As they approached the East Gate their phones started ringing, as Arven called.
"Hello? This is Chloe and Ashley's phone right?" he asked, "It's me- Arven! I was a bit worried about whether or not you'd manage to set out yet."
"We're almost to the east gate now," Ashley answered.
"Great!" Arven said, "that means you are not far from the area where the stony Cliff Titan is said to make its lair. Stories say it clings to cliffs-practically becomes part of the stone-then attacks from above! Though… maybe don't be staring up overhead all the time looking forma Titan, only to go tumbling off some cliff you didn't see. If that ever does happen, youncan open your map app and call yourself,a Flying Taxi to pick you up. Some of those rocky areas are like a real maze, so try not to,get lost little buddy. And if you find a Titan let me know!"
With that they headed out, while Chloe explained to Penny about the Titans. Meanwhile they arrived out, and searched the area, defeating Martina the Student, Backpacker Samuel, Alicia the Musician, and Arnau the Poke Maniac, before healing at the Pokecenter and continuing on as Arven called again.
"Hey Chloe! Ashley!" he said. "So, from what I can gather, the Stony Cliff Titan likes to lurk somewhere in this rocky area. I had a look around, but I couldn't find any trace of it! Maybe it's way up high on a cliff or something?… nah, that's impossible! I don't think it would be hiding somewhere that tricky, so don't go falling off any cliffs or anything trying to search it out somewhere too strange. Maybe just give your map app a look if you're feeling stumped? It's pretty handy!"
"At least he is helpful," Ashley said to Chloe and Penny who were in the backpack looking out as they continued searching the area.
They then continued on facing Severino the Office Worker, Benjamin the Student, Laura the Artist, Noelie the Musician, Andrea the Model, Cristina the Student, and Amaia the Student, evolving Sprigatito into Floragato and getting a Shell Bell from the pokemon League rep by the pokemon center.
Eventually they went through a Canyon, as Ashley's ears flicked.
"There!" Chloe said, "on the cliff!"
Looking at the cliff Ashley saw a giant Klawf crawling over the cliff, where she followed it before she got off Miraidon and Chloe got out the bag, as it jumped off the cliff and landed in front of them to battle.
They had to dodge a Rock Smash while Floaragato used Leafage, and Chloe's Ralts used confusion, Fuecoco, being weak to rock types and Klawf being a rock type which commonly know ground type attacks meant Pawmi might be at one as well. Luckily Leafage was super effective and almost knocked it out then due to also being critical, with confusion finishing it off, or at least causing it to head back to where they first saw it. Only for them to follow it just in time to see it break open the entrance toma cave and start to eat something as Arven ran up.
"Ashley, Chloe! You found it?!" he said in shock. "And THAT thing's the Stony Cliff Titan?! No Klawf has got any business being that big! Is it gonna be even stronger now, after eating those herbs...? Let's watch ourselves, you two."
The Titan Klawf then released a beam of energy as it began to glow as it powered up, and attacked Arven as he was talking, only for Penny to jump out of the bag and block it's Vice Grip attack with the Trailblaze attack she learned from TM.
"What the!" Arven said, "where did you come from? And thanks though why are you wearing a uniform like Ashley."
"Her name is Penny," Ashley said, "an accident in Technology 101 turned her into an Eevee and she was accidentally caught by my pokeball. She made modifications to my bag so others could comfortably travel inside it while I'm wearing it, and was testing it out."
"I may not do well with crowds," Penny added to Arven's surprise. "But when I saw that attack coming and you not paying attention I couldn't just let it hit you could get badly hurt. So I will fight. Ashley Terastallize me. I think it would be good to find out what my Tera Type is and I know Tera Blast, so no. After what type it is I can take advantage of it if it is super effective. If not I still have Trailblaze, and Double Kick."
"Right!" Ashley said Terastallizing Penny as Chloe sent Ralts back out and Arven sent out Shellder. Penny was then covered in crystal's with a blue tint, compared to Ashley's pinkish tint crystals and what looked like a crystal water spout coming from the top of her head. "Looks like you are a water type."
