The night before his first match against Pewter City gym, Gray found himself relaxing in his ostentatious hotel room, happy to idly watch Ash interact with his pokemon.

  Rotom had recently discovered the wonders of the internet, and was pestering Ash with information he found online. Ash seemed to thrive interacting with pokemon, more than able to hold conversations about this and that of certain pokemon and their types.

  Gray would occasionally volunteer his own knowledge to the mix, creating a dynamic conversation that aided Ash in his learning.

  The rest of Gray’s team played along, Rotom playing translator to the more complex ideas they had.

  Like this, Ash’s intelligence was more obvious. Rotom would occasionally show Ash texts that he encouraged the boy to read, correcting the boy when necessary.

  Ash had initially worried about Gray’s match tomorrow, his guilt at the forefront for all the headaches he caused his uncle earlier in the day. He was weirded out by the calm exhibited by both trainer and pokemon but was quick to dismiss the nonchalance because “Uncle Gray was a super strong trainer who didn’t need to worry”. Gray had no incentive to correct the boy, for he was spot on.

  Time had moulded Gray into the trainer he was today. During his beginnings, he worried constantly about his training methods, his in-battle commands and even the potential impact his performance would have on his family. The pressure that came with carrying the Oak name was too heavy a burden to carry.

  It was only when he broke free of the shackles of expectations that he began to flourish. Like his Fairy pokemon who did not respond too well to rigidity and rules, he had been better off dancing to his own tunes.

  When he could finally battle without the weight of expectation, he found a rhythm to battling that agreed with him. Things clicked, and he ended up winning more than he lost. Gray had already prepared his pokemon to the best of his ability, worrying the night before a battle was of no use to him and his pokemon.

  So Gray and his pokemon did nothing but relax now.

  As the night deepened, Gray saw fit to remind his team.

  “Tomorrow’s match is important, not because we might struggle to win but what it represents,” the room quieted at Gray’s words, even Ash and Rotom pausing their discussion to pay attention.

  “We’re the first fairy specialist here in the east. You guys know that your species aren’t all exactly popular here,” he said, nodding to Azumarill and Clefable.

  “Our task isn’t difficult, we just need to show Indigo what we’re capable of. We left Indigo at a really low point, so most would be quick to dismiss us. They’ll probably say I’m the least talented Oak and how I’m nothing compared to Blue.”

  Despite the nonchalance in his trainer’s voice, Sylveon grimaced. As Gray’s starter, he had been present for all of Gray’s journeys. The words he was saying now might be free of emotion, but Sylveon vividly remembered how hurt his trainer had been by such thoughts in the past.

  “But that’s fine. We all know that’s not true anymore. We’ll win tomorrow, and we’ll show them what we’re made of.”

  His pokemon made varying sounds of soft agreement, expressing their approval without much fanfare.

  Despite the calm atmosphere, Ash’s eyes were blazing. He noted his uncle’s disposition, and how he could feel the eagerness of the pokemon though they were subdued. Instead of an inferno of excitement, they were a waiting Arbok ready to strike at an opportune moment. He resolved within himself that he would try his best to emulate this in his future journey, having his pokemon be so prepared that there was no nervous anxiety in them, just determined anticipation.

  A ringing interrupted the stillness of the moment. Gray reached out for his phone, glanced at the screen briefly before smiling.

  He clicked to accept the call. “Hey grandpa! Miss me already? We should be back tomorrow with a Boulder Badge, don’t worry.”

  “Hello Gray. Just wanted to check up on you to see if you’re well. I assume since you’re being cheeky as usual that everything is good?” greets Grandpa Sammy.

  “Hmm? Why wouldn’t I be well?”

  “Samuel and Blue saw that you registered Zapdos to your roster,”

  At the reminder, Gray couldn’t help but give a bland look to Ash. The boy smiled, scratching his head sheepishly.

  “We’re fine. Barely even fought the thing. Only Altaria did, so that unfortunately means he won’t be able to fight in the match tomorrow. He’d be too tired.”

  Said dragon squawked his protest, but his trainer ignored him with an eye roll. He wasn’t one to punish his pokemon, but this should be an appropriate enough consequence.

  “It was mostly Ash being a little troublemaker, but all’s well. Unfortunately Mimikyu was caught up in it too, so he won’t be fighting tomorrow either. Oh well.”

  Mimikyu folded with a sigh. He knew this was his trainer chastising him for not stopping Ash from catching Zapdos. Unfortunately, he was too distracted while being hugged by Ash to bother doing so. Furthermore,there had been something right in Ash’s actions, none of Mimikyu’s protective instincts had bristled when they approached the legendary pokemon. Not like when that wild Pikachu had approached Ash, everything in his body had definitely protested against that.

