Yellow was overjoyed as she clapped her hands together with excitement.

" With the knocked out of Electabuzz, Paul is defeated."

Paul merely returned his Electabuzz, before walking away. Suddenly stopping, Paul asked," How did you get so strong ?"

Hearing Paul's question, Austin answered with a smile behind his mask.

" I treat my pokemon as family, not weapons."

Paul looked down before leaving with a lot on his mind.

" Quite the touching moment," A voice from behind caused Austin to turn towards it. He saw Green standing there, looking at him with an innocent expression on her face.

"Who did you steal from?" Green asked.

Austin was taken aback by Green's accusation.

"What? Do you see me in that light? Even after feeling...?" She replied but was immediately cut off by Austin, who clasped Green's face.

"That was an accident and you know it," Austin stated firmly.

Green's expression changed to a smirk. "Oh really? You seemed to have enjoyed yourself," she teased.

"No comment," Austin answered back, causing Green to reply, "If you want me to no comment, then I may need some green if you know what I mean?"

"Great poetry, William Wordsworth," Austin replied, causing Green to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

At that moment, the two were taken out of their conversation by a cough. A little boy stepped up to the battlefield, ready for a Pokemon battle.

"I will win that fossil Pokemon. Go, Cheeky!" Joey said as he threw the PokeBall, revealing the Pokemon that caused Yellow, Pikachu, and the others to freeze in shock.

In the center of the battlefield stood a large, rodent-like quadruped Pokemon with tawny fur and a cream underside. Its narrow black eyes and large incisors were prominent features, as were its ragged-edged ears with dark insides. The Pokemon had three whiskers on each side of its face, which it used to maintain balance, and short arms with three-fingered hands. Its webbed feet, with three toes, allowed it to swim with ease. Its long, scaly tail added to its intimidating appearance.

"Raticate!" Joey exclaimed as the battle began.

Austin took a deep breath as he gazed upon the formidable Raticate, his mind flashing back to the time when he held its lifeless body in his arms. The memory brought with it a feeling of overwhelming fear and sadness that he couldn't shake.

His hands began to shake and his heart felt like it was stuttering in his throat. Suddenly, Musharna appeared and expelled a dream mist that covered Austin, leaving Joey and the audience confused.

From the dream mist cloud, Lucario appeared, ready for battle. Before Joey could even issue a command, Lucario had already charged forward and kicked Raticate out of the arena with ease, like a football.

"Hmm, how did that brat do it?" Lucario muttered, clearing his throat. Then, he jumped up and crossed his arms, yelling out, "Suuiiiiiii!"

Lucario looked back at Ditto, who had transformed into Austin to fool the audience. "Hmm, I can see why he was shouting this every time he scored in the match," Lucario said, giving Ditto a nod of praise.

Ditto couldn't help but blush at the praise, but he was still extremely worried for his trainer. Austin's emotional state was fragile, and he was afraid that the sight of Raticate had triggered a negative reaction.

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Away from the battlefield, Yellow and Green looked on in worry as they saw the way Austin clutched onto the wall for support.

Austin was feeling like his ears would burst, like everything was simultaneously too loud and too quiet. The hands and fingers touched him, trying to help but making it worse. The voices were too close and yet too far away. From the tears falling down his cheeks and the rapid rise and fall of his chest even though he wasn't getting in enough air. He knew.

Austin's body began to radiate with an aura.

" Ash, please be ok, everything is going to be fine." Yellow hysterically tried to help as her palms glowed with white light but her powers were only able to calm his aura.

"Everybody but yellow back up." He knew that voice.

So calm and collected and yet with just the right amount of urgency and charge.

"Back up."

Green said as she slowly removed Austin's mask.

" Take a seat on the floor, Ash"

Austin felt gentle hands on his arms as he was helped onto the nice cool floor, his heart still racing, his chest still rising and falling too fast, nausea overcoming him.

"Do you understand what's going on?"

He shook his head. Or he hoped he did anyway. The world was turning in all the wrong directions and he couldn't be certain.

"You're having a panic attack."

