April listened to Mr. Pike explain what was going on and turned to see the fire in Desmond's eyes light up. A small chuckle escaped her lips. Somehow, she doubted that she had the drive he did, but she did envy him for it. No, her only concern at this point was what her father was doing there. Why would  breeder be needed at a pokemon battle? She was a bit perplexed by this and wanted to go see exactly what was going on.

**"I'll go with you."** April told Desmond, still turned facing him. **"I want to find out what my father has to do with all of this."** She explained, smiling softly. She motioned for Desmond to follow her so that she could show him to the gym. It wasn't too far. In fact, it was next door so when they stepped out and turned the corner, there was a crowd of people to meet them, all with their backs turned to them.

**"Literally... how did we not see this before?"** April asked, turning to look at Desmond behind her with a raised brow and chuckle. Regardless, she began the arduous task of finding a way through, telling people she needed to see her father to justify her actions, hoping that Desmond was following her or at least making his own path.  

---
In the Crowd

In the middle of the crowd stood four individuals, battles already under way. April's father, Rick, was fighting a grunt with Nina but she didn't look like she was doing too well. On the other hand, Viola was fighting a rather flashy individual who kept twirling after every attack as if it made her seem cute. This battle, however, was leaning more towards Viola as her pokemon seemed much better off and untouched and the ice lady's pokemon, a small cubchoo, didn't seem to like listening to her.

---
April

As April grew closer, her eyes shot open at the sight of Nina, cuts on her sides, frost on her fur. Her mind didn't even register the other fight, she was watching the pained expression on her father's face and Nina's hard expression of defiance. She let out a quick breath of air, frozen in place. Who were these people and why were they hurting Nina? 

April had seen Nina get hurt in a battle before, but it still shocked her. Maybe it was the pacifist side of her speaking out, but she hated seeing pokemon get hurt. 

---
Rick and Grunt

**"Come on, Nina! Push through!"** Rick shouted to his companion, his hands shaking slightly. Nina let out a small sound before rushing at the other trainer's pokemon once more.

---
Caroline and Viola

**"Oh, my dear pokemon! Why do you tease me so?!"** Caroline called out as she twirled, a hint of agitation on her face. This damned cubchoo wasn't doing a single thing she told it to. It kept letting itself get hit and using moves that were completely useless right now like Helping Hand or Heal Bell. It was healing the other team for Arceus' sake!

**"Use Icebeam, my lovely cubchoo!"** She called out, twirling again as if it were show, which to Caroline it was a show. She would be hard pressed to let people hear the thoughts going through her head right now, like how much she wanted to smash this little ice bear's head in.