Pokemon Dark Tidings.

Ezra soared through the sky on his Pidgeot, the wind whipping through his hair and the lush greenery of Johto spreading out below him. He enjoyed the feeling of freedom that flying provided, a sense of being untethered from the worries of the world below - as long as it was brief, anyway. The flight from Lavender to the Orange islands had been a pain in the ass, quite literally.

As they approached Cherrygrove City, the dense forest gave way to a quaint riverside town nestled along a sparkling blue river that snaked through the forest. Johto was closer to the islands then Kanto, and he wasn't in a rush to get started on the league quite yet anyway, so he figured it was as good as any place to slow down for a day or two and get his Onix sold.

He'd already posted a picture of it online on several different forums, marking it for sale. He would let word spread before accepting any bids, hopefully Steven Stone would notice it and bid, without Ezra having to give himself a bad bargaining position by going to him first.

If Stone thought he had competition, he'd be likely to pay a lot more after all. He also had other ideas brewing there, but he'd have to think on it.

Pidgeot began its descent, the wind rustling the feathers of its powerful wings as it gracefully glided down towards a clearing just outside the city. Ezra patted Pidgeot's neck appreciatively as they touched down, the bird Pokemon cooing softly in response.

"Good job, Pidgeot," He said, returning the Pokemon to its Pokeball. Just because Pidgeot was more of a tool to him, didn't mean he shouldn't be appreciative of its help. He took a moment to adjust his pack and smooth his clothes, which were slightly ruffled from the flight.

That done, he let Rider out, the guy chirping happily, eyes closed in what he was beginning to think of as his signature smile, as he investigated the tall fragrant flowers everywhere around them. He quickly released Nyx, Chesire and Loki as well, although he shuffled them into his shadow before moving forward, aware that it was considered rude to have more than one Pokemon out outside of emergencies, while in a town.

With his shadow, he could break the rule, have his 'mon with him at all times, and no one would be the wiser. Everyone won. Especially him, in case someone tried anything. He was kind of looking forward to Team Rocket sending some poor goon after him at some point.

They'd get all the surprise Ghosts up their asses.

The path leading into Cherrygrove was lined with cherry blossom trees, their pink petals fluttering down in a gentle breeze as he walked on without a hurry. It created a picturesque entrance to the city, one Rider enjoyed as he ran around Ezra's legs pointing at things excitedly with his flaming club. It was cute, Ezra had to admit, lips twitching against this will as Rider acted like a puppy, out for its first proper walk.

As they walked, Ezra took in the vibrant surroundings. Unlike the more industrial towns of much of Kanto, Cherrygrove had a quaint, almost old-world charm still alive and well within the city limits. The buildings were a mix of traditional Japanese architecture and more modern structures, their roofs curved elegantly upwards, painted in various hues of red or pink, with a splash of green here and there.

Definitely more colorful than Lavender Town, he had to say, enjoying the view, not feeling nearly as stressed now that the Orange Islands were behind him, and the Onix was his. Financial stability was already practically secured, so he took the time to smell the roses so to speak.

From the sky Cherrygrove had looked like several modern ten story buildings peeking out of a forest, but now that he was on foot, he could see the old style houses that surrounded the modern buildings, greenery everywhere in sight, the road itself cut in two as the middle of it was for trees and benches, with the odd fountain every hundred to a hundred fifty yards or so.

The streets were bustling with people, and Ezra noticed immediately how different their attire was compared to those in Lavender. The clothing was more colorful for one, with intricate patterns and bright fabrics that likely reflected the local Johto culture. Many women wore yukatas with floral designs, while a lot of the men were dressed in casual kimonos or brightly colored shirts. Interspersed with them were men and women in smart business attire, really giving the sense the small town was somewhat in a transition from rural to modern.

The city itself was a blend of natural beauty and human craftsmanship. Cobblestone streets wound their way through the town off the main avenue, flanked by carefully manicured gardens and small parks. The air was fresh and carried the faint scent of the sea from the river running right by it, mixing with the fragrance of blooming flowers and cherry blossoms. Small wooden bridges arched gracefully over clear, babbling brooks that ran through the city, fed from the river, adding to the serene atmosphere.

He probably couldn't have found a town so opposite on the spectrum from Lavender if he'd tried. Even the weather shone down on them like the sun was happily smiling like some kids cartoon, instead of the perpetual gloom Lavender lived under. People here… Would probably be disgustingly cheerful, he thought with a grimace.

Well that's one reason to not linger too long… They're probably all morning people too. He thought, grumbling slightly at the idea. Cheerfulness was fine… In low doses. But it was extremely annoying in groups.

He passed by a series of banners strung up between lamp posts, each one advertising an upcoming Pokemon tournament, starting the next day. The vibrant colors and bold lettering caught his eye. It seemed the whole town was gearing up for the event, with stalls and decorations lining the main thoroughfare. Ezra made a mental note to check out the tournament schedule later; it could be a good opportunity to test his skills and earn some prize money.

If it was money that they gave out anyway. He vaguely remembered tournaments often had prizes like Pokemon techniques or Eggs. For the winner at least. It was worth a look, even if the prize wasn't something he personally needed.

As he made his way towards the Pokemon Center, Ezra's stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since he left the Orange Islands. He glanced around and saw a row of food stalls set up along the street, the enticing aromas of grilled meats and other delicacies wafting through the air. One stall in particular caught his attention, its sign proudly proclaiming "Best Meat Skewers in Johto!"

Unlikely to be true, but anyone willing to be that confident in their signage, probably didn't sell garbage. With money coming in soon, he didn't worry about spending whatever little he had left. He probably preferred the fact that the stall didn't advertise exactly what the meat was. Mystery meat was probably better than finding out he was eating something he'd once obsessively collected.

He approached the stall, where a cheerful vendor was expertly grilling skewers of meat over an open flame. The vendor, a middle-aged man with a wide-brimmed hat and a bright smile, greeted him warmly. A Pikachu was lazing on a pillow by the grill, briefly twitching as it looked over at Ezra and Rider, before sinking into its pillow with a happy, "Chuu~"

"Welcome! Would you like to try our famous skewers? Freshly grilled and absolutely delicious!" The man said enthusiastically, lowering Ezra's mood as he confirmed the obvious cheerfulness of the town.

Ezra dug into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, the size of the skewers meant he wouldn't need to buy many, it was almost the size of a whole roasted chicken, pieced out and slathered with some sort of sauce that made it glisten, the skin crackling on the grill in a way that made his mouth water.

"I'll take two," He said somewhat cautiously, handing over the coins, not wanting to set off any bombastic answers.

The vendor nodded and quickly prepared two skewers, handing them over with a flourish. "Enjoy! And good luck in the tournament, if you're participating!"

Ezra thanked him and took a bite of the first skewer. The meat was tender and flavorful, a perfect blend of spices that made his taste buds sing, the sauce reminded him of Asian BBQ sauces back home. He savored each bite as he continued his walk towards the Pokemon Center, enjoying the sights and sounds of Cherrygrove City. It was good to be back in a city, he just wished it had less actual people in it.

Rider sniffed the air curiously. Ezra chuckled and held out the second skewer. "Here you go, Rider, got it for you guys, I think you'll like this." Most Pokemon were omnivores. There were specific diets and Pokemon food that were 'ideal' for different Pokemon - but almost all of them could eat other food just fine.

