide and seek! Thanks to Gneiss' tall body and Lagomo's keen ears, he was able to find the concealed Pokemon before anyone else did!

    All the competitors gathered in the front foyer afterward to celebrate his victory. He was called onto a small stage of sorts. There was a table set up atop with one of every stone on it. From a shimmering teal Dawn Stone to a serene blue Water Stone, they were all accounted for.

    "Good show out there!" Mr. Backlot congratulated. Back in those days, he had a full head of brown hair and no mustache. "I'm almost a little jealous of your Pokemon! Almost! Haha!" Flint laughed back. "As promised, you can have any kind of stone from my collection that you want! So, what did you have in mind?"

    "Well, I got a little Bellsprout here. Hey Venus! Come on out!" He cracked open her Poke Ball, and a little root with a bell-shaped face and leafs for hands popped out. He flashed her two thumbs up. "So Venus! Guess what?" He let it hang in the air. "We've won!"

    The little Bellsprout cheered this, doing a celebratory victory dance. No doubt, she'd want to thank her teammates later.

    "So what do you want to be when you grow up?" He intentionally worded it in a silly way. He glanced at Mr. Backlot. "Letting her decide between a Leaf Stone and Poison Stone, if it wasn't clear."

    "Of course, my boy!" Mr. Backlot retrieved a greenish rock with a leaf pattern and a blackish one with speckles.

    Flint placed them down in front of his Pokemon. "So what'll it be, Venus?"

    The little Bellsprout mused this for a while. Eventually, she lifted the Poison Stone. Or tried to, but the message was clear.

    "Heh heh! A Bloomitts, eh?" He grinned. "Y'know, I always wondered. Gloom evolves into Bellossom, and Weepinbell into Bloomitts. Think someone got the naming pattern mixed up?"

    "It always did puzzle me!" agreed Mr. Backlot, taking back the Leaf Stone. "Once again, congratulations!"

    "Thank you! Haha! We did it, guys! We won the Poison Stone!" He raised it into the air as his fellow trainers cheered and clapped, holding it as proudly as any Gym Badge. Even the servants were getting in on it. "Look out, Sinnoh League, as Venus the future Bloomitts is coming for you!"

    Flint looked out into the crowd with a grin. He spotted Volkner leaning against a pillar, sneering with his arms crossed, simply glaring. As he left the stage, a smiling Hinata approached him.

    "Nicely done, Flint," she said, her hands folded.

    "Thanks, Hinata! Man! What a rush!" He did a double-armed fist pump. "Thanks for suggesting we come here! Never would've gotten this if you hadn't done so! I admit, I was a teensy bit worried about how I was going to evolve Venus at first. Guess I don't have to, anymore!"

    He glanced out, finding Volkner had yet to move or change expression.

    "That's one heck of a Leer attack, V! Might even be a Scary Face!" he joked. "But hey, don't feel so bad! Tough break for now, but we all have our losses. It's about how we move on from them that defines us! So just relax, don't get caught up on this too much. I'm sure you'll probably find a Thunder Stone someday!"

    "Shut up."

    He wasn't shouting, and yet Volkner's voice cut through the mansion, silencing everyone.

    "Hey now!" Flint spoke up, hurt by this.

    Volkner slowly approached, his words cold and menacing. "Why did you have to come here? I specifically left Pastoria ahead of you so I wouldn't have to put up with you being a step ahead of me at every turn. And then what happens? You catch up, you swoop in, you win that stone, and brag about it to my face."

    Hinata interposed. "Stop acting immature! Flint won this, fair and square!"

    "Stay out of this," he firmly but gently shoved her aside, without missing a step. "This is between me and him."

    The silvery green haired girl growled. Flint took it in stride. "Well, it can't be helped, V," he said with a shrug. "I'm sorry, but I am a trainer too! Gotta look out for my own Pokes!" He chuckled.

    "I'm sick of you." Volkner took out a Poke Ball. "I'm challenging you, right here. I'm crushing you and rubbing it in your face."

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~​

    And he did! Had to stay at the mansion for a couple days to let Vanara, Gneiss, and Venus recover from the thumping they got, it was that bad! He'd known Volkner ever since moving to Sunyshore, since they were in the same grade and all. Yet he'd never seen him battle Pokemon with that kind of brutal precision before! And once he won, he lived up to his promise of making him know it. That was the first time, but wasn't the last.

    Funny, Volkner was one of his best friends, but they barely understood each other at times. He'd always been the better trainer! He never understood what his deal was!

    "Flint."

    His trip down memory lane was interrupted by one of his Gym Trainers. "What's shakin', Tai Ying?" he asked the elderly man. "Do we officially have two new challengers?"

    He nodded. "More importantly, I came to talk to you about Sofie."

    "What about her? Spoke with her a little before this, if you're wondering."

    "She had a confrontation with the challengers after they finished the puzzle."

    Flint shrugged. "It's just a little bit of trash talk. Ideological differences. She thinks they don't take things serious enough." He snickered a bit. "Heh, bet they'll prove that right wrong in their battle!"

    Volkner always used to accuse him of that, and yet he always did his best to give him a fight. Even at the League! Flint lost, but he showed Volkner you don't have to be super serious to be super strong! There was never any shame in losing to someone better than you. Especially if that someone nearly became Champion!

    Tai Ying shook his head. "This went beyond trash talk. She used words that I'm not going to repeat."

    The Gym Leader blinked, ruffling his 'fro. "Well, all right. Sounds like she was using slurs. Can't have her doing that. Not good for her image. So I'll talk to her about it after the qualifier."

    "See that you do. She's becoming an embarrassment to the Gym."

    With this, Tai Ying left. Flint leaned back on the lawn chair he watched battles from. Sounds like the Sofie situation was picking up too much. Maybe he'd have to nip it in the bud after all.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    Bloomitts is yet another GS beta Pokemon, better known as Tsubomitto. Another beta Pokemon shows up in the next chapter, which continues this plot.

    Nori Masuda here is of course a reference to Nori the user. I didn't post MarAwry here, but returned to post the metaseries proper. Imagine my surprise when there was someone named Nori around - a silly coincidence that spawned a bit of joking (and makes me always specify Nori Carino/Other!Nori on Discord). This universe's version of that Nori (and Shinobu) is a mashup of her fictional counterpart(s), non-fiction, and my own ideas. Incidentally, Nori's first name means "belief", which was chosen for having Japanese origins and fitting what he does.
     
    Last edited:
    • GAIDEN: May Your Flint Burn Bright (second part)
    • The biggest changes went to the "drowning" scene. Originally the-then Spike and friends directly caused it by forcing Nori to retrieve something. It didn't fit their new personalities or with Kallisto, so I had to come up with something else, even giving reasons why Eddie and Tono wouldn't help. I felt it was a bit shaky, but everything else around it worked much better. Month 5 got way bigger than I expected - hence splitting it up. I would've added more (say a chapter's worth) to January and February if I knew the scope would expand this much, though.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    GAIDEN: May Your Flint Burn Bright (second part)​
    May 13th, 2015​

    Flint called Alicia and Firuz in as Nori and Shinobu entered the arena, escorted by Kimmy. Heh, Nori Carino as ‘that other Nori.’ Only Sofie would say that about him. Flint figured the best way to differentiate them if needed was boy Nori and girl Nori. Speaking of Sofie though, she was right in behind the Gym Trainers. The ones present, anyhow. Hinata had taken the day off to deal with personal affairs, and Tai Ying was manning the front.

    "Nice job making it through the puzzle!" Flint said, as his Gym Trainers stood in a line before him. "But now, it's time for the pretest! Before you face little 'ol me, the both of you are going to have a battle against one of these three fine young trainers!"

    "I'm around a fine trainer every day," Shinobu joked, slapping Nori on the butt. The other girl nearly leaped onto the ceiling in surprise.

    Kimmy tilted her head. "Miss Shinobu, why are your spanking your friend? Did she do something wrong?"

    And that made the ninja-garbed teenage girl lock up. She wasn't sure how to explain her gesture to a nine-year-old.

    The Gym could only laugh. "Might wanna tone that down while you're here, if that's all right." he chuckled, and added in a silly voice, "There's children here!"

    "Yeah, good idea," she quickly and awkwardly conceded, much to the relief of her girlfriend.

    "Alrighty then! So we have Firuz and Alicia here. And don't forget little Kimmy, heh. Real toughie for her age. So who wants to go first, and against who?"

    Nori raised her hand. "Would it be possible for us to battle together?"

    Flint smirked. "From how naturally you asked that, it sounds like you've been doing that a lot." He laughed as their reactions gave away it was fact. He even had a good idea of who agreed to it and who didn't. "Lemme guess, worked with Fantina and Byron, but not with Gardenia or Warutsu?"

    "Yeah," Shinobu said. "We figured it's worth asking. Saves us and you some time."

    "Well, sure you heard this one before, but the point of a Gym is to test your individual strengths! If you're into battling together, maybe you should consider entering one of the tag team competitions? Informal of course, but hey, everyone but the League respects'em."

    Nori shrugged. "Like I said, I'm not that serious about battling."

    "I getcha. But hey, I'm interested in seeing your teamwork. So here's what we'll do. You can qualify together, but you'll have to face me separate! Sound like a deal?"

    "So just like we did on Byron!" Shinobu replied. Exactly as he expected, heh.

    "Kimmy's still learning double battles, so you face Firuz and Alicia!" He motioned for Kimmy to sit down. "So step right up! Two trainers a side, and two Pokemon each!" He glanced over at his judge - Russell Leech, very nice guy, and married to the receptionist - who nodded and got to his position along with the trainers.

    As they were doing so, Sofie walked over to the challengers. She gave Nori a good, long look.

    "Um, can I help you?" Nori impatiently asked.

    The punk teen harrumphed, turning and sitting on the stands without answering. Kimmy scooted up beside her, chattering away excitedly. She swiftly told the little girl to be quiet and watch.

    The trainers were given two minutes to talk strategy. After this, the judge stepped forward for formalities. "This is a Snowpoint Gym qualifier battle, pitting Shinobu Maehama and Nori Masuda against Alicia Hardee and Firuz Orswell! Gym Trainers, send out your first Pokemon!"

    Just as Flint was hoping, they both sent out their Darmanitan! But while Firuz' was a blazing red primate with fiery eyebrows, Alicia's was a frigid white one with gems encrusted in its body and a snowball on its head. Of course, it had a fire burning inside...

    "Challengers, send out your first Pokemon!"

    Nori sent out a pastiche of a Pika, a ghostly Pokemon with beady eyes on its lower body and a scribble of the most famous electric rodent on its guise. Shinobu's was a daring choice, a blue Pokemon with two ribbons billowing behind it, with a red mask-like face that had green stripes. It folded its hands behind its back as it emerged.

    "An Accelgor!" Flint exclaimed. "Heh heh, have guts walking into a Fire Gym with a Bug! Can't wait to see what tricks you have up your sleeve!"

    The judge waved his flags. "Let the battle begin!"

    ---​

    The trick she had turned out to be not just Water Shuriken as he figured, but Mud Shot too! Crafty, as expected for a student of Iga! It was a fierce battle indeed. Nori's Mimikyu went down first, followed by Firuz' Darmanitan and then Accelgor - getting beaten by Alicia's Darmanitan as it became a burning snowman. Shinobu's second Pokemon was a Vaporeon! It quickly took down Alicia's Darmanitan, and it was down to one a side!

    The four active combatants paused, hesitant and waiting for new orders from their trainers. The two girls had been taken off-guard by the appearance of Alicia's Tentacruel, not ready for a not-Fire type at all. Both sides had a Pokemon taking cover behind their partner. In Nori's case, it was a light brown and white wolf with sky-blue eyes. And for Firuz, it was a red ursid with puffy fur - like some sort of cross between an Ursaring and a Flareon to the unknowing - with black ears and a flame in its forehead. His starter Pokemon, Dyna the Dynabear!

    The two teams swiftly whispered strategy to each other, but it was the challengers who struck first.

    "Lycanroc, Accelrock!" shouted Nori. Well, she said the move wrong, but her Pokemon knew what she meant. The pet wolf's pet wolf crouched and charged for Tentacruel, shrouded in stony energies.

    "Grab it!" said Alicia as a counter. Yet this was a feint! It powered through and continued toward Dyna, knocking the bear away.

    "Vaporeon, Whirlpool!" Shinobu was right in behind. A swirling vortex of water formed around Dyna and was quickly soaked up by the sand. But this had the result of creating a muddy sinkhole! Woof, that can happen in this field.

    "Dyna..." Firuz said, uncertain of what to do.

    "I got your back!" his fellow Gym Trainer declared. "Pull him out, Tentacruel!"

    Shinobu lowered her gaze, smirking. "Now Water Pulse!"

    "And use Rock Slide, Lycanroc!"

    Alicia was on-point. "Throw him!"

    Everything happened quick! Tentacruel reached in and flung away Dynabear right as the attacks came. The Water Pulse missed entirely, leaving only her to be pummeled by the tumbling stones that Lycanroc made.

    Vaporeon stepped back in horror, her trainer just as stunned. Wide open! Flint grinned and turned to Firuz, waiting the inevitable Thunder Fang.

    ...only it didn't come. Firuz was stumbling over his words in uncertainty. Giving their opponents time to recover.

    "Firuz!" Alicia warned, but it was too late.

    "Hydro Pump!" Shinobu's Vaporeon spewed a high-powered blast of water. "You're all washed up!" she fired off a punny one-liner with a wink.

    Alicia's reaction was swift, coming as Dynabear was tumbling away. "Bubble Beam!"

    Nori nodded. "Dodge and Bite, Lycanroc!"

    The wolf tried, only to get caught at strange angles from the stream of bubbles. It proved too much, and just like that, its role in the battle was over.

    Russell raised both flags. "Both Dyna and Lycanroc are unable to battle!"

    A sort of double knockout! It was just one-on-one now, and Shinobu was already having her Pokemon advance to settle it. "It's all right, I got this!" she assured Nori. "Retaliate, Vaporeon!"

    "Look out!" her trainer warned.

    Tentacruel turned in time to avoid being struck from behind, but the blow fueled by the defeat of Nori's Lycanroc certainly left a mark! Alicia didn't seem too concerned.

    "Giga Drain, Tentacruel!"

    Shinobu stepped back. She was about to shout an order, but there was no escaping the tentacles at that range! Her Eeveelution got caught, ensared, and drained of energy by Alicia's Pokemon. Flint wanted to get up and tell her ‘way to go,’ but he didn't want to be disrespectful or jinx anything.

    "We may need to risk trying that," Shinobu mused. "Vaporeon, use Synchronoise!"

    Wow, you don't see that move every day. Like a siren from the depths, Vaporeon sang, vocal chords attuned just to the right frequency. Tentacruel shuddered as the soundwaves passed right through her body, yet Flint could tell from the damage being limited to some mild discomfort that move was unpracticed, if not only recently learned.

    "Throw it, Tentacruel!"

    She was able to execute this order, no sweat. Vaporeon halted its song as it was hurled away. Landed on its head, but not a real problem on sand. The two Pokemon got up and faced each other, as their trainers gave simultaneous orders.

    "Sludge Wave!"

    "Muddy Water!" Shinobu added an extra gesture.

    The two moves crashed against each other. Flint had seen a lot of move struggles in his career, but this was the first time he'd seen one between two waves! No exploding to be had here like in fiction, though, thank the gods! It was an inconclusive duel, leaving only Tentacruel standing.

    "It used Dig!" Alicia caught on without even needing to see the very obvious hole. "Jump!"

    Tentacruel crouched and pushed up. Just in time too, as Vaporeon came up beneath. Right into her grasp!

    "One more time! Giga Drain!"

    Shinobu wavered. "Last Resort?" she asked with uncertainty. Much to her very visible and very blatant relief, her Pokemon got a warm golden glow. Right as the draining started, Vaporeon launched itself into the soft underbelly of Tentacruel. The mermaid-like fox scampered away, gasping for air as the blue and ruby squid collapsed.

    "Tentacruel is unable to battle!" Russ announced. "Victory goes to the challengers, Shinobu Maehama and Nori Masuda!"

    "We did it!" cried Shinobu, instantly giving Nori a huge lifting hug. The poor girl looked like she was clinging on for dear life rather than reciprocating. Flint always loved seeing happy couples come to his Gym!

    He was quick to congratulate them. "Nice going! Heh, looking forward to facing you both in a couple days!" They seemed a little caught up in their celebration for the moment, so he eyed his Gym Trainers.

    Firuz lowered his head. "Sorry for holding you down," he said to Alicia. "You would've won if you had a better partner."

    Alicia reached up to pat his shoulder. "It's fine. Knowing that's enough for me, and I get why you're not in good shape."

    "Thanks..." He looked over at Sofie, who was glaring.

    "What?" Alicia impatiently asked. "Have a problem with us?"

    "You did fine, I guess. And you need to get over yourself." She said this to Alicia and Firuz respectively, and turned her ire to the challengers. "But these two? Pathetic." She shook her head dismissively.

    Nori pushed her girlfriend off her. She stared at Sofie, unamused by her comments. "Excuse me?" she asked, suddenly very cold.

    "Beside celebrating like you've already won your badges?" She pointed at Shinobu. "You. Hitting niche moves from a lost position that you're uncertain you haven't fulfilled the requirements for doesn't make you a good trainer. It makes you lucky."

    The heiress tailor ninja glanced away, awkwardly shuffling her feet. "Well, better to be lucky than good, as they say," she mumbled, not really denying it.

    "Your luck's going to run out some day if you keep going the way you are. But more importantly, you." Sofie approached Nori. "That was one of the most pathetic displays I've seen from a challenger with that many badges. That's the real reason why you're double battling, isn't it? You're riding your girlfriend's ass to success."

    The dark-haired girl stood her ground. "This is uncalled for."

    "Yeah, I agree," Shinobu said, though a little taken aback by her girlfriend's sudden shift in demeanor.

    "Blah, blah, blah." Sofie waved their retorts off. "If you fought any of us on your own, you wouldn't stand a chance. May even go for both of you."

    "Don't forget," said Nori, opening her jacket. The Forest, Mine, Relic, and Desire Badges were pinned within. "I've won four badges, and I had to win most of those on my own. Not with Shinobu's help."

    "You're not going to win many more that way." Sofie considered for a moment, then threw down the gauntlet. "I could take you on two on one and win."

    Nori glared. "Then prove it," she lowly challenged.

    "Yeah!" a fired-up Shinobu agreed.

    "Get your Pokemon healed in the lobby, and I will."

    Flint waved to them. "Feel free to use the field outside! It's what it's there for, after all!" He chuckled. Classic Sofie.

    His Gym Trainers gathered before him with concern. "Flint, is this okay?" asked Alicia.

    Kimmy agreed. "She was being really rude to those girls!"

    "Eh, let her get it out of her system. Either she wins and hey, she's doing well on the training front!" He grinned. "Or she gets a reality check and looks silly after saying all she did just now! Between us? I think it could go either way, but if I could put money on this one, I'd say bet on black."

    Sofie Shadden had some flaws in her own battle technique, but she was not to be underestimated! And attitude aside, she had some valid critique to give to those two.

    "Mmmm..." Firuz was very conflicted.

    "Gonna go cheer her on?" Flint asked.

    "I guess..."

    ---​

    Firuz was lost in thought. He was wandering, nearly instinctively following as they went outside.

    "What are you tagging along for?"

    He nearly jumped out of his skin as Sofie barked at him. "I'm...just going to watch you, Sofie." He wanted to think he still had a chance with her, but...he was starting to wonder that even if he did, was it worth it? Did he give himself up to someone who he shouldn't have? Maybe whatever happened here would help him sort through this...

