TEAM: Twigs (Rillaboom) & Zap (Toxtricity), Spike (Drednaw) & Tilda (Vileplume), Hook (Galarian Slowbro) & Cress (Vikavolt)

Author's POV

Ready to depart from the frigid winter, Flare and her team bid farewell to the city of Circhester. As to be expected with her late night outing, Flare ended up oversleeping into the next day, right into the afternoon. Sonia and Nikki were already off visiting the Hero's Bath, and Hop was busy training for the Gym on his own.

Flare wondered just how long she would maintain the badge lead against all her rivals. That being said, she wasn't opposed to the thought of waiting for Hop to catch up, but she remembered something about Spikemuth. She figured she might as well press ahead in case she finds a certain familiar face there. The badge lead would be irrelevant once they all reached Wyndon, Flare reminded herself. She hoped Hop wouldn't mind her leaving.

That, and her team were all enthusiastic about getting out there and stretching their legs, especially after a certain someone's newfound ability to walk on two legs.

Tilda in particular was extra eager to ask him questions about it. "That thing's got teeth, don't it, so does the bite hurt? Can you still feel your hand or is there just nowt there? Does the poison come out of you or it?"

Hook wasn't quite used to the energetic attention, let alone from the one of the team with the most energy. "Erm…" The Slowbro chanced a glance at his Shellder, who looked equally as unsure. "I think I'm numb. But I can still feel my hand. And I'm pretty sure it can go either way." He readied his new shell-like side arm and shot a speeding poison blob into the air to demonstrate.

Tilda watched the purple blob sail into the air until it landed on her face. "That was extraordinary!" She clapped at him, despite her eyes being obscured. Zap also joined in on the applause, extra intrigued on Hook's newfound poison abilities.

Hook found himself extra surprised when Twigs came over to give him a pat on the back. The Rillaboom cast a warm smile at him. "Welcome to the big leagues, lad. Always knew you had it in you, y'know. You deserve to be proud of yourself."

The Slowbro had to admit to himself that he wasn't used to such flattery, let alone the metaphorical warmth of such accepting company. Still, he tried to hide the proud smirk in his smile for the sake of saving face. He didn't want to seem too prideful in the face of the first Pokémon on Flare's team. Even if he somehow blocked an Aura Sphere in his sleep.

The thought of it prompted him to ask her something. "Say, Twigs? The oddest sensation occurred the night prior."

She glanced from somewhere on the path to look at him. "You mean when Flare got attacked by that Mustard looney?" Her tone was serious. "I'm listening."

"I'm quite familiar with our ability to come out of our Pokéballs at will, but something felt… different." Hook paused, recalling how sudden the transition from Pokéball ambience to being out in the open was. "Like a sudden protective instinct took over and my body started moving on its own… I know it's hard to explain, but-"

"I actually ken what you're gettin' at, sure enough." Twigs nodded, holding a stick to her chin in thought. "Way back when I was a wee lass at the daycare I was already used to protectin' the little ones. Why'd you think I evolved so quickly?" She chuckled. "Still, I know what you mean. Something like that almost happened when Flare was attacked on our first day, y'know. I would'a popped out my ball the same way you did, but Flare was holding it shut, stubborn lass. She's got a good heart, but I dinnae want her gettin' hurt 'cause of it."

"... I see." Hook shuddered, not only because of the wintry air, but also because he wasn't fond of being confused about things. For a moment, he wondered if this was what Flare felt like when she talked about all this legend stuff, unsure and whatnot. He hoped he wouldn't encounter any other figurative roadblocks further down the line like she did.

"Hey, guys."

But as for Flare, she had already encountered another block in the road. A literal one. The rest of her team caught up to her as she called for them.

"What's the hold up, lass?" Twigs was the first to bound up to her. "Thought we were sayin' goodbye to the brass Grookey and all that cal."

"The…" Flare hesitated for a second, glancing at Twigs before clearing her throat. "Ahem. About that. The map told me there was this highway road we could use to head to Spikemuth, but for some reason it's blocked now… I think."