Rider took the skewer eagerly, gnawing on the meat with visible delight. The sight drew the attention of several passersby, who pointed at the adorable Pokemon. Children especially seemed fascinated by Rider, some of them whispering excitedly to their parents. There were enough Pokemon around that people didn't immediately clue in to the fact Rider was a never before heard of Pokemon - once he officially began fighting in the league, he was sure he'd get some questions about it though.

The world had a lot more than 150 piddly Pokemon after all, and the regular citizen or trainer wouldn't realize how special Rider was, unless they happened to have a fascination with Cubone's and Marowaks.

Periodically, chunks of the meat would disappear as Rider got close to his shadow, the nice boi sharing with the rest of the team. Ezra patted him on the head, smiling as Rider seemed torn between continuing eating, or focusing on headpats.

He had to hide a chuckle as his 'mon decided the best course of action was to stuff the rest of the food in his mouth and enjoy the headpats, leaving him looking like a chipmunk.

They soon neared the Pokemon Center, plenty of signage having shown them the way. Ezra pushed open the glass doors and stepped inside, greeted by the cool, sterile air and the gentle hum of machinery.

Nurse Joy was at the counter, her pink hair and welcoming smile instantly recognizable. "Welcome to the Cherrygrove City Pokemon Center. How can I help you today?"

"I'd like a room for the night." Ezra asked politely, he wasn't going to mess with the Joys, "Maybe two nights, depending on how things go. And do you have any information on the upcoming tournament?"

Nurse Joy took his trainer ID before taking a look at her computer monitor, typing something in quickly, sliding him a key with the number 7 on it. "Of course! Enjoy your stay! The tournament starts tomorrow actually so you're in luck. It's a 3v3 elimination style competition, and trainers from all over the area are here to compete. You can register right now if you wish?" She asked with a peppy attitude.

Ezra nodded, feeling a spark of curiosity to see how he matched up with 'regular' trainers. "Thanks, definitely sign me up." He told Joy, who took down his name, trainer ID, and Pokemon, signing him up on the spot.

Ezra thanked her, before he headed for the computer area, having to wait ten minutes for a free station. While his Pokedex was able to go online, an actual Pokecenter computer was far superior in being able to conduct business quickly. He went through his mail, finding several dozen offers already for his Onix, but none of them were from Stone yet, so he held back on doing anything about it for now.

He had time, and everything he remembered about the man suggested he'd want the one of a kind Pokemon.

He stepped outside soon afterwards, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the city. With his Pokemon at his side and his hunger sated, he felt ready to explore more of Cherrygrove and mentally prepare for the upcoming battles.

As he walked through the city, he couldn't help but notice the festive atmosphere for something that was in all likelihood a regular occurrence. Small tournaments like this always took place throughout the league season, every city had them, they weren't anything special, mostly locals half the time, yet the city was acting like it was a big deal. Banners and posters for the tournament were everywhere, and trainers were milling about, some practicing battles in the open fields, others chatting animatedly about strategies and previous matches as they traversed the markets, shopping or hanging out.

In his short time in this world, Lavender Town had already had three minor tournaments like this, it was cheap entertainment, and a good way for the people who don't leave the city to get some battles in. Unless there was a big prize on the line, most serious trainers eschewed these types of events.

Ezra wandered through the market area, where vendors sold a variety of goods ranging from Pokeballs and potions - to handmade trinkets and souvenirs. He stopped at a stall selling berries and other Pokemon treats, buying a small bag of Oran berries for Rider and his other Pokemon.

He continued his stroll, eventually finding himself at the edge of the river. The water was a stunning shade of blue, glistening under the sunlight. Boats bobbed gently at the docks, and a few old fishermen were casting their lines a ways down, hoping for a good catch.

Ezra took a moment to sit on a bench overlooking the water, enjoying the serene view. Rider hopped up next to him, munching on an Oran berry contentedly.

"Beautiful place, huh, Rider?" Ezra said, patting the Marowaks head.

Rider chirped in agreement, his eyes reflecting the sunlight. With no one particularly close by to complain, he let his other Pokemon out to frolic in the bushes and trees, playing a game of tag above his head.

"Cheshire is behind that tree." He said calmly, pointing at the Haunter who gave him a look of betrayal, as Nyx and Loki gave out battle cries, flying after Cheshire, Rider jumping off the bench to join in, with a war cry of his own.

"You know you're not supposed to have them all out within city limits, right?" A raspy sardonic voice asked, and he turned, already prepared to tell the busybody to fuck off.

It was a girl around his age, or maybe closer to eighteen - it was hard to tell with the makeup, she'd somehow made herself comfortable at the other end of the bench, making it within five feet of him without him noticing.

She had a striking appearance that immediately set her apart from the locals. Her hair was jet black, and dyed purple at the tips, styled in a way that left her left side over her ear shaved, while the hair cascaded down over her face on the right side. It was a bit nostalgic for him, reminding him of Cyberpunk 2077, one of the main girls having had the exact same hairstyle, if differently colored.

Black lipstick and heavy eyeliner contrasted sharply with her pale skin and amber eyes, she couldn't be more then 5'4 at most, but she was stacked, like, anime style stacked to go with it. She wore a spiked choker around her neck, a black leather jacket with patches sewn onto it to go with the leather pants that were painted on her they were so tight, and a black t-shirt with a Pikachu roasting on a spit on it, the print saying - Cuter this way. Her nose and her bottom lip were both pierced with studs, and she wore a bored, almost disdainful expression on her face as she leaned back, with her elbows over the backrest of the bench.

This girl… It's like she looked up all the ways to rebel against authority or society and went ahead and did all of them…

"You look like you care so much about rules." Ezra said dryly, finally speaking up, as the girl's expression became flatter and flatter as he didn't bother to hide how he looked her over from head to toe.

"Rules are important." She deadpanned, putting one leg over the other. Her boots looked like they were steel toed ones, Ezra wondered if that was supposed to be a subtle threat.

Honestly… It only made him want to poke at her more. If she wanted to toss out all the bad girl vibes, she could take it, right?

"So call Officer Jenny over to come fine me." He challenged, even as Rider came back from his chase, bumping his head against his knee. Ezra smirked at her, even as he rubbed Riders head, "Or are you already so well acquainted with her that you don't want the police involved?"

She snorted, resting her cheek on one hand, "That's stereotyping." She said in the same kind of deadpan tone.

He gave her a flat look, "You're a walking talking stereotype, now why the hell are you bothering me?"

She was hot, no doubt about it. A definite short stack with attitude. Smoking hot. 9/10 for sure, probably a ten if she didn't dress like she was trying to outedge everyone. But if there was anything he could take from his old life and transfer to this new life, it was one life lesson.

The hotter the girl. The bigger the issues. The more trouble in your life.

Heard of don't stick your dick in crazy? Well Ezra subscribed to - High level hot - equaled high level maintenance - and high level costs.

Not that he'd had that much experience with it, Having been a filthy cripple. But he'd seen it enough with friends and acquaintances too. The cute girl next door was safe. The hot girl was undoubtedly a vampire that would suck out all your sanity and mental stability in exchange for a few good fucks.

All the no.

A rebel girl like her too? No way she sought him out because she enjoyed chatting with strangers. These kinds of girls didn't do small talk for the hell of it with random strangers. Challenge him to a Pokemon battle? That he could believe… Seeking him out just for a chat? It Seemed far-fetched to say the least, so his suspicions were piqued.

