Author's Note: Ha ha, so I've been really balking at this because I've never written something followed this closely and the pressure is real! But I have a plan to wrap this story up and move on to another piece to fill more gaps. Sorry it's so short, writing battles is not my favorite thing but I tried to pay dutiful attention to accuracy. Thanks all!

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The day had come, and most of Iki Village turned out for the battle between the ex-Skull admin and Kahuna Hala. People were curious to see just how strong a member of Team Skull could be. Even if she was one of the leaders, they were just a bunch of hapless dimwits, right? But she'd won so many challenges already! And the looks she could cast at them were so unnerving! They'd already gotten many glimpses of her as she passed in and out of Hala's lodge to visit her former boss. If the large audience bothered Plumeria, she didn't show it as she waited impatiently for her test to begin.

In that crowd stood Guzma and Kukui, side by side. It had been awkward at first, but Guzma knew he needed to be by SOMEONE who could tolerate him if he was going to watch this battle, and once Kukui got Guzma going about how tough Plumeria was, he talked his ear off. It was enough to distract him from the fact that everyone in the crowd was giving them wide berth. Whatever had happened in the last few days may have tugged at the kahuna and the professor's heartstrings, but the townsfolk were no closer to trusting the towering, scowling young man who still wore a jacket with the Team Skull logo exed out. That didn't bother Kukui though; he was just happy Guzma was tolerating his presence like the good old days.

Finally both challengers took to the stage. Hala's easy-going smile contrasted Plumeria's intense determination as they squared off. "Plumeria, I look forward to seeing what you can do. I'd tell you to bring everything you've got, but I don't think that will be necessary."

"No way. I've worked too hard for this." She held out her arm, Pokeball gripped in her hand. "This is my chance to make something of myself, and I won't waste it!" Without further warning, she sent out her Crobat. "For me and for all of us in Skull, I can't lose here!"

"You tell 'em, Plumes," Guzma murmured in approval, clenching his fists.

"A Crobat! My, she's going for the kill!" Kukui observed. He appeared to already be hyped up for the battle, eyes shining in excitement. "But to even have a Crobat is no easy feat; they start off relatively weak and can only reach that third form through close bonds with their trainers…"

"Damn right. Plumeria worked hard to raise that Crobat from a Zubat. They are close, though not as close as me an' Golisopod of course." Kukui admired the look of pride Guzma wore while simultaneously feeling jealous of Plumeria. Instead of creating rivalry, Guzma saw her as a friend. Instead of downplaying her accomplishments, he praised them. Would he ever be anything but a rival, or had he lost his chance of being his friend long ago? Guzma's side glance caught him off guard, and he blushed. "I'm sure the old man's got a trick for that obvious type advantage though. He always does."

"What else does she have up her sleeves?"

Guzma laughed. Granted, it wasn't a full laugh, more like a deep chuckle, but it still sounded foreign and absolutely welcome. "I ain't tellin' ya squat, Kukui. Let Mr. Move Fanatic find out for himself. All I'll say is that it will be kick-ass."

And it was. Crobat made short work of the purely fighting-type Hariyama, but Hala must have anticipated her type advantage, because his next Pokemon was the part ice-type Crabominable. As swift as Crobat was it couldn't handle the ice attacks. Plumeria then countered with her trusty Salazzle. Again, Kukui whistled in appreciation. "A female Salazzle is difficult to get! Only 12.5% of the population are female…"

"Her pride and joy," Guzma nodded, then he frowned. "But that's her strongest. Makes me wonder what she's got as her third. No doubt Hala's gonna use his Poliwrath to clean up Salazzle once it finishes Crabominable. And that's provided Salazzle can get in with its fire moves before Crabominable can land Earthquake…"

Kukui stared. "You have this whole battle mapped out in your head, don't you?"

Guzma scoffed, as if offended. "And you don't, Move Expert? We've both studied under Hala long enough to know his strategies. Unless you were hit by those Rockruff too many times and lost too many brain cells?"

"Tch." Kukui shrugged, unsure how to respond. He'd always assumed Guzma hadn't been listening, with his flippant comments and arrogant manners. "I guess you were paying attention after all."

"Everything. To beat him, I had to know everything." Guzma's deep frown was only broken by Salazzle punishing the crab Pokemon swiftly and brutally with flamethrower, to which he gave a holler of approval. The lizard's speed had given it the edge.

Fault him his many faults, but it could not be said Guzma was lazy in his pursuit of his ambitions, Kukui realized. And maybe…maybe he really did have a natural talent for battle. He blinked at the thought, not even watching as Hala called out the very Poliwhirl Guzma had predicted. Maybe focusing on bugs was the reason he was unable to beat his peers at the time, before they'd gotten the chance to fully mature. It made him idly wonder what would happen if they had an honest rematch now. The thought would have to wait; who knew what Guzma would do if he lost the way he was at the moment?

The audience held its breath as Poliwhirl bombarded Salazzle with Waterfall. It had managed to throw up a barrier with Protect for the first assault, but as soon as it failed, the result was predictable. Guzma looked around and rolled his eyes. The citizens of Iki Town were unaccustomed to such heated battles; normally they were the starting point for a trainer's journey, not the end.

