~{Author's Pre-Notes}~

(Mimikyu driving in a car within a city with a star in the top-right corner)

I didn't even do anything!? That guy just drove into the gas station and blew up! I had nothing to do with it!

(Takes a sharp turn on the street to outrun the police before seeing you.)

O-Oh, hi! Um... I swear this isn't what it looks like! Er-I-Um, I know, let's go over the previous chapter! So last time, Victor met up with both Team Yell and Marnie to have wholesomeness with them! And now, our two rivals are going to have at each other in a pokemon battle! I wonder things are going to end up!? I wonder what's going to happen afterward!? Let's find out now!

(Police sirens get closer as now two stars appear)

Wha-!? What did I even do!?

Answered Comments:

Lildeevil: Lol, a funny thing about me is that people claim that they were just thinking about new chapters before I post a new one. It's pretty funny. Although, it did take me a while to get this one out. But I hope you enjoy it and comment either way!

Guest: Alolan characters, oo! I did have the idea to bring some of them, and Acerola and Allister would be so cute! Maybe later on I will.

Lelouch of Zero: Yeah, Marnie is so precious and she's one of my favorite characters from all the Pokemon games. Hope you enjoy this chapter mostly about her and Victor! Maybe give some suggestions on how they would interact in the future. Enjoy this chapter!

FbItracking: Just keep in mind that it's not romantic, it's like a brother-sister relationship because that's how I saw them the best to be represented. It's adorable.

Astrogamer: I never really thought about how each of the characters would sound beside Gloria, (because of the memes having me picture her.) But yeah, Hop as Asta sounds funny. But I do remember how Hop sounded from the Pokemon Twilight Wings, but not everyone else. I might even go back to the anime just to hear how they sound so I could picture them better. But anyway, thanks for the big review and I hope you leave another!

IanAlphaAxel: Thank you!

Wolfy365: Oof, you didn't comment last chapter and I was the big sad. But it's good to hear from you again! Yeah, the animatronics are a pain to deal with, but you get used to them since you're unable to die. And yeah, Allister is just as precious as Marnie to me, so adorable and innocent. I plan to have a nice chapter with him and Victor in the future, maybe with them even talking about a certain fighting girl. Can't wait for the future! I hope you come out safe and sound!

FanFictionReaderIne: Yeah, I want to give each character some good screentime that at least shows their personality and maybe even a little backstory. I'm glad you say that I've been successful in giving development to the characters! Here's the next chapter for you!


~{Wild Area, In front of Motostoke- 11:15 PM}~

Victor and Marnie were a good distance away from each other as the moonlight shined down upon them, spotlighting what was going to be their battle.

"Go, Marnie!"

The four Team Yell grunts on the side cheered energetically while Marnie nervously shivered with a small blush out of embarrassment.

"Wh-Why are ya lot still here!? Ya should be back at Spikemuth!" She timidly shouted at them.

"Why wouldn't we be here supportin' our goddess!?" One of the grunts holding up a banner of Marnie shouted.

"Geez... You lot..." Marnie turned away from them with a sigh.

"Mor! Mor!" Her Morpeko smiled on the ground beside her trainer, always amused to see Marnie's fans supporting her.

Marnie then stared across from her towards her opponent, Victor. The boy was sitting in a cross-legged manner with all of his pokemon around him, casually talking to them while waiting for Marnie to ready up. Ace and Twilight stood with stoic looks, while Midori curiously stared down at Tesla still in the backpack.

"Should ya really have all your pokemon out? It gives away info about your team." Marnie called from afar.

Victor and his pokemon glanced at her, to which the boy stood up straight and adjusted his beanie with a grin.

"That won't really matter, because if everything keeps going the way it's been going, then I'll be sure to win this battle too!"

Marnie pulled out a Dusk Ball, her expression suddenly changing to a cold, but determined look, one that was nearly the same as her usual unintentional glare.

"We'll see about that."

Victor chuckled, "Well now, she really does have such a natural fighting face."

"I'll feel awful if I lose... But-!" She held her Dusk Ball with both hands and pulled them back while raising a leg, getting into a pitching stance, "-there's no way I'm gonna!"

She then tossed her Dusk Ball forward as Victor pointed a finger ahead.

"Start the show, Ace!"

Ace ran forward with his hands stuffed in his pouch, for some reason.

Out of Marnie's Dusk Ball came a Croagunk, a dark blue, yellow-eyed, bipedal Pokémon that resembles a poison dart frog.

"Croa!" It looked to have a smile as he got into a fighting position.

They immediately got started.

"Quick Attack!" Victor shouted.

"Sucker Punch!" Marnie's voice was suddenly louder than what Victor had ever heard from her before.

Ace was just starting to glow white as Marnie's Croagunk suddenly vanished and appeared right in front of him, shocking him and Victor.

"Raboo-!?"

"Gunk!" Croagunk swung his fist into Ace's stomach, making his eyes bulged as he was sent backward.

"So quick!" Victor thought as Ace flew through the air.

"Now Venoshock!" Marnie pointed upward.

"Croa!" Croagunk's mouth puffed up before he then spewed out several bursts of poisonous purple sludge, aiming at Ace in the air.

"Turn your body and avoid it!"

Ace opened an eye despite being in pain and tilted his body back, managing to manipulate himself in the air to barely avoid these blasts of sludge sent at him. He then flipped himself so that he landed on his feet, clutching his stomach where Croagunk had punched him.

Marnie seemed impressed. "Whoa, that combo usually takes out a pokemon pretty fast. Ya really are the real deal, aren't ya?"

Victor let out a breath of relief, "You really did surprise both of us, I never had such a sudden start from an opponent. But that's the only time you'll catch me off guard! Ace, Flame Charge!"

Ace was breathing hard to recover from getting punched, but his body flared up in flames as he then blasted forward.

"Poison Sting em'!"

Croagunk's mouth puffed up again before it fired a barrage of purple poison spikes this time.

Ace ran side to side to avoid getting hit by any of these spike-like darts, getting faster and closer to Croagunk before jumping forward with a leg sticking out.

"Ra-!" He swung his foot right onto Croagunk's face, "-boot!"

"Croa!" Croagunk's face turned from the force of the kick, also being sent flying back.

"Revenge him!"

Croagunk flipped himself before landing on its feet and punching both of its fists together, suddenly glowing an orange aura. This aura then focused itself into Croagunk's right fist as it ran forward at Ace.

Victor and Ace waited patiently as Croagunk came close with his fist swinging.

"Duck and sweep him!"

Croagunk's fist was aimed at Ace's face, so the rabbit pokemon ducked while sliding his leg against the ground, kicking Croagunk off its feet so hard that it started spiraling in the air.

"Revenge again!"

"Tackle!"

Croagunk came out of his spin with his fist glowing orange again, then falling down to Ace while swinging it down.

