The morning after the gym battle, I was sipping tea in an open air cafe. Robert was talking to Professor Juniper in the PMC while Alex was studying the map of the Kalos region. Arcanine and Ninetales were rough housing just fifty feet from us on the edge of the town.

"You know," Alex said, tossing a piece of bread to Litleo, who eagerly snapped it up. "I don't think we need to ask the Professor, assuming there are gyms along this route."

She laid down the map on the table and I watched her trace a route from Santalune to Lumiose to Camphrier Town. "From here we can continue on to Cyllage City then to either Ambrette Town or Geosenge. If we go to Geosenge, then we'll end up back at Lumiose City."

I nodded. "What if we went to Ambrette Town then to Geosenge. Looks like fun. Right Froakie?"

Froakie hopped onto the table and gave me a thumbs up. "Froak!"

Alex shrugged and folded up the map. "If you say so. Though a longer journey sounds like fun."

"At least we aren't island hopping anymore," Robert remarked as he came towards us. "That's something, right?"

I nodded. "I guess, but Alola's Island Hopping did have its merits."

"I'll give you that," Robert said. "Don't get me wrong here. I enjoyed Alola, but I feel like there's just something special about one big region that's all connected by land and not ocean."

"Speaking of which," Alex stretched. "Shouldn't we be going around this big region connected by land?"

I chuckled and stood, patting my knife's sheath to make sure it was still there. "Yeah, let's get going. Kukui still wants to check on Froakie."

Froakie jumped on my shoulder and I whistled. Arcanine perked up and bounded over, Ninetales in hot pursuit.

I rubbed Arcanine's head. "I'll leave you out for a bit so you can smell the flowers."

He barked happily and together with my friends, we headed out of Santalune City. Immediately the smell of flowers hit us, different aromas all blending together quite nicely. The view was just as magnificent. All the different colors had been arranged in such a way it looked both like a stunning work of art as well as perfectly natural. Green hedges were neatly trimmed and were being maintained by both gardeners and Crawdaunts.

Robert held his arms out wide and breathed in deeply. "This is one of the many joys of travelling. So many different sights and smells to experience, it's just wonderful."

Arcanine bounded ahead, sniffing the flowers, then promptly sneezing. I laughed aloud and Arcanine growled in my direction.

I held up my hands. "Sorry sorry. Won't do it again."

Alex chuckled beside me and we watched her Ninetales scare away a bunch of Flabebes and Floettes from a cluster of flowers.

"Ooh," Alex said, putting her hands together. "They look pretty."

Robert pulled out his pokedex and scanned them.

Flabebe, the Single Bloom Pokemon. It draws out and controls the hidden power of flowers. The flower Flabebe holds is most likely part of its body.

Floette, the Single Bloom Pokemon and the evolved form of Flabebe. It flutters around fields of flowers and cares for flowers that are starting to wilt. It draws out the hidden power of flowers to battle.

Alex nodded. "I want one."

I smiled. "Sounds a bit possessive don't you think?"

Alex shot me a look. "Friends first, battle partner later. Don't worry, I got it down."

She ran into the field of flowers, scattering Flabebes left and right. She disappeared around a hedge and I chuckled.

"Come on," I said to Robert, pointing ahead. "Let's continue."

We walked on, Arcanine and Ninetales a little farther ahead of us. Froakie seemed to be relaxing on my shoulder and I grinned at that. It seemed like his loss against Viola didn't affect him at all.

Suddenly, Ninetales perked up. She stared down the path to where a huge fountain was not too far off. Then she bolted for it and I quickly ran up to where she had left Arcanine. Then I heard the yelling. Among the several raised voices, I heard Alex's.

I swung myself onto Arcanine's back, almost dislodging Froakie, and held out my hand to Robert. "Get on."

I helped him up and Arcanine burst down the path and we reached the fountain at the same time as Ninetales. Assessing the situation, I saw Alex face-to-face with another girl with Alex protectively standing in front of a Flabebe and Combee.

