Oleana was writing on her clipboard as the elevator took her to the top level of Rose Tower. After several meetings and dozens of phone calls to prepare for the Gym Challenge opening ceremony and otherwise manage other Macro Cosmos business, the secretary was ready to fill out the last of her paperwork and call it a night. This was not to mention the constant need to contact the Energy Plant and ensure Eternatus was still kept in check while she and Chairman Rose were not there to supervise the facility in person. Indeed, it was never a quiet moment for Oleana, and that was how the devoted secretary liked it.
As the elevator reached the top floor, however, Oleana heard the sound of yelling and explosions from above. She let out a soft groan with her mouth closed, instantly knowing what was happening. The elevator door opened, revealing a man and a woman in their late twenties standing on opposite sides of the large room. The walls were decorated with cracks, and the floor had spots of blast burns all over the area.
The man had short, maroon hair and wore khaki pants and a sleeveless dark gray jacket. He clenched his teeth, and his hands were balls of fists as he glowered at the woman with his gold eyes. His Toxtricity and Alolan Marowak panted heavily with scratches all over their bodies.
The woman stood proud and tall, wearing a sleeveless, dark orange dress that complimented her slim figure, black high heels, and the most expensive gold rings money could buy. Her Doublade and Sirfetch'd had a few scratches on their bodies, but they showed no signs of fatigue. Doublade's plaque was dark brown, its hilt was gray, its eyes yellow, its arms purple and yellow, and its blades were red. The man's hard glare amused the woman as she flipped her raspberry-colored hair that reached past her shoulders and gave him a mocking look with her rose-red eyes. She was as powerful in battle as she was lovely to view, and she knew it.
"Marowak, Boomerang! Toxtricity, Discharge!" The maroon-haired man roared.
"Doublade, dodge, and use Shadow Claw! Sirfetch'd, charge in with Brave Bird!" The woman shouted.
Marowak threw its bone at Doublade, but it disconnected from its sheaths and charged at Marowak with its blades turned black with a purple outline. The swords hit Marowak in the stomach, sending it several feet away. At the same time, Sirfetch'd dodged bolts of electricity as it charged at Toxtricity with its body surrounded in a blue aura and its sharp stalk lance facing toward its opponent. Its stalk hit Toxicity in the gut, knocking the wind out of it. The Wild Duck Pokémon took damage from the attack, but it paid no mind.
"Now, both of you, use Brutal Swing!" The raspberry-colored woman shouted.
"Marowak, use Shadow Bone! Toxtricity, use Venoshock!" The maroon-haired man shouted.
Doublade's blades and Sirfetch'd's stalk glowed pink, and they charged at their opponents. Toxicity shot multiple poisonous darts from its mouth, hitting Sirfetch'd, and Marowak, having regained possession of its bone, began spinning it with a purple flame gathering around one of the ends and a blue aura briefly flashing inside the center. Marowak stopped spinning its bone just in time to dodge both Doublade's swords and strike them from behind. The attack created a burst of purple and blue flames as Marowak sent both parts of the Sword Pokémon back and landed on the ground, groaning in pain.
The woman in the dark orange dress's smirk weakened at her Pokémon's sight in agony. Sirfetch'd was on one knee, clenching its teeth as it forced itself into a standing position. Doublade, being weak to ghost attacks, took a little longer before its swords levitated from the ground again. The man grinned, believing the tables had turned.
"Let's end this!" He shouted. "Marowak, use Shadow Bone again, and Toxtricity, use Fire Punch!"
But his commands made the woman smirk again, knowing her opponent had gotten cocky, and it was just what she needed to get revenge.
"Doublade, use Aerial Ace! Sirfetch'd, block, and use Brutal Swing!" She commanded.
Doublade's swords returned to their sheaths, and it used its entire body to ram into Marowak at full speed with white streaks all over its body. Sirfetch'd lifted up with its stalk shield to protect itself from the Fire Punch and swung it at Toxicity's head, incapacitating it with its lance glowing pink again.
"Now, Doublade, end this with Shadow Claw on Marowak followed by Sacred Sword on Toxtricity, double time!" She instructed.
The swords disconnected from their sheaths with their red blades covered in black aura again and struck the disoriented Marowak down. As soon as the bone keeper Pokémon was on the ground, the swords glowed light blue and grew bigger before slashing at Toxtricity. The swords disconnected from their sheaths with their red blades covered in black aura again and struck the disoriented Marowak down. As the swords returned to their sheaths, the maroon-haired man stared at his fainted Pokémon before letting out an annoyed grunt and taking out two Pokéballs from his pocket.
"Marowak, Toxtricity, return." he muttered.
The raspberry-haired woman's smirk grew at the sight of her opponent put in his place. The smirk turned into a loving smile as Doublade and Sirfetch'd levitated/walked over to her. She got down on one knee to pull Sirfetch'd into a hug with one arm and hugged Doublade with the other.
"Beautiful work, my lovelies," she praised.
"Sirfetch'd," Sirfetch'd cawed with a smile.
"Doublade," Doublade said in a robotic voice, its yellow eyes closed in a look of delight.
