Tom greeted Grant outside the gym. Grant approached him with a wave. Tom offered his usual lies, "You're really being nicer to those weaklings?'

"So what if I am?" Grant demanded, "They're kind people Tom. They deserve kindness and respect. They're not the ones at fault. Not really."

"If you become friends with them they're going to try to help you!" Tom exclaimed, "And you'll become weak! And you'll lose! Then You'll die!"

"So what Tom?!?" Grant demanded, "I have no friends aside from you! This is no way to live! I can help them and never let them help me! I'm lonely Tom! Aren't you!?!"

"I survive!" Tom screamed back, "Just like you! You think Bede cares about you!?! You think Melony cares about you!?! No! Your parents died! You can only count on yourself! By Arceus, it wouldn't surprise me if they just hated you and faked their deaths to be rid of you!"

Grant clenched his fist and growled bitterly, "Leave."

"Fine," Tom glared, "But mark my words Grant, this is going to kill you. Just like your parents..."

Tom walked off towards the water and when Grant looked again, he was gone. Grant sat down next to the entrance, buried his face in his arms, and cried. After doing this for a couple or minutes he collected himself went inside.

What he didn't realize is that someone had seen his argument with Tom and the aftermath. Melony revealed herself from around the corner and sighed, "You really are hiding something aren't you Grant? I'm starting to think I know what it is..."

Grant changed into his jersey and began the gym puzzle. As he was half way down however, the lights went out and the water flow stopped from all pipes. A voice crackled from a loud speaker, playing a recorder message, "Back up power on. Challenger, a power outage has rendered this gym challenge defunct. Please proceed to the main arena."

Grant complied and entered the main arena where Nessa sighed, "Arceus what a pain. The power is out again? This is getting really annoying isn't it kid?"

"You're telling me," Grant replied, "I went to a Pokémon Center once to heal up my friend Rook and the power was out. Shall we get on with it then?"

"Let's," Nessa replied.

Grant put in the earbuds he was given by Milo and returned to her feral state after using them to block out the roaring crowds. He grinned maliciously as he slung the Pokéball containing Rook into the fray with reckless and unstable abandon.

Nessa sent out her Goldeen, and the battle commenced.

"Hone claws two times!" Grant ordered.

As before, Rook began to sharpen his claws against the ground as Goldeen used agility, getting faster and faster. Before Rook could finish sharpening his talons, Goldeen stabbed his left wing with a horn attack. However Rook managed to shake the fish off and prepared to counter. The fish once more stabbed Rook, this time maneuvering behind the bird and stabbing it in the back.

Rook retaliated with Power Trip, with Goldeen still stuck by the horn in his back he flew up into the sky...

And free fell right into the ground! While Rook's fall was broken by Goldeen, Goldeen was crushed by the fall and Rook's weight, and fainted.

"Not bad but this isn't even close to over!" Nessa exclaimed sending out Arrokuda.

"You're strong," Grant admitted, "But I'm stronger. Sweep her whole team Rook! Power Trip again!"

Rook charged, talons outstretched to grab the fish, but the Arrokuda disappeared in the blink of an eye. Grant looked around frantically and saw a stream of water moving around the stadium faster than he could follow as it circled Rook to confuse him before slamming into Rook from the side with Aqua Jet, fainting him.

"Kiss you can do it!" Grant exclaimed, "Night Slash! Watch out for Aqua Jet and strike when the time is right!"

Arrokuda used Aqua Jet once more, but Grant and by extension Kiss, was more prepared.

"Steady," he ordered, "Wait for it Kiss..."

The stream of water turned sharply behind Kiss to strike her in the back.

"That's it!" Grant exclaimed, "Now Kiss! End this!"

Kiss turned around and took the blow head out, catching Arrokuda off guard and countering. Kiss's claws began to glow with a dark power as it sliced into Arrokuda's flesh at the jugular, a critical hit right at the fish's weak point that fainted the Arrokuda.

The crowd began to chant, which Grant didn't hear thanks to the earbuds as Nessa exclaimed, "Man the only one to give me a fight this intense recently was Victor! Let's see how you handle this then!"

Nessa sent out her ace, Dynamax Drednaw. The titanic creature roared, the force of the monstrous Pokémon's body pushed Grant back a step as he covered his face to protect himself from the wind created at the Drednaw got its footing.

Grant considered using a revive on Rook, but knew that given the fact Drednaw is a rock type that such a plan was futile. He instead chose to Dynamax Kiss, returning the Linoone to her Pokéball. He grinned, looking down with a malicious sneer. He bopped his head to the music playing in his earbuds and struck a pose, one finger pointed into the sky. That same, feral fire in his eyes he looked right at Nessa, right into her eyes.

He told her, "You're strong Nessa, but I'm stronger! Stronger than you or anyone else!"