Green said as the face accompanying the voice came into view, kneeling in front of him, and if he could have done he would have breathed a sigh of relief.

"Green..."

"Shh." Green interrupted and Austin was grateful because he had no idea what he was going to say anyway. "Focus on slowing your breathing down. I'm going to take your hand, okay?"

And then Green took him by the wrist, placing her hand flat palmed against his chest and the thief could feel Austin's heartbeat.

"Ash." Green's voice was firm. "I need you to breathe with me. In through your nose, 1... 2..." And Yellow continued to calm down Austin's raging aura while green continued to count, and her other hand came to clutch at his opposite wrist and it occurred to Austin that Green was monitoring his pulse. "Out through your mouth."

Austin did as he was told, hearing Green's praise. "In through your nose. 1... 2... You're surrounded by myself, Yellow, and Pikachu. Out through your mouth."

And slowly but surely, Austin felt himself begin to calm down. His racing pulse slowed and his breathing evened out. Nausea lingered, but it wasn't as strong. Green continued to hold onto his wrists. The noise had turned normal and the lights were no longer so bright.

"That's it." Green's voice remained calm and Austin latched onto that, looking up to meet her eyes. "Ditty, can you go and bring me a wet paper towel? Cold water. Pikachu, can you go and get bottled water, please?

His eyes never left Green's as he spoke and the pair fled to fulfill their errands.

"Do you feel like you can stand up?" Austin nodded and Green slowly helped him to his feet. "Keep breathing slowly, Ash." He pulled up a seat to sit opposite him as Ditty returned with the cold paper towel and Pikachu brought a bottle of water so cold condensation was dripping from it.

Austin felt the blessed cold of the water as the paper towel rested over the back of his neck and he took the proffered, already open bottle of water from the profiler, taking tiny sips.

" Ash, are you ok ?" Yellow asked as she battled against her tiredness as took his hand.

" Yeah," Austin answered before Yellow hugged him.

Reciprocating the hug, Austin heard Yellow whisper.

" Please, don't scare me like that."

Rubbing her blonde hair, Austin answered," I won't"

Hearing no reply, Austin looked down to find Yellow sleeping peacefully in his arms.

" Oh, wow, I feel like I am going to get cavities just watching you two," Green said before writing something in her notepad.

" What is that ?"

" Your cheque."

Before Austin could ask anything, a massive explosion came from where the previous tournament was happening.

Austin took a deep breath as his eyes glowed red.

Looks like his plan to bait team rocket was successful.

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[ Austin's Pokemon ]

[ Pidgeot: Big Peck ]

[ Moves: Gust, Hurricane, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Tackle, Quick Attack, Whirlwind

, Twister, feather dance, agility, wing attack, roost, tailwind, air slash, mirror move, brave bird, Steel wing, Pursuit, workout, toxic, hidden power, sunny day, hyperbeam, protect, rain dance, roost, frustration, return, double team, aerial ace, attract, thief, giga impact, swaggers sleep talk, U-turn, substitute. ]

[ Combo Moves ]

Dust Devil ( Sandattack + Hurricane )

Aerial Wing ( Aerial Ace + Steel Wing )

Aerial Impact ( Aerial Ace + Giga Impact )

Aerial Turn ( Aerial Ace + Uturn )

Omnious Twister ( Ominous wind + Twister)

Quick Draw ( Aerial Ace + Agility+ Steel Wing )

Fury Cutter ( Air Cutter + Furry Attack )

Instant Transmission ( Pursuit + Substitute + Aerial Ace )

Goodbye ( Return + UTurn )

Hidden Surprise ( Sunny Day + Hidden Attack Fire )

Flaming Ace ( Brave Bird + Aerial Ace )

[ Ultimate Move ]

Pillars of Clouds ( Ominous Wind + Twister+ Whirlwind + Razor Wind )

Prep Time: 5 minutes alongside another flying type.

Fire Whirl ( Sunny Day + Hidden Power + Heatwave+ Hurricane + Brave Bird )

Prep Time: 30 minutes.