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I sat in the main room, looking back towards the hall where the stairwell would have been, hearing Darts in a panic. "Right on time..." I said, taking out my SNAG, checking the time on it. "...apparently, "Dartboard-san" hasn't figured out a decent sleep schedule despite training with a group that has a really harsh discipline." I said to myself. I then looked back towards the hall, stashing my SNAG in my vest, waiting on Darts to show up.

"......" Sadly, Darts wasn't fooling anyone. Let alone me. "Uh, huh...so pray tell, you plan on taking a shower before you leave?" I asked. If I had eyebrows to raise, it'd be risen right now.

"Yea, I know, I already talked to teacher about that one..." I said to him. "...It shouldn't take all that long with Telia teleporting from here to Mahogany, then heading off to dinner." I said. "I wonder if he is ready to go, though..."

"Generally, no." I said to him, taking out a Pokeball and revealing Telia.

"Gardevoir..." The pokemon spoke, giving a slight yawn.

"Hey, Telia, feeling alright?"

"Gardevoir." She then spoke.

"We're going home for the moment. Got to go pick up Teacher real quick."

"Voir?"

"Yea, really. At any rate, ready to go?"

"In that case, take it away, Telia. Home to Mahogany Town, please." I said.

"Gardevoir." She spoke with a nod. With a bit of focus, the three were gone in a blink, instantaneously arriving at Mahogany Town with no problems at all, just down the walkway to the front door of the Mahogany Town gym. I took a deep breath, taking in the winter air that loomed in the town. I felt a little at ease compared to a short bit ago.

"Home sweet home..." I said to myself.

"AAAA!" I perked up and before I knew it, someone was rushing out of the gym, seemed to be a kid, roughly 12...maybe 13 at the most, dressed in red and white and carrying a Pikachu in his arms...that was completely frozen. "Don't worry Pikachu! I'll get you to a Pokemon Center and you'll be better!" he said, paying no mind to the hybrids or Gardevoir as he rushed on by and made the beeline for the Pokemon Center, nearly losing footing on the ice he tread once or twice on his way towards the street.

"...another victim of a gym challenge at Mahogany. Come on, you two." I said.

"Gardevoir!" Telia then said, happily following along. Yea, I was home alright. I then made my way towards the front door.

Telia and I made it through the front door, holding it open long enough for Darts to come on through. Soon after, I made my way down the hall and the three would soon find themselves to a grand icy battlefield, where on the Gym leader's side, Pryce was there tending to a Pokemon of his. His Piloswine.

"Dear God...Piloswine? Tell me that kid was at least dead to rights in having to use a Pikachu against him." Teacher gave me a side glance, as if I should know the answer to that. "Blast it."

"Sad to say, I'm starting to find competent trainers slowly but surely getting more sparse." Pryce said. "Thank you, Piloswine. That is all for today." He then said, giving the massive Pokemon a couple of pats on its side then recalled the beast to its ball.

"I'm starting to figure out how some of these criminal organizations get their grunts, honestly. A lot can't fight to save their life, let alone their Pokemon." I said. "So, ready to go, then?" I asked.

"Yes. I actually find it funny after all of this time the old Master would invite me. Though, considering the circumstances on how that came about, part of me isn't surprised. Speaking of said circumstances that you told me about..." he said as he starts to come off the field and approaches Darts, looking at him with what could be a rather calm, studying gaze. "...this is the one that he's took in to train, hm? Interesting. Yet not too surprising. I do suppose he tries to find his ways to keep himself occupied at his age."

"You're making it sound like he's a toy." I said.

"Not necessarily. That being said, some people tend to let it get to their heads at times."

"That explains Clair at least."

"Well, it doesn't help that she's virtually family, as well." Pryce said.

"True. Speaking of, I can't say I'm looking fully towards this. Just so you know, if crap hits the fan over there involving me, you'll probably know why." I said. "Especially if she drags Alexi with her. Bah. I only have so much tolerance with those two."

"I know." Pryce said, adjusting his scarf around on his overcoat.

"You weren't saying anything." The two of us spoke up, practically in unison to Darts' complaint. That said, I ended up realizing something, staring at Teacher for a brief second, wondering did what just happen happened. Good grief. When Darts then brought up his moment of curiosity, I couldn't help but to wonder myself. "Yeaaaahhh...you never once told me about it until I called you about this thing." I told him.

"Who do you suppose ran the Blackthorn Gym before Clair?" He asked the two of us.

"........really." I said, needing an intrigued eyebrow to raise once again.

"Oh yes, and unlike now with Clair running the show, the gyms were a bit closer in ties and better in touch. However, when Clair came of age and was competent enough to run a gym..."

"'Competent' being a debated term, considering." I spoke up.

"...right, well, the master decided to take a early retirement from the Pokemon league and focus all efforts on the Dragon's den, and by extension, the Clan that's about it. I recall him stating something about finding some sort of enlightenment just before the retirement became official." Pryce explained. "I think he was waiting on Clair to hurry up and get all certifications done to take over the gym. Its funny really. I still remember her when she was in pull-ups, then before I knew it, she had the gym."

Something just then hit me now that he mentioned it. Nothing that I thought about until now. ".........just...how old is Clair, anyways? Because the way you talk, she's older than she looks."

"Yes, well...its nothing important, and for your sake, anything that you need to know. You already take enough ire from her. Or would you prefer more?" Pryce asked. "Especially now of all times?"

"Point taken."

"Good. Long story short, when he became the clan elder, we fell out of touch, mainly on his advice, however. I never understood why, even to this day. Though knowing him as I did back then, I'm certain he had his reasons." Pryce then finished explaining, looking back at Darts.