The crowd roared as he sent out the Dynamax Linoone. Kiss and him were ready for anything now as Drednaw used Max Geyser, sending Kiss sliding back with a torrent of water as rain began to pour from the sky. Kiss dug her claws into the ground to keep her footing and countered with Max Strike, biting Drednaw in the face and slamming it into the ground before getting shook off. Drednaw was injured and now began to limp, slowed by the attack.

"Ha!" Grant exclaimed, "All according to plan! You may resist normal type moves but now Kiss is faster and that extra bit of damage from Max Strike is just enough for Max Darkness to finish you! Kiss! End it!"

Kiss's long sharp claws and eyes began to glow with dark power. She stomped her paws, and charged full force at Drednaw. Drednaw snapped at Kiss, who slid, to a stop and leapt into the air. She dove right into Drednaw's shell with intense force, the dark power on her claws shattered cracked the shell of the Pokémon, fainting it.

Grant took out his earbuds and shook hands with Nessa who smiled, "You really are tough as Melony said."

"Oh did she mention me or something," Grant asked.

"She expects great things from you," Nessa explained, "And after what I just saw so do I. You could stand to be a bit less of a prick though."

"Not gonna lie I'm working on that," Grant admitted, "Well I'm off to the next gym. Cya."

Grant left only to be stopped by Melony who approached him outside the gym, "Hey kid great match!"

"Oh hey!" Grant greeted, "I'm just on my way to the next gym. What about you?"

"I came to see your match," Melony chuckled rustling Grant's hair, "I endorsed you after all. I'm so proud of you! You've grown so much as a trainer!"

Grant turned away, "I haven't won yet. Save it for when I become champion and change things. Do away with endorsements."

Melony smiled, "That would be great. Pokémon should be for everyone. I agree."

Melony looked to the setting Sun and asked, "Have you eaten dinner yet? Power should be back on by now. Let's grab a bite."

"I can feed myself," Grant replied, "I got a good chunk of change now. I'll be-"

"Kid as far as I'm concerned I'm responsible for your well being since I... you know, haven't seen any sign of your parents," Melony explained, "And for whatever it's worth I do care for your well being."

"And I need to become stronger if I want to make the changes that need to be made," Grant replied, "I know my cause is just. I can do this, for everyone, but being strong means depending on myself."

"I insist Grant," Melony sighed, "There's something I need to ask you actually."

Grant sighed, "I can tell you're not gonna take no for an answer."

"Great," Melony smiled, "There's a seafood place up the way. Meet me there."

Melony walked away and after healing his Pokémon, Grant kept his word and met Melony at the restaurant.

Melony smiled, "Have a seat kiddo."

The food arrived as Melony asked, "So Grant, do you have any friends?"

"I mean kinda," Grant shrugged, "I have Bede who's pretty cool and I'm on good terms with. Then there's Hop, who, no offense to him, is cool but kinda a weakling. My only real friend is Tom. Although recently he's been a real jerk."

"When did you last speak to Tom?" Melony asked.

"Oh just before facing Nessa outside the gym," Grant shrugged, "Why do you ask?"

"Grant no one was-" Melony began to explain but cut herself off, "Nevermind. Just... you can talk to me about anything. OK?"

"You sound like my mom before she-" Tom cut himself off and got up, "I gotta go. Thanks for the meal."

"What's the rush?" Melony asked, "Is everything alright?"

Grant sighed, "Look, I get you're just trying to be nice but I don't want any help. I don't want any hand outs. I can take care of myself. It's not personal it's just how it is. Besides it's a several days journey between towns and I wanna beat nightfall to get that started. You endorsed me what a week ago?"

Grant waved goodbye and left.

Melony sighed and made a very important phone call. The phone rang for a few seconds...

Professor Magnolia received a phone call from a very concerned Melony.

"What's wrong?" Professor Magnolia asked.

Melony replied, "Schizophrenia."

"What?" Magnolia asked.

"You studied it right?" Melony asked, "Before you switched majors?"

"I mean yeah for a bit back in university why?" Magnolia asked, "Is this about your pet project? That feral kid?"

Melony sighed, "So what if it is?"

"Melony I'm not saying you can't go through with this idea," Magnolia sighed, "I'm just confused as to why. Why are you considering adopting this kid? In fact, why do you want to adopt in general? I get you care about him since you've endorsed him and have been watching his matches but..."

"Why shouldn't I?" Melony avoided answering, "It's pretty obvious he's lying about having parents. I'm starting to think they died, but that's besides the point. Magnolia... I think he's schizophrenic."

"Elaborate," Magnolia requested.

"Outside Nessa's gym," Melony explained, "He was screaming at no one and then broke down crying. Talking about being lonely as if someone else is there. Later he claimed outside the gym he was taking to his friend Tom. There was no Tom. Magnolia..."

Melony revealed, "Tom isn't real..."