Two pairs of eyes met from across the Pokémon Center. Arms crossed, Gary smirked before striding across the place as if he owned it. "Get run into the ground by the Surge?"
Paul lifted a brow. "Yeah. I'm guessing you weren't."
"I wish," Gary said as he leaned against the wall. "No point in mulling over a loss, though. Even the most skilled Trainers, such as myself, can have a bad battle."
Paul scoffed. "My Pokémon didn't stand a chance. That Raichu could probably faint a Rhydon with a Thunder Shock alone."
Gary laughed at the thought. "Yeah. Sounds about right."
"Gary Oak, your Pokémon are fully healed," Nurse Joy called.
"All right. Back to the girls I go," he said with a sigh.
Paul stared oddly at the kid until he disappeared. Definitely an odd one and perhaps a little too attuned with the entire 'take every loss as a chance to learn something new'-fiasco of an outlook. A ridiculous view for those so pathetic they can't see their own…show more content… "That gives us time to take on the gym here."
Nurse Joy's expression went from natural to horrified. "You really shouldn't challenge Lt. Surge. He's very serious about what he does and doesn't show mercy until you either give up or all your Pokémon have fainted."
"That's just a Gym Battle," Ash said.
Nurse Joy shook her head. "No. He's exceedingly cruel and sometimes stretches out battles for his own entertainment. Only when he gets bored of the beating does he finally end it with a blow that has brought hundreds of Pokémon to the Pokémon Center after in critical condition."
So that's the guy's story, Paul pondered. What really interested him was this competition they were talking about. As he wondered which Pokémon he would use, the girl's Growlithe turned to bare tiny fangs at him. Paul only smirked, knowing it would only anger the mutt further.
The Growlithe seemed to have more control that Paul credited him for since he simply turned his head, refusing to look over, though his fur was still on
