"It's ok dear, you will do better next time. Now let's head off to the professors lab, to see about this crystal!!" Liz once again was back on the path heading towards Zuerest. It was quiet this morning, she could hear pokemon off in the distance chittering back and forth. She even saw what appeared to be a flock of Pidgey flying high, perhaps they were migrating home. Before she knew it, Liz had returned home. She couldn't believe it had been two days since she has left the town, not enough time for things to change much. Within moments she had made it to the professors lab walking right in and up to the professor.

"Hello professor, here is that Z-Crystal you wanted to see??
What can you tell me about it??" She asked as she plopped the stone on the Professors desk.

The Professor's nose was buried deep in a stack of papers. He didn't even notice Liz until she started speaking. Then, almost immediately, she set down the glowing rock. Eugene's eyes went wide at the site.

"Well hello Liz! Yes, yes this is one beautiful chunk of Normalium. You see, Z-Crystals are found within mysterious rocks. The elements that make up these rocks and the Z-Crystals within, they are not found inside any other known substance on this planet. Furthermore, these rocks are known to appear randomly. In fact, the first time I ever encountered one in the wild, it materialized right in front of my very eyes. That's the day I dedicated my life to studying these strange things. There are plenty of theories, but to this day, no one knows for sure where these things come from or why they appear at all.

"What we have learned however is that the crystal inside, when held by a Pokemon, can unleash great power. Most of them rely on Pokemon knowing a specific 'move-type'. Others have more specific requirements. In any case, when the Pokemon uses its Z-Crystal, a super powerful new move is created! But in order to make this work, you will need one of those." Professor Eugene points to a glass case nearby. Inside, there are necklaces, rings, bracelets, and many other types of jewelry. In the center of each one, there is a white stone.

Those are Z-Harmonizers. They are made from the leftover rock remains after Z-Crystal extraction. Go ahead, choose one whenever you like. The extraction process takes about an hour, so there is no rush." With the click of a remote in his hand, the force field (that appeared to be glass a moment ago) dropped.

"So how does this work professor?? Do I just called out the new move and the Pokemon instinctively know what it is?? Do I say a prayer, or do some silly dance?? What type of move does the Pokemon need to know to get that crystal to work??" The questions came flying out of Liz's mouth faster and faster. She was in full research mode, in fact she graduated a year early from her class because she enjoyed learning things she did not know before, and before her was a wealth of information, maybe the only expert on the subject that now held her attention.

Liz nodded to herself as she listened to the professors lesson. Interesting things out in the world, she wondered what else could be out there that people have yet to discover, she wanted to be the one to discover something never seen before, sure being champion is a big goal for her, but not the only one she had. Liz wanted to discover never before seen pokemon, find lost civilizations, she wanted to do it all. But first becoming champion was at the top of her to do list right now, and she had to get past Rin to do that.

"So professor, you said it's going to take an hour?? Do you think I can grab a bite to eat??" Her mind wandered to Rin wondering why she hadn't heard back from them yet, her rival better be okay, she was the only one that would bring him down.

As Professor Eugene set the rock down at the work station, Liz asked about food. Poor thing must have been starving by this point. He turned his head half way around to face the front door. "Yeah, you have enough time. We don't have anything here at the lab, but you can grab lunch nearby or raid your family's pantry. I'll be right here working till you get back." He then turned back to the stone and put on some specialty gloves.

...As the hour time the professor neared, Liz began calling her Pokemon back. With a tearful last hug to her mother she left and made her way to the lab. Liz walked in looking for the professor, she saw him at his desk still working away.

"Hey professor, how's it coming along?? Almost done??" She said walking up to the professor.