Oleana kept her straight face throughout the remainder of the battle, thinking less about who would win and more about how much repairing the damages would cost. Now that the Pokémon battle was over, it was time to step in.
"Ezria, Venarge, how many times have I told you two not to battle in here?" She rebuked in a calm voice.
"It's not my fault, Aunt Oleana," the man named Venarge complained, pointing at the raspberry-haired woman named Ezria. "She conned me into battling."
Ezria let out a high-pitched, mocking giggle before she stood up with her hands on her hips and said, "Don't kid yourself, Venny. I merely stated that I will win the Galar League and the World Coronation Series, and you immediately took out your Pokémon, challenging me to a double battle."
"Don't call me Venny!" Venarge screamed.
Oleana sighed through her nose, struggling to keep herself from losing her professional demeanor. To think her sister, over a decade her senior, could allow her children to behave like a pair of Mankey even though they were coming close to their thirties. Before she could rebuke her niece and nephew any further, everyone heard the sound of applause coming from the other side of the room. They turned around to see a tall, handsome, tan-skinned man in his fifties with black hair, green eyes, and neatly trimmed facial hair. He wore a sharp gray business suit, a gray vest with a red tie, a gold and black belt, pointed red and black shoes, and a gold watch. He looked at Ezria and Venarge with a charming smile as he finished clapping and walked over to them with a suitcase.
"Well done, you two. Such a splendid battle," Chairman Rose praised.
"Uncle Rose!" Ezria shouted cheerfully.
She ran over to the chairman to hug him and give him a peck on the cheek. Rose's smile grew as though he was a father receiving a kiss from his favorite child.
"How was business in Circhester?" Ezria asked.
"Quite well. Thank you for asking, my dear," the chairman replied.
"Mr. Chairman, I apologize for the destruction," Oleana said as she, Venarge, Doublade, and Sirfetch'd went over to Chairman Rose and Ezria. "Had I known before they battled, I would have stopped them."
"Pff. Not like you ever could," Venarge muttered, earning a glare from his aunt.
"It's quite alright, Oleana. When two trainers have the drive to show the power and bonds they possess with their Pokémon, there's nothing that can stop them," Chairman Rose said before turning to Ezria and Venarge. "Still, I'd appreciate it if you did your battling outside for your aunt's sake, you two."
"Yes, Uncle Rose." Ezria and Venarge said simultaneously.
Chairman Rose smiled in approval. Even though he was not related to Oleana's niece and nephew, they were like family to him in their own way.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," he said. "I have presents for you two that I picked up at our lab on the way here."
Ezria and Venarge instantly huddled together, curious what surprise the chairman had for them. He opened his suitcase and held it up, facing the twin siblings to reveal two white wristbands with red and blue highlights. Venarge grinned while Ezria gasped with a cheerful smile as she put her hands on her cheeks and her leg popped.
"Dynamax Bands!" Ezria squealed.
"At last," Venarge said.
Chairman Rose chuckled with his mouth closed as the twins took the bands and put them on their wrists. Venarge's grin spread to the sides of his face as he stared at his band while Ezria showed hers off to Doublade and Sirfetch'd.
"Now we are truly prepared to compete at the Gym Challenge." Ezria said. "Are you two ready to grow gigantic?"
"Sirfetch'd!" Sirfetch'd cawed enthusiastically.
"Doublade." Doublade replied. Its eyes looked at the band as though it was grinning despite not having a mouth.
"Oh, I can't wait to use this," Venarge said. "Our Gym Leaders and the Trainers I will face in the upcoming season of the World Coronation Series will tremble before my Pokémon and me."
"I admire your enthusiasm, Venarge, but don't be so cocky," Chairman Rose warned. "Galar's Gym Leaders and many other Trainers in the world are strong in their own way, and don't forget that neither winning the league or the World Coronation Series is not your primary objective."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Venarge said with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry, Uncle Rose. The battles I'll win will be all the practice I need to be ready in case any mayhem arises when you revive Eternatus."
"For the first time in a while, I agree with my brother," Ezria said. "We have been training hard with our Pokémon for your dream, Uncle. We'd be ashamed to fail you in any way." Her smile turned into a smirk. "That said, I would very much like to replace that airheaded dolt as the Champion of our region and Monarch."
"Yeah, with a hubby to snog on the side," Venarge remarked with a teasing grin.
"Venny!" Ezria hissed with her cheeks flaring up.
Venarge laughed at his sister's embarrassment, making her clench her teeth. On the other hand, Chairman Rose raised his eyebrow and smirked in interest.
"Is that true, Ezria? Are you interested in finding someone special?" He asked.
Ezria played with her fingers, not looking at anyone as she replied with a timid smile, "Maybe."
"My, my, my, this is intriguing news," Chairman Rose said. "Have you developed an interest in one of your fans?"
Ezria snapped out of her bashful state and replied contemptuously, "Oh, please, Uncle Rose. I wouldn't dream of giving any of those boys a moment. They're nothing but rowdy Rockruff desperate for attention, not caring about Galar so long as they get a chance with me."
