What was that?

  Gray may have entered the laboratory seething, but now he left in a distinctly more pensive mood.

  As he walks towards the familial side of the lab, he entertains the possibility of entering the conference now, a month into the season. He had more than enough time. With Mega Altaria ferrying him around the region, he could take short trips around the major gyms to collect badges.

  When Lance talked him down during the meeting, Gray had felt the sudden urge to mimic Siebold by taking off a glove and throwing it on the ground to Lance's face. He had decided against it – the Kalosian tradition of declaring war would have been lost in translation. He also had no gloves on hand.

  If he wanted to throw the, unfortunately metaphoric, gauntlet at Lance, he'd have to make an entire production out of it. If he had to go around collecting badges, he would have to challenge the gym's personal team.

  While returning conference challengers would request to fight higher tiered teams to re-earn their badge in a new season, those were typically seven-badge challenges with the occasional eight-badge. Personal gym teams were a different beast altogether.

  Gyms obviously had to make concessions for the various levels of trainer competency. The first three badges were considered entry badges, where gyms tested trainers for basic knowledge; type matchups and the like.

  That being said, while official rules required gym leaders to have badge-appropriate teams, it wasn't uncommon for some gyms to disregard the rules and earn a level of notoriety. The Viridian, Saffron and Cinnabar gyms were known to only accept higher tiered badge challengers from 6 to 8. Viridian Gym took it a step further where, by reputation alone, it was recommended to only challenge Giovanni for your eighth badge because he would use an eight-badge team on you regardless.

  A gym leader's personal pokemon, on the other hand, were pokemon unconstrained by the Pokemon League's rules. Gym leaders were free to train such pokemon beyond regulation, showcasing what made them leaders of the cities they oversaw.

  To Gray, fighting anything below a gym leader's personal team would be doing his pokemon a disservice.

  First and foremost, while necessary, Gray found it distasteful to knowingly limit a pokemon's growth to fit human needs. While there were pokemon happy to idle in strength to fit badge power level standards, growing stronger was a universal desire. Pokemon starting out in lower level tiers gradually progressing up the ladder was a natural progression. Unfortunately, the economics with gym leader pokemon 'phasing out' of badge appropriate tiers was a potential horror show Gray would rather not think about.

  Instead, Gray had made it a point to train his pokemon as best as he could, stretching out their potential as much as possible. Gray had initially worried about asking for too much from his pokemon. It was a jarring surprise to figure out that his concerns were wholly unnecessary. So long as he monitored the well-being of his poke-family, he could push them further.

  Requests for personal team challenges were few and far between. Challengers were free to challenge a gym leader's personal team, but in turn, gym leaders were given total reign to devastate their opponent.

  Personal pokemon challenges was a complicated exhibition, as gym leaders would oftentimes use such opportunities to showcase their strength to the populace. The trashing of haughty challengers amidst a crowded audience, combined with a recording that would be shown on state television was a deterrent in itself.

  Still, the challenge and implications of such a battle was delicious.

  Gray could see it now, challenging each major gym leader methodically. Gradually trudging up with each battle, culminating into the elite four and peaking with Lance Blackthorn.

  It was a tantalising idea, grinding the arrogant dragon master who dared to look down on Gray and his pokemon to dust. He and his pokemon would see the tsunami coming at them, but would be too powerless to do anything against it.

  Despite the appeal, Gray would have much preferred a quick match against Lance; showcasing just enough to prove his ability to survive a trek through Mt. Silver, find Red and introduce Ash to his father.

  While Gray could chalk up his presence as enough of a butterfly to derail the threads of fate, he had a hunch that Ash's adventures across the pokemon world were inevitable. As such, Ash needed his father present in his life to, at the very least, train the boy to survive it all. Red was a strong trainer who took the world by storm in his rookie year – he had the most right, and responsibility, to do so.

  But still, if reincarnation had taught Gray anything, it's to roll with the punches. When memories of a past life had trickled in growing up, it was better to acknowledge the situation for what it was rather than wallow in self-imposed turmoil. Gray couldn't do anything about the Lance issue now, but he sure as hell could make the dragon master regret being an ass.

  Feeling resolved with his future steps, Gray begins to concern himself with the logistics of telling his pokemon about their new goal as he enters the dining room.

  Gray's immediately flummoxed at the scene in front of him. Ash and Gary were seated on the dining table, sneaking in bits of food at Sylveon who stood poised on its centre.

  Blue and Professor Oak were huddled in whispered conversation, the older man appearing distinctly pleased as he stroked an extended ribbon from the pokemon. He would periodically stop his conversation with his grandson to scribble on the notebook in front of him, before returning his attention back to his manic whisperings.

  Seated near them was Grandpa Sammy idly petting Blue's Umbreon on his lap. The old man stared into nothingness, though his content smile had him radiating an aura of satisfaction.

  "Your paws better be clean if you're standing there. Disgusting," Gray teased his starter. The distracted bubble of the room pops as his family members register his presence.

  The identical smiles that greets him throws him off. Just what was going on?

  "Of course, of course! He insisted on washing them before he did so. Remarkable! Are Sylveon a species particularly concerned with hygiene?"

  "No. As a trained pokemon, he should just know better than to contaminate food with his little grimy feet,"

  Sylveon cries out in protest at that, before turning away from his trainer. The fairy focuses his attention back to the two boys, demanding more morsels of food.

  The two boys sheepishly glanced at their uncle. Gray, in an action not dissimilar to his starter, waves them off.

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  "It's fine to keep feeding him. Let him get fat. In his next battle, he'll fail to dodge a Gunk Shot aimed at his face. We'll see then,"

  Sylveon turns his head just enough to glare at his trainer in indignance. A ribbon extends towards Gary's plate, wrapping around a sausage. Maintaining eye contact with his trainer, he savagely bites into the delicacy.

