The next morning came with back pain for Grant, which he ignored only due to the hunger pains in his stomach as he had not eaten since early yesterday.

"I knew that only one bowl of curry wasn't enough," he muttered to himself, "At least I have some money."

Grant left to find a place to eat, finding his way to the Battle Café where a trainer in a black dress sipped a cup of coffee and ate a cream cheese danish.

"What'll it be kid?" The owner asked.

"What do you have for cheap?" Grant inquired.

"We sell biscuits here for 500 each," the waiter explained, "Bacon or sausage?"

"One of each," Grant ordered handing the man his only money to receive his breakfast. He sat down and began to wolf down his food with a complete lack of any etiquette.

Marnie, the trainer in black, noticed this and recalled a rumor she overheard.

She approached the trainer and asked, "You're Grant... right? The feral drifter?"

"Feral?" Grant asked, "I survive but I'm not some beast."

"Hey that's what they're calling you not me," Marnie replied, "I heard some people talking about a trainer who was endorsed by a gym leader who described him in the endorsement as appearing feral. That's you right?"

Grant nodded, "Yeah. So?'

Marnie asked, "I'm curious, where did you come from."

"I come from nothing," Grant replied, "You?"

"My big bro is a gym leader," Marnie explained, "Dark type."

"Born into wealth and success of course," Grant bitterly sighed.

"Sorry what?" Marnie asked, justly offended by this slight at her skills as a trainer.

Grant finished his meal and explained, "Look unlike the rest of the people who got endorsed I had to work for it. Everyone else is born into wealth or knows someone rather than hard work. It isn't fair that you need to already be relatively wealthy just to get your foot in the door. It's Pokémon, it should be for everyone should it not? So why the endorsements? Rich get richer that's why."

"You implying I didn't work for where I am?" Marnie demanded, angered now, "Ya ain't gonna get away with that."

"I'm not implying it I'm stating it outright," Grant replied, "There are trainers who deserve those endorsements more than you, more than me, more than both of us, but because they don't have the wealth or connections they are left in the dust. It is a horrid system that benefits the rich and never gives the nobodies a chance to rise up through hard work. It's Pokémon. Should it not be for everyone? Nay, it's nothing but nepotism and the rich supporting the rich rather than a chance for anyone to rise to the top as it should be. I'm going to become champion and I'm gonna to change it so that anyone can reach the top, endorsement or not, if they have the skill."

Grant got up, having finished his meal, Marnie glared with death in her eyes, "You're a real prick ain't ya?"

"The system is broken," Grant shrugged, "But I never claimed it was your fault. Take that as you will."

With that Grant left, headed for Turffield to take on Milo and claim his first gym badge, only to be stopped by two trainers in goth clothes. The one on the left, an overweight male, yelled into his horn, "Hey you're that punk who made a slight at Marnie aren't you?"

"I called it as it was," Grant glared, "It's not her fault the system is broken."

"You don't get to talk to her like that!" The other goon, a young women with short hair dyed an almost purple color, but just pink enough not to be purple, "Not when Team Yell is on her side!"

"Look I have a badge to collect," Grant glared, "Step aside."

The two goons refused. Grant pulled his knife, "Step. Aside."

The goons looked at each other, the male grunt explained, "He uhhh... He looks serious."

"Don't worry I know how to stop him dead in his tracks!" The female goon exclaimed, "Same way we always make some noise!"

The two turned and challenged Grant to a battle, each goon sent out a galarian Zigzagoon.

"Rook!" Grant exclaimed, "Kiss! Show them we don't take kindly to people who get in our way! Team Yell was it? Then I'll silence you!"

Grant examined the situation, and he knew that having Rook set up would not be worth the time as he would fall before he could get ready. He decided it better to strike down one of the Zigzagoons with both his Pokémon so he could take out the other 2v1.

"Rook!" He demanded, "Peck! Kiss, finish it with tackle!"

The two complied and struck the first Zigzagoon before it could react as the second used leer, decreasing the defense of Grant's team. Grant gave the order, "Finish the job!"

Kiss struck first with a tackle, but the opposing Zigzagoon leapt out of the way, creating a cloud of sand from the old dirt road. Rook charged in with peck, landing the blow, but the Zigzagoon then used counter, grabbing Rook's wing in its mouth and using the bird's own momentum to throw it onto the ground with intense force, fainting it.

Grant sighed as the grunts sneered. He knew he had no choice but to attack, attempt to finish it off before it did the same to him. He ordered Kiss to strike. The grunt's tried to dodge the blow, but this time Kiss predicted that and adjusted her movements to compensate, landing the tackle that fainted the opponent.

The grunts realized they had been beat and stepped aside. Grant put his knife away and approached the gym, ready for a battle.

"So he did threaten us there right?" The male grunt asked.

"We kinda threatened him first verbally," the female grunt conceded, "But pulling a knife was not OK. He's for sure in the wrong here..."

Grant entered the gym to face Milo, walking into the main lobby, he looked around, overwhelmed almost by the sound the lights and sounds that bombarded his senses. He took a deep breath and approached the front desk.

"Ah you must be Grant right?" The receptionist inquired, "You just missed a few of the other challengers who were endorsed by Leon! Real shame as they were a sight to behold!"

Grant sighed annoyed, "Look I just want to earn my badge OK?"

"Fair enough," the receptionist shrugged, "Oh, Melony had this delivered so you would have a uniform. She really seems invested in you. Overnight delivery no less."

Grant is given an ice type jersey with his number on it, he changed into it and begins the Gym...

He herds the Wooloo with ease, being experienced with wild animals and how to manipulate them by doing so to scare them away from berry trees to get food. He began to approach the main arena, where Tom awaited him in the tunnel.

