Like No One Ever Was (Pokemon SI)

"So, what sort of Pokemon should we get?" O'Nare asked expectantly of me, eliciting a surprised blink from me, sitting opposite her. The wind rushed by us as the Flying Taxi rapidly took Billy, O'Nare, and me to the Porto Marinada for the upcoming auction.

That wasn't the only place we were stopping by, however, as there was a Pokemon ranch not far off the port city, nearby the plains around Caseroya Lake. We elected to stop by there first to get my parents their first Pokemon.

"Well, that's entirely up to you. Any Pokemon can be strong, so if you're worried about that, don't be - I can make training plans to help you with whatever Pokemon you pick. So if you're worried about defending yourself or those around you, don't- well, you can put that to the side for the moment," I corrected at the last moment. I shouldn't be telling them not to have any fears, especially not after that big heart-to-heart we had before. They are going to worry, and there's nothing I can do to stop that. But they're also willing to trust me, and that's enough.

A tiny, niggling doubt wormed in my mind about the potential dangers of Turo and his experiment, but I squashed it with practiced ease. At this point, I don't even know if I or anyone will end up in danger. If my plan works, I'll be able to talk him down. If it doesn't… well, then I should at least have time to call my parents and let them know, as well as hopefully having the backing of the Pokemon League to stop him. He might be their golden goose, but being La Primera will give me a lot of weight to throw around.

Rationalization complete, I continued. "Just try and focus on getting to know the Pokemon and see how compatible you are. What they like and dislike, etc."

"But don't certain Pokemon act in certain ways? Like Meowth liking money?" O'Nare pointed out.

"Yes," I agreed hesitantly. "There are always outliers, though. And much like people, even a Pokemon that greatly fits a stereotype will have their own quirks and reasoning for their actions. It took me ages to figure out the real reason why Dun didn't immediately tunnel away from me when we met." He wasn't quite so battle-hungry or fierce back then. No, it was because he wasn't good at drilling into the ground. Now though, both of those things have changed; he could carve a tunnel miles long in no time at all but wouldn't turn away from a fight if he had the chance.

Pondering if I should mention how they would impact their partner Pokemon and change them, and be changed in turn, I closed my mouth upon truly looking at them. Their emotions were a flurry. The mild disappointment of quick, easy, simple answers faded fast with their optimism and excitement shining forth once again.

Literally shining, at least under my Aura Vision, which I consciously ignored. I tried not to pry into people's feelings too much with that aspect of my Aura. It felt more intrusive than picking out tells with my merely enhanced 'regular' eyesight. Also, it's not that accurate, and I don't want to become reliant on it. The only reason I'm relatively sure it's correct right now is because of how open they are with their emotions right now.

"How do you best understand what a Pokemon is feeling?" Billy asked. "If I'm to show them my best self, I need to know how to communicate with them."

"Oh, how dazzlingly Glitterati of you!" O'Nare swooned while I sighed.

"That's a tricky one. I admit, I don't have an exact guide for how signs or body language can be interpreted from other- from Pokemon. The best advice I can give is to establish basic concepts, yes or no stuff, easy-to-pick-up emotions, and just go from there in trying to learn more about them." It might be Aura that's helping me, or just what I've unconsciously picked up. In either case, it'll be tricky for them to learn quickly, not that we really have a time crunch.

I decided to clarify that point. "You also don't have to pick a Pokemon immediately. The auction isn't for a few days, and even after that, we'll spend some time practicing for our match against Tyme. And if you aren't certain by then, you don't have to make a decision right away!" My parents shared a quick glance, clearly bemused by their daughter lecturing them on such things.

At least they don't seem dismissive of my words. Though it's not like it isn't all true. Sometimes you connect with a Pokemon right away, but for many people, especially those not as interested in battling, it can take a while.

"Thank you," O'Nare said. "We appreciate your expertise on the matter. And perhaps we can show you a thing or two about how a Glitterati wins an auction," she proclaimed with a high laugh. That will be interesting to see. As much as my parents can have a skewed sense of money, for once, we're talking about something within their 'regular' price range. Will they just try to dominate the Lucarioite auction with money to crush out all the competition? I considered it for a moment before mentally discarding the idea. They've probably got shrewder plans than that. An auction like this will attract other big spenders too.

Despite how it was portrayed in the games, the auction house did announce what was going on sale ahead of time, at least for the rarer finds. It was still fairly short notice, but the wealthy and influential individuals of Paldea would have enough time to get to them, or at least contact someone nearby to bid on their behalf. I think there's even a small industry for stand-ins that live nearby and can be hired and directed to bid at the direction of their patrons for those that don't have the time to come.

We did, however, and my parents felt it would be a good experience for me to get a better understanding of what some of what life in our family's circles was like. Not that I haven't lived it, but… I've kinda avoided those things. With my physical age and lack of inclination, I haven't attended quite so many parties or social gatherings people of my family's stature would usually go to.

The Taxi descended near the ranch, and from above we could see how far it spread, the large penned field stretching out over the land. Not too far away from it, I could see a Pokemon Center atop the hill, overlooking Porto Marinada. It's funny; I know there wasn't anything like this in the games. Obviously, it couldn't have perfectly shown what really living here would be like, but it still feels a little surprising to see just how full of life the land is.

Exiting the taxi, we stood in front of the large building ahead of the field. A sign hung above stating 'Big Jim's Ranch.'. What is this, a used car dealership? Though, with the Cyclizar I saw dozing in the field, I suppose in some sense, it's not that far off.

Eagerly, my parents stepped up, Dad knocking on the door. There was a rustling sound inside before the door opened, revealing a stout man in a cowboy hat. His graying mustache almost hid the smile he flashed at us.

"Howdy there, I'm Big Jim."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Billy Glitterati, and this is my wonderful wife O'Nare and our adorable daughter Nemona."

"Pleasure. It's getting a bit late, but are ya'll here to check out the ranch?"

"Yes! We would be delighted to see all the Pokemon you have. Lead on!" O'Nare vibrantly declared.

"Whoa, whoa. Hold yer Ponytas. I'd be happy to help ya, but let's go over some ground rules first. Come on in," he waved us inside to a place that seemed like a cross between a reception and a living room.

"Mabel!" He called up the stairs, and a girl, the only other person I could hear in the house, came running down. She was a teenage girl with bright orange hair tied in pigtails and a smattering of freckles across her face.

"Yea?"

"Get our guests some refreshments, as well as the release forms." Jim turned back to us, gesturing for us to take a seat on the couch while he sat in a chair opposite us. "You mentioned wanting to take a gander at the Pokemon here. I take it that means you aren't settled on any particular Pokemon? We got a wide catalogue to peruse if ya'd like."

Mom shook her head. "No, our daughter advised us it would be best to get to know the individual Pokemon first."

"Well, I can't argue with that. All of our Pokemon here are top-notch, but it's always good to get to know them first if you have the chance. Though it's gettin' on in the day, we'll be closing the ranch soon to give them the chance to get some shut-eye. We got some rooms on the second floor ya'll can stay in to visit them bright and early in the morning, however."

"Thank you, but we've already booked a hotel room down in Marinada," Dad said. "We'll be eager to see you again in the morning, though." Probably a good thing too. This place is very well equipped for a hotel room, but it's not up to the levels of extravagance my parents are used to. They're never rude about it and are always so optimistic and bright, but I have noticed they're more comfortable when surrounded by the finer comforts.

"Sounds good. And are you looking for a Pokemon too, little missy?" Jim asked me, and I shook my head.

"Nah, I think I'm full up at the moment," I replied, hooking up my belt to clearly show off the seven Pokeballs on it. "Maybe in the future." Though I honestly doubt it. The service is nice for people who don't want or are not able to go out in the wilderness to meet new Pokemon, but if I wanted anyone else on my team, I'd go exploring for them.

"Whoa, you're Nemona!" Mabel exclaimed, having re-entered the room holding a stack of papers in one hand and a tray with some snacks and water with Pinap slices.

"You know this little lady?" Jim asked.

"She's a famous Trainer that's been doing great on the Gym Circuit! Everyone's talking about her online; she already has four badges." The cute girl gushed.