  Gray rolls his eyes at the antics, before pulling a chair out to join the table. He fashions himself his own plate of lunch before deciding to further observe the room. He's interrupted by his grandfather's attempt at a conversation.

  "Are Sylveon not immune to poison-type attacks then? He was able to shrug off a Toxic from Umbreon during their battle. It was shocking!"

  His enthusiasm wavers at the silence he receives in response. Gray takes his time chewing his food. His swallow seems to reverberate around the room. He extends a delicate hand towards a napkin and slowly dabs his mouth.

  Gray feels a smidgen of guilt when his actions cause a shift in the air, dispelling the previously happy atmosphere. Deciding to throw Professor Oak a bone, he relents.

  "That's not it. Before he got attacked, he set up Misty Terrain. It prevents pokemon from receiving status conditions."

  To aid his trainer's point, Sylveon lightly stomps. Immediately, wisps of pink energy erupt around the room. They trail up into the air, curling into tantalising patterns that dissipate after reaching a certain height. With an inhale, one could taste a light hint of sweetness.

  "Remarkable! This would be very useful in battle! Such a move would surely be useful in the days to come, yes?"

  Gray's brows furrowed in confusion. What exactly was Professor Oak implying now? He couldn't have known about Gray's decision to tackle the Indigo League, he'd only just made the resolve to do so on the way here. Nevertheless, he hums nonchalantly in agreement.

  Combined with the Misty Terrain, their amicable exchange opens the floodgates. Blue howls in protest about the move's role in their previous battle. Grandpa Sammy adds in his own praise at Sylveon's prowess, much to the proud pokemon's glee. Ash and Gray chattered loudly as they tried valiantly to contain wisps of fairy energy with their hands.

  Tensions ease and the conversation around the dining table restarts. Gray lets the feeling of home, of family sink into his bones before joining in.

  After the shared lunch, Gray followed Sylveon with two persistent tag-alongs.

  Ash and Gary enthusiastically skipped, walking the same pace as Sylveon. They would periodically turn back to meet Gray in the eye, giggle amongst themselves and whisper a hurried conversation.

  Puzzled but ultimately deciding to leave children to their own antics, he attempted to steer his starter to his most pressing concern.

  "Sylveon, can you gather the whole team together again? There's something I need to share with everyone."

  Expecting the pink fox to take his business-like tone with the gravitas it deserved, Gray was further perplexed when all his starter did was roll his eyes before walking towards the treeline. He gave an annoyed huff to his trainer. Knowing better, Gray hurriedly obeyed.

  He followed Sylveon deeper into the forest. While it was not untouched vegetation, it was still annoying to bash through. Gray lamented his own lack of dexterity when Sylveon and the two kids remained carefree, their smaller bodies nimbly avoiding exposed tree roots and uneven ground with ease.

  Gray resolved himself to being the butt of a joke when he tripped on a wayward branch. At least his nephews were entertained. Though they did seem familiar with the path they were taking…

  Soon, Gray could hear a familiar crackle of lightning, the deep rumble of earth unearthing and an explosion of energy. A few minutes later, the group broke through the trees and into a fairly large clearing.

  Gray's pokemon were scattered around the area, divided into little sparring groups. Azumarill sprinted towards Gardevoir and Hatterene, deftly sidestepping bolts of electricity the duo fired at him in a bid to stop his advance. A particularly accurate beam of Psychic energy smacked into him, blowing him further back. The water type sprung up, released a war cry and threw himself back into the fray.

  On the farther side of the cleaning were Gray's smaller pokemon amongst a jumble of rocks. Clefable would jump from rock to rock, encouraging his little followers behind him to do the same. Mimikyu and Mawile trailed after him. Unfortunately, Mawile misjudged a step and fell backwards, descending swiftly. When he landed, the heavy thump accompanying him was astonishingly loud. Clefable chided the steel type before pressing his hands together in front of him. The trio grimaced in tandem when Gravity became heavier around them.

  "Wait, you guys are training already? How'd you all know? I literally just decided this!"

  His pokemon registered their trainer's presence, immediately stopping all action. Hatterene took advantage of the situation to fire another bolt at Azumarill. The water mouse hurriedly proned to avoid it, but his speed in doing so caused him to eat a bit of dirt. He waved a fist indignantly in Hatterene's direction.

  Grimmsnarl snarled impatiently at his trainer to get on with it. He had been deflecting Hydro Pumps from Primarina with Light Screens, so he was dripping wet, making him a bit snappy.

  "What do you mean you already expected this?"

  Before he could begin an entire tirade, Ash and Gary's giggles interrupted him.

  "They've started training a few days ago! We helped them find this clearing when he asked us," Ash patted Sylveon for good measure.

  "Dad told us you've finally decided to join the Indigo League during lunch, Uncle. Can we stay and watch? We promise we won't get in the way!"

  Baffled, Gray quickly met the eyes of all his pokemon. They remained unperturbed by the subject, as if their restless trainer deciding to tackle the most prestigious competition in Indigo was a daily occurrence.

  Gray groaned in exasperation. "We're going to participate in the Indigo League this year. That means we'll be reacquiring the badges to qualify. We'll face each Gym Leaders' personal team, so it will be difficult."

  Grimmsnarl yawned. Twitching, Gray forged ahead.

  "You guys better not be complacent. Since you know me so well, you know we're not just settling for the badges in Kanto, right? We'll collect the badges in Johto too!"

  His startled pokemon reacted to that, letting out a cacophony of protests, Grimmsnarl's indignation was particularly audible.

  Gray finally let himself relax. It was good to be a trainer!