Hard Enough - Chapter 360 - Intermission IV - Awakening from the dream

Meowth knew he’d be in for a tough fight when he’d agreed to back Jessie up with her match against champion Yuji. He’d trained for this match well in advance, fully expecting for Jessie to come crawling for his help.

He just hadn’t expected to face the hardest opponent he’d ever seen.

Himself.

“Ditto use Fury Swipes!” barked Yuji as the Ditto that had transformed into a perfect copy of Meowth ran forward on all fours to slash at Meowth, only for him to sway out of the way with a roll of his shoulders and a flick of his tail.

Humans never understood how effective a tail was for manoeuvring, but cat pokemon understood instinctively.

“Is that the best you got?” he Taunted, making sure that his opponent couldn’t boost themselves to get an advantage. He made sure to be quick about it so there was only the barest of flashes.

“Cause I’ve got to say, you’re making me look bad!” he growled as Jessie slashed her hand through the air.

“Perfect Meowth! Show them your speed!” she ordered and Meowth darted away with Agility.

“Match it!” Yuji called.

Meowth blurred away, leaving his opponent in the dust. Meowth sped back around, luxuriating in the feeling of being the fast one in a battle for once.

“You did something!” Yuji gasped, shocked. 

Meowth made a peace gesture as he slammed into the Ditto that looked like himself.

“Hey,” he whispered into ‘his’ ears. “I know how much this is gonna hurt. Sorry cause you won’t have resistance to this like I’ve built.”

“Thunder!” Jessie roared triumphantly. 

Meowth gave everything he had, feeling the shock blow out of him and lock onto the Ditto he was holding.

The ‘Meowth’ in his arms stiffened and bared its teeth, making Meowth wonder if he looked that good when he was getting shocked by a million volts of something like that.

Ditto fainted in his arms and collapsed into a purple puddle that Meowth quickly backtracked from, not wanting to step in it lest he get some on his fur.

“Ditto is unable to battle! Meowth and Jessie take the lead! One nil!” called the referee.

From the stands, a group of bikers roared their approval and a Persian’s yowl of delight had Meowth stiffening and waving.

“Heh! It was easy!” he muttered, throwing one specific member of the audience a wink.

Jessie rolled her eyes. “Focus up Meowth. I didn’t include you so you could get flattened in front of your girlfriend.”

Meowth coughed. “That ain’t what happened, you asked me, remember?” he said quickly.

Jessie raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “I don’t recall that but… whatever, game face,” she ordered, causing Meowth to turn and track the pokeball that was arcing through the air.

When it split open Meowth grinned as a huge Onix appeared on the field.

“Agility again!” Jessie barked and Meowth threw himself into the fight. 

He dodged Onix as it threw up a huge wave of rocks. 

This was going to be another tough fight but he was determined to make a good showing of it!

He’d messed up weeks ago when he’d bragged that he’d be part of Jessie’s Champion team for the Orange Islands League, and his girlfriend had gotten all googly-eyed over that.

He’d had to back that statement up which meant hours of training away from Jessie and James.

When he’d asked Jessie, she’d almost said no, only to give him this weirdly intense look and accept.

“Meowth! Onix Special!” Jessie ordered and Meowth once more darted up an Onix’s back to deliver a series of wicked slashes to the other pokemon’s eyes.

Onix howled and rolled, only for Meowth to throw himself away, landing safely on the side.

“Earthquake,” barked Yuji and before Meowth could spring away the ground bucked and he found himself tossed.

When he could right himself he found himself face to face with a glowing tail that was sweeping around.

“Oh shi—” was all he had time to say before he was slapped away. Darkness started to fill his vision as he hit a nearby boulder.

He tried to fight through and stand only to collapse as all his strength left him.

As darkness started to take hold of everything he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty over his actions. 

He hoped he did right by Jessie. 

_____________

He awoke to cheering. He was on his back, and the sky was blue, and the sound of applause rang through the air.

Oh, he’d died and gone to pokemon combat heaven.

Which was probably a hell for him.

Damn, he’d thought he’d done enough good lately to qualify for the great creamery in the sky.

Jessie suddenly appeared above him. “Meowth, you fantastic cat you! You did wonderful!” she cheered.

“Oh, I ain’t dead?” he rasped.

