"Then they know," said the Grandmaster in his soft, raspy voice.

His adjutant nodded.

"All the gym leaders have been told," said Zhang. "And so have the local authorities. Truth and Balance are patrolling the northern border."

The Grandmaster waved away the new information.

"This is a small matter," he said dismissively. "We knew that Team Power could not keep Rasmus hidden for long. Our plans are not changed in the slightest."

The door to the office burst open and Claire strode impatiently to the Grandmaster's desk.

"You sent scouts to Nanzo?" said Claire incredulously

The Grandmaster frowned.

"I did," he said calmly. "What of it?"

Claire rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"You told me I couldn't go," she said, jabbing an accusing finger at her father. "You told me to wait. Then you send this idiot—behind my back—to do exactly what I offered to do, just because—."

"Yes," said the Grandmaster. "Now close your mouth before you make a fool of yourself again. I have business to attend to, and you have no part in it."

Claire was breathing heavily, her teeth grinding together. Both Zhang and her father were looking at her with undisguised contempt, as if she were a misbehaving child.

"Whatever," said Claire.

She turned on her heel and stormed out of the office as abruptly as she had entered. There really wasn't anything else to say. The Grandmaster was toying with her, wasting her time with errands while Zhang did the real work in Nanzo. She wouldn't make any progress this way. She needed to take matters into her own hands.

Claire ran to her room to gather her Pokeballs and pack her bag. She grabbed a change of clothes from her dresser—a dark hoodie, jeans, and a knitted cap. She wasn't planning on getting caught, but she wanted to be careful. She'd rather be stopped crossing the Nanzo border as a foreign student than as a Team Power admin.

"Maybe it'll rain," said Mori.

Liam and Vasilio glanced up at the clear, blue sky overhead.

"I said maybe," said Mori sulkily.

"It just means she'll miss us," said Vasilio, giving Mori a flick. "Isn't your boyfriend staying? You're getting selfish, Mori. You can't have everyone all the time."

Mori gave a shrug.

"9th grade!" called Professor Wort's deep voice. "Get your things, get on the bus!"

"We're next," said Liam, pulling his backpack over his shoulder. "Don't miss us too much."

Vasilio and Liam turned to leave.

"Hey Liam," said Mori.

Liam stopped in his tracks and turned back to face Mori. She detached a Pokeball from her belt and offered it to him.

"Anastasia needs some time outside her Pokeball," Mori explained. "Take care of her, okay? If you lose her, I will—."

"Mori, I'm not gonna lose her," said Liam, adding the Pokeball to his belt. "I'll make sure she gets some exercise."

Mori smiled.

"Thanks."

She gave him an appreciative flick on the shoulder.

"10th grade, let's go!" said Professor Wort.

"Seeya, Mori," said Vasilio with a wink.

Liam and Vasilio climbed onto the already-crowded bus and took their seats near the front. Sylvia and Stephanie took the seats across from them.

"Did you hear about the tents?" asked Sylvia as the bus started to move.

"What tents?" said Liam.

"They don't have enough tents," explained Stephanie. "So they're putting more people in the ones they have."

"Ick," said Liam. "How am I regretting this already?"

He looked out the window to where Mori was standing alone, watching the bus as it departed. He waved at her. Either she didn't see him, or she was too lost in her thoughts, because she ignored his gesture.

"This sucks," said Jonah.

Liam, Vasilio, and Jonah had been struggling with their small tent for more than half an hour, and making very little progress along the way. Vasilio in particular was showing uncharacteristic signs of agitation, and Liam thought he looked about ready to snap.

"This is ridiculous," said Vasilio, running a hand through his white hair.

The bus had dropped off the students on a sloping field about 45 minutes outside of town. It was bounded on one side by the small stream and on the other by a dirt path, just wide enough for one-way vehicle traffic. At the bottom of the slope, the hillside became steeper, falling into a deep gorge before opening into a wide valley far below. It was a fantastic view, and one that Cass would have unquestionably enjoyed.

The male students had been assigned to the higher, steeper end of the slope, while the female students were setting up their tents on a more even ground below. This was one of many things that Liam found very unfair.

"How are we supposed to fit three people in a two-man tent anyways?" asked Liam.

"Having trouble?"

Sylvia and Stephanie were grinning at the boys and their thoroughly unassembled tent.

"Shut up, Sylv," snapped Vasilio.

