Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Trainer

 I took a breath. No point starting in a blind run in an unknown area with unknown hazards and an unknown number of guards. Being in the interior of the building this area must be smaller than the other's I've seen so far, which honestly wasn't saying much thinking back on the huge spaces I'd seen thus far. Emberwilde had other ideas, however, emerging from his pokeball. "Where is the whelp?" he roared, nose sniffing the air.

"Char," I said still hunched down, "Lord we are not supposed to be here. I was just about to start searching for the runt, quietly."

The Charizard let out a snort, black smoke pouring from his nose. "I've found his scent," he said stomping down one of the hallways. "And a Lord can go wherever a Lord pleases. Best you remember that."

Hearing the shouts and footfalls coming toward me, I picked myself up and hurried after the fire pokemon. Running after Emberwilde, I realized the Charizard could really move when he wanted to. I always knew they were fast in the air but on the ground they typically relied on their brute strength of overwhelm their opponents. Seeing Emberwilde run on its two legs though made me wonder just how fast the pokemon could actually be.

After one more turn, Emberwilde stopped in front of a door with Ruby's name written on a piece of paper stuck to it. At the same time, a couple of guards turned a corner and spotted us. Before they could do anything, I ducked under Emberwilde's wings and pounded a fist on the door.

"Hey, what are you two doing back here?" shouted one of the guards just as the door swung open to reveal the green-haired trainer and several pokemon behind her, including the runt.

Quietly, I said, "Professor Oak asked me to introduce your Charmander to its father." The Charmander tilted its head quizzically, eyes darting back and forth between myself and Emberwilde while the Charizard's glare burned a hole in the back of my head. I kept my gaze upon Ruby, hoping that whether or not she believed my lie that at least she would let us into the room before either the guards grabbed me or my Lord set me aflame for the sleight upon his name.

After a minute, Ruby gave me a subtle nod, stepped around me and said to the gym security guards, "Sorry about the confusion. Thank you for doing your jobs so well but this is my travel companion and adviser. Just running late as he always is." She gave me a soft slap to the back of my head after the last part, and the guards shrugged their shoulders and walked back to their posts.

I felt a little insulted being shoved into the room while Ruby simply held the door for Emberwilde, allowing him to strut inside, but it was a far better outcome than being escorted out of the gym so I really couldn't complain. "So, you want to tell me why you really snuck down here, or should I call security back here? I'm sure they haven't gotten too far just yet," said Ruby, her arms crossed. Behind me, the Charmander let out a growl though after traveling with Emberwilde for several days, it might as well have been a tiny yip.

On edge after the last few tense moments without a minute to catch my breath, I whipped around to growl back at the tinier fire pokemon. "Char, Char," I said in its tongue, "Knock it off you little runt. Your betters are speaking now." The combination of my words, tone, and the glare in my eyes forced the smaller pokemon and its companions to cower back a step or two.

I didn't see Emberwilde move so much as felt the world around me shift. One moment I was staring down Ruby's pokemon, the next I was sideways and falling to the floor after Emberwilde's tail whip swept me off the ground. Once the shock wore off, I opened my eyes to find Emberwilde's face just an inch from my own. A low growl rumbled past his exposed and glistening teeth. Slowly, cautiously, I brought myself to kneel before the Charizard. "I apologize for the outburst, Lord Emberwilde. It has been a trying day. I promise to conduct myself better as one in service to your status."

Emberwilde's rage-filled eyes stared into mine long enough that I truly believed this would be my last day. After a long, long time staring into those eyes and those teeth, the Charizard's eyes finally softened. Grunting, he nodded his head toward the smaller pokemon before walking back to the corner of the room.

Still on my knees and head lowered to the floor, I turned to Ruby's pokemon. "Please excuse my earlier outburst. I meant no disrespect toward either your selves or your master." With my head bowed lower than all of their own (a difficult task considering Ruby traveled with not only a Raticate but a Pikachu as well), I then met each of their eyes to offer each a chance to reprimand me with either tail or tooth or claw.

"Okay, that's enough of that," said Ruby, yanking me to my feet by my shirt collar, "Who are you two? And what are you doing back here? And, most importantly, what the hell did you say to my pokemon that made yours attack you?"

