"h.e.l.lo, a small talk." The gruff voice said.

"Jegudiel, good to finally speak with you. Glad to see you are well." Gray's voice came out in a dual tone. He did not mind speaking with a friend. "The other half, gone or.."

"Gone.. dead." The ord floated to just in front of him. "I consumed him taking all his memories before he died. It was not a pleasant time for him. The others wish for judgment already. Especially after the humans treated us so terribly. But we obey you still. And you wish to give them more time."

"Yes, for now. Clair does suit you." Gray looked over the young gym leader again. "Defintely fits your ties to Responsibility and Merciful Love. Are you at least enjoying your time within her Jegudiel?"

"Yes. Immensely. But her cousin Lance.." Jegudiel pulsed a little. In agitation and growing fury. ".. broke the Dragon's oath. Became a liar! I have permission to kill him yes?"

"Do as you please. But stay mindful of Clair." Gray said softly. "You have a Vessel now, the rules for that an not be ignored. Try not to cause her problems." The little orb moved around then reentered Clair. Slowly they disentangled. "Need to get my head back in the game."

Gray's pokemon were still asleep. All but t.i.tan the Nidoking. It woke the moment he did. After fixing a small breakfast for the others, Grat and t.i.tan left out to go train. Moments later, Growlithe stirred awake. A quick bite and he left for areas unknown. A frown plastered on his face.

"Ahhh!" Clair yawned. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she felt really happy. Happier than she ever was. Then the memory of the night pa.s.sed over. 'I can not believe I did that! Sabrina is gonna freak when she finds out! She might even think I fancy him! Which I do not!'

Getting out of the bed, Clair went to freshen up. Hoping a shower would soothe her thoughts and aching muscles.

.

-Battle-

.

Gray did light training. t.i.tan the Nidoking and d.u.c.h.ess the Servine were the only two good to battle. The others were to mess up with everything that happened. So he would make do with the two of them.

Arriving at the Gym he checked in. He fight was ready to go, so Gray moved straight to the field. However, he stopped at the little wooden gate. Some weird trial was set up. The aide came over to explain.

"Hi, the new Gym Leader made a few changes. Seeing as Kanto trainers are more battle oriented, he wanted to blend things out by challenging the mind." The aide stopped for a bit. She recognized Gray's face. "You are the trainer that worked the case. On behalf of the city, I thank you. It could have ended a whole lot worse."

"You are welcome. However, I am not interested in these.." Gray waved his hands around at the setup. "Just here for the battle. I signed up for that, not some other nonsense."

"I understand completely." The Aide nodded and brought Gray to the battle area. 'I am not going to treat the person that helped out dirty. Besides he did schedule before hand for the original setup. No need to force him to do the change.'

Arriving at the field, Gray couldnt get over the replacement. it was the Gym Leader Milo from the petrified region. Considering he was a fill in, the battle should be interesting. Having read the reports about what happened to the Galar region he was not suprised or cared over all. Arceus' influence was not big there and the place getting turned to stone made it one less place he had to cover.

"Greetings Elite Trainer, I am Milo." A brown haired man said coming forward. He looked a little like a farmer. With his overalls on and straw hat. Defintely fit a gra.s.s gym with that attire. "You will be my third Elite Trainer battle. Your demneaor.." Milo checks over Gray and not spotting any tuff or perspiration he was able to figure out what happened. ".. you have not done the trial."

"Correct. The Elite Trainer Gray did not want to do it and he signed up before it was implemented. As I have said before. this is not the Galar region! Trainers do not want to do those stupid tests." The aide was about to continue but received a call. "Excuse me, temporary Gym Leader. I have to take this. Since you spend so much time doing other things, someone has to handle the other duties for the Gym!"

"I will contact a few people to help." Gray said to her. She waved her hand in acknowledgment. "Haaa, to ruin the gym like this, I wonder if you are trying to hurt the Kanto region?"

The Aide left fuming mad. From what Gray could tell the Aide was at their wit's end. With good reason from the looks of things. A lot of the Gym's interior was changed to suit the little test. Which removed a good bit of the botanical garden area. Which the Gym was known for and allowed it to draw its own funds. Instead of the taxes in the city and increasing the burden for medical areas.

A big mistake on Milo's part that only went through because of the staff recovering in the hospital and the previous incident still causing legal issues. At the current rate, the Gym wouldn't last more than another month before the doors would close.

"I am not. I just.. I messed up is all." Milo rubbed the back of his neck embarra.s.sed. The chewing out he received from the staff was one thing but a lot of the trainers complained as well. Then the people coming to get medicine next. The herbal stores barely survived the fire and he sent it to storage almost ruining it. Needless to say, the temps were fired immediately. "I still think you will benefit from the trial. The next set of trainers will just have to deal with it."

