"Rio? Riolu-Lu?"

"Cynthia is the Champion of Sinnoh. She's really strong, and she has a Lucario on her team." I explained to Riolu who had wandered over at Bernice's shout wondering what was going on.

"That's right!" Bernice added proudly, as if she had anything to do with that, and her father did a sort of eye roll in response.

"A Riolu, and a Gible?" Ian asked, as he watched on, and I nodded.

"Yep. My partner is Milotic as well. Cynthia and I have a lot of similar Pokemon." I said rather proudly.

"Y-You have a Miliotic!?" Bernice screeched and that finally seemed to get her father to do something. He reached out and dropped a hand onto his daughter's head, which quieted her as she shifted to look at him.

"Bernice. Volume."

"Yes Daddy."

"Sorry about her. She's… Exuberant."

"It's alright." Mama offered, as she sat up, she was watching Ian with sharp eyes. "Children are excitable about the strangest things. I hope there won't be any issues."

"Ah, I'll admit I'm definitely curious, but I'm just a vacationer here, just like you." He explained reassuringly, but there was a sharpness to his eyes, as he glanced at Gible. "I don't suppose I could offer you and your daughter a meal, in exchange for us asking some questions? I don't mean to pry, but official policy is that Garchomp and their line can only be found in Sinnoh."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Mama shot me a look and my mouth closed. Right. I nodded at her.

"I'm afraid if you have any issues, then you should probably contact the Kanto Pokemon Association." Mama offered, and I nodded, keeping my mouth shut.

"Sounds like something a thief would say." Bernice offered with narrowed eyes, and I just rolled mine at her.

"I traveled outside Kanto and found lots of rare pokemon. I didn't steal any of my friends."

"Hmph."

"I don't believe there is any reason to assume theft, Bernice." Her father offered, but I got the feeling he probably was going to assume anyway.

"Fine then Kanto Girl!"

"Kanto Girl?"

"Battle me! I'll beat you and prove you're just a-a pokemon thief!"

"Oh that's it!" I yelled standing up and pointing a finger right back at this little brat! "It's on Cynthia Wannabe!"

"W-W-W-w-w-w-annabe!?" She shrieked, and I smirked. Hit. A. Nerve.

"Well yeah. Not like me, right? You only have one pokemon like Cynthia, but I have three!"

"Y-y-y-y-y-you!" She stuttered out into a glare both her hands looking like she wanted to strangle me.

"Ah, well… I guess a battle might get it out of her system." Stupid Cynthia wannabe's father offered, and Mama just looked sympathetic.

"Vicky… Is fairly skilled. How well did your daughter do on her journey?"

"Bernice? She hasn't gone yet. She's only eleven." He replied back suddenly looking a little nervous, as he looked at me.

"Who cares! I don't care how your stupid journey went! Battle me!""

"She swept the entire league, and then won the conference so completely people back in Kanto are still talking about it… She's preparing for her run against the Elite Four, and Champion." Mama cut in, I glanced back, and she just had a smug little look.

Mama… Why were you hyping me up?

"E-e-elite Four!?" Bernice stuttered out, absolutely shook, at the statement.

"Hehe!" I offered, rubbing at my head. "Mama you don't have to put it like that."

"So… She's lying?" Bernice asked, returning to her confidence and glaring.

"No. I'll face the Elite Four before the end of the year. I've even told Lance, ah, the Champion, that he can get one of my pokemon if he wins to make sure he fights me all out." I explained

Bernice went still. Ah, did I blue screen her?

"That's… interesting." Bernice's dad offered looking a bit uncomfortable, but I just shrugged.

"But I only have my young team with me right now. They're not really ready for that sort of thing yet." I looked at Riolu. "Although they're growing stronger every day."

"Rio!" She huffed at me, and looked away, but I could tell she appreciated the compliment.

"So if you want to battle… Well, how about a one on one?" I accepted, and Bernice twitched.

"That's right! I won't lose! F-F-f-for Sinnoh! And Cynthia!"

"Heh. Then as a Dragon Master of Kanto… I won't lose. For Kanto and Lance!" Then I blinked and shrugged. "Even if he's actually a flying type trainer."

"Vicky… Don't make that joke with people that won't get it. Especially to people from other regions. Represent our Champion well." Mama demanded and I just nodded.

"Right."

"W-whatever!" Bernice growled and I nodded, looking around. Riolu? No, best not. Plus… I grinned. "Dratini!" I called out.