I couldn't help but brag a little. "Five, actually. Just beat Grusha today before we flew here. Oh, that reminds me." Turning to my parents, I said, "We should post the video of the fight up soon."

"Well, I'll be," Jim laughed. "Didn't expect to be meeting someone so famous." I raised an eyebrow slightly. Think Mom and Dad are still a fair bit more famous than I am. "What brought you out to my humble ranch?"

For a moment, part of me felt like deflecting before I shook it off. The question is harmless, and I don't have anything to hide. Besides, it is kind of unusual to beat a Gym Leader atop Glaseado Mountain and then fly down to Porto Marinada all in one day. "We were heading to the auction house, and your ranch was highly recommended. We thought we'd stop by to check it out before we needed to get there," I said.

"Can I see the video?" Mabel asked eagerly, practically bouncing up and down in excitement.

"Now honey, we got to give our guests time to check out the Pokemon first," Jim said, eliciting a pout from his daughter. "And that means going through the paperwork, just to make sure everythin' is above board and safe."

He led us through the paperwork quickly, summing up the process. Basically the forms were there to waive any right to press injury charges if we did something stupid (though I wasn't sure how binding that part could actually be), to understand that we couldn't get a refund after obtaining the Pokemon, and that we weren't allowed to catch any Pokemon on the ranch that hadn't been transferred to our care.

"Do people actually do that?" I asked, and Jim chuckled.

"No one has on our ranch, but I've heard all sortsa stories from other breeding ranches. Betta safe than sorry."

My parents read the paperwork quickly but thoroughly before signing it, and I did the same. From there, the father-daughter duo led us out to the ranch.

The long stretch of land was divided into different pastures, with different environments to suit the different Pokemon. The first was just open, grassy terrain, very flat. There were plenty of Pokemon of all sorts gathered there, though I noted that many of them were of the Field Egg group.

Beyond that was another very grassy stretch, but this one had many trees and thickets growing about. Grass and Bug Types skittered around within, as well as many Flying Pokemon perched above. I've seen instances of Pokemon that could be natural enemies co-operating in the wild, but it is rare, and hardly as peaceful as this place is. Feels a little weird with how close this is to the wilderness.

Much of that probably had to do with the staff guarding the place, both human and Pokemon. While the human handlers were easy to make out, there were a few Pokemon, like the Killowattrel flying overhead or some of the Granbull walking around the edges of the perimeters. They kept an eye on the Pokemon within and for any dangers that might approach from the outside, each wearing brass collars to indicate their position (and the fact that they were not up for sale adoption).

Or in the case of some of the more aquatic Pokemon, a fin ring, like on the Gyarados in the third section. It had many ponds dug into the ground, with a canal network connecting them. There was plenty of space for some land Pokemon as well, especially those that enjoyed being nearby the water.

There's also some that don't seem to fit, like that Camerupt, which looks like it'd be better suited to the final section, all rocky and barren where the Carkoals are playing. Then again, there are a couple of inconsistencies, but it looks like the Pokemon are free to wander between sections so long as they don't cause any problems.

A bit of roughhousing seemed to be fine, a Raichu watching over a Growlithe and Houndour pup play-fighting each other, but would quickly step in when disputes grew more serious. I shivered slightly, feeling the brass-collared Vespiqueen's Pressure from afar as she stepped in between a Tangela and Pidgey fighting over some berries, the two quickly losing interest in the fight at her intervention.

"Whadya think?" Mabel asked, a big grin on her face as she saw us looking out over the field. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Billy and O'Nare watching it all in awe.

"So energetic!"

"All these Pokemon, each shining with Glitterati potential!"

My parents gushed over the Pokemon and the teenager laughed. "Well, go on! Feel free to get to know them." She passed them some bags of PokeTreats and the two of them nearly sprinted off to greet the Pokemon.

I couldn't help but laugh joyously at the sight, which prompted a question from the girl beside me. "Are you gonna visit the Pokemon too?"

Shaking my head, I responded. "No, I've got plenty of Pokemon right now, so I'll just watch for the moment." Also, I don't want to get too attached, because I know if I did, then I'd try to add them to my team, regardless of previous determinations. Pokemon are just too awesome!

There were plenty of incredible specimens on the ranch. While many of them were common Pokemon to Paldea, Flittles, Rockruffs, Wingulls, Pawmis, and the like, they were all in excellent condition. There were also several that couldn't be found easily here, like Cherrims and a Butterfree. Remember using one in a mono Bug Run for Ultra Sun. That was fun; Compound Eyes and Sleep Powder into Quiver Dance was great cheese.

There were many exclamations of joy and delighted surprise from my parents as they played with the Pokemon. Their 'Glitterati Generosity' led to them coming back several times to grab more bags of PokeTreats to feed the various ranch Pokemon. Sadly, the good times came to a close quickly, as Big Jim announced, "Alright, visitin' hours are over." When they came back, he asked, "Didja find any Pokemon you liked?"

"Oh, there was this absolutely adorable Hoppip-"

"Did you see the fur on that Tauros? Gleaming near Glitterati bright!"

"And the Oricorio danced wonderfully in the sunset-"

"What were those blue and red fish Pokemon?"

"Carvanha," I helpfully mentioned, barely heard over their energetic ramblings. The elder Glitteratis continued for a while, but it was clear from how they weren't settling in on any one Pokemon yet.

Something Jim noted as well. "Sounds like you got a big choice ahead of ya. Come back tomorrow; it'll give ya more time to get to know 'em," he said. We agreed and left, heading off to our hotel room for the night.

The next few days passed in similar fashion, with my parents checking out the ranch most of the time. Even on vacation, there were still some emails to answer and calls to make to ensure things ran smoothly in their absence. For my part, I made sure to give my team some basic training while waiting for the auction. I also spent a fair amount of time with Mom and Dad at the ranch and even tested myself against one of the handler Pokemon.

It was a short affair, Nightwing easily crushing the Gyarados, hardly Intimidated by the massive Pokemon and landing a few well-placed Thunder Fangs to defeat it. They're strong, and more to the point, smarter than a lot of the wild Pokemon around here, but it's still not enough. I was reaching the limits of what my Pokemon could learn from the Pokemon nearby, though I knew there were greater challenges further north and in a few key locations, like the Hollow looming in the distance.

Those were challenges for another day, however, as today we had an auction to get to. The city had several nice locales, a few parks and the like, but the Auction House was clearly the star attraction of it all. A massive structure hung overhead to keep out the rain and worst of the elements, while the large openings gave it an open-air market feel. There were rows upon rows of all sorts of merchants and auctioneers, the line blurring between the two as people tried to outbid each other against other merchants or would haggle over smaller stands where others seemed uninterested.

So many items are on sale here, everything from regular Potions to rarities like Regi Trio Pokedolls. So many ships come from all around the globe every day to stock these stands. It feels overwhelming when I picture myself as such a small piece of these massive systems that make up our everyday life.

As much as I could lose myself over the fun and unique finds of the open market, we were headed deeper inside, to the 'exclusive' section. Here, the truly incredible finds were stored and sold. It also came with higher security, a big guard standing at the door with three Pokeballs on his belt checking anyone who tried to pass through the double doors to the enclosed hallway.

I get the feeling he was checking us out more by our clothing than the registration ticket. Looking around as we walked inside, our high-priced, fancy clothing fit in with the other potential bidders. Lavish gowns and pristine suits filled the long hallway with multiple doors leading to different auction rooms.

The hallway itself was plush and warm, richly decorated in soft gold and reds. It created an interesting contrast with the cold stares we got from some of the people there, instantly sizing us up. Why are they so on edge at our entrance?

A whisper I caught on the wind of 'Glitterati' clicked the pieces in my mind. Each of them is worried we might be trying to outbid whatever they're looking for. Not that everyone was reacting poorly to our presence, however; a few saw us with little more than curiosity. Including a familiar face.

I was caught between approaching him or not, but upon seeing auction room #3 just past where Freddrick was standing, I bit the bullet and marched over to him. "Freddrick," I said awkwardly, giving him a curt nod of my head, somewhat unsure how to react here. Feels weird to just ignore him since we've clearly seen each other, but I'll leave it up to him if he wants to make anything more of it.

