“Why?” Vanessa blurted out. May swiftly attempted to cover up Vanessa’s mouth but the question resounded through the lab.

“We are in a time where the research guild, needs as much talent as possible. Throughout my life, I have nurtured a high level pokémon master, and a champion. I have scoured the lands and recruited many professors who have helped in my quest of protecting people and pokémon. I have news that the world will be going through a dark age, and for that we need people to help. So, when Birch had been bragging, I felt a hunch. Call it an old man’s gut feelings, and it seems like I was right, there is something about Heath that is different.”

“Well, he did massacre the alpha Ursaring.”

“The one that Red found in…Route 102” May was the one that blurted out this time. Everyone just stare at Heath who was just listening making observations.

‘Dark age?’ Heath repeated those words in his mind, and he hoped that he would be able to stay from away from the conflict Oak was alluding too.

“So, Heath is special. I only have few foundation spots, and how do you know Oak?”

“Yeah, Even though the kid is something, I would think that you Professor’s would be based on tangibles and not some ‘Old man hunch’” Norman interjected. Everyone looked at Professor Oak again who sighed in response.

‘Should I try to convince him for a foundation spot?? I could use the Pokéballs, and the money…. free hotels. Fuck it’ Heath quickly made a plan and was the first to speak.

“How about a battle Professor Oak. If I really am special, it should show in what I enjoy.” Heath stood up, every panned from Oak to Heath and back to Oak whose expression didn’t change but Heath felt a spirit come out of Professor Oak. It was small but intimidating.

‘Is oak a pokémon, why is this feeling of power coming from him.’ Heath pondered for a moment as he adjusted.

“I’m okay with that, but I cannot sponsor you myself. If I did, people would think it was the second coming of my Son, or even worse. The Pokémon Champion Red” Oak warned. Everyone remained quiet even Vanessa though it because May was blocking her by covering her mouth.

“Well, I guess I could sponsor him if gave me an extra spot like Sycamore” Birch threw his hands up in reluctance. Heath saw that Birch was secretly excited about the battle but was trying to play it off nonchalantly.

“So, I guess I’ll be a referee, where are we going to battle?” Norman crossed his arms and everyone thought about it before May was the first to speak up.

“How about where Heath lost to me the first time” May smiled trying to tease Heath but Piplup chirped in annoyance.

“Fight us right now. I’ll kick both of your-”

“Calm down Piplup” Heath rubbed piplup’s head which immediately calmed him down.

“You guys can’t fight in the public view. I know Little Root’s might be quiet to one celebrity. But a prophet fighting a boy who people barely know. That’s grounds for leaking.” Vanessa advised being finally free of May’s grasp.

“How about a clearing near the lab, free from the public.” Heath offered. They all thought about different spots but soon it was decided that the clearing was the best spot. They quickly organized and went through the back to avoid anyone seeing Professor Oak, and Norman.

The older gentlemen were quiet while Vanessa squealed fangirling. Heath during all of this was thinking of strategies.

‘What pokémon is he going to use. Uhh he could anything, even a pokémon I don’t know of. If it’s a close combat pokémon Piplup might be in trouble if he isn’t fast enough but if it’s a range non-psychic we may have a chance. Dragon, and type weakness is my worry.’ Heath worried about the battle but not having enough time He decided to put his faith in his pokémon that saved his life before.

They quickly went through the woods and found themselves in the clearing that felt the same way as he left it. Oak stood one side of the clearing near a knocked down tree while Heath stood in opposition.

“Basic rules for battle as this a spar which would mean no betting. Additionally as referee I will stop the battle if pokémon are close to injurying themselves. 4 move rule, and No switching out.” Norman looked at towards Heath and the turned to Oak. Seeing them both focused on each other, he clapped his hands.

“Trainer’s... send in your pokémon and wait for my mark”

“Piplup let’s do this.” Heath out reached his hand and Piplup ran off of it with his Bandana flapping in the air and jumped landing on the hard ground.

“Let’s go,!!”

“Come out,” professor Oak pressed the button on the greatball and a familiar red flash covered the ground and slowly disappeared to reveal an orange and black pig.

“Tepig, Te” Tepig oinked, and the girls soon fawned over the cute creature, the only thing in Heath’s mind was excitement. Heath felt Piplup’s battling spirit increase and he knew that Piplup was ready for the challenge.

Tepig

Age: 11

Gender: M

Rank: Silver

Potential: Gold

Moves: Ember [Minor Mastery], Focus Energy, Odor Sleuth, Flame Charge, Tail whip, Work up, Rollout

Ability: Thick Fat

‘Same stage, they have a type weakness. We just need to be careful of giving them time.’ Heath immediately thought and wait for the match to start.

“GO!” Norman yelled, and Professor Oak was the first to respond.

“Tepig. Work up” Professor Oak ordered quickly.

‘does he already have a strategy in place?’ Heath thought.

Tepig shrugged his body rapidly as his hair rose. Tepig looked extremely excited to be fighting at the moment. It’s body glowed slightly and made a confident roar. He charged at Piplup trying to get close but Piplup stayed his distance even without an order from Heath.

