"It took you long enough," Flannery said a little irritably and then gestured for him to follow. "Come on, let's get a move on. I want to get to Pettleburg Woods before it's dark."

Rex nodded. He began following Flannery. "Thanks again for this," he said. "I mean it. Your information could help me become a better Trainer. I beat the Gyms back in Johto, but..." He bit his lip. "I want to be stronger. To protect people and Pokémon."

"No problem," she said as she walked towards the edge of town. "Just make sure that you don't do anything stupid. Protect people and Pokemon from what?"

"There are always bad things that happen," Rex said. "Accidents... crimes... bad people. Like Team Rocket. They made a lot of trouble in Kanto and Johto. They stole Pokémon, and hurt people. They experimented on Pokémon, and even made one, if the rumors are to be believed." He sighed.

"Let me tell you a story as we walk," Rex continued. "When I was little, my grandfather gave me an Eevee he'd caught on a trip. We were best friends. But when he evolved to Espeon, he became a target. Someone took him. And when the police found him... he didn't even recognize me. He saw me and attacked. They had no choice... they had to put Thom down. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me.

"That's why I want to be a better, stronger Trainer," he finished. "I want to make sure that what happened to Thom and me doesn't happen to anyone else."

"I know about Team Rocket," Flannery said. "And all about what they can do, but there's no Team Rocket here in Hoenn. We shouldn't have to worry about them." She listened to his story. "I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine what anyone could do to a Pokemon to make it attack someone like that, though."

"Thom was my best friend," Rex murmured. He held Halo tightly to his chest, as if afraid some invisible force would snatch her away. "He trusted me like a big brother. Because of that I never wanted to have another Pokémon. But then Professor Elm gave me Lucifer, my now-Feraligatr. It took some time, but it was because of that little Totodile that I made my choice."

Flannery nodded, still shocked that a Pokemon would turn on its trainer like that to the point where it was killed. It was a horrifying thought, but she tried to put it out of her mind. "There's an old cottage on this route where a man named Mr. Briney will take people from here to other parts of Hoenn. But you probably just want to focus on getting through the forest first."

"No, no!" Rex said. His demeanor shifted. It was almost convincing... however Halo wasn't buying it. "We can visit Mister Briney. He sounds interesting. Sailors almost always are, what with stories of rare and Legendary Pokémon, drinking songs, et cetera."

Flannery crossed her arms. "Really? Shouldn't you be focused on beating the first Gym and catching new Pokemon?"

"Maybe Briney could teach me something," Rex said. "And as a Fire type Gym Leader, he might be able to teach you how to better deal with Water types."

"I don't need anyone to teach me anything," Flannery said confidently. "I'm already a Gym Leader after all. But if you really want to go I guess we can."

"Torchi?" Halo chirped at Flannery. It was as if the Torchic were saying, "Oh really?" Rex knocked on the front door several times, but there wasn't any answer. A young lady noticed the two.

"You're looking for Mister Briney, right?" she asked. Rex nodded. "He went to Rustboro. I think he's visiting his friend Mister Devon."

"Well I guess we're not seeing Mr. Briney then," she said and then started towards the woods again.

Rex followed Flannery. "Miss Flannery? Could I ask you something?" He seemed... respectful wasn't quite right. Reverent? "What does it take to be a good Gym Leader? Dad always shuts me down when I ask. I watch him battle, train his Pokémon. But I can't get it right."