  Mimikyu figured he was lucky enough to get off relatively scottfree. He wasn’t a battle junkie like Altaria, he would live just fine.

  “Ash?” Grandpa Sammy sighed. “I guess he couldn’t help himself from playing around. That’s fine as long as neither of you are hurt.”

  “Nope, we’re perfectly fine. How could I let an overgrown bird hurt us. Grandpa, you don’t have enough faith in me! That hurts you know?” claimed Gray, batting eyelids in mock hurt.

  Grandpa Sammy’s laugh was resounding enough to echo around the hotel room.

  “Yes, yes. Grandpa is sorry for worrying. We can’t wait to watch your match tomorrow, we’ll be supporting you from home. You should be back by tomorrow night, right? We’ll prepare food to celebrate.”

  Happiness flickered through Gray. It was nice to have a home with Grandpa Sammy there to go back to. He may miss some of the people he had left back in Kalos, but he had no regrets leaving for Grandpa. Gray wouldn’t go so far to say it was their shared bloodline that caused it, but coming back to spend time with the old man in his retirement satisfied a primal part of Gray’s brain. He supposed that the unfortunate by-product of spending time with Blue and Professor Oak was tolerable in comparison to the joy Grandpa Sammy brought.

  Gray continued chatting with Grandpa Sammy throughout the night, an easy conversation that brought Gray peace. Ash had asked for Gary, wanting to share his experiences with his best friend but the other boy had refused to engage with him. Confused, Ash tried to pry but Grandpa Sammy did not want to elaborate.

  When Gray slept that night, he went dreamless, in peace and surrounded by his pokemon, his family.

  Ash fidgeted in the plastic seat, filled with so much energy it was impossible to remain still.

  All around him, Pewter Gym was filled to the brim with people. Unlike two days ago, there were no unoccupied seats in the house, and what seemed like the entirety of Pewter City had converged in the gym.

  Fortunately, Ash was led to an area reserved for Gray as a challenger. He was easily visible from the challenger’s stand, reassuring Gray of his safety even mid battle. For good measure, Mimikyu, Rotom and Altaria were left with him.

  Mimikyu was buried deep within Ash’s embrace, acting shy around the bustle of the crowd and hiding for his comfort. Ash failed to notice his smugness for his success in getting snuggles.

  In comparison, Altaria was disappointed that he wouldn’t fight in this match. It was never a guarantee who Gray would use in a battle, but the battle junkie in him would have felt content with the possibility. Instead, he had been relegated to the stands. Ash had made a point to occasionally stroke his feathers, so at least there was one perk in staying here. He sighed, feathers visibly drooping.

  In the beginning, Ash had been filled with excitement. He was about to witness his uncle’s first gym battle live! Already Ash felt a piece of himself heal just being here. Growing up, it was Gary who had had opportunities to sometimes watch live matches after he begged his dad. Ash wanted to ask to be included, but he didn’t want to intrude on Gary’s limited opportunities to spend time with his father. Ash had to content himself with Gary’s lively retellings.

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  But now, it had been Uncle Gray who had asked for Ash to join him. He was eager to be here and support his uncle, but with every Brock supporter he saw he couldn’t find an equivalent for his uncle. He had looked at everyone within his line of sight, but all he could identify were banners supporting the Pewter Gym leader.

  “Why are there only Pewter people here? Where are the people supporting Uncle Gray?” he grumbled petulantly.

  “Why would anyone want to support a guy about to lose super badly to Brock?” came the unexpected reply.

  Looking behind him, Ash met eyes with the voice’s owner, a girl around his age. She had spiky brown hair pulled to a short ponytail and pupils one could barely see because her eyes were so small. Seated beside her were her younger twin siblings, a boy and girl pair with the same spiky brown hair and eyes.

  “Who says my uncle will lose to Brock? I bet he’d beat him so quick you’d end up crying!”

  The girl sneers at Ash. “Your uncle decided to challenge Brock’s personal team! Everyone knows that means the gym leader will fight without holding back. All the people who’ve challenged a gym leader’s personal team before regret it!”

  Ash felt a twinge of worry for his uncle. Not wanting to end the conversation on a losing note, he stuck a tongue out at the trio who quickly responded by doing the same.

  Waiting a few moments until he felt like they no longer paid him attention, he whispers to Rotom.

  “Is that true? Do all the people who challenge a gym leader’s personal team lose?”

  “Bzzt. Checking. According to the search articles, it is true that personal challenges usually end in the gym leader’s favor.”

  Ash begins to worry. He had faith in his uncle’s abilities, but would it be enough? He whispers to Altaria next.