"You're weird looking, dress almost as cool as me, and you have a - I don't give a fuck attitude - that I can vibe with." She said with a sly smirk playing on her lips, "This town is full of Jigglypuffs, I just wanted a few minutes with a Houndoom to recharge from all the sweetness." She idly played with the bottom of her t-shirt as she watched his reaction.

Ezra did have a black leather jacket on, but he refused to agree to any other comparisons, he was nowhere near as weird as her. "Fuck you too." He grouched, giving her a gimlet stare, "I just look like this naturally, you choose to look weird."

She smirked, tilting her head, part of her face hidden by her hair, "Take your compliment you salty bitch."

"Didn't sound like a compliment to me." Ezra snarked back, annoyed at the fact he kind of… Agreed with her. This conversation was preferable to going back into town with all the cheerful smiles and bombastic greetings and just plain niceness that just made him feel icky. And he'd just arrived. If she'd been here longer, looking as she was, she'd probably be worse off.

It was weird, the way people in Cherrygrove pretended he wasn't weird looking so far. That they pretended that his red eyes weren't off putting - greeting him cheerfully on the street, not staring at him, no one asking him about it. He felt more at home now that she'd brought it up. Was it him? Or was Cherrygrove just that accepting?

Even on the Orange islands people had at least commented on it, even if they also hadn't made a big deal out of it. He wasn't used to people just… Ignoring his peculiarity, it made him itch, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

She shrugged lightly, "Not my fault if you can't follow along, I'd dumb it down, but I don't know if I can go down that far." She said sweetly, her raspy voice challenging.

She wants to duel, huh? Ezra thought, eyes narrowing. Two can play that game!

"You sure? From the look of you, you go down pretty often." He fired off, sneering at her.

Her lips twisted into a wry grin, as she relaxed back where she sat even further, "What are you? Thirteen?" She drawled, "I know I said I'd dumb it down, but kid, don't make me write your material too, did you just discover sex now, huh? Do I make it tingle?" Her voice turned absolutely mocking, "In your little special place?"

"I'm sixteen!" He said, mortally offended. Kid? Fuck right off with that! I want to be back to 21, dammit! He also realized her mocking game was very strong, annoying him further.

She straightened up smugly, jutting her chest out, a victorious glint in her amber eyes, "So younger than seventeen then, ~kid…" She crowed.

"Bitch!" He spat out, although his lips twitched minisculely.

She buffed her purple nails off her shirt, "Yeah, a better bitch than you." She said smugly.

"Fuck you. I'm Ezra." He introduced himself, unable to keep a smile away, amused despite his own thoughts of caution against her.

"In your dreams kid, I'm Shae." She said, offering him a fistbump, which he obliged.

"So, in town for the tournament?" Ezra asked, gesturing to the Pokeballs on her studded belt.

Shae scoffed, even as she nodded, "No other reason to be here, really." She gestured to their surroundings, "It's just plain boring, if the tournament prize wasn't at least half decent I would have taken off already."

Ezra hadn't even checked what he'd signed up for yet, so he was immediately attentive, "What's the prize? I signed up but I never checked it out…"

Her eyes flickered to Rider, and then back to meet his gaze, "You have a Marowak evolution I've never seen before, yet you're the kind of dumbass who signs up without reading what you've signed up for?" She shook her head, "You really are a kid, kid."

She also notably didn't answer him, the bitch.

He scowled, "Hey, I'm gonna start calling you tits if you keep that up, I'm no kid!" He was more cautious now, eyeing her thoughtfully.

If she'd recognized Rider was special, she might have been lying about why she came over. She might have seen the Pokemon first and was simply scoping him out. It made more sense then the excuse she gave.

"Yeah? Try calling me that, I dare you." She said, suddenly cold, face going blank, her eyes boring into his.

"Tits." He said slowly and drawn out, meeting her gaze and not hesitating for even a second, because he wasn't a punk ass bitch.

"Heh… Snrk!" Shae snorted, before she began snickering, "I can't believe you did that!" The snickers turned to laughter, raspy and throaty, "People always back down like little bitches, but you just went for it!" Her hands went to her midsection as she laughed, taking way too much amusement from this, in his opinion.

Ezra eyed her oddly for a minute afterwards, getting whiplash from this whole meeting, "I'm getting the feeling I should have just walked away when you sat down." He said, inwardly cursing himself for not following his own advice. No hot girls allowed. Cute only!

"Aww, don't be like that, kid, everyone needs a friend, and people like us ain't gonna find many like-minded ones." She said, amusement still clear on her face.

"I don't." He grumbled, not sure he trusted her intentions. People didn't do that, right? Just walked up to people and tried to make friends?

She fished in her back pocket for a moment, lifting her butt off the bench, surprising Ezra in that the painted on pants had pockets in the first place. She cried out in triumph as she brought out a lipstick tube, black, of course. "Here, have some, if you're going to be edgier than me you need something a little bit extra." She cooed, smacking her black painted lips for effect.

Ezra stood up abruptly, "And that's my quota of socializing met for the week." He gestured for Rider to follow him, stepping away to take a route through the bushes, so he could surreptitiously collect his Ghosts, who'd all hid when the other trainer showed up. She'd already seen something, but that didn't mean he needed to confirm what each Pokemon he had was.

She gave a lazy wave, stretching out on the bench, "Later, kid."

He sighed, knowing he would absolutely be fighting her in the tournament tomorrow. "Later, tits."

His comment only made her snicker again, and he left the area feeling like he'd come up short in that conversation.

Well, the best way to not lose that game in the future, was to not play the game at all.

He collected his Pokemon and left the area, wondering how much Shae might have seen before she approached, especially as he hadn't even cottoned on until she was right there - a feat considering she was dressed to be seen. Worst case, she literally knew his entire team, while he knew nothing about hers.

He'd learn more when he fought her. But he had a feeling something was up. Hot girls didn't just randomly approach weird dudes like that. Not without a reason.

So the question was… What was the reason?

Back at the Pokemon Center shortly thereafter, he settled into one of the trainer rooms, Rider curling up at the foot of the bed as his Ghosts poked at different things in the room, bored. Ezra lay back, staring at the ceiling, he'd find out more tomorrow, and that would have to be that. He'd be leaving soon enough anyway, so the mystery girl wouldn't be a problem for long.

He'd been jumping between tasks and training without rest, so he and his team would rest for the day, figure things out tomorrow.

They'd fight, and beat Shae, because he had no doubt she'd make it far into the tournament.

Shae, if that's even your real name… You won't swindle me…

The next morning,

Ezra awoke to the sound of chirping birds and the gentle hum of activity outside his window. The morning sun cast a warm, golden glow over Cherrygrove City, making the cherry blossom petals sparkle as they floated down to the cobblestone streets. Ezra felt a surge of determination rise within him. Today was the day of the tournament, and he was ready.

It was time to see how he stacked up against other normal trainers. Ghosts were an advantage to begin with, but he needed to learn and improve his strategies - and the only way to do that was through more battles.

After a quick breakfast at the Pokemon Center, he gathered his belongings and headed out. The path to the tournament site was lined with colorful banners and stalls, vendors already busy hawking their wares. The scent of freshly baked pastries and roasted nuts mingled in the air, drawing in passersby. Ezra walked through the lively streets, taking in the festive atmosphere. The energy of the town was loud and boisterous and not really to his liking, but these were the kind of things he had to get used to.

