[Nate]

After Rosa and Hugh joined Samantha and I, the Galarian trainer led the three of us through the gate - where I think I get a glimpse of the man with a goatee she mentioned - and then onto the route proper. She takes us to a secluded area near a lake where I see patches of burned grass and fractured stones.

"What happened here?" I ask as I look around.

"Welcome to our training spot, Junior," Samantha says as she juggles a Poké Ball in her hand. "This is where we've done our training most of the time. Don't mind the mess, we didn't go as hard as it looks."

Right after saying that, her Poké Ball gets thrown in the air and her Mandibuzz comes out, flapping her wings as she hovers above the four of us.

"Man," she greets us.

"Alright, Crossbones, you know the drill," Samantha tells her. "You keep an eye on the area around and let us know if anyone comes near."

"Man," the Mandibuzz replies, nodding as she flies away.

"You're making her act as a lookout?" I ask.

"Yup. No sense letting those Plasma bastards get the jump on us."

"Let them come," I hear Hugh mutter. "If any of them shows themselves, we'll beat them down like the scum they are."

Geez, man!

"Easy there with the edge, Hugh," Samantha admonishes him. "Your Pokémon is still not that strong. That's why I'm here, remember?"

Hugh lowers his head and lets out a snort, while Rosa glances at him with the corners of her mouth lowered and a less energetic than usual look in her eyes.

If Samantha notices or is even concerned about that, she gives no sign of it. "Now, let's pair up. Hugh, you're with me. Rosa, you and Shane are training with Junior today."

Whatever concerns Rosa was having about Hugh, she instantly perks up again and gives Samantha a thumbs up. "Gotcha, Sam!" She then turns to me. "Alright, what first?"

"Well, uhm…" I look left and right, trying to find a good spot where we won't be in Samantha and Hugh's way. "Let's move there first, alright?"

"Gotcha!"

She follows after me and we walk at a spot near the lake's edge. While we do so, I see Hugh call out his Tepig and Samantha call out some weird Yamask with purple eyes and a brick stuck where its death mask should be.

"Okay, what next?"

Rosa's question brings my attention back to the current situation. "Now, training proper." I grab Mary's Poké Ball and call her out. She waves at Rosa as she materializes and the Aspertia trainer widens her eyes at the sight of her.

"Oh wow, a Marill?" She kneels down and pets Mary's head, my Pokémon looking pleased by that act. "I had yet to see one."

"Mar!" Mary happily says. Something to which I can't suppress a smile.

After she's rubbed Mary's head a little longer, Rosa gets back up and grabs a Poké Ball from her bag. "Let me introduce my Pokémon too. Shane, go!"

The Poké Ball opens up and the beam that comes out forms into a slim form that turns into a sly-looking Grass-type with tiny arms I quickly recognize.

"Snivy."

"Mar!" Mary greets the newcomer, who eyes her suspiciously before responding with a weak salute of his own.

While that happens, though, I become slightly confused. Why did Samantha want me to train Shane with a Pokémon that has a type disadvantage? Sure, I did say my Growlithe was recovering from his injuries and Mister Jaw was needed elsewhere, but Ruffles could have been a better fit with his...type advantage against a much less experienced…

Okay, I think I get it.

So now it's actual training time. Hopefully I've done enough with Dawn and Eugenio to know how to organize this. Although...how different can that be from what Samantha taught her?

"Before we get started, what did Samantha usually have you do?"

The corners of Rosa's smile strain at my question. "Well uhm...it was usually pretty straightforward, She would call out her Obstagoon and Hugh and I would take turns trying to fight him."

...as dumb as I'll sound, I guess now is a good time to ask. "What's an Obstagoon?"

Rosa blinks. "You don't know? She said your dad is her sponsor."

"I, uhm…" I nervously twirl my fingers. "I'm not privy to the details between her and my dad." Should I have been? Is it something that's expected of me? Maybe I-?

"Ah, I get it," Rosa chuckles. "Sorry about the mix-up."

"Anyway, an Obstagoon is a Normal/Dark-type." She crosses her arms in front of her chest. "Big black and white-furred canine with a mischievous face that keeps his tongue out and his arms like this. Ring any bells?"

I shake my head. "Not really, I'm afraid." Though if it is a Dark-type and Samantha mentioned she got her sponsorship because of him...did she have two inexperienced Pokémon face off against a member of her old team?! A team that she made sound Elite Four-level of strong?!

"Did Samantha give you any other instruction besides fighting her Obstagoon? Any pointers on how to improve your Pokémon's fighting skills? Or how to look for your opponent's weak points?"

Rosa shakes her head. And I suddenly feel the urge to drop down and never get up again.