Fighting the urge to knock the dirt and dust and whatever else happened to get onto my clothes from the floor (as the Inferno Clan tradition stated that shame should be worn as well as felt until the offender could be redeemed) I quickly explained about the Tartarus Isles, and wanting to scout the gym leader for Emberwilde's battle tomorrow. "Then seeing that look upon both of your faces after the last match, that hard look of determination unfortunately mixed with desperation, we knew we needed to speak with you and the runt -"

The slap connected with my cheek before I could finish the sentence, jarring my head to the side. Behind me, Emberwilde, as a Lord witnessing his vassal be struck unprovoked, let out a warning growl. "His name is Matches, not 'runt'," said Ruby, sternly looking at myself and then, less sternly, at Emberwilde and his teeth.

"I am sorry, Ms. Ruby, I meant no disrespect. I was merely stating what Matches would be referred to if not taken in first by Professor Oak, and then adopted by yourself." Behind me, Emberwilde's growl faded. Still, I waited until Ruby's face softened before continuing. "And that's why we needed to speak with you and Matches before the next match. You see, Matches still has the fire of one from the Inferno Clan in him, and I can see that you two are a formidable fighter. Those qualities, while helpful out in the world where fights are almost always matters of survival, in the arena, they could prove deadly to not only opponent but yourselves as well."

"If you came to tell us to back down from the next fight, you're wasting your breath," said Ruby turning her back to me.

I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not here to talk you out of the next match. I'm just saying not to take it too far. When the time comes, and against Misty's water pokemon, trust me it will, that you two won't resort to desperation. This is just a battle for some piece of jewelry and pride, it isn't life or death."

Ruby turned on me, close enough to smell the most recent battle on her, eyes wide and full of fury. "This might just be a game for a small trinket for you, but to us, this is life and death," Ruby snarled, droplets of spittle landing on my face. Her Charmander stepped next to her, letting out its own growl in acknowledgment.

I felt as well as heard Emberwilde's stomps as he moved from his spot against the wall to right behind me before letting out his own roar. Once the room fell into a hush, he spoke, "Char Char Charizard Char Zard Char."

Though Ruby's Charmander understood Emberwilde's wisdom and guidance, I could see the confusion on the other trainer's face. "Lord Emberwilde asks why, if this was truly a life or death battle, why did Matches merely scratch at its opponent's hard shell? Why not wrench the shell open with its claws and fill its maw with the Shellder's innards? Leave it's carcass as a trophy to mark its victory as well as its territory against other challengers? This is what a fight to the death is, after all?" Seeing Ruby's face change from rage to disgust to visibly queasy as she perhaps imagined her Charmander feasting upon another pokemon, I added, "And that's why we had to speak with you both, because that wild rage still exists within your Charmander, and if your can't tame it, then it will come out, unexpectedly and very, very violently."

Covering her mouth and with averted eyes, Ruby nodded. "Thank you. I think I understand now." Swallowing her pride, and perhaps a little bit of something else, she looked at me and Emberwidle and asked, "But without Charmander's rage, it won't be able to defeat Misty. What are we supposed to do?"

 We stood in silence for a while. Eventually, Charmander spoke, tugging on Ruby's shirt as it did so. "I'll lose," it said, somberly. Though she may not speak Char, Ruby certainly understood her Charmander, dropping to a knee and embracing the fire pokemon.

And just then, it was time for the final match to start. Emberwilde and I accompanied Ruby to the trainer box, me as an "advisor" and Emberwilde as Ruby's Charmander's "father," which Emberwilde was not happy about. I think his exact words were, "No one will believe one of my blood could be so small," and yet no one questioned it. Seeing the arena up close with the roar of the crowd around me really gave perspective that this was a much bigger stage than Pewter City, and it would only get bigger.

True to their strategy, Charmander lost. It managed to put up quite a fight against Misty's Starmie after defeating her Staryu, but we all knew defeating two of the gym's water pokemon was too big of a task. Knowing it was doomed once the Starmie entered the water, Charmander instead kept to weakening the other pokemon's defenses every time the water pokemon broke the surfacewith a barrage of tail whips and leers. It got in a couple of scratches before Misty's pokemon ultimately knocked it unconscious.

Rather than watch the rest of the watch, Emberwilde and I sat comforting the defeated fire pokemon. After all, we foresaw how the rest of the match would go: knowing it didn't stand a chance alone, Charmander did its best to weaken Misty's pokemon for the rest of its team. It took the remainder of Ruby's pookemon but in the end, she was victorious!

