Tae scribbled in a notebook, writing down the route he would take for Gym Challenge. It was based on taking out those he had an advantage over first, and attempting to move in one direction so that he'd wrap back around to the Pokémon League.

His desired finish time was no more than a week.

He was ecstatic to start, seeing as Professor Sada got back to him in the form of a call in the middle of the night.

She basically told him that the subject of their latest research attacked, causing Koraidon to flee in a struggle. That was all she said. But it wasn't all Tae knew.

He was wondering why Professor Turo hadn't been present. Not since her distress call. He knew something was up. Assumed he was injured. However he tossed those worries aside as he formulated a plan in the cafeteria.

Korai was cuddled up in travel form, close to his seat so he didn't disturb the rest of the student body, nibbling on a sandwich specifically for him.

Mystic was kneading Seth's writing arm, but he didn't pay it any mind.

"I just can't see a way we tackle this efficiently. I can't afford to use the Flying Taxi now that Corviknight have been retired. Damn Tinkatons..." Tae muttered in annoyance.

'Based on trainer reviews, Grusha, Ryme, and Tulip are the more complex gyms in terms of their battles. They're also the more difficult to get to... damn. I think I can do enough raids and Pokédex entries to afford Flying Taxis. I haven't turned in Wisp's most recent update.' Tae rubbed his forehead as Korai finished his lunch.

Mystic could tell Tae was stressed, and stopped kneading his arm in case it annoyed him further.

"Its fine, Mystic. We've got this. Just don't know whether we can do it in time to help the Professor. Lets start with Brassius. Wisp should handle most of the work. Wanna relax?" Tae asked Mystic.

Mystic crossed her arms and shrugged.

"Heh. Let's get a move on. Miss Rika said she would oversee the first challenge, so I'll text her where I'll start." Tae stood up, making Koraidon and Meowscarada do the same.

As he turned to leave with his trash in hand, Tae noticed someone stop in front of him.

Silence fell over the cafeteria.

Tae gave Arven a guilty look as the Professors' son glared at him.

"...Look, I'm so—"

"Save it. Truce or not? We've got business." Arven asked.

"Truce, of course. How can I help?"

"My mom told me about the situation. Or at least, as much as I think you know. And I have a way to help Koraidon regain his old powers. The traversal ones, and to keep his battle form for much longer."

Arven was four inches taller than Tae, while Nemona was roughly three taller. Penny was two shorter than Tae, but now Tae could truly understand how it felt to be short now that most of his friends were taller.

"Only problem is, the herbs we need to access are guarded by Pokémon that have grown to tremendous size due to their properties. I know you're pretty strong, and for personal reasons I won't ask the Studen Council President. Are you in?" Arven asked.

"Of course. Is this also about... Mabosstiff?" Tae asked.

"Of course. I think I've finally found what can help him. I heard about your case to. With the league and all. There's five herbs, five titans. Which gym are you starting at so we can tackle them in the same direction." Arven was all about business, since their past was pretty rocky.

The two began walking to the exit. "So I was thinking I start with grass gym since Wisp, my Ceruledge, has an advantage. It also leads to Iono's gym, and I know there's a certain item I've been wanting over there."

"Alright. So the Stony Cliff Titan dwells in the desert just that way. We can knock that out and you can take on you gym afterward. From there—"

The two had left the academy and we're headed to the stairs before Tae felt someone grab his suspenders. They snapped back and hit him in the back, making him yelp in pain.

The two turned to see Penny squinting her eyes at Tae.

"Where are you headed?" Penny asked.

"Uh, Artazon. For the gym. What's up? Didn't think I'd see you this soon." Tae asked.

"I need your help. With something big. It's along the way, so take me with you." Penny said with an intense stare.

"I do pride myself in being a fixer. I don't mind the tag-along if you don't." Tae looked at Arven.

Arven crossed his arms and looked back at Tae. "She good with Pokémon?"

"I don't know. Met her yesterday."

"You some kind of womanizer?"

"What?! I was being a Good Samaritan!"

"If you two are finished, I can handle myself when needed. They just caught me off guard yesterday. It's not everyday you get attacked on campus." Penny scoffed, looking away in disappointment.

"Attacked?" Arven asked.

"Team Star guys. They tried coercing her but I stepped in." Tae summarized.

"Yeah, yeah, that's enough. It involves them too. I wanna take them down once and for all." Penny frowned.

"Woah! That's a tall order. You do know that it's like... almost half the student body, right? You think I can do something about a gang of over 200 kids?!" Tae asked in disbelief.

"I know you can. I could've asked that Studeny Council girl, but..." Penny sighed and crossed her arms. "Despite my Bisexual panic over you two, I picked you because you seem like you know when to stop talking."

Tae laughed in shock and looked at Arven in delight.

"I knew you were a womanizer." Arven scoffed.

"Don't get any ideas, this is business!" Penny shoved Tae lightly with a growing blush.

"Don't worry. It seems my entire high school experience is gonna be business. Let's get a move on. Wisp is itching for a battle." Tae urged them on.

