Fern

[Fern]: They said to meet at the old factory.

[Fern]: Maybe they meant the other factory. They should've specified.

[Fern]: Hm?

[Fern]: Hey, what are you looking at?

[Fern]: Got a problem?

[Fern]: I hope not. You don't know who you're messing with.

[Fern]: Name's Fern. I'm the cool cat, and the top dog. Got it?

[Fern]: Cuz I don't think you do.

[Fern]: Get ready for a lesson in class!

[Fern]: Unlike you, I have places to be, and people waiting for me.

[Fern]: So what if you're doing the Gym League challenge?

[Fern]: You don't even have a badge yet? Talk about lame.

[Fern]: Maybe you should go work on that.

[Fern]: I, however, am required elsewhere.

[Fern]: Later, loser!

[Fern]: Look, <player>, really, don't take it personally, you're just a loser.

[Fern]: Plain and simple. So really, by not letting you embarrass yourself in our gym, I'm doing YOU a favor.

[Fern]: And you won't even thank me! But it's fine. I got ya.

[Fern]: Now, just turn around, go home, and give up.

[Fern]: ...Yeah, I didn't really think you'd be smart enough to listen to me. Fine, have it your way, man.

[Fern]: You're infuriating, really.

[Fern]: You think you're SO cool, just because you're doing the whole Gym League thing, huh?

[Fern]: ...No, you know what...

[Fern]: Two can play at that game, <player>.

[Fern]: If a second rate trainer like you can do it, then I won't have any problem sweeping the Reborn League.

[Fern]: I should thank you, <player>...

[Fern]: But I'm not going to. I've got things to do.

[Fern]: Later, loser!

[Fern]: I was just telling Ame here about your little accident with the Beryl Gym Leader.

[Ame]: It's really unfortunate... I was worried about him for this exact reason...

[Fern]: Yeah, yeah, whatever. Look, tell Aya to be ready by the time I get there, okay?

[Ame]: Yeah. I'll call her now.

[Ame]: Oh, and hi <player>! Bye, <player>!

{Ame exits area}

[Fern]: You look confused. Well, more confused than normal.

[Fern]: See, every gym in the Reborn League needs a back-up, right? Like I'm the bacl-up for the Flobot. When she retires, I'll take over.

[Fern]: Well the same thing to true for the Poison guy He retired, well, in a sense, yanno, so now we're letting the back-up, Aya, know she's up.

[Fern]: Turns out she's some chick who lives in the wasteland southeast of the city...

[Fern]: Heh, but you won't be able to get out that way unless you have the key. And guess what? I do!

[Fern]: I've already got three badges, and it's about to be four. Man, that Shelly girl was a push over. It was like she wasn't even trying.

[Fern]: I mean she seemed she was gonna keel over and cry at any second, but hey, I'll tale the badge.

[Fern]: Anyway, I'm off. Good luck finding the key to the wasteland!

[Fern]: ...What, you wanna know where I got it?

[Fern]: Why would I tell...

[Fern]: You know what, no, fine. Fight me, <player>. If you win, I'll tell you. But like that's going to happen!

[Fern]: You wanna know about the key? Fine, I don't care.

[Fern]: So the new Poison Gym Leader's a girl who lives out in the wasteland, yeah? Well I got the key from her brother.

[Fern]: He's a real fruity lookin' guy. Decked out in purple, fishnets, looks more like a girl. Totally freaky. He wouldn't stop singing, either...

[Fern]: ...What, you know him?

[Fern]: ...Hah. I should've expected... You WOULD.

[Fern]: So yeah, he said he was going up to the Beryl Cemetery for something or other. If you want a key, go ask him.

[Fern]: Later, loser!

[???]: I know.

{Fern enters the screen}

[Fern]: Oh look, it's <player>, late to the party as usual.

[Fern]: Hey, don't worry, bro. This Gym Leader?

[Fern]: She's fresh off the plate. Total noob.

[Aya]: Excuse you? I beat you once before.

[Fern]: Yeah, I was caught off guard by you fighting in Doubles.

[Fern]: Isn't that just a cheap way to cover for your lack of skill?

[Aya]: I can fight in whatever format I want.

[Aya]: Besides, it was my brother who--

[Lana]: AYA, YOU HAVE ANOTHER VISITOR!

[Aya]: REALLY, another one?

[Fern]: Can't blame people for wanting a free Badge.

[Aya]: Would you shut up please? Just leave me alone.

{Hardy enters the area}

[???]: ...Did I come at a bad time?

[Fern]: Oh, it's you.