I groaned. "Not her."

I slid off Arcanine's back and yelled, "Clara!"

The two girls backed away from each other and Clara glared at me. "So we meet again."

I looked at the cowering Flabebe and Combee, then back at Clara. "What is it this time? Beating up Pokemon for your own pleasure."

Clara clenched a fist. " These Pokemon got in my way, so I'm punishing them."

"What gives you the right to abuse Pokemon!?" Alex shouted at her.

Clara whipped out her pokeball. "You wanna fight bitch!? Come and have some."

She sent out her Barbaracle and it loomed over Alex. Ninetales rushed to Alex's side, flames at her mouth. Alex took half a dozen steps backwards as Robert herded the Flabebe and Combee away.

"Use Flamethrower!" Alex yelled.

"Razor Shell!" Clara shouted and Barbaracle slashed the flames into steam. "Now use Cross Chop!"

Barbaracle crossed his arms and shot forwards, slamming into Ninetales.

"Extrasensory," Alex said.

Ninetales' eyes glowed pink and a psychic attack sent the Water type skidding on its back.

I was content to just sit back and wait for Alex to beat Clara. I wasn't too worried, despite the type disadvantage. But something was off. I let my eyes wander around the cobblestone area, past the fountain, and into the flowers lining the perimeter. I lingered on one spot until I was sure I was correct.

"Arcanine," I said. "Extreme Speed."

Arcanine saw where I was staring and narrowed his eyes. He zoomed into the flowers, but as he entered them, something flew out. Clara's Scizor. He narrowed his eyes at the Flabebe and Combee and dived for them.

"Robert!" I called out to him, but he was already prepared.

Robert sent out his huge Snorlax, which Scizor just bounced off of. Shaking his metal head, Scizor repeatedly punched Snorlax in the stomach, irritating the big guy.

"Snorlax," Robert said. "Body Slam."

Snorlax jumped and landed on top of Scizor, pinning the Bug type. Scizor then used Protect to form an energy shield around himself, dislodging Snorlax. He flew out from beneath him and skidded on the cobblestone.

"Arcanine," I said. "Just like last time. Flame Wheel."

Arcanine rolled into a wheel of fire and zoomed for the Steel type. Scizor slammed its metal fists together, creating a fierce wind that blew away Arcanine's fire. However, Arcanine still slammed into Scizor, but the Steel type flew into the air.

"Flamethrower!" I yelled and Arcanine blasted jets of flames at Scizor, who successfully dodged them, landing twenty feet away. He made to fly up again, but found that his feet were stuck to the ground by white bubbles.

I looked at my shoulder to discover Froakie was gone. Then I spotted him feet from Scizor, tossing more clumps of bubbles, trapping Scizor on the ground. The Bug type furiously tried to get near Froakie, but was unable to.

"Good job Froakie," I cheered. "Now Arcanine, finish him. Flame Wheel!"

Arcanine barked and rolled into Scizor, flames bursting out from him. The bubbles evaporated, but Scizor wasn't going anywhere, his red metal skin burnt. At the same time, I heard a cheer from Alex and saw Barbaracle stumbled backwards as Ninetales drove him off.

Clara eyed her Scizor and scowled. "Get over here bug!"

Scizor limped away from my glaring Arcanine and went to stand by Clara's side, where she returned him to his pokeball. She then returned her Barbaracle and glared at both Alex and I as I came to stand next to my friend.

"You win this time," she growled. "I swear to you, next time I will crush you."

She was looking at me when she said that, obviously still holding a grudge from last time.

She turned to walk away and I let her go a few feet before I said, "My name's Zeno."

She didn't stop, but raised her finger at me before disappearing into the hedges.

Alex looked at me. "You know her?"

I sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. I'll tell you and Robert about it soon. First, let's see how those two Pokemon are doing."