    "Okay, fine," she muttered, turning back to Tai Ying. "But what's your excuse?"

    "I am here to keep things in order," came the stern reply.

    Sofie paused, shaking her head. "If it makes you feel better about yourself."

    Tai Ying seethed. Sofie was mercifully spared from his wrath when Nori Masuda spoke up. "Are we going to do this or not?" she impatiently asked.

    "Of course," Sofie passively replied, taking her position. Harsh as she was, she looked so elegant when she was in battle. "Pick your best Pokemon, and I'll pick my best."

    "That would be Vaporeon and Lycanroc," Shinobu declared. At once, they sent out the Pokemon they had used against him and Alicia.

    "And here's mine! Shadeblade!"

    "Just one?" asked Firuz, as Sofie's Absol materialized. A Pokemon with fur as white as snow, and body as black as night - including the scimitar-like blade on its head. "You're not going to just use Shadeblade, are you?"

    Sofie waved a hand. "I told them, I'd take them both on, two on one, and win. And that's what I'm going to do."

    Tai Ying was not impressed, scowling not only at Sofie, but at Firuz himself. The young man wavered. What should he do? No, he should follow his heart here. He stood beside Sofie. He wasn't going to be a part of this battle himself, but...he wanted to be here with her.

    Nori Masuda scoffed. "You're overconfident."

    "And you're about to learn your limits." Sofie pointed fiercely. "Thunderbolt, then Close Combat!"

    ---​

    Flint went to his office after the match. He always recorded every challenger who qualified to battle him in his journal. He also noted that Firuz had been keeping track of it in his stead when he was away. Good to see!

    There was a knock. "Come on in!" he said. And with that, Firuz himself walked in, accompanied by Tai Ying.

    "Hey, guys! Thanks for keeping track of the challengers while I was gone, Firuz! Now I can say I still haven't missed recording a single one!" He chuckled, although their expressions remained forlorn and angered respectively. Could be any reason for it, of course, so he asked, "So? How'd it go?"

    "Mr. Donaldson," Tai Ying started. He paused, tapping his chin and pulling at his tiny beard. After about ten seconds, he sighed heavily and said, "I'm submitting my resignation."

    The Gym Leader nearly fell out of his chair. "Wait, hold on, what?!"

    "It'll be on your desk by tomorrow morning."

    "Wait, Tai Ying!" he shouted, but the elderly man was already out the door and headed down the stairs. Come to think of it, he should've known something was amiss as soon as he called him by his last name. He looked to his top Gym Trainer. "Firuz, what happened?!"

    He nervously shuffled his feet. "Sofie beat them both...really badly. I thought I was watching an old Surge Gym match." No, it probably wasn't like that. Flint had a feeling who she was really trying to have her Pokemon emulate. Or more specifically, which Pokemon. "And after that, she mouthed off to them and Tai Ying."

    "Where's Sofie?"

    "She went back to her apartment. She didn't even say goodbye..."

    "All right. Thanks, Firuz."

    "No problem..."

    Flint leaned back in his chair. He took a sip of his coffee, and peered down at the journal. Under May 13th. Shinobu Maehama and Nori Masuda, passed the puzzle and qualfied together in a double battle against Alicia and Firuz, 5:32pm. How had things gone so wrong, and so quickly?

    ##########​

    May 14th, 2015​

    The next day was one of the hardest Flint had in a long while. He approached it with a smile, like he did every day. Yet it didn't change the fact that a cold, dark cloud was hanging over the normally warm Gym. Even the challengers who came in could tell something was amiss.

    Word must've spread, or maybe she got told about it, but Kimmy knew before her parents dropped her off from school. The first thing she did was come and find him.

    "What's going on, Mr. Donaldson?" the pre-tween girl asked. "Why is Mr. Huang leaving?"

    "Personal reasons, Kimmy."

    "But why?" she prodded. "He said it was cause of Sofie."

    Flint shrugged. "They had a little disagreement."

    "Is Sofie a bad person?"

    "I don't think she is, but..."

    "But?"

    Flint winced. He knew he shouldn't have added that ‘but’ in there. "Well, even though she's a big girl, she still has some growing up to do."

    "Oh." Downtrodden, the little blue-haired girl wandered off to ponder this.

    That was the best way he could put it to her. This had to be hard on Kimmy. Here she was, young and innocent without a care but Pokemon and her friends, and now she was being exposed to the ugliness of the adult world. It was all Flint could do to keep her out of this. She didn't deserve that.

    ---​

    "Can I ask you something, Flint?" Alicia came to speak with him a little later on in the day, right after a challenger had walked away with a shiny new badge. Flint still had it in him to work, even as his Gym Trainers weren't feeling it. Understandably so, of course.

    Flint nodded. "Sure, Alicia. What's on your mind?"

    "Why are you letting that bitch get away with all this?"

    The Gym Leader flashed his palms. "Whoa! Language, Alicia!"

    "That's what she is." She crossed her arms. "A bitch."

    "Not going to argue with you putting it that way, but Kimmy could be around! Could choose a better word for it!" Alicia shut her eyes, nodding in apology. "Well, for your question, it's because she's my student!"

    "And what about us?" she demanded. "Most of us are here to learn from you, too. Are you fine with letting her say and do whatever she wants, when we've been with you longer?" The dark-blue haired girl scowled. "Because that's why Tai Ying's leaving, you know."

    "I know that. Realized it before you said it."

    "Then do something about it already! She's starting to piss me off! Everything at the Gym was fine until she showed up."

    That last part was exaggerating, but Flint had to admit, she'd been causing definite problems the past two months or so. "Heh, if you're this fired up, guess I should listen. I'll deal with it as best I can."

    "Okay, just..." Alicia took a deep breath, doing her best to compose herself. "I hate seeing this, that's all. Hope you can understand."

    Oh, how Flint understood. He hated seeing this just as much.

    ---​

    It was Tai Ying's last day at Snowpoint Gym. He still came in to work, but spent most of the day getting his stuff cleaned out and saying his goodbyes. He had one final battle right before closing time, going out with a victory against a prospective challenger who came all the way from Unova. Alas, it came time to bid him farewell.

    "So you're sure about this?" Flint asked. It was just after 9pm. The Gym was closed, and only a few remaining staff were around. Alicia and Kimmy had long since left. He didn't know where Firuz was, and HInata had taken the day off. It was simply the two of them in the lobby.

    The elderly man nodded. "I am."

    "And there's nothing I can say to change your mind?"

    "I've made it up. It's her or me, and I know what your answer is."

    So it was. He was assigned Sofie by the Officials to train her in the fine art of battling Pokemon, for when the time came where she would be a special operative in the International Police. If he gave up on her, it would mean giving up his dreams of being an Elite Four member. Among other potential consequences. It simply wasn't an option.

    "I wish it didn't have to be like this," Flint said.

    "It's your duty. I understand."

    "All right." It was a relief that he understood this impasse they were at. "Thanks for getting it, and more importantly, for your years of service."

    He stuck out his hand. Tai Ying accepted at once. However, the Mitsutri adherent did have some parting words for him.

    "Flint. For love of the gods...no." He firmly shook his head. "For your sake and Sofie's, you need to put your foot down with her. If she doesn't shape up, she'll regret it. Perhaps fatally, far down the line."

    The Gym Leader nodded. He could see that happening, scarily enough. "All right, I'll try. For real, this time."

    With this, Tai Ying left the Gym as a member of its staff for the final time, giving Flint a lot to think about. He sat down on one of the chairs to think. He had been putting it off for too long, and it's what led to this situation. No more doing that.

    "Hey."

    Flint looked up to see Hinata had entered. He greeted her with a small wave, as she sat beside him.

    "Sorry I haven't been around more the past few days," the steel-green haired woman said. "Looking like I'm about to go through a nasty divorce."

    "Sorry to hear. Don't blame you," came his tired reply.

    Hinata tilted her head. "Rare to see you this down."

    "Should be obvious why."

    "It is. Like you always say, she's a real handful." She glanced up at the ceiling. "On a different note. Flint, do you ever think you've ever missed your chance at something by making the wrong choice?"

    A strange question to ask. "A couple times, yeah. But doesn't mean it's too late or you can't turn things around. As long as you're still up and fighting, you always have a chance."

    Hinata smiled deeply. "I'll keep that in mind."

    "Speaking of," he said, rising to his feet with a stretch. "Those words apply here too. I really need to have a serious talk with Sofie. For reals, this time."

    His Gym Trainer and longtime friend nodded. "I passed her on my way in, you should be able to catch up with her. Sorry I can't be any more help."

    "It's all right. Just take it easy, Hinata."

    "Thanks, Flint," she said with a soft chuckle. "Don't know where I'd be without you sometimes."

    He winked. "Back at ya." If there was one person in his life he could not imagine himself being without, it was Hinata Hanabusa - a hair's breadth ahead of Volkner for first place. "Just lemme know if you need time off. Lock up for me if you head out."

    "Will do."

    When he was sure he was out of earshot, Flint sighed heavily. He had to be strong for everyone right now, most of all himself. This whole time he had been hoping things would sort themselves out. With it now clear that was not happening, it was time to step in. Yet he had no idea how he was going to do so. If only he could turn to Volkner for help here...

    ---​

    The Gym Leader managed to catch up with his student right as she left the parking lot. Best to do this as soon as possible, he figured.

    "Sofie."

    She turned on her heels and sneered. "What?"

    Flint took a deep breath. He was never good at this sort of thing. How to word it? "We need to talk about how you've been treating the Gym Trainers and challengers as of late."

    "Look," she countered. "Your job is to teach me how to battle, isn't that right?"

    "I mean, it sure is, but–"

    "And you've been doing that, and I appreciate the help." She nodded. "I'm not here to learn manners, I'm here to learn how to fight. And you've been training me and my Pokemon well, as far as I see it."

    She wasn't wrong. That's what made this so hard. What was he supposed to say to her? You need to change who you are? No one wants to be told the kind of person they have to be. Sure, you can give them a little nudge, point them in the right direction. But what are you supposed to do about those rare few who need to seriously reassess the kind of person they are?

    Right as she turned around, Flint spoke up again. "Then let's fight."

    "What?"

    "Let's have a battle! Four-on-four!" He clapped his hands, pressing them together. "How does that sound?"

    Sofie sighed. "If it'll make you happy." She glanced to the side. "Let's use the outdoor one."

    "Heh heh. A night battle sounds good me."

    She agreed to it, great! It was a little something he learned from Volkner. The best way to get to know someone is in a Pokemon battle. It was a way for trainers to express things without words. And he was a little bit concerned about her battling, anyway. He only hoped this worked.

    "Um."

    A voice came from his right. Firuz.

    "Can I...watch?" He nervously pressed two fingers together.

    Sofie's stride had not been broken by the appearance of her one-time partner, but she did hear him. "Knock yourself out," she replied. "Still not going out with you though."

    "Oh..."

    So it was settled! They made their way to the training area behind the Gym. They held Gym Battles and qualifiers here sometimes, but it was mostly for the Gym Trainers and guests to practice on. Alicia liked it in particular. She had two Ice-types, after all.

    They took their positions. Firuz watched from one of the benches. Near the middle, but closer to Sofie's side. "Well, since I know what you'll be using, I guess I should tell you what I am." Another trick he owed to Volkner. This should let her plan out her strategy in her head, so he'd get nothing but her best! He retrieved four balls from his belt, counting them off one by one.

    "Vanara!" His formal starter after Gneiss and his ace Fire type. "Nordstern!" His beloved Drifblim and a key member of his team on his journey back in the day. "Fukufuji!" A lost Snorunt he met near the temple, now a happy Glalie. "And...!"

    He spun and gave the fourth ball a toss. Out came a little electric mouse. Easy to confuse with a Pichu variant to an undiscerning eye, but this Pika had red cheeks and a cross-shaped tail. A friend he caught in Hoenn with his brother, who he gave to his good friend he named this one after. "Voltenz!" he announced his Pokemon's entrance. "Let's light a fire!"

    "The fucking Plusle?" Sofie remarked. He'd considered giving Coco her maiden battle, but decided it was best to save that for later. Sofie considered her choice of lead Pokemon. "Baubgoblin, you're in." He loved that nickname, punny and creative. A dark violet gremlin with gems in his body and two diamond-like eyes!

    Firuz tentatively stood. He glanced over at Flint, who shrugged and motioned for him to sit down. "Well, I guess we don't need a judge for this," said the Gym Leader. "Let's just get this show on the road!"

    ---​

    "Finish it with Shadow Claw!"

    "Thunderbolt, Voltenz!"

    They had come to the end of a hard-fought match! To his delight, Sofie hadn't been slacking in her training. Her Sableye may have been her newest Pokemon, but he was still a match for Voltenz! But not enough of one! As the specter was charging in for a swipe, he was finished off by a blast of electricity!

    "Three to four! Heh heh."

    "Hmph." Sofie crossed her arms.

    He had to admit, this was confirming things. He voiced his concerns. "I noticed you're not having him take advantage of his ability."

    "What?"

    "Keen Eye! You used to have Baubgoblin, and man I love that name by the way, spread around his Night Shade before attacking."

    Sofie dismissed this. "First, that doesn't win me fights. And not like it'll matter once he evolves."

    "True, true." He couldn't argue with that logic. It was a true, blue evolution with a big reflector shield! Too bad it didn't have Prankster to keep.

    "Iceclaw, go! Ice Shard!"

    In one motion, she recalled her Pokemon and sent in another. The Sneasel emerged and hurled a high-speed chunk of frozen water at his little mouse. It smacked him upside the head.

    "Whoa there! Nasty crit!" Better swap him! "Voltenz, get up and use Baton Pass!"

    "Too late. Ice Shard again!" As the little Pika was moving to switch out, he was struck again. And this indeed did it. Sofie devilishly smirked. "Three to three."

    "Nicely done." Aggression works sometimes, he supposed. "Well Voltenz, you did your best, now take a rest! Heh heh." Sofie cringed at his rhyming skills, and even Firuz shuffled uncomfortably. Well, not that it mattered. "Now face the mask of cold black ice with a white hot core, Fukufuji!"

    ---​

    The black weasel was no match for the Glalie. They actually did try to use speed to their advantage, but far too often they ended up running right into their ranged moves. And they weren't ready for their Hidden Power - when he said there was a hot core inside Fukifuji, he really wasn't kidding - nor their Gyro Ball attack at the very end.

    "Two to three!" he declared. "Hoo, had me on the ropes a few times there. I'm just surprised you didn't Taunt me to stop Protect!"

    "Return, Iceclaw! Hellbiter, go!" The Pokemon he gave to her to train! And hey, fun fact! It was his Houndoom's daughter! Good 'ol Inugami. It's why he wasn't using her here. "Flamethrower!"

    More importantly, another attack right out of the gate! "Ready for you this time! Protect!"

    The veil went up, and as was normal for when it wasn't being used repeatedly, it blocked the attack unfailingly. Sofie sneered. "That's not going to save you forever! Flamethrower again!"

    ---​

    True, true. It was very true. The match lasted a while longer and they landed an Icy Wind, but they were ultimately done in by an Inferno. So out next was his fancy Drifblim. Nothing like Fantina's Loony of course, but then again, what Drifblim was?

    Sofie took the fight seriously, to her credit! Even avoided using Fire moves just to be sure! But in the end, the type advantage couldn't overcome the skill, power, and aerial advantages.

    "One to two!" he announced as the final Acrobatics ended it.

    Is that really necessary?!" his student interrupted.

    "I guess not." Flint shrugged. "Well, one thing–"

    "Save it for when it's over. Shadeblade!"

    Sofie sent out her last Pokemon. The harbinger itself, her longtime partner, the Pokemon she fought off that street gang with, and her ace! It was down to the wire.

    ---​

    They had been trading victories so far, but Nordstern wasn't going down that easy! Their opponents been putting up a tough fight, that said. They were even using the Thunderbolt move she learned a couple months ago to perfection now. Of course one way or another she was headed for defeat, and everyone knew it. But Sofie was going down swinging.

    "Swords Dance, Shadeblade!" Evidently prepping for a big attack to at least finish off his Drifblim. Her Pokemon began whipping his horn about, building himself up!

    Flint chuckled. Had she forgotten something, or simply hoping it wouldn't come to pass? "Then add another to your Stockpile, Nordstern!" His own Pokemon focused, pressing spectral energy against his topside.

    Sofie pointed. "It's now or never! Shadeblade, use Night Slash and aim for a critical hit!"

    And a critical she might be able to get, with that Super Luck of theirs! But he and Nordstern were both ready for this! The hot air balloon glanced back, like reading his mind. "Right in front of yourself, buddy!"

    His Pokemon spewed a cloud of Clear Smog directly forward. Shadeblade passed through it en route to poking Nordstern right on his bandage.

    "Heh heh. Nice shot, but!!" His Pokemon was still hanging in there. Barely floating! Yet still ready for more, thanks to the move expunging the stat changes.

    "Clever strategy," she muttered.

    "Here's some more for you! Use Will-O-Wisp on yourself!"

    The smart play would've been Baton Passing to Vanara to end it safely, but battling was all about having fun! The next attack they landed on Shadeblade would end this anyway! May as well go out in a blaze of glory!

    Sofie narrowed her eyes as Nordstern spewed a ghostly violet flame and directed it towards himself. His eyes lit up, and he started hovering with more vigor. "What are you playing at? Shadow Claw, and make it count."

    "Float away, Nordstern!" He chuckled as Shadeblade completely whiffed on his attack. "Not using Aerial Ace to win for sure, or are you just playing around?"

    "Fine! Aerial Ace!"

    Just as he expected, unfortunately. "Silver Wind!"

    The Bug-type breeze intercepted Shadeblade as he was making his cut. He was blown to the ground, struggling to get to his feet. But he fell right back down. And so did Nordstern as the burn sapped what little energy remained in his spectral body! It was a double knockout, but with one Pokemon left on his belt, that made him the victor!

    "Looks like I win!" he declared, turning his attention to his Pokemon. "Sorry about that, Nordstern. We'll go inside and get you healed up right away!" he told Nordstern as he recalled him.

    "Yes, you did. You're stronger than me," his student replied as she returned Shadeblade, humble yet impatient at the same time. "What was the point of this, feeling better about yourself?"

    It was time to get to exactly that. "Sofie, do you understand why it is you lost?"

    "I just said why!" she snapped.

    Flint wagged a finger. "Battling isn't all about levels and power. Strategy and compassion are just as important!"

    She rolled her eyes at this motion. "Sure, compassion. As if that does anything but affect the power of Return. It's not like I treat my Pokemon like tools."

    "That isn't what I meant. Got no problem with how you treat your Pokemon, but it's how you battle!"

    Sofie leered. "Didn't you tell me a month back that everyone fights their own way?"

    "Well, yes, but–"

    "This is how I battle. No mercy. I don't expect to get any, least of all from criminals, so I'm not giving any." She recalled her Absol with a sigh. "Thanks for the battle. Showed me how far I have to go, and broke up a bit of the boredom."

    "All right, I'll respect that. And you're welcome!" Having all of her Pokemon try to fight like the Demon Nidorina might not be smart or work for everyone, but if that's how she wanted to battle, that's how it had to be. For now, until she sees that doesn't always work. "Just think about how you're treating others, all right?"

    "Fine, whatever. I'll rein it in from now on. See you tomorrow."

    And she was off. Well, it was worth a shot. He tried it Volkner's way, and it got further than it did his way. But it accomplished the main goal, at least. With this said, Flint turned his attention back to his Gym Trainer. Firuz unsteadily stood and hobbled over.