  “Shouldn’t you be with Uncle Gray? Won’t he need you? You can mega evolve, doesn't that mean you’re his strongest pokemon?”

  “Al-Altaria!”

  “Bzzt. While it is true that mega evolved pokemon are stronger, it is not absolute. Non-megaevolved pokemon can still be more powerful.”

  “Mimikyu!”

  Altaria sags. While he was confident in his own strength, he acknowledged that he still had more to overcome if he wanted to reach the likes of someone like Sylveon. Still, it was a blow to his confidence that Mimikyu denied it so quickly, and even someone like Rotom who just joined the team could tell.

  It was in the nature of dragons to seek strength, always throwing themselves into tougher and tougher challenges to come out stronger. Altaria had no complaints being Gray’s pokemon in this regard. Gray may have been a Fairy specialist, but he treated Altaria well even when the dragon initially felt like the odd one out of the group.

  He had questioned his place in the team as the only non-fairy type before he gained access to his mega evolution. Initially feeling like he was just included in the team to have a flier for Gray’s traveling, his outlook had changed when he could finally mega evolve.

  Even so, he couldn’t help a flash of jealousy sitting in the sidelines. He may not have been able to guarantee an actual fight for himself with Gray’s roster, but he would have appreciated being present with his team instead of being relegated like this.

  The lights in the gym stadium began to dim, signifying the start of the match. Altaria kept his hungry eyes on the battlefield, ready to take in as much as he could to improve himself in the future.

  Gray stood in the wings of the field entrance, only a few paces away from the opening. His mind is blank, breath steady.

  He was about to re-enter the Kanto scene years after running away. He had to tamper the rush of excitement in him. Focus.

  This was a long time coming, his return to his first home in the pokemon world. Disgraceful debut showings had chased him away from the land he hailed, but now he was back with a point to prove.

  He could feel the pokeballs he carried close to his chest wiggle, delivering a reassuring comfort. That’s right, he remembered. He wasn’t alone in this.

  The lights dimmed, and Gray steadied himself again as he stood anonymous in the shadows for the last time.

  “Our challenger is Gray Oak, representing Pallet Town gym,” begins the announcer in a lukewarm tone.

  A beam of light dramatically shines on the entrance, though Gray had yet to step through. Not thinking too much, Gray hurries into it.

  His quick pace caused giggles to erupt around the stadium. Gray smiles politely, a toothless grin that failed to conceal the intensity of his aura.

  “Gray is a Fairy Type specialist, …” Here, some of the giggles are joined by outright laughter. Gray’s expression remains unchanged, but his brown eyes harden.

  “… the grandson of Professor Samuel Oak and the younger brother of Champion Blue!” Murmurs fill the stadium when that is revealed. A part of Gray feels annoyed that only when his relatives were brought up did he garner some respect.

  He stands tall in the spotlight as the audience claps respectfully.

  All of a sudden, all the lights turn off in the stadium. A hush falls as the announcer’s tone shifts.

  “Defending his turf, we have our handsome and dashing leader! A Pewter town native, he’s been keeping us safe the past few years,”

  Lights strobe, before two spotlights converge on a man on the other side of the stadium. He’s upright and erect, an unshakeable boulder in the face of an upcoming battle. Clothes cleanly pressed and taut against his flexed and folded biceps. The man’s thick brows are furrowed in an expression of seriousness, as if he was beyond the excitement of the crowd and fully focused on the match.

  “… Give it up for our Pewter Gym leader, Brock!”

  Immediately, a wall of sound erupts all around. Cheers and screams rise in the air, as the excitement spreads.

  Thud-thud “Brock! Thud-thud “Brock!” Thud-thud “Brock!”

  The audience stomps in a well-practiced rhythm as Brock makes his way towards the battlefield. Gray is forced to do the same, but he’s a non-entity in the sea of exhilaration.

  Undeterred, Gray strolls into his position calmly. His eyes search the crowd, taking in the fact that he sees nothing but Brock supporters. It’s only when he reaches his place that he locates Ash in the crowd.

  The boy seems intimidated by everything going on around him, probably feeling alone amidst the crowds mainly supporting the gym leader. Upon feeling a gaze on him, Ash turns to Gray. He beams in joy at the recognition, waving both hands enthusiastically in the air.

  Gray gives a warm smile back, giving a small but jaunty wave in return.

  Satisfied knowing that Ash was safe, he finally gives his attention to Brock who remained expressionless. The crowd continues stomping and screaming Brock’s name.

  Gray tilts his head and gives the gym leader a placid smile, wholly unconcerned that he was in the middle of hostile territory.

  “This will be a 6 vs 6 battle, with a break after 3 pokemon are downed. Trainers, ready your pokemon!”