What was supposed to be the path from dirt to concrete was blocked off by some traffic cones and police tape with graffiti over it.

"ROAD TO SPIKEMUTH CLOSED

CUZ TEAM YELL SAID SO."

The words "scram" were sprayed all over the cones as well. Needless to say, nobody there believed it was a legitimate blockage.

Cress hovered over to the tape and flexed her tweezer mandibles. "So what's stopping us from just going snip snip?"

Flare sucked in a cold breath. "Well…" She sheepishly pointed ahead, where a noticeable horde of Pokémon were patrolling the streets. The unmistakable black and white patterns implied they were Obstagoon. "... at least, that's what I thought they were. But I noticed they're just a bunch of Linoone carrying each other on their shoulders. I'm guessing those Team Yell guys couldn't afford the real thing."

Tilda was also peering through the tape. "Think I see a Mr. Mime in their group too. One of them pink ones from Kanto, methinks. No, I don't reckon it's a good idea to try getting past one of those."

As Flare wondered how Team Yell could even get a Kantonian Mr. Mime, she directed her attention back to where the snow continued ahead. "There is another path southwards, but it's kind of unconventional…"

The detour led the group to a snowy path that was cut off to make way for the ocean. It stretched past the horizon, with chunks of ice floating by in such a way that subtly shaped a path forward.

The rest of the Pokémon strayed behind, but Flare nodded at the stretch of sea ahead. "This is it. Circhester Bay. It's not the recommended way to get to Spikemuth, but it's the only way we got."

"Nuh-uh. No." Cress shook her head and hovered back. "I'm not going to fly well through all that cold. Can't you go call that Mr. Pilot guy to bring you over?"

"Well… the league rules state that officially licensed cabbies can only bring me to places I've already been. And even then…" Flare sheepishly trailed off. "I would feel kinda bad if I had to call him again after making him pick me up from Circhester late at night. He told me once that he has a wife and daughter to come home to, so I'd like to give him some time off." That and she didn't want to trouble him in case he was having another bad day.

Spike stepped forward. "No biggie, I got this. I've been looking for an excuse to swim again."

"You sure…?" Flare was concerned, but Spike had already stepped in, afloat.

The Drednaw had a proud smile on his face as he paddled around for a bit. "Easy, you know I'm not one to get cold feet. Actually, don't comment on that. Let's get to it already."

Flare recalled the rest of her team and tried her best to get onto Spike's shell. It had a bit rough and rocky edge to it, as to be expected, but she was more surprised at how Spike managed to stay buoyant for how heavy he was. And she had to cling to his shell with how he practically tore across the water.

Flare hung on at the sudden burst of speed and leaned down to speak. "I thought… you turtles were supposed to be slow!"

"Glad I ain't, for convenience sake." Spike lifted his head above the freezing water to speak. "Tilda told me I had a base speed stat of seventy four, whatever that means." He started to slow down. "… Oh boy."

Flare peered over the ripples of the water to see other ripples coming from up ahead. What she thought were blue chunks of ice squirmed about and crept over the water towards them, tentacles held like fists at the ready.

"Grapploct…" Flare muttered.

"Yep…" Spike slowly backed away. "Hope you don't mind me rocking the boat, because I doubt Tilda can swim. And even then, I don't know how well I can handle Fighting types."

"Did someone say… Fighting types?"

Hook burst forth from his Pokéball, but instead of splashing into the water, he floated where he was. He surrounded himself with an intense psychic aura and hovered defensively in front of Flare and Spike. He looked towards his cephalopod adversaries and pointed his Shellder at them with a smirk.

"If only Fringe could see me now."

Flare's POV

It was… smooth sailing from there, surprisingly.

The most I had to worry about was having to get wet, so I had to try my best to curl up on what space Spike's shell had. I was in a bit of an embarrassing looking huddle, but it was better safe than sorry.

"You sure you don't wanna stand up all free and radical like those surfer dudes?"

