The couple walked into the building, noticing a nervous looking operator standing behind the desk "Excuse me" West called "We would like a cable car?"

"Sorry, even if I like to help you... There's only one car here due to some complications with Team Victoria taking over the other operating building on top of the mountain. It's best if you didn't come today until they leave."

"What are they up too..?" Crystal asked

"Is there a problem?" The couple turned around to see a very tall man carrying some paper bags with groceries inside. West froze, slowly standing behind Crystal to avoid recognition. It's him...

The operator explained to him what's going on "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll call up my wife to take care of those guys. So why don't you get the car ready for me and these two youngsters for us, will ya?"

"Oh! In that case, right this way!" The guy walked up to Crystal staring at him, finding him familiar in a way

"You got some pretty eyes there, young lady. They look a little like my wife's eyes"

"You don't look all that older than me" she stated

"I know, but I like calling others who are shorter than me, youngsters. It's a lot less mean than calling them shorties" he pet her head "but you're really small, I'll make an exception, shortie" she slapped his hand away and walked to the cable car that was open for them, exposing West for hiding "Oh?" The guy smiled "Well if it isn't little Cheeky!" He laughed "You slimmed down a little, didn't ya?"

"You're still trying to make fun of me, eh?" West glared angrily

"Arceus, look at that glare of yours. It's scarier than it was back when we were kids! But no one could take you seriously with those chubby cheeks you had!" He squeezed West's cheeks, making him get slapped away "Okay Okay! Sorry! Just wanted to relive the past a little! It was a lot of fun"

"Like hell it was! You made my childhood miserable!"

"Hey, I was young then, and I know I did some bad things to you and made fun of you, but that's all behind me" he walked to the cable car where Crystal was waiting "Can't find it in your heart to forgive me?" West hurried into the car, not wanting him to get closer to her. The cart was on its way up

"No, I'll never forgive you" West glared. Crystal pretended like the conversation wasn't happening. The view was too amazing to ignore. This guy must be Ryan, the guy West told her about

"Not even if I said I'm sorry?"

"No" Ryan laughed

"Yeah, I would understand why you wouldn't! I was horrible as a kid, but I'm glad it didn't do anything too serious to you. What I did could have messed anyone up... You grew up to be such a man, didn't you?" West blushed

"W-well... Yeah"

"And you even got yourself a cute little girlfriend!" He looked at Crystal minding her own business "What's your name, cutie?"

"Leave me alone" she spat. The boys sweatdropped, not expecting that respond

"Tough one, aren't we? You attracted a pretty one, but I could never see you handle someone who can look as serious as she does!"

"Don't talk like you know her! We're soulmates! No matter how she acts, I'll accept her because she's my princess!" Crystal widened her eyes, staring at her lap with a deep blush on her face.

No... he's blind. That legend is poisoning his mind. He'll hate her in the end. She can't stop but think this every time he talks that way

"Confident! That's new about you!" Ryan patted his back hard "It's about time you grew up! You became a man! I like it! Looks like whatever I put you through made you to the man you are today!" West looked down, knowing it was true, but didn't want to admit it

"My wife should be taking care of Team Vicky or whatever, pretty soon! I messaged her before we got in the car. She's pretty strong, so count on her to give us a safe landing" Crystal looked from the view of the graveyard a few miles down and turned to Ryan

"She can't be that strong if she has to deal with those annoying thugs... Who is she?"

"The gym leader of Osore Town! Leah Otashi!" Crystal nearly passed out, laying on the seat with her soul drooling out her lips

"Your wife is the gym leader!?" West gasped. Ryan rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed

"Yeah! It's a long story! A guy like me winning over a girl like her? To be honest, if I never changed my bad boy ways, I wouldn't have the life I have now" Ryan smiled at the view "She changed me... She was a quiet girl who likes building things. There was an event in Zalma city" a city near where the Battle Tower stood, and also a city where another one of Crystal's eldest sister lived and ran her own gym "and I so happen to be in the same Robotics Convention, wanting to tease some nerds. That's where I met Leah. She was very mature and just knew what to say" he held his heart "I admit... She looked good, and I tried flirting with her, but what she said to me broke my heart" Crystal took back her spirit and sat up, wanting to hear more of the story "I can still remember the words she told me that changed my persona forever"

"What did she say?" West blinked confused, mostly curious to know how a bully like him changed so much

"There are people like you who use to get hanged by their penis and others watch" Ryan said with pride. West's jaw dropped in horror "There are things in life that can satisfy you in better ways than to hold onto your negativity and laugh at those who are smaller than you. I've seen you around, and you're actually bothering to be nice to me... What makes me different than anyone else here? Is it because of my looks? Looks don't last forever, you know? It's always going to be the inside that matters because you only have one heart. Either you can share it kindly, or give it up to demons. I think the better option is the second for you. Get away from me" Ryan held his heart, filling himself with hearts "she's so cool..." Crystal smiled, holding in her chuckle. Yeah, Leah was always particular about the ways people judge others by their looks.