He jerked slightly, as if surprised by me (despite having his eyes trained on me like a hawk as I walked closer). "Nemona. I take it you're here for the Lucarioite?" He asked after a second.

My mind whirled, rapidly considering denying it before rejecting the idea. While I'd rather not give the crowd information on what we're going for, they'll realize soon enough. "Yeah, I'd like to grab it if I can."

Frederick's signature sneer came out. "This is why you're taking a break from the Gym Circuit? Afraid you won't make it without Mega Evolution?"

"Nope. If I can't get it, I can't. I've got faith in Athena no matter what." Honestly not even sure the Gym Leaders will allow me to use Mega Evolution; this is more for the Elite Four and beyond. The Great Crater loomed heavily in my mind. I might not be allowed to use Mega Evolution and Terastalization in the same League-sanctioned battle, but anything went down in Area Zero.

Seeing my brazen confidence, the boy faltered, so I pressed on. "What are you here for?"

"Ah- There's a Soul Dew auction coming up," he muttered before clamping his mouth down.

My eyes widened. "Soul Dew!?" I whistled. "Wow, that's rare. But… why do you want that? You got a Latios or Latias in your pocket? Or is it just to have a nice collection piece? Though I guess maybe you could want to study its energies and effects…" I trailed off, mostly talking to myself as I pondered how that strange item worked. How did people even find out how Soul Dews worked in the first place? Did they even, or was it one of the Eon Pokemon who knew and told them with their Psychic powers?

"Wha- no, I'm not getting it just as a collection piece. And how would you even study it without a Latios or Latias? You're weird," he shot out before regaining himself. "I'll get my Pokemon soon enough - don't forget that no matter how good you do in the Treasure Hunt now, I'll be crushing you in a few years."

I quirked an eyebrow before saying, "Good luck with that." Then I turned and walked inside to auction room #3. As I left, I heard the rich boy whispering to himself, wondering how he was going to get a Latios, and I chuckled. That guy, still so concerned about appearances. Still, he seems a lot calmer and less rude than before (not that it's a challenge), so that's something.

He was a minor concern, and one that I put out of my mind as I focused on the challenge ahead. Billy and O'Nare boldly strode through the doors to the relatively cozy audience hall while I trailed behind them. There were forty some seats set out, with room for more to be brought in towards the back if need be, though less than half were currently occupied.

At the front of the hall was a small stage, with a podium and a professional man standing behind it, calling out for bids. Items would get carted onstage from the back and either be given to the bidder directly (if the item was small enough to carry) or would be sent to the other side of the backstage to have their hard-bought item arranged to be sent to them via other means.

I wonder how they plan on getting that near-full Tyrantrum fossil moved to that woman's house or how they shipped it all in one piece in the first place? I shook my head from those thoughts as a new item caught my eye, the next bid being called up.

"Next up, we have an artisan handcrafted Apricorn Ball. Dubbed the 'Friend Ball' by its creator, Maizie of Azalea Town. Any Pokemon within is sure to appreciate the level of detail and care that has gone into making this fine piece of art. The bidding starts at 100,000 Pokedollars."

An honest-to-Arceus Apricorn Ball here?! I saw the listings for the auction house, and it just said Friend Ball… which is a type of Apricorn Ball, duh! And I don't recognize the name Maizie, but if she's from Azalea Town, then she probably trained under Kurt, right?

As I was thinking it over, bids were already being placed. In a panic, I flipped up the number sign sitting on the armrest of my chair. The auctioneer pointed at me. "Yes, number 63?"

"150,000," I stated, causing a swift murmur to ripple through the crowd as they took in my bid. Even my parents were looking curiously at me.

"Is this something you truly want?" O'Nare whispered, barely moving her mouth. I didn't have the skill to do the same but could reply back with Aura to shape the air to deliver my response.

"Yes." Not just want, need. If things go bad and I have to confront Turo in his lab, I need to know how to make a Pokeball that isn't connected to the League network. This will help more than even how much Mega Evolution could, to be honest.

"160,000 Pokedollars," an elderly gentleman closer to the front said, restarting the calls for bids.

"Then bid high for the next one," my mother instructed me.

"160,000 going once, going twice…" The auctioneer said before I shot up my sign.

"200,000." My voice echoed through the room, and while the man who had bid against me crumpled his hat up in his lap, but didn't make a move to counter.

"200,000 going once, going twice, sold! Please come up to the stage to collect your bid, Miss." I did so, carefully holding it in the palm of my hands. To most, it just seemed like a (very expensive) item of prestige, like a painting or a statue that I might show off. To me, it was potential.

The potential to crack the code on how a lot of Pokeballs work. Something that was considered an international League secret and one that I could be heavily punished for trying to figure out without proper authorization. Hopefully Geeta and others will understand if it comes down to that. If it works. Which it should! Everything I've read about Apricorn Balls implies that pieces put on after the fact that connect it to the network would be easy to differentiate from the rest of the pieces-

"Are you going to put Dun in that ball?" Billy's hushed question snapped me out of my thoughts and reminded me of where I was, having wandered back to my seat and staring at the ball in my hands.

"Maybe later," I replied, distractedly painting a smile on my face. Assuming it withstands the deconstruction process I put it through.

Mom clapped her hands together. "Oh, it's so wonderful when you find an unexpected treat like that." Practice kept my grin in place even as guilt crept up in my mind. "We should visit places like this more often; it looks like there are all kinds of fun trinkets to buy."

"Why did you give me that advice?" I asked, distracting myself from other thoughts.

"Ah, by bidding high twice in a row, it shows you're a big spender willing to crush the competition. The bids for the Friend Ball were fairly tepid back and forth. If you had only slowly raised the price, they might have been willing to match you for longer."

Not quite the sunk cost fallacy, but I get it. Especially since that man didn't look like the professional stand-ins they have here. Most of them were dressed professionally but far less well than any others. From what my parents had told me, each of them had to be given a set amount as the highest they could bid by whoever hired them to avoid any impossible bids being made.

The next few bids passed without particular note until finally, the item we came for was here. Even before the fabric was dramatically pulled off the stand holding it, I could feel the energy radiating off of the Mega Stone. Athena likely could as well, as I felt her Pokeball stir, though she retained enough control not to pop out of it.

"Our final item of the day is a Mega Stone, one Lucarioite. This rare item comes to us straight from Kalos, where it was unearthed…" The man droned on like that for a while, but I could hardly focus on it, Athena's excitement bleeding through to me. Despite that, I did my best to appear neutral and relaxed.

"We'll begin the bidding at 1,000,000 Pokedollars." As the auctioneer was announcing that, Dad was whispering to me.

"We'll feel them out first, don't worry." I nodded, noting as different people in the crowd pushed the price up. There were a few eager bids only raising the price by a million Pokedollars that quickly petered out by the time it reached twenty million. After thirty million, there were only three competitors left, until my father made his bid.

"31,000,000," he announced to the auctioneer. The three other bidders turned to face him, if only briefly. An elderly lady gnashed her teeth together (literally clutching the pearls around her neck; didn't know anyone did that) before sitting down in a huff.

While she had clearly given up, a young man dressed in a surprisingly sporty blue jacket glared at us. Upon his belt, I noted three Pokeballs and realized he wasn't just some young rich guy but likely a skilled Trainer, possibly an Ace.

Is he looking for an edge to boost his team? Am I taking away from someone else's dream by obtaining this? It's not like I need it… On the other hand, I promised my team that I'd give everything I could to make them strong. And he still has money and could become strong through other means. Not to mention it'll provide a real benefit if I have to confront Turo in Area Zero.

While I was thinking it over, the bidding rose up and up, with the young man giving up as Dad finally jumped the price up to forty-five million.

"45,000,000, going once,-"

"50,000,000." The voice came from the last of the three original bidders, one of the stand-ins who had stepped back suddenly speaking up again. It sent a series of whispers through the crowd, but I caught the flash of a smirk on Billy's face.

"50,000,001." He bid, causing me to blink. That feels a little low- huh, the stand-in isn't moving to counter us. Oh! The stand-in must have reached the maximum they were allowed to bid from whoever hired them.

"Going once, going twice, sold!" The auctioneer cried out. "Please come up to collect your prize." My father did so, walking up and receiving the Mega Stone before walking back to us.

