Summer steeled herself to see her Gyarados get hit with the BRINE that was called. But the hit didn't come, as the Armaldo seemed to stop in its tracks. The INTIMIDATE worked. She couldn't help but feel a rush of pride at Fafnir.

"Keep it up, Fafnir!" she encouraged, earning a roaring noise from the flying dragon.

Of course, with his pointed look, Summer just raised her eyebrow and pointed her chin up. A silent challenge. She didn't seem threatening? She'd make a point to.

"CRUNCH!"

It wouldn't be as effective as the water moves, but she decided to strike while the Armaldo seemed intimidated.

Her Emboar took the damage from ROCK SLIDE. With another hit, he should be in the range to use his ability.

"ASSURANCE."

---

- Gyarados used ability INTIMIDATE and move CRUNCH on Armaldo.
- Emboar took more damage! Used ASSURANCE on Crustle.

Huh. What a rude child. Summer's nose was turned up, and she was ready to give this girl a piece of her mind.

However, she saw that she wasn't paying attention, and soon enough she was sliding down a cliff.

"Oh no. Watch out. You'll fall."

Summer's voice oozed sarcasm, but she still approached the side to see where the girl had fallen. She seemed unscathed. Summer kicked a leaf pile, sending some leaves drifting done.

"You're kind of rude, you know."

Summer initially thought that Doug's Pokemon would immediately go on the defense at her attacks. Of course, she wasn't sure what was going to happen. That's why she started off with the moves she did.

So she found herself surprised that his Armaldo was spinning at amazing speed toward her Gyarados. They had to act fast, lest Fafnir take a huge chunk of damage from the target.

"To the side, Fafnir!"

It seemed almost in the blink of an eye that he was able to move, managing to come out of the attack with a nick instead of fainting. INTIMIDATE was utilized again on the Armaldo.

"AQUA TAIL."

She again utilized Armaldo's weakness to water in attacking.

Surtur, meanwhile, made contact with the Crustle. The glowing red worried Summer as she noticed it seemed to be growing in power. Her Emboar was sent back, leaving the ground and taking a bit of damage from the attack.

However, that damage would be utilized, since the more he took, the closer the Emboar got to using his ability.

"HEAT CRASH."

---

- Gyarados took minor damage and managed to avoid a major hit from Armaldo. Used ability INTIMIDATE and used move AQUA TAIL on Armaldo.
- Emboar was sent back by Crustle and took damage. Used move HEAT CRASH on Crustle.

Summer's brow raised curiously.

"Your department? What does that mean, exactly?" she asked.

She wondered if he was someone like her, doing two things for two people. A single entity that worked for two sides. However, she felt like one side was suffocating, and she wanted out, even if it was her own father.

The sound that accompanied the Claydol made Summer wince, distracting her Emboar from his own reckless mining. She followed him over, looking over the rock that it had found.

"It's nothing I've seen before... perhaps a new discovery? Some artifact perhaps?"

Summer sat down, trying to catch her breath. She noticed someone approaching them, someone she hadn't met, seemingly curious. She wondered if he could see what they held.

But then he walked away, like nothing was happening.

It made the anxiety from the Mespirit grow worse, another wave of nausea hitting her as she thought about it. Why was it doing this? Why couldn't she talk about it to someone who could see it?

"Yes. I see the same letter."

She sighed, frustrated.

"What does it mean..."

Why the hell was Summer Prescott in the woods so late at night?

Well, that was because of her father, really. Another mission, just because he wanted something and was too lazy to get it himself. Her Emboar stood beside her, keeping light as the sun began to set.

She and Surtur would startle a flock of unfezant nearby as they walked, searching. However, instead of what they were seeking, they saw a person.

"Why are you out so late?" Summer asked, a tone lacing her voice.

Summer's eyes lit up when she spotted the bottle of sake, as well as the sparkling water.

"You got more? You shouldn't have. You're seriously spoiling me." She couldn't help but be giddy.

A couple of glasses were procured, and the sake was poured between them. There was definitely a nostalgic factor to it, since she recalled their first date in the sushi bar with the same drink.

"Thank you. I will definitely use it well."

Summer watched Casey examine her gift, momentarily concerned that maybe he didn't like them or she got the wrong kind. However, she smiled again.

"Of course. You're someone very important to me. I can't be the only one getting gifts in this relationship, now, can I?" she teased.

"You're so sneaky. I sent them to him. I'm not sure if he's worn them or not. The last time I really saw him was a month or so ago..." It had been hard to meet up with him in person, since he had been on the run from their father.

Summer felt another urge to cry when he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, gently. Something the almost never did growing up or as adults. She let herself melt into her brother's embrace, holding him close as a few stray tears fell from her eyes.

Something about it was cathartic, being able to just be siblings and not rivals. They weren't pitted against each other by their father, and she didn't feel the need to prove to her father her loyalty.

Just Knox and Summer. Red and Blue.

"I'm sorry. For everything," she apologized. "For hurting you, for being a terrible to you, for thinking that I was better. I'm sorry about after the party."

She rested her head against his shoulder, sniffing to keep herself from being a complete snotty mess.

"Let's leave this place."

The will-o-wisp left a terrible smell in her nose, causing Summer to wrinkle her nose in disgust. She felt bad for the Raichu, seeing the pain that had been inflicted on it.

But it was a necessary evil, wasn't it?

She was beginning to wonder.

"Are you finished with your things?" she asked.

Her collection of Pikachu that she caught were stashed away in her bag now, ready to be turned in to the Rocket authorities who required them.

"I think we have plenty to hand back."

Summer smiled. "It sounds like it wasn't that bad of a gig, then."

Of course, she didn't know anything about editing. She wondered if it took him a long time to do, if it ever strained his eyes or hurt his back to sit there and work in front of a computer screen.

Looking toward his bag, she tried to peek to see what he had. However, she didn't get a good look, since Casey delved in and pulled out a camo-styled Pokeball.

"What? Really?"

This would be the second Pokemon he gifted her, and Summer felt her heart swell at his sweet gesture. She rolled the ball in her hands before opening it, revealing the Litwick. It was adorable, staring back at her sweetly with the little flame burning on its head.

"You didn't have to do this for me. Thank you."

She leaned forward to give him a kiss, closing the ball and settling it with her other Pokemon. She stood up.

"I have something for you too. One second."

She took off up the stairs to her bedroom, pulling out the box she had haphazardly wrapped. She insisted on wrapping it herself. She brought it down, offering it to him. Inside would be a pair of headphones, something she thought he might want since he was always recording or editing with his podcast and now these other jobs.

"This was for your birthday. I didn't get to get it on time because of the aftermath of the soiree and some family stuff... but I hope you like them. If you want something else, I can exchange them." Summer raised her eyebrows, almost nervous for his reaction.

Summer's charm, hidden away from view, is suddenly pulled from her pocket. She carried it with her always, but she had put it in her pocket while she was in the dining hall to save it from damage.

Now that someone had something she could see, she was willing to show hers.

Summer leaned closer to look at Eris's charm, her brows furrowed. "Can you... see mine?" she asked hesitantly.

"I see a letter. Were you-"

She couldn't even bring herself to mention the creature she saw in her garden that day. In fact, the thought of bringing it up made her sick to her stomach. Her face grew pale, and her hand rested on her stomach.

"I need to sit down."