Every one of her family members goes by a motto. Samantha believed that no matter how many times you might fall, there's always more room to get back up and practice, and Leah was to never judge a book by its cover. Crystal's was pretty obvious; a status doesn't show who you truly are, and you are a person

"She sounds... nice" West sweat dropped "I came here to challenge her to a gym battle!" Ryan laughed out loud "What's so funny?"

"Well, I would be more than happy to introduce you to Leah. It's been a while since having a gym battle, but the thing is... You're a Kimana. After what happened with that other girl who claimed she was a Kimana, Leah immediately disliked her. Not because of her name or anything, but her behavior! If someone like Leah judged someone so easily, I doubt she's going to battle another Kimana"

"You don't get it! I'm not like the rest of my family!"

"Oh trust me, I know. Why do you think you're the only Kimana I dare to tease? The others were bloodthirsty while you were spineless" West stood up, causing the car to wobble and quickly sat down "Look, it's not up to me to battle you" Crystal thought for a second "If you can show you're different, I don't think it'll be that hard to convince her to battle you"

"I... I can do this! Definitely!" Ryan nodded, standing when the car came to a stop at the top of the mountain

"I like hearing that. Come on. She should be waiting up front for me!" The doors opened on their own, showing a welcoming operator

"Welcome back! I'm so glad you made it here safely!"

"Thanks! Did Leah take care of the mess?"

"Definitely! We would have been screwed if it wasn't for her" Ryan grinned at West, and hurried outside. West let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding in

"I'm fine" he smiled at Crystal "Thanks for asking" she doesn't remember asking, nor cared too

"Yeah..." the two walked out the building to see Ryan going all lovey dovy towards a tall woman with long shiny golden hair, a long lab coat, and thick glasses that glares too much for any guy to become attracted to. She's gorgeous under them, but it looks like Ryan already knew that.

"Hey, honey! I brought the spices you asked for!" Ryan smiled. Leah looked at him, unable to show a facial expression with those glasses of hers, and smiled

"Thank you, honey. Now I can start cooking dinner! I was in the middle of looking up a recipe when I got your message. Gee... Those guys were really obnoxious. They kept saying something about 'we can't leave because we are trying to bring our boss back home safely' something like that" she looked over at West standing here with Crystal hiding behind him

"A friend of yours?" Leah asked. Ryan turned, searching for Crystal, finding her legs behind West. The color and shape of her eyes reminded him of... if that's the case, why is she-? He looked at West staring at Leah with slight hate. oh Ryan smirked that's why... interesting!

"Yeah, he's the brother of that Rhea girl you fought a while back, remember?" Leah stared at West eyeing her "We use to go way back!"

"Oh? You mean you bullied him?" Ryan laughed nervously

"It's not like that anymore!" Leah sighed and looked back at West's eyes. She held her chin, observing them

"Even if that girl brought a bad name to us gym leaders of this generation, I would not want to battle with you after what happened" she crossed her arms "but I'm not about judging people so quickly... I see your eyes. They're honest and full of potential, something your sister lacked. All she cared about was battle, battle! It was irritating... She wanted to bring our family down even if we did nothing to you"

"Yes, you-!" She lifted her hand

"I don't want to hear it. It seems that you're the same as the rest of your family. It's sad... but I'll appreciate that you care about winning for yourself, not just for your name" Crystal peaked over at her "Let me guess, you want a battle?"

"Yes!" He bit his lips "I want to become champion for myself, not just for the family, but mostly get back at how you embarrassed my sister!"

"Embarrassed? How did we possibly embarrass her?" He explained about what happened between her and the last gym leader. Crystal rolled her eyes and lowered her sun hat "Ah... that. Well, can't much do anything about it now. If you want a battle, you're going to have to wait" she walked away

"Wait!? For how long!?"

"As long as I want. How about you calm yourself... I never yelled at you, so why are you yelling at me?" He calmed himself "I'll get Ryan to find you if you stick around Osore Town when I'm ready"

"H-Hold on!"

"Hey, babe. Let's consider this... You said he's not like the others" Ryan said

"Yes, that's why I'm making him wait. If he was like the others... I would refuse. That Aaron guy was the last straw"

"Aaron came here already?" West asked

"Hm? Yeah... As a gym leader, I cannot refuse a challenge. I told him if he can win a badge from my little sister in Summerlight, then I'll battle him. What about you? Did you win a badge?"