[???]: Yea, it's me. What're you doin' here?

[Fern]: Sweepin' scrubs. How about you?

[???]: I heard there was a new Gym Leader, so I figured I'd come down and welcome her to the club.

[???]: You're Aya, yeah?

[Aya]: Um, yeah.

[???]: Name's Hardy. Reborn's Rock Leader, at your service!

[Hardy]: Yanno, the plan was to give you a warm welcome, but...

[Hardy]: Looks like you kinda already got a sour one, huh, mate?

[Fern]: You can keep the snide comments to yourself, thanks.

[Aya]: So you two know each other?

[Hardy]: 'Fraid so.

[Hardy]: I had the misfortune of being stuck in the same class as Fern in the Onyx Trainers' School.

[Fern]: In short, Hardy's jealous because I was the top dog and he was just another loser.

[Hardy]: Yea, that's it. Keep tellin' yourself that, mate.

[Fern]: Plus our sisters used to be close friends, so we happened to get dragged to places together sometimes.

[Hardy]: Aye. That's all in the past though.

[Aya]: Yeah, okay, you guys keep chit-chatting.

[Aya]: I'm gonna go heal up my Pokémon with the machine in the other room.

{Aya exits area}

[Fern]: So, <player>, you thinking of fighting Aya already?

[Fern]: Like I said, total pushover.

[Fern]: But it would be a shame if you came all the way down here and didn't have at least one good battle.

[Fern]: Lemme help you out there, huh?

[Fern]: Stow it, rocky. I was going easy on <player>.

[Fern]: After all, I wouldn't want to make anyone cry.

[Hardy]: Whatever ya say, mate.

{Aya enters area}

[Aya]: All right. <player>, right?

[Aya]: If you're ready for your battle, let's get started.

[Fern]: I wanna see this.

[Hardy]: I can referee the match. I know how it goes from my own Gym.

{Aya goes to her gym position}

[Aya]: Ready when you are.

[Aya]: Go ahead and take your place and let's get this over with.

[Fern]: Guess I was right.

[Fern]: Sup. Come up here for the Gym?

[Fern]: You didn't know? There's a huge Castle to the east, serves as a Gym.

[Fern]: Sooo, I'm up to eight Badges now.

[Fern]: Hah, you're only at seven? Falling behind already.

[Fern]: And to think you started before me.

[Fern]: You think I'm wrong?

[Fern]: Try me.

[Fern]: I think we all know who the real top dog is anyway.

[Fern]: Anyway yo, the dumb guards into Agate City are like, forever asleep or something, so I'm gonna try and track down that Normal Gym Leader.

[Fern]: Some dumb kid, I guess he ran away from his place in Lapis.

[Fern]: Later, loser!

{Fern gets dragged to screen}

[Fern]: Hey, let the fuck go of me! What do you think you're doing? Sis, help!

[Sirius]: The Bracelets for his life.

{Sound of glass breaking}

[Julia]: They ARE in the back!

[Florinia]: Just as calculated.

[Julia]: Leave it to me!

{Julia leaves area}

[Sirius]: What is your answer, Florinia?

[Fern]: Please! You can't just turn your back on me like this!

[Florinia]: Incorrect.

[Fern]: Wha-- what are you saying?!

[Florinia]: My position is unchanged.

[Fern]: Tch... That's cold, sis.

[Fern]: I mean, I know you're a wannabe robot, but I thought you at least had some feeling left.

{Blake gets kicked to area}

[Blake]: God damn, lady, calm the fuck down!

[Blake]: Seal it, Walrein!

{Walrein seals the opening with ice}

[Blake]: Oh, great. You again.

[Solaris]: Blake. Fern.

[Solaris]: You will remove this obstacle.

[Blake]: Whatever.

[Fern]: You got it, boss.

[Florinia]: "Boss”?

[Florinia]: Am I to correctly conclude that you are following instructions of this group?

[Fern]: Yeah, what about it?

[Fern]: The whole hostage thing was an act to get a rise out of you.

[Fern]: But even aside from that, turns out I'm the most valuable ally they could have.

[Fern]: I even gave them the whole layout of this place on the way over.

[Fern]: I always hated having to come here with you, but I guess it paid off, huh, Sis?

[Florinia]: ...Understood.

[Florinia]: This error shall be remedied at once.

[Fern]: Bring it on, Flobot. I ain't afraid of you.

[Florinia]: Contrariwise, your defeat is a marked success.

[Florinia]: Do consider what procedural mistakes you have committed and remedy them immediately.

[Florinia]: Specifically, your allegiance to this organization.