A few weeks had gone by and the senior level students had all gathered at the Battle Court once more. Everyone was looking up at Director Clavell with a great deal of anticipation. Nemona specifically was practically vibrating. Arven and Aubrey couldn't help but laugh a little bit.
"Oh yeeeeeaaah! It's finally happening!" Nemona practically shouted at the top of her lungs.
"We know, Nemona. You're excited for the-" Arven began.
"IT'S THE TREASURE HUNT!" Nemona shouted with glee, cutting off her friend.
"Hey! At least let me finish my sentence!" Arven whined. Aubrey just rolled her eyes as Clavell took the stand.
"Greetings, students. Today is a very special day in the Uva Academy Calendar." Clavell began his speech. "Today marks the beginning of the Great Paldean Treasure Hunt, the greatest assessment of a student's will, strength of character, and battling technique. The rules are very simple. You can go anywhere within the Paldea Region, so long as you avoid the Great Crater and Area Zero. Your main goal is to find your greatest treasure! The one thing that means more to you than anything else. It is your own personal journey of discovery, and it is yours to experience!" Clavell explained the rules of the treasure hunt. He looked to his flock of students. "Now… are there any questions?" Clavell asked. A few hands rose from the sea of students.
"Are we allowed to challenge the Gym Leaders? Battling them would be fun!" A student piped up. Clavell nodded.
"Oh, yes. The Gym Leaders often get challengers from the Treasure Hunt. You are fully permitted to take the Gym Challenge." Clavell answered. "Who else has a question?" Clavell asked.
"Are we allowed to battle each other or go off in groups?" A female student asked. Clavell nodded again.
"It is very likely that students may encounter one another over the course of their travels. Battles and Teamwork are part of the Treasure Hunt, too." Clavell responded.
"There's reports of humongous Titan Pokémon roaming parts of Paldea, guarding very special herbs. Am I allowed to challenge the Titans?" Arven asked with a look of genuine interest. Clavell put his finger on his hairy chin.
"I will permit you to challenge the Five Titan Pokémon, but if you do, I advise extreme caution. Titan Pokémon are very powerful, therefore they are exceedingly dangerous to battle." Clavell granted Arven's request, to which he pumped his fist in the air.
"Alright! Then my course is set!" Arven boldly announced.
"I'm taking on the Gym Leaders for sure!" Nemona replied. Then both of them looked towards Aubrey.
"So what about you? Wanna battle gym leaders with me?" Nemona asked.
"No no no! I need your help taking out the Titan Pokémon first! The gym challenge can wait!" Arven replied with a sharp tone.
"I'll decide for myself, thank you." Aubrey snapped at both of them, uninterested in taking a side at the moment.
"With no further questions… let the treasure hunt officially begin!" Clavell shot off some confetti to announce the start of the treasure hunt. The students all filed towards the exits as Aubrey went to the cafeteria first. She was hungry. Suddenly she got a call on her Rotom Phone. It was from an unknown number. She answered the phone.
"Hey. Who's there?" Aubrey asked in a standoffish manner.
"Greetings. You must be Aubrey Chase. I am Professor Turo, father of Arven. I hear you are a particularly gifted trainer. Is this true?" Turo asked with an authoritative voice.
"So what if I am? What do you want from me?" Aubrey asked in a snappy tone.
"Very simple. I would like to gift you a Pokémon for your transportation around the region. It is a rare Pokémon called Miraidon. While it cannot battle in its current state, it makes for a highly functional bike ride. By taking it, you will be very helpful in my research. Do you accept this gift?" Turo made Aubrey an offer. Aubrey remembered riding her bicycle around Faraway Town, and how it was much quicker than walking. She sighed.
"Alright. I'll take your Pokémon. Where will I find it?" Aubrey asked.
"I already delivered it to Director Clavell's office. He should call you up in a moment's notice." Turo responded. Just then, the intercom came on.
"Aubrey Chase, please report to the Director's Office." Director Clavell spoke over the school-wide intercom.
"That is your cue. I will contact you further if I find anything that piques my interest." Turo left his last message before hanging up. Aubrey walked towards the stairway that led to the Director's Office. Director Clavell was sitting at his desk, holding a special Poké Ball.
"Greetings, Miss Aubrey. I called you here because a dear friend of mine left you a gift." Clavell addressed Aubrey..
"Yeah, I know. Professor Turo called me despite never having my number. He told me about Miraidon." Aubrey responded. Clavell looked her in the eye.
"Then am I to assume you understand the responsibility that comes with having such an important Pokémon?" Clavell asked.
"I promise to take care of Miraidon. It is my policy to treat my Pokémon with care." Aubrey recited her policy. Clavell smiled.
"Then that tells me you're ready to handle Miraidon. Treat it with care, and be very cautious while riding it." Clavell handed Aubrey the Poké Ball with Miraidon in it. Just then, she got another call from a second unknown number. She answered the call.
"Hey. Who's there?" Aubrey asked.
"Hello, Aubrey. I am Cassiopeia, and I have come to inquire about your services." A feminine voice rang out from Aubrey's phone, calling itself Cassiopeia.
"You better have a good reason to call me, then. Go on and spill it." Aubrey spoke in a snappy tone.
"I have no doubt you've heard about Team Star. They are a group of hostile troublemakers bent on fulfilling their own ambitions. I require your help in order to take down the five bosses of Team Star, in order to disband the group. In exchange, I will gift you large amounts of League Points, and my supply unit will gift you materials for Technical Machines. Does that sound like an acceptable offer?" Cassiopeia made her offer. Aubrey smiled proudly.
"Oh, you bet! I'm gonna crush those star punks!" Aubrey proudly accepted the offer. Clavell's eyebrow raised.
"Excellent. I will give you the location of each and every Team Star base. I will call you again when you find a Star Base. Until then, farewell." Cassiopeia hung up as Aubrey put her phone back in her pocket. Then she realized that she never left the office and Clavell was still sitting there.
"Oh… you… probably heard all of that." Aubrey sighed, having been caught red-handed.
"Yes, I did. You, and a mysterious person are conspiring to disband Team Star." Clavell repeated what he had heard. "It is to my understanding that you are at odds with Team Star, correct?" Clavell asked.
"Yep. Can't stand 'em. I'm happy to take my opportunity for revenge." Aubrey stated, knowing she can't hide anything from Clavell now. Clavell nodded in understanding.
"I understand where you're coming from. Team Star has been skipping classes, intimidating other students, and giving the academy a negative reputation. While I do not usually condone seeking revenge, I completely understand your position. So you have my expressed support." Clavell spoke sternly, but with a soft tone. Aubrey's eyes widened in surprise.
"So you're letting me handle those guys?" Aubrey asked.
"Yes." Clavell answered convincingly. Aubrey smirked.
"Thanks a bunch, Director. I'll crush 'em in no time flat!" Aubrey thanked Clavell as she left the office, closing the door behind her. She texted Arven and Nemona, letting them know to let her know if they find a gym or Titan. Her main course had been set. She was hunting down Team Star. Back in the office, Clavell sat with his arms folded.
"Truthfully… I would like to know more about Team Star. I want to know why they resort to intimidation and delinquency as their main form of communication. Something must have happened to them." Clavell thought to himself. "But how can I get close to them without them lashing out at me…?"