I'll fine you!

Hehehehehehehhe

The Combee had entered the hive. He could only imagine how much Lucas had to scroll to end his chaos. Surely there was no consequence for this action. 

Except now the floor was lava.

Barry looked around the open fields outside of Floaroma Town. Not a single thing to stand on as far as the eye could see. He snapped a picture.

[Contact: Lucas Skywalker]

[txt] Guess I’m dead now. [Image Attachment] [txt] And all these super pretty flowers. All burnt up in the lava. Just a Combee out here doing my best and now I’m on fire. 

After a minute, there was another picture. This time it was his Dragonair with a flower impaled on his horn. 

@aspearbarry​ // Direct Hit!

“Aw yeah, my stealth training has paid off!” 

It does cross his mind that he should probably start running, but running’s for cowards! He instigated a snowball fight, so a snowball fight is what would happen.

He wastes no time in packing a snowball of his own.

While Lucas may have had first blood, Barry had a bigger advantage. 

Like, a huge advantage. Really big. Round. It was Snorlax- the perfect wall against any onslaught of ice. Barry lobbed his snowball, not taking the extra time to aim. Once he was in his established position, he could stockpile enough arms to win this war!

“ACK!”

Man down! Man down!

...

Man getting back up! 

Man packing a snowball. 

Was spending his day off making a life-sized snow replica of a snorlax a productive use of his time?

Absolutely. 

[Barry, technically, still lives with his mom. 

Since he’s still very much traveling, like, all of the time, most of his nights are spent camping, in a Pokemon center, or, if he’s feeling fancy or he has work in that city, he’ll get a hotel room. 

His room at home is still decorated like it was growing up with very few adjustments- the ceiling now has glow in the dark stars on it like he always wanted growing up but Mary wouldn’t let him, he’s since upgraded his video game system to a switch and there’s like four different pet beds in there because the Pokemon at home use it as their room.....though they usually just sleep on his bed. There’s a lot of Bidoof and Skitty hair on it. 

  Don’t ask where Allister got the stick, but he’s gently poking Barry with it.

It’s too late. He’s down for the count.

     “The floor is still lava!”

     She’s curious how long Barry will hang in there…

“Shit....”

He couldn’t lose....but there wasn’t really anything he could land on with a 100% certainty. Heck!

...Oh!

Barry began to swing his legs a tad, kicking them up with a crunch and a little swearing under his breath, but he did manage to kick a foot onto one of the ceiling fan blades! Which was great! 

Until his fingers slipped. 

And so did his leg. 

“AH!”

“Is the floor still lava? Can I let go now? My fingers hurt.”

“But I’m the one with the high ground…” But like… it IS basically free money, though. “What if I say the Obi-Wan line? I’ll do it for ten, deal?”

“That’s the line I meant, but the moment’s passed.” No money for you. 

 He blinks a bit in surprise before a wide grin pulls up his lips, a toothy grin to match his son’s. His flesh and blood. His pride and joy. He still remembers the day he was born, swaddled in his blanket, fast asleep.

 Poor Mary never had another day of peace afterwards, did she?

 “So, you think you finally got what it takes to beat me, hunh?” Honestly, Palmer was sure he did too. Barry wasn’t one to lollygag. He was a hard worker, though he was sure not everyone could see it. Palmer had been the same at that age. Hell, even at the age he was now, though he wasn’t quite as energetic as he used to be. His age was starting to catch up with him, as much as he didn’t want to admit it. Here his son was in front of him, twenty and growing up big and strong.

 As much as he didn’t want to think about it, he supposes it isn’t long until he isn’t in Barry’s life at all anymore. He wonders if Barry will take up his mantle, but he shakes the thought off. Barry still had his whole life in front of him– to do and be whatever he wanted.

 Palmer takes out his own Pokeball, rolling it around in his hand. “Well— let’s see what you’ve got, Sport!”

Most people exaggerated when they said that every moment in their life lead up to a certain moment. 

Barry was not exaggerating. 

Everything that he did was to get stronger- as a friend, as a Pokemon trainer, as a person. Sometimes he didn’t understand why, but the fire under his feet always kicked him into overdrive, doing his damnedest at whatever goal he had in front of him. Sure, he got a lil sidetracked here and there, but that just lead to adventure! Which lead to growth! Which lead higher and higher!

Of course Palmer didn’t let up, and Barry wouldn’t either, seemingly neck in neck the entire time. Hell, some people would even say Palmer had the leg up, the Dragonite staring down at his Infernape. Palmer’s ace! How many times had he witnessed them knock out challenger after challenger?

Not today! 

Watching the dragon type bolt around the arena, Barry steeled himself, digging his heels into the ground to take a stance in time with Chunky. They wouldn’t be able to tank a big hit, but they couldn’t run circles around the arena either. A larger opponent needed to be handled with caution and precise movements. 

It all came to a head- Fluffles had landed a thunder waver, nearly crippling the Infernape, but it wasn’t it. They had one last shot. If Chunky could power through....hold on.......just .................

                           JUST FOR ONE LAST SHOT! 

“FLARE BLITZ!”

Fire erupted across the starter’s body, and with one last screech, he charged froward, slamming into the Dragonite with everything he had. The recoil was astounding, smoke billowing from the impact. 

But in the end, Chunky was the one left standing. Bruised, tired, but smiling. 

It took just a moment for the scene to settle in Barry’s mind. 

Then he exploded into a scream.

“YOU DID IT!”

The boy bolted to his partner, quite literally scooping the fire type up into a hug, spinning the confused primate around.

What could it have been like to see him like this?

What were the snapshots in his head? At the hospital when he was born? His first steps? Words? First day at school? All the times they ran around Twinleaf?

The day he left for the first time? The day he came back to see his son’s to the moon smile?

The day he got a call when he was going out on his Pokemon journey?

The day that his friends disappeared into the distortion world?

There was a lot of time between them all, and especially between the first and now. Twenty years old. Still a toothy smile, but hadn’t he gotten tall? Gotten strong?

Barry wasn’t thinking about any of that, though. He was too focused at the excited drumming in his chest. The adrenaline of a good battle. 

Seeing the dumb smile on his dad’s face. 

“HA! Surprised to see me, huh!? I figured I could try battling my way up to give you your father’s day present instead of taking the back way, and check it out! I made it!”

Barry set a box tucked under his arm aside, pulling out a Pokeball from his bag.