"Yes!" He showed his bag strap with the ring badge on it "She personally gave it to me after she helped us recover" Crystal flinched. Leah walked over to take a good look at the badge, gasping and cupped her mouth

"No way! She gave you the official gym badge! It's not dull or anything!" She smiled

"D-Dull..?" He looked at his badge, now noticing that it seemed nothing like Rhea's badges. Hers were dull and not as colorful while West badge was shiny and bright in color

"Yeah, a shiny badge means how much the gym leader enjoyed the battle and found it worthy while a dull badge made it feel like they wasted their time. It's practically given to them" Ryan explained, winking.

West took a step back, not knowing that was a thing... So Rhea got the dull badges and he's sure that even Aaron will get the same, being pushed forward so the last gym leader can refuse his hard work. Crystal gives those dull badges out all the time

"And looks like my sister enjoyed your battle... okay, I'll make an exception. How about tomorrow? We can have our battle then" Leah smiled

"R-Really..?" West gasped "I-I really appreciate it! I'll make this battle worth it! And I'm sorry for my family! They're like that!" Leah giggled

"No problem! As long as you don't end up like them, we'll be in good terms! How about joining us for dinner?" Crystal inhaled a sharp breath and grabbed on West's skin, making him yelp in pain

"W-What is it? Chris?" He groaned

"I need to take my medicine..."

"Do you have to grab on my back like that!?"

"Do you prefer me to grab somewhere else?" He didn't know what she meant till a few seconds later, blushing hard "You can do whatever you want... I'm going to take care of myself and go to the graveyard. See you later" lowering her hat further, she took Froslass's hand and hurried away from everyone staring at her leave

"That girl..." Leah held her chin "Is that..?" Ryan looked at her

"Do you know her?" Correct him if he's wrong since he thought Crystal could be related to her. Leah frowned, thinking of her ill sister she hasn't seen in years. It's too dangerous leaving her safety, so why would that be her..?

"Oh... no, I thought..." she sighed and looked at West "Please come, I need to start soon" she sighed again and walked away. Ryan looked at the direction of where Crystal was leaving and turned to West standing there awkwardly

"That friend of yours, what's her name?"

"Why do you need to know?" Ryan looked serious "I won't let you near her"

"She's your girlfriend, right?" West blushed "You're protecting her, I can tell... What's the actual story?"

"S-She's ill... and she's traveling to see her family. I wanted to help her get around without worrying that her illness will slow her down. I don't have to be by her side, but I want to be. She's different, and I like her"

"Despite who she is?" West looked confused "What? So you don't know? That's going to even be worse on you, Kimana" Ryan smirked

"What? If you're going to spout nonsense, get it over with"

"I just wanted to know her name" West rolled his eyes

"Crystal" Ryan closed his eyes

"Crystal... A beautiful gem who hides in the base of plain rocks. They're clear, but are often foggy, making it hard to understand them" West was taken back, shocked to see how poetic he was "It's not my business, but I honestly think you should give her space. Just once in a while, even when she doesn't ask for it. You know how women can be"

"R-Right... I would take up on that, but she's targeted. I can't risk not being there for her"

"Oh? She's targeted? That sounds serious... but still, Crystal looks like a strong trainer. That Froslass of hers doesn't even look twice at someone. She's the same way. I don't think you should underestimate someone that small"

"That, I get... You've changed a lot, haven't you?" Ryan laughed, patting his back

"I'm not the same guy I use to be! It's all because of my beautiful wife... The Otashi family are some wise people that go by their own motto. You can learn something from every individual. They go through a lot, you know? Anyway... How long do you intend to keep your girl away from your sight?"

"I mean... She can do whatever she wants. I know I'm overprotective towards her, but don't think I don't know how strong she is. She even made my sister cower. No matter what, I vow to protect her till the very end. I'll put my life on the line before I let anything or anyone touch her!" Ryan jumped and grabbed West's body to move away from a piece of cloth belonging to a Honedge reaching to grab West's wrist, and threw out his Chingling.

"Use Shadow Ball!" The little psychic type attacked the Honedge, making it hiss and float off

"What was that!?" West freaked out, holding his wrist that was about to get snatched

"A Honedge... around these parts. It likes seeking young men who are determined to protect those he cares about more than himself, and want to possess them" Ryan smirked "You've come a long way... You're alright. Let's get inside before it comes back. You're targeted by that thing until you leave"

"O-oh... okay"

Edited on grammarly 12/7/18