"Waste of time." Gray shrugged.

"It is the Gym Leaders job to challenge trainers. Just because you are Elite Trainer you think you deserve special treatment?" Milo may be a gentle man but, recent events caused a slight change in the man. "Special treatment will lead to arrogance. Your pokemon or your friends may suffer from it."

Gray took his last statement as a person stab. His eyes glowed in agitation. it didnt help that d.u.c.h.ess curled around him upset as well.

"If your trainers didn't spend so much time on useless things, they might have been able to defend themselves. Also

"Hard pa.s.s." Gray said sternly. Milo was upset but didn't want any more trouble for now. "Time to start the battle. The standard Gym battle, then the Elite one. Or will that be a problem for you? Heard most of your Gym Leaders can't do jack with out some Dynmax c.r.a.p. Funny how that led to the event most likely. Research proves some that to be true as well."

Milo's eyes turned cold. From the insult and what Gray said. No one should know what happened really. Only the Gym Leaders and a few others.

'I do not know who told this man, but if he mouths off anymore it could lead to several problems!' Milo decided it best to get the match started. With the fans filling in the area up top, the faster the better. "A one on one match then the Elite battle. Time to begin! Go!"

The pokeball opened to release a Dubwool. The evolved form of Wooloo. Dubwool is a sheep, as far as Gray could tell. A giant puff ball covered most of the body. A reef of grey coat around the neck. A set of horns that looked strong. So strong that d.u.c.h.ess curled around gray wanting to fight. So he obliged her.

"Yes!" The Servine sprung forward into the ring. Stretching out to her real length. her aura growing in antic.i.p.ation. "Try not to faint to quickly!"

"Baa baa!" You wis.h.!.+ The Dubwool answered defiantly. Its feet digging into the floor.

"Begin!" The referee announced.

"Dubwool, use headb.u.t.t!" Milo ordered. His pokemon responded quickly. seeing Gray not act bothered him slightly. 'Is he that sure of the win he doesn't have to give any orders?'

The sheep kicked off towards the gra.s.s snake. It was very agile but not faster than the latter reaction time. Servine strike went out with its tail using Leaf Blade. It connected right underneath sending Dubwool into a backflip.

"Recover and use Take Down!" Dubwool landed on its hind legs only taking a little damage. The defense was strong. Milo still found it odd that Gray still gave no orders. 'Is he just unsure of himself?'

"Bam! Bam!" Dubwool crashed down twice. It bucked trying to hit Servine but was to slow still. All it took was a slight wiggle and the snake bending out of the way. From the attack, it looked to be hurt. A bruise formed on the legs.

"What a stupid pokemon." d.u.c.h.ess said. her aura permeated the entire room. As if it was her own domain to do as she pleased within it. "I am disappointed in this battle. Time to just end it."

"Dubwool.." Milo felt a chill run down his spine. So he acted quickly before his Pokemon could situate itself. ".. use Giga Impact!"

"Fool!" d.u.c.h.ess raised up and stared down at Dubwool. Her eyes glowing with power. She had use Leer as well as something else. "Do not move!"

"Baaaa!" Dubwool cried freezing in place. Its legs shaking before locking up. Staring down a predator was to much for the little domesticated pokemon. "Baaa baa baa!" Don't eat me!

"Snap out of it!" Milo ordered. But it was ignored.

"Woos.h.!.+" Servine wrapped around the pokemon in the blink of an eye. Wrapping the legs and the neck in a vice she started to glow. She was using the move Growth. Increasing her attack power, she started to Constrict.

"You should give up." gray said to Milo. "Before your pokemon is injured more. The man ignored Gray. "Not my problem what happens next."

As soon as the effects wore off from the stare down, Dubwool started to fidget uncontrollably from fear. It ignored all the orders given to it. After tiring itself out, it made it even easier to take it down.

"Bang!" d.u.c.h.ess uncoiled its prey around most of the body. Only part left was around the neck and horns. With a toss, Dubwool was thrown into the gym wall. Horns lodged inside. The pokemon was out cold as it dangled.

"Winner, Challenger." The referee announced. "Five minutes to the start of the next round." d.u.c.h.ess slithered over annoyed. She even pouted a little.

"These gym battles are boring." Her voice was loud enough for Milo to hear. It was not like she was trying to antagonize the man. Just how she was. "I want to rest in the pokeball. Trained hard before the battle for nothing."

