Pokemon Rusted Shield/Sword

Need That Thrill

Five months ago.

"Hey," a voice whispered, "Wake up Gloria."

Gloria awoke to see a young woman in white robes with long blonde hair.

"Who are you?" Gloria inquired.

"I'm Ellie," The girl replied, "And I'm going to help you survive..."

Present Day

As Grant approached the Tower of Darkness he heard a familiar voice inquire, "So you ready to talk?"

Tom approached from behind the tower, hunched over with a mad, feral grin and insanity in his eyes.

"I knew I should've talked to my therapist about rasing my dosage" Grant growled. "You're not real Tom. What do you want?"

"You're feeling it now aren't you?" Tom inquired. "The need. To feel like you're about to die. You need it. Crave it. That thrill.

"What are you talking about?" Grant inquired, "I have everything I've ever wanted. Fame. Money. Power. A family. A loving girlfriend. Why would I not be happy?"

"Every time we battled back then," Tom continued, grabbing Grant's face, "We felt like if we lost it was over and we would die. Every battle was tense, life and death. Now it's dull without that isn't it? I need that thrill again. WE need that thrill again."

"Look the thief isn't here and you're lying again," Grant glared, "I'm leaving."

"Uhhh... you talking to someone?" A voice inquired.

Grant turned to see Karla, looking at him with concern in her eyes.

"Sorry just need to take some medication," Grant replied brushing it off, "Any luck finding the thief?"

"No," Grant sighed, "You fair any better?"

"Nope," Klara replied, "And it's getting late so we should head to the Dojo and get some shut eye."

"Oh if I may before we do," Grant requested, "How about a quick battle?"

"Well becoming second strongest would make me more popular," Klara replied, "So... yeah. OK let's battle!"

What followed was not a battle but a curb stomp of Klara's entire team by Rook's hands. Her Drapion, Weezing, Scolipede, Slowbro, and two new members, Amoonguss and Dragalge, all went down without much of a fight.

And Grant...

"Still boring!" He exclaimed frustrated, "You could've cheated I wouldn't have cared!"

"I placed out toxic spikes you just never changed Pokémon!" Klara retorted, "Uh- wait. I shouldn't have admitted that."

"Ugh forget it," Grant sighed, "It was at least nice meeting you. Let's head to the Dojo."

The duo began to walk back, Grant inquiring, "So what do you do?"

"I'm training to become a poison type gym leader," Klara explained, "And I also work in music but my career... had a rocky start so I'm trying to use my rep as a trainer to get more popular. Why did you become a trainer anyways?"

"It was that or die trying," Grant replied with a shrug, "I mean, I didn't have much choice. It is what I've always wanted to do though so, guess I'm just lucky."

With that the duo returned to the Dojo only to be greeted by Honey who inquired, "Any luck?"

Grant shook his head, "No."

"We'll keep looking tomorrow," Klara assured her.

"It's quite alright," Honey smiled, "You go ahead and get some shut eye."