"Even so," Red said. "More impressive than most."

"Good to know," Ithica said. She grinned, a bit teasing. "I'm guessing you're not one to be easily impressed anymore?"

Red smirked. "Not anymore," he agreed, pulling out his pokeballs and reattaching them to his belt. "I've seen too many idiots pass through."

Ithica snickered as she took her own pokeballs back as well. She took a moment to rearrange them on her belt so they were in the right order.

"I'm sure," she said. "What are some of the best?"

"Best or worst?" Red asked, because that was a legitimate question.

"Ooh, good question," Ithica said. She considered for a moment. "Both."

Red snorted. "Worst was someone who'd just barely scraped by, thought they'd come help level up a younger pokemon by battling me." He let that sink in, smirking.

"Oh no," Ithica said, covering her mouth to hide a snicker. "No no, this is not the place to level a baby. Route 26, maybe, if you bait and switch, but not up here, not against the actual literal strongest trainer."

Red grinned at that. "She thought it was a good idea at the time," he said mildly, looking far too amused. And rather vindictive.

"That is never a good idea," Ithica said. She grinned a bit. "I'm sure you thoroughly trounced her. Probably didn't take more than probably one pokemon."

"Two because I wanted to prove a point and recalled one well before he was KO'ed," Red said with a fluid little shrug.

"Let me guess," Ithica said. "You set Pikachu on her." She gave him a bit of a sideways look.

Red shrugged. "Maybe," he said, though he was hiding a smirk not very well at all. Not that he was really trying, either.

Ithica snorted.

"You could have been nicer," she commented.

"Why should I?" Red asked, making his way to his little kitchen to get some water. "She was the idiot. She learned her lesson."

"You were an idiot like that once, too," Ithica pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "At least, I assume so. All trainers are at some point."

"Yeah but I was twelve," Red said with a snort. "Not twenty-something."

"Point, but still," Ithica said. She stretched a bit. "Well, anyways, time for me to hike back down the mountain." She gave him a little grin. "Enjoy being a hermit up here."

Red snorted quietly, watching her for a moment. "Here," he told her, holding out a slip of paper. "In case you come across anything interesting." He'd written down his number.

"Thanks," Ithica said, taking the slip of paper. She read it, and then looked at him. "Of course, if you wanted to just come with me, instead of just waiting for a call..."

Red shrugged. "Not unless you're going somewhere interesting first."

Ithica grinned a bit.

"I recall mentioning pokemon cave," she pointed out.

"If that's where you're going then I'll go. Been a while." Red shrugged.

"It'll be more fun than being a mountain hermit," Ithica teased. "Besides, I've heard that there's an exceptionally rare pokemon in the cave somewhere." That was as close to mentioning Mewtwo as she could come without outright saying she knew about the legendary.

Red just smirked, because clearly he knew and just as clearly he wouldn't be telling her for sure. Instead he just grabbed a go bag that he had ready by the door.