I could tell Spike was poking fun, so I just poked at his shell. "Cold water is… cold. I'm not good with it." I don't think he felt that.

"I guess you're more of a Flareon than you seem."

I get that a lot. I punched Spike's shell for that. … ow.

I figured the calmer seas were because of all the fighting going on behind me. Hook was still busy keeping the seas safe from the Grapploct, though at this point I was starting to think he was picking fights just because he could.

I glanced behind me just in time to see him lift another Grapploct into the air to headbutt it away. From the looks of things it seemed like he was trying to see how far across the sky he could get them to fly. I was pretty sure this was all unnecessary, but I didn't want to get in the way of his fun. For a moment I was just in awe seeing him flaunt his true power.

I stared back ahead to see Spike looking up at me. "Water's getting warmer now."

I peered ahead at the mention of that. The path ahead was just in sight, and I could see there was grass instead of snow. And it looked like shortly ahead was… a crowd?

I called Hook back as we started nearing what barely resembled a shore. The air seemed heavier somehow, as if there were rain clouds that loomed above us without rain.

I stepped back on solid ground alongside Spike, taking a moment to get the feeling back in my legs again. "Looks like we're here…" My gaze was still directed to the sound of commotion nearby.

Spike seemed more satisfied with his swim, getting in a good stretch as he padded the ground around him. "Whew… land ahoy."

I chuckled as I brought out his Pokéball. "Isn't it a bit late to declare 'land ahoy' after you've already arrived onshore?" I recalled my Drednaw before pressing onward.

Past this tall grass should be the way to Spikemuth…

It definitely seemed like the sound of where the commotion was. I had to weave my way past the docile Bergmite as I followed the direction of crowd noise. Though, the closer I got, the more I started to realize they didn't seem pleased.

"I come all this way and the shutter to Spikemuth is just closed!"

"I swam all the way here all for nothing, then! Those Team Yell goons are gonna get it now!"

"What was the League thinking, putting this nozzle as the Gym Leader again to make us plod all the way out to this hole for nil!"

Their collective clamoring was enough to make me wince. They didn't seem to be wearing their white uniforms, but even from here I could tell they were all Gym Challengers. And they were all directing their outrage at what looked to be the entrance to Spikemuth. It was a shutter that blocked the way to the inside of what seemed like more of a warehouse than a town or city of sorts. The darkened skies in broad daylight and unkempt wild grass around me gave off that decrepit vibe I've heard Spikemuth was famous for. Or infamous.

I was starting to wonder why I couldn't find any tourist guides with Spikemuth in it… Is it really that run down? At that moment there was someone I started to feel bad for.

"Psst, Flare! Over here!"

Right when I was thinking about her, I whipped my head around in the direction of the delicate whisper. That's when I saw Marnie's head peeking out to me from some nearby tall grass. It was a good thing I was still a ways away from the crowd, just so no one saw me as I slipped away to follow her into the grass.

"Marnie, what's-"

I didn't get as much as a question in before Marnie grabbed my hand and started leading me further in. From then on I could only sputter as all the tall grass whizzed past my face.

I really wish I was taller…!

By the time we emerged from wherever the other side of this was, we both seemed winded, and I needed a second to catch my breath before saying anything.

"Sorry 'bout that…" Marnie spoke first, flicking blades of grass off of her vest. "Just thought it'd be pretty sus to see the two of us just muckin' about in the grass. Hopefully nobody followed us here."

"Followed us… where?" My gaze trailed up from the patches of grass to see that Marnie must've led me to some out of the way spot. Other than the grass, the way here was obscured by some musty looking crates and dumpsters alongside some fencing. And in front of us looked to be an opening through the Spikemuth walls, a sizable hole where I could make out a weakly flickering light.

Marnie must've caught my look of awe when she stepped in front of me. "A bit gobsmacked, are you?" She had a faintly amused smile as she rocked on her heels. "Told you, I was born 'ere so I got my own secret way in and out. Only tellin' you this because you're my rival and I like you that much. You here to challenge my big brother Piers, is that it?"

