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“I guess that explains the gym leaders probably…” I said as an aside.

“How so?”

“The gym leaders’ apparent ace Pokémon were not normally of the type they seemed to represent, but when they did that terastalize thing, they were a completely different type entirely. Like the gym leader in Cortondo, Katy, she had a Teddiursa that was a bug type when terastalized.” I said. “It potentially makes things tricky, like with Iono…she had a Mismagius that went Electric type.”

“And considering their natural abilities are still in effect, you still couldn’t have a ground type to do anything to it, could you?” Tristen asked.

“Nope. Would have liked Marshtomp in that fight but the Mismagius turned things on its head, amongst other things.” I said to him, still trying to skim the menu. I perked up, seeing the waitress come back with the drinks and setting them down then start getting everyone’s order. “I’ll try your steak rice bowl.” I said to the waitress.

“I’ll…try your…uh…teriyaki flank steak.” Tristen said, passing up the menu.

Tristen veered his eyes over towards Matteo once he popped his question, and he could only suspect where that was going to go. Like why he wasn’t taught before now or maybe if Matteo could be taught how to use it, rather in a form that was better than how he was able to. Tristen stared intently as he sipped his drink. “Agility?” I spoke up. “Yea, I can. On top of some other hybrid abilities, but yea. Why?” I asked the Growlithe hybrid.

“Pointers, huh?” I then noticed Tristen taking a look at me, looking slightly tense on the situation, as if he pretty much expected such a thing. And truthfully, the only thing I could do was tell him the truth. “Well, unfortunately, I’m not sure how much help I am going to be in that regard. Its part of why it had been difficult trying to see about Tristen learning Agility even though I know he had been wanting to for a long time. Even before he evolved, in fact. In some regards, hybrids tend to be similar in how they execute their various abilities. In others, vastly different. Agility seems to be one of those latter things. Me for instance, it’s a really meticulous process. From having my various cold abilities provide a literal rocket launch to at the same time regulating everything about me, from how fast I run to tempering myself to maintain my speeds for extended periods. Tristen obviously don’t have various ice-based abilities that he could use and I’d imagine using electricity is a whole other process in and of itself.”

“Freth ended up telling me a while ago that it was also a mental thing as much as it was a physical one. You literally got to be aware of everything, from how hard you’re pushing yourself to everything around you and be able to react in extremely small fractions of a second. Otherwise, you could be running into things or stepping wrong and hurting yourself. For something that sounded so easy is perhaps one of the hardest things to do.” Tristen then said.

“That’s the other half of the problem.” I said. “I have to admit its probably not the answer you were wanting to hear out of me, but that’s unfortunately the gravity of it. Its not simply just putting your element out there all willy-nilly, it’s a controlled, methodical process and doing so with extreme accuracy and efficiency. And since I’m being honest, as fast as I can get, as hard as I train, I still wonder if there is something that I am doing wrong. If that I could do better in it.” I would then take another sip of Coke, wondering how Matteo would take that sort of answer.

“No, I’m good for the moment. Thank you.” I said to the lady. As I made my way into my meal I had to admit it was pretty good. Better than I imagined it could being. Tristen, having not trying Teriyaki on anything before, managed to get into his steak and much to his surprise, it was good to him. Made the meat taste all the savorier, but probably saltier than he would have cared for. Nothing outrageous, but enough to get his attention. There was that also sweet tang that was in there that he couldn’t quite describe that seemed to have brought it all together. No regrets on ordering his meal, for certain.

“So, you mentioned you had a gym leader in your home town. A…rapper?” I asked, staring in confusion a little bit. At this point, I’m guessing that Katy wasn’t really kidding about the gym leader life doesn’t dominate over their actual professions. “Where do you hail from by chance? Presumably no where I’ve been yet in this victory road excursion?” I then asked Matteo.

“Montenerva, huh? Hmm…wait a minute…” I would take out my SNAG to start taking a look at my notes then switched over to a map of the region. My confusion would get all the more apparent once something finally clicked to me.

“What’s wrong, Blizz?” Tristen asked after clearing a mouthful of steak.

“I was sort of on the assumption that I was taking a gigantic lap around the region.” I said to Tristen. “But if what I was told right, as soon as I am done here, I’d head to Montenerva next. Then back all the way across the region to go to a…Alfornada? Then from there, all the way back up the mountain to go to that last gym he was just talking about.” I explained. “That’s like…going way out of the way. Not even Jhoto had anything that extreme. The most we had was going from Olivine City to double back through Ecruteak City, just to make it to Mahogany Town. It wasn’t really all that egregious.”

“Maybe it was to give trainers enough time to get ready for their gym battles?” Tristen suggested. “Perhaps they’re the last gyms for a reason. They’re that tough. Though I kind of wonder how many actually do what you just said and not go by taxi.”

“Mmm…that is a thought. I was told before I started this it was kind of discouraged to go by taxi, namely in order to get trainers to explore the region and such and that anyone taking shortcuts like that was going to suffer in the latter battles.” I said, stashing the SNAG once again, going back to my meal. “I suppose it makes sense to a degree. My Pokémon probably wouldn’t have a lot of complaints about that either, thinking on it. Its done wonders for them.”

“At any rate, the last gym is an ice type gym? That’s interesting. I kind of wonder how the gym leader in this region handles himself. Wonder if he’s familiar with the gym back at home.”

“In other words, familiar with you.” Tristen said.