"And that's the game folks!" boomed the announcer's voice over the loud speakers. "Congratulations to Ruby and her pokemon in their hard fought victory against the best of the Cerulean gym."

Both trainer and gym leader returned their pokemon to their respective pokeballs before meeting in the middle of the arena. Emberwilde and I watched as Ruby wiped tears of joy from her face as Misty presented her with the Cascade Badge, a "shiny trinket" we'd soon win ourselves.

"Good luck on the rest of your journey and take care of yourself," I said as Ruby and I parted ways outside the gym, me back to the pokemon center for the night and Ruby onto the next town, "as well as your Charmander. I see now that its spirit would make it a fine member of the Inferno Clan."

"Thanks," Ruby said, looking over at her Charmander a couple steps away speaking with Lord Emberwilde, "I'll be sure to raise it right and provide it with the strongest companions I can." Then, leaning closer to me, she added, "And make sure to take care of yourself too. Your Charizard seems like it could kill you if he wanted to."

I laughed, nervously. "Yeah, he probably will." Hoping my smile would ease the look of horror on Ruby's face, I walked over to Emberwilde's side.

"Char Charizard," Emberwilde said passing along words of advice given to all new members of the Inferno Clan when the come of age. Charmander listened intently and nodded aggressively with a big smile on his face. Noticing me standing near, he turned and headed back to his own trainer. We gave each other one last wave before parting ways. Turning down the street, Emberwilde let out a grunt and a puff of smoke from his nostrils.

"Yeah, I saw her too," I replied, "and I'm sure she saw us too." I closed my eyes for a moment, bringing up the image of Ruby and Charmander waving to us. Then, focusing on the alley just behind the two stood Misty and a hooded figure. Misty was listening and didn't look happy. She glared at Emberwilde, just for an instant, before reluctantly taking something from the unknown person.

"You think whatever she got is meant for you tomorrow?" I asked redundantly, not even needing to turn my head to sense Emberwilde's affirmation.

"The next match may become a fight to the death," Emberwilde replied. I turned my head quizzically as the fire pokemon continued, "A scent lingering on the other person. I recognized it from back home. Back from the Tartarus Isles." Then, he vanished back into his pokeball, leaving me alone to contemplate who else from back home could be in town.

I know, right, I'm still writing this thing! Yes, one practice Reddit post from years ago is still at it, bothering me, nagging me to be worked upon. So, if somehow you made it all the way to the end of these posts (however many I split it into) or just the end of this one without having read any of the other "Emberwilde Comes" stories and are wondering, "what the hell is this?" well the short answer is simply Pokemon Fanfic. And, for a more detailed explanation: The Bearer, our main protagonist, comes from a land (The Tartarus Isles) where not only are all the pokemon naturally at a high level, but they're also the dominant species. Every year, each clan sends their Champion to the Kanto Region and, transported by their Bearer, must defeat each gym leader to earn the right to compete against the other Clan Champions for the right to rule the isles for the next year (or something like that, I haven't given that part too much thought ... yet). So far, we've chosen the Inferno Clan's Bearer, traveled from the Tartarus Isles, though Pallet Town, challenged Brock at Pewter City, encountered Team Rocket while traversing Mt Moon, and even defeated Misty, a part I wrote a while back out of boredom.

I did try to do some research (the bare minimum of course) into Pokemon Red and Blue, thinking I could perhaps use that walkthrough as a mirror/ guide to this series. In an effort to not add too much, I did cut out the idea of introducing another Bearer from the Tartarus Isles as a sort of "rival scene" (I'll do it later). I do feel a little proud of putting in the other Kanto trainer who took the Charmander, not only because I always chose Charmander but because I always wondered what happened to the other three trainers out of Pallet Town (they only every showed Ash and Gary in the show).

And yes, as much as I'm trying to get away from this series (because, hey, unless Nintendo is willing to cut me a check, no way is any of this profitable), I do have more scenes planned (no, not what happens next unfortunately ... or fortunately?) but not the next scene so it isn't something to be worked on soon, just to end on a happy thought for the three of you who still read this trash.