Ace jumped upward and the Toxic Mouth pokemon's fist crashed into the ground, sending dirt in all directions. But just above him, Ace pulled his fist slightly back as he fell before swinging it down and nailing it onto the Croagunk's head.

"Cro!" Croagunk stumbled back while clutching its head.

"Venoshock to make space!" Marnie shouted, her eyes reflecting confidence in her pokemon.

Still clutching its head, Croagunk puffed its cheeks before blasting streams of poison again.

"Quick Attack and Flame Charge!"

Ace formed a white aura as he dashed like a blur once again, appearing from spot to spot and avoiding to get hit by any of the poison before appearing right in front of Croagunk.

"Croa!?"

"Ra-boot!" Ace then caught fire as he rammed his elbow into the Croagunk's stomach, returning the favor from the earlier punch.

Croagunk made a blenching sound as it was sent rolling back on the ground, then stopping at Marnie's feet with swirling eyes.

"Croa..."

"Ah! Croagunk!" Marnie crouched down and checked her now unconscious pokemon.

"NO! He will be missed!" Team Yell shouted with comedic tears.

"Wha- He isn't dead!" Victor shouted to them as Marnie returned her first pokemon with a pout. "Although, if that Croagunk had the ability Dry Skin, then that Flame Charge must've hurt WAY more."

"You may have gotten one of my pokemon down, but it's far from over!"

"Ya said it Marnie! Knock his block off!" Team Yell cheered.

Marnie pulled out another Dusk Ball, the sphere clicking open to release another pokemon.

"Scraggy!" What came out was a bipedal, lizard-like orange and cream-colored pokemon that used its hands to hold loose, yellow skin around its legs, resembling saggy trousers.

"Use Headbutt!" Marnie shouted.

Scraggy ran forward with his head sticking out.

"Use Double Kick to intercept him!" Victor countered.

Ace jumped and spun in the air before swinging his leg.

"Raboot!" His foot and Scraggy's head connected to each other, their collision created a small shockwave that spread through the area.

"Push your foot down on him!"

But still in the air, Ace did as he was told and forcefully pushed his foot down on Scraggy's head to make him lower it.

"Send him flyin' upward, Scraggy!" Marnie said. Scraggy mustered enough strength to raise his head and fling Ace straight upward into the air.

However, this was what Ace wanted.

As he flew upward, Ace spun before pointing his foot up, then falling down as he swung his leg as heavy as he could.

"Ra-!"

Scraggy looked up with his eyes widening before Ace's foot slammed right into his head.

"-boot!"

"Scrag!" The Shedding Pokeman ended up with his head smashed right into the ground, causing a big blast of dirt and stone to be sent flying as dust covered the area.

"Ooo..." Victor and his pokemon cringed. "That looked like ithurt..."

When the dust cleared up, Marnie's Scraggy had its face in the ground, laying on its stomach.

"A-Already!?" Marnie stammered as she saw him.

"Oi! What if you gave Scraggy brain damage-amage-amage!?"

Everyone turned to the male Team Yell grunt that said that.

"..."

"Forget I said anything!" The grunt yelled.

Marnie pouted as she turned back to the battle.

"Scraggy! Get up and use Revenge!"

"Eh? But isn't he already-?"

*Bam!*

The next thing Victor knew, Ace flew right passed him and crashed into one of the trees behind him, stunning him and all his pokemon.

"What... What just happened?" He turned around and saw... a tree truck with Hop's imprint in it? But more importantly, Ace was now on the same tree, face first.

Victor turned back to see the Scaggy on his feet now, one hand holding his saggy skin with the other in a fist that was steaming. He had dirt and a bruised face, yet looked both calm and determined, acting as if nothing happened to him.

"Yell Yeah! Scraggy! You da man!" One of the grunts cheered.

"Oi! Ya bampop! Marnie's three pokemon are shes!" Another pointed out.

Victor simply stared as Ace fell off the tree and onto his back, swirling eyes and twitching in pain. He left his own even deeper imprint in the tree within the outline of Hop's imprint, rather amusing to see.

But Victor didn't examine the tree and instead, turned back to Marnie with sparkling eyes. "WOW! So cool! I didn't expect her to get back up!"

Scraggy grunted as she wiped some of the dirt off her face while Marnie formed the slightest of changes of her lips, one barely noticeable to anyone.

"K-Kirl, Kirlia." Midori pointed at Ace on the floor in concern.

"Oh, right! Thank you for your hard work, Ace!" Victor turned back and returned his unconscious starter back into his pokeball. "Now then..."

Victor turned back to Marnie and grinned, then reaching into his backpack and pulling out Tesla. "You're up buddy!"

"Zzzz... Charja, Charja..." His sleep bubble grew and shrank.

"Cute..." Marnie stared from afar with a bright aura.

"Go, Tesla!" Victor raised him up with both hands before flinging him forward to the middle of the field.

He plopped right onto the ground, not even fazed at all and continuing to sleep.

Scraggy just raised an eyebrow and scooted close to Tesla.

"U-Um...?" Marnie wasn't sure if she should be attacking or not.

"Oh for the love of god..." Victor grabbed his backpack and dug through it, then pulling out a berry from a Ziploc bag. "Wake up!" He shouted as he tossed it.

The berry landed right in front of Tesla. His sleep bubble popping as he picked up on its scent. "*Sniff* *Sniff* Charja?"

He opened his eyes and blinked several times, then squirming forward and shoving the berry into his mouth.

"*Nom!* *Nom!* Charja! *burp!*" He then let out a sigh of bliss.

"Tesla! I need you now!"

Tesla turned and glanced back at Victor, then looking ahead at the Scraggy that, now that she saw him wake up, glared at him and ready to fight.

"Charja... Charja..." Tesla grumbled as he turned and faced his opponent, squishing and extending his accordion-like body back and forth to stretch his muscles.

The blue screens that were his eyes suddenly showed angry glowing yellow.

"Charja!"

Seeing him up and ready, Marnie got pumped up again with her serious expression returning.

"Scraggy! Use Headbutt!"

"Scrag!" Her pokemon dashed forward and dived forward headfirst.

"Wrap her around with String Shot!"

"Char-BLEH!" Telsa's opened his mouth and stringy silk was sent right at the incoming Scraggy.

"Scrag!?" She was caught off guard as the string wrapped all over her body, only leaving her head free of it. However, connecting to the cocoon around her with a long trail of thick string stretching all the way over to Tesla.

"Now slam her down!"

"Char-!" Tesla's eyes flashed menacingly as he closed his mouth on the string and tightly held onto it, then heavily swinging Scraggy as hard as he could. "-JA!"

Tesla swung Scraggy through a tree, splitting the trunk in half while breaking the string wrapped around in the process.

Everyone deadpanned in black and white as Scraggy comically rolled on the ground until she crashed into another tree, this time, only bouncing off of it before landing on the ground, groaning and twitching disturbingly.