Guzma, however did not hold his breath for Plumeria. He saw that smirk on her face, and he mirrored it on his own. "You gonna show me how you've raised that Mareanie of yours, Plumes?" he muttered intently. "It had better be a Toxapex by now if you wanna stand a chance. And if it is, the battle is a dead heat. If you picked the right moves, you can win it." Kukui just stared in further awe at Guzma's analysis, even more so when a Toxapex emerged from her Pokeball. "Now, Hala's gonna use his Z-move because he can't go a damn battle without using it. Won't matter much on Toxapex, but if Plumeria brought her Poisinium and reciprocates, that tips the scales…" The next two moves were exactly as he said. Toxapex then landed a poison jab, only to be countered by Payback. "Tch, the only move Poliwrath's got that can seriously threaten her."

"Will she make it?" By this point Kukui was ready to believe any prediction Guzma came up with.

"Depends on this next move. It will decide everything. The question is, what other moves did she teach it…"

The answer was Recover, and as soon as she announced it, the white light emanating from her Pokemon's body, Guzma whooped unashamedly. "You've got this Plumes, go for the kill!"

And within another turn the battle was over in Plumeria's favor.

Guzma was cheering in stark contrast to the polite clapping of the rest of the villagers. He knew they were in shock at the turn of events, that they'd underestimated his best friend. In fact, he was the only one cheering with the exception of one female-sounding voice. Wait… His eyes darted around, scanning the crowd again more intently. He knew that voice.

There. In the way back, blending in half with the crowd, half with the vegetation, utilizing her talent at being invisible, was Alondra. No wonder he'd missed her with scanning the first time. She was off guard now, and he stared at how happy she was. It was so different from the last time he'd seen her, and the brave little smile she'd put on when they'd parted. It made him inexplicably happy that she was so invested in cheering on Plumeria. He left Kukui's side without a word, not parting the people of the crowd as much as they parted to give him room. She wasn't so caught up in her joy that she didn't notice. Her eyes met his and widened nervously. Shoot. Was he scowling as he often was, freaking her out? It made him double-check his own expression as he arrived in front of her.

"Ya came," he observed simply, stuffing his cast-less hand in his pocket, and feeling vexed he couldn't do the same with the other.

Alondra blushed. "I know she's mad at me for what I did, but…I've wanted to see her win this battle since I got to know her a week ago. I want her to have everything she couldn't have before, and…" She stopped, ducking her head. "No, I'm sorry. It is not my place."

He didn't know what possessed him just then, but the hand in his pocket left in search of her wrist. "Come on over here. Let's show her her fan club together, huh?" Before the shy girl could react, she was being dragged back to Guzma's spot next to Kukui. They arrived just in time to see Plumeria imitating Hala's Normalium activation technique. When the professor noted Alondra's presence, his eyebrows raised.

"Alondra? Glad to see you. You here to support Plumeria?" She just nodded meekly.

"Don't let her fool ya, she was makin' a fine racket when the match was decided," Guzma added pointedly. When she looked at his face for a sign, the corner of his mouth turned upwards slightly, but just enough that she could tell. The tension in her shoulders eased somewhat as she gave a small smile of her own.

"I may have gotten a bit carried away…it was a great match!"

"I couldn't agree more. What incredible moves on both sides! And even more amazing, Guzma calling them ten steps before they happened!"

Now it was Guzma's turn to go red in the face. "Jeesh, more like five, don't go crazy exaggerating!"

"I believe it. He's an awesome battler! He should really take on the Battle Tree!"

If it was possible, the shade of red on his face turned even deeper at her sincere assessment. "I've got Po Town to fix!"

All smiles faded at the memory of the task before Guzma and Team Skull. "True. But then you'd have something to look forward to afterwards, right?"

"Yer always such an optimist. Ugh." Guzma rolled his eyes, regaining control of the conversation.

Just then, Plumeria interrupted them. "Hey Guz, heard you screaming for me. Was it good?" The young woman was descending the stairs of the platform, blocking out anyone else in the sea of slowly dispersing people. Even slouching, the tall, black-clad Guzma was easy to find.

"Plumes, it was the bomb!" Guzma held out a fist to fist-bump her, only to hiss in pain when he realized he'd forgotten about his stitches. She shook her head, but still grinned. "Ya owe Toxapex some Pokebeans."

"For sure. He was clutch!"

"That was definitely a killer battle Plumeria. Congrats on finishing your Grand Trial!" Kukui interjected, beaming his typical goofy expression.

"Thanks, Prof. For coming out here to watch and all that."

Finally, she noticed Alondra, who was shrinking behind Guzma to avoid scrutiny. Plumeria's yellow eyes narrowed. "And I suppose you came to watch too?"

"Y-yeah. I couldn't not support you! I was cheering for you the whole way!" Alondra attempted lamely.

Plumeria stared for a moment, reading all the nerves in the girl's features, the insecurity of her body language. "Is that so?"

"Her cheering was second only to me, Plumes," Guzma informed, casting his friend a look.

After another awkward moment, Plumeria sighed. "Thanks. I know it took guts to show up. I'll catch up with you later, okay? I've got to get my team to the Pokemon Center."

"Okay!" she blurted, nodding vigorously. Smirking yet again, Plumeria turned and left the group, the area now cleared of any traffic. It felt like a weight had been lifted, even just a little bit. Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow could be a normal day.