...Not to mention this painter appeared to have a craft honed from much more experience. Though Rin had feeling Osajyin could take her o- "Osajyin!" the sauropod had laid down since they'd stopped. "Up and at em! Model your power with a Razor Leaf!" From his sitting position he swung his head back and forth in quick succession, sending wave after wave of sharpened leafs straight the sassy Smeargle. Rin needed this. They needed a win even if it meant boosting their most powerful pokémon. Winning wasn't the only thing, so maybe need wasn't the best word, but on the other hand: winning was the only thing. As Rin waited for the impact of Osajyin's attack they promised themself they'd double their winning streak before they saw Liz again!

There was a mirror on the professor's desk that allowed him to watch the door without turning his body. When he saw Liz enter, he smoothly closed the notebook he had been doodling in. In truth, the Z-Crystal extraction process only took him about twenty minutes. One hour was only what he told trainers in order to get them out of the lab. Working in peace is much easier.

He then grabbed the finished Z-Crystal and swiveled around in his chair. "You're just in time! I was just finishing up my notes. You're Crystal is ready. Here you go." He handed her the shiny crystal. "Use it well!"

"Hephaestus, I want you to give Phoniks your Leftovers, and you take this Z-Crystal, it's going to make you so much stronger in battle!!" The Pokemon did as ask and Liz called them both back to their pokeballs, she took off running once again and in sort order made it back to the edge of town and into the woods. This time she was going to run full speed ahead and get to Sunsay by night fall, there she will gain her first badge, and than challenge Rin to a rematch. Won't they be surprised at how strong her team had become!!

The Painter Pokémon dashed behind their stone canvas away from Osajyin's onslaught, and it proved quite the effective evasion tactic much to Rin's dismay. Well, rage would probably be a better descriptor. "Osaja! Come on boy!" Rin cheered as they stuffed their hands underneath his relaxed form. As soon as they started their first lift, Rin paused; their expression deadpanned. "You're actually a way lighter than I thought." Rin continued lifting, but not only was their binding tightening, but Osajyin was physically working against them! The Bayleef so determined to be lazy, he was actually exerting himself so that he could keep sitting. Slipping under their own footing, Rin fell flat on their back. A heavy escaped their lips. It was getting late, and it was getting more clear Osajyin may actually be more stubborn than them. "Just use Razor Leaf again."

Liz was making good time on getting back to town. The trees flew past her in a blur. She had a gym to take down after all, she checked the sun in the sky and knew she would make it back to town before night fall, that is as long as nothing held her up. Just as that thought passed a huge Ariados skittered in front of her, it's barbs raised up preparing for a fight, this was just her luck!!

"Alright Phoniks, you need to get some more training in!! So come on out and use Peck!! Let's make this quick!!" She said throwing out the Murkrow who was ready for battle.

After their command, Rin pushed themself up onto their elbows. With a full view of Osaja's second strike Rin smiled wide at his direct hit! They also saw that look. "Oh." Rin knew that look. It wasn't fire in the Smeargle's eyes, or iron, or ice. It was pure determination. Pure drive. Pure passion! Rin sprung to their feet. "This is getting exciting now!" That Smeargle wouldn't be going down without getting retribution. For what, Rin couldn't really place. Was it the mere fact that the two had attacked? Rin shrugged off the concern. If that pokémon wanted to ride the train to pain town, and walk straight into Osajyin's attacks that'd be fine by them. Rin smirked. Osajyin yawned. The trainer knew they could handle whatever grass attack the Smergle threw back at them with Osaja's resistance --not like the Pokémon had even Sketched anything after all-- so they thought they may as well add in some status to rub salt in the wound that would surely be their victory. "Osajyin, cut down that swagger! Use Poison Powder!" To top it all off, Grass Types were immune to powder moves, so there was no way they could lose!

Phoniks took a glancing blow, it was not a direct contact hit so she would be fine for the moment, but Liz worried about her Pokemons well being, she pulled out Phoniks pokeball.

"You did well my dear, but let's not risk you fainting!! Return!!
Now Hephaestus let's show this bug how to burn, give me your best Ember!!" Chimchar came out ready for battle, let's see how the Ariados deals with the fire monkey!!