We headed back to where Robert and his Snorlax were, Robert talking quietly to the Flabebe and Combee.

He looked up when he saw us and gave a relieved smile. "Good, you two are here. Alex, can you calm them while I get my medicine supplies out."

She nodded and knelt by the two Pokemon, talking encouraging words to them as Robert took off his backpack. He rummaged through it until he took out a Super Potion and began applying it to the Flabebe, who looked more hurt than the Combee. She was laying on her flower, bruised up and almost broken off. Robert then moved on to the Combee where one of her wings appeared to be bent slightly.

After he was done, Robert got to his feet and dusted his legs off. "I healed them as best as I can, but it's best if we head to a Pokemon Center right away to get them proper treatment."

Alex nodded and made to stand, but both the Flabebe and Combee cried out. Alex stayed where she was and they calmed down.

I smiled. "I think they like you."

Alex smiled as she rubbed both Pokemon gently. "You think so?"

Robert pondered for a second, before suggesting, "Alex, I think you should carry them in two pokeballs. It'll make sure they don't feel the pain and it'll be easier to transport them."

"Me?" Alex asked, pointing to herself and Robert nodded. "They seem to like you best."

Alex looked back down at them. "How about it? Would you two mind being put in pokeballs so we can get you medical treatment?"

They looked like they were thinking about it, then ten seconds later, Combee buzzed her wings as a yes.

Alex smiled. "Good."

Her hands went to her waist, then frowned. "I don't have any pokeballs."

"Don't you worry," Robert said, tossing her two. "Uncle Rob has you covered."

Alex held out both pokeballs in each hand and lightly tapped Combee and Flabebe. They were sucked in by a red light and shook in Alex's palms. Then the lights flashed green, signalling their desire to stay.

Alex stood. "Let's get going. How long until Lumiose?"

I checked my map. "Route 4 isn't that long, I'd say another twenty, thirty minutes maybe."

"Let's pick up the pace then a little," she said, then to her Ninetales, "Good job battling girl. Get a nice long rest."

She returned her and I did the same to Arcanine, Froakie hopping onto my shoulder. "Good job out there partner. I didn't know you could use your bubbles like that."

"Froak," Froakie croaked in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head.

I cracked a grin and Alex said, "Come on, let's get going."

I nodded and the three of us set off past the fountain and back on the path to Lumiose.

"So," Alex said after a minute of fast walking. "How do you know Clara?"

"After Shauna and I got the okay for me to keep Froakie," I said. "We went to get lunch. After, I saw her battling a kid. She beat him then demanded his Pokemon as a prize for winning. I stepped in to stop her and so did Ash."

"Ah," Robert said, enlightened. "So that's how you met Ash."

I nodded. "Clara is quite the character."

A dark look came over Alex. "Treating Pokemon like that, trying to take them, she's the worst kind of person."

"I'll say," Robert agreed. "Next time we run into her, you'll show her a lesson Zeno."

I coughed. "Say what now? Why me?"

"You're her rival," Robert said it like it was obvious. "At least, that's how she sees you."

I looked at Alex for support, but she was nodding in agreement. "I'm pretty sure she took this loss as your victory, which makes it twice that she's been beaten by you."

"Ugh," I said. "I don't need someone like her as my rival. Plus, they're probably won't even be a next time. Kalos is a big region after all."

"You probably thought that the first time," Robert said. "She's bound to be a regular now."

"Yeah," I said enthusiastically. "I don't need that."

But, despite what I was saying, I had a feeling I would see Clara again, whether I wanted to or not. I frowned. Would she challenge me to a battle? If so, if I win, what happens? Would she just keep coming back? Why?

I sighed. "All these questions are just going to give me a migraine."

Setting my gaze on the path ahead of us, I pushed Clara into the back of my head and continued on with my friends.

Clara again folks. Might she become a regular like Robert predicts? Only I know, so just wait and see dear readers. Till next time. Toodles