The tournament grounds were set up on a large grassy area beside the river. Wooden stands had been erected around the battlefield, filled with spectators eagerly chatting and cheering. Temporary vendors lined the perimeter, selling everything from snacks and drinks to Pokemon accessories and memorabilia. The vibrant colors of the stalls and the lively crowd created a cheerful, bustling scene.

It kind of reminded him of high school football games, really, sans the cheerleaders. Wait, didn't Gary have cheerleaders? Can I get cheerleaders? He thought it over, and then immediately discarded it for how annoying it would get after the first amusing time.

Ezra approached the registration booth, a small tent with a cheerful banner reading "Tournament battlers get your fight card here!" A young woman behind the counter greeted him with a bright smile, not even blinking an eye at the albino in dark clothing.

Honestly, it was beginning to freak him out a bit. Lavender town was the spookiest place on the continent, yet were they the only ones that gave a crap about how weird he looked?

"Good morning! Are you here to find out your battle order for the tournament?" She asked.

"Yes, I am," Ezra replied tersely, handing over his trainer ID. He'd rather just start this already, he itched to battle and work out some frustrations.

She quickly checked his information on a laptop. "Great! You're all set. Your first battle is scheduled for an hour from now. In the meantime, feel free to watch the other matches and enjoy the festivities."

Ezra thanked her and moved away from the booth, deciding to scout out the competition. He found a spot in the stands with a good view of the battlefield and settled in to watch the early matches, his Pokemon in their balls for once, as to not give anyone other than Shae any heads up.

The first few battles were fairly uneventful, mostly local kids who were enthusiastic but lacked real skill. The crowd cheered them on anyway, encouraging their efforts. Ezra watched with mild interest, but his mind was already strategizing for his own battles. This really is the definition of local. I mean that one kid had three weedles! Three!

Then, a movement at the edge of the battlefield caught his eye..

The crowd reacted with a mixture of disapproval and curiosity, the older spectators whispering among themselves. Ezra found himself watching with interest as Shae took her place on the battlefield, blowing kisses at the crowd to rile them up. She had also accessoried her outfit with several chains attached across her hips for some reason, he rolled her eyes at how ridiculously edgy she was shooting for.

Apparently looking weird was fine for him, but they were much more disapproving of a girl doing it. Typical. There were still a lot of old fashioned beliefs in the world. Trainers might be equal, but there were certain expectations on behavior he supposed. The world was still based on Japan to a certain extent, so standing out in such a rebellious way as Shae did, it wasn't appreciated by the older generation he could see.

He remembered thinking about it in Lavender, the uniformity with which a lot of people dressed, behaved and socialized. It was nowhere as rigid as Japanese society, but it certainly wasn't as 'modern' as the western world either.

He focused back on the fight, Shae's opponent was a local boy by the amount of cheering he was receiving. Probably no older than thirteen-fourteen, and he had a determined look on his face. He sent out his first Pokemon, a Pidgey, which fluttered its wings and chirped confidently.

Shae rolled her eyes and lazily tossed a Pokeball into the air. "Let's get this over with, Pride."

The Pokeball opened to reveal a large, menacing Arbok. Its hood flared, displaying its intimidating pattern, and it hissed at the Pidgey. The crowd gasped, clearly not expecting such a powerful looking Pokemon.

"Pidgey, use Gust!" The boy shouted, his voice tinged with nervousness as he eyed the Arbok.

Pidgey flapped its wings rapidly, creating a whirlwind aimed at Arbok. The snake Pokemon barely flinched, its eyes locked on its target, the winds buffeting it to no real effect.

Ezra hummed, leaning back, her Pokemon are just on a level where that kind of weak Pokemon won't even scratch it.

"Pride, use Poison Sting," Shae commanded with a imperious wave of her hand, her voice steady and bored.

The Arbok launched a barrage of poisonous needles at Pidgey, striking it repeatedly even as the boy screamed for it to dodge. The small bird Pokemon cried out in pain, its movements becoming sluggish as the poison took effect.

"Pidgey, hang in there! Use Quick Attack!" The boy urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

Pidgey tried to comply, darting towards Arbok with all the speed it could muster. But the poison had already weakened it significantly, and its attack was slow and uncoordinated.

"Wrap it up, Pride," Shae said with a cocky smirk.

Arbok moved with lightning speed, coiling around Pidgey and constricting it tightly. The bird Pokemon struggled, but it was no match for the powerful snake. Within moments, it was unconscious.

The boy recalled his Pidgey, a look of frustration on his face. He sent out his second Pokemon, a Rattata, which bared its teeth and squeaked aggressively.

Oh boy, you should have just surrendered if that's the lineup you've got, kid. Ezra thought. That Arbok was no joke, it's skin looked shiny and tough, and the ripple of muscles in its long body hinted at harsh training.

I want to fight her. He realized, even as he continued to watch with interest, even if the match was already decided.

"Rattata, use Quick Attack!" The boy shouted. Because if something failed, do it again? Ezra supposed he couldn't expect more from some random local kid who probably wasn't even doing the circuit.

Rattata darted towards Arbok, moving faster than Pidgey had. But Shae was unfazed, if anything being nice enough to let the kid yell out an order before she stomped him into the ground.

"Pride, use Dig," She commanded, crossing her arms, one foot tapping on the ground.

Arbok swiftly burrowed into the ground, disappearing from sight. Rattata skidded to a halt, looking around in confusion.

"Stay alert, Rattata!" The boy called, his eyes darting around the battlefield. He should have ordered it to move around, he's just a target now…

Seconds later, Arbok erupted from the ground beneath Rattata. The snake Pokemon didn't waste any time, striking with its fangs, biting the rat Pokemon, and injecting it. Rattata was quickly poisoned, its movements becoming sluggish just like Pidgey had, with the added caveat of what looked like Crunch, taking a nice bite out of it.

"Finish it with Wrap again," Shae said, her tone still bored.

Arbok wrapped itself around Rattata, constricting it tightly. The local boy's face fell as he realized his Pokemon had no chance.

"I surrender," He said reluctantly, recalling his Rattata, not even bothering to bring out his third Pokemon.

The crowd's reaction was mixed, with some murmuring disapproval and others clapping politely - notably it was the younger generations that applauded the winner. Shae didn't seem to care, returning the Arbok to its Pokeball and walking off the battlefield without so much as a glance at her defeated opponent.

Ezra watched her closely, noting the efficiency and ruthlessness of her battle style. She clearly knew what she was doing, and her Arbok was well-trained. He wondered what else she had.

As she walked past the stands, she caught Ezra's eye and smirked. He felt a flicker of curiosity and challenge in her gaze. She was clearly used to getting disapproving looks and seemed to revel in it.

The morning continued with more matches, but none were as memorable as Shae's. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the crowd grew larger, the excitement building for the later battles, the early morning featuring a lot of the scrubs. Vendors continued to shout their wares, the smell of street food mingling with the earthy scent of the river.

He would have probably been in with the scrubs, but no doubt his Trainer ID showcased his Orange League victories already. As for Shae… She probably had the luck of someone older deciding her match ups. No way was she a rookie. It wouldn't surprise him if she had several gym badges.

When the time for his battle approached, Ezra made his way to the battle area. He took a deep breath, centering himself. I got this, compared to Drake, this is a cakewalk.

As he walked towards the battlefield, he caught sight of Shae again. She was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, watching the matches with a bored expression. When she noticed him, she gave a slight nod, a glint of something in her eyes.

So of course he completely snubbed her, walking past her, pretending she didn't exist. From the throaty laughter behind him, she just found it amusing.

Ezra stepped onto the battlefield, the sun shining brightly overhead. The crowd hushed in anticipation as he took his position, the referee having announced him as a winner of the Orange League. He clicked his tongue, annoyed that his trainer ID so easily let people know such things.

The girl facing him, almost looked like she was going to pee herself, suddenly finding herself in front of a League winner, however minor.

She then released a Caterpie, and he struggled to not just walk away and call this all a waste of time.

Sighing, he chose Chesire as his battler. If he was just going to bully kids, Cheshire would at least have fun.

…

Kids these days are weak. I mean, crying? He wasn't even fighting seriously!

How many fights until the final?

He'd have to go through at least four matches. Joy… Well Cheshire would have fun, he supposed.

Several hours later, and lots of tears.

Ezra and Shae had swiftly battled through the locals, their Pokemon demonstrating a level of skill and power that set them apart from the competition. The early rounds were little more than warm-ups for the two trainers, their victories decisive and their strategies not tested in the quick and ruthless battles. The crowd quickly began to anticipate their matches, eagerly awaiting the inevitable clash between them.

It was obvious by now that no one that was seriously doing the circuit had even shown up for this tournament. Except him, and Shae.

When the final match was announced, a palpable excitement rippled through the crowd. Ezra and Shae stepped onto the battlefield, the sun now high in the sky, casting long shadows on the grassy arena. The stands were packed to the brim, the air buzzing with anticipation. Vendors shouted over the noise, trying to make last-minute sales as the final battle would soon commence.

Shae stood confidently at one end of the field, her punk aesthetic even more striking in the bright daylight. She glanced at Ezra, her eyes filled with a mix of challenge and confidence. Ezra, standing tall with Rider by his side, nodded at her. This was the moment they had both been waiting for, the actual fight.

Not this show and tell with the little kids that they'd been doing.

The referee raised his flag and signaled the start of the battle. Shae wasted no time, sending out her first Pokemon, a Koffing. The purple, levitating ball of gas hovered menacingly, its toxic fumes wafting through the air. "You know what to do, Envy."

Is she really naming her Pokemon after the seven deadly sins? He thought, but his mind was more focused on something else, above that realization. It was the first time today she used something other than the Arbok, and Ezra narrowed his eyes as he stared her down. Ekans/Arbok and Koffing are Team Rocket Pokemon…

Now there weren't really any specific Pokemon that were classified as typically Team Rocket style Pokemon. But when you read about them in the news, there sure were a lot of Ekans, Arboks, Koffings, Grimers, Raticates, etc.

If you were a rebel against normal society like Shae seemed to be, would you join an organization like that? Am I being too paranoid? She couldn't have followed me from the Orange Islands, but if someone there contacted the mainland… Cherrygrove is the closest city to the islands, bar New Bark town… It's not hard to place one agent in each town in case I'd show up…

He could just be seeing things, attributing things to her due to her style and attitude… But the Pokemon choices… Naming them after the seven deadly sins? Which was weird that this world even had that, but really?

Was she hiding in audacity? Or was it all a giant coincidence? I don't trust coincidences…

Ezra nodded to Rider, who stepped forward with his bone club ignited in eerie flames. Rider's ghostly appearance and fiery weapon drew gasps from those in the crowd who hadn't noticed him before, he could hear the wave of - who's that Pokemon? Pass through the crowd.

"Envy, use Sludge Bomb!" Shae commanded, amber eyes intense, her bored mien of the day, completely absent.

At the same time Ezra calmly ordered, "Tac 3." Having set up tactics ahead of time to deal with a poison Pokemon, albeit it was Arbok, it would do here as well. Tac 3 was shorthand for tactic 3, Tac 1 and 2 not as effective against a hovering Pokemon.

Koffing released a barrage of toxic sludge at Rider, who was already running wide, nimbly dodging the attack, arm already stretched back, whizzing his flaming club forward in a Bonemerang, the effect looking like a spinning wheel of fire as it approached the Koffing.

Shae immediately snapped out orders, "Smokescreen, Toxic spikes!"

The Koffing bellowed out smoke in a manner that pushed it back, narrowly avoiding the Bonemerang as it whiffed by, before returning towards Rider, managing to clip the Koffing for minor damage as it went by. The smokescreen completely covered Shae's area of the field soon after, preventing sight of the toxic spikes the Pokemon was laying down at that moment.

A poison specialist enjoying laying down traps, how surprising, he thought sarcastically, knowing his ghosts wouldn't even be threatened by such, but for Rider it would make things more difficult. Tactic 3 was all about keeping distance and keeping on the move, avoiding getting poisoned while hammering away. His eyes narrowed, the smokescreen would also make it impossible for the Koffing to aim at Rider. "Change of plans, Rider, Focus Energy."

Rider immediately stopped in place, taking a stance, his bone club held in both hands in front of him as he focused, glowing slightly with energy.

If Shae wanted to hide away, he'd use the time to power up. Even if he had to have Rider firing Bonemerang blindly into the smog, eventually he'd hit, and with his power amped up, one hit would likely be enough.

Shae snapped her fingers, a small smirk on her face, "Guess you're not entirely stupid, kid."

Ezra immediately snarked back. Even if he should avoid engaging with her, it was just a knee jerk reaction that he couldn't hold back, "It's easy with you here, since you monopolize all of the stupid to yourself!" Then he added, "Focus Energy again, then Bonemerang, do a wide sweep."

Shae clicked her tongue, "How annoying, forcing me into this." She proclaimed, not sounding very annoyed, if anything she was wearing an amused smirk, "Let's end this, Envy. Use Self-Destruct!" Shae called out, a fierce determination in her voice.

Ezra raised an eyebrow, what's the point of that? Rider isn't even near the smokescreen. Besides, normal moves won't work anyway…

The ground near Rider broke, the Koffing rising, already beginning to glow ominously - before it detonated in a massive explosion. The shockwave sent dust and debris flying, and when it settled, Rider lay unconscious on the ground, having taken the full brunt of the attack, the Koffing also knocked out. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, impressed by the sheer power of the move, and the trickiness behind it - even if it could only get a double knockout.

"How…?" He demanded, shocked that it worked.

Shae smirked, buffing her nails on her jacket, "I knew you had Ghost Pokemon, so I already told Envy that if I ordered him to dig, he was to use Foresight, and wait for my order to then Self-Destruct." She said smugly, "Don't need line of sight for Foresight to work."

She taught the Koffing Dig… The Smokescreen was a twofold trap, if my Pokemon entered, he'd run into the toxic spikes, but the second part of the trap was making me believe the Koffing was still inside… Ezra was reluctantly impressed. Shae had realized that any attack on Rider would need to be an instant knockout or the retaliation would beat her, so she'd sacrificed the Koffing to ensure Rider with his two power ups wouldn't be in play anymore. Foresight allowed a normal type move to work on Ghosts, so she'd planned ahead well.

Ezra would have done it differently, thinking about it. It wasn't a bad play, but she could have given Rider a Sludge Bomb or Toxic to the face, ensuring Rider would be heavily poisoned for any further moves, the Koffing would perhaps be knocked out right after, but there was also the chance the poison would make Rider miss, allowing her the chance to take out Rider and keep her Pokemon.