Instead, I let out a sigh. "Okay, first of all, what moves does Shane know?"

"Tackle, Leer, Vine Whip and Wrap."

Oh dear Arceus, Samantha had them go at one of her Pokémon with just that?

Rosa chuckles nervously. "I know it's not much, but Sam said that's all Shane needed for our first Gym."

I really should have asked what training she put the two of them through before this.

"Well, she's not wrong per se," I tell her. "However, did she give you any - and I mean any - hint as to how best to apply those moves?"

It's basically the same question as before, so I shouldn't be so surprised Rosa shakes her head again. "Not really. All she said was 'fight and you'll figure out what to do in no time'." The corners of her mouth tense up. "I'm ashamed to say this, but I never did."

I'm so gonna have to ask Samantha how she trained back in Galar.

"Ok, let me see how you go about fighting," I tell Rosa as I step back from the two Pokémon. She follows my example right after. "We are gonna have our two Pokémon fight. I hope you won't mind if I'm...less hands-off than Samantha."

She bumps her fists. "Not at all!" she replies before turning her attention to her Snivy. "Ready, Shane?"

"Sniv," the Grass-type replies as he takes a few steps back himself. Mary, on the other hand, turns around to me and gives me a worried expression.

"Don't worry, this will go well," I try to reassure her. She doesn't say anything, but she also steps closer to me.

Alright. I hope I know what I'm doing here.

"You first," I tell Rosa.

"Gotcha! Shane, go with Vine Whip!"

"Sniv!" the Snivy answers as he summons two long vines from his body and sends them against Mary.

"Mary, Aqua Jet out of the way!"

"Mar!" my Pokémon instantly replies as water envelops her and she uses it to propel herself out of the vines' range.

Despite that initial failure, Shane doesn't desist and keeps trying to whip Mary with his vines, but every time she uses Aqua Jet to move out of the way. While that happens, I notice Rosa biting her lips more and more as Shane keeps missing.

Uhm...what do I do?

"Try to use the vines separately," I tell Rosa, who turns to look at me confusedly. "Shane's got two at his disposal, there's no reason to use them as one."

Arceus, what am I even saying?

Despite probably making little sense to her, Rosa widens her eyes for an instant and then nods to me. "Gotcha!"

"Shane, hold a vine back! Keep attacking with the other!"

Well, that went better than I thought.

Shane follows her trainer's instructions and his next attack is with just one vine. Mary still manages to conjure an Aqua Jet and avoid it, though.

"Now go with the other!"

Uh-oh.

Just as the water around Mary dissipates, Shane's second vine comes down right on top of her, and before I can tell her to move out of the way, the vine whips her belly.

"Mar!" Mary protests as she massages her belly.

"Yes, we did it!" Rosa cheers, hands raised to the sky. "We managed to land a hit!"

Samantha's Obstagoon was so tough she couldn't even land a hit?

Well, at least I'm glad my ramblings were able to help her somewhat. It's not the most optimal use of Vine Whip, but it's progress.

"Thank you!" Rosa says.

"I didn't do all that much," I tell her. "I just gave you a suggestion and you figured out what to do from there."

"I still wouldn't have come up with that without you!" She gives me a double thumbs up and closes her eyes as her smile broadens. "Thank you!"

"It's really not that big of a deal," I insist. "Honestly, you are picking up on things faster than I did when I started."

"Well, I'm also not starting on my own. I have you and Sam and Hugh to help me out."

"I wasn't alone eit-"

"Just keep training you two!"

We both turn to Samantha, who is currently looking away from her Yamask wrestling with Hugh's Tepig to give us a side glance. I manage to pay just the barest of attention to how intensely Hugh is watching the fight.

"S-sorry."

"Yeah, sorry about that, Sam," Rosa chuckles nervously. "We'll get back to it."

Samantha responds with a small nod. "Good."

As she returns her gaze to the other two fighting Pokémon, Rosa lets out a chuckle. "So, what's next?"

Uh…"I guess just keep at it for now?"

"Sure thing!"

The exercise from that point on proceeds pretty much in the same way, Shane keeps attacking with his Vine Whips and Mary keeps using Aqua Jet to get out of the way. Sometimes Shane manages to land a hit and sometimes he doesn't, but Rosa at least always comes with a new tactic to use with the two vines.

"Yes, that's good," I say while that goes on, Rosa smiling as I do so. After a bit of that, though, a thought comes to my mind. "Say, while we're here, do you want to call out any other Pokémon you have? This would be a good time for them to train too." I don't know if I'm good enough to handle two at the same time, but-

"I'm afraid I don't have any other," Rosa replies. "Just Shane."

Really? "In that case, do you have any plans on catching any?"