Emberwilde Comes: Cerulean City - The Welcome

Previously on Emberwilde Comes, our heroes survived their trek through Mt Moon as well as an encounter with the evil Team Rocket. Now, emerging in Cerulean City, a new challenge awaits them.

Upon entering Cerulean City, I felt the instinctive fear all fire types feel when confronted with water. It was overwhelming as my vision filled with more water than I'd seen for the past couple of days. In addition to a natural flowing river surrounding the city, pokemon and humans splashed and swam in a multitude of deep pools while a giant waterpark threatened to flood five blocks in all directions. The worst were the variety of signs and billboards depicting oceans or rainstorms for water-themed businesses that appeared themselves to blot out the sky. Having lived my entire life on an island, I managed to wall off the fear fairly quickly but not before spending a full-minute taking it all in, my body giving an involuntary shudder. I wanted to leave Cerulean City as soon as I set foot in it.

I took an step back, wondering if Emberwilde and I could skip this city, that perhaps he may earn a badge at another, more obscure gym. After all, The Champion merely needs to win eight badges to participate in the End of Year Tournament, not necessarily from the same gyms mapped out every year. I froze, remembering the message, no, the taunt waiting for Emberwilde just outside the gates. An Atreolpeaf tree, native to the Tartarus Isles, stood amongst a small grove of native Kanto trees, its usually bright orange flowers already fading to an ashy gray. Carved into the tree was a raindrop with three rings wrapped around it's bottom. The Forest Clan had already passed through here at least four days ago judging by the rate of decay of the Atreolpeaf tree struggling to survive without the Tartarus Isle's volcanic soil. The Rainmaker clan then passed through, perhaps right after them, though stopping briefly to carve into the tree. Neither of the two would've had a problem against the Rock Pokemon at the previous gym, nor run into as much trouble as I had in crossing under Mt. Moon.

The anger recovered my desire to bear the Inferno Clan Champion across Kanto, and if that path forced us to confront our most difficult opponent so early in our travels, then so be it. Emberwilde would crush all challengers put before him. My fire restored, I strode into Cerulean City with my head held high.

I discussed with Emberwilde what our next step should be outside the caves of Mt. Moon especially with half of our party exhausted, injured, or both. Emberwilde, as any warrior of the Inferno Clan would, argued that we simply needed a couple days of rest before continuing onward. Reminding him of the head start the other clans had, I suggested the use of a "Pokemon Center," a place we were told housed machines that could heal pokemon in minutes. As much as he hated the idea, Emberwilde eventually accepted my suggestion, grudgingly, and simply returned to his pokeball.

Alone and unprepared at what I might find, I walked hesitantly into the Pokemon Center. Immediately, my senses were overwhelmed: bright florescent lights reflecting off of clean white linoleum floors, the overpowering smell of antiseptics so heavy in its use I could taste its bitterness and feel it on my skin, and, most of all, the eerie quietness of it all as people and pokemon alike waited patiently while a pink-haired woman (perhaps a relative of the Nurse Joy from back home) simply smiled politely from the other side of a desk. Back home, healers were always patching someone up whether from a hunt or battle or simply an accident. There were always two or three Pokemon or people waiting to be seen, the air filled with their groans and whines, the stench of blood a constant.

Hesitantly, I walked through the waiting room to the woman sitting behind the desk. The nurse's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, as she said, "Welcome to the Cerulean City Pokemon Center. I'm Nurse Joy. How can I help you today?"

Panic set in briefly as all the information I received with the other prospective Bearers about the workings of the Kanto healers vanished from my mind. "Umm," I stammered, "I'd like to use your machine?"

Nurse Joy's smile disappeared, turning to confusion. "Sorry, I don't quite understand."

"Chansey?" came another voice from the other side of the table. Looking over, standing next to Nurse Joy, was a pink Chansey wearing a similar hat. "Are you here to heal your pokemon?" the Chansey repeated.

My panic faded to relief upon seeing the pokemon in a familiar setting. "Chansey," I said in greeting, "Yes, but I don't understand this place." After admitting confusion, the Chansey grabbed a tray with six cut-outs, each the size of a pokeball, then pointed at a machine off to the side. Nurse Joy looked from the Chansey to myself in confusion for another second until she simply shrugged her shoulders.