"W-Well, yeah." While I was here because it was the next stop of my Gym Challenge, my sights weren't entirely focused on the entrance to Spikemuth. "But I also thought it'd be nice to see you too! You know, since the last I saw you was when you got your fourth badge." I felt a bit sheepish admitting that. "I kind of thought I'd find you here somehow, and I've been wondering what you've been up to since then and all."

At least my response got a giggle out of Marnie. She leaned forward and jabbed my arm. "'Course I could trust you to be the ever so polite one." Though what little of her smile I could see faded away when she sighed. "I was wonderin' when you or Hop would stop by, but now I feel a bit bad that I don't have much to say 'bout my badges. Haven't exactly gotten much done on that front."

I fell silent. "Wait… you mean-"

"And it's all Team Yell's fault, y'know!" Marnie snapped back, holding what I could see of her clenched fist forward. "I spent the past day shooing 'em off from whatever ruckus they were causin' all around Galar! And now they're causin' even more nonsense by shuttin' the Spikemuth shutters! Drivin' me nuts, I tell ya!" Now both her fists were clenched.

Marnie's expression was still subtle, but I could tell from her troubled brow and slightly louder voice that she was genuinely ticked. All I could do was stand in silent shock and let her continue, but I desperately wished I could calm her down with a comfort pat or something. Where's William when you need him?

Marnie blew out a sigh and shook her head. "Actually, now that you're here, I think I got myself a bit of an idea." My hopes lifted for a second when I saw her smile return. Then came the steady conviction in her gaze. "I don't want to seem like I'm gettin' complacent just 'cause of my folks. I've been itchin' for a good battle, and I think I know just the person for it."

I was a bit surprised by how sudden this proposal was. "You mean, a battle? Right here, right now?"

She pulled out a Dusk Ball as if to confirm it. "Think of it as, say, me bein' the roadblock before you enter Spikemuth. You're my rival and all, so I don't wanna see either of us gettin' soft, either!"

I could tell she meant she didn't want me to hold back as well. The idea of going easy and what that meant made me hesitate a little, but I decided to take out a Pokéball of my own as I met her challenging green eyes. "My pair of Dark type destroyers kinda did need a bit more training. It'd be nice to have a little warm up before Piers and all." Well, I say pair when it's really just one of them who's good against Dark types…

"Oh, don't get the wrong idea!" Marnie raised her voice as she stepped on her side of our supposed backyard battlefield. "This ain't you usin' me for trainin'. I'm usin' you for trainin'—got it?"

I met her smile with my own. It was always nice to see Marnie this fired up and raring to go, and I wasn't planning to disappoint her on that front.

And, to my subtle excitement, Marnie kept going with the comebacks. "You've had a pretty good win streak in the Gym Challenge, just like me! I respect you as my rival and all that, but with how much I'm laggin' behind, I got too much at stake to go around losin' now! Me and my team have powered up a whole lot, so we're gonna beat you lot into the ground, got it?"

Even if Marnie's smile didn't show it, her confidence was practically glowing. It was time for me to come up with my own sick pre-Pokéball one liner. "I-"

My senses practically crumpled when the blunt and brash noise of a horn was blasted into my ears. I don't know how, I don't know when, but somehow a crowd of Team Yell grunts had already gathered around us before our battle had even started. Then came the horns, the collective cheering, the towel waving, and the blaring of rock music which I started to recognize was Marnie's theme song.

The song is actually really good, but everything else… My ears were starting to ring to the point where I couldn't properly enjoy the good parts of this ensemble. And right as I was thinking about how cool it was to have a theme song, I noticed Marnie's embarrassed look.

"J-Jus' try and ignore 'em, alright?" I could vaguely hear her over the noise. "I've been tryin' to get them to stop for a while now, but they're way too rowdy when we're on Spikemuth soil."

"O-Okay!" I tried to speak out in response. At that point I had already forgotten what my one liner was supposed to be anyway.