"Tesla! I told you to slam her down! Not into a bloody tree!" Victor shouted.

Charjabug turned back to him looking completely confused.

"Charja?"

"Just because it worked doesn't mean it's alright!" Victor desperately wanted to shout but didn't.

Marnie was blue from shock as she returned her Scraggy with a shiver. "W-We m-might need to g-get you h-healed up... Twice."

"Tesla! Next time, just do exactly what I say! We don't need anyone dying today!"

"..." Tesla tilted his head. "Charja?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'You don't?'!?" Victor and his pokemon were blue in their own shock now.

Victor furiously shook his head to answer Tesla.

Telsa sighed before turning around while grumbling.

Marnie calmed down by now, taking deep breaths, before then pointing forward.

"G-Go Morpeko!"

Marnie's Morpeko had been standing beside her trainer the entire battle. Despite what happened to Scraggy, she frowned and looked more pumped up than ever as she scurried forward to fight.

"Yeah! Morpeko!"

"Our goddess' royal protector!"

Team Yell kept cheering for Morpeko as she stopped a few feet away from Tesla and then stood up her feet.

"Mor..." Morpeko used both of his tiny hands to rub her pink cheeks and start conducting electricity in them. She then burst out in a black aura as her happy and bubbly look that was her Fully Belly mode now changed into her angry and hostile Hangry mode. "PEKO!"

Tesla seemed to frown, then bursting out his own aura of energy, "Charja!"

"Oo! Looks like they're both fired up!" Victor grinned.

"Morpeko, use Thunder Shock!" Marnie pointed.

"Mor!" Morpeko jumped up and his cheeks sparked yellow before he blasted a jolt of electricity at Tesla.

"Use Charge!"

Tesla's body started glowing yellow and charged electricity in his body, also raising its Special Defense as he prepared to take Morepeko's attack.

"From what Tesla told me, he isn't that fast, but he's VERY tough." Victor recalled as he watched the jolt of electricity strike his electric pokemon in a small explosion.

Dust was kicked up but didn't remain for long, revealing Tesla just looking a little angrier.

"Charja!" He shook some dirt off him.

Marnie looked nervous, "I didn't think about this before, but ain't this a really bad matchup for Morpeko?"

"Nice, Tesla! Now use String Shot!"

"Avoid it and get close with Quick Attack!" Marnie countered.

"Char!" Tesla opened his mouth and once more fired strands of silk towards Morpeko.

"Mor!" Morpeko started glowing white before running in blazing speeds, vanishing from spot to spot and easily avoiding the straight line of silk.

"Jump and Bite!" Marnie instructed next.

"Mor!" The angry Morpeko leaped into the air with his jaws open as he fell towards Tesla.

"Catch him with Sticky Web!"

"Char!" All of a sudden, Tesla looked up and opened his mouth once more, sending out globs of sticky material up in the air.

"Does everything just come out of his mouth!?" Victor wondered, looking kinda uncomfortable thinking about that.

"Mor-bleh!?" Morpeko was shocked when these blobs hit her and covered her in webs, some of it even getting in her mouth. But she was now successfully entangled in the air.

"Morpeko!" Marnie yelled in worried.

"Yell NO!" Team Yell shouted in comedic horror.

"Now Sting Shot again!"

Tesla was getting tired of opening his mouth, but still fired one last line of sticky silk that wrapped around the web-covered Morpeko.

"Now slam her down!"

"CHAR-!"

"DOWN, Tesla! DOWN! As in on the ground!" Victor made sure to shout.

Tesla frowned but still pulled Morpeko from the air as hard as he could. Everyone watched as once again, with tremendous force, Tesla swung the string and slammed Morpeko into the ground with a large explosion of force. Sending dirt and dust flying and forcing everyone watching to cover their eyes as to not be blinded.

When everyone looked again, there was a small crater in the ground with a webbed-up, dirt-covered, and unconscious Morpeko with her tongue comedically sticking out.

"NOOOO!" Team Yell shout with looks of agony.

Tesla used his jagged teeth to chomp off the string, then opening his mouth with a deep breath.

"CHARJAAAAAA!" He shrieked with the blue screens of his eyes blazing with more power than ever.

"Good job Tesla! But you don't have to shout every time you win!" Victor laughed.

Tesla didn't seem to hear him, as he was already sleeping on his side.

"Charja, Charja... Zzzzz..."

"Oh of course..." Victor sighed.

"M-Morpeko!" Marnie ran over to the small crater and pulled her pokemon out of the webs and string, then holding her right in front of her.

"A-Are you alright!?"

Morpeko just let out a groan as her eyes remained in swirls.

Marnie looked down as she held her Morpeko with one arm and pulled out her last Dusk Ball and returned her pokemon into it.

She then turned her head away with a look that almost seemed to be shame. "You beat me... Guess you must not be too bad after all, huh?"

"Our poor goddess..." Team Yell were all hunched over with depressing auras around them.

Victor was more focused on Marnie than Team Yell, as he didn't like seeing the girl down, not one bit.

"But you were so cool! The face you make when battling looks so serious, it just shouts power! And I loved that awesome combo you did at the start of our battle, it caught me so off guard! Then your Scraggy got up and knocked out Ace like it was nothing even after being smashed into the ground! Your pokemon are amazing too!" He said, brimming with light.

The horn-like tufts of Marnie's hair fluttered.

"Y-You... You really think so?" Her cheeks had a tint of red in them.

"Of course! Right guys!?" Victor turned to Team Yell, who all regained their energy when they heard him ask.

"Yell yeah! Our Marnie always gives the most incredible battles!" One of the males yelled before blowing his Y-shaped horn.

"She's too awesome!" One of the females yelled while raising her banner proudly.

"Marnie!" They all shouted.

"You... You lot..." Marnie muttered, the tiniest of smiles forming the corners of her mouth.

"Marnie!" Victor cheered too, holding up his own banner of the girl.

However, when Marnie turned and saw Victor holding that banner, her eyes widened and her mouth opened as the entirety of her face became as red as a Sizzlipede.

"Wha-Wha-Where did you get that!?" She squeaked out in complete shock.

Victor proudly sparkled as he held the banner above his head, "I got this when I met up your fans in the second Galar Mines! It's a beautiful sign of not just my friendship with you, but with them as well!"

"Amen!" Team Yell shouted.

"Wha-huh!? Don't tell me ya gonna join Team Yell!?" Marnier stammered.

"Hm? Oh no, I can't possibly join an organization to support one person for the rest of my life, I've got dreams to make come true. But I'll still support you any way I can Marnie!"

"N-No! You can't have that!" Marnie suddenly ran up to Victor and tried to take the banner of herself, but Victor backed up while holding it out.

"Huh!? I can't?" Victor held the banner up as high as he could while stretching his body so it was out of Marnie's reach.

"G-Give it here!" Marnie jumped with her hands reaching out with a flustered face.