“Counter any confrontation using Bubblebeam”

Trying to find a counter, Piplup used Bubblebeam and each time the bubble would get close Tepig jumped to avoid the getting hit.

“Charge up a powerful Ember Tepig”

“Use aqua ring, and then counter with Water gun”

They both ordered simultaneously causing both of the pokémon to get to work. Tepig was the first to act charged up the flames causing it’s snout to leak out flames. Piplup prepares his own move instinctually using aqua ring while charging up a water gun.

“Go!!”

They both released their moves simultaneously. The opposing nature quickly met each other a created fog that covered most of the battlefield.

“Don’t make any sudden movements to reveal yourself” Heath directed, causing Piplup to be remain cautious. Piplup stood still trying not to alert his opponent to where he was at, but the same could not be said for the other side.

“Use Oder sleuth” Oak called out

Tepig quickly used the move, picking up on Piplup’s scent, and quickly made it’s way over there not being obstructed by the fog that lessened the durability. Piplup knowing it had to act fast cultivated some of it’s energy allowing it to fester and build up to seen a water ball to the sky creating gray clouds. Piplup then raised his flippers seemingly conversing with them. Soon the gray clouds listened, releasing a downpour on everyone.

Tepig making its way over hit Piplup with an Ember which was weakened by the rain dance but this was only a diversion for another workup which Heath wanted to avoid.

Due to the rain, the field was no longer foggy but instead replaced by droplets of mist and water slowly covering the area and turning the ground soft. Piplup’s aqua ring grew 2-fold as the rain was absorbed into the move that was still active. Piplup being ordered to finish the battle used a powerful Water gun which hit smashing Tepig into a tree.

The arena grew quiet as the rain dance stopped.

Heath noticed that the aqua ring shrunk but it was still active. Piplup waited to see if the battle was over. Tepig slowly tried to get up, but it was tired and hurt from getting hit by its weakness from a stronger pokémon, but it’s will of fire did not want give up.

It tried once more but this time Its body started flickering a white hue. Slowly its body was morphing, first it was shrinking but it then he started growing. Piplup held his stance but this time preparing itself for a full battle. Tepig grew by 5 times its size, and soon it was double the size of Piplup.

The both of them cursed, and it seemed like it would be a full evolution. Pignite seemed to be slightly recovered as it showed no weakness and was slightly aggressive. Piplup decided to nimble on his even without the item’s assistance but it wasn’t fast enough as Pignite appeared before Piplup and smacked him. Piplup flew meter across the landscape but promptly got back up to shoot a water bullet. Pignite got hit full with it but stood head on. Pignite used work up once more, increasing it’s damage output which at this point is starting to make the battle less in their favor. Piplup remained patient unlike all of the other battles and spewed a bunch a bubble which soon took over the battlefield. Pignite once more charged up, seemingly to use the rest of it’s energy and in response so did Piplup.

Both of them used their final move, and the were equal to me. But Pignite soon took advantage as it over powered Piplup’s water gun. And hit Piplup. Piplup was lifted out of the air, and Heath caught his partner who was knocked out.

“It’s always fire types. ” heath chuckled, and fell on the slightly wet dirt.

“PIGNITE” the evolved pig roared, but Oak quickly quell the noise by putting Pignite back in his pokéball.

“I hereby conclude this spar. Professor Oak was officially the winner” Norman clapped at the end of the battle. Heath was proud to almost win against the professor even with the spar, and he felt the regret of not being stronger.

‘I wanna be stronger’ Heath concluded. The whole group walked over to Heath and Norman helped Heath up patting him on the should dusting him off.

“Not bad brat. You had him in the first half, but Tepig did not go down.” Norman smiled trying to needless cheer him up. They all realized it was unnecessary with Heath’s eyes shining matching the smile from the battle.

“Thanks for the battle, Professor. It was a real honor” Heath shuffle Piplup who was still knocked out to grab a potion from his bag. He sprayed it on Piplup which made his partner stir back into consciousness.

“There you go” Heath put the potion back and grabbed an oran berry he had grabbed in the forest, opting to feed it to Piplup.

“I lost..” Piplup looked sad and depressed but Heath just hugged the bird which caused him to stop being so mopey.

“Heath…I was thinking, you wouldn’t be interested in the Union right?” Norman asked sincerely which brought out a couple of gasps from the girls.

“After what you told me?” Heath questioned, causing Norman to shrug in reply.

“I had to ask, Brendan’s already joining the Research Guild but I do have to bring in someone. “ Norman accepted that Heath wasn’t even going to consider the offer, but Oak made no official offer.

“Let’s go back. Professor Oak and I have a lot to think about concerning my decision.” Professor Birch asked.

Norman, Vanessa, and May and Heath went to walk back but Professor Oak stopped them Norman.

“Oh Norman, discuss this with us.” Oak motioned for the Hoenn gym leader to come over and talk to them while the rest of them went back to the lab to relax. Heath had no qualms with be out of the discussion due to the fact that he was honestly exhausted after the battle.