"Uhm.." Rosa hesitates for a moment. "Actually, Sam suggested I don't for now."

What?

"She said that if I train Shane hard enough, beating my first Gym should be doable even if outnumbered."

What?!

"That's an absolutely terrible idea." It comes out harsher than I intended and Rosa winces as a result. "Take it from me, no Gym is a walk in the park. Facing them with an actual team instead of just one Pokémon will improve your chances."

"Funny," I hear Samantha say from the side. Turning around, I see she hasn't turned away from the other two Pokémon this time. "From what I remember, only your Rufflet pulled his weight against Burgh."

"That's not true," I protest. "Mister Jaw was knocked out because I hesitated."

"But that didn't stop your Rufflet from winning, did it?"

...I can not deny that.

"Look, not catching anything for now is fine by me," Rosa intervenes. "I haven't decided on whether to assemble a multi-type team or go type-specialist yet. I would like some time to decide."

And I can't argue with that.

"Alright, alright," I concede. "In that case, let's focus on making your Snivy as strong as he can be, okay?"

"Sure thing!" Rosa chirply replies.

I hope I don't regret this.

Our training session goes on for a couple of hours. Shane shows some noticeable improvements to how he uses Vine Whip, though I'm convinced he's gonna need to learn some new moves before long.

My observations aside, being like this, just me and a fellow trainer having our Pokémon spar, feels…good. Better than anything I've felt in the last few days. I know it's only a distraction from the bigger stuff that's going on, but still.

We stop only when Samantha decides to call off the training session, which is the exact moment when I notice it's grown dark around us. Dark sooner and chiller than it did just days ago at this hour. Both signs that we're approaching winter.

Hard to believe so much has happened in just a couple of months.

In any case, Samantha leads the way back to Aspertia's gate and into the city. However, we only manage to take a few steps in before a buzzing sound greets us.

"Vib!" Mister Jaw says as he flies toward us. As I see him do that, I instinctively raise an arm and let him land on top of it.

"Whoa!" Rosa exclaims as she and Hugh watch him. "What's that?"

"My Vibrava," I reply. "Guys, meet Mister Jaw."

"Vib."

As I give that answer, Hugh narrows his eyes. "This is your Pokémon? Where was it all this time?"

Uh...I, uhm…what should I tell him?

"Getting his wings checked out," Samantha replies. "Trust me, they looked like crap when he showed him to the nurses."

Wait, what?

Hugh arches an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything about Samantha's lie. Rosa, on the other hand, approaches me and my Pokémon.

"Really? You poor guy." I freeze in place when she stretches a hand out. "I hope you're doing better no-"

Just as she's about to pat his head, Mister Jaw bares his fangs and lets out a threatening hiss. Rosa winces at his display, while I pale.

"S-sorry," I say. "He...doesn't like being touched. Especially on the head."

"Oh! Uhm…" she lets out a nervous chuckle as she looks at Mister Jaw again. "Sorry about that."

Thankfully, Mister Jaw relaxes at her apology.

"Well if that's done, I think this is the part where we separate for today," Samantha intervenes, turning to Rosa and Hugh. "Same time and place tomorrow, alright?"

"Sure." Rosa winks. "See ya tomorrow!"

"Yeah, see you," Hugh snorts.

As Samantha and I watch the two walk back the same road they came from earlier, we also wait for them to be out of earshot. When they are, Samantha turns to Mister Jaw. "Have you found where the creep resides?"

Mister Jaw tips his head. "Vib."

"Good. Mind showing us the way?"

Mister Jaw turns his gaze to me.

"Don't worry, we're not getting into a fight this time. We just want to see so we can report it to the police." At least, I hope that's what Samantha has in mind. Though the fact she doesn't say anything about that isn't really reassuring.

Nonetheless, Mister Jaw lets out a huff and then takes off again. He flies a short distance away from us and then stops in the air, waiting for us as his wings flap together. We both take the hint and start following him.

When our walk through the city's streets begins, neither Samantha nor I really say anything to each other. It's just silence save for the buzzing sound made by Mister Jaw. Though as the walk proceeds more and more, I'm unable to keep up the silence.

"So...Rosa told me a bit of how you trained her and Hugh during these days."

Samantha lets out a snort. Though I can't say if it's amused or annoyed. "Yeah, I can imagine she did. What about it?"

"Wasn't using a Pokémon from your original team a little excessive? I mean, they are both beginners and you-"

"Why do you think you're here?"

Huh? "What do you mean?"

"When we started," she huffs out, "I thought the fastest way to make them strong was making them face an opponent they couldn't really beat yet. An obstacle they would feel motivated to overcome through their hard work." She shrugs. "Suffice it to say, Hugh seemed to respond well to my approach. Rosa…" She shrugs. "Not so much. Furthermore, even Hugh seemed to grow frustrated with Crasher after a while."