"But it was a gift! Why can't I have it!?" Victor asked as he moved the banner from one side to the other to avoid a frantically jumping Marnie.

The girl stopped for a moment with adorably watery eyes, her head steaming at this point.

"B-Because it's embarassin' if more people have them!"

"So cute." Victor and Team Yell had their eyes closed with looks of peaceful glowing auras around them as if they were just blessed from the heavens themselves.

"Give it here!" With this momentary distraction, Marnie dived at Victor.

"Wha-WHOA!" The boy was caught off guard as Marnie tackled him to the ground.

Victor felt the back of his head hit the ground, closing his eyes as he flinched in pain.

"Ow... Ow... Did you really have to-?"

When Victor opened his eyes, he was shocked to find Marnie's widened eyes right in front of his.

Victor had his arms back, still holding onto the banner while the rest of his body was laid on his back straight against the ground.

Marnie on the other hand, had both of her knees on the ground beside Victor's waist while both of her hands were next to both sides of his head. Her head was right above Victor's, her face inches above his, and both forgetting everything that was happening before as they were suddenly drawn to each other's eyes.

Everything was silent as Victor and Marnie both stared at each other in surprise. They both blinked as if processing what happened. Both could hear each other's gentle breathing, they swore they could hear each other's heartbeat go up, and Victor even picked up a pleasant berry-scent from her, no doubt the shampoo she used.

Team Yell all stood on the side in black and white colors of shock, staring at the scene completely frozen.

Twilight rolled his eyes while Midori lightly blushed by what he saw.

"Um..." Surprisingly, even Victor felt his own cheeks warm, "Shouldn't you... get off?"

That seemed to snap Marnie out of the trance she realized the compromising position she was in.

And if you didn't think she could turn redder, the rest of her entire body turned crimson to match her face.

She shot up to her feet, backing away from Victor as both of her hands found their way to her cheeks.

"I-I-I-I-!" Steam came up from her head.

"Marnie!" Team Yell all surrounded her in worry while Victor sat up from his spot on the ground, somewhat embarrassed but chuckling.

"Well, that was... That was awkward." He muttered to himself as he pulled himself back to his feet, still holding the banner of Marnie. "Might as well put this away before Marnie remembers it."

"We were so close! W-We almost ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-!" Marnie suddenly found herself becoming dizzy.

Then she blacked out.

"MARNIE!?"

"Eh?" Victor was putting his backpack back on when he heard the extremely worried tone of Team Yell. He glanced over at them, noticing that Marnie was being held up only by them. "Huh!? What happened!?"

He rushed over and saw that Marnie had swirls in her eyes, her head still steaming as she groaned.

"Look what ya did! Ya knocked her out!" One of the grunts shouted.

"What!?" Victor was baffled. "I don't know what I did, but we should get her somewhere!"

Victor turned to his pokemon and quickly returned them back into their pokeballs, then turning back to Team Yell confidently.

"The closest place should be the Budew Inn! I'll take her there!" Victor took Marnie from the Team Yell members supporting her, picking her up bridal style. "I'll get her home safely!"

"Wha-!? What in the hell are ya doing carrying her like-!"

"You guys should all get home! Good night!" Victor suddenly blasted away rather quickly for a human, leaving some dust behind.

Team Yell all stared in disbelief by what just happened.

"Did... Did he just...?"

"With our Marnie...?"

"He's takin' her to a room...?"

"All alone?"

"..."

"..."

"WE GOTTA TELL PIERS!"


~{A Few Minutes Later}~

"U-Um... I'm sorry challenger Vict-"

"Just Victor, please." The boy insisted with a smile despite carrying an unconscious Marie in his arms.

"Okay, Victor. I'm sorry to say but we don't have two rooms available, just one last one on the top floor.

Victor had a straight-faced expression. "Eh?"

"All of our rooms, but one, are filled out. Many people came to this inn out of excitement to see you or your other two friends fight against Kabu. Challenger Hop and Gloria actually took two rooms before you did about two hours ago."

"So Hop and Gloria ARE here?" Victor sighed. "I might have to crash with Hop... But I don't even think he'd wake up if I knocked on his door, and his snoring drives me insane... I guess I'm leaving Marnie and sleeping outside tonight."

"I'll take that last room please..." Victor sighed.

"For both of you?" The receptionist chuckled.

Victor stared at him with an unamused expression.

The man sweatdropped.

"Er... I'll just give you your key." He brought the keycard.

"Midori, some help?" Victor called.

From his backpack, his pokeball clicked open and out came Midori, smiling to help him.

"Kirl! Kirl!"

The receptionist smiled as he handed the pokemon the keycard. "Your room is on the top floor at the end of the hall. Good night."

Victor and Midori then went into the elevator, with Midori being the ones to push the buttons.

Both waited patiently as they felt raised up, listening to the nice and relaxing elevator music-

*Never gonna give-you-up! Never gonna let-you-down!*

Victor and Midori had blank expressions.

* Never gonna run-a-round and, desert you!*

"Why do I get the feeling this won't be the last time I hear this?"

Midori nodded.

*Never gonna make-you-cry! Never gonna say-good-bye!*

"Open,open,open,open,open!" Victor thought as the elevator reached their destination.

They rushed out of it and made their way down the hall, letting out breaths of relief.

"That song really annoys me..." Victor muttered.

"Kirl?" Midori glanced up at him.

"Hm? Oh... I don't actually know why." Victor answered, looking rather confused himself. "But... I feel like I've heard it before."

"Kirlia?"

"No, not from that guy's ringtone. I think... maybe even before."

They didn't think much more about it as they made it to the room at the end of the hall.

Midori used his psychic powers to float the keycard to the device over the doorknob. The black cube blinked green and the door unlocked, to which Midori used his powers again to turn the knob and pull the door open.

"Heh, looks like your powers are getting stronger." Victor grinned.

Midori happily smiled as Victor walked into the room, heading right towards the bed.

"Okay, easy now..." He gently placed Marnie on the bed, then getting up and wiping his head. "Phew, there we go."

"Mm..." Marnie grumbled.

"Oh, and perfect timing too."

Marnie sat up and rubbed her eyes, starting to wake up.

"Hm... What... happened?"

It took her a moment to regain her vision, but when she did, her attention was placed on the boy of the room.

"Vic...tor?" She mumbled, blinking a few times before glancing around the room. "Where-?"

"The Budew Inn. You suddenly fainted, so I took carried you to this room." Victor walked back and pulled out a chair from a nearby desk, turning it and sitting down to face Marnie with a look of concern. "How are you feeling? You really surprised Team Yell and I when you fainted."

"When I...?" Marnie mumbled, looking down and rubbing her head to recall what happened.

Which she did.

Her eyes widened and her face turned red, not as red as last time, but still embarrassingly red.

"W-We a-almost k-k-k-!"

"Erm... Was it about when we fell over?" Victor asked while scratching his cheek with an awkward smile.