I placed five red-and-white pokeballs and a black-and-red one into the tray. Simultaneously, Nurse Joy and I grabbed the tray. Swiftly, I released the tray and then snatched Emberwilde's ball back. Apologizing, I said, "Sorry, but as Emberwilde's Bearer, I cannot allow anyone else to handle his dwelling, especially not with The Lord inside."

Again, confusion appeared on Nurse Joy's face for a moment until her eyes widened in understanding. "Ahh, another from the Tartarus Isles. My cousin told me that you all would be starting your journey soon. I also should've guessed once I saw you were able to converse with Chansey." Taking the tray, Nurse Joy motioned for me to come around the desk to the Kanto healing machine with Emberwilde's ball. "Yes, your ... rivals, as the kids call them, were here several days ago, and were just as adamant about holding onto one particular pokemon. A .... Champion, I think they were referred to as."

Nurse Joy placed my tray of pokemon into the machine and I dropped Emberwilde's ball back into the empty spot. A glass lid covered the pokeballs as the machine began a series of whirls and beeps, lights flashing. "You can have a seat with the others," Nurse Joy said, pointing back to a set of chairs, "It could take a little while to make sure all your pokemon are up to full health."

I sat and watched people walk in and out of the Pokemon Center, some pokemon in need of healing after a battle while others were just in need of a check-up as if they were pets. The relationship between Pokemon and people continued to astound me the more I traveled the region. Could it work this way back home in the Tartarus Isles? Could Lord Emberwilde and I truly become equals?

A series of loud mechanical chimes awakened me from my daydream. Nurse Joy waved to me as she said, "Your Pokemon are fully healed." After placing each ball back onto my belt, I caught her giving me a quick glance up and down. "Um, in case you were interested, we do have some bunks available if you needed a rest, as well as a shower and laundry service."

I caught a glimpse of my dirt-stained face reflected in the countertop and took a subtle whiff of my clothes. I nodded in agreement with Nurse Joy as Professor Oak's bathing comments once again played in my mind. "Thank you. But first I believe Emberwilde would like to win the Cascade Badge from your city's gym leader. We're already a couple days behind our Tartarus Isle rivals."

"Oh my," Nurse Joy said before I could head out the door, "Well, I believe another challenge is already underway, but I'm sure Misty could make time for you after her battle. A young woman from Pallet Town if I remember correctly."

I shook my head. "Oh, if that's the case, then perhaps we should wait until tomorrow. It wouldn't be in the Tartarus Isle way to challenge someone right after they've dueled another. Maybe I'll head over though just to watch the battle."

As if simply thinking aloud, Nurse Joy said, "Interesting. We rarely treat fire-type pokemon here, much less two in a single day."

Instead of going directly to the gym, I spent a good part of an hour wandering the city before realizing I'd passed it twice, mistaking it for a giant aquarium instead. The building was massive, much bigger than the Pewter City gym, complete with a towering five-story glass tank filled with almost every known water pokemon: schools of Goldeen, clusters of Shellder, and even a Gyarados serpentining the entire enclosure. My focus on the incredible sight, I almost didn't hear the cheers and jeers echoing from inside on my third pass, the unmistakable sounds of a crowd entertained by competition.

Pushing open the door, I found myself in a hallway lined with glass cases and frames containing all manner of memento and memorabilia celebrating the Cerulean City gym: trophies and medals celebrating previous victories and achievements; pictures, statues, and articles honoring pokemon and trainers. Filled with equal parts terror and amazement, my footsteps echoed as I crept deeper into my enemy's den afraid that not even Emberwilde's flame could protect us here.

Through the doors at the other end of the hall, I finally entered the arena just as the battle ended. Bright lights shone on an enormous above ground glass pool probably close to thirty feet deep. Separated by a hundred feet on opposite ends of the pool were two raised platforms where the pokemon trainers stood. Several pillars raising just above the waterline and platforms floating upon the water gave a place for non-swimming pokemon to stand.

My eyes though immediately focused on the pokemon standing atop one of the floating platforms - a Charmander, breathing heavily and tail-flame waning. I gasped, and finding Emberwilde's pokeball in my hand, had to restrain myself from releasing a Lord of the Inferno Clan into the arena to rescue a fellow fire-type pokemon surrounded on all sides by water. Taking a moment to compose myself, I pondered why a Charmander would be battling in a water gym in the first place, especially, according to my previous conversation with Professor Oak, they were considered rare in the Kanto region.