A moment later his head popped out of the ocean and he slithered over quickly climbing up my leg and then nestling his head onto my shoulder.

"I'll fight with Dratini! A pokemon that represents Kanto!"

"Hmph!" She huffed and pulled out her pokeball. "Then I'll beat you!"

"Move out further on the beach." Mama ordered and I nodded stalking past Bernice much to her surprise as we moved away.

"H-h-hey!" She shouted, chasing after and soon we found a clear section of the beach.

"I chose you! Dratini!"

"Shellos!" She growled back and our pokemon took the field.

Hmm. Actually this could be a bad matchup. Shellos were Special Defense focused, and Dratini didn't train physical attacks yet.

I grinned.

"I'm ready!"

"So am I! Shellos! Muddy Water!" She shouted, and suddenly out from under the Shellos, came a swirling wave of water that was very brown… Gross.

"Don't let it get close! Dragon Pulse Area!" I called out, and Dratini whistled as he actually surged forward, and just as the surge of muddy water shot forward, Energy crackled and All the energy of his Dragon Pulse washed out from him, smashing into the water, and splitting the wave.

"Aaah!? Sh-Shellos! Use- Ah-U-u-use?"

"Dragon Pulse!"

"Draaaa!" He roared and unleashed his attack point blank, the beam attack was his natural one, with the cute Water pulse like rings around his Pulse.

And it smashed right through Shellos and sent the poor pokemon sprawling.

"No! But… but Cynthia's Gastrodon wouldn't lose!"

I went to make another order as Bernice was obviously struggling but instead realized this was a bit mean.

"Tini! Pull back." I called out making sure he wouldn't get his second attack out, that I noticed he was already preparing.

Heh. All that battle training was pulling off!

Bernice had fallen to her knees. The skirt of her one piece swimsuit was covered in mud and sand I noticed as she lay sprawled with Shellos slowly trying to get back upright.

I sighed. Right. She might be older, but she hadn't gone on her journey yet. I shouldn't treat her like someone my age, but someone who hadn't battled…

Although even that was weird, I battled a bunch before I started my journey, just like everyone did.

But I shook away my irritation with the girl, and instead walked over and settled across from her in the sand cross legged.

"Hey, how's Shellos?" I asked her, and she blinked out of her fog and reached out, snatching up her pokemon and pulling it tight.

"Shellos?"

"Shell! Shell." It assured her and just held it to her chest, before looking up at me.

"Muddy Water was a good choice. That's a strong move."

"Cynthia's Gastrodon uses that move quite often in her battles! At least half the time! So I made sure Shellos learned it."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Ah, that makes sense." She was one of those. The type that tried to math out Pokemon battles.

Well she'd learn on her journey.

"It should have worked!"

"It did. It's a strong move, it forced me to react to you, which you could have capitalized on, but you hesitated, so I got the next move instead." I explained and she looked at me. Her face red and puffy from all the emotions running through her. "Hey, I've got an entire journey worth of experience. You did well for battling before you even went on your journey!"

"I guess."

"C'mon let's go to the pokemon center and get Nurse Joy to look at Shellos." I said throwing out a hand to offer to pick her up.

She pouted but reached out, and I hauled her up without issue.

"Eee!" She yelped a bit as she was on her feet in an instant and I pulled her along. "H-Hey!"

"C'mon! So what other moves did you teach our Shellos? Muddy Water is really good, being able to mess with the accuracy of opponents' Pokemon is super strong."

"Well… Just Mudslap, Ancient Power, and Recover for now." She offered as we walked along the beach, her feet finally moving so I let go of her hand. "But I want to use Earthquake instead of Mudslap, and Stone Edge in place of Ancient power!"

"Let me guess, that's the moves Cynthia's Gastrodon has?"

"That's right!" She argued, and I just laughed.

"That and I need Sludge Bomb… I don't have the money for the TM's yet, but It's something I'll get on my journey!"

"That's a good list of moves. Recovery, Muddy Water, Sludge Bomb, Earthquake, and Stone Edge. Solid typing, and response." I agreed, really Cynthia was a monster.

"Hmph! But I won't stop there! I'll get a Gible, and A Riolu too! And Milotic!"

"More Milotic in the world is always a good thing." I agreed and she nodded slowly, seemingly surprised at something I said.

"Right… You said you had a Milotic."

"Yep! He's my partner, my first pokemon!"

"A Milotic, as your first pokemon… You must be lucky."

"Lucky? I mean, I think I am, but it had nothing to do with luck."

"No one will say how you get a Milotic! You can't say it's not luck!"

"Eh, you just have to find beauty in the world where no one else does." I explained without really explaining. I felt smug at my explanation.

"What does that mean!?"

"It's how to get a Milotic. Pokemon Center!" I called out, and she twitched as we walked in.

"Right. C'mon Shellos!" She said and hurried to the counter. Dratini on my shoulder watching on with me.

"She's kinda funny." I couldn't help but say to him, and he whistled a bit in turn.

—--

Bernice thanked me once her Pokemon was healed but ran off after, so I turned back to the beach to see what Mama was doing.

By the time I got back everyone was eating a spread that Papa had brought, and Bernice's dad was nowhere to be seen.

"That girl not with you?" Mama asked, and I shook my head.

"She left once she was done at the pokemon center."

"Girl?"

"Vicky made a… Rival?" Mama offered, although she seemed to hesitate to say it.

"I met someone very opinionated that her region's champion is the best." I decided and Mama snorted.

"Weird. Lance is the best." Papa offered without any guile, and I just rolled my eyes at him.

"And when I beat him?" I asked, and Papa smirked, and I realized I fell into a trap.

"Then that means you beat the best and so you're the best of course!" He roared out at the top of his lungs, and then scooped me up into a tight hug as he swung me around.

"Aaaa! Let me gooooo!" I whined but didn't struggle too hard as he was rubbing his cheek against mine.

"Never! My little future champ is gonna win it all!"

"Uuuu!" I whined, feeling my face heat up.

"Dra-Dra!" Dratini suddenly joined in, he'd been scooped up and suddenly he was rubbing against my other cheek.

"Ah! It's not fair don't team up!" I whined, flailing my feet out and papa just laughed even louder as my pokemon betrayed me.

Finally Papa set me down by the table he must have brought with and dropped a heavy hand onto my head. "Eat up."

"Okay." I said pouting at him. As I looked around. I couldn't help but smile as my team were all already eating. Papa and Mama must have set them up, even Gible was settled beside Mama and she had a little plate of meats, and berries. Happily stuffing handfulls into her mouth.

Mimikyu was on the beach towel next to Lucario and they were scarfing down, while Riolu was as usual making a mess. I grinned and grabbed my own food.

—--

Okay so… Maybe I'd made a mistake somewhere in my life. I could admit that.

"Battle me!" She shouted, finger pointed and her Shellos out and looked ready. Pumped up almost.

I blinked as I looked up from where I was holding Jangmo-o, the two of us had been playing in the water. Jangmo-o looked up at me and I looked down.

"Jang!"

"Okay, if you want." I assured him, and his tail was already wagging, as his paws did little scratchies at the air. "Okay let's have another battle." I agreed.

And stood up, wiping sand away from my butt as I positioned myself across from Bernice.

"D-Don't think it'll go the same way again!" She shouted and I nodded. Jangmo-o scrabbled in the sand to get in position, his excitement almost making him sprawl out.

Heh.

"I'm ready!" She shouted, and I nodded.

"Ready!"

"Shellos! Ancient Power!"

"Jangmo-o! Blast the rocks with Dragon Pulse!" I retorted, and grinned as the rocks pulled from the sand and were launched off, Jangmo-o was on point. His Dragon Pulse shooting form his tail as it arced up, and broke each rock, one after another in quick succession until they crashed into the beach long before reaching him.

And this time Bernice didn't just stumble.

"Shellos! Mud Slap! They can't stop it all!" She roared out and I grinned, as Shellos ballooned out a bit and then started spitting machine gun style mud towards Jangmo-o.

"Dragon Pulse! Area!" I called out, and once again Just like with Dratini, being able to push out in all directions was very useful. The mud slapped into the expanding energy force, and was all pushed back, but Bernice wasn't stopping.

"Again! Keep it up!"

"Heh! Get in close! Then do it again Jangmo-o!"

I was having fun. Watching two baby pokemon fight it out was pretty cute actually.

Jangmo-o had definitely picked up some things from his battles. Instead of charging straight ahead he kept juking side to side, relying on his four legs to let him keep speed up, as Shellos started spraying less and less accurately.

Either tiredness, or just shock at missing?

Either way Jangmo-o howled as he leapt into the air, legs sprawled as he got close enough and released another Dragon Pulse which flattened the area under him which poor Shellos had been unlucky enough to be inside.

Then Jangmo-o landed with only a minor stumble and turned.

"Recover!" Bernice yelled, but I just smirked. Far too early for that! Just because your pokemon took a hit didn't mean they were out!

Shellos glowed as it started healing, but Jangmo-o was too close. You can't heal right next to your opponent, and not expect to be punished!

"All out Jangmo-o!"

"Jaaang!" He roared as he unloaded a Dragon Pulse Pierce right into Shellos's back. The poor pokemon squealed as it was blasted away, and Bernice I noticed was once more losing her flow. And was starting to stutter.

"T-That doesn't count as a loss!" She howled not long after as she scooped up Shellos and took off running to the Pokemon center.

"What?"

"Jang?"

"Nah buddy, you totally won. Good job!" I called out and he leapt into my arms as I spun him around.

—--

"I challenge you!"

"Okay did I like, piss you off or something?" I asked, pouting a bit. The sun was setting, and me and Mimikyu were having some together time. He was cradled in my arms as we watched the waves and just enjoyed each other's presence.

"I-I won't lose! I'll prove that Cynthia is the best!"

"I already agreed with you. Cynthia's awesome. Great taste in pokemon." I added, but this was the wrong thing to say.

"I'll beat you!"

Ah she was definitely on a single track here.

I sighed and looked down. "Do you want to battle Mimikyu?"

"KuKKuKKu?"

"Eeeee!" Bernice shrieked as she jumped back "W-w-w-w-w-what!?"

"This is Mimikyu! The Cute pokemon!" I introduced and showed Mimikyu off a bit. "There is no human alive that can survive his cuteness!"

"KukKuk." He said to me, not comfortable with my words.

"Sorry buddy." I whispered back, that was a bit too much, so I just hugged him tighter in apology.

"I-i-it doesn't matter! I'll fight your pokemon!"

"That's not a good idea. Mimikyu isn't my strongest pokemon, but he's really strong you know?"

Bernice just gave me a look, a challenge.

Well our eyes had just met.

"Alright. If two trainers' eyes meet, they must battle." I agreed and rose up. "Mimikyu! I choose you!"

"Sh-Shellos!" She stuttered and then it was once again facing Bernice.

"Muddy Water!"

"Shadow Sneak." The water washed over where he had been. As he simply dropped into shadows.

"Wha~!?"

"Shadow Sneak is a Ghost type move. The pokemon disappears into shadow… And then attacks." I told her, just as Mimikyu re-appeared behind Shellos, and Bernice stuttered when she should have shouted, and Shellos cried out as Mimikyu swiped at the poor pokemon.

"U-Use recover!"

"Mistake! Mimikyu! Wood Hammer!"

And as Mimikyu spun around behind Shellos and then bonked it right on the head, Shellos the Water Type was hit with a super effective very powerful Grass type move.

"Sh-Shell." It stuttered and then slumped.

"Wha!?" She shouted and I walked over and picked up Mimikyu. "Sorry about the sand buddy."

"KuuKkukku!" He responded as I felt him wiping at his disguise to get the sand out.

"H-How!?"

"You weren't prepared for my Mimicyute to have a powerful grass type move." I explained, and I squeezed Mimikyu a bit tighter. Wood Hammer was a recoil move, so I was going to take him to the Pokemon Center after this.

"How do I keep losing?"

"Experience and time." I said instantly. "I went through a full year of battles and training where all I did was train my pokemon, an entire team, and then another team on top of that. You only have your Shellos right?"

"Y-Yeah."

"See? That's it. Just time and experience. Battle more, and your Shellos will get stronger, and you'll get stronger as a trainer too."

"I always lose." She said, and I could see it. Her eyes getting more and more wet. Slowly fat wet tears formed in her eyes. "No-No matter how many times I try! I always lose!" She bawled, holding Shellos tightly to her chest.

Oh…

"I-i w-want to be like Cynthia! But even when I use the same moves I still loooooose!" She cried openly and loudly, and… Oh. That overbearing confidence, she'd had, hadn't been just arrogance.

It'd been the opposite…

"Okay, I've decided." I said and then pointed, with Mimikyu backing me up a moment later with his own shadow hand pointing. "I'm going to give you some battle training!"

"Huh?"

"Hehe! You're going back to Sinnoh, and you'll rock your Journey!"

I nodded. There, I'd just do a little teaching! Teaching didn't just help the student, but the teacher as well!

Plus it stopped her from ugly crying. I just couldn't deal with that.