    "Do you think she will, Flint?" he asked.

    "Anyone can change!" He clapped his hands. Firuz didn't seem convinced. Hey, may as well tell the truth. "But leveling with you, with her? We can only hope."

    Firuz sighed. "What's going to happen next...?"

    "Let's just take it day by day, Firuz. You need some time off?"

    "A little would be nice..."

    "Then take the next two days off. Go and clear your head of this."

    He vaguely smiled. "Thanks, Flint."

    As his student and what he would consider his top Gym Trainer left, Flint let his worries out in the form of a concerned groan. He had been trying to smile, trying to stay positive and encouraging. But the fact of the matter was, he wasn't sure what else he could do.

    He went back into the Gym and fixed himself a nice, hot mug of black coffee. He took a long sip, savoring its bitter depths. Flint had always been a positive kind of guy. Despite what people thought, he was never hiding behind his smiles. That is, until today.

    Sofie was good the first few months she was here. Serious and snarky, yet passionate with a fiery sense of justice. But she'd been slowly changing for the worse, and the Gym Leader wasn't sure why. She'd driven away one of his Gym Trainers, broke another one's heart, made a third angry, and no doubt she was going to find a way to get on Kimmy and Hinata's bad sides. He'd been giving her support, been as helpful as could be, and approached it all with a smile. She'd never been unappreciative of him, yet they'd never truly connected. Was that what she was looking for? And if so, what would it take to do so?

    Boredom. That's what she said. Was she not being challenged enough? Or was there not much for her to do around town? What could he do for her? He had no clue.

    He'd heard the news of what'd been happening down in Sunyshore. Volkner's own student had his share of problems, and far worse than Sofie's would ever be! Plus it seemed he and Volkner didn't get along at all! Nori Carino's natural cheerful attitude be a better fit for him, and vice versa for Sofie's usual seriousness. No doubt this irony was on purpose. But as for their competition? Advantage, Volkner Denzi.

    His friend might not see it, and he might not acknowledge it. But both Volkner and Nori had the inner strength needed to persevere and succeed. And as for himself and Sofie...

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    Dynabear is another GS beta Pokemon. And yes I did just subtly turn a mega into a proper evolution, the way many of them should've be. Worst feature. Call me a heretic if you want.

    And two small details: did you notice Lux gets a mention every single chapter except M5-3 (where Nori isn't a viewpoint character)? He absolutely has not forgotten about his friend. And second...well. It gets pointed out directly later, but no one has noticed it yet: there's something subtle that changed at some point in the way Kallisto talks to Nori.

    Act 3 begins next time! And yes, those last lines are promising a happy ending, no matter how bleak things have gotten at times (or continue to get). The thought occurred to me this is pretty much a darkfic, just without the usual things seen in one.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5-2: May of Ordinance (first part)
    • I randomly thought of what might've happened if Nori and Sofie were at the other Gym.

    - There would be not much to say about school. He'd have friends there, not sure what.
    - Alicia would attend the same school, wouldn't be in his friend circle. He would theoretically be closest to her due to being the same age, but she could be dismissive. She'd develop a crush on him and express it in the worst way. He'd find out from Candice, even though she's more his type (she wouldn't come between them even if she likes him too). Definite RomCom elements here. And drama.
    - Kimmy would be similar to his dynamic with Maylene: a young girl who looks up to him. Minus the precocious crush.
    - Firuz would in turn be one who Nori primarily looks up to himself, which in turn does a lot for Firuz's confidence.
    - Nori would ship Flint+Hinata. He would get along fine with her, maybe sometimes come to her for advice with Alicia. As her divorce goes along, he'd encourage the relationship after.
    - It would take some time for Tai Ying to accept him, because it can't all be nice. I'd use him to flesh out the Mitsutri Shrine.
    - The March meeting would still happen with Nori roadtripping to Sunyshore. Not sure how I'd play that.
    - Nori would accompany Flint to Galar. This might make him move by his "I don't want to catch anything" issue he has.
    - I would still find a way to {SPOILER}

    Sofie at Sunyshore would also go well. She'd fit right in with them, but there'd be friction when she wants to hook up with Eddie and/or Tono or Kallisto, and none of them accept her. Still, they wouldn't stop her, and Kallisto's criticisms would be something she'd listen do and do her a lot of good.

    In short, things would've turned out better. But the way things are have the potential to be even better. Adversity brings growth.

    One final aside before moving onto "Act" 3: Alicia in the previous Gaidens is actually sort of a canon character! She's a Gym Trainer in Candice's Gym, and indeed - has a Tentacruel. And actually, she's the third DPP Gym Trainer to show up or get mentioned, but first in a more notable role.

    ==========
    ###########
    ==========

    Month 5: May of Ordinance (first part)​
    May 14th, 2015​

    Nori involuntarily stepped back as Volkner lowly snickered like an evil overlord. It was more than a little unnerving. "What's so funny?" he hesitantly asked, despite being a little afraid to get an answer. Did he say something stupid again?

    Volkner flashed a wicked grin. "What you said just now," he explained. "Reminds me of myself."

    Nori tilted his head. He said he wanted to crush Tono and rub it in his face. "Against Flint?"

    The Gym Leader nodded to confirm this. "He's always been better than me at everything. Except battling. That's the one thing I can hold over him."

    The boy understood what Volkner was getting at here. "Just like how Kallisto's better than me at everything. Except I don't know if I can hold anything over him."

    "Your integrity," came the quick reply.

    "Maybe. But I'm curious," Nori said, briefly changing the subject. "What's with you and Flint?"

    "You've seen him. He talks too much. He goes on about stuff, like how to improve my life, or bragging a lot. Know it's not on purpose. He's always...kinda...been an all right friend I guess. But he still pisses me off sometimes..."

    "So you shut him up by challenging him to battles?"

    "Exactly."

    "I did that once before when training the Demon, when this youth protest group was mad at me. Or well, tried to."

    "Hate can be a good motivator. Just don't let it blind you."

    Nori absolutely hated Kallisto and his friends. Losing Lux was bad enough. But losing Betsy-Ann, just because they were paranoid? He was sick and tired of this. He'd already shut up Eddie and earned his respect, so if he could crush Tono too, even better! Even if it didn't change anything, it'd feel good at the very least!

    Volkner stretched, pulling up a chair and motioning for Nori to sit at his workbench with him. The boy commandeered a scrap of paper and a pencil.

    "All right. First thing. Know your enemy," he started out. "Tono's Jolteon favors fighting at range and staying out of harm's way with high speed, augmenting it with Agility and paralysis to gain an even greater advantage. Its moves include Thunderbolt, Pin Missile, Hyper Voice, and Shadow Ball. It's weaker, but not defenseless at close range, and can use Double Kick, Thunder Fang, and Iron Tail."

    He jotted this down. "Okay, okay. What else?"

    "Tono is unafraid to use moves in creative ways. For example, spreading Pin Missile to use as a trap, or combining Electric moves with Agility."

    "Mhm! What else? What else?"

    The Gym Leader paused, tapping the table. "You're fighting an uphill battle. He managed to defeat Kallisto."

    Nori nearly dropped the pencil. "What?!" he gasped, leaning over with both hands. "How?! I didn't know about this!"

    "It was a private battle, last December. After hours on exhibition day, last day the Gym was open that year. Stayed between the three of us. Until now. One-on-one. Raitora vs. Jolteon." Volkner leaned back. "He'd taught his Jolteon Reflect. He had a concise plan for dealing with Raitora and countering Kallisto's go-tos. Kallisto adapted, but it was close. They both did brilliant combos at the end. He called his Thunderous Iron Tail. Raitora fell. Jolteon was more hurt, but held on long enough to get called the winner."

    Tono defeated the super invincible Kallisto?! That was insane! He'd never come close to beating him, and the supposed third-strongest in the Gym pulled it off?! What the hell was he dealing with here?

    "He had a concise plan for dealing with Raitora. And he'll do the same for the Demon."

    "Randomly curious, how did Kallisto take the loss?" asked Nori.

    "He took it fine. He thanked Tono for the battle, and exposing some of his weaknesses."

    Ugh, so much for the thought of him getting humbled, even if it was by a friend and just between them and Volkner. "So should I throw him off by using Pachi instead?"

    "Hm." Volkner gave this some thought, yet shook his head. "No. It's a good idea, but Pachi isn't experienced enough. Furthermore, your own Electric moves will be useless."

    That must mean his Jolteon had an ability like Volt Absorb. "So don't try Shock Wave either, got it. So what should I do?"

    "Let me think." Volkner shut his eyes. After a minute, he nodded and opened them. "See three options for you."

    "Okay, what are they?"

    "One, evolve the Demon."

    "How?" he countered. She was ultra experienced and hadn't changed yet, so he wasn't sure how she was supposed to evolve. "And won't a new body throw her off if it's sudden like it should be so he can't plan for it ahead of time?"

    "I was just stating it for completionist's sake. Impressed you realized that about evolution, however." Well, yes. That just seemed logical. If his body suddenly changed on him, it'd take him a while to get used to it. "Second option, change your strategy."

    "There's only so much the Demon can do." She wasn't good at ranged moves herself, and they didn't have time to master another TM. It'd taken them this long to get Shock Wave down pat.

    "There's ways. Leading into option three, your best bet." Nori gripped the pencil tightly to get this down as Volkner said a single word, "Attrition."

    "Attrition?" he repeated.

    "His Jolteon is faster than the Demon. It's a match in power, and that Reflect can give it comparable toughness. He's uh, also smarter." Volkner scratched his cheek. "No offense. But you're angrier. And the Demon has more staying power. The longer the fight goes on, the more it's in your favor."

    Huh, attrition. He got what Volkner was saying. He heard a few boxing matches on the radio, where the winner beat the loser by...well. They called it dragging them into the deep end, but that's not a metaphor he wanted to think about. But the point was, they outlasted their opponent. Could he and the Demon do the same?

    "Any other weaknesses?" he asked.

    Volkner simply looked. "Besides Ground?"

    "Oh, right." That was obvious. "But it won't be easy to land Earth Power."

    "Reflect won't help them there."

    "Hm." It was a special attack, and Reflect only guarded against physical ones. Maybe if they were to catch it off-guard...

    "As a species, Jolteon have weak defenses. Trainers of them rely on having them avoid attacks, rather than enduring them. He'll most likely open with Reflect, and use Light Clay to ensure it lasts longer."

    "Tono likes those items, doesn't he?" Even Kallisto didn't regularly make as much use of them as he did. "Maybe I should use one too. What would you recommend?"

    "A simple Cheri Berry."

    "That's the one that heals paralysis if eaten, right?" He was certain it was, but wanted to double-check.

    "Along with its relative, the Przcure. You can conceal it and have her eat it at the right moment. He's going to try to paralyze the Demon. Make sure you delay that happening for as long as you can."

    Exactly how he was thinking to use it. "Okay. Try to outlast him, use a berry to heal paralysis to surprise him, try to land Earth Power, and go crazy once Reflect's down. What else?"

    "Keep up with his strategies, counter them as best you can, and change your own routine up a bit." Volkner smiled. "I think you have a good chance at this if you do those things."

    "I can try, but..." But he still wasn't sure. Tono beat freaking Kallisto! Could he really keep up with and counter those kinds of strategies?!

    "Above all, remember. This is brawn versus brains," assured Volkner. "It does not mean you have to strictly rely on brawn. And Tono's biggest weakness as a trainer is that he can overrely on strategy."

    "Wait, that's a thing?" Strategy was a huge part of Pokemon. Even he knew that! And Volkner was saying it was possible to have too much of it?

    Volkner confirmed. "It's a trap a lot of seasoned trainers fall into. To reach the very top, you can't neglect power. It's just as important, if not moreso. You already get that."

    "My cynicism and fighting Kallisto beat that into my head," Nori sheepishly replied. He thought he had to toughen his Pokemon up to even come close to that kind of level. With Volkner putting it that way, he felt maybe there was hope of winning after all. Tono relied on strategy too much. So if he could nullify that...or maybe defy his expectations...

    "We'll do a bit of practice sparring in a little while." Volkner looked up and whistled. "Galvantula," Nori glanced and recoiled at sight of the electric spider on the roof above. He wasn't afraid of bugs, but seeing it right over his head was startling. "Your style's the closest, so you can help. And we'll practice with Luxray later, since he has a similar body style."

    "Right!" The Gym was even closed for the day, so they wouldn't have to worry about any of them coming in and watching! "I'll feed her and Pachi and let them know, then we'll get to it!" He clapped his hands and turned to leave.

    "One more thing," Volkner called out to him. "Tono is being challenged for the position of captain of his school's battling team tomorrow. He's been training all month for it. It'll give you a chance to see how he performs at his best."

    He paused and turned around. "I heard, it's tomorrow afternoon during class. I'm not sure if I can watch it."

    "You're in the news club. You can."

    "I know, they're going." He shook his head. "But everyone but Arumi and this other guy hates me now, and probably wouldn't want me there."

    Volkner smirked. "She's all the support you need."

    ---​

    Three of the Gym Trainers of Sunyshore were going for an afternoon drive to nowhere in particular. It was highly unusual to be doing so on a non-holiday; their job was one you had to commit to. There were no days off when it came to training Pokemon for a living. Even though this wasn't the first time the Gym had been unexpectedly closed for the day, this was the first time any of them had been told to not come in at all. Worse, the absence of one of their number was hanging over them.

    "Still can't believe Eddie left like that!" Ollie was the first to bring it up. "Do you think he's gonna quit?"

    Kallisto shook his head. "No, he'll be back." The only reason, at least Kallisto was hoping, was that he wanted to avoid being grouped in with them. The head Gym Trainer didn't doubt he'd be blamed anyway, at least by Nori for not stopping them.

    "Volkner said the Gym's closed for the day, too!" squawked Ollie. "I mean, can't blame'em, but still!"

    "One of the staff had to be let go, for sensitive reasons," Kallisto said. "If it were anyone but Volkner, the Gym might be closed even longer."

    Ollie leaned back. "Glad it's over, at least."

    Tono agreed. "Yes, I am glad your crusade has ended."

    Such was Kallisto's surprise that he nearly slammed on the breaks and pulled over. He glanced at his best friend through the rear-view, eyes wide. "Tono?" he asked, holding things together enough to keep driving. "Did you not want to do this?"

    "Since you are asking, I was indifferent towards the issue at best. But I chose to support you as your friend." He pushed up his glasses. "It took time out of my training that I rather it would not have. For me, as I have stated, the rest of today will be preparing for tomorrow."

    That was a huge relief. He wouldn't know what he would've done if even his best friend didn't have his back on this one. "I need to take my mind off this, too. Mind if I join you?"

    "Yes, let's go."

    "Guess I'll come too..." Ollie agreed. "And yeah, also glad this is done."

    There was nothing else. Kallisto took the next left and started off towards Tono's home. As he sat at a red light, self-doubts started to seep in.

    This wasn't over as his friends thought it was. Nori was going to make sure of that. Was this not the right thing to do? Kallisto didn't think it was wrong either. If he was right and he didn't act, that would've been even worse than acting when he shouldn't have. You can never be too careful, and yet you can't act recklessly either. Maybe this was one of those things where there was no right answer.

    Yet it was what he did. And he was fully willing to accept the consequences of his actions.

    ##########​

    May 15th, 2015​

    To Nori's relief, Volkner's assertation turned out to be correct. Regardless of his actions yesterday or prior, Nori simply asked Arumi if he could attend with the rest of the club. She said the more the merrier, which got Mr. Rekted to agree to it. He would have to make up the work he missed in his afternoon class, but this was nothing new to Nori.

    Halfway through lunch, they met up in the video production room. After some prep, it was off to the senior school to watch the battle. Arumi led the way, or more specifically, was running ahead of everyone. The teacher was in behind. Gino and Lorant were carrying most of the equipment, with Nori taking what remained. The others only had little things on their person.

    He spoke up. "So–"

    "Save it," a bitter Beau interrupted. "You are here to learn, so be quiet and listen."

    Gino looked as if he wanted to cross his arms, if not for holding a boom and camera. "That's uncalled for, Beau."

    She turned her head. "Perhaps, but I would rather not speak with him."

    "Same to you!" Nori fired back.

    The teacher peered back. "Is there a problem?"

    "It's nothing," he waved off. Exactly as he thought, the others were barely tolerating him. Well, except for two. Arumi and Yuki. He glanced back at the frowning strawberry blond boy trailing behind. He smiled, slowing his pace to walk alongside him.

    They gradually fell further behind the group. After about a minute, Yuki finally spoke. "Sorry, Nori..."

    "It's okay," he assured him. "I get it."

    "No, I mean, about what happened."

    "Oh."

    He couldn't blame Yuki if he didn't want to openly speak in his support. Arumi could get away with it because of who she is, but Yuki? A whole different story. This must've been what Lux was feeling about him, Nori thought. Not everyone could get away with associating with someone hated.

    "Kallisto really stepped over the line there," the strawberry blond boy remarked.

    "He did."

    After a moment's thought, Yuki quietly remarked. "So it is true...everything you said about him."

    "Unfortunately."

    It took another long pause for him to process this. "I know Kallisto isn't a bad person. I know he wouldn't do things like that for a good reason, but..."

    As he trailed off, Nori cut in. "No buts, not this time. He was assuming things, and he may have ruined Betsy-Ann's life because of it. And I know at least some of this goes back to not wanting me to get with someone before he does."

    "Well, um, did you...like her?"

    Nori shook his head. "Not like that, no."

    "So...do you have anyone you like?"

    "Not yet." Well, Claris, but that was in the past. This was a weird change of subject, but anything to get away from talking about Kallisto. After some consideration, he returned the question. "What about you?"

    "Well," Yuki pressed his fingers together, blushing slightly. "There is one person I've had my eye on for a while..."

    "Really? Who?"

    He smiled. "It's a secret."

    "Well, I guess not everyone's like Arumi." He stole a glance at her; she was nearly in the building at this point. "Sure she'd shout her love for Sato from the roof if she got the chance."

    "Well, I'll tell you someday," he said with a soft giggle.

    "When you're ready?" he asked, getting a nod. That'd make the second person he'd be a wingman for. But whoever Yuki liked, he'd be there to support him through it.

    "Thanks, Nori," Yuki blurted.

    He tilted his head. "What for?"

    "For being you."

    "Oh, um, no problem." Nori rubbed his head, flustered by the sudden praise. "And thank you for being a good friend."

    "I wish I could be more of one..." he thought he heard Yuki mumble under his breath.

    "Well, do you want to hang out when we can?"

    After some initial surprise, Yuki grinned. "Yes! I'd love that!" he said with delight. "I'd ask if you want to hang out today, but know you're going to be busy training the next little while."

    "Yeah, so after the 20th."

    "You wanted to come to watch Tono at his best, right?"

    He laughed. "Saw right through me, huh?"

    "It's fine! I really wanted to watch this battle, too!"

    Nori could only smile at this. That picked his mood up a lot! It was great knowing he really did have a friend in Yuki! He could tell right away that this was going to make things a lot easier for him.

    ---​

    Just as being in a middle school was different from elementary, a high school was very different from middle school. They walked into a wide hallway where many students were congregating. There were two stairways up to the second floor of the three-storey building. The offices were in an open space to the left, and hallways leading to classrooms were on the right and directly ahead.

    "Wow, so this is the high school!" Yuki marveled aloud.

    "Sure is!" Arumi confirmed. "It's where my darling Sato goes to!"

