"Congratulations on your win. These Barbaric Fights are somewhat entertaining." Lucario added as he communicated only with Austin via Aura.

"Thanks," Austin answered as he noticed Yellow's silence. Her straw hat was covering her eyes so Austin couldn't make out her expression.

"Yellow?"

Yellow quickly looked up before giving Ash a cheerful smile. "You did wonderful, Ash! I'm so happy you got your next badge!"

"Thanks...," Austin said.

"Hey, Ash. Would it still be okay for us to hang out later?" Janine asked.

"Janine! A true ninja does not say things like that," Koga scolded.

"Sorry," Janine muttered and bowed once more. Despite training to be a ninja and gym leader, she still possessed many child-like qualities.

Austin noticed that Yellow's expression had darkened again once Janine mentioned the hangout.

Looks like someone is jealous.

Koga meanwhile coughed as he brought everyone's attention to him.

Koga pulled out a black card with various pokemon drawn on it in gold.

" I have to say, Ash, you are lucky to have come to my gym during this month since the Indigo league has decided to open the Safari Zone for any trainers that won the Soul Badge. But you have to promise not to disclose this info or the league may get involved and your license can be suspended."

Koga stated as he handed over the card to Austin who couldn't help but smile.

" Guess my luck is finally turning around," Austin whispered to himself but everyone still heard it.

Yellow patted Austin as she closed her eyes melancholically causing him to glance at her as the difference in their heights had caused Yellow to pat, not his back but something else.

" Yellow, stop patting my butt."

Yellow's face erupted in a blush before she passed out.

( ~ Thud ~ )

Koga and Janine sweatdropped as they saw the scene.

" Well, thank you for the amazing battle, and Janine I apologize but we are kind of in a hurry so I can't hang out," Austin said as he picked Yellow up bridal style before leaving.

Janine was visibly sad as she saw Austin leaving.

Patting his daughter's head, Koga said," Maybe it is for the best."

Janine glanced at her father before huffing.

" Come on, Dad I finally found someone who seems to be hiding something behind a mask."

" Janine, everyone is entitled to have their privacy. I know you get bored in this quiet town with all your training that you can't use, but testing out your skills on someone like him is dangerous."

" Really?!"

" Of course, Janine while you may see someone who is wearing a mask to hide, I see a dangerous man whose anger has been set towards revenge."

" Why do you think that ?"

" You still haven't learned the art of picking up body language secrets and emotions. Throughout the battle, he never once flinched at any of my moves and tactics yet his body moved when his pokemon got hit. The look that flashed through his eyes wasn't the look of someone protective rather it was the same look that people who have been hurt by the world have when anything close to them gets slightly hurt."

" Fine, father do you think he was holding back ?"

" Yes, I know it. He was hiding his skills to a varying degree. If that Lucario is a part of his main team then even I don't think I could win with my most powerful team."

Janine looked at her father in shock.

Her father was selected to be a part of the Elite four and he had battled it out with Lance to gain the recognition of his abilities. If her father wasn't confident in defeating him, did that mean that Ash was a Champion level trainer?

" Y, you must be joking right ?!"

" No, while I don't know that boy's level, I am certain about one thing, Lucario is dangerous. Every time I gazed upon that Pokemon, I couldn't help but feel I am staring down the Ace of the Champion of Kanto himself. Even without taking Lucario into account, those two aren't individuals to mess with, whenever I see that girl, my mind flashes to complete darkness, as if I am staring at the abyss while that boy .... that boy, I don't even know what to make of him. He gives off this Alien-like aura, it's a mistake to even consider that he is a human."

Hearing her father's words, Janine felt chills down her spine.

" S, Should we inform the league ?"

" Inform them about what, that I battled against children whom I sensed to be extremely dangerous."

Koga's words oozed off sarcasm as Janine asked.

" W, Why did someone like that come here ?"

" I think his goal was to get access to the Safari Zone through us. I don't know how he had gained the information that one could only gain access to the Safari Zone through my gym." Koga exclaimed as Janine asked.

" What should we do about them ?"

" For now, just leave them alone."

" F, Father but you said..."

" I know what I said and that's why I am warning you to leave those two alone. It's better to not provoke the Beedrill nest."

" But...."

" That's an order, Janine! Stay away from them !"

" Y, Yes; Father," Janine said with a bow as Koga looked at the sky as thought.

' Did I make the correct decision or should I have dealt with them ?'

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The Pokemon Center was a madhouse when Austin and the others got back. He wondered what could have caused such a commotion in such a short amount of time. It wasn't because there was a lot of injured Pokemon because Nurse Joy didn't appear especially busy. So what could the problem be? He was thankful they already had rooms reserved here from previous nights.

Deciding to ask Nurse Joy, Austin went over to her. She was looking worriedly at all the people in the lobby but was not preoccupied. Austin knew he wasn't interrupting anything.

"Excuse me, Nurse Joy. What is with all of these reporters here so suddenly?" Austin asked her.

Nurse Joy sighed before giving her answer. "There have been rumors of a Dratini sighted in the Safari Zone this week. It's been all over the news recently which attracted a lot of attention. Naturally, many trainers have come down to Fuchsia City to visit the Safari Zone and hopefully catch a Dratini but since catching in the Safari Zone is forbidden, they are leaving while the reporters are here to confirm the Dratini's existence. Some people don't believe the reports and think it is a big hoax. Some even think it was completely made up with no evidence and was used as a publicity stunt," Nurse Joy said.

"What do you think, Nurse Joy?" Austin asked curiously.

"I think it's real. Kaiser is the warden of the Safari Zone, and he has been there for an extremely long time. There is a picture of him and a Dratini inside of the entrance building that was taken almost thirty years ago. As far as I know, Dratini is still in the Safari Zone," Nurse Joy answered.

" Thank you for informing me. Can I get the key card to use the PC room ?" Austin asked.

" Sure but don't break anything this time." Nurse Joy said with a forced smile that looked faker than Brock's ability to get a girl.

Austin turned towards Lucario who whistled as he looked to the other side.

"Look at that beautiful piece of art, the wonders of modern technology"

" Lucario, that's a trashcan."

Nurse Joy sighed and handed over a keycard to Austin who handed over a yellow one to Lucario.

"Do you want me to conduct a check-up on your friend?" Nurse Joy asked with worry.

" If that is fine with you."

" This is my job, so I have to be fine with it."

Nurse Joy's reply reminded Austin of Nurse Joy on Birth Island.

" Lucario, can you go with Nurse Joy to have Yellow checked out while I go make a call ?"

" As you wish, I will have it done."