Huh, feels like this would be the moment where an evil Team bursts in to run off with the auction items, or the Ace Trainer challenges me to a fight to prove himself 'more deserving' of the Mega Stone. A quick glance around the auction hall determined I was in no such risk of hidden thieves, and the other bidders remained in their seats.

Anticlimactically, I stood up as Dad approached, only to be beaten to the punch as Athena burst out of her ball, standing eagerly in front of me, tail whipping back and forth into the (thankfully empty) chairs on either side of her. With a chuckle, Billy passed it to her at my nod.

The stone came with a stretchy yet durable cloth loop, letting her put it around her neck. As it snapped on, she turned to face me, and with a toothy grin, howled in triumph. I couldn't help but cheer as well. "Woo!"

This was met by a few polite claps and a very aggravated clearing of the auctioneer's throat. "Ahem," he said pointedly, and we both looked embarrassed at making a scene.

"Sorry," I said with a quick bow before we left the hall. My first Mega Evolvable Pokemon. I can't wait to try it out!

***

Luckily, I didn't need to wait long; the three of us (Athena returned to her Pokeball) left the main auction structure and city. Billy and O'Nare veered off to the ranch while Athena and I were eager to practice her new power amidst the fields, though they stuck around long enough to watch (and record) Athena's first Mega Evolution.

"Alright Athena, you ready?" I asked, getting an impatient nod from her before my question was even finished. "Haha, ok, let's go." Taking a deep breath, I held up my Keystone, pointing it at her. "Mega Evolve!"

I didn't receive any instruction guide on how to use the Mega Stone with the winning bid, but the process was instinctual enough. My Auric awareness made the energies surrounding the two stones clear, and I pushed my Aura into the Keystone. The stone greedily drank up my life force, leaving me feeling drained so fast I almost reactively pulled back.

Recognizing it as normal, I instead let the energy go, simply directing it through the bond I had with Athena. I had studied Mega Evolution enough to know that it couldn't kill me, though it would be quite draining. That part feels weird. I know I have a bond with all of my Pokemon, but I usually can't feel it, not so vividly like this, even without my Aura. Or is it just that I'm sensing my own energy rushing through the channels that make or bond, making it appear more tangible in this moment?

Such questions were pushed out of my mind as I saw the glowing shell appear around Athena before she burst out, the energy exploding off of her. With a proud cry, she shouted out, "Lucario!"

Her appearance wasn't that different from before. Some brown fur on her paws, her yellow fur a bit shaggier, and a slight bit taller. But her eyes had taken on an orange tint, and the energy radiating off of her was palpable. An air of danger surrounded every twitch of her muscles as newfound power flowed through her, to the point that anyone could sense the threat she represented. Off in the distance, I saw herds of Tauros stampeding away in fright, Murkrows and Staravias taking to the sky, and other Pokemon like a Donphan slinking away, even as they tried to place themselves in between this new threat and the young Phanphys they looked after.

Anyone would be foolish to approach her like this… So I shouldn't be surprised that my parents are rushing towards her.

"What a unique dazzle!"

"Indeed! Terastalization has its own shine, but this puts a whole new twist on it. How innovative!"

More the other way around with Terastalization coming after Mega Evolution. Athena growled lowly, baring her teeth a little as my parents approached her, so I stepped in.

"Let's give her a little space, shall we?" My voice came out in quick gasps. Feels like I ran a marathon. Turning to face her straight in the eye, I managed to ask. "How are you doing?"

'Powerful. Eager. Need- Fight. Destroy.' Her empathic communication came in sputtering spurts, her control going all over the place. It was clear that she was having trouble controlling this much power, and it was interfering with her communication. She was hardly angry with us, but that much power made things dangerous even with the best of intentions.

"Why don't you guys go back to the ranch?" I suggested to my parents. Before they could complain, I added, "We've got a lot of training to do. We can show you some cool Moves when we're done." Or at least, get her to the point where she isn't feeling uncertain about her control and feels proud about showcasing her regular Moves in this boosted state. Though, if all goes well…

"Splendid. There was a delightful pair of Pokemon I was looking at before and I can't wait to see them again," my mother said, her eyes literally sparkling. Is that an anime-esque thing, or did she buy some expensive contacts for that? Either is possible with my family.

It was hard to say, but soon they were off, leaving me and Athena alone in the field. "I was going to have you train against the local Pokemon, but I don't think anyone here is eager to fight you. Though they probably wouldn't have been a challenge even without this." She nodded tersely.

"So, let's run you through the basics. Practice a few Moves in the open here where you don't need to worry about anyone getting hurt. Then you can spar against some of the team." Tossing her a bone, I added, "I know Dun has been looking forward to a rematch.

That lit a fire in her eyes, and she stomped the ground eagerly. "Luuu!" Even the relatively light tap on the earth sent out an Earthquake rippling through the ground all around and matched what Dun or Nightwing could do when putting their all into the Move.

"...Ok, let's hold off on Earthquake for the moment; don't want to drop the cliff edge onto the city below." We were a decent distance away, so I wasn't too worried, but I couldn't rule out the possibility entirely. Even with that slight fear, I couldn't help but feel excited about this. Terastalization, especially defensive ones, is still a huge game changer in its own right, but the sheer power Mega Evolving brings makes me giddy nonetheless.

She ran through her Moves. Some of them, like Trailblaze, were clearly stronger and faster than before, but the exact impact of how much more power they had was hard to discern without a living target to hit. Overall though, it was still an impressive showing off her new abilities. As well as her new Ability.

That made the largest difference in the power on display, her Adaptability stacking with the general power boost she got to let her fire off Aura Spheres larger than her whole body, which sent cracks running through the rocky Collonade Hollow. They were small in comparison to the massive structure dominating the landscape but still significant in scope.

Off in the distance, a loud, challenging cry rang out, so far away that even I could barely hear it. Clearly, I'm not the only one who thinks so. I forgot about them, but they might be a good challenge for Athena.

"C'mon out, Dun," I called as I released my starter. He turned immediately to face Athena, his tail already spinning slowly, anticipating their fight. Athena grinned violently, slamming her knuckles together, making a small shockwave.

"I can see I don't need to tell you two anything, other than a reminder to be careful. And maybe give me a minute to get out of the way." I huffed and puffed as I pulled myself up on top of a nearby cliff. God, this would be easy without the drain of Mega Evolution. I hope it gets easier with time and practice.

When I got to the top, I saw Athena simply pointing at Dun and communicating, 'Power.' I blinked before realizing what she was getting at. Dun himself gave the shoulderless equivalent of a shrug.

Fair enough, I guess he won't be using many Normal Type attacks given her Steel Typing. Still, it doesn't hurt. I tossed the Tera Orb over in a long arc, Terastalizing Dun. He gave a fierce cry as the bejeweled Tera 'hat' appeared over his now glittering body, the land snake staring Athena straight in the eyes.

This was a mistake (and one I wouldn't have expected her to fall for in her regular state). Without a signal to begin, Dun opened the fight by Glaring at her, and she had no way to resist it, her muscles seizing up. Then they disappeared.

"What?" I questioned aloud; before my eyes managed to track onto them, Dun had been knocked half a kilometer away by Athena's Extreme Speed. Even Paralyzed, and I couldn't track her movements at all!

Dun was used to being slower than his opponent and didn't let a little thing like getting beaten around stop him from fighting back. A wide Flamethrower stream had her jumping back, but before she could go around it, she jerked to a stop.

My starter used the opportunity to run through an Agility, zipping around and speeding up with the Psychic Type Move to better match her. He still ended up clipped by the Aura Sphere Athena launched at him, several scales breaking and shattering from the blow.

Dun spun his drill, ducking underground to avoid the shot before tunneling rapidly towards Athena. She scoffed, shooting up high in the air with a powerful jump. An Aura Sphere in hand, she launched it at where he was going to pop up, beneath where she had been standing… only for him to pop up a dozen meters away.

Did she lose her Aura Sight enough that she couldn't find him- No, he deked her out, I realized as I saw Dun flap his wings furiously, conjuring a massive Hurricane right in Athena's path. His twisty body let him get very close to the surface where Athena targeted, then change paths.