    The strawberry blond boy pumped a fist. "I wanna go look around!"

    "And I want to go see Sato!"

    "Settle down, you two," Beau the killjoy said. "We are here on club business, after all."

    Arumi smirked. "Sato should be where we're going, shouldn't he?"

    "Just remember not to smother him too hard," Nori reminded her.

    "Oh! Right!" She'd forgotten?!

    Gino checked his watch. "Mr. Rekted's already gone on ahead. We should get moving ourselves."

    "Actually," said Nori, moving a little closer to Yuki. They'd talked about doing something together on the way here. "We were thinking of going to find the competitors to see if we could get a pre-battle interview with them."

    Beau shook her head. "Interviews are more traditionally done after the battle. Furthermore, do you even know how to conduct an interview?"

    He winked and snapped his fingers. "I learned from the best!" He flashed a grin at Arumi.

    She cheered. "Atta boy, Nor'!"

    Exasperated, Beau lowered her hand into a hand. "And how, pray tell, are you going to find them?"

    "We'll just wing it!" he affirmed.

    "Ugh." She used both hands this time.

    "Leave'em be, Beau." To his relief, Gino took their side in this. "The video production room's straight ahead down that hall. You can't miss it. Just be back before the warning bell, all right?"

    "We will!" said Yuki.

    "Gotcha." Nori passed the stuff he was carrying to Beau, who begrudgingly accepted. He had a notepad and pencil in his pocket.

    As the others set off, Yuki shuffled a little closer to him with a happy beam. "So we're doing this, just you and me, Nori!"

    "Mhm." He couldn't think of anyone else he'd rather be doing this with. Even Arumi, who'd probably be too overwhelming with her technique. It was a chance to learn, get some practical experience, and maybe get some extra insight into Tono as a trainer for the 20th. Not to mention, a chance to get to know Yuki a little more. "Let's get to work."

    "Yes, let's!" The strawberry blond boy's head darted around in excitement. "So where should we start looking for Tono?" he asked, as they started to walk.

    Nori considered this. "If I had to guess, he's either getting some last minute practice in or browsing the internet somewhere. Or he's with Kallisto and Ollie."

    "Maybe." Yuki's eyes caught something and he pointed. "Wait, that's them!"

    Whoa, that easy?! No, unfortunately, it was simply Kallisto and Ollie hanging out behind the stairwell together. Still, maybe the next best people to run into here. The two Gym Trainers waved as they approached.

    "Nori!" greeted Kallisto. "And a friend of yours?"

    Yuki's arms fell slack. It was a good thing he wasn't holding anything. "K-Kallisto Keravnos!"

    The orange and pink haired teenager laughed. "That's me!"

    "I-i-i-it's s-so good to meet y-y-you!" He bowed and bowed, and anxiously stuck out a quivering hand. "I'm Y-Y-Y-Yuki! Yuki Omi!"

    "Yuki." His friend jumped as he gently pulled him away. "Give the guy his space."

    "A...ah," Yuki sputtered nervously until Nori took his hand off. "I'm sorry."

    "It's fine, Nori. I'm used to this." And with this, Kallisto snatched Yuki's hand and gave it a firm shake. His friend was left starstruck.

    "What're you doing here, man!?" Ollie inquired.

    Nori saluted, miming one of Arumi's poses. "We're here on behalf of the news club."

    "Oh yeah, the understudy thing," Kallisto understood what they were talking about. He rubbed the nape of his neck. "It's not just the two of you today, is it?"

    "There's others," Norl clarified. "We're just striking out on our own for a bit."

    Yuki grinned, putting an arm around Nori and holding him by the shoulder. "The two of us are looking to get an interview with Tono before the battle!"

    "And Haruna."

    "Right, and Haruna," repeated Yuki, as if it slipped his mind or he didn't care. "Do you know where they are?"

    Kallisto nodded. He glanced up at the ceiling, tapping a foot. "Well, I couldn't tell you where Okazaki is. As for Tono, go upstairs that way." He gestured to one of the sets of steps. "Hang a right, then the first left down the hall. Keep going until you come to an open area. He's probably in the office off to the side."

    "He has an office here?" Nori inquired.

    Ollie and Kallisto chuckled at his question. Even Yuki laughed with them. Come on, he thought! It was a legitimate question! "No, he's just allowed to use it," Kallisto clarified. "Actually, want me to show you the way in case you get lost?"

    Yuki beamed, placing his palms together. "Yes!"

    "No, it's fine," the boy disagreed. "I think I can follow that. I'm good when it comes to finding these things! Did it all the time as a kid."

    Mercifully, Kallisto accepted his request. For once. "All right. Good luck."

    "Thank you!" Yuki again bowed politely. At least he was also fine with doing this without help.

    "You're quite welcome. See you soon." He went back to talking with Ollie as they got on their way.

    As they went up the stairs, Yuki couldn't help but gush. "I can't believe I got to talk with Kallisto!"

    Nori glared at him. Friend or not, that was still annoying. Maybe it was a little unfair, but seeing someone talk about Kallisto that way always bothered him. Moreso if they knew what Kallisto was really like!

    Yuki picked up on his disdain. "Oh. I'm sorry, Nori. I know what he did, but still, he's Kallisto Keravnos! I still really respect him! And I know he's done some bad things to you, but he wasn't doing it out of malice or because he hates you."

    Unfortunately, true. Everything Kallisto did was some sort of accident or with good intentions, at least from his perspective. And it wasn't out of hostility - at least, he hoped not. He didn't want to think about Kallisto being openly against him.

    "Besides," Yuki again put a hand on him. "That doesn't erase his talent or all the good things he's done!"

    Nori yanked away. "And all the good doesn't erase the bad."

    Yuki sighed. "I guess not," he conceded. "Sorry, I just can't hate him like you do."

    He closed his eyes. "I get it. Can we at least not talk about him?"

    His friend accepted this. "Okay. For you, Nori."

    "Thanks." He smiled back at his friend. He wasn't going to let something petty like this come between them. "Let's go get that interview."

    "Yes, let's. You and me together, Nori."

    ---​

    Before long, Nori and Yuki came to what appeared to be the place. The end of the hallway in question opened up into a hexagonal area that led into three classrooms. And the office in was just off into a tiny hallway to the right, a dead-end if not for the emergency door.

    "Nice and quiet over here..." mused Yuki.

    "Yeah, it is. Reminds me of where I used to eat lunch with my friend Lux back in elementary." He totally got why Tono might want to hang out over here. He found himself trying to find similar places in middle school, with no luck.

    Yuki checked around. "Is that what Kallisto was talking about?" he asked, gesturing to the office.

    "Let's find out." He marched up and knocked. "Tono!" he called out, peering through the window. "Are you in–what the frick!?"

    Nori nearly fell over as he stumbled away from the grotesque sight on the monitor. "What's wrong?" asked Yuki, looking inside as well. "Yikes!" He had roughly the same reaction. The door flew open seconds later.

    "Do you not know how to give someone their privacy?" an enraged Tono barked.

    "You weren't looking at that in a very private spot!" Nori fired back. "And what the hell was with that guy and weird Lopunny?!" It had boy and girl parts! And he thought Rashid was weird with those magazines with Cynthia naked in them!

    "I'm surprised the internet filters let you do that..." Yuki nervously remarked.

    "They do not. I hacked them to allow it." The nerd crossed his arms. "Now. What are you doing here, what do you want, and why is she with you?"

    Nori sneered. "Why are you asking that many questions?! I have a lot myself! And what do you mean she?!"

    He turned around and got at least one answer, finding a teenaged girl with fiery orange hair and equally ablaze blue eyes. She was in what Nori could only describe as a battle gown: a dark green dress tied at the waist, with frills on the bottom, neck line, and arms. It had a vague military feel to it, giving a powerful yet flashy vibe.

    "I thought I'd find him if I tailed you two," she replied. "Ohoho, this is rich."

    "Haruna..." Yuki whispered, both intimidated by and in awe of her presence.

    "What about you?" Tono demanded. "And what's with the ridiculous outfit? Are you battling me today, or competing in a contest?"

    Haruna chuckle dripped with derision. "For as smart as you claim to be, you don't understand simple style and grace."

    Tono lowered his gaze, fiercely glaring at his opponent and rival. "Hmph. It's a waste of time."

    "But to answer? I thought I'd come by and talk before the battle. And I walk in on you playing with your other Seviper."

    The nerd glared. "Don't act as if you haven't ever pleasured yourself. The only difference is, I willingly do so, and no one will touch you."

    "Hmph." Haruna turned cold. Did Tono hit on the mark? "Maybe if you weren't so busy pleasing Kallisto, you could've," she retaliated. And, she may have known why Tono rejected her?

    "Hmph. This is why 2D is better."

    Whereas Yuki appeared overwhelmed by these two trainers exchanging barbs, Nori was more stunned at Tono's attitude. Usually he was so formal, and here he was talking more like Eddie would.

    "Well," he jumped in, not so much to mediate as to get down to business. "It's a good thing you're here, Haruna. We were hoping to get an interview with both of you beforehand."

    The Gym Trainer scoffed. "What, are you taking after Ms. Overcompensation now?!"

    "Yes," he replied without a shred of irony.

    "Pft," went Tono, followed by yet another harrumph. He started walking off. "A foolish waste. My results will speak for themselves."

    Nori jotted that down. "Foolish waste, results will speak for themselves," he repeated under his breath. "Got it, thanks." Wasn't much, but it was something at least. That said, he hoped Tono ate those words.

    "What about after?" Yuki called out to the departing Gym Trainer.

    "We shall see." Tono did not even look back.

    That just left Haruna. "How about you?" Nori asked her. "You want to give us an interview, or a statement like he just did?"

    The fiery-haired teen laughed. "But of course," she agreed.

    He turned to Yuki. "You have the tape recorder, right? It might be easier to use that and write it down after."

    "Right here!" The strawberry blond took it out of his front right pocket and passed it to Nori. He in turn handed his fellow news club member the pencil and notepad.

    "Good! Let's start!" He switched the device on and started speaking. "Hello, Gama Junior! I'm Nori Carino, here with Yuki Omi, to bring you an exclusive interview with one of the competitors in today's battle to determine the captain of Gama Senior's battling team!"

    He got funny looks from both Yuki and Haruna. Hey! He may as well, in case they ended up doing an audio version!

    "So!" Nori declared. "Let's start off with an introduction!"

    The fiery orange-haired teen chuckled. "I'll play along, sure. My name's Haruna Okazaki. Eighteen years old, born and raised in Sunyshore. People call me the Empress of Gama Senior."

    "Interesting!" quipped Yuki. "Compare that to Tono's title, ‘The Shocking Genius,’ being self-given!"

    "What are some of the ways you've been preparing for this battle?" asked Nori.

    "I know a lot of people in the tournament have been getting ready for it since before it started. Me? I've been getting ready since last year for this very moment. Golden Week, I was at it all day, every waking hour. Practicing at Mynwest Court, the Fight Pits, random guys on the street, you name it. When I wasn't practicing, I was plotting strategy in my head. I always knew it was going to come down to me and Tono in the end. I'm ready for anything he throws at me, and have a few surprises that he'd better be ready for."

    Yuki jumped in with a question. "Any insight to your strategy?" the strawberry blond asked.

    Haruna simply chuckled. "Now that's one thing I can agree with him on. Sit back and enjoy the show today."

    Nori had a different question. It had been on his mind for a while, and now was the chance to get it from the source in an official capacity. "Can you tell us some of the personal history between you and Tono?"

    "Wait, no!" protested Yuki, "We can't ask her that!"

    "Nah, I'm fine with it," she said, not upset by it. "It's true. Some of this goes back to tenth grade. Yes, I thought he was hot. A scrawny little nerd with a tough side." She unabashedly declared her tastes for the record. "Asked him out, and he rejected me. It was how he did it that got me. Called me quote unquote, ‘a domineering bitch who no man would want.’ You believe that?"

    "No." Nori couldn't. He could see him rejecting her, just not with those words. Again, it seemed out of character for Tono. but maybe he didn't know him as well as he figured.

    Yuki nudged him. "Can we even print that?" he pondered.

    "We'll ask." Maybe they could simply censor out the word. He turned back to Haruna. "So your rivalry is a personal thing stemming from that incident?"

    She waved a hand. "Oh, I'm long since over that. Our rivalry really began last year, when Kallisto Keravnos stepped back from the club and Tono got chosen as the successor." Haruna's lips scrunched up. "He didn't earn that, he had it handed to him. I have nothing but respect for Kallisto, but as for Tono? He wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for his best friend."

    "But Tono won whenever you challenged him, didn't he?" Yuki protested, with a hint of anger. "He won against everyone!"

    "Make no mistake," she said. "Tono Takuma is an excellent trainer, and he managed to keep hold of his spot last year no matter what came his way. But that ends today. I'm going to become the captain for Gama Memorial Senior, and lead our team to their third consecutive victory in the nationals! And that's something you can believe in."

    Haruna took this moment to walk off, informally concluding the interview. As good a note as any to end on, Nori figured. "Good luck out there!" he said, after switching off the tape. She waved without looking back and disappeared down the hallway.

    Nori glanced up at a clock on the wall, seeing it was around eight minutes before the warning bell. "Well, we should get moving too. Don't want to be late, or the others will yell at us about it."

    "Oh! Uh, y-yes." Yuki said, as if he was momentarily distracted by something. Even though there seemed to be nothing else here besides them. "Let's go, Nori." His arm flinched as they set out.

    Nori wasn't sure what to expect out of Haruna. He thought she'd be harsh and serious, but certainly didn't think she'd be a little showy. All the more reason to cheer for her in today's battle.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5-2: May of Ordinance (second part)
    • May of Ordinance (second part)​
    May 15th, 2015​

    Nori and Yuki had no problems with finding the video production room at Gama High. While Nori had been looking forward to meeting this Sato, he had apparently come down with a cold and wasn't here today. Beau seemed to think it was a case of Arumititis, but the Schrader girl was more optimistic. In any event, the older students seemed to refute Beau's claim.

    Eventually, the bell rang. Nori and the others had gone to the gymnasium to watch the battle unfold. The crowd was reasonably packed; it was mostly students, yet there were a good number of adults who didn't seem to be teachers.

    The showdown was going to be a full battle, six-on-six. Each trainer had a maximum of three noncompulsory Pokemon substitutions at their disposal. Due to losing a coin toss, Haruna had to send out her Pokemon first. Nori didn't get that. Sending out both at the same time like Volkner's rules always did made sense. Why give someone an advantage based on luck?

    As the formalities and introductions ended, the two trainers took their positions. The battling team's coach was a bulky man with a handlebar mustache, and would be serving as the judge. "This full battle to determine the captain for this year's Battling Team at Gama Memorial Senior will now commence. Haruna Okazaki, send out your first Pokemon."

    "Right," the crimson orange-haired teen declared. "Go, Dusknoir!" A massive black cyclops emerged before her. Its body appeared to have another face on it, and it had a cyclone-like wisp instead of legs.

    Tono's eyes narrowed, and he wavered on his choice. "Drake, I believe I should begin with you." His Golduck. Tono explained his logic. "I know for a fact that your Dusknoir only has the Fire and Ice Punches. Not Thunder Punch."

    Haruna returned the facial expression. "And how do you know I haven't taught it since then?"

    The nerd briefly flinched. "Because you would not announce it. Ergo, you are bluffing." He concluded this, and yet there was some tiny doubt in his voice.

    Yuki took out the notepad and nudged Nori. "That's Haruna's second strongest Pokemon!"

    "Really?" he asked. "Why is she using it right away?"

    "She must have something in mind. I don't know what, though."

    "Hm." Nori mulled this over, and came up with something. "She's starting things off strong." This would force Tono to use something of similar strength. Nori got out his own personal notepad and jotted that down. Even if it had nothing to do with Tono, it was an interesting approach.

    "Trainers, begin!" The team coach raised his flags.

    "Trick Room, Dusknoir!"

    "Of course." Tono rolled his eyes. "Bubblebeam, Drake."

    Dusknoir started miming shoving walls out everywhere. It was blasted by a stream of bubbles in the interim by Drake, which Nori assumed was a male due to the name. However, a strange translucent purple cage enveloped the battlefield. Whatever it was, Tono didn't seem too concerned.

    "Next," said Haruna, as Tono patiently awaited. "A Shadow Punch!"

    A fist pummeled Drake from the floor beneath, knocking him off-balance. Tono shook his head.

    "Disable."

    The duck stared down the phantom. The green jewel on its forehead gleamed, and the Dusknoir flickered monochrome for a moment. It wouldn't be able to use that move until it wore off.

    "Predictable," Haruna dismissed, as though fully expecting this. "Will-O-Wisp!" A ball of ghostly blue flame formed in Dusknoir's hands, which it hurled at its foe.

    "Just as predictable. Push it back with Psychic." Focusing, Drake was able to mentally grab hold of the fire when it was three-quarters of the way there, and return it.

    "Night Shade to extinguish it." Haruna had her Pokemon answer back with a black laser that seemed to suck the light out of the air around it. It made contact with the flames, and sure enough, they flickered out of existence.

    Yet as it was doing so, Tono's glasses gleamed as he adjusted them. "Trap it with Whirlpool."

    Dusknoir was very fast and got on the move as soon as it heard what was coming, but Drake was too accurate. It found itself enveloped in a swirling vortex of water that made Nori sick. He had to cover his eyes.

    "No, no, Nori," he whispered to himself. "It's on the battlefield, nowhere near you."

    Haruna cackled. "Escape with Darkest Lariat!"

    Nori peeked out from between his fingers, turning to where Tono was. The nerd was actually taken off-guard by this. He heard the sound of something whipping about, and saw Drake get knocked into his field of vision. Cautiously, he lowered his hands. No more whirlpool. He could relax.

    "Why you..." Tono cursed. "Ready yourself, Drake!"

    "Crash through with Body Slam."

    Tono pushed up his glasses in sinister irritation. "Now is the time. Shadow Claw."

    Now it was Haruna who was taken aback. Drake sidestepped the phantom as it went for a belly-flop. The duck slashed the air, carving darkness in the wake of his claws. The swipe cleaved right across the mouth on Dusknoir's body, making it writhe in agony. No doubt, a critical hit.

    "Knew you had a new move, should've known it was that." Haruna growled. "But you're open!"

    The eyes on Dusknoir's body flashed. Drake had no chance to avoid the abrupt Confuse Ray, swaying around in a stupor.

    "Get it together!" Tono yelled, but his Pokemon simply flapped his hands like a bird, to the laughter of some of the audience and Haruna.

    "Now! Thunder Punch!" she said with a sick grin. Tono balled his fists, completely seething at the command. Sure enough, the move was real. Dusknoir uppercutted Drake, sparks crackling and thunder booming as it made impact, vicious enough to send it careening away.

    "You..." Tono cursed. He reflexively reached for Drake's ball, but seemed to catch himself. "No, Pursuit. I can't."

    "You're still finished! Darkest Lariat!"

    "Drake, pull it together!" Tono urged. "HYDRO PUMP!"

    Dusknoir stuck out its arms and began to spin like a dervish. It whirled towards its opponent, which was struggling to even stand. This was over.

    It ran down Drake, no! It was blasted by a huge stream of water spat from the Golduck's mouth! Dusknoir lost control, getting launched into the air while still spinning. It came down on its shoulders and head, flopped down like a noodle, and stopped moving. That surprisingly ended it!

    "Dusknoir is unable to battle!" ruled the coach, to the crowd's delight.

    "You crafty bastard!" Haruna cursed.

    "Say what you will about me," Tono said, shaking his head. "But brains will always triumph over brawn."