It was Cress against Lilian, my Vikavolt against her Liepard. I thought a single attack would do the job, but then it ended up using Sucker Punch and whizzing around us before we could react. Fortunately, I knew how the attack worked, so I quickly came up with a plan of action, or rather, inaction.

Normally the Sucker Punch lunge would've nailed Cress in the back, but when I told her to do nothing, Lilian ended up fumbling the swipe and stumbling to the ground.

Now for the coup de grace! "Bug Buzz!"

Cress' wings started beating even faster, and her fizzling electricity grew louder as she fired a green shockwave that pulsated around her. The buzz reverberated through the air, engulfing Marnie's Liepard and quickly knocking it out.

As buzz started to fade, I heard Marnie scoffing over the rock music, but she didn't give me much time to celebrate before sending out her Scrafty. But a quick Thunderbolt blast from Cress took him out before he could even close in. That's two down.

"Ugh, c'mon! What's with that?!" Marnie called out as she pulled out another Dusk Ball. "My Pokémon didn't even get a chance to really do their thing at all!"

I had to admit, I felt a little bit bad using my Vikavolt like this. "Does… this mean you want me to start going easy on you!"

"Fat chance!" Then came her next Pokémon, Jamico the Toxicroak.

I took this opportunity to pull Cress back and let Hook take over. I knew what was coming, but I had more faith in his strength than ever.

Hook noticeably tensed up with psychic energy, but at the same time, Jamico vanished and reappeared behind him. The Toxicroak's Sucker Punch struck Hook right in the face as he was turning around. Yet, despite the super effective impact, he didn't flinch.

"Is that supposed to deter me?" He raised his eyebrow before hurling poor Jamico away and headbutting him back to Marnie's side. I hoped he got the message to hold back on his Zen Headbutt just a little bit.

"Even the Psychic type…?" Marnie sighed again. "Alright, this'll getcha then!"

I kept Hook on the field as Nightmare was sent out, who was now a Morgrem. I commanded Hook to hover forward, whose Shellder started pulsating with poison. Yet, for some reason, as Hook lifted his Shellder for a physical strike, Nightmare collapsed to his knees with his hands clasped together.

"Oh please! You don't hafta do this!" The Morgrem lowered his face to the dirt. "Spare me your toxins, I'mma good fairy who don't want no trouble!"

It was a confusing display, enough to let my guard down for a second, and it was the same for Hook. But when I saw the swiveling dark tip of Nightmare's hair, I realized that was a big mistake.

Hook, watch out-

The spear-like shape flew forward, then stopped. Hook grabbed it out of the air with his free hand, just inches from his neck.

"Are you quite sure you're a good fairy?" He sounded unamused.

"Uhhhh… 'ello?"

Nightmare's attempt at a courteous plea was cut short when Hook's Shell Side Arm struck the ground with a poisonous shockwave. The single blow did the Morgrem in and washed him back to Marnie's side.

I breathed out a sigh of relief, calling Hook to my side so I could finally heal him back up. This battle was starting to take its toll on me, but I knew I wasn't done just yet.

And Marnie seemed to know that as she pulled out her last Dusk Ball. "The music's still goin', so I'm not finished yet! As expected of my rival, you really know how to get me riled up!"

Just gotta keep going all out for this last push! I psyched myself up in preparation for this last Pokémon. Though I kind of found it hard to focus with all the yelling just getting louder.

After getting a good spray on Hook's face and hand, I let him rest in his Pokéball and sent Cress out on the field. Marnie sent out her Pokémon too, slightly lifting her knee as if she was pitching something. Now it was my Vikavolt against her Morpeko. Cress' electricity was really buzzing now, as if to match the intensity that William was crackling as he was sent out.

"Careful, he's extra hangry now!" Marnie's voice still rang true over her theme song. "Aura Wheel!"

We already had a Bug Buzz prepared, but William seemed to form some sort of electric wheel around himself and zipped away from us. I tried to keep my eyes on the speeding blue lightning wheel rolling around but William just kept picking up speed around us. And then he started ramming into Cress.