Jessie’s face flashed through concern and her hands fussed about his body only to stop a moment later as she exhaled in relief. “No Meowth, you’re fine. You were knocked out by that Onix but you damaged it enough for Milotic to knock it out. From there Milotic and Mawile flattened Yuji with even his Dragonite unable to handle Mawile. I think your showing inspired them, cause seeing you go down lit a fire in them. They said something about watching you train for the last few weeks?”

Meowth coughed and glanced to the side. “Don’t know what they’re talking about!” he denied.

Jessie’s gaze softened. “Oh Meowth, I had no idea you were trying so hard. Thank you!” she gushed, giving him a wonderful scratch behind the ears that just made him want to melt.

Meowth purred, damn if Jessie didn’t make it into Human Heaven she could find a gig in the great Creamery as a masseuse. 

“So we won?” he asked.

“Two to six!” Jessie gushed. “It’s his worst showing to date.”

“Huh, sucks to suck.” Meowth sat up and looked around, realising that the cheering he was hearing was the crowd cheering his and Jessie’s name. 

To the side, Milotic was being seen to by a pack of Chansey while Mawile had one tending to her. Meowth whistled. “Wowza! You didn’t even need to field Arbok? That’s crazy!”

Jessie nodded and Meowth stood only to feel his body protest the action. “Urgh… say, we got any of that Chateau Romani left over?” he asked, recalling the case that Brock had gifted them before they’d parted ways.

Jessie shot Meowth a look. “I seem to recall someone drinking it last night when they encountered their girlfriend, no?”

“Ehehe?” Meowth replied, knowing he was caught out on that one.

It didn’t stop him from getting a bottle though, as one of the Chansey offered him one with a kindly pat on the head.

From there it was a victory lap around the stadium to pose for the adoring crowds. Most of them were cheering for Mawile and Milotic with only a few calling out to him.

After that they got to leave their signature prints in a slab of cement with a photo opportunity. The slab would be displayed in the hall of victors on Pummelo island for one year before being shipped to the winner’s home.

That information had left Jessie reeling.

“I need to buy a house!” she declared, looking rather struck by this revelation.

“Make sure there’s a hot tub, a wine cellar, and at least three bathrooms. I don’t want to have to be in charge of cleaning Meowth’s bathroom,” James replied instantly.

“If I’m buying a house and you’re living in it then we’re splitting it down the very middle!” she growled.

“Urgh! Fine! But I reserve the right to veto anywhere too hot or cold!” he whined only to get a thoughtful look. “Celadon or Fuchsia should be nice. I hear there’s some new property development going in on route fifteen.”

“Oh! If we’re going Fuchsia, we’re going to need a garage for the bikers when they come over!” Meowth added earning looks from Jessie and James before they both sighed and accepted his addition to the plan.

“Alright so we’re basically buying a small beachside villa by the sounds of it,” Jessie decided. “Hmmm not bad, when we’re not there, we can rent it out for periods of time.”

That got approval from James and Meowth who both shared a grin with each other. This had been a great year for their trio!

“Peeeersian!” purred a welcome addition and Meowth went all soft as his girlfriend announced herself. 

“Oh hey babe! You like the show? I did alright, but I think I—” Persian silenced him by licking him on the cheek and Meowth giggled.

Yes indeed, things were looking up for them with next year potentially even going better. 

Meowth ended up spending the rest of the evening on a date with his girlfriend. When he met back up with Jessie and James the next day the sun was high in the sky and his spirits were just as high.

James took one look at him and snorted, tossing a book that he’d been reading towards Meowth.

Meowth caught it and blinked. “A guide to parenting? What’s this for?”

“Does protection exist for pokemon?” James replied only to make a face. “Don’t answer that, or… Nope. I don’t think I want to know.” he muttered

Meowth scoffed only for his eyes to widen. “Oh,” he said, realising what his actions might lead to. “Ehehehe?” he replied.

Jessie groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll talk to your girlfriend’s trainer. We can work something out if an egg pops up,” she declared.

Meowth continued to rub the back of his head. “Hehehe?”

Jessie pointed at the book. “Read that and three others!” she ordered and Meowth saluted.

For a few minutes they didn’t talk, just reading books or browsing through the pokechat pages. Meowth was amused to see some guy called Internetcat calling him and Persian’s images ‘cute’. 

Eventually, the moment ended when Jessie huffed drawing James and Meowth’s attention to her. 

“Something up?” Meowth asked.