Marnie flinched, nervously turning to him. "U-Um..."

"From what Team Yell told me and from what I know, you're not used to being around people, right? So I can imagine being that close to someone isn't something you're used to... I'm not either, to be honest. Well, not face to face like that, anyway." Victor awkwardly chuckled.

Marnie looked... calmer, at least. She nervously nodded as she turned her body so her legs hung over the side.

"So... Um, ya... c-c-carried me... h-h-here...?"

"Sure did. Don't worry, you weren't heavy."

Marnie's head poofed in red again and she looked down, feeling her embarrassment grow.

Victor laughed at how adorable she was before standing up and stretching his arms.

"Well, it's really late now, I probably shouldn't stay too long. So I'm gonna head out and find somewhere to sleep. Thanks for the battle Marnie, it was really fun." He smiled.

Marnie fiddled with her fingers, "Y-Yeah... I-It was really fun... Wait, did ya say, find a place to sleep?"

"Yeah." Victor sighed as he strapped on his backpack tightly while Midori stretched his legs a bit. "Turns out this is the last room available in the inn. Don't worry, it's yours."

"Eh!?" Marnie got off the bed and stood up, "W-Wait, then where are ya gonna sleep?"

Victor shrugged, "Well, there aren't any more inns or hotels nearby, so I might just sleep outside somewhere."

"H-Huh? Out... side?" Marnie couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"Yeah, wouldn't be the first time." Victor joked as Midori hopped onto his backpack. "Have a good night, Marnie! I hope you can watch us take on Kabu tomorrow!"

He made his way to the door.

"W-Wait!" Marnie squeaked.

"Hm?" Victor glanced back at her, "What?"

Marnie visibly fidgeted as her eyes looked down to the ground.

"U-Um... Y-Ya c-can... stay here..."

"Sorry, can't do that." Victor immediately waved it off with a blank look. "There's no way I'd take away a girl's place to sleep for my own wellbeing."

Midori nodded proudly with a smile.

"B-But... I'd feel bad to let ya go out there findin' someplace ta sleep so late..."

"Oh don't worry Marnie, I'll be fine-"

"S-So just stay here with me!" Marnie stammered with a yell.

There was an awkward moment of silence, with Victor staring at surprise at Marnie while the girl had both her eyes and mouth wide open as if shocking herself by what she said.

"Um... Are you really okay with that?" Victor tilted his head with a look that didn't seem so sure. "From what I've been told... don't girls find it uncomfortable to sleep in the same room as a boy?"

"W-Well..."

Marnie found herself thinking back to when she was just an even smaller and more precious child. She was sitting beside her older brother, Spikemuth's Gym Leader, Piers, who had much shorter hair at the time. She remembered him having a serious talk with her as she held a recently caught Morpeko in her arms.

"Listen Marnie, whatever you do, you should never ever, and I mean NEVER, sleep alone in the same room with a lad all alone!"

"But what if it's a sleepover?" A five-year-old Marnie asked her older brother.

"Nope, nu-uh, no way. Ya don't know what they'd do. Girls have to be careful when they trust boys, because a lot of times, those boys may be bad."

"B-Bad!? B-But how do ya know how to trust one then!?" Tiny Marnie panicked.

"Easy, you have them talk to me first!" Piers boomed as he pointed a thumb at himself.

Marnie... didn't look so sure about that. "Is that how mum trusted da?"

"..." At the mention of their mother, Piers looked down with his eyes narrowing, then sighing as he rubbed the back of his head. "No... She just said something about looking into his eyes and... finding out just what kind of person he is. I don't really buy that, though."

"Looking... into his eyes?"

Present Marnie raised her head and her face changed back into her usual serious look.

"Eh? What's wrong?" Victor asked, noticing her change in expression.

"Victor... Could you do something for me?"

"Of course!" Victor didn't hesitate, looking pumped up to be of service. "Anything you need!"

Marnie saw a sincere desire to help in Victor's eyes.

"Can you... Just look at me?"

A question mark appeared over both Midori and Victor.

"Eh?"

"J-J-Just for a second!" Marnie quickly added.

"O...kay?"

"There must be a reason, I shouldn't question her."

Marnie stepped forward so she was a few inches from Victor, nervously staring up directly into his eyes as her body shivered.

For now, she only saw a calm but confused look.

"I-I-I... I'm gonna... ask a few things, okay?"

"Alright." Victor nodded.

Marnie gulped.

"A-Are, are we friends?"

"Of course!" Victor answered immediately, his eyes reflecting his sincerity.

Marnie once again felt a warmth from just hearing confirmation.

"O-Okay..." She took a deep breath. "Do you... Do you want to sleep in the same room with me?"

She thought this was the appropriate question to get a clear answer.

Victor smiled, "I want to sleep where it makes you the most comfortable."

"Eh?" Marnie blinked repeatedly when she heard that answer.

She saw Victor's eyes reflect his care and consideration.

"I don't want you to feel bad for me, but I don't want to sleep in the same room if it makes you feel uneasy. I just..."

He shrugged.

"I just want what makes you feel the most relaxed."

Marnie continued to stare up at Victor's eyes, her own eyes suddenly drawn to his by the truth coming from them. They were in silence now, with Victor feeling awkward in his spot but not moving his eyes away.

"E-Eh?"

Marnie felt her heart thumping the more she stared up at Victor's gaze, feeling the heat go into her face.

From what she could tell, there was nothing malicious from him.

"That's right..."

She remembered the things he said before.

"Of course not! There's no way I'd avoid someone like you, Marnie! You're an absolute treasure!"

"If you ever need anything, Marnie, anything at all, then just let me know!"

"Of course! Friends always help each other!"

Marnie looked down, stopping her long period of eye contact with Victor.

"You're... really nice."

Victor's smile grew bigger as he heard such sweet words.

"You are too Marnie, you are too." He chuckled.

Marnie rose her head and formed the smallest of smiles.

"You can stay here. I'd actually be happy if you did. It'll be like a sleepover, hehe..."

"Awwwww..." Victor smiled like he was blessed.

Midori smiled too as he hopped off Victor's backpack and started looking around the room they'd be staying in.

"Wanna go heal your pokemon?" Victor then piped up.

Marnie nodded. "Yeah... Let's go."


~{Motostoke Pokemon Center-12:05PM}~

The Pokemon Center was empty other than one nurse that received Marnie's three pokeballs and two of Victor's Pokeballs, since Midori and Twilight were completely healthy.

"We'll heal your pokemon, Gym Challenger Victor."

"Please just Victor." The boy sighed.

"Oh, alright Victor." The nurse smiled. "Just remember that other services are closed past eleven."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind." Victor nodded.

The nurse turned around to their healing machine and placed their Pokeballs in it. After a few seconds, the signature healing jingle echoed in the Pokemon Center.

"There you go." The nurse smiled as she handed Victor and Marnie their pokemon back.