"We can help," said Stephanie. "My Lucario is very good at—."

"I think we're good," said Jonah coolly.

Sylvia and Stephanie glanced at each other, gave knowing smiles, and started back down the hill to their own tent. The girls had been given the larger tents, and clearly found the boys' situation very amusing.

"Hey dudes," said Taylor. "How's it coming?"

"It's not," said Liam. "How about you guys?"

Taylor jerked a thumb over his shoulder. Their tent was standing, but that was about all that could be said for it. Liam thought it looked like it would collapse if anyone so much as rolled over during the night.

"Okay, we definitely don't want your help," said Vasilio. "Liam, get your Espeon out. Let's see if we can—actually, Jonah, maybe your Lycanroc too."

Through the combined efforts of Espeon's Psychic abilities, Vasilio's methodical instructions, and Lycanroc's willingness to pull on any rope that was put in its mouth, they finally managed to put up something that resembled a livable tent. They finished just in time, as the call for dinner had just gone out.

Liam and Vasilio stood in line for about ten minutes before receiving a disappointing (in Liam's opinion) meal consisting solely of a hot dog and an orange. Liam immediately regretted not bringing along more snacks as he and Vasilio sat down on a moss-covered rock near their tent to eat.

"There is no way all three of us will fit in that tent," said Liam, looking warily at the small structure. "Who's sleeping on top of who?"

Vasilio was busy feeding some of his orange to his Amaura and didn't answer. Liam suddenly remembered his promise to Mori, and released Anastasia from the Pokeball on his belt. The Bouffalant tossed its afro nervously as it surveyed its new surroundings.

"That Pokemon is a nervous type," said Vasilio. "I hope she'll do alright without Mori."

Liam stroked Anastasia's shaggy hair, and the Pokemon seemed to relax. Clearly, Mori's Bouffalant had come a long way since she had informally adopted it last spring. The Pokemon had once been Claire's—she had cast it aside to be buried alive back in Jadetower City. Mori and Anastasia had bonded over their shared wounds, but it was more than that. Mori doted on Anastasia, brushing and massaging her like a little girl with a favorite pet. It was an amusing contrast to Mori's scolding and sarcastic attitude towards her Misdreavus. Maybe she saw two different sides of herself in each.

"Hey, bro."

Chelsea Whitaker was standing over Liam with a strange glint in her eye. Marsha Cheong was beside her, her hands on her hips in an amusing power stance.

"Hi Chez, Marsha," said Liam suspiciously. "What's up?"

"I did not know you were training a Boufallant," said Marsha, eyeing the large Pokemon warily.

"It's not mine," explained Liam. "It's Mori. I'm just watching it for her."

Chelsea and Marsha exchanged a meaningful glance.

"I can tell you two are after something," said Liam. "What is it?"

"Bro," said Chelsea, leaning forward confidentially. "I need to borrow your Espeon. They're doing an Eevee battle in the girls camp and I really want to beat John's Flareon."

"I'm not a Pokemon lending library," Liam pointed out. "But fine, here. Heal him after you're done."

Chelsea was so excited that she nearly dropped the Pokeball as he offered it to her. With triumphant grins on their faces, Chelsea and Marsha scampered back down to the girls' campsite. Liam noticed that Vasilio was watching him with an odd smirk on his face.

"What?" said Liam.

"Just thinking about what Mori would say if she saw you lend a Pokemon to a 9th grader," said Vasilio. "A female 9th grader."

Liam rolled his eyes.

"Chez is pretty good with Espeon," said Liam. "I wouldn't lend him to just any pretty girl."

He bit his tongue.

"Oh good," said Vasilio with a sly grin. "So if you ever discover an ugly girl, you'll start acting normally."

Liam ignored his friend's chiding. He was watching Chelsea's battle with great interest. Liam hadn't had much success with his Pokemon since it evolved from an Eevee, but Chelsea's handling seemed almost effortless. She was calling out attacks, predicting enemy moves, and operating in sync in a way that would have even impressed Professor Werner. Even more strange, Liam knew Chelsea wasn't a particularly exceptional trainer. She liked to battle; but she relied more on tenacity than skill. Even her knack for reading her opponent's next move was more instinct than prediction. But there she was, commanding a difficult Pokemon like a master Vasilio had clearly noticed it too.

"When did Chelsea get that good?" said Vasilio curiously.

"I dunno," said Liam.