Hard Enough Chapter 47: Training days

I set up the projector and nodded to myself once it was aligned with the blank whiteboard. I had the room set up, the presentation set up, the powerpoint aligned and the clicker ready for the presentation. With this being my third start of the circuit proper I was feeling pretty confident in my ability to have my gym trainers hit the ground running. Or, at the very least avoiding a lot of the pitfalls that would co from dealing with trainers.

Rocko was the first to turn up and claim a chair at a halfway point for the seven I had laid out. Forrest ca in after him, and then Dennis, Daniel, Celia, Missy, and Yolanda ca in as a group. Yolanda bounced up to the front with Missy and Celia while the boys filled out the other seats. A knock on the door had pausing.

Rachel stuck her head in. Hi! I thought this might be sothing that I could sit in on!?

I bobbed my head from side to side. This is mainly the discussion on what theyll be encountering as gym trainers when they have to represent Pewter. Theres not a lot of marketing I should think?

Heh! Even just a photo of this is sothing to throw up on pokenet for people to see! she said.

Oh, we have followers? I said thinking of my previous life. Rachel blinked.

Followers? Uhm no this isnt a cult She glanced around. Right?

Dennis and Rocko shared a look before glancing at . I thought I heard a muttered, ...Fanclub sotis could be? Pass between them but they didnt volunteer anything when I raised an eyebrow at them. So instead I turned back to Rachel.

Ah sorry, its a term I thought I read about for people that follow news releases or information about a set topic Rachel blinked slowly. I decided to shut up before I dug myself any deeper.

Rachel tilted her head and rubbed her chin. Then she shot a thumbs up. I like it! Ill be sure to have it as a feature for people to follow the news for the gym!

I gave her a nod and let her take so pictures before we got underway only for another knock to announce Stephen.

Stephen, can I help you? I said carefully.

He rubbed his chin. I was curious to sit in if that would be alright? Sort of a curiosity of mine to get a sneak peek into how things run at a gym like Pewter.

I shrugged. I dont think what I do would be representative for any of the other gyms and vice versa, but sure. Stephen grinned and trudged to the back of the room after waving to everyone. I glanced after him. Bianca isnt going to join us is she?

He shook his head. She had so equipnt being shipped in from Elm that she is setting up in her office space. She sounded excited about it. Sothing about the virility of Dons I held up a hand.

Im good, I said firmly before clearing my throat. Right! Thanks for getting here on ti everyone! Todays discussion is going to be so of the first presentations that I need trainers to know about. Rocko and Dennis have sat through all of these before so for you most of this will be a refresher, but I have added so new information so make sure to follow along. With this being your third year Ill be relying on you for more senior trainer duties.

I looked over the rest of the team. While Forrest is officially my second in command he still has school so he will not be asked to run any of these sessions unless he wants to.

Uhm pass?! Forrest said, making roll my eyes. Not that anyone could see them. Yolanda and Forrest knew what I was doing though. They returned the gesture with smiles.

I clicked the remote for the powerpoint and decided to start things off. Alright, so as trainers for the Pewter city gyms there are going to be a lot of different people and pokemon coming through our doors that we will have to deal with. I clicked through a slide.

The personalities of the trainers is sothing that we will deal with later and that will include the reception team that are learning the systems today instead of being here with us, I said as an explanation as to the lack of Alexa and Bethany.

Based on previous years, the most common trainer that well see are those relying heavily on type advantages to carry them through. Its not a secret what type of gym we are and we dont have a rotating roster like so other now failed gyms.

Heh suck it Comrce city, said Daniel in a carrying whisper.

I wagged a finger at him. Yeah, that was an organisation that had way too much money and not enough sense. Forrest groaned and I paused. Oh, I hadnt even noticed that I was being punny

Forrest sank further into his chair. No more! No! Im not listening to you make bad jokes again!

I wanted to point out Id only ever done that once when I was trialling so jokes to see if they might be sothing Sabrina would like but Forrest in his oh-so-mature understanding hadnt enjoyed them. The younger twins had liked them well enough. While Id never done it again Id given Forrest the impression that I wanted to do stand-up cody.

I coughed to get things back on track. Regardless! The trainers will mostly be dependent on using type advantages so expect to be seeing so of the following pokemon and their typing.

On the screen, I flicked through Grass types with images of Oddish, Bellsprout, Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treecko, Shroomish, Exeggcute, Paras, Lotad, and a Hoppip. Another click had evolutions of these pokemon appearing until the common grass-type pokemon wed be facing were done.