William's wheel kept rapidly flickering from violent red electricity and speeding blue lightning, but every impact seemed to hurt Cress either way. Even when I called for her to take to the skies, William leapt to knock her back down.

"Okay…" Cress groggily teetered as she lowered her hover in front of me. "Getting kinda tired of getting bounced on and ran over."

I was still wondering how to get around how quickly William zipped and turned, racking my brain for something as he wheeled towards us again. "But he's too fast…"

Yet, I could tell Cress had an idea of her own. "Didn't think I'd have to break this out again. I'll just have to slow him down!"

She ended up spitting what looked to be some String Shot, though it landed as a weird stringy mound on the ground. And not a second later, William ended up tripping over it.

"Aw, nuts."

The wheel was gone, as was his supposed sugar rush, so there was one thing left to do.

"Bug Buzz!"

Our move was our last push against the music, blasting louder than any of the noise Team Yell was making with their cheers and other ruckus. It almost seemed like our attack sent a few goons reeling here and there too.

Whew… I took a moment to take in the newfound silence that arrived after that final buzz. Guess that's that…

The boombox grunt I recognized immediately clamored to stop the music as the rest of the Team Yell goons and gals rushed to Marnie's side as they saw her sulking. I recalled my Pokémon and was tempted to do the same, though I was quickly halted in my spot when Marnie suddenly protested in an outburst.

"Go on, off with you lot! Are you goin' to open those shutters, or am I gonna have to give you the Marnie sarnie?!" She was shooing them back into Spikemuth with a bit of her sleeve pulled back.

"B-But Marnie-"

She shook their heads at them with a sigh. "Augh, you're useless. Just go home."

I started to feel a bit out of place as I watched Marnie's temper scatter the Team Yell grunts like bugs. If she was this livid towards the people cheering for her, then I was a bit hesitant to see what would become of the one who just battled her.

Still, I stepped towards her. "Marnie, are you alright?"

"Oh hmm?" When she turned back to look at me, she was back to her stone-faced calm self. "Oh, that? I was just hopin' our battle would lure 'em out so I could try tellin' em to clear the way for those other Gym Challengers. Unfortunately they're… awfully stubborn."

Her change of tone surprised me even more. "Okay… so about that battle…"

"Aw, no need to be so nervous. I ain't too fussed." There was that amused little smile again. "I know I'm behind on my badges and all, so I get it. If anythin', I'm just more stoked to reach my full strength alongside you and Hop."

"Oh. Whew." I let my smile show, feeling partially relieved I wasn't going to learn what a Marnie sarnie was. "I'm glad that's the case, then. The feeling is mutual."

"What, did you think that loss was goin' to discourage me? I'm real flattered that you care about my feelin's that much." And then came the determined look that came with her furrowed brow. "My sights are still set on that top spot, though! I'm definitely gonna get all eight Gym Badges just so I can get that rematch against you. Don'cha forget it! I'll get my revenge when I see you in the Champion Cup! I'm not gonna let down the hopes of everyone cheerin' for me!"

Now there was that competitive spirit that spoke volumes. Such confidence to keep going that I had no choice but to admire. Why are all of my rivals so much cooler than me?

"Come on, what're you gawkin' at?" Marnie's voice brought me back to a view of her hand outstretched towards me. "Are you gonna head on into Spikemuth now or would you like me to show you the way in?"

"Ah." I hesitated as I brought a finger to my cheek, glancing elsewhere. "Well, I'm sure I'll be alright on my own, but since you're offering-"

"Too late!" Marnie quickly cut me off and took my hand. "Come on then, my brother's butt ain't gonna kick itself, so follow me!"

Even if she pulled a mischievous stunt and nearly swept me off my feet with how I lurched forward, I had to chuckle at how familiar this was. The entranceway to Spikemuth was supposed to look dark and gloomy, but with how excited and giggly Marnie was in leading me, I couldn't help but catch on to her energy and follow along.