With two new companions (and a very jealous stalker), Tae made his way to his first stop: the Artazon Gym.

There were several trials along the way, and the first was yet to come.

•

"Wait." Tae stopped Penny and Arven at Mesagoza's East gate.

They were about to trek in search of the Titan in the desert, but one small issue came to mind.

"What order are we sitting on Korai?" Tae asked with a hand on his hip.

Koraidon came out in Travel form, showing that he could fit around four people, but, neither were close enough to ignore personal boundaries.

"I'm willing to sit anywhere so long as someone can handle steering him." Tae shrugged.

"I'm not driving." Penny declared immediately. "I already can't drive a Cyclizar..." she muttered.

"I don't favor him. So I'll pass on driving." Arven huffed seeing Korai.

"Okay so... I'm driving, but neither of you are probably comfortable enough to touch each other, right?" Tae asked for clarification.

"I could put my pride aside, but one snide comment and she'd be left to the wild Pokémon." Arven admit, knowing she was full of sass from the ten minutes he knew her.

"Hey— actually. He's right. I'd definitely say something." Penny admit too.

"Then I've got an idea. Lets just hope Koraidon is a law abiding citizen." Tae chuckled.

•

Tae sat in between Penny, who was in front of him, and Arven, who sat behind him, holding the blue handles on Koraidon's shoulders.

Tae's mischievous grin as he pretended to rev an engine came true as Koraidon growled playfully in response.

"Ha! Hell yeah! Lets do this, Korai! We'll take out that Titan in no time! Here we..." Tae and Koraidon smirked, before it took of with a boom.

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Tae screamed with glee, Penny strangling his torso having turned around in fear.

•

Koraidon dashed through the sunbathed cliffs, looking for tracks of a unnaturally large Pokémon.

The only clue they had were rumors of a large shadow being found around the tallest cliff, but they had seen no such shadow.

Penny was still facing the other way, legs wrapped around Tae's torso as she watched their six.

"I thought you'd be way more reserved when it came to touch." Tae commented as Koraidon looked down the valley.

"Shut it. I underestimated the speed of this thing, as well as your recklessness." Penny was furious she resorted to becoming a Kamala the way she wouldn't let go him.

Arven was amused, but distraught they found no sight of such a massive Pokémon.

"Odd shadow has to do with the sun, right? We should find an angle that gives us a view of the entire valley." Arven suggested.

"Good call. We have to hurry before the sun sets then." Tae agreed, and Koraidon was about to take off, but it stopped, making the two suddenly go quiet.

"You know... there's always the possibility it finds us." Penny suddenly thought on a whim, unaware of what the boys realized.

"Don't turn around then." Tae said with a squinted eyes as he and Arven looked up to see a massive Klawf looming over them, upside down on the large valley cliff.

"...You're kidding." Penny's eyes widened as she trembled in fear finally noticing the shadow that enveloped them.

"KORAI, PUNCH IT!" Tae yelled as Klawf jumped down.

Koraidon dashed forward just in time as Klawf landed, giving Penny full sight of the humongous creature as the sand and stone around flew upward.

"OH MY GOD— WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Penny screamed in fright.

The Titan Klawf's eyes rolled around, before spotting them in the dust and smoke, using its many legs to dash after them.

Penny screamed again, squeezing the hell out of Tae as Koraidon took off in response.

"Arven, what do we have for this thing?!" Tae asked, "Any hidden shit we should know about?!"

"Standard Water and Grass! Cloyster, use Razor Shell!" Arven shouted. Cloyster emerged and rushed at it with a spin, water trailing around it.

Klawf was too slow to notice as Cloyster slashed its leg, looping around to hit its claw, before returning to Arven.

"Mystic, use Flower Trick!" Tae shouted in turn, letting Mystic use his head as a vault to leap up and create a blooming bomb.

With a snap the bomb disappeared before Klawf stepped on it in its wild rush after the three. The explosion caused its back legs to drag and cause a rock slide along the cliffs, making Koraidon's flee all the more difficult.

"Damnit, Wisp, clear our path!" Tae called again, feeling his head get used as a vault again.

Wisp rushed forward with a twirl, cleaving through rocks before rushing around to slice through whatever fell in Korai's way.

"I can help too! Vaporeon, use Hydro Pump!" Penny shouted.

A Vaporeon appeared on her shoulder before charging a beam of water in its mouth. Arven turned in shock, before also clinging to Tae as he dodged the massive beam of water that crashed straight into Klawf's face.

The Klawf covered it's face with its hands as it's Anger Shell ability activated, boosting its Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, but lowered its Defenses.

The boost in speed frightened them all seeing as Tae saw upcoming was a dead end, and what looked to be its den.

"Tae, we can't let it get there! If that's where the Herba Mystica is, it'll regain its strength and become more powerful!" Arven warned.

Tae glared forward, Koraidon on the same page. Wisp sided back with Koraidon, back pedaling to keep her eyes on Klawf as it closed in.

"Wisp, run ahead and activate Flash Fire, I'll give the signal for Bitter Blade! Mystic, get three Flower Tricks ready!" Tae ordered. "Penny, your Vaporeon can use Hydro Pump again, but at the ground! We can't let it have any traction! Arven, help the same way!" Tae continued.