    "Yeah?" Haruna asked. "Let's see how you handle this. Go, Medicham!"

    Tono was stone-faced as Haruna sent out her next Pokemon, a pinkish-red Pokemon with a dull gray body, poofy legs with yellow spots, and some...protruding thing sticking out the top of its head. Its trainer cracked her knuckles.

    Tono mused this. "This is a risk, but I need you later, Drake." It was still very much confused, despite fighting through for a brief moment there. "Come back for now. Mothula, you're in."

    Haruna raised an eyebrow as the Golduck left and the Mothim emerged. "Are you insane?"

    "Were you listening? I just said this is a calculated risk," he repeated. "There may be no better time than now to use Mothula, given your Roserade's Hidden Power. And with proper, intelligent strategy, we can avoid your Pokemon's elemental punches."

    She smirked. "A risk to be using it over your Raichu or even your Seviper, too." Nori quickly understood, Haruna knew exactly what six Pokemon Tono was using. Or at least, she thought she did. "And you know full well you can't avoid us forever."

    ---​

    The battle proceeded from here. The two started off by buffing in front of each other using Quiver Dance and Acupressure. Haruna's Medicham charged in with Zen Headbutt, only to be intercepted by Air Slash. She returned the favor in kind with Psycho Cut, striking from afar with blades of psychic energy which were able to rip right through the blades of air and landing a hit. Tono surprised them with a divebomb and Electroweb. The Medicham tried to land an Ice Punch, but had been slowed enough by the netting for Mothula to escape and drop Poison Powder all over them. Then Haruna ordered Mind Reader - saying she told him they couldn't keep running. Tono wavered, recalled Mothim, and immediately cursed his choice. Yet it was done, and he could only send out his next Pokemon.

    It was another that Nori hadn't seen before in his life. It was a huge blackish-purple beast, bipedal with crooked claws, with similarly wavy hair sticking out from its backside and shoulders. It had a horn-like nose, pointy arced ears, and a thin midsection. Parts of its body - like its nose, lips, and feet - were green. Tono had nicknamed it Zoma. Yuki was able to give Nori its species name: Grimmsnarl.

    Haruna kept in her Medicham, having it start off with Force Palm. Around this time, the Trick Room petered out. However, Tono ordered Swagger, which Zoma executed with unnatural speed. The Prankster ability, Yuki remarked. Medicham was dazed, but Haruna played her hand.

    "Saw that coming," she said. "Medicham, eat your Bitter Berry!"

    The Fighting and Psychic type instinctively reached for a satchel and chewed what was inside. It cringed at the taste, but the confusion faded just like that.

    Tono nodded in approval, but was undeterred. "Wise. You must know what's next, too. Foul Play, Zoma!"

    The dark fairy charged in and did some sort of twisting tripping maneuver, using Medicham's own power against it. It fell over in agony, severely injured from that one attack. Haruna ordered Recover, only to be stopped instantly by a Taunt done with the same unusual speed. So she had it rush in with Brick Break, being met with Play Rough. The two Pokemon tussled, but ultimately, it was Zoma who came out on top. Literally, standing with a foot on an unconscious Medicham. Noticeably hurt from the exchange, however.

    Haruna's next Pokemon was the Roserade that was mentioned earlier. Her first order was Leech Seed. Tono said to Taunt, only for his Pokemon to eat a full force Dazzling Gleam. "Do as I ask, not as I say," Haruna explained the deception. An annoyed Tono commanded a Thunder Wave, which Roserade easily dodged and returned fire with Magical Leaf. Tono in reply ordered False Surrender. Zoma lowered its head as it was struck by the homing rainbow leaves, and suddenly lashed out with the hair on its body. It came from all directions, hitting true.

    As it made contact, however, the wicked fairy cringed and clutched its shoulders. The Poison Point ability. Haruna remarked, "Eat shit," and promptly finished it off with a Petal Blizzard, bringing down her first Pokemon in the match.

    "Do not be so smug. It is still four Pokemon to five," Tono warned. "Tiki, it is your time."

    Nori had seen this one from Tono in the past. It was this insect and dragon-like green Pokemon with ruby eyes, two long tufts on its head, a striped tail, and two rhombus-shaped wings with red trim. It was one of Tono's stronger Pokemon. And apparently a Ground and Dragon type, not a Bug type in any way.

    "Let us not waste time," the nerd said. "Flamethrower, Tiki." The dragon reared back and started to spew fire.

    "Dodge and use Toxic!"

    Roserade hopped back and focused. Noxious gases and goop appeared from nowhere over Tiki. Nori...wasn't sure if it was a boy or girl, but it winced and cried out as it the toxins took hold in its body. Tono tapped his foot, glaring.

    "Try dodging this. Bug Buzz."

    Tiki let out a shrill shriek while flapping its wings in an irritating way. This made Roserade cringe, not to mention about a third of the audience (Yuki included).

    Haruna's lip curled. "Leech Seed."

    "Shoot it down with Dragon Breath, and use Aerial Ace!"

    "Block it and Giga Drain!"

    A series of commands and counter-commands. Indeed, both executed what they were asked flawlessly. The seeds that Roserade launched from the bouquets on its arms were burned away. Yet as Tiki came in with its tail to whip and slice with precision, Roserade got its guard up and avoided the brunt of it. It tried to start siphoning, but...

    "Fly up, Tiki."

    With its bouquets right there, Haruna's Roserade had no problem sucking a tiny bit energy before its opponent could escape to the skies. Tono smirked.

    "Now, Scorching Sands."

    A circle of dirt instantly formed beneath Roserade. It looked similar to Earth Power, except more subdued and blistering hot. So hot, in fact, that the masked Pokemon was left with a burn.

    Haruna weighed her options for a second, before deciding to make a switch. "Return, Roserade. Go, Ankylophone!"

    Haruna's Pokemon was another Nori was completely unfamiliar with. The indigo creature had two flippers, like a Lapras - the thought of which reminded Nori of Lux given it being his favorite Pokemon. Its long prehensile tail had a white bone-like tip, vaguely like a mallet. It wore a golden helmet with a short hollow prong on top, with plating or scales on its back that vaguely resembled a xylophone. Maybe that's how it got its name?

    "What is this?!" Yuki asked.

    "What do you mean?" Nori said. "She said it was an Ankylophone." She was using it, so it's not like it was some kind of unused Pokemon.

    Yuki whipped out his phone and snapped a picture of it. He looked it up on some kind of thing. Nori leaned in to see. It had a variety of pages, but the strawberry blond boy simply went to the basic information.

    Ankylophone: A Dragon/Rock Pokemon. A Pokemon that roamed the land in prehistoric times, now only found revived from fossils or in remote areas. Protects itself with armored plating while attacking with its tail and ramming its body into foes. Can store energy within its body and expel it as energy. The scales on its back are capable of producing various sounds, depending on how they are struck. Imperfect fossil regeneration technology has caused specimens to gain a secondary Rock type, but better preserved fossils and wild species maintain their original Steel typing.

    "Hmph. Foolish," Tono remarked. "Tiki, begin by trapping it with Sand Tomb."

    The poison was starting to wear on the other dragon; it coughed before executing the move. Once more, some dirt and dust encircled Haruna's Pokemon. Another whirlpool formed, this one made of sand. Less frightening, at least, Nori thought.

    "Too bad, loser," Haruna taunted. "Clanging Scales!"

    Ankylophone started running its tail back and forth along its backside. This produced a loud, chiming noise that wracked Tiki's body. The flying dragon fell, yet still had some fight left.

    "Now light it up with Scorching Sands!" Tono said, starting to get fired up. As his Pokemon was trying to pull itself together to execute this, however, Haruna launched another move.

    "Eerie Impulse!"

    "What!?" Tono sneered. "It can learn that?" Sure enough, it opened its maw and launched something barely visible at Tiki. It was still able to turn the otherwise inert Sand Tomb into a blazing desert storm, but this was not hurting the Rock-type as much as it should've.

    "Damn! I knew I should've taught you more physical moves, Tiki!"

    He weighed his options. He didn't have a lot, Nori thought. His Pokemon was weak and poisoned, and he only had the one switch left.

    "Screw it. Tiki, BOOMBURST!"

    Haruna smirked. "You too, Ankylophone!"

    The two Pokemon wound up. Tiki flapped its wings harshly, and Ankylophone smashed its tail into its scales. Both actions produced deafening blasts of sound. Nori's ears were left ringing as the cacophonous symphonies collided, passed through, and went for their respective targets. And while Ankylophone stood firm with only a little discomfort, the Flygon was blown backwards towards its trainer. It was left completely spent.

    "Now flourish!" said Haruna, as Tiki tried and failed to get up. "Heal Bell!"

    "Tiki is unable to battle!" The coach raised his arm, as Ankylophone played a soothing melody on its back. Maybe a dirge, Nori chuckled to himself.

    "Now we're even," said Haruna. "What's next, incel?"

    ---​

    Tono switched his Golduck back in to face off against the dinosaur. Haruna wasted no time ordering Thunderbolt; Ankylophone produced electricity with its tail and fired it out of its mouth. It hit hard, but Tono promptly used Disable. Haruna didn't care and ordered Clanging Scales. Tono countered this with Psychic, preventing the tail from moving. So Haruna just ordered Headbutt instead. Drake was caught off-guard, and a devastating Bone Club that smashed the duck against the floor ended it. Just like that, she'd taken the lead.

    Gracie the Girafarig was Tono's next choice of Pokemon. Right away, Haruna had her Pokemon use Perish Song. Tono's Pokemon managed to land a Shadow Ball while their foe was playing a haunting melody on its scales. Haruna instantly recalled Ankylophone afterward as Tono was giving his next order. Interesting, Nori noted. She was exhausting his last switch, and still had one of her own left. So once Ankylophone was back, she could do that at will and switch out again, and Tono would just have to let his Pokemon faint.

    Haruna brought in the Roserade - healed of its burn - and immediately ordered it to start throwing down Spikes. Tono chanced it, having Gracie blast it with a full-force Psychic. The rose Pokemon was knocked down but not out, and Haruna followed up with Toxic Spikes. Tono hesitated for a split-second before deciding to switch to Mothula to keep Gracie in play.

    This ended before it even began. They tried to use Air Slash, but were promptly destroyed by Hidden Power and finished with Sludge Bomb. Tono shook his head at himself.

    Suddenly, it was 2-4 in favor of Haruna, but as Yuki mentioned, Tono's two best Pokemon were still in this, and he'd taken down her second best, which was Dusknoir. The various spikes took hold as Gracie came back in. Haruna wasted no time in pouncing with Venoshock, but Tono used Light Screen. The two Pokemon traded shots with Psybeam and Magical Leaf. When the Roserade used Leech Seed, Tono quickly ordered Psychic to stop them. Haruna used the chance to have her Pokemon rush in with Giga Drain. Tono ordered a dodge and Psychic Fangs. Gracie barely pulled this off, sidestepping and seizing it in its back tail's jaws. This finished Roserade.

    Haruna considered before sending out her next Pokemon. It was a black penguin with blue trim on its flippers and running down the center of its body. The white on its belly appeared like a tuxedo, and a gold trident was embedded in its face. It had tiny claws on the back of each flipper.

    "Her starter Pokemon," mused Yuki. "And her best, too."

    "Emp! Let's do this thing!" Haruna declared. It even had a nickname, which came as a surprise to Nori given her other Pokemon didn't have them.

    Tono led things off with a Thunderbolt. However, Haruna had her Pokemon evade away with Aqua Jet. The penguin whirled around, and though Tono was able to have Gracie hold it back from a collision with Psychic, Haruna had her Pokemon shoot a Brine from there. This caught Gracie off-guard, and between that and the poison, allowed them to finish it with an Aerial Ace upside the head.

    "Damn it!" screamed Tono, clenching his fists as he trembled. He stared at the floor. The reality of the situation sunk in. He had one Pokemon left against her three, two of which were completely fresh. And as for the other...

    "Haruna's got this!" Nori said to his friend. "Once Ankylophone's back out, they'll Perish Song and that'll be it!"

    "Don't be so sure!" replied Yuki. "That's only if he lets them do that!"

    Maybe. The downside was if that happened, he wasn't going to see much of what Tono could do with his best Pokemon. But it'd be so worth it to see him go down so anticlimactically! He'd definitely be facing McCloud on the 20th, so Nori vowed to pay as much attention as possible here. Even if it was only a little, whatever he could get out of this would be useful. He had his pencil and notepad at the ready.

    Tono gripped his final Poke Ball in his right hand. "It's time, my friend," he said, as he squeezed it. "McCloud! It's time to win this! Get ready!"

    Out came the Jolteon. This was a seeming mismatch. A Water type against an Electric type. The only advantage Haruna would have here was McCloud getting poisoned right away from Roserade's caltrops. But it didn't need to be that way, and indeed, Haruna was already reaching for her belt.

    As the coach waved the flags to restart the battle, she indeed made the switch. "Come back, Emp! And go, Ankylophone! Perish Song!" Right away, right as expected!

    Tono pointed. "McCloud, NOW! Agility!"

    At once, the Jolteon crouched and made a huge leap. He jumped directly onto Ankylophone's back, blocking the tail from striking its scales, thereby stopping the move.

    "What?!" cursed Haruna. "How?" Nori had to agree, that was executed too perfectly for something on the spot.

    "I foresaw this happening, so we trained a countermeasure in advance!" The audience screamed in delight. Nori could only stare in shock. Tono was ready for a situation like this? "Now, Iron Tail!"

    "Bone Club!"

    A tail strike against a tail strike. However, McCloud used his move by dashing backwards into the appendage and jumping off right after. He evaded the follow-up, and...

    "Finish it! Double Kick!"

    "Clanging Scales!"

    The exhausted dinosaur was barely able to start running its tail over its scales before McCloud started laying into it. One kick, and the second knocked it down. As the dinosaur struggled to get back up, Haruna stomped the floor.

    "Don't give up!" she said. "Perish Song!"

    Tono confidently crossed his arms. "Refresh."

    Ankylophone tried to execute the move, but its strength gave out. Meanwhile, the relieved McCloud's form glowed a faint white, and the poison steadily faded from his body.

    "Ankylophone is unable to battle!" said the coach, over the roar of the crowd.

    "Been a while since we have had to use that, though I wish we could have employed it sooner. But you gave us the perfect opportunity to do so," said Tono with a wry smile, glasses sparkling in the light. Haruna harrumphed in irritation.

    Okay, thought Nori. So he beat the Pokemon that could've instantly ended things. But Haruna still had two fresh ones left; Emp hadn't been touched the brief time it was out for what that was worth, and McCloud had still had to endure the poison for a little bit. This was still over for Tono.

    Nori was already smiling in delight at the prospect of seeing the nerd get destroyed, and it only became deeper when saw what Haruna sent out. Auburn fur, bulky body, a volcano-like rump on its back. The sight of the Camerupt took the air out of the audience. A Ground type against a Jolteon! He didn't doubt Tono would find a way to make this close, but this was in the bag!

    Haruna cackled as she gave her first command. "Eruption, Camerupt!" A move that was at its most powerful at full health! A massive rain of boiling liquid and stones were fired out of its one hump.

    "Dodge around it and throw up a Reflect!" said Tono. Haruna shook her head, and why wouldn't she? However, to her (and Nori's) chagrin, McCloud expertly weaved between the rain of debris while managing to erect a wall of shining light as he did so.

    Haruna rolled her eyes. "Try and dodge an Earthquake."

    Tono smirked. "Brace through it and use Hidden Power."

    Camerupt bucked up and violently rattled the floor. McCloud stood firm and launched a series of mysterious pellets at his foe. The camel groaned in agony on impact.

    "Yes, I remembered that's Water type," interrupted Haruna in an ominous tone, as Tono was opening his mouth to boast. "But it doesn't matter. Camerupt, Yawn!"

    The red and brown Pokemon opened its mouth. Something flew out at McCloud, and just like that, he started to become drowsy.

    "Rouse yourself up, McCloud," Tono urged. "Hyper Voice again!"

    Managing to get it together, the Jolteon screamed at his foe. Camerupt was powerless against this, unable to cover its ears from the ear-splitting wail.

    Nori noticed something else, however. That also should've been bad news for Tono, yet he was unusually unconcerned. Something was up.

    "Mud Bomb!" Haruna said.

    "Agility to get some distance," countered Tono.

    McCloud perfectly avoided the move. However, tiredness quickly overwhelmed him. He collapsed mid-run...only to quickly get back up?

    "A Chesto Berry as well," Tono grinned maliciously. He anticipated this too?!

    Haruna took a couple steps forward, brandishing a fist. "You asshole! Yawn again!"

    "Shadow Ball!"

    As Camerupt opened its mouth once more, the lightning-quick McCloud formed a sphere of dark energy and threw it right down the hatch. The status move halted instantly as the camel began coughing violently.

    "Shit! Camerupt–"

    "You're done," Tono interrupted. "Hidden Power."

    Maybe there was a chance to avoid this at the distance they were at, but not while Camerupt was choking on dark energies. This final shot of mysterious pellets was able to finish them off.

    "Camerupt is unable to battle."

    The crowd screamed like maniacs, even the other members of the news club getting in on it. Nori couldn't believe it. Tono had a serious disadvantage, and just like that, he'd made it even. McCloud had ridden out the poison and fought back an Earthquake, and didn't show the slightest sign of slowing down. This was what he was going to be up against in a few days? He couldn't beat this!

    Both were down to their last Pokemon. Haruna grumbled as she recalled her Camerupt and took out her final ball. Emp's Poke Ball. She gave it a good, hard look before throwing it out.

    "I think Tono's gonna win this!" Yuki squeed.

    "I'm cheering for her." Maybe it was dumb blind faith, but he didn't care! He stood up and raised his left arm, hollering through his right's fist. "KICK HIS ASS, HARUNA!"

    He got some funny looks from people, but the crimson orange-haired teen actually gave this a nod of acknowledgment and answered, "I will."

    Tono harrumphed. "If you truly believe you are able to win, your ignorance is even more boundless than I thought."

    Realistically, this was not looking good. Well, sure. An Electric type just beat a Ground type. But this was way different! Especially when this Electric type was that crazy!

    "We're gonna serve you some humble pie," Haruna fired back. Nori was hoping she would! If anyone deserved to eat some, it was Tono!

    The coach nodded. "Each trainer is down to their last Pokemon. Restart the battle!"

    "Get rid of that Reflect, Emp!" she said. Emp flapped its flippers, producing a strange wind of some kind. It took Nori a moment to recognize it as a Defog move.

    "Of course," Tono shook his head as the wall faded from existence. "But you're open. Thunder Wave!"

    Haruna snickered. "Not so. Escape with Aqua Jet!"

    Before the weak jolt of electricity could hit, Emp rocketed away, riding a wave. It wasn't necessarily using it to attack, just as a way to move.

    "Overtake it with Agility."

    And with this, Jolteon blitzed forth. The two Pokemon raced around the battlefield, making no attempt to attack each other. That is, until the electric fox got ahead of the penguin.

    "Lay some Pin Missiles, McCloud," the nerd said.

    "Swerve!"

    Emp tried, but it couldn't course correct in time. It ran right over the spikes that McCloud left in his wake, coming out of its Aqua Jet in the process.

    That gave McCloud time to leap behind. "Thunderbolt."

    Nori cringed. Emp was lit up by the powerful move. The boy breathed a sigh of relief as the penguin mostly shook it off. It was going to take more than that to do Haruna in. Still, Emp hadn't landed a single attack yet. She needed to change that, and fast.