"Thank you very much!" Victor smiled.

"You're welcome." The nurse smiled, her gaze then going to Marnie.

"Eep!" The nurse flinched when she saw the cold, stoic gaze coming from the girl, feeling as if her soul was being gazed upon.

"W-Well, good night! Good luck on your challenge!" She suddenly retreated through a door that only employees were allowed to go.

"Hm? Why'd she-?" He turned his head and was shocked to find Marnie looking down with a depressed aura around her. "Huh!? What's wrong!?"

"Just... Something I'm used to..." She mumbled.

Victor raised an eyebrow before realizing why the nurse must've run away.

"Oh." He then gave a sad smile. "Don't worry Marnie. Soon everyone will know how great you are."

"Do you really think that?" Marnie asked, glancing up at him and not looking too convinced.

"Of course! Once you make it to the big leagues with me, then more attention is gonna be set on you! Then you'll get even more fans that'll support and love you!"

"L-Like Team Yell?" Marnie asked nervously.

"Er- No, not like them." Victor sweatdropped. "More like all the kinds of fans that all the Gym Leaders and Leon have."

Marnie looked down, thinking about it.

"That's... a nice thought."

"Or if you already want everyone to know how great you are, then just get into an interview! If you express yourself and everyone sees it, then they'll see how cute you are! And everyone loves cute things!"

"Cute!?" Marnie suddenly poofed into red again, this being the second time he called her that.

"Th-Th-Thank you..." She managed to utter out.

"Awww, you're welcome." Victor smiled.

They then headed back to the Inn.

Victor breathed in the midnight air as he stretched his arms up, Midori mimicking his actions behind him. Marnie nuzzled her face against her Morpeko's cheek, both of them visibly happy.

"Oh yeah, speaking of your fans-" Victor turned to Marnie. "I'm actually kind of curious. Team Yell said that Piers actually 'formed' the group. Did Spikemuth's Gym Leader really create a whole group devoted to you? He even endorsed you, right?"

"U-Um, well..." Marnie nervously looked down, lowering her Morpeko from her face. "He's kinda... my brother."

Victor stopped and stared at her with bulging eyes.

"Really!? Piers is your older brother! Oh, that makes so much sense!" He remembered Rose mentioning that Piers endorsed Marnie, he remembered Team Yell saying that Piers created their group for Marnie, and he remembered how afraid the nurse seemed to be of her.

"Yeah... He's a really good brother, but he tends to go... 'overboard' when it comes to me."

They made it to the inn.

"You mean forming Team Yell entirely to support you?" Victor chuckled.

Marnie flushed in some embarrassment, "Y-Yeah... W-Well, I don't know if he entirely created it... But I know they were around ever since I was five..."

"THAT long!?" Victor deadpanned.

They walked through the lobby.

"When I was little... I... I was always pretty shy..." Marnie knew that she also cried a lot, but didn't wanna include that embarrassing part. "But on a certain day, I became... scared."

"Scared? Of what?"

Marnie looked down, and her Morpeko looked up to her with a sad look.

"One time I went outside of Spikemuth because I got curious... Then... I just remember other kids calling me names... Running away from me..."

"Because you were from Spikemuth..." Victor stated with a frustrated sigh.

Marnie nodded, the frustration from Victor actually making her feel pretty happy, just knowing that she had a new friend that understood.

"Yeah... That day had me runnin' back to Piers, crying... And I became scared that people would hate me, that they do hate me, that they might even try to hurt me... And because of that, I didn't wanna talk to anyone."

They reached the elevator but didn't go in. Victor stared at Marnie while the girl had her head down with Morpeko keeping a close eye on her sad expression.

"Mor... Mor." Morpeko nuzzled herself against Marnie, trying to cheer her up.

Marie hugged her tightly and did feel herself lighten up.

"Piers saw just how... 'bad' I seemed. So, he did something earlier than he had been planning to."

"And what was that?" Victor asked as he pressed the elevator button.

Marnie turned her head and looked at Victor, with a tiny smile.

"Awww. I hope I can see her biggest smile one day." Victor hoped.

"Piers caught me my first pokemon." Marnie lifted her Morpeko in front of her, both of them facing each other. "Little Morpeko here."

"Mor! Morpeko!" Her pokemon cheered.

*Ding!*

The elevator door opened, but the group was caught up in their own happiness.

"When I got Morpeko... I was a little scared of her. But then we started playing together, and I became the happiest I've ever been. Heh... Then Piers gathered up everyone in Spikemuth and formally introduced them to me. I never really talked to any of them before because I was too nervous..."

Marnie and Victor didn't seem to care as the elevator door closed again. Victor just had all of his attention on Marnie while the girl stared at him and continued reminiscing.

"They looked pretty scary to me, all of them eyein' me... Then when I finally said hi, pfft-!"

Victor's eyes widened as he heard the tiniest of laughs from Marnie.

"They all instantly melted in front of me... Loved me instantly. It was... surprisin'. And then Piers started ranting on about what a good girl I am an' how he wanted everyone to treat me well. He wanted them to always yell for me, cheer for me, and always support me..."

"And thus... Team Yell was born." Victor thought with a warm smile.

"I ended up playing with Team Yell every day. It was always me battlin' them with Morpeko... Piers ended up noticin' that I was actually a pretty good trainer."

"So then he wanted you to take the Gym Challenge?" Victor asked as he pressed the elevator button again while still keeping his gaze on Marnie.

Marnie shook her head. "Nope, he didn't want me to."

"Eh?"

"Piers didn't really want me takin' the Gym Challenge. He wanted me to take over for him as Spikemuth's Gym Leader... He thinks that I would be a betta person than him."

*Ding!*

The elevator door opened up once again.

"Wait, he really didn't want you to be in the challenge?" Victor repeated in surprise.

Marnie nodded, "Yeah. And for a while, I didn't really wanna leave Spikemuth anyway, so I didn't think too much of it. But..."

"But...?" Victor asked, sticking his hand out and grabbing the doors this time as they started closing again.

Seeing Victor grab hold on the doors, Marnie snapped out of her still state. "Ah! S-Sorry!" She rushed inside the elevator and Victor went in with her, still intrigued.

"You don't have to say sorry. Anyways, you were saying?" Victor asked as he pressed the button for the top floor.

Marnie looked up as she thought about what she was saying.

"Ah, right. So..." The elevator doors closed. "I ended up wanting to take the Gym Challenge when... Piers showed me how Spikemuth used to look."

"Used to look?" Victor's eyes widened, immediately recalling what he was told about Spikemuth before.

Marnie looked unsure if she should say anything.

"U-Um... I-I'm not sure you'll believe me... But Spikemuth didn't always look like the way it does. It-"

"Its Power Spot just... ran out of power, right?" Victor interrupted, knowing fully well what she was going to say.

"Eh?" Marnie and Morpeko turned to him with pure surprise on their faces. "H-How do ya-?"