Everyone nodded as they assumed their positions.

"Hydro Pump!" Arven and Penny yelled.

Cloyster and Vaporeon charged water, before releasing two devastating beams at the ground below Klawf. It didn't falter, but Penny noticed a clear increase in its speed from the water— it was now mere meters away from them.

"Mystic now!" Tae yelled as Korai picked up speed.

Weaving between Klawf's feet with better grip than the Titan, Mystic slammed three blooming bombs right into its underbelly, sending it flying forward over the three.

Koraidon slid to a halt as Wisp held both its blades behind itself.

"BITTER BLADE!" Tae screamed.

Ceruledge's burning swords gave a lavender glint as Klawf's massive body closed in. The Titan was skilled enough to start spinning around to gain momentum for a last ditch Guillotine.

However, Wisp's skill was undefeated, the clash with the gigaton Klawf's claw being blocked with one sword—  her second slashing up and sending it crashing into the cliff behind it.

Klawf nearly split the cliff in two from the impact, before falling down with a massive boom, kicking up more sand and dust as the three watched.

"Holy shit..." Penny mumbled in shock, her Vaporeon just as wide eyed. Arven himself was shocked, and his Cloyster was quiet too.

Tae panted from the thrill, sighing as Mystic walked up beside him.

Wisp walked over, and he gave the two fist pumps, despite burning his hand with Ceruledge's sword.

"Great work, you three. Couldn't ask for better partners." Tae didn't forget Korai, and pet his feathers as Korai purred.

"That was single-handedly the coolest thing I've ever experienced in my life, but I never wanna do that again." Penny's body finally released all its tension as she slumped against Tae's chest.

"I can... almost agree. It was fun in hindsight." Arven chuckled, but had to admit the fear for his life wasn't very welcome.

"We should hurry and get that herb before it wakes up." Tae smirked at the two.

~•~

Tae, Arven, and Penny had set up camp closer to Artazon City, just outside of the desert.

Tae and Penny were waiting alongside Korai, Mabosstiff, and Mystic at a portable picnic table Arven brought.

He was whipping up dishes for Korai and his Mabosstiff, using leftovers from the Sweet Herba Mystica to feed the rest of their Pokémon.

"Alright. Dinner is served." Arven set down three plates. One was for Korai, one for Mabosstiff, and another was for the three teens to share. All plates had a regally designed sandwich with an amazing balance of vegetables and meat.

"Let's see... before we dig in, let me describe the dish and it's properties," Arven began with a passionate smile.

"He's a cooking geek." Tae whispered to Penny.

"It says here that Sweet Herba Mystica is great for gut health, and helps aid in digestion and respiratory functions. It'll handle stomachaches, and your appetite! So I introduce," Arven gestured to the plates. "Sweet Cliff Sandwiches!"

Contrary to the name, the fluffy, buttery bread and sweet aroma mixed with the salty and savory scent of the bacon made for an appetizing smell.

"Gotta admit, he's good." Tae smiled, glancing at Koraidon's drooling face.

"Let's dig in, shall we?" Arven asked.

Tae fed Korai his sandwich so he would stop drooling, and Penny took her portion off the third plate.

Korai was quick to scarf down the sandwich, before a flush of orange energy surged from his body, shocking Tae.

"Woah! You were right!" Tae awed as Koraidon looked at its claws in wonder. "Let's see if Mabosstiff can get some of this magic, too!" Tae encouraged Arven.

Arven nodded with determination and grabbed Mabosstiff's sandwich from the second plate. He tore a small portion off, knowing that in Mabosstiff's state, he may not have the energy to eat much.

"Small bites, bud. You can do it." Arven whispered softly, holding up the sub to its snout.

Mabosstiff sniffed the sandwich, before opening its jaws to slowly nibble on it. After a few seconds, it took the entire piece in its mouth, and finished with no scraps behind.

Tae and Penny watched hesitantly, expecting to see a drastic change like with Korai. However, only a small pulse of pink left Mabosstiff.

Mabosstiff's closed eyes twitched, but there was no other change.

"It's alright, bud. There's four more of these things. I'm sure you'll be up to snuff in no time. You did great." Arven solemly pet Mabosstiff's chin, before returning it to its Pokéball.

Penny and Tae stared sadly, before glancing at each other.

"Where's the next one?" Tae asked with a smirk.

"Near Levincia. Don't worry about it above your own problems. We've all got our story to unfold." Arven waved him off, but his smile held the appreciation he felt.

"Alright. I'll handle this gym, and whatever Penny wants me to do, and we'll get Mabosstiff back in shape! Quickly, too." Tae declared. "We good?" Tae asked, referring to their status.

Tae held out his hand, and Arven smirked, shaking his hand with a chuckle.

"We're good." Arven replied.

The two smiled at each other, but Penny was quick to ruin it.

"And I thought I was gay." She whispered, but both heard her.

"Shut up!" Tae and Arven shouted in annoyance.