"Good, that is Super effective," Penny then used Tera Blast causing blue blasts of energy to rain down on Klawf and dealing a lot of damage, unfortunately activating its Anger Shell Ability, and it did a massive amount of damage before Ralts held it in place briefly with confusion so Shellder could use water gun to the face to stun it, then Penny finished it off with another Tera Blast.
"We did it!" Ashley cheered. "Thanks Penny."
"Your welcome," Penny painted.
"All right!" Atven cried. "Look at you three, coming through like a champ! But these Titan Pokémon are… yeesh. I sure don't like having something so tough out to get me!"
Arven then walked to the entrance of the revealed cave. "I bet somewhere in here there's more of that Herba Mystica the Titan was eating. Quick, let's have a look around before it comes back!"
They then entered the cave where they found Sweet Herba Mystica.
"YES! We actually found one! And it's all thanks to you three!" Arven said, taking out a book. "Now then, let's see… what does the book have to say? It says here that Sweet Herba Mystica is good for gut health, and that it helps aid digestion. Says it's great for stomach aches too or when you want to stimulate the ol' appetite! All right! Now it's my turn to show off what I can do. You're about to get a taste of my cooking!"
With that Arven set up a Picnic right there and made a sandwich using the Sweet Herba Mystica for each of them. "Here you go! An Arven-original sandwich packed full of herbs! And I'll even give you three a badge- y'know, as a thank-you for taking on that Titan Pokemon. I call it a Titan Badge. Made it myself, using a replica of the Gym Badges see? Made more than enough for all of us."
They were about to eat when Miraidon popped out of it's pokeball.
"Argh! What's up with that thing?! It just comes out of its ball on it's own whenever it wants?" Arven complained as Miraidon started begging for food from Ashley and Penny, who could understand it, only for Chloe to give it her sandwhich instead.
"I hope you realize that's all there was, so now there's none left for you…" Arven said.
"That's totally fine!" Chloe said. "With how weak he became after saving us he needs it more than me Ashley fought most of the trainers on the way here, and her Pokémon did the most damage to Klawf and Penny actually fought herself so they deserve it more then me."
"Aw, come on!" Arven complained. "Now you're making me feel like I'm the selfish jerk here! Here, you can have half of mine. But you'd better savor every last bite!"
"Thank you and I will," Chloe said, accepting it as Ashley, Penny, and Miraidon finished eating and released a bright glow that quickly faded.
"Wha-? Hey, is it me or has this thing sort of… powered up somehow?" Arven asked, looking at Miraidon who had glowed the brightest.
"I do feel stronger," Ashley said.
"Me too," Penny added.
"Agia!" Miraidon agreed.
"Whoa! I can't believe it! The power of these herbs really is worth guarding! If they had that big an effect on your Pokémon then I bet…" Arven said to himself before noticing them watching. "Uhhh… I bet it'll come in super handy for that Treasure Hunt assignment we've got! Yup! That's what I bet! Well you four filled your bellies with so,e of my legendary sandwiches! Guess it's time to tidy everything up… oh, don't you worry about helping! After both finding, then battling the Titan you all deserve a break! Just leave all this to me! Though I'd be much obliged if younget a start on searching out the remaining four Herba Mystica for us."
"Actually…" Ashley said thinking. "During the second phase of the battle against that Titan we took a massive amount of damage. Combined with lessons and others asking for help. I'm thinking we should take the lessons, and train during the weak, then battle a Titan, base or gym at the weekend. All of them have a different type, so if we put the types in a random list generator we could go to one each weekend in the order the list comes out. It would take 17 weeks to do, which is just over four months, but would make sure we are strong enough not to be overwhelmed."
"I left my Pokémon at the dorms since I wasn't expecting to need them, but they are all high level," Penny said. "They could help us train, which would help us get a lot stronger faster."
"Can we do the gyms though?" Chloe asked. "We are in the Contest Track and don't actually need to fight them."
"There is no rule saying we can't," Ashley said, "and it would be a good way to test how powerful we are, to make sure we are ready."
"Fine by me," