Ash and Gary carefully led their uncle towards the training centre, conscious of the many eyes on their group.

  With Grimmsnarl acting as a body guard deterring overzealous people away, the group went about their way unhindered. Both boys were giddy, hiding pearls of laughter behind their hands at the heads that turned towards their way.

  Was this what it meant to be a famous trainer? Their chests puffed with pride when other children gazed upon their uncle in wonder, knowing that they saw how awesome their uncle was.

  The main protagonist, however, was too caught up in his thoughts to pay much attention to his admirers. With Sylveon and Azumarill sticking close to each boy, he was confident in the boys’ safety, giving him leeway to act this way. At some point Grimmsnarl released himself though he couldn’t tell what for.

  It mattered not, his fairy pokemon did not need to be coddled and could be trusted to conduct themselves well.

  He sat in front of his entire team for a few moments in silence now that they were in the Training Centre. The pause, he hoped, was enough to convey the seriousness of the matter.

  Ash and Gary sat themselves between the pokemon, admiring the intensity of the older man. Some of Gray’s pokemon bowed their heads to hide their eye roll at their trainer’s familiar dramatics.

  “Before we begin, Ash and Gary, you both keep observing today, alright? We’ll be having specialised training, so it’s best you learn,” Once they nodded, Gray continued. “Let me and Mimikyu update you on things.”

  “Erika has been shit talking us in front of the media.” His pokemon hissed in disapproval and indignance. Gray himself had to wince for cussing in front of the boys.

  Gary and Ash gasped in delight when their uncle cursed, followed by irritated frowns at the gym leader’s audacity.

  Equally dramatic, Mawile and Whimsicott assumed their trainer’s wince was because of his hidden hurt at Erika’s hatefulness.

  “Worse, she basically insulted the entire Oak family. She even looked down on Grandpa Sammy, said him setting up Pallet Town gym was overreaching influence!” Altaria and Clefable, who had met Grandpa Sammy in their pre-evolved form, grit their teeth.

  Mimikyu chirped his agreements with his trainer, doing everything he could to rouse anger in his family members. He recalled Erika’s tone, the hatred he could sense as a ghost even from behind the screen and the darkness she had exhibited. Releasing a ghostly appendage, he curled a fist towards the heavens, cursing at Erika and smiting her with his thoughts.

  “That’s why we’re going into this match fully prepared. No holding back, no sandbagging. I want her destroyed, make her realise who exactly she’s messing with.” Hatterene and Ninetales gave bloodthirsty grins at their trainer’s commands. “We’ll make an example out of her, show this side of the world the consequences of messing with us all.”

  Sylveon openly rolled his eyes at his family’s penchant for drama. As Gray’s starter, it fell on him to keep things sane on occasion.

  Gray brought out papers of printed out information Grandpa Sammy had sent over. He passed some to Gardevoir whose mastery of human reading was best amongst his pokemon. As a team, they carefully went through information on Erika’s pokemon team and strategies.

  He requested Ash and Gary for their Rotom-Dex to show some videos of Erika’s previous matches. Azumarill and Grimmsnarl were much more receptive to this discussion, following along with the matches shown on screen. They would sometimes shadow box their criticisms for what they saw, gleefully showcasing how things should have been done instead.

  Sylveon took it upon himself to discuss some idiosyncrasies he noticed in their potential opponents’ manipulation of type energy, pointing out moments they could exploit to get the upper hand.

  Gray instructed Whimsicott to pay attention to the expert handling of Grass Type energy, how she and her pokemon relied on the sun for a lot of their strategies. As much as she pissed him off, he couldn’t deny that she was a master of her typing. There was much Whimsicott could glean from Erika, Gray didn’t want to let the opportunity pass them by.

  Gray and his team gradually gravitated outwards, some members wishing to further internalise their opponents while others were eager to practice maneuvers that would give them an edge.

  “For now, everyone will train to counter Erika and her pokemon. As for who gets the chance to beat them to the ground …” Gray dramatically paused as he met the eyes of all his pokemon. “It’ll be decided the day before the match. Whoever deserves it will get the chance!”

  His pokemon cried out in agreement and competition. As their trainer, Gray knew that his pokemon were greatly motivated by pettiness, competition and spite. He’d fully make use of their ire to push them forwards. Whoever proved the most spitefu — ah, perhaps motivated would be the better word — will be given the opportunity

  Ash and Gary toddled after their uncle, amazed once again by how awesome he was at being a trainer. Of course, they’d seen him train before, but never had he and his pokemon been so focused and determined.

  When they finally had a chance to ask their uncle about it during a training break, he had imparted a few words of wisdom. “Pokemon are motivated best when family is threatened. In the wild, it isn’t uncommon for pokemon to fight in defense of what they perceive as theirs, whether its defense of what they have or after coveting something of others. Our family was just threatened, so of course they would want to defend it.”

  Ash and Gary were completely enamored by everyone’s drive. They happily filled up their little trainer notebooks on trainer tips, excited at the idea of them doing the same in the future.

  This moment further instilled to them the necessity of developing familial bonds with their pokemon, reinforcing what Ash already knew and introducing food for thought to Gary.

  In fact, Gary was so distracted by everything that he was able to blissfully forget about his mother for the time being.

  The Celadon gym trainers congregated in their shared rest area, content to just lay about after another tiring day at the gym.

  Their beautiful kimonos were creased in ways they would never allow to show to the public, but since they were around family they naturally lowered their guards.

  They happily discussed the increase in traffic Celadon gym had found itself in the past few days. Erika’s recent dispute against Gray Oak had led to greater interest in the gym itself, more people coming over to buy perfume or challenge the gym.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Renewed interest drew the curious crowd to ‘investigate’ the ongoing affairs within the gym. With a bigger crowd, more and more trainers were willing to challenge Erika for a badge as a bigger audience would do wonders for their trainer reputation.

  They weren’t like Gray who had the backing of his illustrious family, so taking every opportunity to draw eyeballs to their ascent as they became better trainers was a no brainer.

  Erika herself was content with the status quo, for each person that crossed into their threshold was a chance to showcase the growth of Celadon gym. Heartened at the show of support, she looked forward to her match with Gray so that she could reward everyone by humbling the prideful man.

  Oaks and their legacy were like locusts, parasitic in their desire to greedily swallow everything in sight only to spit out what no longer had use. She distinctly recalled when Leaf had no choice but to return to the home of her ancestors in Celadon, the comforting embrace of the community she should have been raised in bringing relief from a troubled life.

  She may not have grown up in Celadon, but her roots were here.

  Erika remembered her fury at Blue Oak after he carelessly discarded the love of his life, forsaking her for his other family members. Did he fail to see Leaf’s sincerity in wanting him to be a better partner? Erika would have graciously allowed him to make Celadon his permanent home together with Leaf, the storied history of the city providing him with far better security than what his grandfather secured a mere generation ago.

  Leaf’s woes resounded even with the gym trainers. Erika, who had had the unfortunate experience of meeting Red and Blue in their rookie years, agreed that Leaf should have been given greater consideration as the mother of Blue’s children. Her brief meeting with those two was enough proof of their upstart arrogance, and she commended Leaf in her attempts at keeping Blue’s arrogance in check.

  Erika's gym trainers suddenly let out exclaims of excitement and turned their attention to the massive TV visible to the entire room.

  On it, a reporter had gasped in excitement at Gray Oak who had just exited a Training Centre. Erika recognised it as the most prestigious establishment in Celadon; typical of an Oak to greedily lust for the best.

  “Mr Oak!”

  Gray turned towards the call, a polite smile on his face as he approached the reporter and camera man. As he did so, Grimmsnarl erected a translucent barrier over the two young boys who had been following after the fairy trainer, making them indiscernible to the camera and protecting their identities. Azumarill followed his trainer after making sure Grimmsnarl took over his responsibility to the children.

  Leaf snorted at the screen. “Look at him parading my son! I knew I couldn’t trust Blue as a father. He just festered my son off to his weak brother despite promising to care for him!”

  A few of her fellow gym trainers quickly consoled her, lamenting Blue’s irresponsibility.

  “Mr Oak! I see you just came out of the Training Centre. Can we confirm that you’re training for your battle with Erika and Celadon gym in a few days?”

  “Yes I am. I hope you’ll have the chance to see the match in person.”

  “Of course, sir. How confident are you in beating Erika’s personal team?”

  The polite smile slid off Gray, a look of irritation now on his face. He teased the camera. “What are people saying about it? Are my previous matches not enough to get people to believe in my capabilities as a trainer?”

  “No Mr Oak! Your matches against Brock and Lt. Surge were spectacular. I dare say the entire Indigo is tuned in. As you show off more and more of your pokemon, we not only learn about new species but our previous misunderstandings on some species are challenged!”

  The reporter turned to Azumarill, extending out a mic towards the small but powerful pokemon. “Your Azumarill is so strong! Should we expect to see him fight again soon?”

  “Azu-Azu!” Azumarill flexed his little arm, showing off how pleased he was with the praise.

  “Nothing’s guaranteed yet, we’re still deciding as a team who will be fighting. But thank you! Fairy pokemon have been grossly misunderstood here in the East. I’m hoping that with each badge I earn, everyone’s misconceptions can be corrected. As I’m representing a minor gym like Pallet Town gym, I have to prove we underdogs have more to us.”

  “There has been some talk about your pokemon being prime examples of their species. Was Professor Oak responsible for helping you breed stronger specimen? Did Blue and Gym Leader Sammy Oak assist you heavily in training your pokemon?”

  A comical look of disbelief appears on Gray’s face as he fervently denied. “What?! That couldn’t be further from the truth. Apart from my starter, all of my companions were captured from the wild and I personally trained them. My pokemon weren’t bred to be stronger, we worked hard ourselves to get this strong.”

  “Azu-marill!”

  “Apologies Mr Oak. Erika had previously alluded to such before.”

  At the mention of the Celadon gym leader again, Gray turned frosty.

  Sensing an opportunity, the reporter asked, “Any comments from you regarding Erika, Mr Oak?”

  He faced the camera squarely, addressing the audience behind it.

  “I’m alright with people trash talking me or calling me arrogant. After all, I’ve been going around challenging major gyms and their personal teams, demanding they fight me at their best or not at all.

  I accept that.

  But I draw the line at accusing my family of horrible things or slandering their reputation. Grandpa Sammy raised me around Pallet Town gym to learn how to train pokemon and let me leave the nest when I turned ten. I’m doing the same now for my nephews,” said Gray as he casually pointed to the two boys hidden behind Grimmsnarl’s barrier.

  “My family played a part in shaping me to be the trainer I am today, but I put in the work to get where I am,” he continued. “I admit that my brother can be a polarising character, even I needed space from him that I ended up moving out to develop elsewhere for a few years.”

  The joke caused the reporter to laugh. Gray smiled charmingly at the camera before saying lightly, “But I can call him out for his shit cause I’m his brother, we’re blood related and grew up together. The rest of the world has no right to slander him to his face, making him out to be a complete villain. Talk shit about my family, expect the consequences. I look forward to putting Erika in her place, showing her exactly what being raised by a minor gym turned me into. Her words and pettiness are groundless and uncalled for.”

  Folding his arms, Gray rested on one leg, comfortable in his body and his power.

  “Let our battle serve as a lesson and a reminder. Blue is an Indigo champion. I am representing Pallet Town gym on behalf of my grand-uncle Sammy who recently retired. I am the sum of all my family members who raised me to be a man who can stand on his own feet and grab his own laurels. Watch me do so with each badge I earn.

  Strength has always reigned supreme in Kanto. Erika will be made an example of for those who think they can slander my family without retaliation. I invite everyone to come see for themselves.”

  Smiling again at the camera, Gray returned back to media-appropriate politeness. “I’ll have to stop this interview now, me and my pokemon need to rest! Sorry in advance to any fans, I’ll be so hyperfocused on my match so if you see me walking around I’ll probably be too intense to say hi. Don’t take it personally, yeah?”

  “Thank you so much Mr Oak! Good luck for your match!”

  Erika sat on her seat, mindful of the silence that now pervaded the common rest area. A few of the gym trainers were intimidated by Gray’s threats, exchanging glances with uncertainty.

  Did they somehow poke a Beedrill’s nest? Will things be okay?

  “Look at him yapping on and on! Probably loves listening to his own voice like Blue,” said Leaf upon noticing the awkward energy around the room. “There’s nothing to worry about. He beat Brock and Lt. Surge 6-4, nowhere near as powerful as he thinks he is. He isn’t untouchable like Red was.”

  Leaf’s words brought oxygen back into the room, letting the gym trainers breathe a bit easier. The room returned back to a normal atmosphere soon after.

  Erika nodded towards Leaf, thankful that she kept her fellow gym trainers grounded and rooted in truth. The girl may not have been all that effective as a gym trainer, but she was a good friend.

  The Celadon gym leader couldn’t wait to force Gray’s big head from the clouds and back into earth.

  She got up from her seat and headed back into her personal training area to run a few more drills with her pokemon. She had intended to end her day with her employees, but she was much too pent up now.

  Unlike Gray Oak, she was not arrogant enough to think she could beat him soundly without putting in the work. She knew not to take him too lightly for the legacy and reputation she carried did not allow for carelessness like Gray.

  Erika’s tree would not be uprooted by an upstart with barely a generation’s excellence backing him.