He supposed it was all about how daring one was willing to be. It told him somewhat about her playing style, because for all her daring attire, she didn't fight the same way. She wasn't willing to bet it all from the beginning, preferring hedging her bets.

Ezra recalled Rider, a determined look on his face, his heart thrumming with excitement in a way it hadn't in the Orange League. That had almost been work, what with his goals for that endeavor, this? This was fun! "Good job, Rider. Nyx, it's your turn." He called out, tossing out the Pokeball.

Nyx, his Spiritomb, materialized on the battlefield, its eerie purple and green visage causing a murmur of awe from the crowd. He knew Ghost trainers were exceedingly rare, it was likely most here had never seen one. Ghosts tended to be… Temperamental. Shae recalled her fainted Koffing and sent out Arbok next. The snake Pokémon hissed menacingly, its hood flaring.

"Pride, use Glare!" Shae commanded quickly.

Arbok's eyes glowed with a paralyzing light, but Nyx seemed unaffected, its ethereal form making it immune to such tricks. A mark of inexperience against her there, she didn't remember in time that a normal move like Glare wouldn't work despite what just happened. Or she fell back on habits without accounting for the Pokemon type, Glare one of her go to's. He thought critically.

"Nyx, Shadow Ball switch!" Ezra called out, the move Shadow Ball was something that all his Ghost Pokemon had worked on the most during training. Cheshire and Loki having helped Nyx become respectable at it.

And again he hid a second command, one Shae wouldn't know what it entailed. Ezra was glad his Pokemon were fairly intelligent, able to memorize tactics just as easily as anything else.

Nyx formed a dark, pulsating ball of energy quickly, about half the size the move usually was, and hurled it at Arbok. The attack struck Arbok head-on, causing it to recoil in pain.

"Pride, Mud Shot then close in and use Crunch!" Shae shouted, her voice edged with irritation at herself.

The Arbok slammed it's tail into the ground, turning it muddy before hauling it forward in a giant throw, but it was already too late, Nyx already performing the second part of Ezra's order.

The Arbok lunged after its Mud Shot to get at Nyx, its fangs bared, but Nyx vanished into thin air before the mud got close, reappearing a moment later behind Arbok, having used Shadow Sneak, a second Shadow Ball already materializing in front of its leering face.

"Nyx, finish it," Ezra said calmly.

Nyx's eyes glowed, and the Arbok stood no chance, taking a charged up Shadow Ball straight to the back, after already having suffered through one. It fell flat, still in the fight on a technicality, not fainted, but in no state to fight back.

Once he got to the big leagues, he'd have to diversify a little, as Nyx, Loki and Cheshire had too similar a moveset. Although teaching them something new with the boatload of money he was going to get could mitigate that somewhat.

Shae gritted her teeth, recalling Arbok rather than have it take another unnecessary hit to remove it from play. She fingered her Pokeballs, sending Ezra a fierce look, before sending out her final Pokemon, and it was a Croagunk.

The Croagunk, a toad like Pokemon, had its poison sacs inflating and deflating rhythmically as it hopped onto the battlefield. It eyed Nyx with a calculating gaze. "It's all on you, Greed!" Shae called out, sounding determined.

"Curse two." Ezra said simply, ensuring that even if he lost this round, he won. By adding two to the order, he was informing his Spiritomb that instead of just firing off the curse, he wanted it to use an opportune moment to Shadow Sneak behind the other Pokemon and ensure the curse hit, even at the risk of taking a hit in return.

"Croagunk, Flatter!" Shae ordered, looking frustrated at not being able to tell what exactly Ezra had told his Pokemon.

Nyx vanished, as Shae shouted urgently, "Behind you!" The Croagunk turning quickly, the two attacks both hitting, the Croagunk being cursed, and Nyx taking Flatter straight to the face, becoming confused and becoming ripe for the taking.

"Nyx, Shadow Ball!" He ordered, on the off chance it would wake Nyx up, but Nyx just hovered confusedly in place.

"Croagunk, use Sucker Punch!" Shae snapped out, a relieved glint in her eyes.

Croagunk lunged at Nyx, its fist glowing with Dark energy. The jab struck Nyx, it wasn't super effective due to Nyx' Dark/Ghost typing, but considering Nyx had already given up half its 'life' energy to power the curse, Nyx fainted anyway.

Ezra recalled Nyx, whispering praise to the Pokeball, because he had faith his last Pokemon could either outlast Croagunk for the few moves necessary for it to faint from the curse - or outright defeat it. So Nyx had set up his victory.

"You're too tricky, kid." Shae breathed out, shaking her head, although she wore a smirk on her painted lips, "Best fight I've had since I joined the circuit."

"I'm not a slut, you'll have to butter me up a lot more for me to tolerate you." Ezra deadpanned, tossing out another Pokeball as she laughed at his rebuttal, "Loki, take it home!"

Since Cheshire had gotten to play with all the scrubs, Loki got to handle the actual fight worth a damn. The Shuppet crowed in delight, hovering on the battlefield, eyes gleaming with viciousness as it stared down the Croagunk.

Shae didn't bother waiting, "Sucker Punch, now!" She snapped, taking initiative, "If it vanishes, switch to attack behind you!"

Someone's scared of a little Shadow Sneak, Ezra thought smugly, before giving his own orders. "Switch two." He ordered, taking advantage of Shae's order.

Loki crooned eerily, before vanishing from Croagunk's sight as it threw itself forward, fist glowing. It immediately pivoted, throwing a backhand behind it, only for Loki to appear and disappear, immediately going into another Shadow Sneak, appearing in front of the Croagunk. "Hypnosis!" Ezra ordered.

Croagunk was off his footing, and immediately fell under Loki's spell, ending things anticlimactically. "Your loss? Or I can have Loki shoot off some Shadow Balls while the curse works its way through your Croagunk…"

Shae recalled Croagunk, a small smile on her face, even as her face fell slightly, "Ah, can't win them all, I guess." She perked right up, pointing her fist at him, a cocky smirk right back on her lips, "Next time brat! I'm wise to your tricks now!"

Ezra twitched at having graduated from kid, to brat. "Fuck right off with that, loser tits."

Shae just scoffed at him, crossing her arms, "You still suck at that, get better insults."

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, having been somewhat delayed as they watched their back and forth, with part amusement, part scandal. Ezra had a feeling their discussion wasn't really how the two finalists usually talked with each other.

As the crowd continued to cheer, Ezra and Shae walked off the battlefield together, the intensity of their battle lingering in the air. It had been the only worthy battle of the tournament.

They were brought up onto a cheap wooden podium, the Mayor of Cherrygrove using the occasion to do what politicians do best - Uselessly drone on about things no one there cared about. Eventually he finished, and gave them their prizes.

For Shae, as the runner up, 5000 Pokedollars and six Great Balls. She didn't look overly enthused about the prize, accepting it while trying not to grimace, obviously not having fought this tournament for that prize.

Ezra however got a technique, Fissure. Which blew his mind a little. It was the equivalent of a little league team filled with brats barely able to swing bats yet, winning their little piddly league, and instead of getting a pizza party as a prize together with a fake trophy, they instead got 50 000 dollars.

He knew Pokemon battling was everything here, but to have a little tournament like this, filled with kids whose major achievement was being able to point their Pokemon in the right direction - have a prize of that kind of level - it was just wild.