She gave both Meowth and James a look. “So, there’s this place I need to visit to check up on something now that we’re done in the Orange Islands. We might need to deny that we were there. Do you—”

“I’ll talk to a contact about setting up some alibis so good even Sabrina won’t call us out on them,” James offered.

“I’ll get some outfits, loud or quiet?” he asked.

Jessie smiled, and Meowth grinned back at her. 

Oh yeah, things were looking up for them, but maybe not so good for whoever Jessie had in mind for whatever came next.

_________________

Lola took a swing at her son.

Brock leaned to the side, forcing the blow to miss before he countered with a devastatingly powerful jab that rocketed into Lola’s abs.

Rather than letting it hit her she shot her off hand in and caught the jab on the pad she was wearing, noting that she’d have to get Brock to accept her wearing gloves in future.

If she’d had her full mobility in her hands, she’d have used the earlier strike to grab the back of his head and draw him into a rising knee to the face.

He wouldn’t be able to see it coming, and she’d be able to land a devastating hit.

Still, he was growing quickly, taking to the combat lessons exceptionally well with his ability to dodge, duck, and divert blows rather than just stand there and take them.

“Goooo Brock! Gooooo Mum!” cheered Cindy from the sidelines. 

Lola flashed her a smile and went back to work on Brock’s form, pushing his endurance and seeing what made him react. As they worked up a sweat the blows and counters came quicker and with more power behind them.

The mats began to sing and Lola felt her heart thundering as old instincts awoke.

When Brock sent a punishing blow at her she twisted around it like an Ekans before hardening her position like a Machoke. 

It was only at the last moment that she remembered to not break his arm and instead bent her hips to send him flying into the mats.

He landed and rolled up into a fighting position.

“Good, you recovered well,” she praised. 

“Woooooooah!” Cindy called, and Lola giggled at her daughter’s honest reaction. 

Brock straightened and nodded at her. “Hmmm that was good Lola. Drinks?” he suggested. 

Lola sighed at him, still calling her by name instead of Mum like the others. “Sure thing,” she replied. Cindy sprinted over to grab their water bottles and offer them towels.

She made for a very eager-looking girl with how she still had her vibrant pink headgear with the gloves on her hands. 

“Is it my turn yet?” she asked and Lola nodded.

“Certainly, dear. You can go next. I think Brock was done?” she asked, checking in with her firstborn.

He checked his transceiver and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got some training with Gible and Tyrunt. Sam is also coming around to check on the new pokemon.”

Lola nodded, amused that the once-powerful trainer who single-handedly turned battles had donned a researcher coat of all things. 

“Well have fun with that dear, and make sure you stay on top of Tyrunt. If your initial estimates are true she’s going to be quite large so best establish the pecking order now!” she offered. 

Brock merely nodded as he reached out and ruffled Cindy’s head, causing her to resemble one of those bobble head toys. 

“Hey!” Cindy growled as she threw a swat at Brock’s arm only for him to evade.

Lola caught him grimacing though as he retracted his arm. He shot her a thoughtful look. When he raised his eyebrow in silent question, she nodded.

Yes, she could have broken it if she’d wanted to.

He nodded back and left it unsaid that he was still far behind her in fighting skills, and that if she wanted she could have done far worse than just throw him.

Lola watched him go only to blink as a ripple of something radiated out of Brock and he began to walk taller, more solid, no longer nearly as tired.

Huh, maybe she wasn’t the only one holding back, she mused to herself before turning her attention to her second daughter.

“Put ‘em up Mummy!” she growled through a mouth guard.

Lola giggled and set to work teaching her daughter how to be a force to be reckoned with.

It was a good session and while by the end Cindy was a sweaty mess that looked ready to pass out, Lola was proud of her. 

“This is fun!” Cindy declared as they both took a moment to drink.

“Oh?” Lola replied. “How so?”

“It’s so tough and different than most sports. It’s all about you and your opponent! Well I know we’re not really fighting, but still!” Cindy said. “I kind of like it! Plus it’s cool being strong!” she declared firmly.

“Hmmm is that so? I hadn’t really considered it. I just… need to be strong, so I got good at it,” Lola said thoughtfully.

Cindy gave her a long look. “You’re strong,” she offered, earning a laugh from Lola.

Cindy sat up. “I think I’m going to ask to join Brock’s training with Trixie, she’s apparently suuuuuper strong. If I train with her I’ll get stronger. Then I’ll keep this up with you… and I’ll be stronger again!” Cindy nodded her head and Lola giggled.