Throwing her arms behind her, twin Dragon Pulses rocketed her back towards Dun and away from the storm. My land snake breathed out a stream of fire straight at her, and though she narrowly dodged it with a Quick Attack, she lost a lot of her momentum with the maneuver.

The battle continued, with Athena throwing all sorts of attacks at Dun, forced into an uncomfortable position of having to launch darting blows, trying to keep up with a foe physically stronger than him, while usually he was the nigh-invincible juggernaut pressing forward on them. The Type match-up didn't help either, but he was experienced enough to know how to adapt to that situation, even without my direct guidance.

Athena, for her part… She's not fighting intelligently. I could hardly say she was fighting 'foolishly,' though; she still had good form and exceptional reflexes, but as I saw her strike at Dun with her Force Whips, hitting him and the ground around him, I noted how she could have driven him towards a cliff face, backing him into a corner as opposed to the open road she let him escape to. Her tactics have gone out the window. She's fighting solely on instinct, like why she uses Quick Attack to dodge some shots instead of Extreme Speed, just because she's more used to one than the other.

The sheer strength she had at her disposal was enough to even the difference between her tactics and his, however. A powerful Close Combat should have knocked Dun out clean only to land into an odd doll-like construct, my Starter Substituting out of the way before pelting her with Air Cutters.

The Mega Evolved Pokemon flinched, caught off guard by how sharply the wind cut into her. Usually her innate Ability would have protected her from that, but her new one, while granting her tons of power, left her surprised by that facet of his Move.

Dun followed up with a Body Press, proving that Miles wasn't the only member of the team he'd been copying. The heavy press crushed down hard on Athena, Dun's body twisting to pin her down and prevent any powerful strikes.

This mattered little as spears of Aura, akin to Force Palm, lanced out from her body in every direction, throwing Dun off with a pained hiss. A quick Drain Punch followed it up, helping her recover. Impressive, the instinctual alteration of that Move.

She wasn't the only healing throughout the fight, with Dun performing many 'micro-Roosts' in between getting knocked around. They don't do much, but it's still an impressive edge and makes him seem even bulkier than he naturally is.

Despite that, all good things came to an end, and he was clearly running out of steam as his latest gambit with Invisible Yawn failed utterly; the transparent cloud blasted apart before ever getting near her. The Mega Pokemon knocked him aside with an Extreme Speed punch, and I thought things were over there before she kicked him up into the air. I don't recognize that Move.

She leapt up, kicking him through the air, less up and from side to side. … That's not a Move. She's playing hackysack with him. She's toying with him.

A decision she came to regret as he beat his wings furiously, creating an upside-down Hurricane, slamming them both into the ground. The force of his impact fueled an Earthquake that wracked Athena's body further, and when she rose, it was on unsteady limbs. Her particular Mega Evolution makes her miles faster and stronger, but she's pretty much as vulnerable to harm as she was before.

Dun was hardly in better condition, forcing himself to glare across the ruined field at her. "Dudun. Arce." He challenged. There's something in there about being weak and worthless, though I'm missing the exact wording there.

Whatever it was, it was enough to get her to charge up a powerful grayish ball of energy in front of her, between her hands. Steel Beam, that's the play then. Glad I caught his plan, or I would have called off the battle here.

For his part, Dun surrounded himself with a green energy as if preparing to charge ahead with a Giga Impact. Athena released her beam, so blindingly bright I had to shield my eyes. When I opened them, I saw as I expected: Dun gasping for breath, utterly exhausted, but safe behind his Protect barrier. Across the road from him, Athena stood, slack-jawed for a second until her Move took its toll, and she passed out, falling flat on her face.

"Dun is the winner," I said tiredly, to a small cheer from him before he too fell asleep. I stood there in silence for a moment before I looked around at the ruined landscape. "Dammit, who's gonna help me clean this up then?"

While some members of my team were less helpful than others (Nightwing and Phantasm for lack of enthusiasm, Bahamut with too much enthusiasm), we eventually got the area in passable shape, heading off to the Pokemon Center.

Can't believe I didn't recognize the signs before. Most Mega Evolutions come with increased aggression instead, but still. She even insisted that I power up her rival! Let's hope I can break her of that pattern with having her father have to sacrifice himself to save the planet.

I shook my mind from thoughts about Dragonball Z as I saw the odd stare Nurse Joy was giving me. Is she part of the clan? I can't tell. "Yes?"

"Did your Pokemon Mega Evolve?" She asked neutrally.

"Ah, yes, she did. It was her first time today. Is there a problem?"

She hummed. "Not necessarily. Just try not to have her Mega Evolve more than once every other day. Mega Evolution puts a lot of strain on the body."

"Good to know." I can probably set her on meditative activities on her off days anyways to get a better handle on what that power does to her mind.

***

The ranch was as lively and joyful as ever. Upon arriving, Mabel quickly waved me over and peppered me with more questions, mostly about my gym battles, but a few about regular Pokemon handling.



"How do you deal with the torn scales on your Dudunsparce and Bahamut?"

"What Gym Leader was the toughest?"

"Why do you feed your Pokemon separate from the ranch Pokemon? We've got grade-A Poke chow here!"



The last question led to a discussion about the different vitamins and supplements I had tailored to each of my team members. Mabel had a great deal of insight on the nutritional needs of different Pokemon and it led to a lengthy discussion on the topic.

Eventually I asked her, "Why ask me all these questions?"

"I just think it's really cool, ya know?" She clasped her hands behind her back, swaying back and forth a little.

"It is," I easily admitted. In spite of everything, this has been incredible. I'm barely over halfway done, and I can't wait to go on my next journey. "Why not go yourself?"

"H-huh?! You mean- you really think I'd be a good trainer?"

"Of course. You know a fair bit about handling Pokemon yourself. You've already mentioned a bunch of different care and treatment options for the various Pokemon, and it's not like you don't have access to plenty of potential friends." I said, waving my hand out at the field around us.

My gaze stopped momentarily on Billy, playing eagerly with the singular Drampa on the ranch, scratching behind the ears of the teal Dragon. They seem like a nice fit, though…

Putting that to the side I focused my attention once more on Mabel, the girl still frozen. "It's fine if you have other responsibilities, but don't hold yourself back because you're worried you can't make it."

"...How do you do that? You're like six years younger than me, but you sound like an old sage." She pouted, and I laughed. I was called an old soul in my first life; I suppose I've more than earned that by now.

Her next words struck a bit deeper. "I just- I just don't know if I can do it. You always seem in control in those videos, like you've always got a plan. Your music sounds great too; you're way younger than me, and you're so smart, and I-" She cut herself off, and I saw some tears welling up in her eyes.

Shit. Ok, how do I reassure her without sounding condescending? "I could say that I've received a ton of support and have several unique advantages, which is true, but I'm guessing that won't help?" She shook her head, and I suppressed an unhelpful sigh.

"Simply focus on yourself. There are tons of people out there, and I'm sure you could find a way you don't match up to them in some area, maybe even a field you've chosen to apply yourself to." I know I've done that plenty, in this life and the last. "But you can't focus on that. The only one you're really competing against at the end of the day is yourself, and as long as you've improved, that's great."

Mabel furrowed her brow, not looking quite convinced, so I clarified. "Even if you think you haven't done enough, or you still have too far to go, your efforts matter. And if some external validation is needed, know that there will always be someone out there who appreciates your efforts. Thank you for well…"

I got tongue-tied at the end of my impromptu speech, only partially because of the difficulty in pinning down the right words. That brilliant smile on her face isn't helping either. I blushed and shook my head, looking away for a second as I tried to push down any burgeoning feelings.

The motion ended up catching the attention of Big Jim, the older man striding to us. "What's this I hear about becomin' a Trainer?" Good ears; most regular people would have had a tough time catching that over the ranch Pokemon and that far away.

Mabel spun around brightly to face her father. "Yes, I'm gonna do it! Next year, I'm taking on the Gym Challenge!" She pumped her fist up in the air cutely.

The ranch owner didn't seem upset, letting out a happy chuckle of his. "Sounds like yer set on yer path then. You'll do great," he added in a softer tone before turning to me. "Thanks fer talkin' my sweet daughter up to that. Guess battling ain't the only skill ya got! Can't say I'm surprised though; yer folks have been praising ya almost as much as our prized Pokemon here."