    "Aqua Jet!" This time, the move was aimed squarely at the Jolteon.

    "Counter with Hyper Voice," replied Tono. While it was able to scream menacingly at the charging Empleon, this did not deter the penguin from crashing into him. One hit, and they were in position to get more.

    Tono pushed up his glasses, unconcerned. "We can fight up close. Double Kick."

    Nori quickly looked to Haruna. He was relieved to see her mouthing, "Gotcha," right before she gave the order: "Grass Knot!"

    "Nani?!"

    And this surprised Tono. Emp tapped his flippers, and a mass of vines came out and grabbed at McCloud's front legs, right as he was rearing back to perform a mule kick.

    "Quick, McCloud! Thunderbolt again before they use Earthquake!"

    "Avoid it," said Haruna. It didn't take much effort with McCloud being welded to the ground. "And you heard him, Emp!"

    "Refle–"

    There was no stopping it. Emp jumped and stomped down. The ground shook violently beneath the battlefield. McCloud groaned in pain, affected much worse without its barrier. The one silver lining for the nerd was that this ended up freeing his Pokemon from the vines, which was fortunate for him, as another attack was on the way.

    "Follow up, Emp! Brine!"

    "Dodge!" Tono was getting uncharacteristically fired up in this battle.

    The electric fox was just able to escape the blast of water, going on the move yet again. Nori sniffed. It reeked of the sea. He suppressed thoughts of the start of the month.

    "All that running around is pissing us off, isn't it, Emp?" Haruna asked her Pokemon, which sort of chirped in agreement. "Let's fix that. Ice Beam all over the ground!"

    "Stop them, McCloud!" Tono shouted, suddenly very concerned. "Shadow Ball!"

    The electric fox angrily bristled, launching a blob of darkness at its foe. It stunned, but did not deter. A sizable amount of the floor was coated in ice. A penguin could slide around on it, but a fox would just slip and fall!

    "Try breaking some with Thunderbolt!" Tono asked, even as Emp was catching its breath after all. McCloud complied, managing to shatter a bit of the ice, but not enough. "Damn it...can't do that any further." Nori smirked in approval. Take that!

    "Now, Brine!"

    "Jump from partition to partition!" To the boy's chagrin, the nerd had already thought up a counter. McCloud was agile enough to make the leaps between the frozen sections of the floor. "And, lay Pin Missiles on the ice as you do!"

    The battlefield became a huge mess in short order, ice and thorns everywhere. The latter was going to fade after a period, but it was going to make motion just as difficult for Emp as it was for McCloud.

    There was a brief pause as both trainers tried to figure out their next move. Nori wondered, why wasn't Haruna just attacking? There had to be a good reason. Eventually, Tono ordered, "McCloud, Thunderbolt!"

    "Slide away and use Mist, Emp! Avoid, but go through the pins if you need to!"

    Nori didn't get this. As if what was already there wasn't enough, now the penguin started spreading a thick fog everywhere. It was making it hard to tell what was going on.

    "It's coming soon, McCloud," Tono warned. "Get ready to dodge when you hear it."

    "Just try!" Haruna yelled. "Headbutt!"

    Nori watched carefully, on the edge of his seat like nearly all of the audience was. Like a torpedo from the ocean, Emp came rocketing towards McCloud. They were just as silhouettes from where he was watching. The Jolteon appeared to sidestep...then stepped back in surprise as Emp halted and rose to its full height over him.

    "Thunder Fang!" Tono yelled.

    "Counter with Steel Wing!"

    The two attacks met with a crack, both getting injured from trading blows. How much longer was this going to go on? How healthy was Emp? Could Haruna and her starter pull this off?

    "Ice Beam!"

    "Thunderbolt!"

    Both Pokemon fired their respective powerful elemental moves at each other, point blank. The attacks were briefer than usual, as both were knocked back from the backlash of being struck, the penguin moreso. The Mist started to fade save for a passive swirl around Emp, and the audience was able to see the situation.

    "Come on..." urged Nori, as Emp was struggling to get to a vertical base. McCloud wasn't much better, upright yet partially encased in ice.

    "Damn it, Emp! Get up!" Haruna shouted. "We can't lose this!"

    "I'm not taking any chances!" yelled Tono. "One more Thunderbolt!"

    While trapped and in pain, McCloud managed to gather the energies in his body, launching them at the Empoleon.

    "EMP!" Haruna pleaded. Nori turned away. He couldn't look!

    He heard nothing but gasps. He turned to see that Emp had slid away! The ice was completely shattered where the lightning had struck.

    "Hell yeah!"

    "No, no, no!" Tono muttered.

    "Finish this! EARTHQUAKE!"

    Tono defiantly glared. "McCloud, Refresh and Agility! Into the air!"

    What the?! That was insane! But it happened. The electric fox's body started glowing white as before, purging the ice. Emp jumped, but before it could come down, McCloud rocketed into the air. Seemingly flying!

    "This battle is over!" Tono hot-bloodedly screamed. "THUNDEROUS IRON TAIL!!"

    Many were confused. Haruna glared, trying to discern what was going to happen. But Nori was one of the few who knew what that was. That was how they'd defeated Kallisto's Raitora! If that landed, Emp was finished!

    McCloud let out a battle cry at the apex of his jump. Lightning started arcing out of his short spiny tail, creating an illusion that it was much larger than it actually was. The vicious sparking and crackling cut through the air. The electric fox flipped over and came rocketing down like a guided missile.

    "Emp, HYDRO CANNON!" a panicked Haruna shouted. She was going to try to counter it?! With a Water move?! The penguin stood firm and defiant, ready to try.

    It all happened so fast that it didn't register with anyone immediately. There was a blinding flash and deafening boom as McCloud made impact. Nori anticipated this and had shut his eyes in time. He opened them to see a gargantuan blast of water headed all the way to the ceiling. He looked to Emp, right as it fell to its claws and flippers.

    And as for McCloud, he hit the roof and started falling.

    "McCloud, NO!"

    Tono could only scream as his Pokemon plunged several meters to the floor, crashing down hard. He immediately ran over to check on McCloud. The electric fox was out, if not from the Hydro Cannon, then certainly from the fall. The Gym Trainer desperately ran his hands over McCloud's legs and body, checking for any serious injuries.

    "Emp's out!" he eventually yelled, lightly relieved. "He can't battle, either!"

    The coach came over and checked on McCloud. He only needed a brief glance before heading over to Emp. He kneeled down, and though the penguin couldn't stand, it managed to give a nod.

    "Emp is still conscious. McCloud is unable to battle."

    "No..."

    Haruna started to laugh in triumph. It started as a lull, just like the crowd.

    "This means that your winner, and captain of the Gama Memorial Senior Battling Team for 2015, Haruna Okazaki!"

    Nori leaped to his feet with a wild beam, maybe making the most noise out of anyone in the audience - no mean feat, given there were a surprising amount of them cheering this outcome. She'd done it! Haruna had won! And more importantly, Tono had lost!

    "No!" Tono screamed, to the delight of Nori, Haruna, and her fans. "Ridiculous! This battle should've been a draw! And I should've stayed captain as incumbent! This is absolutely ridiculous!"

    But his complaints were drowned out by the cheers of the audience. He eventually threw up his arms, recalled his Pokemon, and walked away. It didn't seem like he was going to stick around. This only made Nori laugh harder, no matter how wrong it might've objectively been. Coming here to see that nerd get destroyed and throw a temper tantrum was completely worth it!

    ---​

    Haruna gave a small speech after her victory. Nori actually paid attention to the stuff by the senior club at this point, what little he could glean anyway. After this, there were some final formalities before they got on their way - it didn't look like they were going to be able to get a post-battle interview, unfortunately.

    "That. Was. Awesome!" gushed Yuki as they left.

    "I know, right?" Nori remarked. He was starting to see how someone could get so invested in a battle they weren't a part of. Although he figured he'd think differently had Tono won.

    "I gotta admit," Yuki remarked. "Haruna made a fan of me today."

    "You two."

    Yuki froze up. Nori merely smiled as Gino and the others approached them. "Yes?"

    "Um, this is kind of awkward, guys," Arumi said. "Sorry."

    Gino had no such sympathy towards them. "You know the reason why we came to watch this battle, don't you?" he asked, a hand on his hip.

    "Well..." Yuki nervously laughed.

    "I see that you understand," the poofy-haired girl coldly stated.

    Nori smiled. "Of course we were paying attention!"

    "Only to the battle," said Beau.

    "Exactly," he didn't miss a beat. "We're going to write a report about it! You know, battle analysis."

    "Th-that's right!" Yuki affirmed. They considered having to say and do this, though the strawberry blond boy wasn't confident enough to tell them that. It was something of a crazy excuse, really. But Nori knew a way to get at least one person on their side.

    "Okazaki Defeats Takuma, Becomes Team Captain in Wild Full Battle at Gama Senior!"

    "Haha!" Sure enough, she applauded. "My name is Arumi Schrader, and I approve this headline!"

    Beau rolled her eyes. "Do you even know how to do such a thing?"

    "Isn't it about giving your opinions on a battle? I'm being trained by pros, so I know battles! Besides, I've seen Tono himself do it!"

    Gino sighed and shook his head. "You're a master of excuses, you know that?"

    "Thanks!" He grinned. It was nice to get a little bit of positive reinforcement for once!

    "That wasn't intended as a compliment!" Beau snapped.

    He tilted his head. It wasn't?

    "Don't forget why we came here, guys!" Arumi reminded them. She caught on!

    "Yes," said Beau. "We came here to learn the professional filming, production, and coverage–oh, for the love of God."

    And it visibly hit them all at once, right as Beau said the word. She slumped, Lorant stared down, and Gino buried his face in his hands. He eventually looked up. "You'd just better make sure you do it, in that case."

    Yuki put an arm around his shoulders, pulling Nori in a little. "We'll work on it together, right on it after school!" he eagerly declared. News to him, but he had no problem with it. More time away from the Gym Trainers, after all. He'd just have to tell Eddie or Kallisto the plan, or call the Gym if that didn't work out. He...could probably find a phone book for the phone number, right?

    "Great!" said Arumi, flashing a thumbs-up. "And I'll be right there to help you, so it's ready to go on Monday!" Nori remembered Arumi pretty much always stuck around after hours, even on Fridays.

    Yuki let go, nodding slightly. That settled things.

    ##########
    =========
    ##########

    A/N: No, Ankylophone is still not technically a Fakemon, and that term is still dumb. It's actually from the 98-05-06 sprite leaks, #415 specifically. I gave it an egregious pun for a name and the color. As with Raitora, picked several moves for it that fit, going for partial sound-theme as well.

    Ankylophone.png


    Hopefully this battle was entertaining enough. Not fully satisified with it myself, particularly due to a rewritten part of it feeling awkward to me. One of the stranger battles I've written, with the POV character simply watching and all the glossing over.

    Aside, I've written nearly up through Month 7: one or two scenes left in that and it's drafted. Good thing, dunno how much forward progress I'm going to be able to make once Super Robot Wars 30 is out in a couple days; depends on how long my copy takes to reach me though.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5-2: May of Ordinance (third part)
    • May of Ordinance (third part)​
    May 16th, 2015​

    Saturday started off early, yet slowly. There was a lot to take in about the battle the day prior. The biggest thing it proved to Nori that Tono was not infallible, let alone invincible. No matter how much planning he did, it wasn't a guarantee. And since Tono had beaten Kallisto...well. That was something to keep in mind for later.

    He went downstairs before the Gym Trainers arrived for some training with Volkner. Nori had concluded that surprises were among the best ways of defeating Tono - to which the Gym Leader responded with approval. Yes, he said, that is a big weakness of Tono as well, and he congratulated Nori on figuring that one out. They spent the morning having their Pokemon spar and brainstorming ideas. He also noticed the Demon was more evenly matched with Volkner's Luxray at this point. Per his training, she started varying up her approach, making it more erratic and tougher to figure out.

    Ollie showed up first, greeting them before going upstairs for some oatmeal. The other three came in twenty minutes later. Nori was in the hallway at the time, walking out when he heard Tono rambling in the lobby.

    "I still cannot get over this ridiculous loss," the nerd said. Eddie rolled his eyes and turned away. Kallisto watched his friend with concern. "Haruna got lucky. Her Pokemon landed a counter at the last possible moment, and she only won on a technicality. Regardless of consciousness, Emp was in no condition to continue! I have given it thought, and it is looking more and more like there actually was a conspiracy between her and the faculty."

    "Oh yeah?" Nori taunted as he pranced in. "You're sounding more and more like a sore loser to me!"

    Tono sneered. "No one asked for your opinion on this, Nori Carino."

    "You know," Kallisto interrupted, "I hate to admit it, but Nori is right." The nerd's jaw dropped, and for that matter, Nori's almost did as well. Kallisto, agreeing with him? "Tono, it isn't reflecting well on you to be complaining this much. I know you have strong feelings against Haruna and are frustrated at yourself about losing - especially since it means you're working under her, but this just isn't you. You're way better than this."

    Eddie concurred. "Yeah, you're starting to bitch a little much. Like, whining on Tweeter and saying there's a conspiracy? The fuck, man?"

    The bespectacled teen sighed and lowered his head. "I suppose you're right. No matter." He rubbed his hands together. "I will simply have to challenge her to a rematch and reclaim what's mine."

    "Actually," Kallisto spoke up, somewhat awkwardly. "I heard they're not doing battles to replace the captain this year, barring exceptional circumstances. What with the controversy with me a couple years ago, and your feud with her last year."

    Tono growled. "Ridiculous! She causes that to happen, and wins one battle when it matters?! This is exactly why single elimination is antiquated! One performance is NOT indicative of someone's true ability! When I see that fraud again, I am going to have words with her!"

    Eddie snickered. "She's right outside," he said, pointing behind them.

    Sure enough, Haruna was present, waiting for the Gym to open. She was in an frilly white tank top and expensive-looking blue jeans. Tono seethed and went outside. Nori decided to follow along with the others. This should be entertaining.

    "And what are you doing here?!" he demanded.

    Haruna smirked and crossed her arms. "I came to laugh at you."

    Tono sarcastically applauded. "Oh, ha, ha, ha. Very funny. Did you look that reference up? The only Chars you actually know about are Zard and Chim." She started to speak, when Tono started talking over her. "Never mind. It is good that you are here, because I wanted to tell you to your face, that victory was nothing more than a fluke!"

    "Actually," said Nori. "I analyzed the battle for my school's newsletter. And I can say–"

    "I told you! No. One. Cares!" punctuated Tono. "Furthermore, what do you know about battle analysis?!"

    "Enough, I hope!" he cheerfully replied.

    Eddie blinked. Kallisto tilted his head. "Huh, got me interested," the former quipped. "May have to get a copy of that for once."

    "Yeah, bring it back. I'll have to have a look at it too," Kallisto agreed.

    "Silence!" said Tono, irritated even more by the other Gym Trainers actually expressing interest in the analysis. "Haruna Okazaki, I challenging you to a rematch this exhibition day! You may be captain for the year barring something unfortunate, but I can show the world who really deserved the position!"

    "Sure, I'll accept your little challenge," said Haruna.

    There was chatter among the onlookers. Nori nervously bit his lip. Did no one else pick up on that subtle threat Tono just made? Was he going to try to disqualify Haruna somehow? Also, there was something else. "I thought we were battling on exhibition day?"

    "I will be facing you both!" he brashly declared.

    More intrigue. Kallisto in particular clapped his friend on the back in approval. Haruna's mouth curled into a wry smirk. She turned to Nori.

    "Well, since we'll both be fighting this incel on the 20th, want to train together?"

    "Sounds good! We can strategize together!" he turned to the Gym Trainers. "Just let Volkner know for me."

    Tono seethed. He breathed in and out, but it didn't help. "Are you serious?!" he screeched through gritted teeth. Yeah, he brought that on himself. It was great.

    Kallisto put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Relax, Tono." He smiled and nodded at Nori. "We'll let him know. Good luck with your training."

    "Thanks, I guess."

    He hated Kallisto, and maybe it was mutual, but he did trust him to do that. But getting tips from and practicing with an excellent trainer from outside of the Gym, especially one with a lot of experience in facing Tono? It was going to help a lot! His chances at winning were suddenly looking better than ever.

    ---​

    Kallisto Keravnos entered the arena with Tono and Eddie. Volkner was already in there waiting. And to all of their surprise, Ollie was running laps around the arena!

    "Yo!" he huffed, waving to them. It was obvious he was struggling, but he was actually trying!

    "Hey, Ollie!" Kallisto greeted. "Good to see you exercising."

    "Finally tired of being the tub 'o goo, eh?" joked Eddie.

    Ollie took it in stride, even as he ran out of breath as if on cue. "You'll...have to think...of a new nickname...soon!"

    All of them except Tono laughed; even Volkner snickered. Kallisto said, "Soon's a misnomner, but as long as you keep working at it, you'll get there eventually."

    "As they say, it's a marathon. Not a sprint," the Gym Leader mused.

    "All this over Nori Carino," muttered Tono. "Ridiculous that you did not work towards self-improvement sooner."

    Kallisto shrugged. "Everyone has different motivations and inspirations. Besides, that's just on the Pokemon end of things." Ollie had always wanted to, he just never found the motivation to stick with it until recently. The head Gym Trainer would say the ‘drunkenness’ incident at Eddie's birthday party played an even bigger role, actually.

    "Speaking of. Where's Nori?" the Gym Leader asked.

    "He went out." Kallisto glanced at his best friend. "Tono challenged Haruna Okazaki to a rematch this exhibition day, and she invited him to train together."

    "Sounds good," said Volkner with a proud smile. He checked his watch. "Gym opens in a couple minutes, so get ready."

    They all nodded. It appeared there were a couple challengers outside waiting. No real hotshots, so it was a chance for Tono to work off some steam or Ollie to practice.

    Or maybe not. Tono was storming off towards the side doors. Kallisto quickly caught up with him.

    "Tono, seriously. Relax," he urged his best friend.

    "How am I supposed to relax?!" he snapped. "I have two battles to be prepared for in several days. And with those two making the ridiculous decision to consolidate their efforts against me, I need to be absolutely sure I am ready!"

    "You're overworking yourself," he advised. "You don't want to burn out before 20th, or worse yet, burn your Pokemon out. Besides, your birthday is the day before." He'd be seventeen. While they were both in twelfth grade, Tono had skipped fourth way back when.

    Tono sighed. "Perhaps you are right." He sat down, leaning against the wall. "I have been thinking about it, and I have been working hard, when I should be working smart. Will you help me get ready for this?"

    "Always, my friend."

    If his best friend needed the help, Kallisto was more than happy to offer it. And perhaps he could prevent Tono from second-guessing himself into oblivion, as he occasionally did in these situations...

    ---​

    Nori got into Haruna's black car, and went with her to this battling place called Mynwest Court. Before they even got through the doors, they had all sorts of people challenging them. Thankfully, Haruna told them off and rented one of the private training rooms for an hour. Nori made a note to remember this place for later, if he could get out this far with his skateboard.

    "So this is the Demon," Haruna remarked after ten minutes of practice. They had been doing something Haruna called ‘two hitters’ which she assured was nothing like ‘one-hit outs’. The objective was to land two hits in a row on your opponent without your Pokemon being hit in-between. And with the Demon, one hit usually meant a second. "She's as tough as I heard."

    "Thanks," Nori replied.

    "Would love to have a real battle with you someday, when you get better and have more Pokemon."

    "Sure," he accepted, "Although I'm not sure how long that'll take. I only have the Demon and Pachi for now." The little squirrel was watching and cheering on the sidelines, to her fellow Pokemon's annoyance.

    "Why not catch one?" she asked the obvious.

    "Well, I'm going to be assigned Pokemon to train and look after, right? So anything I catch myself, I might not get a chance to use them."

    "If you're like that, hope for your sake you can make a balanced team out of whatever you're given," she pretty much dismissed. Well sure, it was a problem, but only for a serious trainer. "But I'm curious about something else. What's your deal with Kallisto?"

    Nori opened his mouth to speak his mind, but something made him think better of saying it how he wanted to. Maybe it was the look in Haruna's narrowed eyes.

    "Just what I said at his ceremony," he replied. Best to keep it simple. "He's a good trainer. And he pisses me off a lot. But he's not...completely bad, I guess?"

    He hated admitting that last part. Things would be so much easier if Kallisto was a malicious jerk behind the scenes. But he wasn't. And Nori got the feeling the head Gym Trainer's interactions with him were the exception, rather than indicative of his true personality. Maybe. No, well. He wanted to scream he hated him anyway, especially over what he did to Betsy-Ann. But the truth was, he wasn't sure what to make of him anymore.

    "Close to what I think of him, then," Haruna remarked.

    "Really?"

    "He's stuck up and full of himself," the crimson-orange haired teen remarked. "Don't like him, but I respect him."

    Nori shrugged. He hardly respected Kallisto! But he got the feeling maybe this wasn't the time or place to say that.

    "Anyway, really don't want to talk about him." Easiest way was to change the subject.

    "Right," she agreed. "So let's talk strategy. Any preview of that analysis you did?"

    "What are you asking?"

    "What you got from Tono."

    Nori glanced up. "Well, we were going to do it in a point-by-point, but it got condensed into the five key moments in the battle. Yuki's idea, not mine." He shrugged. "Those in order were his Golduck's defeat of Dusknoir, Tono impulsively switching his Mothim, Poison Point triggering on that...thing he called Zoma, McCloud's Hidden Power, and Emp countering Thunderous Iron Tail with Hydro Cannon." He ruffled his hair. "I also thought you trying to order a last minute Perish Song giving McCloud time to heal his poison, but that didn't affect the outcome."

    Haruna tapped her foot. "Not what I had in mind."

    "What were you thinking?"

    "Weaknesses. As an outsider looking in, you get anything out of him? Anything that could humiliate him?"

    "Not anything more than I knew, though I think just winning alone will humiliate him." Especially given how bad he took this one loss. "Besides that, I took notes, but they're back at the Gym. I don't know if they'll be any help."

    She grumbled. "Well, I can tell you one thing. He's inflexible. Especially against those he's too familiar with or those he's unfamiliar with."

    The opposite ends of the spectrum. "Huh. I've only had one serious battle against him, which I...sort of won."

    "Sort of?"

    "I wasn't in the mood, because I was down due to my friend Lux being gone, but the Demon beat his Raichu by herself with just basic stuff out of me."

    She nodded. "I can say this. You're exactly the sort of dangerous amateur he'd have problems with."

    "Amateur!?"

    "Or defy his expectations."

    Nori thought about it. "Tono doesn't seem to think much of me," he thought aloud. "Which means he might not be expecting much. So if I do try..."

    "He's going 0-2 on exhibition day."

    The boy nodded. Maybe he was stupid and hopeful to think he had a chance, but on the other hand, both Haruna and Volkner seemed to think he could do this. And he still wanted to crush Tono and rub it in for everything he'd said and done to him. That's why he was here training with Haruna.

    ---​

    The two left the room after an hour, only to find some people waiting outside in ambush.

    "What's this?" Nori asked.

    "You're here at a Mynwest, so you're here to battle," said a black-haired teenager, younger than Haruna. He had a light Italian accent, and was wearing a shirt with a classical painting design with some dude on it. A label on it said Titian?

    "We want to battle you!"

    "Yeah, you Kallisto-hating jerk!"

    "Umm..." the boy groaned, awkwardly turning away.

    "Fight us!"

    "Come on!"

    "We want to battle you too, Haruna!"

    Nori looked to the teen girl for help, who simply laughed. "Settle down. I know you're insecure and desperate for validation, but we just came here to train."

    "That's right!" Nori added, as they complained.

    "So that's why you'll make the perfect punching bags!" she declared with an evil grin. "I'll get us both day passes."

    "What?!"

    "It'll be good practice stomping them out," she explained as she disappeared down the hall.

    "Oh, come on!" The boy tried not to whine. "I had my share of these stupid morons back home!"

    "You scared of losing?" the Italian teen asked. "If not, face us!"

    Nori glared. "No way," he said, set off yet still exasperated. "Three of you - including you," he pointed at the Italian-sounding guy. "And that's it. Fight amongst yourselves to decide who the other two are."

    Okay, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come back here, he thought. He wasn't going to be like one of those super strong trainers who indulges every group of maniacs who comes up looking for a battle. What kind of person puts up with insanity like this? He couldn't imagine this being a regular thing. At least it was a chance to get Pachi some exercise...

    ##########​

    May 17th, 2015​

    When Nori's training didn't consist of crushing annoying people or having his Pokemon use the workout equipment, he was being personally tutored by Volkner on how to counter specific strategies. Volkner had a small arena in the back - sort of like the room at that place he went to with Haruna - to practice in.

    They had been working on techniques to stall a couple days prior. Volkner acknowledged Nori already had a general idea of how to do so given he employed such a strategy against Eddie's Electabuzz. The differences in application here were the Demon not being as likely to play it cool, Tono possibly factoring this into his own plans, and his likely use of Light Clay to extend Reflect's duration. As attrition was the name of the game, finding ways to draw the battle out when possible was important.

    They decided the best way to go about it would be mixing in aggressive tactics with stalling ones. They might as well deal damage when they were able to, and to stave off as much damage as possible when it was unsafe. Volkner warned Nori about Tono using moves creatively. They practiced against some of his staple combos, such as Pin Missile traps. Volkner even had them avoid a swooping Chatot or Galvantula, as rough analogues to acrobatic strikes.

    Today, they were working on specific attacks. "Double Team," said Volkner. "It's a common move by fast or ninja-like Pokemon. While it can look intimidating, only one of the copies is real."

    "So hit them all at once! Um, if you can."

    The Gym Leader nodded. "Moves like Discharge are a good answer, yes. If the Pokemon has a capable and powerful enough move. Furthermore, some crafty applications of the move will hide the real one."

    "So what can you do? Especially if you don't have that option?"

    Volkner pointed at his own eyes. "Look. The real one moves a fraction of a second before the copies."

    The boy nodded. "So working with your Pokemon? Sounds good." Well, he assumed it was possible to train the Pokemon to do it too, but a second set of eyes didn't hurt. "What else?"

    "First, we're going to practice that. Minun?" He called out to the yellow and blue Pika, who squeaked and came running over. The Gym Leader said he was a gift from Flint one year, but he only used the little mouse against weaker challengers - when they weren't so weak that he had to use Gym Pokemon, that is. "In most cases, hitting the real one will eliminate the copies. You still have that laser pointer, right?"

    "Er, yes. It's in my room, but I can go get it."

    "Minun will use Double Team. You aim where you think he is."

    The boy nodded. "Got it."

    ---​

    The boy proceeded to impress the Gym Leader and surprise himself by hitting it 21 out of 25 times. He knew he would be good at this, just not that good. Volkner's Minun was capable of using Double Team in several different ways: encircling, orderly rows, and scattering copies haphazard.

    "That's enough," Volkner said. "Good."

    "Thanks." The boy gave the laser pointer a twirl and pocketed it.

    "Double Team is a simple move to counter. It's often called a beginner's trap, in both senses of the term."

    "You mean a move good to use on beginners, and not as reliable as a beginner might think?"

    "Yes. Tono might try it on you for that reason."

    Nori grinned. "He'll be in for a surprise if he does."

    "It's not a bad move, simply one that takes skill and training to effectively use." He glanced at his Minun, who had ran back over to play with Pachi. "If you choose to use it yourself, be aware of its limitations."

    "If I do, what's the best way to use it? And are there any other ways to counter it? If I somehow can't find the real one?" He imagined the visual trick wouldn't always work.

    Volkner nodded. "Easier to explain both together. Against encircling Double Teams, your best counter are moves like Discharge that can hit them all, or moves like Vine Whip or Earth Power that could get in the way. Disrupting the ground in some way is also effective if they're on it. If you can get out of the circle, even better - but watch for being tackled if you're attempting a melee escape. Your best bet when using it in this fashion is either a beam move directed inwards, or something wide-area like, again, Discharge. They're easy to use, but easy to counter.

    "Against line-based Double Teams, the best counter is to charge forward and attack one. If you have a ground-shaking move or one like Sludge Wave, use it. This pattern is best used as a mind-game offensively. Don't be afraid to have your Pokemon miss on purpose. If they try a sweeping move as a counter, that's your chance to attack."

    Nori tapped his chin. "When I was out in..." He shuddered. Thinking of that day only brought bad memories. "Well, on the 3rd, I fought someone who used a line. I tried having Pachi use Discharge right in front, but he still missed. The real one was way off to the side."

    "It's one of the better places to be. Even if it's predictable, it's still a 50/50 shot which side you're on. It's why moves that hit along the whole ground are the best counter."

    He nodded. "Got it."

    "As for scattered Double Teams, defensive moves shine more than anywhere else. If you can hit them all or find the real one, do so. Otherwise, keep in motion. They work best for landing an attack, but are very easily seen through once you use one."

    Nori nodded. "It sounds like it's more trouble than it's worth."

    "True," said Volkner. "Easy to use, hard to master. They're best used against a Pokemon that would have trouble countering it."

    "So what next?"

    Volkner leaned back. "Hm. We'll keep practicing that in a bit, just with pointing for your Pokemon this time."

    "Sounds good to me." Not like he could shine a laser pointer at something in a real battle like he could in practice.

    ---​

    Nori went to the lobby after that training session, finding the Gym Trainers gathered there. A couple staff members and people he didn't recognize - trainers, maybe? - were also present, seemingly loitering.

    "Er, what are you guys doing?" he asked the group. Weird to see so many people just hanging out.

    Kallisto answered. "Just a bit of planning for Tono's birthday."

    "It's his birthday this month?"

    "Yeah, on the 19th!" Ollie confirmed. "Eddie's was last month, his is this month, and Kallisto's is next month."

    "And mine's in July." A bit amusing in how four of them had birthdays on successive months. "What about you?" he asked Ollie.

    "November 25th!"

    So much for making it five, and he already knew Volkner's was in late October. Which made theirs successive. "So is he going to have a big party here too? And I take it I'm not invited to this one?" He glanced away. "Not that I care."

    "Wrong on the first account, right on the second," replied Kallisto. "He's always preferred low key things with his friends. He's eating right now, so it's a good chance to get some planning in when he's not here."

    "If he wants it low key, why do you need to plan?"

    Eddie snorted. "Still our friend, kid. Gonna do stuff for him anyway."

    Yeah, that sort of made sense. He heard some people were so modest that you had to do what you wanted for them no matter what, because they'd always tell you not to bother. He didn't really get those types.

    The conversation was interrupted as a challenger entered the Gym. Nori had learned to spot them out right away from their body language - they almost always entered with either purpose or hesitation, and this chunky teenager was the former. He had to be close to 200cm tall. Equal parts fat and muscle, he had cobalt blue hair in a bowl cut and fierce red eyes.

    "Hey, come here to challenge de Gym," said the teen. He had a thick accent, reminding Nori vaguely of this Unovan kid he used to know. Only this guy's was stronger.

    Volkner had walked in from the halls at some point during the conversation. He gave a nod. "All right."

    Kallisto chuckled, walking up to compare height. "Not often I'm looking up to face a challenger," he remarked. Indeed, it was by 20-25cm. He had to tilt his head to go eye-to-eye with the blue-haired teenager.

    "Ain't dat de troof, Kallisto K?" The challenger walked over to the front desk, remarking as he went, "So we gonna fight, or what?"

    "Maybe!" he replied. Whenever a particularly strong trainer came to the Gym, Kallisto was always the one who took their challenge. For some, he'd let one of the other Gym Trainers have a crack at them for the inevitable rematch. Others, like that guy from Alola, he kept fighting until they quit.

    The head receptionist looked over the blue-haired teen's information. "All right, it says on your card you have seven badges. I see this is your fourth League challenge, you've been all over Japan." The head Gym Trainer nodded and smirked at the guy. Seemed like prime Kallisto Keravnos challenger material, all right. "Eighteen years old. And your name is...!"

    As Mrs. Stetcher gasped and trailed off, the teenager said it for her. "Radovan Richard Raines, ya dig?"

    All of a sudden, it was quiet. The only sounds were the hum of the lights and vending machines. Nori looked around. Everyone had been stilled, including those from the Gym.

    Nori scratched his head. "What's with all you guys?"

    "Yeah, wit' Nori C here," Radovan agreed. Huh, this guy knew him? "What's de problem?"

    Kallisto nervously shuffled his feet. "Well. Sorry, but..."

    "Whatcha sorry 'bout?" asked Radovan.

    Mrs. Stetcher leaned away. "Um. Mr. Takuma?" she asked over the intercom. "Report to the front immediately."

    This did nothing to answer his question, but Radovan snapped to. Was this person important to Tono in some way? Everyone was holding their breath, some literally.

    The glasses-wearing teenager eventually came downstairs in a huff. "What could be so important that you would interrupt...!" His eyes locked onto Radovan. "YOU!!" he screamed at the top of the lungs.

    "Ah, if it ain't Tono T," came the greeting. "So ya work at de Gym now? Huh?"

    Tono rubbed his hands together. "Oh, I have been waiting far too long for this. I always knew you would come here some day."

    "Yeah? Said I would. T'ought home'd be a good swansong for journeyin', least in de country."

    "Do not talk like we are old friends." Now that he mentioned it, it kind of did remind him of what Kallisto was doing. Only a little. "For all you have done before. Radovan Raines, you face me! When and if you pass the puzzle, I challenge you to a full battle!"

    Tono's bold challenge hung in the air. All eyes went to Radovan to see what he would do.

    For several long seconds, he rubbed his chin with two fingers while looking up at the ceiling. Soon, he nodded. "So lemme see if I'm gettin' dis. Ya got all pissy at me makin' fun of ya, so ya got a job as a Gym Trainer. Ya came and worked under Volkner here. Got me so far? Ya trained your Pokemon. And it was all ta face me here at de Gym in front of a crowd? Okay? Dat right?"

    This insight quieted everyone. Even Nori was surprised, especially at how this rough-looking guy gleaned that. More proof that appearances could be deceiving. With that, everyone was looking at Tono for his reply.

    "That true, man?" asked Eddie.

    "That's none of your business!" the nerd bitterly snapped.

    "That's making it seem like it is true..." Nori remarked.

    "Shut up, Nori Carino! In fact..." And with this he turned to the Gym Leader. "Volkner, I would like to make a special request."

    "Yeah, what?" the blond man queried.

    "Assuming this oversized oaf can put two brain cells together for long enough to complete the puzzle, I would like his qualifier to be a full battle held in three days time, against myself!"

    Volkner scratched his cheek. "That would be on exhibition day..."

    Radovan chuckled. "Yeah, I'd be down for dat."

    "Wait! Don't we not do qualifiers then?" Ollie asked.

    "And wouldn't you be fighting three people seriously in one day?" added Nori.

    Eddie counted them up on his fingers. "Nori, Haruna, and this guy."

    Finally, his best friend looked at him in concern. "Are you sure you can handle that much, Tono?"

    Tono cringed. He took several steps away. He inhaled in and out several times. "A fair point. I will delay the battle against this fraud, in that case." He gestured to Nori as he said this.

    Volkner shook his head. "No, you committed to that. In fact, I have a better idea." The Gym Leader flashed a cunning smirk. "Tono Takuma day. We can promote that."

    Intrigued chatter. "Huh. I can see that," mused Kallisto. "The Gym's never done anything like that before, has it? The same person in the three major battles of each day?"

    "Never," confirmed Volkner.

    Tono brushed this off. "That would be unwise on my behalf. Even with Nori Carino's being a one-on-one and Haruna's being a standard three-on-three, adding a full battle would be a bit much on my Pokemon, even factoring in all of them."

    "Ya scared?" taunted Radovan. "Little chicken, sayin' big t'ings den t'inkin' ya can't handle."

    Tono turned around, crossing his arms. "I am not going to be provoked by such childish insults." When Radovan started clucking like a chicken, he covered his face with a palm. "You are making an embarrassment of yourself."

    The chunky teenager shrugged. "Ya so borin' dese days, Tono T. Got it? Ya take a class in bein' borin'?"

    Volkner sighed. There was a lot of disappointment, including from the other Gym Trainers. But Nori had an idea.

    "How's this?" he asked, jumping on one of the seats. "Who wants to see Tono Takuma day? Raise a hand!"

    Indeed, just about everyone in the lobby raised a hand. Some even raised two. Tono turned around in irritation, only to be taken aback by one of them.

    "Kallisto?!" he practically squeaked, mouth agape.

    "I think it would be a great idea, Tono," urged the head Gym Trainer. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you. Not even I can say I've been in three serious battles in one day. And I know if anyone can pull it off, it's you. Maybe it will be taxing on your Pokemon, yet the chance to raise your stock isn't something you want to pass up."

    Tono reluctantly nodded, sold by his friend's thoughts on the matter. "Very well, I will go through with it. So long as you help me prepare." Kallisto grinned in confirmation. The nerd spun around and wagged a finger at Radovan. "But that is again assuming you can solve the Gym's puzzle."

    That's just being assumptive, thought Nori. He solved all the other puzzles, and even though not all regions use them in their Gyms, he still solved at least seven here.

    Radovan clapped. "Now dat's de spirit, Tono T. Let's get crackin'."

    "That is the spirit!" Kallisto agreed. "I know someone at school who can draw up a poster for it quickly, I'll get to that ASAP."

    "And I'll spread the word at my school, too!" Nori said. He was sure this would be a great addition to his article! "I'm sure you will too, Eddie."

    "Uh, sure, kid," came the passive reply. He was too focused processing what was happening.

    "Okay. I'll write it on the site," said Volkner, leaving for the back. Besides Tono, he also maintained the Gym's website at times.

    As Kallisto went upstairs and Tono escorted Radovan to the puzzle, Nori was left with Eddie and Ollie. The crowd started to disperse. No doubt, they'd be spreading the word about this as well.

    "The fuck did I just see?" the dark-skinned teen pondered aloud. "Knew he had problems with that guy, but didn't think it was this bad."

    "Ask him yourself!" shouted Volkner from the hallway.

    Ollie scratched his butt. "So he's having three battles? I wonder if he'll get all the important slots?"

    "Knowing Volkner and what he said, he probably will," remarked Eddie.

    "That was implied," said Nori. "I think I'll head to my room to get a draft on this started." It was probably better than getting to school early tomorrow and having to wing it within an hour.
     
    Last edited:
    • Month 5-2: May of Ordinance (fourth part)
    • May of Ordinance (fourth part)
    May 18th, 2015​

    Nori made sure to get to school extra early on Monday. He arrived just before 7:30am to help Arumi make the final changes to the latest edition of the newsletter, as well as add the latest developments. They finished up and got the copies printed at 8:45am.

    Later on, as Arumi was out handling distribution as always, the other three senior members of the club were looking over the paper as they ate lunch. While Lorant's expression was as unreadable as always, the satisfaction of Beau and Gino could not be contained in their faces.