These are just so of the pokemon that we will be facing. At the lower levels expect to see vine whips, bullet seeds, razor leaf, leech seed and synthesis. If youre not thoroughly familiar with all of these by the end of the season Ill be amazed. Those are the grass types bread and butter. There are so interesting esoteric uses of all of these however that arent as well known. When we get into the three badges and up be on the watch for energy ball and solar beam as the current signature grass type moves.

Dennis and Rocko shared confused looks but didnt say anything else. I held in my grimace. Frenzy plant hadnt yet been discovered but I was more than ready for one of the strongest pokemon moves to appear.

Not counting the Z-type moves that would co whenever we found the Alola regions. Bloom doom would then claim the strongest slot. But that was getting ahead of myself.

I clicked the remote and showcased another screen, this one showing off the fighting-type pokemon Id be expecting us to encounter. I went through them and then moved on to the ground-type pokemon. Then the Steel-type pokemon. And finally, the water-type pokemon.

The room shifted in agitation or surprise that Id been able to showcase so many pokemon that would have advantages against us. I rely smiled at them. Thats a lot of type weaknesses, no?

Daniel grunted, eyeing off the printed pokemon/summary lists Id provided for them all. Yolanda chewed her lip and Forrest looked annoyed. The other trainers mostly watched .

In truth, Rock pokemon have the most weaknesses. Were only equalled by grass typing with our five different weaknesses. I stared around the room. For most of the first-level badge thats all they need to demonstrate. An understanding of base typing interactions and putting those moves to use barring the strange instances where their attacks are honestly not strong enough to last against a first badge pokemon.

Seriously? said Daniel with a snicker.

Rocko coughed into his fist. Yeah, there have been instances of pampered pokemon that are more pets than battlers turning up and the trainers thinking they wouldnt have to do much for a badge. They were quickly disabused of this, said Rocko.

I nodded. The other strategy that you will see a lot of is pokemon using power-based attacks. What I an by this is pokemon that have been trained to tough it out and shrug off hits as well as dish them out. Usually, this is from trainers that have been building up their team for the day their journeys began or they have been handed older more experienced pokemon. I have no doubt after Lance and my showing we will have a lot of trainers trying to emulate this.

I waggled a hand and grimaced. Its a valid strategy, to be honest, but if you see them just relying on power to win then force them to adapt or to use a different thod. That doesnt an making them use speed moves or otherwise but try to get them to maybe stop and rethink what they and their team are working on. Power can get them through most of the badge circuit all told, but I doubt theyll be getting a full big eight badge case. If they try to go the Ace trainer route they will be languishing for a long ti unless they double down hard.

Technique, skill and having the right moves set up for a diversity of situations can an a lot more in the battle club run tournant or in the open format. I clicked to a slide showing the local, rather humble, battle club with its smaller training fields. Since wed set up a lot more trainers had started to run so of their challenges out of the outside training fields instead of just relying on the battle club fields.

I clicked again showcasing pokemon using withdraw to attack and defend. I pointed to the screen. Creative thinking is sothing that is tough to have trainers learn, but sothing worth us attempting. This is sothing I like to reward as it shows them thinking through situations more and having plans ready or being adaptable. Again this is on a scale. Those with too much technique and not enough power are going to seem too weak. If they have finesse they need to have the strength to make sure the hits they land are devastating.

I began ticking off my fingers. Good applications of environntal effects, traps, environnt awareness, move set up, positioning during matches, or making the most of quirks of moves or pokemon are the things I look for when Im talking about technique. Speed is sothing I consider to be more of a power domain as people think about it in just straight-line speed rather than speed of reaction or speed of a dodge. They think about crossing the distance between two pokemon or the arena battlefield and not what it would take to divert or break off. This cycles back around to positioning during matches.

Now there are going to be different levels of skill, power, or strength of pokemon in general that you should be expecting. If a new trainer is bringing sothing approaching an Ace team then they better be challenging at a four badge or higher level, I said firmly.

I tapped the remote and the slide switched from video clips showing various demonstrations of pokemon showcasing speed to that of a pokemon belt featuring six pokemon. The six pokeballs were broken into three different colours.

At Pewter gym you will only ever be asked to face a trainer with a run of one or two pokemon for the set badge level. I still expect you to also have pokemon for the four or higher challengers in case soone is trying to pull a fast one by claiming a badge that is way, way under their level.

I stared out at them, my face locking into a stoic expression. Trainers claiming a first-level badge while having pokemon that are far stronger are the leading cause of injury and mortality for our pokemon. A young or not fully toughened up Geodude for example will not handle a hydro pump from a Blastoise well.