“It takes more than that to be strong,” Lola declared. 

“Like what?”

Lola paused, thinking back to a different time. There were so many ways she could answer Cindy’s question.

Then a memory came to mind.

Of a young man carrying three of his comrades in his arms, cuts all over his arms and legs and even a few bullet holes. 

Despite that he kept walking, kept trudging on to make sure his comrades made it back to safety. 

“The ability to keep going, no matter what,” Lola said.

Flint chose that moment to enter the gym, his eyes wide for a moment before he relaxed when he realised that they weren’t training right now. For such a strong man, he had a surprisingly weak stomach.

“There you two are, we were just getting ready to leave for Forrest’s match against Yuji!”

“Dad! Gross hug attack!” Cindy called as she leapt at him.

Flint stiffened in surprise but still caught her only for Cindy to rub her sweaty face on his.

“Ewwwww!” they both said. 

“Dad counters gross cause he’s got stubble!” she whined, earning a chuckle from Flint only for him to grimace. 

“You run off and have a show young miss!” he ordered. Cindy nodded, packed up her things and darted off leaving Lola to approach Flint.

“Back click out of place?” she asked, earning a whimper from Flint as he buckled over.

“Yes!” he rasped. 

Lola hummed and looked him over only to manipulate him into hugging himself. She got behind him and with a deft flick and clench his back popped and cracked, causing him to groan in relief.

Lola giggled. “Good thing the kids aren’t around to hear you moan like that dear, you’ll give them nightmares!” she teased. She tugged at her top. “Speaking of working up a swe—”

Flint coughed. “Uhmm, not here dear. Brock has cameras and a security team watching the gym.”

Lola nodded. “Well, shower it is, come wash my back.”

Flint hurried after her like an eager puppy, his old injuries forgotten. “We’ll have to be quick, Sabrina wasn't joking about leaving us if we were too slow,” he suggested.

Lola giggled. “That Sabrina, such a prankster!” she said as they reached their suite of rooms.

Her clothes hit the floor and any ‘clock watching’ was promptly forgotten by her husband as he had other things to keep his attention.

When they were done, Flint walked with a slight limp and Lola with a skip in her step.

They came to the entry hall only to find it empty of their family.

“They left?” Lola gasped in shock. She glanced towards the lounge room only to twitch. 

She didn’t want to have to turn the television on right now. 

She didn’t want to see imagery of Orre and whatever Fiore were doing. The way people were talking… Her hands twitched into claws only for Flint to put his hands over her shoulders.

“Hey, it is alright. We’re safe. They haven’t left. “They’re probably just outside,” he murmured.

Lola nodded, ignoring the brief memory of a radio announcement asking for skilled trainers to sign on with an expeditionary group.

She… could go… She was good at fighting.

Flint gently tugged her to the front door where the sound of laughter snapped her out of her funk. 

Lola sighed in relief as they found their family playing a game with Gible and Tyrunt. It was something to do with ‘bite or no bite’. 

“I knew Flint was joking!” Lola called to Sabrina.

Sabrina gave her a flat look. “I wasn’t going to deal with Forrest looking sad, but if you’d been much longer… in the shower,” she said, drawing out the ‘in the shower remark’, “then I would have left you and not come back. Not many can make the trip to the Orange islands like I can you realise?” 

“Oh well, guess you’re not—” an Alakazam appeared near Lola, and a moment later she and the entire family Teleported away only to reappear on the beach of Fuchsia.

Within minutes, they found themselves at the front of the Pummelo Island stadium. 

Brock whistled. “Damn, that was fast, babe. I think you’re getting stronger?” 

Sabrina nodded and smirked at Lola. Lola ignored her.

Sabrina was rather petty, and Lola rather loved her for it. 

If only Sabrina could get over her issues so they could hang out as a Mother-in-law and daughter should.

Maybe they could get into some mischief together?

“Sabrina, would you like to hang out later?” she asked, deciding it wasn’t worth waiting for!

Sabrina looked at her like she was a Muk that had just sloughed its way in. “I’m busy,” she replied before indicating the stadium they were in front of.

“Let’s go see Forrest before his match,” she said instead.

Lola slumped and only Flint consoled her as the rest of her family bustled off.