Her frown turned into a blissful smile as she looked up at the ceiling.
"No, my mind is on a real man. A powerful trainer capable of protecting Galar with me. My loyal knight," she declared.
"Interesting. Have you met him?" The chairman queried.
"No, but I've heard of him," Ezria answered, looking back at Chairman Rose. "Remember when all the nurses and doctors in Galar were mysteriously brought to heal the Pokémon from that terrible battle against the crime organization that had control of all the Psychic type Pokémon?"
Rose's face fell, and he said, "How could I forget? It was a terrifying time for everyone who had Psychic type Pokémon dear to them, including Venarge with his Alakazam."
"Don't remind me," Venarge said in a cold voice.
"Well, while the nurses were healing the Pokémon there, they heard stories from the people in Kanto and Johto about how all of the Psychic type Pokémon were freed," Ezria explained. "They say there was a trainer who captured Arceus itself just by throwing a special Pokéball, therefore freeing all of the Pokémon under Team Rocket's control, resulting in the crime organization's downfall."
"My, my, that is a riveting tale," Chairman Rose commented. "Who is he?"
Ezria lowered her head, downcast, and answered, "I don't know. None of the nurses know who he was. They just know he is around my age, wears a gray shirt with three letters on it, and his Pokémon partner is a Raichu."
"That's a shame," Chairman Rose said. "What would you do if you found him?"
Ezria's spirits returned, and she replied with a proud grin, "First, I will challenge him to a Pokémon battle and see how strong he is against me. If he proves to be as powerful as I've heard, maybe even beats me in battle, then I know he's the one, and that's when I will give him..."
She lifts the Pokéball into the air, and it opens to reveal an Aegislash. Its hilt and blade were dark gray, with the blade's edges in red. Its arms and shield were dark gray and gold, and its eye was also gold. Chairman Rose and Oleana looked at the Pokemon, surprised; even Venarge was befuddled by what his sister implied.
"You're going to give him your Aegislash?" He asked.
"Mmm-hmm," Ezria answered.
"But why would you do that?" Chairman Rose asked. "You love Aegislash. Would you really give Doublade's sister away to a guy even if he is the one? What if he doesn't return your affection?"
"He will," Ezria answered without missing a beat. "He won't be able to resist me any more than my fans. Everyone in Galar knows how beautiful and powerful I am with my Pokémon. Any man as powerful a trainer as I am would be honored to be mine forever. Besides, when I become Monarch and Galar's new champion, I may as well be a queen, and a queen needs a valiant, loving knight by her side. If this man was so passionate about saving the whole world, it stands to reason that he would want to stay and protect Galar with me from anything that dares to threaten our region or your dream, Uncle Rose. Doublade and Aegislash will never be apart as long as we're together. I will be a queen protecting my beloved region armed with two swords, and my husband will fight by my side with a sword and shield just like the legendary knight from the story of the Darkest Day. It is our destiny."
"Doublade!" Doublade cheered.
"Aegislash!" Aegislash shouted in a low feminine voice.
The room was quiet for a moment before Chairman Rose let out a hearty laugh.
"That's one thing I've always liked about you, Ezria. You dream big just like me," he said.
Ezria smiled at the chairman while Venarge rolled his eyes at how Rose was encouraging his sister. After several seconds, Oleana cleared her throat and said, "I hate to break the moment, but it is getting late."
Chairman Rose took out his watch and said, "Gracious, your aunt is right. You best get back to your rooms, you two. You don't want to oversleep and miss the train to Motostoke."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Venarge said.
"Me neither," Ezria said as she took out three of her Pokéballs. "Doublade, Aegislash, Sirfetch'd, return."
All three Pokémon returned to their containers before Ezria walked over to give the chairman another kiss. The twins walked to the elevator, calling, "Good night, Uncle Rose! Good night, Aunt Oleana!" Oleana gave a simple wave while Chairman Rose waved with a bright smile. When the younger adults were in the elevator and began their descent to their rooms, Chairman Rose put his hands behind his back and sighed happily.
"Such spirited trainers," he said. "They will be great at the Gym Challenge and the World Coronation Series."
"I hope so. You are putting a lot of faith in them with handling any Pokémon that Dynamax when your plan is in motion." Oleana said.
"I have no reason not to. They have worked hard with their Pokémon," the chairman said. "Besides, we also have Leon to assist, and perhaps Ezria's dream man will come and defend Galar by her side."
The chairman's loyal secretary gave a skeptical look and asked, "Do you think she will find this man? He lives in the Kanto or Johto region for all we know, and these stories might not even be true. It could be some sort of fantasy the people in those regions created after fighting that criminal organization."
"Eternatus was also considered a fantasy once upon a time. Now it's in our possession and all the unlimited energy that goes with it. It stands to reason that someone might have done all of the things Ezria heard about," Chairman Rose pointed out. "Either way, I want to live to see Ezria's and Venarge's children and, if possible, their children's children know nothing but comfort, knowing they will never need to worry about Galar's future. Until then, all we have to do is keep pursuing our dreams, and nothing can stop me from achieving mine."