I started looking around the room. Locking eyes with everyone present. If it looks like your pokemon is getting overwheld I want you to pull it out and cede the match. I can give badges out all day but I cant just keep catching pokemon for them to go through what would amount to a grinder.

A few of the girls got green expressions at my turn of phrase. I get them a mont before I bulled on. If a trainer is being cheap then flag it in the system or with the next trainer if theyve selected a gauntlet challenge, or with if its gotten that far. Do not keep it to yourself, I said firmly.

I slowly made sure I t everyones gaze. Even Yolanda and Forrest. There was a reason we had a dical wing and Id spent so much money on getting a Chansey. Wed need her.

What happens if were still on our first pokemon and we work out whats going on? Daniel asked carefully.

I grinned and let a little darkness shine through. Then you use one of the other two pokemon on your belt. I gestured back at the powerpoint with the pokemon belt that was colour coded.

With your holding limit being at six pokemon you already will have two slots taken for that level of badge challenge. The other two are for stronger pokemon and the final two are for personal pokemon. If soone is not giving the challenge the respect it deserves then toss out one of your stronger pokemon and smack them around.

I raised a hand as Daniel and Forrest looked very pleased by this. Within reason! I said to clarify and calm them down.

Missy shifted. What if theyre bringing far stronger pokemon than even a fourth badge challenge?

I tapped on the final two pokemon. If you have a personal pokemon that has a Rock typing then by all ans send them out just like this was an Ace trainer battle instead of a circuit battle.

Nice! said Daniel.

Youll probably get a good number of fights for them as it is. This is thanks to Ace trainers being able to challenge a gym every three years for Ace points to boost their standings on the points board. Again, with Lances fight I think those numbers will grow, so expect plenty of work for your best pokemon. I quickly jotted down a note to bring that up with Georgina. That would be sothing Id have no issues raising the price of for the next circuit.

Now so of these lower tier fights are places where you can still showcase a lot of finesse. Youre limited in power and the number of pokemon you can call out but that doesnt an you need to be dumb about how you fight. By the ti a third badge is challenging you were only a few steps down from an Ace trainer technically.

Im gonna run so many rings around those kids! Daniel said with glee.

Forrest sniggered. Roll rings around them more like it.

I waggled fingers at one and then the other. Hey, keep it reasonable. Were not here to bully the new trainers but to teach them alright? Forrest, Ill be watching you, because towards the end of the circuit so of your pokemon fights were getting a bit rough.

It had been a while since we regraded which pokemon went where! he said, throwing his arms up in exasperation at my calling him out.

Hmmm fair point, I said, conceding that he probably had a point. I clicked to the final few slides for this presentation.

Now the pokemon typings that Rock types are strong against and therefore the pokemon that I expect you to be testing heavily if a trainer sends one out against us are Bug, flying, fire and Ice.

Testing heavily? asked Daniel.

Educating on the error of their ways, I clarified. At the start if they bring a weak one of these pokemon into our gym then I will back you up should you order your pokemon to rock throw them and wipe them out or use sothing else to that effect. If they cant finesse or work through the type advantage then send them packing for not doing their howork!

Daniel glanced back at Dennis and Rocko, Please! Tell people are dumb enough to try sending those types against us!

Dennis snorted and Rocko grinned as he said, Were right next to Viridian forest which is known for its bugs and flying types. What do you think?

Daniel pumped his fist. I shook my head at him. I kind of got the impression that he was the kind of guy that wouldnt mind hanging out around the Battle club for new trainers and doing so rookie crushing. It was rather interesting to see what he was like personally. Id have to probably ride herd on him a bit but I wouldnt outright stop him.

Young trainers needed to experience all sorts of trainers and it was better for them to recognise it in a safe setting. If he proved too harsh I could always assign him other tasks or the higher badge matches.

I clapped my hands. With that said, thats the last thing I had to talk about with this presentation. Get familiar with your typings for when youre using rock pokemon cause for the next year at least youll be using them a lot. If youre not familiar with what moves they have then Id suggest doing so study of the gym register for what I and the other senior trainers will have the various pokemon know. Standouts like Izumi and Moxy from our Geodude groups will of course have a number of other tricks, but I usually keep them for my own battles.

I ended the presentation there and pointed to the trainers as I reminded them of their duties for the day. Small patrol around Pewter for Rocko and Missy, Dennis and Daniel youre on als for the pokemon. Celia you have the rest of the day off. Yolanda and Forrest you have to go back to school from lunch. You only got the morning off for gym duties.