“It’ll take some time dear. Sabrina is slow to forgive,” he muttered. “Just be glad you don’t have shovels floating into the room sometimes.”

“Oh no that happens all the time, I fight with them,” Lola replied as she straightened up and tugged Flint into the trainers waiting area.

Forrest was there with a confident look on his face. “Hey Mum Dad! Great you could make it!” he called with a huge grin.

Lola and Flint wrapped him in a three-way hug with Forrest squirming. “Guys come on! I’m not your little baby anymore!” 

“Lies! You’ll always be my little baby!” Lola denied. 

Forrest sighed but continued to hug her.

When they eventually broke apart Brock nodded to the doors leading out to the arena. “So, got any insights and tricks up your sleeve?” he asked.

Forrest grinned. “I’ve got multiple aces up my sleeve. The Shamouti incident sparked something in my pokemon. They’re all fired up!” he declared.

Lola frowned. “You shouldn’t have been there,” she muttered only for Forrest to shrug. 

“I was and I helped out, so it’s alright Mum,” he replied all too easily.

The poor boy really didn’t know how lucky he’d been to make it out…

Lola took a moment to breathe and focus herself on the moment. Flint put his arm around her in silent support and she shot him a smile.

A buzzer sounded and Forrest straightened up, causing Lola to spot that he’d grown at least another inch, and there might have even been some peach fuzz starting to grow on his face. 

“Well, that’s me!” Forrest declared. “Wish me luck!”

With his family cheering him on, Forrest advanced out onto the field while they trickled out to claim a row for themselves that Forrest’s friends, Ash and Misty had held in reserve for them.

“Hi gang!” Misty greeted and Lola locked onto her son’s girlfriend. 

“Hello Misty!” she said, matching Misty’s enthusiasm only to blink as Suzie sat in her lap and Togepi claimed her daughter’s lap in turn.

“Hi Misty!” cheered Suzie. “Togepiiii!” chanted the little pokemon, causing Misty to giggle.

Before Lola could start interrogating Misty about how she and Forrest were going, or other things like how big a family she wanted to have, an announcer stepped forward.

“And heralding from northern Kanto! Give it up for Forrest from Pewter City!”

The family lead the cheer for Forrest as he marched out with Yuji being called out moments later.

Yuji smirked at Forrest and from down the row, Brock groaned. “Urgh, I get the feeling he’s about to do something dumb.”

He was proven right when Yuji sent out his Onix of all pokemon against Forrest.

Forrest responded by revealing he now had an Aggron where previously he’d been working with a Lairon.

The powerful rock-steel type roared and Forrest went on the offensive straight away.

When Yuji tried to catch Forrest out with a sneaky Explosion Forrest was quick enough to get off a Protect to defend his pokemon.

“Hmmm I see I’m going to have to take this seriously!” Yuji declared and Lola almost booed the man for trying to showboat after losing like he had.

“Boooo! Don’t try to play it like you were holding back!” shouted Cindy causing Brock to chuckle and reach out to try and ‘quieten her down’.

Flint on the other hand leaned back and shot Lola a look.

Lola didn’t meet his gaze. She might have been spending a lot of time with Cindy but that didn’t mean anything about her picking up certain habits Lola had.

She was just a forthright girl, that was all!

Flint’s disappointed gaze intensified, and Lola turned to Misty. “So are you ready for your match?” she asked to let Flint know his gaze wasn’t affecting her at all!

“Oh? Ah, yes I’m fine. I can’t say I’ve had the same breakthroughs as Forrest has but I’m feeling ready. It’s just a shame I have to wait a few days for my match. Jessie, Forrest, and Ash all got lucky but it’s going to take a few days for me to get my shot at Yuji.”

Lola was about to ask something else when Yuji sent out his next pokemon, revealing it to be a powerful-looking Venusaur. 

Misty leaned forward. “Hmmm no way he doesn’t start the match against me with either that or his Electabuzz,” she muttered to herself.

Forrest, rather than being afraid, grinned and snapped his hand forward. “Ha! Aggron! Bring the heat with Fire Blast!” he roared.

Aggron spat a powerful gout of flame that Yuji had to block with a Protect.

Forrest didn’t baulk or worry however and instead stabbed his hand forward. Aggron responded by unleashing another Fire Blast at just the right time that when it got close, Venusaur’s Protect fell and it was engulfed in flame.

“Use Synthesis!” growled Yuji.

“Ice Beam!” Forrest ordered.

