Shorter chapter this time, but I hope you all enjoy this.

Route 3

"Ah, nice breeze." Victor comments, as he and Marnie start off on the Route. Marnie nods, it's nice to be out in nature rather than the hustle and bustle of a city. Walking out a bit, they soon come across an interesting flower-looking Pokémon. As the wind blows around the area, this Pokémon sings a joyous song, which sounds pleasing to the two trainers.

"I almost feel like catching and raising it." Marnie comments.

"A cute Pokémon like that?"

"I don't know about cute, but it makes nice music." That surprises Victor. "I can like different types of music!" Marnie huffs. She may appear to have specific tastes, but there's more to her than many might initially judge her as.

But while they chat, they are attacked by that flower Pokémon!

"Geez that thing was aggressive." Victor comments after defeating it.

Today they learned not to drop their guard.

A little further ahead, they run into a few trainers. Quick wins by Victor and Marnie, the two of them taking turns battling. Marnie comforts a schoolchild named Hannah, since they essentially took her lunch money.

Afterwards, Marnie's attention is focused on some black and white colored racoons that trot over to them. She feels like interacting with them, but holds back because that might give something away about herself. Victor doesn't hesitate, he instead begins playing with them.

"You like these Zigzagoon's?" Marnie questioned, oddly interested in his opinion. "Or do you prefer the other Form of them?"

Victor laughs while picking one of them up, and it licks him. "I like our region's more, they seem cooler. For some reason, I think I relate more to these than the other region's ones!" That gets a warm smile from Marnie.

Up ahead, they can see a very familiar professor in training, Sonia. "Heya, you two! Ooh, out here for some alone time?" She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

"Or our Gym Challenge." Marnie replies, in a monotone.

"You're no fun." Sonia pouts. "Anyway-"

*One chin-wag later about the region*

Leaving, Sonia gives them an Escape Rope, and takes another opportunity to tease them. After battling a postman, they then come across a girl named Becca, and the tent she's set up. A meal sounds good right about now, after those battles, and Morpeko getting hangry. Becca has several small Pokémon in her party, including a Yamper, making the duo wonder if it's really Sonia's, and that she might be hiding in a bush nearby, watching them.

But it's a time for celebrating, since Victor's Sobble and Rookidee have evolved. Even though she's happy about watching Victor get stronger, Marnie wonders if she's getting left behind...

After the wonderful meal, they bid Becca adieu, taking one more little kid's Poké along the way to a sign mentioning a mine ahead.

Galar Mine

Inside the mine, they can see all kinds of rock-type Pokémon. Walking around, a living mine cart takes off across the track in here, enjoying itself. So Victor stands on the tracks.

"Shouldn't we keep going?" Marnie asked.

"Hold on, I'm gonna see what that thing was."

One battle later, Victor sweated. "Whoa, that Carkol was tougher than I thought..."

Marnie shook her head, "I hope we don't get in trouble with Chairman Rose, you essentially just attacked a Pokémon that was probably working."

"...you think so?" Victor sweated. Marnie shrugged. "Eh, then he probably won't like that I took this." Victor then showed a chuck of shiny diamonds and jewels that he had swiped from a nearby mining cart.

"Victor!" Marnie said. "When'd you become such a criminal?" He laughed and shrugged. "Well..." Marnie started, then turned away from him, so that she could look over her shoulder at him, with a bit of a smirk from what little he could see. "That's a new one from you. Not bad..." She then started to walk away. That left him wondering what that was about. But he knew from the growing grin on his face, he kinda liked it...

Battling their way through the mine, and collecting a few items lying around for the taking, they can see that strange boy from Motostoke. Getting near him, they can hear him taunting them from across the room. They ignore his words, only stopping briefly for Victor to defeat him. Despite him arrogantly not even telling them his name, they somehow know that his name is Bede. Maybe they figure out his name from the odd song playing in the background while the two boys battle. Ever so not gracious in defeat, Bede takes one last opportunity to insult the pair, before taking his leave.

"He seems... pleasant." Victor comments.

"Different strokes, I suppose." Marnie replies. "Oh well, let's not waste any more time worrying about him."

With that, they finished the mine, and head outside, the first Gym looming in the distance.

Not so much happened, I had to make up some stuff just to fill out these two areas.

The next chapter will be a bit different.

See you all next time!