Forrest grinned, there were still at least two hours before lunch and I could tell he was going to be goofing off. I tilted my head. Got all your howork done?

When he nodded I shot him a thumbs up and left him to it. I gave Yolanda a raised eyebrow and she nodded as well earning another thumbs up.

Which leaves working with Rachel to discuss that magazine photo shoot, yes?

Yes! she said happily, leaping forward to grab my arm. To the office! she said happily. I chuckled and led her on. It wouldnt be anything super interesting today. rely a chat over the phone to schedule sothing in. Then Id spend most of the afternoon talking with Alexa and Bethany on their duties and seeing if we needed anything else for their role to operate smoothly.

The most interesting thing turned out to be when I was setting up for the Little League baseball training session. I had just sent out the Geodude to throw so baseballs to each other and warm up their arms when I spotted a very recognisable figure sauntering up.

Hello Karen, I said as I straightened up from arranging the bats that the kids would be using.

Brock, what the hell! You have a friendly match with freaking Lance and you dont think to invite along!? Im offended! she said as she planted her feet and put her hands on her hips.

Oh? You heard about that? I said curiously. It had been a Rangers-only event apart from Claire, Lance and myself and I doubted they were going to talk about it. So that left the Rangers. Who would be pri candidates to have agents of the Guardians seeded into wouldnt they?

Karen sniffed and flicked her head to the side, Of course I did! She was trying to be dismissive but she couldnt stop a grin slipping into place as she vibrated in place. I heard you laid an absolute smack down onto him!

I huffed at her I wouldnt call it that, I still had my final pokemon from our match last ti.

Yeah! I heard! What the hell! You saved that pokemon against Lance? Why?

I wanted to keep that one close to the chest. She was going to be my sweeper if things went badly, I said with a shrug.

Feh! Well, Im super bumd out that I didnt see that! She shot a sly look. Heard you did it in front of Claire she said leadingly.

When I rely raised an eyebrow at her she huffed at . She can be really hot or cold. Weve looked into her and when she watched you beat Lance she was like an angry school kid that had just seen their idol beaten up in front of them.

She looked down to her transceiver and began flicking through the apps until she got to a picture of Claire that had caught her looking

Ouch, looks like I broke her heart, I said, feeling like a heel at the pain that was being shown.

Karen snorted. Please! She likes to get on a high horse from what Ive heard of her. Seeing Lance lose will be good for her, Karen gave a sly grin, and amusing for if I can get so more pictures of her like this. She looked at hopefully like I might have said picture.

I shook my head. You know you can be I didnt want to offend her by calling her kind of a bitch so I settled on, Vicious.

Duh, Im a Dark-type trainer and wielder. When I raised an eyebrow she rolled her eyes and cocked her hip to the side. That ans personality traits like taking pleasure from other peoples suffering or schadenfreude are right up my alley. she grinned hugely as she glanced to the side to see a Geodude miss a catch and get beaned in the head. Arceus, I could watch videos of people being dumb all day for example.

She waved her hand about. You know those feelings that typically get labelled as bad or that we push to the side? Well, you can use those with Dark typing. Helps if you lean into it cause you can grow if your understanding of it is higher. If you use them when channelling energy the energy also responds a little better. She shrugged, If that ans I co across a bit an I have no problems with that.

Doesnt that run the risk of you developing narcissism or other extre personality traits? I said.

She scoffed. Please! You think I dont deserve to be adored? She chuckled at my stern expression.

The books had been rather apparent that you needed to not focus on just one emotion like that.

She shook her head. You just need to have a line. I have no problem leaning into the traits and being sinister or an, lifes ant to be lived after all. I have a team to help ground as well as a regular touchstone session for checking how things are going up here. She tapped the side of her head.

Really? The books said that was to be avoided, I said, giving voice to my earlier thoughts.

She waved her hand back and forth. The books are good for building foundations and Ill acknowledge that there are so potential issues but it's worth it. I have so friends that understand and help keep in check just like the old hag does sotis.

She directed a manicured fingernail at as she pointed. Now what about you?

? I said in surprise. This was not how I was expecting things to go. I glanced around and saw that no parents or kids had arrived yet and that so far only my geodude were on the field.

She nodded Uhuh! You! Agatha might be an old hag and it cos across as her being an old crone when she assigned to look after you, but there are so things you need to be reminded of to look out for.

She waved a hand at . Your Rock energy is no less dangerous to you than mine is. You can beco complacent and reactionary if you dont work against it. Reactionary isnt sothing you want to be when youre swimming with big fish Brock.

I blinked. Well, its more that Im in my off-circuit season. Most of my work cos during the circuit and thats when I have the biggest

Karen held up her hands. Bzzzzt! Wrong! she said like so sort of electronic buzzer.

See, youre strong, everyone knows that. The thing is you need to be able to make so waves yourself and be the driving force! she punched the air.

Have people react to you rather than you to them! Youve taken a lot of people by surprise cause well even us Guardians had dismissed you until you threw down with Lance. But now they know to be aware of you. Coming out of nowhere only works when youre an unknown. You need to be predicting and throwing punches of your own! She jabbed at the air again only to then direct another finger right at .

Doing your gym circuit like you have been is slow progression stuff! Youre also looking at it wrong. Tis like now? When youre not locked into the gym? Thats when you can be the freest! Change up your line up! Teach your pokemon new moves. Go to a few battle clubs and utterly stomp them into the ground just cause you can! She clenched her fists like she could imagine just that and she liked the thought of it.

She slashed her hand through the air. Or scrap that line of thinking entirely! Do not let yourself be chained down. Youre the boss of your gym so act like it! Take a day off if you want it! Cancel on trainers!

The part of that had been a health care worker in my previous life squird at that even as I agreed with her. I had been rather passive of late, hadnt I? Hmm Karen had ntioned friends but I already had a go-getter in my team for Pewter that could help make get out there and make so waves. The more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of being more driven and not letting the rocks land where they fell.

I rubbed my chin. Huh, this is not how I was expecting our chat to go. I thought you were just going to co around and be snarky while teaching the kids swear words.

I can still do that! She grinned in delight. but Im also one of your contacts for aura training. She clicked her fingers. Also, we need to talk about your dark energy.

I tilted my head. What about it?

Youve got way too much of it. I got a look at your team and what you normally do for training, you only have the one pokemon thats dark typed. She held up a hand to forestall . Sure its a Arceus be damned Tyranitar and your starter, but numbers count in this ga!

She then clapped her hands together, So! Just as youre now aware of how your Rock-type energy is showing itself you also need to be aware of those pesky dark emotions . she grinned to show she was joking.

This usually ans that you dont get too gleeful and all that muck like you were telling earlier yeah? The best way to track yourself is to be reflective or to have a touchstone you can use to centre yourself emotionally. Keep a journal, take a hike, all that jazz. She flapped her hand about but then got serious. Also watch what you ditate on.

Like, where I ditate? I said unsure if I was on the sa wavelength as her.

She shook her head. Nope! Specifically what you ditate on. If you have a recurring thought that you associate with dark type energy it will cling to it and make it harder to ignore when a situation that with that happens to you. Its like if I channelled my dark type energy into the glee of when a clown fell on their faces if I encountered a clown Id find myself either wanting to see them fall or even actively setting them up to fall. she then shook her head. Not actually a thing for but you get my point right?

When I nodded slowly in thought and didnt say anything in response she humd. Then she huffed and stuck out her chest. Damn! Im not bad at this teaching shit! She then winked at as she tugged on her sweater and exposed a bit of her cleavage.

Got any dark thoughts to get off your chest Brock~? she said with a husky purr.

I sighed as she slipped into teasing . No, Ms Karen, I said sarcastically. Sadly this only got a thoughtful look.

Oh? I like the sound of that! Might get so fake glasses and steal Lorelei's school teacher look! Would you like that? I groaned into my hands as she cackled in a way that made think of Agatha.

And suddenly, blood that had been rushing below my belt aborted its descent. Im good. Hey, whats up with Fiore? I said as an obvious distraction.

She gave a faux sad look and toyed with her shirt a little longer but I didnt look at her. I just had to rember that she had Agathas laugh and that made the old womans wrinkled face appear and block Karens teasing.

She huffed and let go of her sweater. Fiores not going to be a problem, its a backwards region that doesnt use pokeballs. Itll have so of the Rangers in a tizzy cause not many of them are able to use their little baton thingie.

Stylus, I said, correcting her.

She rolled her eyes. Whatever, Theyre going to be raided by criminal organisations and were going to have to pay attention to them because of that more than anything else. Theres going to be a lot of people poaching pokemon cause itll be easier with most people only having companion pokemon compared to caught pokemon.

I humd. What about their legendaries?

They got sothing like the Beasts of Johto or well Indigo I suppose these days, she said while rubbing her chin.

Hmmm? Whats this? I was surprised by her expanding the na.

Oh, so people got evidence of a Suicine over near Cerulean. Which has all the locals in a tizzy. Its on so of the news channels, she said off-handedly. Apparently there were sightings of so of these pokemon fighting with people during the war. Read about it in the texts we have, check it out on your holopad if youre curious.

Huh, interesting, I might do that. Interesting to know about Suicine showing up like that. That had happened during the gas, hadnt it?

Karen sniffed. Yeah, I suppose. The recent sighting has the Cerulean sisters in a tizzy cause it was seen up at the cape that they like to go to for dates and when they capture pokemon.

A chorus of voices announced the arrival of the kids and parents, making glance at her. So are you sticking around? I said with a smirk, thinking shed only co to talk shop with .

She grinned though, and from a pouch on her hip drew out a cap with the words Offense coach. I raised a hand Baseball doesnt have an offensive oh wait I see what youre doing here, I said as I realised the play on words.

She grinned. Ti to teach so kids so life lessons! she said.

I sighed. Then I smirked as I decided to enact what wed been talking about. Right, well Ill have you lead the kids on the warm-up runs and then you can do so batting practice against the good pitchers.

I gave her a wink as I popped my whistle into my mouth and blew on it, the shrill tone had her grimacing and the kids sprinting towards . Three laps to warm up! I shouted.

She blinked at in surprise as the kids started running. Yeah, no, nice try, Im not so kid whos going to fall in for you Brock, she said.

I shrugged. Geodude! Motivate her! I said with a grin. The Geodudes that had been throwing baseballs to each other all turned as one and began chasing her. Karen hissed at the small avalanche approaching her.

I grinned as she took off, joining the team in running laps much to the children's delight.

I chuckled. Alright I got her training with the kids like a proper assistant coach now I just need to make sure she doesnt teach them any more swear words. I mulled that over as I watched Karen settle into the middle of the gaggle of kids.

I grinned as I ran to catch up. Ti to put those training sessions with Trixie to good use.

Loser has to do ten push-ups! I said as I ran past her. I laughed as she scowled and ca after like an angry ursaring.

When the three laps were over I had her do her push-ups with the kids while I grinned off to the side. The kids had egged her into doing them at my urging and Karen proved to not be immune to social pressure as she pushed up and down with the kids. She shot dark looks that promised retribution but I found myself smiling regardless. Karen had been right. It wasnt all bad to lean into so dark tendencies.

Id make sure to give Rachel more free rein to suggest and set things up. I had a whole other life to draw knowledge on and I could make so changes for good in the world. I could also set about working on so new pokemon for myself. And maybe it was ti to draw so of my other pokemon out to train up for a line up shift for Ace battles. People knew about my Ace team. Maybe it was ti to call back Hypnotoad from that fighting trainer that asked to work with her. Shed love to hang out with Shrek again and both of them would be great to have on my roster once more. Sort of like having my journey team once more.

Id have to be mindful of the energies going forward. I hadnt considered how rock energy was affecting . I didnt want to beco like a mountain, fixed and immovable.

Still, I could address that. It hadnt gotten too bad I didnt think. Still, that was for future to deal with.

When physical training was done Karen shooed away the kids that lingered to hang out with the cool big sister type and levelled a glare at . Cute, real cute Brock.

I thought it was pretty funny, I said as I took a sip from a water bottle. Wanna let them practise catching with you?

What I want is to throw down with you. Which! We will be doing! she said with a glare.

I shot her a grin. Cool, sounds like fun! I blew the whistle and called the kids back for the next training routine. I realised she didnt have a response and a quick glance revealed that she was still drawing in breaths from the warm up.

Are you out of breath from just that three-lap run? I said incredulously.

Shut up! You caught by surprise is all! And good I cant wait to fight you! Lock in the date! You and I are throwing down!

Cool, I said, letting out so dark energy as a desire to fight ca through . I couldnt say I wasnt looking forward to it.

Brock! Coach shouted so kids only for a bespectacled kid to erge at the front.

Hey Brock and the weird lady! What do we do now!? called Manny as the kids returned from their drink break. Karen spluttered and glared at Manny.

I sighed. Sadly I had to be the adult in this situation and not throw down with her here and now. I assigned a training drill and considered what my calendar looked like. The next free space of ti well It wasnt for ages. There was perhaps that training session I could bump though. There were still a number of days to go and a lot of work to get through until then. Oh well. Having sothing to look forward to for the end of the month always made it go faster.