From Aggron’s mouth a powerful beam of ice rocketed forward slamming into Venusaur and causing it to stiffen up.

“Huh, that’s a way to induce temperature shock for sure,” Brock declared.

“Hmmm extreme heat into cold. Forrest has grown,” Sabrina offered.

“That’s my baby!” Lola called as Yuji shook his head and returned his Venusaur. 

From there Yuji sent out his Gengar which sped around the field only to pop up close with glowing red eyes. “Hypnosis!” Yuji called and Aggron fell forward as sleep took hold.

Rather than keep it on the field Forrest slashed his hand into the air. “I withdraw my pokemon!” he called.

“What?” called the younger kids. “Why’d he do that?” 

“He doesn’t want to let Yuji have a chance to boost his pokemon. If Forrest pushed Yuji, he would have had time to empower his pokemon. By cutting his losses, he sets himself up for future battles,” Sabrina stated calmly.

“Bleh! I wanted to see more of his Aggron!” called Billy.

Rather than getting flustered, Forrest calmly returned his pokemon, whispering praise to his pokeball before palming another, with his smirk growing.

Brock sat forward. “Let’s see what else he has in store for us,” he muttered and Lola’s gaze sharpened on her son as he flicked out his second pokemon.

A hovering pokemon appeared. Lola locked onto the differences instantly. 

The spike on the front had shifted in a full steel grey x shape. Instead of two arms, four now allowed it to crouch low to the ground with a lightness that belied what should be a heavy frame. 

His Metang was now a Metagross.

“Woooooh! Go Forrest!” Yolanda shouted, leading her other siblings with their praise.

“Oh damn,” Brock murmured, leaning back. “He’s playing with fire with this match-up,” he muttered.

Yuji must have known that as well as his Gengar started forming a Shadowball only for Metagross to glow a soft blue and a powerful wave of psychic energy to grip hold of Gengar.

Gengar went from laughing and threatening to be slammed into the ground as Metagross used Psychic.

Brock hummed and muttered something quiet under his breath about “—not being verbal with his commands.” 

Sabrina nodded. “He’s only slightly leaning on his pokemon for that. We’ll have to make sure it doesn’t become a crutch for him with his aura training.” she gestured at Metagross as it evaded Gengar’s follow-up attack. “Still, that’s a strong pokemon. Forrest has done well with it.”

Lola bounced in her seat, causing both Suzie and Togepi to be jostled, sending them into a giggling fit. “I’m impressed that he was able to take a pokemon like Beldum to a Metagross so early!”

Flint gestured to Brock while nodding. “Brock did it in a similar time frame, but Forrest certainly has you beat for that, considering he didn’t have a delay like you did.”

A shadow flickered across Brock’s face. “Yeah, he didn’t.” 

Flint twitched while Yolanda rose in her seat to give Flint a firm look. “Uh! Sorry! That is to say, you cleared the path really well! I know you and Forrest shared a lot of notes for training and you’ve been helping him out! Sorry, I fumbled that first bit!” he said with a nervous chuckle.

Brock sighed and shook his head. “Yeah, I suppose. It isn’t a complete transfer but let’s give Forrest the praise he deserves. He did have less time with his pokemon than me.”

Yolanda let out a long sigh and directed another look at Flint with him bowing his head. Lola hummed, opened her mouth, then recalled something she’d said during her therapy. She mentally shuddered. No, she wasn’t attending Therapy! There was nothing wrong with her!

They were just friendly chats with a friend!

“You’re hugging me a bit tight Mummy!” squeaked Suzie causing Lola to relax her grip and give her daughter a quick kiss. 

“Sorry baby!” she replied. “I was just getting too excited watching Forrest.”

Lola glanced up to find Metagross exchanging a Psychic for Shadowball which caused both pokemon to go down. 

Forrest clicked his teeth but took a moment to return his pokemon and take a long, slow breath.

“Forrest’s got this,” Brock announced. “If Yuji tries using his Electabuzz, Forrest has counters for that easily. Even a sneaking fighting type move isn’t going to stump Forrest in that match up. He knows how to handle Ditto, and Dragonite…” 

Brock smirked. “He’s picked up a thing or two about how to handle Dragonites.”

Sabrina nodded.

As Brock stated, from there the match quickly teetered in Forrest’s favour with Electabuzz and Yuji’s Dragonite being smashed by Forrest’s Golem.