"The brightest and the loudest place in Galar, a town both prosperous and bright, and popular for both its music and partying." Victor smiled. "I heard about it before."

"I don't know how ya know, since folks don't have any info about it lying around anywhere... But at least that saves me the trouble of explainin'."

*Ding!*

The doors opened up, cueing Victor and Marnie to step out, although both refusing to look away from each other as they talked.

"Piers has a photo album. It's got pictures of how it looked so long ago. It was... beautiful." Marnie seemed to be in a trance as she let out a happy sigh. "It was exactly like ya said. Bright, a lot of partyin', and... so many happy faces of older Team Yell members and people from Galar."

"It really does sound nice." Victor remarked.

"Yeah... So the moment I saw how amazing Spikemuth was before, I wanted to turn back time!"

"Say what now?"

"U-Um, not literally!" Marnie stammered with a small blush. "I decided that I want to breathe back life into ma hometown! Brin' it back to what it was before!"

Marnie now looked rather serious as she and Victor stopped in front of their room door.

"I'm goin' ta become champion and show everyone how amazing Spikemuth is! I'm gonna do whatever it takes to help ma town become as amazin' as back then! Piers knew I wouldn't change my mind, so he just had to endorse me!" Marnie sparkled as she said this while her Morpeko cheered and clapped her little paws together.

"Such a pure goal too!" Victor thought with a bright aura of bliss around him.

"Oh Marnie, if people just realized how cute you are, then they'd probably flood Spikemuth just to see you." He joked.

Marnie's head once again suddenly poofed with her face turning red and steam coming out.

"S-Stop that!"

"Eh? Stop what?" Victor tilted his head with a question mark appearing over it.

"Calling me c-c-c-!" She had her eyes closed as she struggled to get the words out.

"Cute?"

"Y-Yeah!" Marnie stammered.

"Aw, how adorable~" Victor chuckled.

"D-Don't just change the word!"

Morpeko stared with a blank face at Victor teasing her trainer so casually

She... didn't know how to feel about this.


~{A Few Minutes Later}~

Morpeko, Croagunk, and Scraggy all stared at Victor with narrow eyes, keeping their suspicious gazes on him as the faint sounds of the shower rang just behind a closed door.

Victor just stared at them back, his own pokemon already making the corner of the room into like a little fort for them to sleep in. He was sitting on a chair but facing Marnie's pokemon with a big smile on his face, showing no signs of interest that Marnie was showering. He had on a plain gray T-shirt with a Wooloo logo on the center of his chest, dark blue shorts, and had some black sandals too.

"So you've known Marnie ever since she was tiny?" He asked Morpeko, but chuckling at his own rhyme.

Morpeko stood up on the bed and tried looking tough, nodding to answer him.

"And what about you guys?" He referred to Croagunk and Scraggy. "Did Marnie meet you guys in the Wild Area?"

The two of them nodded, still cautiously glaring at him.

Victor stood up while lifting his chair with him, getting close to the bed before sitting down again.

"You guys are awesome!" He exclaimed, making the pokemon tilt their heads. "And our battle was fun, too!"

"Raboot... Raboot..." Ace grumbled, keeping his back to them.

"Heh, heh, Ace seems to be a little sour about getting knocked out pretty hard." Victor giggled, also prompting a rather smug smile from Scraggy.

Ace glanced back with a glare, almost challenging any of them to say something else.

"Oh Ace, you know I love you! And you're just getting stronger from here!" Victor reassured him.

"Hmph..." Ace turned around and crossed his arm.

"Kirl!" Midori hopped onto the bed with the pokemon, a big smile on his face as he said hi.

Croagunk seemed to be the most polite, walking to Midori and offering a handshake, which the Psychic/Fairy type accepted. "Gunk."

Scraggy just did a nod of friendliness for Midori while Morpeko tilted her head at him.

"Oh! That's right! I should formally introduce you guys!"

Victor got up and present Midori.

"You've met Midori, the cheerful Kirla that uplifts my team's spirits!"

Midori smiled as he bowed.

Victor then turned and pointed over at Ace sitting in a cross-legged manner.

"Right there is Ace! My starter and the longest companion I've had for my journey! He may seem moody now, but he's actually a really sweet guy!"

Ace turned back once again with a glare.

Victor then turned the spotlight to Twilight, who was perched on another chair.

"Right there is the proud and serious acrobatic flyer of my group, Twilight!"

Twilight nodded respectfully at them. "Cor."

Victor then twirled before pointing at the last member with him.

"And last, but definitely not least, we've got the lazy and gluttonous powerhouse, Tesla! Say hi, buddy!"

Tesla was still in Victor's backpack, laying on its stomach. "Charja... Charja... Zzzz..."

"..."

"Yeah, he sleeps a lot." Victor shrugged.

Marnie's three pokemon sweatdropped.

"But anyway-!" Victor turned back to the trio, sitting back down on his chair with a big smile. "I hope we can all be friends together!"

Morpeko still looked rather suspiciously at Victor, but Scraggy and Croagunk stopped those hostile looks and seemed to relax a bit, neither one showing reluctance.

They then heard a door unlock and slowly open up, making Victor and Marnie's pokemon turn their heads.

Victor's eyes then widened as he saw something amazing.

Marnie was wearing a onesie that was based on a Scrafty, her hood even being of its head. She shyly put it over her head with her hair still tied up into their usual horned-tufts.

"Damn, I really would've wanted to see her with her hair down, but she looks SO cute anyway with that onesie!"

"U-Um..." Marnie was rather red as she nervously stepped out, clearly looking embarrassed that Victor was staring at what she was wearing.

"Don't worry! Gloria wears one too!" Victor immediately exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "It's cute, amazing, and really comfy! I've put one on before! Be proud of it!"

"C-C-Can ya stop just blurtin' things out like that!?" Marnie stammered in a shy shout.

"Ah, whoops. Force of habit." Victor awkwardly chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Mor! Mor!" Morpeko jumped off the bed and happily ran to Marnie, then jumping up into her arms to be held once again.

"Your pokemon really are amazing." Victor chuckled as he watched the other two jump from the bed and happily gather around Marnie.

"Th-Thanks..." Marnie shyly walked over while hugging Morpeko and sat on the corner of the bed, a few feet in front of Victor.

"But why didn't you give them any nicknames?" Victor tilted his head.

Marnie looked down, "Piers never did name his pokemon, so I didn't either to be like him..."

"But Gym Leaders don't name the pokemon they use because it's a necessary formality." Victor thought. He was about to point this out, but saw how brightened Marnie seemed to look. "Probably shouldn't."

There was then a moment of silence between them, with Marnie looking more nervous as time went by.

"U-Um..." She slowly turned her head and looked at the bed she was sitting on, one that looked to have enough space to fit two people.

She actually felt her heart start to beat faster and faster, rampaging as Marnie thought about sharing a bed.