Focusing my gaze upon the giant screen above the arena, I saw that Charmander belonged to the Trainer, Ruby, the girl with green hair on one side of the pool. It looked as if four of her pokemon had already been knocked out of the match, leaving her with just two left. Was this a desperate gambit, a show of pride, or did she actually have a good reason for sending out the fire pokemon? Then I noticed the screen also displayed where Ruby hailed from, "Pallet Town."

I returned my eyes to the Charmander, staring hard for any tell-tale clue. Professor Oak said that the Inferno Clan sends its runts away as a mercy but also to help bolster their population in the Kanto Region. If this girl was from Pallet Town, could that Charmander be one of ours, from our clan? I pitied the poor thing having to grow so far from home yet knew it was for the best. Seeing the determination in its eyes though filled me with a pride that even though one may be raised and coddled in a softer world, the natural predator instinct still remained.

Through the glass, a Shellder swam circles around the platform, though far slower than it should. After three laps, it sprang from the water, seeking to tackle the fire pokemon and knock it into the pool.

"Charmander, behind you!" warned Ruby. Turning at the last moment, the Charmander took the full force of the tackle, the Shellder hitting his chest. I gasped, watching Charmander slide backwards as the Shellder drove them both to the edge of the platform. Claws digging into the floating block, the Charmander halted their momentum inches from the water. Then, it switched from defense to offense.

Seeing the tables turned, the green-haired trainer didn't hesitate. "Now's your chance. Use scratch attack!" she shouted. Gripping his opponent with both clawed hands, Charmander threw the water pokemon down onto the platform. Out of water and its speed reduced, Shellder could do nothing but sit motionless as Charmander laid into it continuously with both claws. Although many of the strikes simply sounded like nails raking against stone, several sounded closer to a butcher's cleaver chopping into a slab of beef. After a few seconds of perhaps two dozen strikes, the Shellder flipped onto its back, and, not a second later, the judge's bell rang out through the stadium.

"Let's hear it for the challenger, Ruby, in a well fought battle against Cerulean City's own Brooke. We will now take a fifteen minute break to allow our trainers and their pokemon a short rest and to reset the stage before our final bout of the day, the challenger Ruby against your very own Ccrulean City gym leader, Misty! Food and drinks can be bought at the concession stands, and a reminder that the second and third floor restrooms have been opened for use. We'll see you all back here in fifteen minutes for the start of our last match."

The crowds parted around me giving me a wide berth though I'm unsure if it was due to my focused, unbroken gaze upon the green-haired trainer, or (recounting earlier remarks) perhaps I really did need a bath. Through the crowd, I watched as Charmander finally returned to its trainer's side. Seeing her look the pokemon over for major injuries before pulling him into a hug assured me the runt would be properly cared for in Kanto. As she sprayed a medicine from a potion vial, her mouth moved and I saw the fire pokemon respond simply with a nod of his head. No doubt praising the pokemon on the hard won fight, or talking strategy for their next fight. As they spoke though, I noticed something in their eyes, the looks of determination changing, hardening into something else entirely. Something more primal, a look I'd seen too many times in the Tartarus Isles, and one I never expected to see here amongst children vying for shiny trinkets. As I shook in fear, the two of them made their way down a tunnel and out of view.

Following a person is similar to stalking prey, the basics of which are taught to all in the Inferno Clan at a young age. Falling in with the herd of people, I slipped around the concession filled with smells that made my stomach growl, and the long, snaking lines of people with uncomfortable faces and oddly-dancing children. I needed to speak with Ruby and the runt before the next match or else something terrible may occur. Though I could easily let Emberwilde loose to knock down doors, because I planned to be back tomorrow (and remembering the trouble caused when he burned down one gym), I decided this search would instead focus on stealth and subtlety.

Though I'd never navigated a jungle like this one, the basics should still remain the same. I stayed mixed with the crowd, always right behind a group as my eyes scanned for an opening. After a few minutes, I finally caught a break when I overheard a man at the concession stand order another to take a tray of food for "the challenger." Following right behind, I quickly grabbed at the door marked "Restricted Access," feigning courtesy as I held the door for the man with the tray. Then, I slipped in and took cover behind a stack of crates as the door closed. A new maze where I clearly didn't belong, this new section would require speed more than anything.