Rather than grow complacent though, Forrest gripped his railing firmly. “Let’s finish strong Challenger!” 

The Golem nodded and set itself into a fighting pose that Lola had to critique for the poor base of support and too wide positioning of its arms. She’d have to talk to Forrest about that.

Yuji flicked out a pokeball and there was a slight stir in the crowd as a Walrein appeared.

The pokemon glanced around uncertainly before staring at Yuji for a moment and snorting as it locked its eyes forward.

Sabrina leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. “That pokemon has not been with Yuji for long,” she murmured. “Interesting that he’s using a new pokemon like this.”

Brock hummed. “It might be that he’s been having to expand his roster with all the attention he’s getting over the last few weeks.”

“Hmmm possibly,” Sabrina said doubtfully, and Lola shot her a look. What was that about?

Forrest had to make his golem scramble in the face of a water type pokemon but he was able to bait Yuji into using Surf to close out the field.

From there it was a simple Dig, into a surprise attack from behind with a Stone Edge to claim the victory.  

The podiums lowered as Lola and her family rose as one to cheer for Forrest. Suzie and Togepi were lofted onto Lola’s shoulders and Forrest was quick to thank Yuji for the match before performing a victory parade.

When all the formal events of Forrest’s victory was done the group moved on to enjoy a meal at Mr Mime’s. Lola made sure to seat Forrest and Misty together with a few quick photos for later posterity.

“So Ash and Forrest have both gotten their wins leaving just you Misty?” Brock asked and Misty nodded. “How like the boys to sprint ahead,” he mused. 

“Ah, no we had an option of which of us got to go first and I decided to hold back, I’m getting close to working out my Mega evolution!” she announced.

Lola hummed with interest. “Oh really? You know I’m something of a water specialist myself! If you’d like, I wouldn't mind trading notes!” She waved a hand. “Although I’m so old you’d probably be teaching me things!” she joked.

“I have no problem teaching someone! It’s one of the best ways to solidify what you know!” Misty replied and Lola felt like chopping the air.

Oi, that was a joke, she wanted to say. Sabrina let out a small ‘Heh’ noise that caused Lola to narrow her eyes.

She already had one not-cute daughter-in-law! She wasn’t about to accept another!

“So, Ash, got any plans for what is going to come next for you?” Brock asked.

Ash nodded, his casual smile vanishing while Forrest and Misty both frowned. “Yeah. I’m hoping to sign on to help as a volunteer for the Support group heading to Orre!” he announced.

That caused most of the table to pause in surprise. 

Brock stared. “You… want to go to an area where there’s going to be active fighting?”

Misty coughed. “He still might get rejected!” she said with a slight edge to her words.

Flint grimaced. “It’s not something you should be running towards young man. I’d heavily advise against it.”

Ash, rather than accepting the words, gained a mulish look. “I want to help people and pokemon! So I’m heading to Orre. Defeating Yuji proves that I have the strength to hold my own and protect others!”

Brock facepalmed while Sabrina just shook her head. 

Eventually Brock leveled an open hand at Ash. “Ash, Yuji is rather weak compared to a lot of other trainers. He wouldn’t rate in the top fifty in the Ace rankings of Indigo.”

“Orre doesn’t have a history of that many trainers! I’ll be ahead of the curve! This is what I’ve decided to do!”

Brock and Ash locked eyes and Lola felt her heart flutter as both boys started to radiate an aura around them.

Brock clicked his tongue. “Now I have to wonder if I did the wrong thing, encouraging Forrest to include you. Perhaps you’ve become more headstrong.”

“Good, that means I’ll be more successful!” Ash replied with a puff of his chest.

“That’s not what he meant Ash,” Sabrina cut in with a shake of her head, “but if you’re going to take it that way—” she put her hand on Brock’s, “—it’s not our place to stop him.”

Ash gained a smug look for all of a moment before Sabrina turned her gaze back to Ash. “We will instead leave that to his mother.”

Lola giggled as Ash’s face dropped into one of worry. It was nice to see a young man who would listen to their mother. 

She wished him all the best, and in another situation, she might have headed off herself. 

She glanced around at her family, most of them were blissfully ignorant of what war meant.

That was good, and proper, the way things should be.

So rather than follow the call to arms, she just sat where she was and enjoyed the moment.

And that was perfectly fine.

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A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for your continued support!

It also goes to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter.