Koga was sitting in the Gym's conference room signing a paper when Akira walked in. Aya was sitting near her older brother while a couple of other Gym workers went about their business.

  "Sir," Akira sat across from Aya after reaching the pair. "Len and Ketchum are on their way to the Safari Zone as we speak. As instructed, Len will be taking notes and observing him. And I will be grading Len's observations."

  "Good." Koga set his pen down atop the paper he had just finished signing.

  The Safari Zone was not only a popular attraction for trainers and civilians, but also played an important role in the protection and regulation of foreign Pokemon in the wild. Not unlike the Oak Corral (albeit existing for a very different purpose), it was a massive facility designed to emulate a variety of natural habitats, sometimes even down to the weather. Grasslands, wetlands, forests, rocky landscapes, and even snow. It was a protected, man-made environment that nonetheless gave Pokemon the life of the wild, blissfully shielded from plagues such as pollution and poaching. Although foreign and endangered species were hardly the only Pokemon kept in the facility, it was the perfect shield for them, and was taken advantage of as such.

  People loved visiting the Safari Zone. It took special permission and approval to be allowed to enter the wilds of the zone and play the "Safari Game", but anybody paying could have free access to the variety of closed off sections that allowed them to observe the Pokemon from a distance, or even up close via use of the devices, without any of the Pokemon being the wiser, their peace undisturbed.

  Of course, the Safari Game was a well coveted and popular attraction in its own right. With a limited supply of Safari Balls and only one team member for protection, trainers could go out into the zone itself and attempt to make catches. The true twist being that battling was only allowed as a last resort, for protection and nothing else. Captures were to be made unconventionally, and Safari Balls lacked the durability of regular Poke Balls: if a Pokemon forced its way out, the chances of the Safari Ball breaking were fairly high.

  It was a very difficult task that promised attractive rewards for those who did well. Most importantly, it forced trainers to think differently, backed into a corner where their way of thinking was put to the test.

  Len's report on Ash Ketchum's performance and behaviors in the Safari Game would prove very useful. Akira himself had proposed that Len be the one to evaluate the boy, as it was an assignment he had not yet undertaken. With Akira grading Len's ability to observe the actions, thought process and capabilities of a trainer, two birds would be killed with one stone today. Offering Ketchum the TM as a reward was simply a means to lure him to the Safari Zone, and as expected, the young rookie was none the wiser.

  "Any additional accounts on the storm?" Akira asked.

  "We've received more reports recently this morning," Aya answered. "The northeast side of the city received the worst of it, but the northwest also got hit harder than we initially believed." she bit her lip. "And on the ocean, the storm regained strength just in time to reach the Sevii Islands."

  Akira's face lost some of its color. "And what happened there?"

  "It thankfully was not a direct hit," Koga answered. "For the most part. Elite Four Lorelei is following the news with a microscope; had it not been for her prior commitment to the S.S. Anne event, she would be there now." even with that, she'd likely have canceled her role in the event entirely. Unfortunately, the new security measures currently being built prevented that from being an option for her. She was vital to overseeing them, after all. "I imagine she'll be taking an absence to the Sevii Islands the moment it is finished. As for the storm itself…" his brow wrinkled. "It is still a mystery, although more reports were promised to come in throughout the week. We know no more about it than we did last night, so unfortunately, nothing can be done for now…"

  His sister didn't hide the bewilderment in her disturbed frown when looking back at him. There was a gnawing in his chest when their eyes met. A strong thunderstorm simply popping into thin air, with no logical or scientific explanations for it even existing. Many Pokemon could control the weather, but this was something different, as though the weather had just manifested.

  "I see…" Akira trailed off for a moment before placing a folder in front of the Gym Leader. "Well, we thankfully have better news elsewhere. On my way here, I was given this report from Ecruteak Gym, and they have confirmed that Scarfist Company has been dealt with. Their hideout raided and cleansed without a trace."

  Koga took the folder and quickly opened it. It was pleasing that Leader Morty had reacted as quickly as he had, and although the mysterious storm would not be leaving the back of his mind anytime soon, it certainly wouldn't hurt to have something else in the front. "That is indeed good news, and it's fortunate that they were able to strike before the rest of the gang grew suspicious over not hearing from Caesar or the others. Morty does not disappoint whenever a matter is urgent."

  "Thinking of that…" Akira crossed his arms. "I suppose we can call it luck that the Scarfists set up there and not… well, in Cerulean."

  Koga shook his head with a breath. "Cerulean being as tame as it is is the only reason the three sisters even have their positions." Erika's problem was that she lacked the emotional durability to properly carry out her duties in stressful times like the attack on Celadon, and the murder of Leader Wade by the Rocket Executive Silver had forced Whitney into a position that she needed more time to properly grow into. The sisters, on the other hand, had nothing but proficiency in battle to qualify for such a crucial and prestigious duty.

  On the other side, his sister sighed. "Honestly, those three might be the worst Gym Leaders around."

  But Koga shook his head again. "No, that's Blaine. His seniority is only the reason he gets away with his disgraceful conduct." if almost any other Gym Leader operated the way Blaine did, they would have deservingly been stripped ages ago. Koga himself was not above the old fire master's methods, but there was no purpose behind any of the things the Cinnabar Gym Leader did; he was simply a bitter man using his power and authority to lash out, wanting his challengers to be miserable. It was an insult to everything a Gym Leader was supposed to be. Not even the sisters were guilty of that.

  Aya was about to say something else before checking her watch and perking up. "Oh! I need to get ready, Janine's going to wonder where I am." standing up she took one last look at her brother. "Keep me posted, okay?"

  "You already know I will." Koga answered.

  /

  "With my special permission, you will be permitted entrance. If you can make one visit with no prior experience going in, come out with an additional Pokemon, and prevail in my Gym, I will give you a TM of great value to a trainer such as myself."

  Instead of heading to the Safari Zone on foot, they were being transported in a shuttle. As Len said, Ash would have plenty of walking to do after entering the zone proper, so it was best to save his legs for then.

  Ash sat across from Len and Toxicroak as the older boy finished reviewing the rules of the Safari Game.

  "You'll be given a backpack separate from your own, that will also have storage technology, and a variety of bait and some tools that you can use whatever way you wish. Thirty Safari Balls will be your supplied arsenal; if you successfully catch a Pokemon that doesn't break out, once they're locked, you will not be able to open them to release the Pokemon. That process will be left to the staff, and the Pokemon will be transferred to a standard Poke Ball." the older boy summarized. "Once you are done, you will be given back your belongings, and will return anything left over from the game, no matter how big or small. No souvenirs. As a final reminder, the singular Pokemon you bring to accompany you is only for protection, and fighting is not permitted unless deemed a necessity for safety."

  At that, Ash stole a glance at Tempest, who sat beside him. Shortly after boarding the shuttle, the large crab had been quick to lay his eyes on Len's Toxicroak, only for Ash to tap him on the back and silently mouth "not today".

  "Do you need me to explain anything else?" Len asked, opening his backpack.

  "No," Ash shook his head. "But thank you." he had already made sure to go over the rules the previous night when discussing things with his team, and Len's own explanation had provided the refresher he needed.

  "Here," Len pulled out a package and tossed it to the younger boy. Catching it, Ash saw that it was a sandwich, but not the typical everyday sandwich he was used to having on the road. It was high quality bread, with cheese, lettuce and meat to go along with it. It was also roughly twice the size of he usually imagined. "You're going to be in there for hours, so have something to eat on the way. We will be returning to the mansion by dinner. I have food for your Kingler as well."

  Ash thanked Len again, although he did not answer. Biting into the sandwich, it definitely wasn't road food; he was so used to sandwiches being "the easy lunch". For a few moments, he and Tempest ate in silence, the only noises being the sound of the shuttle traversing the road outside while Len and Toxicroak sat across from them. The brown-haired boy's head was slightly lowered, his eyes closed and his arms crossed. His position seemed rehearsed, as though he had sat in this exact same manner hundreds of times before. Next to him, Toxicroak emulated his trainer's sitting position right down to the letter, as though nobody else was even there.

  Although he was enjoying the quick meal, Ash couldn't help the awkward air weighing down on him as he finished half his sandwich. Swallowing his most recent bite, he looked at the older boy sitting across from him and said. "So… you're Akira's student?"

  "Yes," Len answered, his position and expression unchanging. "For a few years, since before becoming a trainer."

  Ash thought that over for a moment. "Does that mean you're not part of the family?"

  The older boy remained static, and the air around them did not go away. "Not by blood, no. I was accepted into the clan as a student of the dojo when I was seven. After turning nine, I was recognized for my ability, and sensei took me in as a personal pupil." he stopped talking after he finished, not making another noise until Ash asked something else.

  "If you've been here the whole time… you haven't gone on a journey?"

  "I chose to stay here, yes."

  Once more, there was silence. Tempest finished his food shortly after Ash did (the Kingler had more of it), and Len remained in his position, making no effort to look at or away from them. He was simply still as a statue, and when he spoke, his voice - very much what one would expect from a twelve or thirteen year old boy - clashed with his delivery in a way Ash wasn't sure he'd even seen from Janine, or at least not every time he spoke to her.

  'I've spoken to her a lot more, though.'

  "So, uh…" gripping his tongue, Ash was beginning to find himself feeling more awkward rather than less. "What's the assignment Akira gave you?" The whole reason Len was escorting them was because there was something he had been ordered to do something at the Safari Zone today.

  "I am not to disclose that." and then Len was silent again.

  Once more, only the sound of the shuttle's wheels on the road filled Ash's ears. Next to Len, Toxicroak could have been mistaken for being asleep, but Ash knew he wasn't.

  Progressively, the awkward air that Ash had felt around him was replaced with a creeping, sneaking feeling of dejection. 'He isn't interested in talking to me.'

  That was his last attempt at starting a conversation.

  /

  The Safari Zone's lobby was massive in its own right, and Ash briefly forgot the purpose of this facility. There was activity everywhere. Booths and desks dedicated to different things, a path to what was apparently a wilderness themed play area for children, electronic kiosks that looked like they went over fun facts and trivia about the wild, and was that a sign for a water park!?

  "You seem rather alarmed, Ash." he didn't realize that his mouth was open until Len made his comment, and his cheeks turned a bit red.

  As Tempest walked beside him, Ash brushed off the split-second embarrassment. "Sorry, I guess I just wasn't expecting everything that would be here. It looks like there is so much more to the Safari Zone than just the zone itself."

  "This facility has evolved over the years," with Toxicroak still at his side, Len's attitude remained as neutral and fixed as ever. "It used to be just what it's mainly known for, but by now it has become something beyond just that, albeit never losing sight of its purpose in the process. This is a place created and designed for housing Pokemon in a controlled, safe environment, emulating the outside world in a form free of its burdens. So as its already considerable popularity grew to the massive heights of today, it has been capitalized on, sticking to the theme of the wild to both entertain and educate visitors. What you see today is Fuchsia's masterpiece, as well as a premier trainer attraction, family attraction and dating spot."

  As they neared the desk at the end, Ash turned to Tempest. "Remember big guy, I need you to be on your best behavior at all times. Understood?"

  Tempest's expression was not one of displeasure, but of resigned affirmation as he gurgled in understanding. The large crab wasn't entirely sure if his trainer could detect his confusion - It wasn't that he was unhappy to be here outright, but of all the team members Ash could have taken to a place where they weren't allowed to pick fights, why was it him? Nebula likely couldn't go - her wing needed a bit more rest before she could protect Ash properly, and Phenom may prove himself a wild card - but why not Pikachu, Valiant, or Glaceon?

  He had not voiced such a question yet, instead paying attention to his trainer and Len.

  "Wouldn't it be really bad if Team Rocket or a big group of criminals attacked this place?" Ash asked, as if realizing on the fly.

  A good point, Tempest thought.

  "They have tried in the past," Len replied. "And were taught a gruesome lesson."

  "For every one undeserving victim of my Clan's deeds, a thousand wicked will know the same."

  All of a sudden, the words were in Ash's mind, and he felt his back tingle. The Safari Zone was such a safe haven, and Fuchsia City the same. Run by a man so respected yet so feared, but hearing Janine and Akira's story this morning…

  "Anyway," he didn't have long to think as Len spoke again. "This is our stop."

  They had reached the front desk at the end of the lobby, where a young man with long orange hair about eighteen or nineteen years old sat at a monitor.

  "Hello, sir." Ash said as Len and Toxicroak stepped aside for him and Tempest. "I am here for the Safari Game."

  "Just you?" the receptionist briefly glanced at Len.

  "I'm seeing him off," the ninja boy elaborated. "After that…" he leaned forward and began whispering something in the receptionist's ear. The exchange must have been ten or fifteen seconds, and the receptionist nodded along with a look of understanding on his face before they pulled apart.

  "Very well," the receptionist replied. "I can set that up, but you'll need to let them know too."

  They were talking about whatever Len's assignment was, Ash immediately realized. Despite his curiosity, he tried not to ponder too much, and also found he did not have time, as the receptionist was addressing him once more.

  "Do you have a pass, young man? I will need to see your Pokedex as well." Ash showed him the pass he had gotten from Koga the previous evening, and handed him his Pokedex, which was placed into a slot, uploading all of his information into the database. "To confirm, your name is Ash Ketchum, correct?"

  "Yes, sir." he nodded.

  "You are allowed one Pokemon to accompany you," the receptionist was typing now. "But will only battle in necessary self defense. Aside from your Pokedex and teammate's Poke Ball, all of your belongings will be left with us, in exchange for a fixed supply that includes clothing suitable for each biome, an umbrella, thirty Safari Balls, among other things that you are free to look through as you please. You will naturally keep any Pokemon that you captured within the allotted time, and they will be transferred to standard Poke Balls upon your return. Once you've returned the equipment we supplied you, you will get your stuff back. You are permitted to pick fruit and the like, and set traps, but to the best of your ability, excessive environmental damage is to be avoided at all times. Any further questions?" Ash shook his head. "Then we will set you up now."

  Several minutes later, Len and Toxicroak led Ash and Tempest through a hallway. The younger boy was now carrying an orange backpack, roughly the same size of his own, but containing entirely different things. He couldn't help feeling oddly naked without his actual backpack, but did not focus on the thought.

  Finally, they stepped inside of a large, metallic room, and Ash suddenly felt as though he was in a sci-fi movie. A large, rectangular vehicle sat atop a set of rails that stretched out through a white tunnel, as though leading into another world…

  "The railing system travels all throughout the Safari Zone," Len explained. He and Ash turned to each other as they stopped in front of the vehicle. "For maximum effect, each separate biome is totally segregated, connected by the system. This shuttle will take you to whichever biome you wish to start at, and should you wish to leave and go to a different one, all you need to do is find a station. All you have to do is select your biome of choice on the screen, and choose which station you wish to be dropped off at."

  Ash nodded. "Alright." All of a sudden, he could feel Butterfree in his stomach, and/or perhaps his chest. It was that sort of feeling that always rested in the back of one's mind, but was only brought to the forefront right when it was about to happen.

  "A final reminder, Ash." Len crossed his arms, expression as neutral as usual. "Should you successfully capture at least one Pokemon during the game, and go on to defeat Leader Koga at the Gym, you will have completed his challenge, and your reward will be the TM of a move that holds great sentimental value to him. Should you leave empty handed today, you are free to return here and attempt the game again, but you will have already failed the Gym Leader's task. Are those terms understood?"

  "They are," Ash kept eye contact with the ninja boy before briefly bowing his head. "Thank you for helping us get here."

  "If you have no other questions," Len nodded. "Then Toxicroak and I will be making our leave. We have our own mission."

  "Of course, I won't keep you from your work."

  "I will see you this evening then, it will be dinner time when we return." his eyes moved to Ash's wrist. "You are wearing the bracelet they gave you, correct?" Ash held up his arm to show him.

  As Len and Toxicroak headed off, Ash looked back at Tempest, who was watching the pair in neutral silence before his trainer got his attention. "Alright, there's no time to waste, I suppose. We have a new teammate waiting for us in there."

  New teammate… Now that Tempest considered it, the thought had never truly crossed his mind. He was the most recent addition to the group, and by now, his capture was not remotely recent at all. He was the one member of the team who did not know what it was like to have a "new teammate".

  "I'll admit," Ash continued, leading the large crab into the shuttle. "The TM is definitely tempting, too. No idea what move it would be, but I'm assuming it's something to do with poison. Either way, we'll only know if we get it right the first time."

  The inside of the shuttle was very comfortable, Ash quickly realized. It was hardly a cheap, bare minimum form of transport, it had just enough interior space, the seats were cushioned, and the air was cozy. It almost felt like a luxury ride, but they weren't here to lounge.

  At the front of the shuttle's interior was a large screen which Ash and Tempest quickly approached. "These are the biomes we have to choose from…" Tapping "Grasslands" enlarged a picture: Sure enough, there were pictures of sprawling plains with familiar field Pokemon playing about. There were also grassy cliffs overlooking a body of water. They were inside a massive facility, but looking at the pictures out of context, he would have thought they were a natural part of the outside world.

  He checked the other choices: the Wetlands were a swampy landscape with land connected by bridges, along with a massive lake and a river leading into a waterfall that itself led to a large, rocky body of water. The Snowlands were a winter wonderland that would have lit his eyes up back at home: snowy plains and a forest with trees decorated with white that could have easily been mistaken for dessert frosting. Ash was told that a coat and pair of boots were provided in his backpack, and he'd definitely need it if they went there. The pictures even showed snow falling!

  "Is this place producing its own weather too…?" Ash wondered allowed, clicking on the Jungle next. He was greeted with images of a massive forest, where it sometimes rained. His instinctive thoughts brought him back to Viridian Forest, but he suppressed the gag. If he could make it through Fuchsia's wilderness, Viridian Forest was only a memory.

  The final section was the rocklands. It resembled a mountainous landscape, with rocks as far as the eye could see. Eventually it transitioned into a smaller desert section, and a decent amount seemed like a merge between the two.

  "Who knows what we could find in there…" Ash swapped between the pictures. "But where to go first…" As he viewed the wetlands again, he briefly imagined Tempest surfing freely across the water. One day, such a thing would be possible, but most likely not now…

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

  He turned back to the crab. "We won't get anywhere if we spend our whole time here being indecisive. Does the Jungle sound like a good place to start?" Tempest's motion seemed like a shrug, so Ash nodded and selected the biome, along with "Station B" before taking a seat. He could feel the shuttle moving, but it barely. It was incredibly smooth.

  "The screen said it should only take us a few minutes to get there." as Ash looked at Tempest, he could tell that there was something off about the crab, and he was about to ask what was wrong, but found he didn't need too.

  "Tempest…" though he didn't show it, Ash was pleased when the Kingler turned to look him in the eye. "You're wondering why I picked you for this, right? Given the rules?"

  Tempest's eyes narrowed for a second or two, before nodding with a straight face.

  Ash studied his partner for a moment before giving him a reassuring smile. In truth, he had wanted to see how the rest of the team would react when he picked Tempest. Just a month or so ago, picking the crab for something like this would have been met with protest. As it was, Valiant and Glaceon hadn't appeared totally comfortable with the idea, given that they wouldn't be allowed to fight, but even they…

  "Hey, Tempest," he said. "When I picked you for this, nobody objected. There may have been some surprise, but there wasn't any true disapproval. Did you notice that?" With a thoughtful gaze, Tempest turned away from his trainer, but was nonetheless listening as he sat down and crossed his pincers, as if trying to imitate how humans looked when they crossed their arms. Ash couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, which seemed to annoy the water type a bit.

  "I'm not making fun of you, don't worry. Just think about what I said. Now, are you ready?" thought Tempest's expression did not change, he still nodded, which satisfied Ash.

  As the boy sat back in his seat and looked over the supplies in the backpack, his mind drifted away from Tempest and the rest of the team, and to the Safari Zone. He had no way of knowing how difficult this would be, but he imagined it was going to be harder than he registered. After all, they didn't typically teach you to catch Pokemon without battling.

  As the shuttle came to a stop, Ash and Tempest both felt as though they were about to step onto an entirely new planet…

  /

  "Thank you very much, sir." Aya nodded to the waiter as he placed her and Janine's food and drinks on the table. Near their table, Ivysaur, Golbat, Pikachu, Valiant and Aya's Vileplume ate their own helpings of Pokemon food.

  After meeting up in the village, the two had set off into the city for lunch, agreeing to visit one of their favorite spots, an outdoor restaurant that often had especially good specials at this time in the Season.

  Janine felt the all too familiar sensation of onlookers as she chewed the first bite from her bowl. They had been targeted by glances on their way to the city as well, but as expected, they always grew more frequent once they had sat down and settled in.

  "Anyone who's afraid of "Leader Koga's daughter" doesn't know what they're missing."

  Her conversation with Ash the prior morning found its way into her head as she kept eating.

  As Aya seasoned her plate, the Ace Trainer took note of the tiny smile on her niece's face - accompanied by a tension in her body language subtle to the untrained eye. Responsibility demanded for her not to glare at the other customers constantly stealing glances at them. She had gotten used to it long ago, but Janine was just shy of eleven.

  "It's alright, Janine." the green-haired woman coaxed.

  Janine took a breath before looking her aunt in the eye, attempting to ignore the on and off observers. "I'm really glad we could do this today. With Ash off doing his own thing it's the perfect time."

  "I heard Len was the one going with him to the Safari Zone?" the Ace Trainer brought up.

  "Yes," Janine nodded. "For an assignment Akira gave him. Ash and Tempest will be in good hands."

  Janine remembered when Akira had first brought his new student in; she was only seven at the time. Len was two years older than her - quite the gap for children in the single digit ages - but he was still the closest to her age out of everyone in the clan, everyone else being either significantly older or younger. She recalled the first couple of weeks when, because of this fact, she would follow him around like a little sister leeching onto a big brother's shadow. Such childish attitude was thankfully corrected sooner than later.

  "I see," Aya said. "And did Akira specify what the assignment was?" She wasn't surprised by the answer.

  Janine shook her head. "Likely a 'need to know' situation." she paused just long enough to eat another bite of food. "To be honest, it has me thinking, with Ash about to get a new teammate, I'm also due for one. I might wait until after I have the badge, but I should play the Safari Game myself before leaving."

  "It's definitely opportune," Aya approved. Her eyes turned to the Pokemon present, prompting Janine to follow her gaze.

  Pikachu and Ivysaur were chatting with Vileplume, while Valiant ate near Golbat. The Kirlia had initially been sitting next to his electric teammate, but chose to give the mouse some space after detecting a weird, confusing feeling that the young psychic was still attempting to process. Valiant would occasionally steal glances at him, but nonetheless enjoyed talking to Golbat about their thoughts on the village and how everything in the city looked.

  "Make sure you're prepared, though," the woman warned, looking back at the girl as she resumed eating.

  "You mean for the limit, right?" Janine correctly guessed. Knowing that she had more to say, Aya gave her a moment to eat a bit more before continuing. "I'm going to have seven Pokemon after I make my next catch. Until I have eight badges, all I can carry at a time is six. It's disadvantageous in a sense, given that I'd have to divide my attention for the first time."

  "You're still willing to go through with it, though." Aya observed. "You don't have too, you know. Obviously, having more than the bare minimum is ideal, but you could always wait until you're closer to your eighth badge before expanding your roster. Once you've qualified for the Conference, the limit will go up to nine, and you won't be dividing your attention anymore."

  "You are correct as always," Janine nodded with a steady gaze. "But the longer I wait, the less likely anybody beyond my current six will be ready for the Conference. I can't count on my next catch being at their level, as possible as it is. For the sake of planning ahead I need to assume that they will be quite behind." Aya sipped her glass while continuing to listen. "Besides, I need the experience. Learning to balance my team is something I need to tackle sooner than later."

  "Part of planning ahead, I presume?" Aya inquired, to which the girl nodded, earning a fond grin from the Ace Trainer. "Your foresight is the envy of your peers."

  "Thanks…" shifting for a moment, Janine looked to the side, accidentally making eye contact with a boy who had stolen a glance at the pair. He quickly tore his gaze away from her the moment their eyes met.

  Aya's expression fell. "Oh, I didn't mean-"

  But Janine was quick to raise a hand. "Please, you've done nothing wrong, I promise." a few more moments of silent eating between the two ended with her continuing. "Honestly, home feels so different and alien from the rest of Kanto. I never got these looks after leaving."

  "It was refreshing for you, I'd imagine." Aya sighed. "And I think it's something you needed. If only others in the clan had been closer to your age, but even that wouldn't quite be the same. You've always seemed different talking to me on the video phones during your travels."

  A soft, split second giggle escaped Janine's lips. For a moment, she looked back at her Pokemon, before returning her attention to her aunt. "When I first got to Viridian City… I might have told you this, but it was almost like a shock. It took several moments for me to process that none of the kids I was talking to recognized me. I was just some girl named Janine. Can I have some of that seasoning?"

  "Sure." Aya handed her niece the shaker so that she could sprinkle some of it into the bowl. After some stirring, she took a few more bites, and the Ace Trainer could see the purple haired girl's expression subtly light up.

  "Delicious. I did slip up a bit a few times, and had to cover my tracks. When I first met Ash in Viridian I almost told him about father by accident, so I had to quickly backpedal and say that he was a League official. That happened less as time went on, though." her purple eyes shone with fondness as she stirred her bowl again. "Getting to be 'one of the rookies' almost made me forget at times. I was so busy playing around, not having to be myself."

  Aya frowned, nose wrinkling. "Not being yourself? I don't think that's the best way to put it, Janine. You're almost eleven, you're still discovering yourself. Being yourself is an ongoing process. The past few months are a part of that."

  Janine's tiny smile was back, but unlike before, it didn't reach her eyes. "I just… can't help but feel I pulled the wool over my own eyes. I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for anything, but I feel like I was intoxicated by them. Forgetting to keep this new side of me regulated." herlips evened out, and her eyes remained the same. "I let my guard down."

  "Make your bad memories an experience, and your nightmares a reminder. Turn your suffering into a lesson that will make you stronger and wiser."

  Her father's words stayed in her head. They were there when she thought of the time she and Bulbasaur had spent roaming around, looking for an opponent with the courage to battle them. They were there when she thought of meeting Jazzy, Mitch, Sarah, and of course Ash at Viridian's Pokemon Center on Opening Day. They were there when she thought of all the time she spent blissfully chatting with people her age, slipping into a persona she wasn't used to.

  They were there when she thought of all the memories she wished she could forget. Memories of the red haired Rocket with the silver mask, of his Feraligatr, of the attack on the museum, of Lavender Tower.

  …

  Aya studied her niece for several moments as Janine ate her food in silence. From the corner of her eye, she could see Valiant looking in the girl's direction, to Golbat's curiosity.

  "Janine… What did your father say to you?"

  Janine looked up at her, slightly surprised, and Valiant held his gaze more closely for a moment before diverting it.

  "Father merely gave me advice, aunt Aya." She managed a smile. "I must figure things out, but I can't move forward without his badge, so please do not worry."

  "Hmmm…" the Ace Trainer resigned. "Very well… speaking of the Soul Badge, do you have any strategies at the moment?"

  The girl's face was a little bit lighter now. "I'm in the middle of crafting some. I was actually wondering if we could go over it today."

  "My ears are all yours." Despite the thoughts in the back of her mind, Aya's smile was reassuring as always.

  /

  Ash had never been to a tropical place before, and stepping into the jungle biome with Tempest was an immediate demonstration on how real the Safari Zone was. As they exited the shuttle and entered the jungle, the warm, humid air instantly hit them. The vegetation surrounding them from every direction was as real as Viridian Forest, and water dripped from the leaves like recent rainfall.

  He couldn't decide how comfortable he felt; the warm breeze felt energizing, yet the moisture in the air was heavy, not like the refreshing mist that he was used to after it rained back at home. Next to him, he knew Tempest was not likely facing the same conflict.

  "Must feel good, huh?" He looked to the Kingler before they started walking. "Breathing in all this moisture must be like fuel for you."

  Tempest allowed himself a genuine smile, with no sarcasm, derision, or sadism behind it. They likely wouldn't be spending all their time in this section, but for now, the water type couldn't say he was displeased with the arrangement. As a crab, "warm and moist" was the most luxurious environment he could ask for.

  "Heh," Ash observed his partner for a bit before padding his backpack with his hand. "Well, the sooner we get started, the better. We only have thirty balls that are each likely to break from a single failed attempt, and we're discouraged from directly using moves on the Pokemon here, so unless we get creative we're throwing darts without a board." sighing, he thought of some of the things he found in the backpack. "I don't think I'd be very good at setting up a trap; Janine could probably do it. For now-"

  A noise from Tempest cut him off, and he looked to where the Kingler's right pincer was pointing: An Ekans was slivering down a tree, paying them little mind. It would be easy enough to take a ball from his belt and toss it at the snake…

  Ash eyed the poison type for a moment longer before looking back to Tempest. "Good eye, but I think we should look for something rarer. Ekans are easy to find in Fuchsia, so we could go outside if we won't to catch one, but this place has species we'd be lucky to find anywhere in Indigo." from the corner of his eye, he saw the Ekans slither out of sight, and a mild disappointment sparked in his chest. Despite his words, he knew he may have just allowed a new catch to get away.

  'We only just got here.' he reminded himself. They couldn't dawdle, but they shouldn't rush. Not with seemingly infinite options and an established finite supply.

  The two continued walking, following the loosely defined dirt path through the maze of trees. They passed by a few Pokemon over the next several minutes, and all of them went about their business as though the duo wasn't even there. It was somewhat surreal, seeing undisturbed wildlife up close.

  "We are still indoors, aren't we Tempest?" Ash said aloud while watching an Oddish playfully chase after a slightly larger Oddish. "From what I know, there is supposed to be a high tech viewing deck surrounding us, with camera's to zoom in and watch the habitat up close." Tempest gurgled something, and the boy could only guess what his partner was trying to say. "You think we might actually be outside?" When the water type shrugged, he tried again. "Or do you just think that would make more sense?" this time Tempest nodded, and Ash stopped to think.

  "Hmmm, I mean… it probably would be, but this place has a desert and a dedicated winter section. Something like that would need to be somewhere controlled, it couldn't coexist with the surrounding climate." he wasn't sure why he was chuckling. Was the confusion amusing? "You know this isn't the only place like this, right? Professor Oak's Corral is the same way." he looked back to Tempest. "Actually, you and the others will be able to see that place once we're done here. We'll be breaking the six Pokemon limit today, so I'll have to rotate you guys. I mentioned that before, but when you're not with me, you'll be in a place that's similar to this."

  Tempest silently considered his trainer for a moment before looking around. Living here in the Safari Zone, or in this "Oak Corral", would probably be like being back in the wild again. Of course it would only be temporary, but the crab suddenly realized he hadn't really considered the wild for quite some time. He wondered if he saw the wild the same way Ash did these days: A road from point A to point B. He didn't particularly miss the Cerulean coast, or even think about it much for that matter. It was the only permanent home he ever had, now that he was nomadic.

  After a few more minutes of walking, Ash was almost starting to wonder why they hadn't seen at least one rare Pokemon, when he suddenly spotted something. "Whoa, Tempest, look at that!"

  The crab's eyes followed his trainer's finger, before narrowing.

  It was a bird, perched atop a low-hanging branch. Its body was mostly black and white, but the startling eye catcher was its beak: It was enormous, and a mixture of yellow, transitioning to different shades of orange, and red, with a black tip. He couldn't help but sneer at the sight; with a beak like that, this sucker was begging for them to spot it! And it had to be rare, they'd never seen one before. He didn't even know what the hell it was.

  Best of all, that giant beak looked like the perfect weapon for battle. Pecking must have been like swinging a sledgehammer. The water type's pincers clenched at the thought of clashing with this strange bird's giant beak with a mighty swing…

  "Easy there, big guy," to Tempest's frustration, Ash held up a hand. "No direct attacking. That's the rules."

  The large crab snorted in displeasure. Who the hell came up with that rule? Wasn't being limited to one Pokemon enough of a disadvantage? How do you even capture a Pokemon without beating them up first? He certainly wouldn't have let himself get caught if Ash and Pikachu had tried using traps and bait instead of smacks and lightning. Whoever they successfully caught in this place was a loser.

  "Still…" Ash stared at the mysterious bird, hand wrapped around one of the Safari Balls on his belt. Should he…?

  He already had a bird on his team, and although he had no idea what this new bird was, he wouldn't be surprised if it was the same type as Nebula. With that in mind, would it be worth it? ]

  …

  But it was also new. He'd never seen it before, and he wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't the only one. Maybe there was room on a team for two Pokemon of the same type.

  He took the Safari Ball from his belt, but suddenly paused.

  "We gotta do this right," Tempest." fishing through the backpack, he pulled out some bait. "If we can't injure that bird with your moves, we need to distract it, and then capture him while he's occupied." he tossed the bait, and was pleased with his aim: it landed right under the branch. It may not be in the bird's sight, but sooner or later, the scent…

  The boy grinned as the big-beaked bird spread its wings and descended from the branch. Taking the bait in its large beak, it began munching. Ash didn't throw the ball right away; he waited a moment for the bird to grow comfortable, become fully fixated on its snack, and then he made his move.

  The Safari Ball bounced off of the bird's head, opened up, and sucked it in. The spherical capsule landed in the dirt and began to shake as the bird resisted from inside.

  As the ball had left his hand, Ash had abruptly found himself feeling increasingly unsure. All he had done was create a mild distraction for an opening; if this was that easy, then the Safari Game would be-

  The ball burst open. What's more, it snapped in half, something Poke Balls did not usually do when a Pokemon broke free from a failed capture. By the time this bird with the large beak had struggled its way out, Ash didn't even groan. The inherent disappointment of watching a catch fail was certainly felt, but he had almost been expecting it by the time it had happened.

  The bird didn't look too happy about being blindsided in the middle of eating, either, and Ash tensed as a pair of stern eyes fixed themselves on him and Tempest. The crab immediately positioned himself in front of his trainer. For a moment, it looked as though the bird may attack, and Tempest's eyes narrowed. Cold air seeped from his open pincers as his eyes dug into the foreign bird like lasers. His trainer had been nice enough to try and catch this thing without hurting it, and as far as Tempest was concerned, attacking Ash would earn the ungrateful featherbrain a sound beating.

  The bird turned and flew off. Tempest's first instinct was to fire an Ice Beam in pursuit, but he knew he couldn't. No instigating, he reminded himself with a grumble.

  Briefly, Ash wanted to give chase, but he knew that would be pointless. Whatever that strange yet fascinating looking bird was, he wouldn't be finding out today. Not unless he was lucky enough to run into another one, but what if that went the same.

  "Damn…" he sighed with a mild shake of the head. "Guess that means we're down to twenty nine, now…"

  The duo kept walking in the same direction the bird had flown off at. They ignored the local species that passed them by, but Ash made an exception for the large Scyther that they found sleeping against a tree. With some consideration, he chucked a ball at the snoring bug, and for a moment it didn't even shake.

  Then it started to, and when it seemed as though the capture might stick, Scyther burst out and fled.

  By this point, Ash did not know what to do. He had only made two attempts at catching. But what else was he supposed to do apart from throwing bait or catching them while they were snoozing? He didn't know how to build a trap or… but that was it, wasn't it?

  "Koga proposed this as a challenge," Tempest looked to his trainer as the boy thought out loud. "He's famous for being a genius in strategy. He wants to test us, have us prove how smart we are. He sent us here because you have to be creative and think outside the box to make a catch. I haven't been doing that…"

  No prior experience in the Safari Zone. That was the condition, any practice had to be in the moment. Ash found himself wishing that he had done more on the way here, but where else would he put skills like that to use except for here? All of a sudden he found himself clenching his fist. If he failed the test, so be it. He could always go out into the regular wild to get himself a new teammate, and although he'd be missing out on whatever TM Koga was promising, he would still do whatever it took to beat him and earn the badge.

  …

  But that thought wasn't a comfortable one. He was here now. He wanted to make at least one catch, but how…

  Tempest could see his trainer's growing unease as they continued their walk, narrowing his eyes in concern as Ash took out the tablet they had been given by the receptionist. The tablet's purpose was to display a simple, vague map of each biome that detailed where each station was located, as well as their current location. There were three stations per biome, each labeled A, B, and C, and that was where trainers would use the shuttles to either arrive in each section or leave for a new one.

  "I think we should try going somewhere else," Ash looked at him, shaking off the brief feeling of defeat. "We still have plenty of time, and maybe a change in scenery will help us come up with something."

  Tempest hummed, not realizing he was until it happened. If they didn't know how to build traps, maybe Ash was trying to think of ways to use the environment? The water type was drawing a blank on how, though. Planning was Ash's job, and naturally, he was good enough at it for Tempest to be mostly content leaving that to him, but as he looked back at his trainer, he suddenly felt a mild guilt at the thought. He was the only member of the team here to help their trainer, but what exactly had he been doing apart from scaring away any potential attackers? Did it even matter, though? He was about as far from figuring this out as Ash himself was.

  "Let's see," Ash enlarged the screen. "If we take a sharp right, station C won't be too far off. Once we get there we can decide where to go next…" raising his head, his eyes lit up. "Hey, look!"

  Tempest looked where Ash was pointing… and blinked. There was nothing there…

  Looking at the crab, Ash initially didn't understand why Tempest was so confused, until a sudden realization had him suppressing a face palm. "Oh, sorry, I wasn't pointing at a Pokemon, I was talking about the bananas. There's a bunch growing over there, see?"

  Sure enough, there was a mountain's worth of bananas hanging off of a tree just a little bit off their intended path. Ash had never seen a banana tree up close before, just in pictures, and without thinking, he found himself jogging towards it, with a somewhat bewildered Tempest following from behind.

  Up close, the bananas did not appear fully ripe, but were close enough to be tempting. Ash's mom had often reminded him that there was nothing wrong with eating them green, but to him they always tasted better yellow, and these bananas were getting to that point…

  "The receptionist said we're allowed to pick fruit," he remembered aloud, before looking at Tempest with a simple shrug. "So… why not? Wouldn't hurt to have a snack ready if we get hungry in here. Your appetite is still adjusting to your evolution, so you need more food."

  Tempest mirrored the shrug. Bananas were never on his personal list of potential snacks, but he didn't dislike them, and now that Ash mentioned it, his stomach was starting to get that food craving feeling. He watched his trainer pick some of the yellow fruit to put in the backpack, when a thought suddenly occurred to Ash, as if out of nowhere.

  "You know, I'm surprised I didn't realize this before…" Ash bit his lip. "But the Safari Zone isn't just an attraction for trainers. There are people in the observation area right now, watching from above. Observing the wildlife as the Pokemon here go about their business…" he looked Tempest over for a moment. "So… if we're both in here right now, do you think that means…"

  …Tempest hadn't considered that either. If visitors could observe the wild Pokemon freely, then that meant that trainers playing the Safari Game were also being watched.

  /

  Len sat in his chair next to Toxicroak in a private section of the observation area. In front of them, a monitor was propped up on a stand, showing Ash picking the bananas while Tempest watched.

  Every trainer who entered the zone was given a bracelet for their own safety: in case of emergency, the rangers on standby could zero in on their location. It thankfully did not happen too often, but Fuchsia did not become one of the safest cities in Indigo because of a lack of caution by the authorities. Leader Koga would never stand for phoning it in.

  What Ash did not know was that his bracelet was a special one: with a built in chip and microphone, the Safari Zone's cameras could not only track him, but exclusively transmit his footage directly onto the monitor he and Toxicroak were viewing from. His assignment was a direct on: Sensei Akira had instructed him to observe and evaluate Ash's entire time playing the Safari Game: How he behaved, what he was thinking in the moment, and how he approached making captures. His observations needed to be thorough and specific, and his sensei would give him a deserved poor grading if he cut corners. Leader Koga would be putting this information to use, after all.

  "So far he's only shown the most basic of survival instincts," Len narrated aloud while writing in his notebook. "No creativity in the early stages. His Kingler shows clear signs of instinctual aggression, making him a questionable choice for the Safari Game, but so far he appears to have him under control. Casually converses with his Pokemon, who appears to be protectively loyal to him, and shows consideration for the Kingler's increased appetite." he stopped writing as Ash finished picking the bananas and continued leading Tempest to the nearest station.

  "You agree with everything I said so far, Toxicroak?" Len's partner nodded, just as focused on the monitor as the ninja boy was. "He seems like he may be compassionate, although it's too soon to see. His early attempts at catching doesn't inspire much confidence, but we're going to be here for a while. It's important I keep the notes specific as things continue, comparing his first impressions to however he performs later on. Sensei would never approve of an evaluation that does not separate and take the early middle and late portions into equal consideration."

  Even as he watched the duo on the screen, Len felt his blood rush for a moment, but calmed his nerves. He had never done something like this before, but it was a vital aspect of what he was being trained for. Not being able to judge a trainer's character or abilities was an unacceptable shortcoming. Not to mention, his observations and written report were a vital (and in fact, the most important) part of the trap Leader Koga had set for Ash Ketchum.