"W-W-We're gonna be really close..."

She gulped nervously, hugging Morpeko tighter.

"Wh-What if I roll into his side? Wh-Wh-What if HE rolls into my side!? I-I-I don't want Morpeko suddenly attackin' him..."

She closed her eyes as she started turning red.

"Wh-What if my pokemon act like a wall between us? No... Wh-what if one of us rolls on them!?"

"Well, I guess it's time to go to bed... It's really late." Victor sighed, not feeling tired at all.

"Eh!?" Marnie was shocked to hear how calm he sounded about their situation.

"Twilight, turn off the lights please. Then you guys can cuddle around me if you want."

"C-C-CUDDLE!?" Marnie thought.

Victor walked over to his backpack, pulling something out of it.

"Good night, Marnie!" He sounded cheerful, no signs of any nervousness at all.

Marnie finally raised her head with her eyes open, letting go of Morpeko and flailing her arms around in panic.

"W-W-Wait! H-H-How are ya so calm about-!?"

She suddenly stopped her speech and froze when she saw Victor climbing into something.

A sleeping bag.

He stared back at her with a perplexed look, blinking several times.

"Um... You alright?"

Marnie stared directly at him with a completely blank face, only her widened eyes showing some sort of emotion from them. Her three pokemon awkwardly stared up at her, understanding what she was thinking but now seeing that it was not the case.

Ace rolled his eyes, then hopping onto a pillow on the ground and laying his back on it.

"You... okay?" Victor asked Marnie again.

"Y-Y-Y-Y-Yeah..." Marnie stammered out, shaking on her bed when she saw Midori jump with Victor to sleep with him.

"Are you sure? 'Alright' people don't normally stutter like that-"

"I'mokaygoodnightVictor!" Marnie squeaked in one breath, then suddenly diving into her bed and hiding under the covers.

Victor blinked in confusion before Ace sighed, "Raboot. Raboot."

His trainer lightly blushed, "Oh... She thought...? Well... Oh wow, she must've felt really awkward..."

He focused in on Marnie, but saw her three pokemon just kind of give shooing motions to Victor to just go to sleep. The three of them then dug underneath the covers to cuddle up with Marnie.

"They're all so cute." Victor chuckled.

*Click!*

He turned his head as he saw the lights go out, just the moonlight giving some light to the room from the window. He saw Twilight flying back after flicking the light switch, then perching himself onto a chair and relaxing there.

"I guess Twilight and Ace are too proud to sleep with me..." Victor comedically cried.

He felt a tug of his leg and looked down to see Midori smiling while holding a sleeping Tesla behind him.

That made Victor smile.

"Let's get some sleep."

As he was getting into his sleeping bag, Marnie had curled up into a ball and covered her face with both of her hands, steaming up the entire room by how embarrassed she was. Her three pokemon were around her, patting her reassuringly while also couldn't help but enjoy how adorably flustered she was.

"What was I thinkin'!? Of course he wouldn't wanna sleep in the same bed as me!"

She let out a small groan.


~{Meanwhile-Spikemuth}~

Spikemuth was a rocking place.

This was what the seventh Gym Leader, considered the third strongest of Galar, Piers, thought of his home.

He's a slim, pale, and very tired looking man who looked as if he had just woken up due to his droopy cyan-colored eyes with eyeshadow around them. He has long, spiky, black-and-white hair that covers one side of his face and has more of his hair tied into three also black-and-white ponytails.

He had on black and magenta shorts and shirt with the Dark-type symbol of his 'gym' on it. He also wore a cropped white jacket on top that has magenta diagonal stripes on the torso area and spikes on the wrist area. His shoes had heels and are grey with spikes pointing backward on the back of two bands around his shin.

He lightly tugged the collar around his neck with his glove-covered right hand, a collar identical to the one his precious little sister's neck as well.

He lowered his arms and let them hang limply in front of him as he trudged through the old worn-down streets of Spikemuth. He's grown up here for all his life, understanding the passion and excitement that everyone residing brings. He knew that the true beauty of his town was with their people, not the place itself.

Piers looked around at the flickering lights and dark areas. Spikemuth looked like the most suspicious place in Galar, but ironically, it was actually the safest place to be. There was no Power Spot nearby so there wouldn't be any accidental Dynamaxing to wreck the place, and although Team Yell seemed like the could hurt you, the most they'd do was do a pokemon battle and yell at you, but they wouldn't even touch you.

And speaking of Team Yell...

"Piers!"

"Hm?" The glum-looking Gym Leader turned his head back with an apathetic gaze, seeing some of his Team Yell members running towards him in a panic. "What's up with you lot?"

The grunts stopped in front of Piers and started catching their breath as their leader turned to them.

"I-It's a code YELL!" One of the grunts shouted.

Piers sighed as he rubbed his eyes, "I told ya guys that we're not rankin' emergencies based on how loud someone can be... Just tell me what's wrong."

"It's about Marnie!"

Pier's instantly grabbed the male and shook him back and forth with his eyes and mouth widened all the way.

"What's wrong!? Is she hurt!? Where is she!? Why didn't you save her!?"

"Piers! Marnie isn't hurt! She's at that inn in Motostoke!" One of the other grunts shouted.

The panic on Pier's face instantly changed back to his usual unemotional look as he let go of the grunt he was shaking.

"Hm? So what if she's stayin' at an inn? Of course she'd be there to sleep, wouldn't she?"

"B-But she's with a boy!"

"..."

Pier's expression didn't change.

"You wanna repeat that?"

The grunts started spouting out everything one at a time.

"Marnie's staying in a room!"

"She's there with a boy!"

"They're both alone!"

"They're gonna sleep there together!"

Pier's expression now changed to have a bug-eyed look.

"So you're telling me, that Marnie is in a room, sleeping alone, with a boy?"

"Yes!" The grunts shouted in sync.

Piers reached behind him and pulled out his mic stand out of nowhere, his grip tightly twisting on it with both hands.

"WHO is the lad?" Piers' face became shadowed as a black aura burst around him.

"EEP!"


~{Author's Post-Notes}~

(Flying in a helicopter over the city with 4 stars in the corner)

Oooookay, so things escalated pretty quickly. B-But that's not important!

(Maneuvers around gunshots and rockets)

So our boy once again won another match against another strong trainer, but MAN was Tesla just... scary. Let's hope that Scrafty and Morpeko are alright. Oh, and they once again had such another cute moment together, *Squeal!* and boy do I love understandings, hehe. Oho? And what's this!? Piers!? I love that guy! I love his mood and just how amazing he is for the very FIRST Dark-type Gym Leader! Wait, isn't our boy in danger then? Uh oh.

(A rocket hits tail of the helicopter and 5 stars appear in the corner)

AAAAAAH! WHY DID I GET ANOTHER STAR FOR BEING HIT!?

(Helicopter spins and spins all the way into a building, exploding.)