Who?

"At first, I thought they just needed to toughen up. But when things didn't improve…" She trails off momentarily. "Well, let's just say a jackass I know sometimes says something right."

My brow furrows. "Such as…?"

"Doesn't matter," she scoffs. "In any case, when I realized my methods weren't going to work, I decided to call Wes for help. You know the rest."

Yeah, I suppose I do.

Just as silence seems about to come between us, I decide to ask something else. "Say...that Pokémon you were training Hugh's Tepig with. It was a Yamask, right?"

"Galarian Yamask," she corrects me. "Don't forget what my terms with your dad are."

Ah, right. Regional variant. "Then what type is it? What happened to its death mask? And what's with the brick?"

"Ghost/Ground, I don't know and it's part of him."

Uh...what? "What do you mean 'part of him'?"

"All Yamasks in Galar have a 'brick' attached to them," she answers curtly. "That's all I know. You can check the Porygonet if you want to know more."

...okay, I guess?

With that particular topic proving useless for conversation, I'm left with just one more thing to ask, "Say, I didn't ask before and it didn't come up with Rosa today, but how much do she and Hugh know?"

"Not much."

I wince. "Not much?"

"As far as they know, I was called to be their guard since they're new trainers and Team Plasma is afoot once more. Since there aren't other new trainers, it didn't take much to convince them."

"Uhm...you do know all this is because Rosa-?"

"Yes, yes, she's some sort of chosen one for whatever version of our world your friend Eugenio is accustomed to. The girl doesn't need to know that. At best, it'll get to her head. At worst, it'll cause more worry than there needs to be."

"And Gym leader Cheren-?"

"He wanted to tell her the truth, but I managed to dissuade him. Had to convince Wes to twist his arm a bit, but it worked."

I frown at her. However, before I can say anything, Mister Jaw stops mid-flight. As I turn to watch where he's looking, I realize we're at the edges of the city, grass showing itself past the sidewalk we're standing on and trees and bushes not much further.

I blink at the vegetation in front of us. What are we doing here?

"Did your Pokémon just get us lost?" Samantha asks.

Mister Jaw turns around and glares at her. "Vib!"

"Then would you explain to me why the hell you brought us here?!"

I don't like her using that tone with him, but I have to agree that this looks like we went the wrong direction.

In response to Samantha's question, Mister Jaw flies higher up, staring down at the two of us. What is he trying to tell us?

"Is there something we need to see from above?"

He tips his head.

"Fine," Samantha groans as she calls out Crossbones. "Your bug had better know what he's doing."

"Actually, he's a dragon." I checked that shortly after he evolved. It's weird since he looks like a Bug-type and can mate with Bug-types, but-

"Don't care," Samantha replies before her Mandibuzz activates Fly and she gets on her back. "Hop on."

I blink in confusion. "But your Pokémon-"

"Is strong enough to carry both of us for a short while. Now hop on!"

I offer no further protest and just get behind her. Crossbones takes off and follows Mister Jaw as he flies over the forest. Despite Samantha's earlier words, the Mandibuzz has to proceed slowly, so much so Mister Jaw has to stop to let us catch up to him a couple of times. She still manages to fly steadily, but I don't know how long that will last.

Thankfully, it isn't too long before Mister Jaw stops moving. Less thankfully, what he stops to look over is a much less good omen.

Within a clearing amidst the trees, there is a circle of tents around what seems to be an unlit fire pit. There are a few people walking within the would-be camp, all wearing a very familiar uniform. And even if they weren't, I can see an unmistakable P-shaped logo on some of the tents.

"They're here," I murmur. "Team Plasma is here."

"I can see that," Samantha growls.

Oh this is bad. Really, really bad. If all this time they've been here and watching over Rosa, they must have prepared some kind of plan. What are we-?

"Okay, let's get back for now," Samantha says. "We've gotta tell Cheren. He'll figure out what to do from here."

It takes a moment for her words to register. "Right."

Crossbones turns away from the Plasma camp and flies us back to Aspertia, Mister Jaw by our side all the way.

Kept you waiting, huh? Sorry about that, but I was trying to organize a backlog before pubblishing anything again. Why do you ask? Given the way uni is eating at my free time, I decided to make it so I upload a chapter once every two weeks, so I keep things organized for both you and myself.

That said, hope you guys enjoyed Nate taking a crack at being a mentor. And that the way I write Rosa and Hugh is to your liking :)

Thank you to Softandhappy and Krosrodes for betareading. You can find us at the Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a

See you all in a couple of weeks!