Upper end techniques like Fissure, Hyper Beam etc, were expensive, like buying a house instead, levels of expensive. He practically sleep walked through the rest of the ceremony and for his walk out of the battling area, thinking it over. Tournaments suddenly were worth a second look when he'd begin taking the circuit seriously. He'd be rich enough soon to buy techniques, sure. But if piddly tournaments like this had Fissure. What did an Area wide tournament offer?

As he walked out of the fighting area, his thoughts turned back on Shae. She was also too good to fight in a tournament like this. And when he'd received the Fissure technique, she hadn't even looked that interested, and definitely not upset about losing out on it. So why was she here?

The sun began to set soon after, casting a golden glow over Cherrygrove City. The festivities continued, the townspeople celebrating the day's events with renewed vigor. Vendors continued to sell their goods, children played in the streets, and trainers discussed the battles with excitement.

Ezra felt a sense of accomplishment as he walked through the lively streets, Loki by his side and his other Pokemon resting in their Pokeballs. He had proven himself in the tournament, he did know how to fight, his use of code words or just hiding his tactics did work, and the experience had only strengthened his resolve to continue his journey and that he was on the right track.

As he approached the Pokemon Center, he saw Shae leaning against a lamp post, her expression thoughtful. She looked up as he approached, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Hey," She said, pushing off from the lamp post. "That was fun. We should do it again sometime."

Ezra just nodded silently, watching her carefully. If there was any time she'd ambush him or pull something, it was now. Two of his Pokemon were down, and he was in an assumed weaker position…

If she was Team Rocket, this was the time. That or she'd attempt to hang onto him, offering to travel together. He prepared himself to reject her handily.

Shae ran a hand through her hair, stretching in a way that pushed her chest out, a twinkle in her eyes as his eyes were immediately drawn there. Damn puberty still going on… He groused.

"Well, see you sometime." She said languidly, before walking off with a casual wave.

Leaving Ezra standing there in shock.

Where's the ambush? The questions? The begging to travel with me?

Was I… Wrong?

Later that night,

Ezra slid into the seat in front of the computer in the Pokemon center, after having ascertained that no one was around.

"Make sure no one interrupts." He ordered softly, as his shadow undulated, releasing several Ghost Pokemon who formed a perimeter.

Steven Stone had reached out to him, wanting a video conference to convince him to sell the Crystal Onix to him, and it gave Ezra a unique opportunity.

He had a lot of knowledge that stood to make him a lot of money. The problem was that he didn't have a partner he could trust. And with his somewhat prickly personality and trust issues, finding someone to say, farm Milotics for him - was a non starter.

Unless…

He could cut a deal with Steven Stone. A man with his reputation, with Devon Corps reputation on the line - would not break a contract. If Ezra negotiated something with the man, he'd have his Pokemon farms, his evolution secrets and tips - put to use for his monetary gain. While he took a nice cut, Steven would have to actually run the place. Albeit through staff, Ezra wasn't stupid enough to think the man himself would do any of the work.

If he could contract with the Devon Corps, he could get all the protection for his secrets he needed. Because it would be their secrets as well. And he'd get paid forever. Sure, at a lesser percentage then if he did it himself. But say 30-40 percent forever, without doing any of the actual work? Not a bad deal.

Ezra leaned back in the uncomfortable chair, his eyes fixed on the computer screen as the connection stabilized. The Pokemon Center was quiet, its usual bustle reduced to a faint hum of machinery and the occasional flicker of light. His Ghost Pokemon, hidden in the shadows, formed a vigilant perimeter around the room, ensuring he wouldn't be disturbed.

The screen flickered, and then Steven Stone's face appeared. The man was as impeccably dressed as he'd expected, his hair perfectly styled, and his eyes sharp and focused. Steven exuded an air of calm authority, but there was an underlying intensity that told Ezra this was a man who didn't waste time. Good, I don't waste time either.

"Good evening, Ezra," Steven greeted, his voice smooth and measured. "I appreciate you making time for this discussion. I understand you've recently come into possession of a Crystal Onix. I'm very interested in acquiring it." He flashed a smile, small and smug, "I don't really think there's a need for an auction, they won't beat me anyway."

Ezra didn't bother with pleasantries. "Let's get to the point then, Mr Stone. The Crystal Onix is rare, possibly one of a kind. I know what it's worth, and I know you wouldn't be reaching out if you didn't think so too." He leaned forward, a shark-like grin on his face, "I'm well aware that having the only thing of something, is worth its weight in gold."

Steven's smile was slight, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. "Indeed. I'm prepared to offer a substantial sum for it. I'm aware of its rarity, and Devon Corp has the resources to properly study and preserve such a unique specimen." Like you're not just going to show it off to prove how rich you are, heh. Although maybe… Does he know how to evolve them into Steelix yet?

Ezra leaned forward slightly, his gaze unyielding. "How much are we talking?" He just knew he was getting low balled first, it's how discussions like these usually went.

Steven's fingers tapped lightly on the desk before him, as if weighing his words. "Ten million Pokedollars. It's a fair offer, considering Onix in itself isn't a very interesting Pokemon."

Ezra's eyes narrowed. "Ten million is a lot, but not enough. You and I both know that the research alone on this Onix could lead to breakthroughs in Pokemon evolution or even new defensive applications. I'm not just selling you a Pokemon - I'm giving you a potential goldmine."

Probably not, or there would have been a crystal type or something already, but he doesn't know if that is a possibility.

Steven's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I won't deny the potential." He acknowledged, giving him a small nod, "However, it's still speculative at this point. There are risks involved, and it could take years before any substantial results are seen. That's time and money Devon Corp will be investing."

Ezra didn't flinch. He knew this was his moment to pivot the conversation. "That's exactly why I'm not interested in just a lump sum. I'm looking for something more… enduring. I want a partnership, Mister Stone. Something that benefits both of us in the long run."

Steven raised an eyebrow, a condescending look on his face. "Go on." He offered.

Ezra took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "I have more than just the Crystal Onix. I know how to evolve a Pokemon into a Milotic, which if farmed would bring in substantial profits in prism scales let alone in selling the Pokemon itself. I also know how to ensure specific Eeveelutions - including some that haven't been seen yet, and I have access to several other rare evolutions that aren't well known. With the right setup, I can make sure these evolutions happen consistently. What I need is someone who can take care of the logistics - setting up and running a Pokemon farm, security, marketing, the whole package."

It was a risk, admitting all this, but Ezra found it more likely that Stone would agree to partner - over trying to steal him away and milk him for everything he had. The man, while a corporate behemoth, was also a champion, or would be champion.

He released Rider, making sure Stone caught the look of his Pokemon on camera, "This is a small bit of proof that I know what I'm talking about. A Ghost/Fire type Marowak, unheard of." He smirked, patting Rider on the head, "Until me."

Stone's eyes gleamed with interest, but he remained cautious. "That's quite a claim. Consistent, controlled evolution of rare Pokemon is no small feat - let alone claiming to be able to do so with unknown evolutions. You're proposing a large-scale operation, Ezra. One that would require significant investment, infrastructure, and ongoing management." The way he was looking at Rider, and hadn't shut down the discussion, proved he was at least Interested.

Ezra nodded, inwardly pleased, prepared for this line of reasoning. "Exactly. And that's where you come in. Devon Corp has the resources and expertise to manage this, and you know how profitable it could be. I'm offering you a chance to get in on the ground floor of something huge. We split the profits fifty-fifty."