Right, this ranch isn't just well rated for good service but also for the 'quality' of the Pokemon they produce. Something on my face must have shown because Jim asked, "Ya good, Miss Nemona?"

"Ah, I'm fine." I said before sighing, seeing him unconvinced. "I just- don't believe that's a thing. That Pokemon bred from strong Pokemon are not inherently any stronger or have any greater potential than others," I explained. My words brought a shocked gasp from Mabel.

Jim, on the other hand, didn't seem upset, merely commenting, "Interesting outlook." In the distance, I saw two Tauros, a Blaze and Aqua breed, prancing around a corner of the field, scorching and quenching the grass as they went, playfully bashing into each other. "Most serious Trainers wouldn't agree with that, though."

Scoffing, I said, "That's because those 'serious Trainers' are looking for quick fixes to power. Yes, some Pokemon tend to start out a bit stronger in some areas than others and will have natural biological advantages in certain fields, but with enough training, any Pokemon can reach the greatest heights."

"Oh? Bunch of sciency folk have studies that say otherwise." Jim countered, and I rolled my eyes.

"Those studies only show slight tendencies, and correlation doesn't equal causation. Any supposed increase in the base strength of Pokemon from 'prestigious' lineage is usually just a matter of having some training from their parents already, better nutrition, or just a measure of belief in the Pokemon themselves affecting the study." To say nothing of the fact that certain people in the breeding industry might well pay good money to fund and shift the test results in their favor.

"You reckon that just believing in a Pokemon is enough to make 'em stronger?"

"Of course, that's a large part of a Trainer's job. Sure, you set up training plans and regimens, make strategies, and react to changes in the middle of dynamic battles, but at the end of the day, all you'll be left able to do in a battle is believe in the Pokemon you've trained." I glanced up, looking him straight in the eyes. "And if you believe hard enough, a lot of the time, it's enough."

He laughed again, a full-bellied thing. "Well put. Not sure I entirely agree - not the least of which cause I'd be out of a job if I did, but well put." Hard to tell if he's just being agreeable because of my parents/their money, or if he's just always this polite and reasonable while dealing with other people, but at least he's pleasant enough to be around. Not as much as his daug- gah! Stop it, brain!

I made an excuse and drifted away, wandering around the ranch for a while and talking with my parents before heading out again. The daily grind was real, and just because Athena would need to rest didn't mean that I could slack off with training the rest of my Pokemon.

***

That being said, a large chunk of the next few days was spent helping Athena control her new powers and the emotions that came with them. To varying degrees of success.

"Patience now," I chided as a low growl started building in her throat. With a deep sigh, she relaxed again, despite the Mankey, Pansear, and Komala hanging off of her. The monkey Pokemon were scrambling all over her, while the Komala just quietly dozed, hanging off Athena's left arm. Impressive, I hadn't even noticed her slipping up and climbing up until she was already there. Quite sneaky for one so sleepy.

That drew another flash of irritation from my Pokemon, and even if she managed to avoid vocalizing it, I could still see it in the tension she held and the way her furs bristled.

"Athena, don't be upset just because I find other Pokemon interesting too. Everyone has their own skills and powers; that doesn't diminish your own."

That earned a grumble from her. Not necessarily a disagreement, but more an 'I don't like it.' If she's this involved in what I'm saying and feeling, the meditation probably isn't going anywhere.

Waving the Pokemon off of her, I circled around to face her. "Hey, this training is just as important as the rest of your practice. You know you only lost to Dun that first time because you lost yourself.

My Lucario huffed, clearly unhappy about the loss, despite the fact that she had improved greatly since then. So far she's won two out of three rematches, even with me guiding Dun once she won the first time. And she's only going to get so much stronger.

'I feel frustrated with myself. I should be better than this, have greater control. Dun must think me a fool, to have such little self-control.'

"Hey, none of that now; you're doing good. This is just a bit of a learning curve. Every Mon has that when they evolve. Given our limited windows to train those powers, it makes sense that you'd be having difficulty. Especially with that technique." I wonder if I suggested it too soon. It would be really cool if she could pull it off, but using Aura that way will be tricky, even for an expert like her.

My words didn't seem to reach her and I paused. "Wait, what was that about Dun." She stiffened up at my words, and if it weren't for her fur, I'd swear that she would have been blushing.

'I jus- just wanna beat him, that's all!' I mentally appended a 'baka' onto the end of her sentence, smiling slightly. Ah right, she's always had a bit of an infatuation/obsession with him. Now that she's evolved too, makes sense that she wants to show off.

"Don't worry about it. There are bumps in everyone's training; remember the time he practiced Ice Beam with his tail, aimed too low and froze his own head?" That earned a small smirk from the jackal-like Pokemon as she remembered that incident. He broke out almost immediately and acted like nothing had happened, but the whole team was howling at that.

Dun was hardly the only one with a funny story about a mistake or gaff they had made - all of us had something like that. "We're a team, right? We've all seen each other at our highest and lowest points. If something didn't go well recently, then just do better tomorrow. You'll practice and get more control, and by the time we face on Tyme, you'll be sure to wow Dun and everyone with how much you've grown." Those words brought her a bit of comfort for a minute, but as she resumed meditating, I could feel her thoughts spiraling again.

Athena was brought out of her brooding by a long lick from the Drampa, who had wandered over. Billy trailed behind him, huffing and puffing, out of breath. There was like twelve meters between us; you can't be exhausted from that!

An angry bark from Athena had Drampa wilting backward, looking sad. "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it," Billy quickly leapt to the Pokemon's defense.

"True, I think Athena is just a bit upset about other matters." At a gentle nudge from me, she let out a grunt that could be interpreted as an apology, which had the Dragon Type perking back up quickly. "She can be a bit prickly when you catch her off guard," I continued, while sending a pulse of contrition to her for using her as an example for this. "You don't always know every aspect of a Pokemon when you first meet them, or even after spending a few days with them."

Much like humans, they constantly find ways to surprise you. My father didn't seem to get it, however. "I feel like I know Drampa perfectly already. He's bursting with Glitterati enthusiasm!" The Dragon in question leaned into some cuddles from Billy, happy but not showing the usual draconic pride at praise. His species wasn't noted for that, but they were noted for surprising bouts of anger.

No guarantee he has that; not every Pokemon exactly matches their Pokemon entry, but still. Wouldn't hurt to check that out, though. Jumping to a seemingly unrelated topic, I suggested, "Hey, do you think you want to battle with him? It'd be a good chance to get to know him better and-"

"Yes!" He eagerly exclaimed, clearly needing no other excuses. "I challenge you to a battle!"

There was a moment of silence, my father's proud declaration and dramatic finger pointing at me turning awkward as I, Athena, and Drampa just gave him a look. After a moment, I chuckled. "Great Glitterati eagerness there, but I think my team might be a bit much for Drampa at this point." To say nothing of the difference in skill between us as Trainers. "Why don't you battle Mom with a Pokemon she chooses from the ranch as well?"

I had my suspicions about what Pokemon she'd use, and (after clearing the match in the ranch with Jim) I was proven correct, though not quite in the way I'd expected.

"Oh, I'd love to, dear," she answered Billy's challenge. "But I just don't know which of these two cuties I should use!" She despaired looking between two, nigh identical plush white mouse-looking Pokemon.

"Uhh, actually Tandemaus counts as one Pokemon for battling and catching," I mentioned, sweatdropping a little. The Tandemaus chittered in amusement.

"Whaaaat? How does that work?" O'Nare questioned.

"Actually, it's a really interesting phenomenon. I think it has something to do with linking their Auras up on a very tight level, closer than most regular bonds can work. While they are distinct beings with their own personalities and minds, when they're so closely linked, they can sort of sync up their thoughts and act as one, letting a Pokeball catch them together. It also means that there are deleterious effects upon both of them if they're forcibly separated - not that you need to worry about that for the relatively small space for the space you have to battle in."

I gestured at the corner that had been cleared for them before clamping my mouth shut. Whoops, went a bit too far there. Don't want Mom to worry, but I shouldn't be giving either one of them advice here. I reached for Notch's Pokeball before catching a subtle shake of Athena's head.

She must have caught onto my plan and the precaution I want to take here. Not really her forte, but with an Aura construct, she might be able to… I quickly nodded at her before focusing my attention on my parents.

Jim laid down the rules quickly. "Alright, this should be a nice, fun battle. Fight till the other Pokemon is down or surrenders; let's not go too far here." With a gesture to the Kadabra standing nearby, a barrier was raised in a cube around the space. "Ready, set, begin!"

"O-Okay, go, attack!" Billy called out first, eagerness clashing with a lack of experience. For his part, Drampa looked confused for a second but then followed the command as best he could, raising up a Twister around the Tandemaus pair and tossing them about the arena.

O'Nare furrowed her brow, eyes darting rapidly about the field before she gave an order. "Converge on Drampa, hit him from both sides!" The mouse-like Pokemon rapidly ran at the Dragon, giving him no time to escape before slapping him, knocking his head first one way, then the other.

"Play Nice!" Billy cried, and the Dragon reached out, grabbing each Tandemaus by one hand and dancing in a circle with them. They seemed quite happy and were hesitant to attack the Drampa at O'Nare's orders even after the Dragon released them. Despite that, their Play Rough really hit the Dragon hard. Nice, they're both getting the hang of strategy, at least a little bit.

The battle continued like that, with Billy on a more defensive and disruptive strategy to O'Nare's aggressive one. It seemed like my father might have the edge until my mom used her special weapon.

"Super Fang!" The Tandemaus charged in, teeth shining bright, each pair striking through Drampa's scales as if they weren't even there. A lucky hit that took out a lot of Drampa's health. Super Fang has to aim for critical spots on the enemy Pokemon, so for them to both hit different ones was lucky, but quite strong.

Drampa had his own secret trick, the beast letting out a splitting howl that shook the barrier. Tossing the Tandemaus off of him, he began spitting out dragon fire without any orders on Billy's part.

Mom cried, "Get out of the way!" Which was enough to let the dazed mice roll aside, avoiding the Dragon Breath. The attack then hit into the barrier, shattering it.

"What in tarnation-?" Jim began as my father was calling for Drampa to stop, to no avail. I stepped forward, nodding to Athena, and she was in front of the rampaging Dragon in the blink of an eye. Pushing his head up and letting the Dragon Breath pass harmlessly into the air above.

He began to struggle, but a giant hand of Aura reached out from Athena and clasped him tight. Then she raised a paw and sent a pulse of Psychic energy into the Drampa; the Dragon Type instantly drooped, and his struggles stopped.

Hypnosis? No, he doesn't look sleepy, just calm. Did she use Calm Mind on someone else? That's incredible! My musings were cut off by the sudden bout of action as Tandemaus jumped up, the pair slapping the top of Drampa's head and knocking him out, earning a moment of stunned silence from the rest of us.

"... I know we didn't call the match off, but if the barrier breaks and other Pokemon are jumping in, the match is over," I informed Tandemaus. The duo at least had the decency to look a bit sheepish at that.

Billy rushed over with Potions to heal Drampa, while praising O'Nare for her battling skills. His wife did much the same, boasting about the strength Drampa showed while holding the Tandemaus close and snuggling them.

Good to see that everyone is getting along and that my parents are one step closer to their goals. As Athena walked back, I said, "Good job there; that was an impressive trick."

"Only that. Just a trick. So far away still from that technique you want me to master."

"Perhaps, but each journey begins with the first steps. Trite, but true. You remember me telling you about how frustrated I got with my Aura progress at first?" Looking her in the eyes, she nodded. "It's like that. All the training you're doing here helps immensely. It might also end up being one of those 'cool but impractical' ideas, so we'll see how it goes. Just be proud of how far you've come. Or, if you're worried about those feelings overwhelming you again, then at least respect the effort you've put in, as you do for mine."

At that, she bowed to me, one paw clasped in the other. I returned the gesture to her before clasping her forearm.

***

With my parents' battle done, the other Pokemon, some staff, and others just part of the ranch stepped in to help fix the terrain. With several Grass Types around, they were able to patch over the ground quickly. It wasn't instantaneous, but after about fifteen minutes, most of the damage looked as it would if humans had spent a couple of days working it over. Not that everyone was happy about it.

"That's why we don't have many Dragon Types," I heard the ranch owner mutter under his breath as he took in the few remaining burnt patches of field before us. It's easy to take these things for granted when you don't have a different frame of reference to compare it to.

"I had wondered about that," I responded in a far more conversational tone, earning a slight jump from the big man as I approached. "There are a fair number of Dragon dens not too far from here. Tatsugiri, Dreepy, Gible, and Dratini are all fairly common, and yet you only have Applin, a few Goomy, and the one Drampa."

"Applin don't go wrecking the place if they throw a fit."

"Remind me not to introduce you to Kieran's Applin," I quipped before I thought about it and realized he'd have no context. "Ah, he's just a friend of mine. Honestly, his Applin isn't prone to wanton destruction, actually, but he's a well-trained battler and strong enough to cause at least as much damage as Drampa did. I'm looking forward to a rematch." Should I send Bahumat against him next time, Dragon vs. Dragon? Or Nightwing? Probably Nightwing; I imagine his starter will be evolved by then, so we can have a rematch with both of our now-evolved Pokemon. Oh, and I should send him some Eviolite for his birthday.

"I love all Types of Pokemon, but Dragons can be a bit temperamental. You might be a great Trainer, but a lotta folks, they don't know how ta handle 'em. And the nearby ones have fierce parents. Don't think anyone would want to tangle with Ol' Waterspout over yonder," he said, pointing at the Collonade Hollow.

Right, it's a Water Tera Type. I knew that Garchomp was a Tera Pokemon but forgot what Type. My answering grin caused the man to pale dramatically.

"You- you're going to- you can't go and fight the Garchomp!" He exclaimed, his accent slipping. "I know you think you're some hotshot, but-"

"I'll be f-" I cut myself off from the smugness radiating off of Athena. "I'll take every precaution to ensure I'm safe. Besides, I do need to give Athena a good fight, and I think this will be that."

The man still seemed worried, but there was nothing he could do to stop me. I informed my parents as well before heading out, and they were remarkably less concerned. Then again, they know me better and don't know this wild Tera Pokemon nearly as well as someone who has lived here.

'Experience and Wisdom.' Came Athena's mocking, empathic voice, and I glared at her as I ran across the plains towards the Hollow. Normally, I'd be making great gliding leaps as I covered the land, but I was trying to conserve my Aura before using Mega Evolution. Using it had gotten slightly easier, but still far from the point that I could casually activate it or risk it when tired.

"I don't see you turning around either," I groused before sighing. "Ok, fine, you come by the overconfidence honestly; I should be careful around the Garchomp. And I will be."

True to my word, before entering the Hollow, I released Notch and Nightwing, then after a moment's consideration, Miles. "Notch and Miles, I want you two to make an extra strong barrier to keep the Garchomp in and from going after the rest of us. Nightwing, you can handle outside threats."

Once they all agreed, I called upon the Keystone, Mega Evolving Athena. The rest of my Pokemon were well used to this transformation by now, though I felt it was still an awesome sight. Nightwing pretended she wasn't interested, miming a yawn afterwards, earning a semi-playful swat from a giant Aura Hand, smacking the Gliscor down.

"Enough fighting, we'll get plenty of that-" A loud roar from within the depths interrupted me. "-Inside," I finished, any jovial cheer taking a back seat to seriousness as we entered.

The rocky space felt at once enclosed and massive, the ceiling yawning high overhead, yet the thick sheet of rock blocking out the sun from above. Light still streamed in from the side, and through pillars of stone, the gentle plains were visible but separate from the Hollow. Like a television screen. Clear and close, but feeling like a second world from this one.

Plenty of Pokemon scuttled around in the gloom of the Hollow, but the few that tried to get close to me were driven off by Nightwing swooping down to terrorize them, cackling as she did so. The others aren't very strong here, at least not in comparison to my team. I can feel down to my bones, though, that the Garchomp will be different.

Part of why I could feel it that deep was in how much the ground shook as it roared, the frequency increasing as we approached. Clearly, it can sense us approach-

A flash above caught my eye, and I leapt back. That still wouldn't have been enough had Nightwing not interposed herself inbetween me and the sparkling Garchomp, a Protect stopping the landshark's deadly claws cold.