    "I am not afraid to give credit where it is due," remarked the poofy-haired teen. "Impressively done on the article, you two."

    "Well-written," concurred Lorant, speaking up for once.

    Gino also voiced his approval. "You two have a good future ahead of you if you keep at it."

    "Aw, thanks, you guys!" said Yuki, blushing sheepishly. "I was worried we didn't do great, even with Arumi helping us. But I'm glad it worked out!" The strawberry blond boy smiled at Nori. "I'm really interested in the part you added this morning, though!"

    Beau concurred. "On that subject, extra points for being an event happening in the city. Unlike the half-witted articles of others."

    "To be honest," said Gino, drumming his fingers. "We have been thinking of running a piece on the Gym's exhibition days. Arumi's consistently ruined it, though."

    It wasn't hard to see why. "Maybe I can help you with that," Nori offered.

    Gino nodded. "We'd appreciate that."

    Beau went back to the paper, reading a little more of the article in puzzlement. "As much as I am a fan of his, I do not understand why they are promoting three battles with the same individual."

    Well, that was something Nori could explain. "It's for the novelty. Tono's the second-most popular Gym Trainer too." Way behind Kallisto of course, but far ahead of Eddie and Ollie thanks to having a better attitude. "Plus, there's other important battles each day besides the last."

    "That's right!" Yuki added, explaining alongside him. "There's the first match of the day!"

    The boy nodded. "Volkner told me that's the one that sets the tone. There's also the first battle after school gets out."

    "Just as important for the same reasons!" his friend chimed in.

    "And Tono's getting all three important slots of the day."

    Yuki nudged him hopefully. "So what slot are you getting, Nori?"

    "I don't know for sure yet, but it's easy to guess. Full battles almost always go last, so that'll be Radovan. And it's a school day, so it's safe to say his grudge match with Haruna can't happen early. So that'll be after school, and my one-on-one should be first. Since I will be getting the day off."

    "Awww!" The strawberry blond deflated. "But I wanted to watch you!"

    Gino leaned back in his chair. "I have to admit, the rest of us had some interest as well. But it can't be helped. Good luck."

    Nori nodded. One of the things he liked about the news club was that they rarely brought up or judged him by his accomplishments as the Demon Tamer. That wasn't to say they ignored it entirely, and it was comforting to know they were rooting for him. "Thanks."

    Beau smirked devilishly. "You are going to need it."

    Well, almost all of them. He took this remark in stride. "I might just surprise you!"

    ##########​

    May 19th, 2015​

    Tono had taken the day off for his birthday, as much for the rest and relaxation as it was for some last minute private training. Given the preparation aspect, Volkner had no issue with this.

    After returning from school on Tuesday, Nori went directly to the back to train with Volkner. However, instead of last minute strategizing or practicing, the Gym Leader sat him down.

    "I want to ask you something," Volkner inquired, lowering his gaze. "What are you willing to do to win?"

    Nori replied quickly. "Here? Anything that's not illegal."

    "I thought so," replied the Gym Leader with an approving smirk. "From what you did to Eddie."

    He shrugged. "Well, I'm not going to hit someone in the balls just because. I had no other option there. Well, besides get soaked, but screw that!"

    The Gym Leader chuckled. "I meant your battle, but that too, I suppose. Do you know how critical hits work?"

    He nodded. A sudden quiz? "They hit a weak spot or pressure point, or are with more vigor than usual. They're usually up to luck. Some moves are better at hitting like this, and some moves like Frost Breath make sure a Pokemon feels it. And some Pokemon have the luck to hit them more often, or the precision to hit harder when they do. And others have armor that cover up these spots." He'd been studying! Volkner was about to keep talking, when he added, "Um, wasn't there an item that helps too?"

    "Yes, several. You didn't need to be that thorough, and you still left out several parts." Ack. Stupid. There was so much obscure stuff to remember! "The important thing was the first part."

    Nori tilted his head. "Um, are you going to teach me how to make my Pokemon hit others in the balls?"

    Volkner laughed. Nori wasn't sure if it was at him or not, and he didn't clear it up. "Not quite. But the same principal applies."

    "How's that?"

    "Do you remember when you fought Sofie?"

    He sighed. "Just the aftermath." Most of what he remembered from that day was his depression about Lux moving, and Volkner freaking out at him.

    Volkner scratched his cheek. "Well," he awkwardly replied, choosing not to get into that subject again. "Your Pachirisu ended up shooting some electricity down her Houndoom's throat."

    Nori blinked. "It was more of a fluke, I think..."

    "It was. But if you know where to aim your Pokemon's attacks, you can increase their effectiveness."

    "Like hitting the eyes?"

    A nod. "Or how you had the Demon hit Eddie's Magnezone's antenna."

    "That was also a fluke." His instincts spoke and he listened. Volkner already seemed to understand that before he admitted it, however. "But wouldn't aiming somewhere be harder than just landing the move?"

    "It is, use of Laser Focus aside. Do it sparringly, for that and other reasons."

    The boy nodded. Stuff like this was fighting a little dirty. Pachi might not like doing that, but the Demon wouldn't care. In fact, she already did it on her own. "So how does this apply to Tono?"

    "You tell me."

    "Um." Another quiz? "Should I, uh, hit the...electricity...making thingy? I mean, the gland?"

    Volkner crossed his arms. Wrong answer?

    "W-well," he stammered, "Getting the eyes should always be good. But the only other thing I can think of is the legs." And then it hit him. "Is that right?"

    The Gym Leader folded his hands on the table and nodded. "Yes. Attacks aimed for the legs can hamper a Pokemon's mobility. It's how moves like Bulldoze and Low Sweep work. If a Pokemon relies on speed, taking that away helps."

    "Or by messing up the field, like Haruna did."

    "Yes, that's another way. Irrelevant for now since you can't do so, however. Going back to this, you in turn need to be ready to adapt, if someone uses that against you." He sat back. "Some advanced lessons for you, anyway. Again, don't use strategy like this too often. It can be more trouble than it's worth, and get you a bad reputation."

    "Thanks. And don't worry, I won't." As he was about to say more, Mrs. Stetcher's voice came in over the intercom.

    "Nori Carino, there's someone who wants to meet with you at the front desk."

    "A friend of yours?" asked Volkner.

    "Nobody said they were going to come by. But maybe it's a surprise?"

    "Or Haruna."

    Also a possibility. "Guess we'll see."

    ---​

    The visitor turned out to be someone Nori didn't know. A light brown-haired teenager who claimed he was one of the people who didn't get to battle him at Mynwest Court, and had come here looking for a fight. Nori made up every excuse not to, mostly telling him to wait until tomorrow on exhibition day. But he insisted on today, so ‘there's no excuses when you lose,’ and under the pretext of a Gym qualifier. Trying to get Kallisto to fight him got met with a lecture, and Nori got the feeling this stupid moron wouldn't go away until he agreed. So he did so, just to shut him up.

    He immediately put his new knowledge to work in the ensuing one-on-one, having the Demon slice across the eyes a couple times. When the guy tried to have his Torterra use Earthquake, Nori countered by having the Demon jump onto its back to land a few blows - until they figured to counter by using Razor Leaf from the tree on its back. They were sparing their foe no quarter, ruthlessly seizing any opportunity in front of them.

    "Torterra! Are you all right?!" the other trainer asked during a brief lull. The turtle-like Pokemon was woozy after a relentless assault of Poison Jabs that it only stopped with an impromptu Wood Hammer. It weakly nodded. The trainer turned his ire towards him. "That was cheap! Again!"

    "Crybaby pussy!" taunted Ollie from the stands.

    Eddie snorted. "Come in here with all those tough words, and you can't back it up!"

    Normally Nori would be uncomfortable at their trash talk, but in this case, he felt his opponent kind of deserved it. "Oh, so now not trading attacks is being cheap?" Maybe the eye attack was, and you could make a case for getting atop the other Pokemon. But this was just complaining. "Can we get this over with already?" he goaded.

    "Then we will! Torterra, GIGA IMPACT!!"

    Well, Nori wasn't expecting that. His opponent's Pokemon roared and got up on its hind legs. It cloaked itself in some sort of white energy vaguely reminiscient of evolutionary light and charged towards the Demon. She'd been waiting their foe's next move from where she'd been struck towards - by one of the pillars.

    And she hopped aside. The Torterra collided headfirst into the object, immediately stumbling back in pain. The object buckled and swayed under the powerful force of the move.

    "The pillar!" Nori yelled and pointed, barely noticing the combination of the recoil and a claw slash combination from the Demon had finished off their foe. It ultimately stayed upright, but the boy's worries wouldn't go away. "It hit that hard!"

    Volkner gave it a glance, but waved it off. "It's fine. You win this battle," he announced.

    He wasn't sure about that. "But could it be loose?" He'd heard they'd been knocked over a couple times, and was surprised that didn't do it.

    No one answered him about this one, Volkner simply walking to the back. Meanwhile, the head Gym Trainer approached his opponent. "That's not too bad," he remarked. "I haven't seen you around, though?"

    "Yeah, I'm a tenth-year from the east side. I mostly train at Mynwest and stuff. I'm going on a journey once I'm fully graduated. Today was just an excuse."

    "Same idea as me when it comes to traveling, then. It seems you already have a strong partner," the head Gym Trainer stated.

    "Not strong enough to beat them, though," Eddie said with a sick grin.

    "I see now why they call her the Demon Nidorina," his opponent said, shaking his head at himself. "I was not ready for any of that."

    "A lot of people aren't," Nori said, recalling his now bored-looking Pokemon. And a lot that are still have trouble. "But that pillar–"

    "Don't worry about it, the maintenance crews will handle it before tomorrow." Kallisto shrugged.

    Well, he was hoping they would! That's their job! Still, his instincts were telling him that had to get looked at. So they'd better!

    "Good battle," the other trainer begrudgingly said, coming in for a handshake. "But I'm going to get you next time."

    He was assuming a lot in there being a next time, yet Nori shook his hand all the same.

    ---​

    Tono unexpectedly returned to the Gym just after 5pm. The others were just as surprised to see him return as Nori was. If he had the day off, wouldn't he want to take it, Nori figured?

    "Didn't expect to see you back so soon!" Kallisto warmly greeted his best friend as he entered the arena.

    Tono was grumbling and muttering to himself in Japanese on his approach. "Radovan and Haruna somehow found me. They started spouting rude and uncalled for insults, refusing to leave me be."

    "Damn," said Eddie, shaking his head.

    "Aww, what's wrong?" Nori wasn't sure why, but he decided to pile on. Maybe it was a bit much, but he'd take any chance he could get to pay Tono back. "Can't take some insults? Can you dish it out but not take it?"

    Tono glared. "This immature behavior is exactly why you are not invited to any of my birthday activities."

    "You wouldn't have invited me anyway!" he fired back.

    "All right," Kallisto mediated. "Settle down, Nori."

    Although he nodded in agreement, Tono eyed him. His expression contorted into a simmered glare, lip twitching.

    "Oh, before I forget," the boy said. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a simple handmade card from paper, just like before. "Happy birthday," he said, holding it out. He wasn't sure why he went through with this given their bad terms, let alone put in enough effort to add a haiku along with the birthday message. A flash of brilliance / The tactician of thunder / Tono Takuma. Maybe it was his whims.

    Tono glared at the scrap as if it were garbage. He impatiently glanced to the others. On Kallisto smiling and motioning to him, he reluctantly snatched it up.

    "This is ridiculous," he declared after reading, folding it and placing it in his pocket. "I am going upstairs to train. Do not bother me."

    Nori huffed. Not even a ‘thank you’? Kallisto assured him, "Don't feel too bad, Nori. I'm sure he appreciates it." He kind of got that, from it not being ripped up or thrown on the floor.

    Ollie turned to the Gym Leader, who had been stoically watching. "Hey! Uh, can we leave early for the party, Volkner?"

    From what they'd told Nori, they were planning on taking him to a new seafood resturaunt that had recently opened - fish being Tono's favorite. They'd also contacted a confectionary to make him an all-strawberries cake. Strawberry frosting, strawberry ice cream, strawberry cake mix, actual strawberries, all of them and more were on that cake. They were going to pick it up after dinner.

    "After eight," was the Gym Leader's response.

    "That's just an hour earlier!" complained the hefty teen.

    "7:45. Take it or leave it."

    Kallisto nodded. "Thanks, Volkner." The Gym Leader subtlely nodded, leaning back and continuing to read his magazine.

    Eddie glanced up. "The pressure's already getting to Tono," he remarked.

    "I know," agreed Kallisto. "But I know he can handle this."

    "Or maybe he'll collapse and lose all three fights," Nori said with a smirk.

    The dark-skinned teen narrowed his eyes. "Best not underestimate him, kid. You ain't gonna beat him the same way you beat me."

    "Of course not! He has different Pokemon and does different things!"

    "So missing the point, kid."

    To the boy's surprise, Kallisto didn't give him a lecture over this. "Give Nori a break, Hankstein. He's been training hard for this. Whether it's enough, we can't say until the battle's over." He grinned. "Right?"

    Even if it was Kallisto talking to him, Nori could agree. He still had his doubts, and had no idea what Tono personally had in store for him. Maybe this was actually insurmountable. But there was nothing to do but do it.

    ##########​

    May 20th, 2015​

    As with the previous exhibition day, Nori had the day off school on the 20th. Tono had a long day ahead of him, and was getting all of the important slots in the order Nori anticipated. Volkner had decided the novelty was too much to pass up promoting. While the government provided basic funding, much of the profits for Sunyshore Gym - and therefore, money for those who worked in it - came from concessions and tickets on exhibition day.

    ‘Tono Takuma day. See the Shocking Genius face off against three of his biggest rivals!’

    This was what was promoted in the news and Gym's website. And as of last night, several posters had been put up. As Nori went downstairs for the day, he caught sight of one of them on the wall. It featured stylized art drawn up by an outside talent, which resembled a boxing or sumo advertisement. It featured Tono standing proud with his Jolteon on one side. Opposite him were three others and their own Pokemon. A hulking Radovan and his equally monstrous Typhlosion. An iron-clawed Haruna and her Empoleon which were drawn up like military commanders. And a berserk Nori with his red eyes glowing alongside the Demon Nidorina. Which didn't have to be drawn any differently to look terrifying, but the artist still used dark blues and exaggerated her horn.

    Pachi looked up at it in confusion. The boy winced. Who drew this?! In the lower left, he saw a name: Nathaniel Lewis. He would have to find some way to yell at them. They made all of them look like the villains, and he wasn't a crazy psychopath in battle! The Demon just acted that way! Maybe there was that one time with Kallisto in March, but that was totally different.

    "Hi, Nori!"

    The boy nearly jumped onto the ceiling as a familiar voice called out his name. He turned and saw a strawberry blond male in a pink shirt. "Yuki?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

    "I wanted to come and cheer you on, that's what!" he explained with a giggle.

    Nori warmly smiled. "Well, thank you. I didn't think you'd skip school to come here."

    Yuki put a hand on his shoulder. "I know things have been hard for you lately. But if I can make you feel a little better by being here, then it's my pleasure. Besides, I really didn't want to miss this! The boy I like–to win is battling, after all."

    "Glad to hear that." He was sure his reception this time was going to be much worse than last month, between his public feud with Kallisto and battling a more popular Gym Trainer. It was good to know there was at least one person in the audience cheering for him, fan of Tono or not. He glanced up at the wall clock. "Ten minutes until I have to get to the battlefield. You should go and make sure you get a good seat."

    The other boy had been staring off into space, yet snapped to attention. "Um, yes, I should."

    "We talk more after the battle, if you want to."

    "You're right." Yuki closed his eyes and put a hand to his own chest. "Good luck in there."

    Nori stretched as he went over things in his head again. He'd done everything he could to prepare for Tono, training and planning wise. The stupid nerd wouldn't see it coming!

    "Let's go, Nori. Time to show everyone what the Demon and her trainer are made of," he whispered to himself as he made for the doors in the left hallway with Pachi hopping behind.

    ---​

    "Welcome to the Sunyshore Gym's Exhibition Day, May 2015," Volkner announced, with a bit more energy than usual. He allowed the crowd to let out their cheers before continuing. "Today, we have a number of featured battles. The main three of which all involve our Gym's own Tono Takuma."

    They were already in position for the opening match. The glasses-wearing teen stepped forward and took a bow. It came as no surprise he got mostly cheers from the audience.

    "Our main event of the day will feature him taking on his childhood rival, Radovan Raines, in a full battle that will also act as a qualifier for the Gym - one-time only thing, so don't get any ideas. Our after-school opener will be him in a rematch from last Friday against Haruna Okazaki. And we'll be starting today off with a one-on-one grudge match pitting him against Nori Carino."

    The boy and his Pachirisu jumped and cheered, to a mixed reception. They weren't bothered by it. They completely expected as such, given who they were up against and their present reputation. He was just thankful it wasn't completely negative.

    "Do the two of you have any words you want to say to each other before you begin?" Volkner would sometimes allow this.

    "I do," said Nori. It looked like Tono had a lot he'd wanted to say, but he spoke first. "I think we should just shut up and get to it."

    "I agree," Volkner said. "Everyone knows what's going on between you two. Send out your chosen Pokemon."

    The boy fired a grin out at Tono, who was shooting a dirty look at Volkner. Excellent, he'd won the first exchange. If there was one thing he had learned from Kallisto and his friends, it's that the psychological advantage couldn't be understated against certain opponents. He wasn't one to be bothered by things like this, but he knew Tono was.

    "Very well," the Gym Trainer said, retrieving a Poke Ball. "I still have words to say, but I'll keep it brief. Nori Carino, you are a fraud of a trainer, and today, I am going to prove it." As expected, he went with his strongest - McCloud the Jolteon. And as expected, it had some Light Clay stuck to its neck. It had for the most part recovered from the brutal fight against Haruna five days ago.

    "Go, Pachi!" He held out his right arm and put his left in his pocket. Tono took a step back in surprise as the squirrel ran across its length, coming to a stop on his palm. "Just kidding! Go, my Demon!" He flicked her Great Ball out and placed the squirrel down. He could only stand having Pachi on his shoulders for so long.

    Tono rolled his eyes. "Real mature. No one is laughing but you."

    "I heard some laughs." It was true. Even Kallisto of all people appeared bemused.

    "If you are not going to take this seriously, you have no chance."

    That's what he wanted Tono to think. He mentally thanked Claris Willins, wherever she was these days, for letting him sit in on some of her acting lessons. Some of them still stuck in his heart!

    "This is a one-on-one battle pitting Tono Takuma and his Jolteon ‘McCloud’ against Nori Carino and ‘The Demon’ Nidorina." Volkner waved his hands. "Begin."
     

    • Similar threads

    System Error
    MATURE: Nori Carino: Abyssal Despair
    2 3
    Replies
    42
    Views
    2K
    System Error
    System Error
    System Error
    EVERYONE: A bunch of prompts about cities and dungeons in Sinnoh, feat. Nori/Prema metaseries
    Replies
    11
    Views
    699
    System Error
    System Error
    System Error
    TEEN: Nori Carino: Blade of the Blackout Killer [COMPLETE!!]
    2 3 4
    Replies
    61
    Views
    5K
    System Error
    System Error
    System Error
    TEEN: Prema Kannagi: Memory of a Ghoul [COMPLETE!!]
    2 3
    Replies
    48
    Views
    3K
    System Error
    System Error
    Teebs96
    EVERYONE: (Flowering Love 2024) What Can Be In Area 3?
    Replies
    2
    Views
    163
    DragonRoar87
    DragonRoar87
    Back
    Top Bottom