Stone let out a short, quiet laugh. "Fifty-fifty? You're asking me to take on all the financial risk, handle the logistics, the security, the staff, and you want half of the profits? That's not realistic, Ezra. Devon Corp would be shouldering the bulk of the work. Your knowledge is valuable, if it's true, but it's the infrastructure and operations that will turn that knowledge into profit."

Ezra expected the pushback. "I understand you're taking on a lot of the burden, but without my knowledge, there's no farm, no consistent evolutions, and no profits. I'm not just handing over information - I'm creating a new market for you."

Stone nodded thoughtfully, but he was already shaking his head. "I can't agree with fifty percent. That's too high considering the scale of the operation we'd need to set up. I could offer you twenty percent, and that's generous."

Do you think I'm a dumbass? That's just insulting.

"Twenty percent is a joke," Ezra shot back, his tone calm but firm. "You're underestimating the value of what I'm bringing to the table. The rarity of these evolutions alone would guarantee high returns. Forty-five percent, plus a licensing and royalty fee for every new evolution process I bring to you."

Stone's expression hardened slightly, his gaze calculating. "Forty-five percent is still steep. The costs on our end would be considerable - buying land, constructing the facilities, hiring and training staff, security, ongoing care and feeding of the Pokemon, and not to mention the risk of something going wrong. We'd be looking at millions of Pokedollars in upfront investment, and that's before we even see a return. I could go up to thirty percent, but no higher."

Ezra wasn't ready to concede just yet. "Thirty-five percent, plus a licensing fee of one million Pokedollars for each new evolution technique I reveal as a one time payment. And I want three percent royalty on any sales on new evolutions beyond Milotic and Eevee Evolutions that I bring to the table."

Stone leaned back in his chair, considering the offer. "The licensing fee is acceptable, but three percent on additional evolutions is problematic. Each new Pokemon type would require new research, new facilities, and potentially new staff. It's not as simple as just tacking on extra profits. How about this: thirty-two percent on profits, one million Pokedollars licensing fee per new evolution, and two percent royalty on additional evolutions."

Ezra's mind raced, calculating the potential earnings. He had to be careful not to push too hard, but he wasn't ready to drop below thirty-five percent so easily either. He knew Stone would want this more than he was showing. "Thirty-two percent is close, but I can't go that low. I'll meet you at thirty-five percent, with a one million Pokedollars licensing fee per evolution, and two and a half percent on additional evolutions."

Stone's eyes narrowed slightly, fingers tapping away at his desk. "Thirty-two and a half percent, one million per evolution, and two percent on additional evolutions. That's my final offer."

Ezra stopped for a moment, thinking it through. He could accept that. It was still amazing money. But part of him refused to let the other man dictate to him in that way. He was the one with the money making ideas here. Sure Stone would have to spend money first, but with his larger cut, he'd make it back rapidly, and then rake in profits for a long time.

Any Devon Corp facility would have enough security to ensure everyone else didn't learn how to do the same evolutions. Although some of the Eevee evolutions would likely eventually be discovered anyway - the ones he had on tap beyond that wouldn't be discovered any time soon meaning consistent profits.

"Then hear my final offer." He said softly. "Take my last offer, or I go offer it to Silph co instead. And for trying to short change me, you'll still have to pay ten million for the Onix instead of getting it free as part of the deal." His heart was hammering in his chest as he gave the ultimatum, but he had a gut feeling Stone wasn't going to drop this opportunity, and Silph co wasn't necessarily a bad choice either, worst case.

Stone's smile returned, this time more genuine as he gave a rueful shake of the head, "I must say, it's rare I find a young man so ruthless in business. I find myself forced to accept." He continued with a flourish, "I think this will be the start of a very profitable partnership, Ezra. I'll have my legal team draw up the contracts, and we can finalize everything within the week."

"Looking forward to it," Ezra replied, trying to hide his elation, but from the chuckling the older man let loose, he hadn't succeeded.

"If you need funds right now, we can finalize the transfer of ten million for your Onix." He offered, seemingly having no hard feelings at all about being put on the spot in negotiations.

Using the transfer system in the Pokemon center, within minutes, the Crystal Onix was gone, and Ezra had ten million Pokedollars in his account. Considering the many many evolutions he knew that wouldn't be known in the world for a decade at least if it ran even slightly similarly to the games - this ten million would be chump change for him.

He'd have to hire a lawyer before Stone sent over the contract, to ensure everything was done to his specifications, just in case. He looked over at Stone, "How do you feel about letting Devon Corp break into Kanto's economy?" He asked.

Stone raised a surprised eyebrow, lips twitching, "And here I thought your ambitions were already surprisingly vast, you do realize what kind of trouble you're asking for?"

Ezra smiled, and if it was a little nasty, well… "Lavender Town and its surroundings would make for a great location, in the future I intend to create a gym there, so I would be around to protect both our investments as well." He'd hide his involvement in the business until he returned, wouldn't that be a shock for Lavender? "Once you mention the evolutions you will farm, the League will step in and allow you to buy land, they won't want to lose out on it." He said, fairly self-assured.

Kanto might be somewhat isolationist at the upper level of government, but more Pokemon types was an advantage they wouldn't say no to, couldn't. Even if it was a Hoenn company building on Kanto soil. The Pokemon League would force it through.

Stone smiled, "I think this partnership will be very interesting. You'll hear from me within the week."

As the call ended and Steven Stone's image faded from the screen, Ezra leaned back, exhaling slowly. The deal was done, and he had secured a future filled with both security and potential wealth. Now, all that was left was to deliver on his promises - and ensure that he stayed one step ahead of everyone else.

If Steelix wasn't a thing yet, he could use it to ask for further favors from Stone later.

He didn't need to give away everything he knew after all.

It would be good to always have something in his back pocket to use for further advantages.

Today had been a very good day…

Orange Islands,

Karen was calm. The picture of serenity, she was like the ocean, calm, cool, just floating.

One tick mark appeared. No, I'm calm, cool, it's not a big deal… A vein pulsed. Calm, I'm calm! I'm fucking calm!

"We don't know where he was going, but he seemed in a hurry."

The calm ocean erupted into a category nine hurricane, "WHAT THE FUCK!?" She yelled, face red, eyes staring daggers at Luana, the Orange League gym leader being the only one who'd answered her request to meet immediately. "HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING!?"

"He didn't say." Luana said with a wry smile, "Are you alright, dear?" She asked, finding something amusing.

Karen forcibly bit back a reply that would have likely brought Agatha all the way here to put her over her knee. "I'm perfectly fine." She bit out, steam practically erupting from her skin with how hot she was running.

"Just… Just tell me about his Pokemon." She asked, slumping her shoulders in defeat. This brat… When I find him…

…

Karen left the Orange Islands the same night, heading towards Pewter at full speed. If the brat intended to do the circuit, he'd have to hit up Flint in Pewter soon. So instead of scouring all of Kanto for him, she'd set up an ambush.

Then she'd drag the brat kicking and screaming to Agatha. Her cheek twitched as she smiled maniacally. Not necessarily in one piece…

She had her plan, and it was a good one. That brat had to come by Pewter, she would have him within the week, she was positive.

This time she'd outsmarted him, she thought viciously.

There was no way he could travel through Kanto and not run into her now.

Cherrygrove city, Johto.

Ezra hummed in thought, looking over a map of Johto, there really was no rush to get to Kanto was it?

He was sure there were some interesting things he could do here in Johto first.