"Circle throw! Barriers up!" I shouted quickly to Athena and the rest of my team. She shot forward, pulling the Garchomp by her elbow and tossing her atop one of the massive pillars nearby, following before the wild Pokemon had landed. Notch and Miles conjured an impressive barrier up from the cavernous floor up to well above the pillar where my Pokemon and the Dragon now clashed.

Grabbing onto Nightwing, I was pulled up to a far narrower but taller pillar to get a view of the fight. From here I could see the water spout Tera jewel 'hat' above the wild Pokemon's head as she violently screamed. The Garchomp rushed violently at Athena, but the Mega Pokemon simply danced around the attacks, letting the wild Pokemon crash into the rock, creating large craters. I doubt she'll break the pillar intentionally, but there is a chance that Garchomp could do that in her rage. I do appreciate Athena taking the time to set up a bit with Dancing Sword.

"Trailblaze!" My voice echoed out through the Hollow, and Athena rushed ahead. Green energy surrounded her as she smacked hard into Garchomp, the blow striking hard into the Pokemon's side. Not without a return shot from the Dragon Type, however, her claws cutting a narrow slice out of Athena's fur.

For her part, there was barely a wince of pain, and she used the speed boost well, easily avoiding a Liquidation as Garchomp chased after her. With Mega Evolution she was already slightly faster; now she greatly outpaces him.

"Extreme Speed, then Close Combat!" My eyes lost track of them for a moment again, just the blurring motion of fighting as two bounced around the top of the large pillar. Even when the motion across slowed down enough to make out their position, Athena's arms and legs were a blur that I couldn't precisely pin down.

They sure are hurting Garchomp, though. Despite the wild Pokemon's impressive durability, I could see even her thick scales breaking and denting under the flurry of blows. Before Athena could escape, however, a counterattack was launched. Stomping the ground to shake it at the same time as her two fin blades cut down on my Mega Lucario's shoulders Bulldozed her down into the ground, up to her knees.

Pinned like that, Garchomp began tearing into her with a wild thrash. The Move wasn't very effective, beating against Athena's iron-hard bones, but the sheer power Garchomp carried was enough to bruise my Pokemon.

"Toss her off, then Rock Throw!" I shouted. With an Aura Whip wrapped around Garchomp's leg, she chucked the Dragon away from her before pulling up a piece of stone and tossing that at the wild Pokemon after. Garchomp quickly caught herself mid-air and began flying towards Athena, but dodging around the stone she had tossed gave her time to break free of the stone holding her (the rock being pulled from around her feet made it easier to break free as well).

Jumping above her opponent, Athena landed down on the Garchomp's head with a powerful kick, knocking her back down onto the pillar. As she alighted down, a tidal wave of water erupted from nowhere, conjured purely by the screaming Garchomp below.

The wave didn't hit Athena hard, but it did force her back and cause us both to lose sight of the wild Tera Pokemon as the water rushed over the sides of their battle stage. My keen sight picked out the small funnel of water going straight down the middle of the stage, however, and Athena's Aura Sight likely gave her the same knowledge; the Garchomp had burrowed through the rock.

Athena wasn't about to wait and just let her pop back up, raising a leg up high before glancing at me. My quick nod was all the sign she needed to strike down, driving her foot, superimposed by a larger Aura leg, into the ground. The resulting Earthquake shook the cavern slightly, but most of the force was contained by the pillar, which violently splintered apart, breaking off into chunks.

The barrier meant there were no Pokemon on the ground in range of the pillar, but many nearby still scrambled back in a fright as they heard and saw the rocks raining down in a devastating storm. Intermixed with the thunder was a sharp cry of pain from the Garchomp. From the dust, she created a massive storm of sand, a Sand Tomb larger and much taller than I had ever seen, trapping Athena within. Without waiting for a command from me, she let out a sharp cry, ensconcing herself in a sphere of Aura and pushing the grating particles away, breaking free.

A quick Vacuum Wave directed her out of the lower, still remaining half of the Sand Tomb as she fell, but Garchomp, despite her many injuries, pushed ahead, running to the spot where Athena would land.

She can't have too much energy left, but there's no sense in risking things here. No need to go all out when she can win by taking it slow. "Drain Punch," I commanded as they met, and my Mega Pokemon's fists slammed into Garchomp as the Tera Pokemon's claws cut into her. As they pulled away, Athena was rejuvenated while Garchomp looked worse than ever.

"Extreme Aura Sphere, finish it!" It wasn't quite the ultimate technique I was hoping for from this power-up, but it would be a significant stepping stone to what I envisioned. One that she performed gloriously. A vast barrage of Aura Spheres of varying sizes blasted across the cavern, too quick for Garchomp to dodge. After one knocked her back, the others did too, some of which had been spread out to catch Garchomp if she had managed to move away, curving in, each one slamming into her and breaking her defenses down further until the final shot exploded.

Blinking the spots out of my eyes, I saw Garchomp, kneeling on the ground, her Terastalization fading away as she heaved, defeated. Her yellow eyes glared up at me, but she couldn't bring herself to move towards even Athena, let alone myself.

For her part, Athena had a few bloody scrapes on her but nothing serious, but I could tell from the slight shake to her arms that she was tired too. Still, she gave Garchomp a respectful bow before walking away.

Calling off the barrier, I had Nightwing carry down a small satchel filled with berries down to Garchomp before turning and leaving. I didn't hear her move for a moment, but hunger and fatigue beat out pride, and I soon heard her chomping down rabidly into the berries, the energy they gave helping her lick her wounds.

As we left the Hollow, Athena's Mega Evolution stopped, and she shifted back, dropping to one knee for a second, tired from the strain.

'How did I do?'

The grin that stretched across my face would have told her the answer even if she couldn't sense my emotions, but I spoke my answer anyway. "You did amazing. Keep that up, and you'll sweep Tyme."

"Lucario!" 'You bet I will!'

"Gar gar?" Nightwing asked from the side.

"What?! No, we aren't literally betting that."

"Gli li."

"Don't call me a coward, and no, you can't bet anyways if I'm not-"

***

After some 'spirited' discussion, we made it back to the ranch as the sun was setting. Today is the last day they have off; after this, I'll be back on my own. Not that I've ever really been 'on my own' for the journey.

To no one's surprise, I found my parents beside familiar Pokemon. "So I take it you've made your choices?" They nodded, glancing down at the Tandemaus and Drampa beside each of them. The two Normal Types had clearly made friends with each other after the battle and were happily chatting away. "Even if they have some aggression or rage issues?" I pressed.

"'Yes."" Their unified declaration was firm, and I saw steel in their eyes. They had noted potential issues from their battle but were prepared to grow together with their chosen Pokemon.

"Alright then, congrats on your first steps as Pokemon Trainers!" I announced. As I raised my arms up, they swooped down and grabbed me in a tight hug.

"Thank you for all your help in guiding us here."

"You shine like a true, brilliant Glitterati already."

"Ah, thanks."

Mom cleared her throat and backed off. "Sorry if we got too worried about you. It's clear you can handle yourself." I had informed them before we went off to fight the Garchomp of what I was doing, which had them a little nervous, but I didn't think they realized how powerful a Garchomp (and that on in particular) could be. But I also showed them the video Miles had recorded of the fight, and demonstrated both the Dragon's strength... and how much greater our own was.

"I hope you can for-" Before she could continue, I vehemently shook my head.

"No, no, I'm sorry for worrying you guys. You're my parents; it's your job to worry."

"Actually it's our job to run a large electronics company and real estate firm," Billy cheekily pointed out, rubbing his watery eyes. I rolled mine in response.

"But seriously, thank you for caring. I- I don't know how to describe how bad life would be without you in it, so thank you for everything. And I'll promise to take more precautions in the future." Not to say I won't do anything dangerous; some paths are thorny and can't be avoided. But I'll try to tackle them smarter from now on.

We had one last dinner together at a fancy restaurant. They bought the whole place out for us, including my Pokemon and Cash & Kin (Tandemaus) and Happy (Drampa). My parents left early in the morning to get back to work, while my journey continued. Next stop, Montevenera.