"Doop!" Gray returned her and then stepped forward. He had know need to take a break.

"Whenever you are."

"Just a minute." Milo said. He signaled an aide to roll out a machine. "I will prove to you that the Dynamax and the Galar region is something to take serious!" The machine created artificial Dynmax energy. "Go, Eldegoss!"

The little dandelion puffball came out. Before Gray popped his top from the use of the machine, someone else came over in a rush. Another Gym Leader of sorts. She was not alone. On her shoulders was an Eevee. But it was odd in a way. The pokemon let off psychic vibes and sent a message to Gray.

'h.e.l.lo papa!' The Eevee was a Mew in disguise.

"Before you use this machine, I need to speak with this Trainer. My name is Bea by the way." She gave Gray a smile before turning to talk with Milo. The Eevee looking at Gray the entire time with a smile. "The output for these devices must be lower. The Kanto league has to much aura energy. The chances of something going wrong is to much to risk to chance."

"All the testing came out fine." Milo countered. "Besides, the only drawback was increase feedback to the Trainer. I can take it."

"No need to.." Bea started to say but was stopped by her partner. 'What is it?'

'Let them battle. I want to see my papa's strength!' The little Eevee tail started wagging quickly. 'Please!' She pleaded. It was the first time the pokemon really asked for anything. So Bea agreed.

A bubble appeared in front of Gray. One he had no problem trying to do.

(Defeat Dynamax Trainer Milo with your Pokesoul)

"Well, hope this Pokemon doesn't burn to death." Black flames left Gray's nostrils. Dark Charizard already coming out. "Pokesoul!" The stadium shook from the release in aura. A few of the trainers fled in fear.

"Fwoos.h.!.+" Dark aura pa.s.sed over Bea. Sending a slight chill down her spine. She took a step back from the bloodl.u.s.t and rage.

"This man is.. wrong some how." Bea tried to communicate with her partner but realized she was gone. 'Where did you go?!'

'Inside papa! I want to have a talk with him. Figure out why he is so sad.' Her partner responded with the innocence only a child could have. 'I am not lending any power, just talking.'

"Raaaaawwwrrrr!" Gray roared causing a few pokemon in the area to flee on instinct. All the aura energy in the room was swallowed by him. Leaving only Dynamax energy left. "Grr.. hope you know the rules of an Elite Battle well."

"I.. do." Milo mumbled. He was planning on finis.h.i.+ng the battle so quick it wouldn't matter.

.

-Clair u0026 Sabrin

.

Clair had went for a run afterward. She thought about going to see the gym battle but changed her mind once Sabrina messaged. The two met up at the mall to talk.

"Hey!" Clair called ot. She was still dressed in her running clothes. Sabrina in her battle attire for the Lavendar town dungeon. "Looking good."

"Thanks, you look good as well." Sabrina said plainly. "But I need to know you're plans for after this is over. Gray may not care but I do."

"Straight to it huh?" Clair looked up not really not knowing how to answer. She never gave it ought thought since they really just getting started. "Travel with, at least till this Arceus nonsense is over."

"If Lance appears again, then what?" Sabrina was asking all the hard questions first. Keeping Clair on her toes. "Both Gray and myself ran into him before. It did not go well. Especially for Gray."

"It could not have been that bad."

"Gray jumped off a mountain to get away, what do you think?" Sabrina's tone had changed. Empress aura had leaked out at the memory. "I need to know who side you are own if you are going to keep traveling with us."

"I.. do not know. He is family." Clair balled her fists in anger. She was not ready to answer this question even more so than wanting to ask Sabrina something she had been dreading. "Give me some time."

"No." Sabrina checked an area before teleporting the two. "We will solve this the right way. An Elite trainer battle."

"Fine!" lair felt her blood boil at the challenge. Her thoughts changed over quickly. "Bring it on!"

"Fwoos.h.!.+" The two teleported to a clearing.

"Pokesoul!" The two held nothing back. Clair using the Rayquaza pokesoul and Sabrina shocking her with the one she used. She used Empress which was technically her own soul. A signal went out letting trainers know a high level Elite match was going on. For their own safety to stay away.

In the distant sky, a few Pokemon watched with interest. Latias u0026 Latios. With the two human clones of themselves that had been missing since the island event. The children rode on the pokemon looking on with a warm smile and a cold frown.

"The future is changing more and more. Poor Fiel, he will loose so much." Latios said.

"He will get over it. He has to." Latias said coldly. Her eyes peered into the future for a brief instance. A small smile appeared on her face. Shocking her partner. "But it will work out in the end."

"What did you see?! Tell me tell me!" Latios flew around her in circles.