Tom stood with his back against the wall, his arms crossed. Grant approached him and greeted him.

Tom smirked, "Well Grant, time to show them we earned our way here."

Grant nodded and began to plan his strategy to take on Milo. He knew that in terms of raw strength Milo had the advantage and even with typing on his ride Rook wouldn't be enough to defeat Milo, but if Rook had enough time to sharpen his talons...

Yes...

That would be perfect.

The two met in the center of the arena where Milo greeted him, "You certainly impressed Melony last night Grant. Let's see if you're up to snuff."

Milo sent out his Gossifleur as Grant sent out Kiss. He pet Kiss, assuring her, "I know what I'm doing will seem odd but I promise Kiss, it's what it'll take to win. Do you trust me?"

Kiss happily cried out and snuggled up to Grant, the creature's fur soft beneath the surface but scratchy and matted on the outer layer.

"Remind me to bathe you when we win," Grant smiled scratching his Pokémon's chin, "Now, here we go!"

Kiss leapt into the fray, ready to follow the orders of her trainer.

"You really do seem to love your Pokémon," Milo commented, "So why so cold to everyone else?"

"Unlike you my Pokémon worked for what they have from nothing," Grant replied, "Now, see the strength that brought us! Sand attack!"

Kiss obeyed, throwing sand in the eyes of the Glossifleur, who countered with a barrage of leaves that zeroed in on Kiss, slicing her and fainting her striking her in her soft underbelly for a critical hit.

"Well magical leaf throws a wrench in my plans," Grant conceded as he gripped Rook's Pokéball, "But I know you can do this Rook!"

Rook cried out, ready for battle as Grant gave the order, "Hone claws! Thrice!"

Rook complied, sharpening his claws as Milo's Gossifleur struck with rapid spin, spinning around as it charged full speed, but was easily evaded as Rook flew out of the way.

Rook continued to sharpen his arsenal. Gossifleur retaliated with magical leaf, which struck Rook. However the bird brushed off the blow, resisting it thanks to its typing.

The third and final hone claws was used. Gossifleur once more attempted a rapid spin, hoping to boost its speed in order to strike again before Rook could with boosted speed, but it once more missed. Dust from the attack stirring up dirt filled the air as Gossifleur frantically looked for its opponent.

"Look out!" Milo ordered.

But it was to late.

Grant smirked, "Rook, show them our power."

From the dust Rook emerged, slamming into Gossifleur with Power Trip, a power blow that knocked Gossifleur across the battle field and fainted it as it hit the back wall behind Milo. Milo turned back to see the feral look in Grant's eyes. A sadistic smile. He stood, unable to sit still still, bouncing from side to side, arms left to dangle at his sides as he leered back at Milo with a mad grin.

"You truly are feral aren't you?" Milo exclaimed, eager to face such an interesting foe but almost afraid, as those eyes held madness, insanity. "How about something a bit more common in the Wild Area?!? A Dynamax Pokémon!"

The crowd began to roar and chant as Milo sent out his Dynamax Eldegoss.

That chanting...

It was just like...

"Stop buzzing..." Grant muttered, looking down.

"What?" Milo asked.

"Stop buzzing!" Grant screamed, looking up with death in his eyes, "Stop buzzing! Stop buzzing!"
Rook! Make it stop! Make it stop!"

Rook followed orders and turned to face down the titan before him as it used Max Overgrowth. Rook was bombarded with explosive spores that blasted it into a wall and onto the ground. As the dust cleared, the crowd watched in anticipation.

Rook lay there, and just as Milo let his guard down, Rook burst into the sky, and ran through his titanic rival from one end to the other with peck. An explosion of energy filled the arena as the Pokémon fell.

Milo approached Grant as the crowd cheered his victory. Grant hyperventilated, trembling as Milo offered him the badge, concern in his eyes as he asked, "Are you OK?"

Grant swiped the badge and quickly shook Milo's hand, "I won that's what matters."

Grant ran out of that arena as quick as he could into the tunnel to exit, where, thinking he was now alone, felt the stress he felt build up as bile, and vomited.

What he didn't realize is that he was being watched by Milo, who had followed him with concern.

"Are you alright kid?" Milo asked.

Grant turned, fear in his eyes as Milo had seen him.

"You didn't see that," Grant glared, "I'm strong enough to not have that happen to me."

"Dude what happened back there?" Milo demanded, "You had a panic attack in front of the entire crowd."

"You didn't hear it?" Grant demanded, "That chant from the crowds sounded like a swarm of Combee! Do you have any idea how terrifying that loud, rhythmic sound is?"

"So you have a fear of bug Pokémon?" Milo asked, "And the crowd's chanting reminded you of what they sound like?"

Grant nodded.

Milo offered Grant a pair of Hi-Tech Earbuds and explained, "Here, these can block out certain sounds. Just wear these and have them block out the chanting next time."

Grant lied, "I'll be fine."

Milo sighed, "Look kid it's this or I get Melony involved and if she sees you can't handle this she will revoke her endorsement."

Grant sighed and took the Hi-Tech Earbuds.

"She also told me to give you this since you don't have one," Milo elaborated offering a Dynamax Band to Grant.

"I'm only taking these cause I have to," Grant sighed putting it on.

Milo shrugged, "You do you dude, but my advice, you could learn to be a bit nicer. What are you feral?"

Grant shrugged, "I don't even know anymore. It was a fun match Milo, I'll see you around."

With that Grant left to head to the second gym. Melony revealed herself, "I managed to catch the match. Came as soon as I heard he was next."

"Yeah you would have an interest in seeing him succeed," Milo sighed, "But Melony..."

"I saw him," Melony nodded, "Is he OK?"

Milo shook his head, "No. No he isn't..."