“Oh, I have no doubt he would. Not for being gym leader apprentice though.” I said, rather deadpan. “But no. More referring to teacher at home.”

“Maybe. But you gotta admit, it isn’t like Mr. Pryce puts himself out there.” Tristen noted.

“And he’d rather keep it that way.” I said. “Didn’t stop Wulfric in Kalos swooning over him though. Though that swooning got me in the Battle Chateau to do work.”

“And become the Noble Hybrid in the process.” Tristen said.

“Win some, lose some.” I said.

“Truthfully, I only met him for that one day. He happened to be at the Battle Chateau when I showed up with the intent on trying to get after one of the Kalosian elites and start questioning him about Lysandre, since this one particular elite was in close ties to the soon-to-be-ousted king. He knew very much about teacher, although the two never met before. Called the Mahogany Gym ‘legendary’ even, much to my surprise. I never thought the Mahogany Gym was that well known. Just a simple gym in a simple, small town. Never the less, Wulfric was the one who got me in, much to the chagrin of the other ‘nobles’ in that chateau. Of all the gym leaders, he wasn’t necessarily well liked over there. Going against the grain of what the other nobles there thought proper. Which well, to be fair, those nobles’ opinions were something to wretch over. But he got to realize me at least some of his character…telling me that he very well could had stay away from such a place, he wasn’t forced to be there. But if he did, nothing would actually change. That the chateau was a hub of sorts for all sorts outside of the Pokémon League circles. A place that has been around before the Kalosian league in fact and in a lot of cases, it was more prestigious to win there than any gym in the region. Where maybe for a little bit, even the peasantry could be the elites. But if he were to just bow to the whims of the nobles’ arbitrary rules and conditions and whatever the hell, then what changes other than him being controlled by the opinions of others. That the chateau wasn’t just meant for the wealthy and high class. Is that man ‘cool’? By what I can gather? That man is a man of valor, bar none. That man is a rare breed, nowadays. I should probably reach out to that man again…”

I took a bite of the steak rice bowl, thinking back to that day. “Now that I am thinking about it, I suppose that is why that I ended up with that whole ‘Noble Hybrid’ stuff. Although I was there to effectively work a mission for Snagem, I ended up at the same time undermining everything that those snobbish idiots set out to build. Probably something Wulfric hoped would happen; probably something Sub wanted to happen as well. Before I went in there, having a hybrid there was unheard of, regardless of a hybrid’s reputation elsewhere. Those uptight rich guys were in their own little world, and then, one fateful day, they found their proverbial collective worlds rocked so hard, it got the entire region’s attention. And…I suppose, not long after, the world over. And I didn’t do it once; but twice. Where the second time I ended up squaring off with the region’s champion at the chateau as well. And done so in fact without the need of Mega Evolutions they so coveted. While I went there with the intent on trying to get information so I could contribute to shutting Lysandre’s machinations down, I left effectively changing the world over in some respects. I went there knowing that I was going to catch all manner of flack, but it didn’t matter to me. I stood up, unafraid of them. Those actions got what supposed to be ‘lower class’ to stand up to the upper class, not just to the chateau, but the region over.”

In that time that I talked about Wulfric and my brief stint with the Battle Chateau, Tristen would take notice to how Matteo was. That was to say, he noticed how completely enamored over the story. Tristen had the feeling that this did nothing but fuel Matteo’s desire to get out there like Team Snagem does and do things and effectively be a hero like him and his adoptive father, leaving Tristen a bit unsure if this was something that Matteo actually needed. It was a pain in the hide trying to make sure Matteo’s jealousy didn’t kick in, never mind keep his ambitions in check about being stronger, faster, and things of the like. Tristen had told him time and again it wasn’t that cut and dry in life as a Snagem, but it felt as if it went in one ear and out the other. Tristen did find it a bit comical that Matteo’s guard had come absolutely relaxed, that the more he listened in to this story, the more of every bit of the young teenager he was supposed to be. At least until Matteo would catch himself at the story’s end.

“Yea, this rice bowl is actually pretty good. It’s been a while since I had anything like this and I’m glad I did actually.” I said to the Growlithe hybrid.

“This steak was actually pretty good too to me.”

“So the teriyaki was fine for you?” I asked.

“Yea. Why didn’t we have anything like that back at the headquarters? That was pretty good.” Tristen asked.

“Because its not like anyone that goes in our kitchen are chefs of any kind. I’m fine at it, but I’m not master class. No one else talks about having teriyaki sauce on anything and thus never thought about. And finally, I’m on the notion that I’m not going to feed you anything that I wouldn’t eat myself.” I said.

“You don’t like teriyaki?” Tristen asked, confused.

“Its…alright. Nothing I’d go out of the way for, though. But hey, if you like it, more power to you. Feel free to bring it up back at the headquarters.” I said.

“Well, that won’t be for a while.” Tristen said before taking another bite of his steak. Given that he hadn’t spent as much time talking as Matteo and I had, he actually managed to finish off his steak before going to polish off what little bit of veggies he had.

“Uh yes, actually.” I said to the waitress. “Uh, can you get another plate ready? Grilled Rice Balls, medium serving, Fire Blast style, with lemon. I’m about ready to take on the gym leader now. Figure to go ahead and get that moving. And I’ll take care of the check for the three of us here.” I told the waitress, taking a look at the check, then getting the cash out to pay her.