  Brock grabs a pokeball from his waist, holding it tightly in one hand. Gray takes his time fishing for a pokeball in his inner jacket. He brandishes one out slowly, holding the red and white ball palm out.

  “Begin!”

  The crowd roars as Brock throws out his pokeball harshly, force so strong it ricochets from the ground before Gray's slow lob even reaches its apex.

  “Go-lem!” A boulder-like pokemon appears on Brock’s side, accompanied by a roar announcing his presence that has the ground shaking. He was obviously a pokemon that had seen battle, chips and gashes all around his body.

  The crowd cheers along, adding to the din that reverberates around the stadium.

  In a sharp contrast, Azumarill appears quietly, small and compact body crouched, ready for action. He appears so miniscule in comparison to Golem, his body scarless and glistening in moisture that reflects beautifully off his body under the stadium lights.

  The stark difference between the two, a rugged behemoth to a small, rounded fairy was striking enough to cause laughter to erupt around the audience. No one took Azumarill seriously, nearly everyone bracing themselves for a brutal, one-sided beatdown.

  At the uninhibited laughter, Gray finally frowns. Even Azumarill is confused, his eyes roaming around. He stiffens as he sees some people pointing at him, laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes.

  Anger courses through Gray. Their indifference to Gray was expected, Gray had no reputation to speak off and he was in the midst of Pewter City. Mocking laughter and blatant dismissal, however, was beyond the line.

  “Are you sure about this? I don’t mind if you switch pokemon now.”

  His rage is interrupted by a calm question from the other side of the field. Though Brock’s words weren’t overtly condescending, the acknowledgement of the crowd’s degrading thoughts stings.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your Azumarill looks well-cared for. His skin is gleaming and shiny. Are you sure you want to risk his health for a battle on this level?”

  The blatant disregard, the mocking laughter and the genuine but condescending concern is too much for Gray’s psyche. He feels something snapping inside him, so he snarls a command.

  “Prepare.”

  Azumarill slams both hands on his belly, the Belly Drum causing a menacing red aura to erupt around him. The water-fairy’s face matched his trainer, an ugly expression that marred an otherwise cute appearance.

  Golem crouches, his eyes steady on his opponent. He makes a grab for the ground, ripping out pointed out rocks to hold one in each grip.

  The laughter slowly begins pettering out, the audience sensing the shift in atmosphere. Still, most people are content to continue their laughter. They keep stomping their rhythm and shouting Brock’s name.

  “Sic.”

  Water immediately forms around Azumarill’s body. He supplements the Aqua Jet with a powerful Aqua Tail, slammed on the ground to create a powerful burst that propels him forward. He barrels towards Golem, an angry, unstoppable bullet.

  Golem tries to slow his opponent's momentum by throwing both rocks in hand. The Rock Tomb proves futile, Azumarill unflinching when they slam on his face. Both projectiles shatter upon impact on Azumarill’s Aqua Jet, nearly reduced to dust.

  Panicking, Golem barely manages to cross both arms when the water connects.

  The exploding clash is loud enough that it stops all noise in the gym. The hushed crowd squints, trying to make out the results of the first move.

  Azumarill moves first, somersaulting backwards and out of the smoke. He’s unwinded, ready to move at a moment’s notice.

  Satisfaction fills Gray. Finally, the crowd has shut up.

  Both trainer and pokemon wait for Golem’s next move. When the dust begins to settle, Golem is revealed kneeling in the middle of a cracked crater.

  Azumarill readies himself again, unblinking as he waits for the inevitable response.

  As the person closest to his pokemon, Brock unfolds his arm and takes a step forward. He observes his pokemon stiffly, waiting for him to move.

  The gym leader’s entire body shudders, previous indifference melting away to give way to shock and disbelief.

  “Golem?” He whispers, but the mic catches his quiet question. Absolute silence fills the gym, previously gleeful expressions among the people slowly beginning to shift into stunned incredulity.

  In the silence, only Golem makes noise. He sways in place, an alluring side to side that draws all eyes in the gym. When he has everyone’s attention, he falls sideways, dead faint.

  The silence extends further, as if the entire gym stopped breathing.

  Gray and Azumarill are in a similar vein, shocked that Golem fainted after just one hit. What was going on? Wasn’t that a bit too easy? It made no sense!

  Their frantic, combined thoughts are interrupted by a delighted cheer.

  “You’re so awesome, Azumarill! Go Uncle Gray!” Ash screams, uncaring of the room’s silence. The boy seemed completely refreshed, as if that one clash was enough to right the earth’s orbit. Ash was now free of worry, with the visible evidence and proof of what he believed in right in front of him. In moments like this, Ash’s density was truly admirable.

  Gray didn’t know what else to do, so he laughed.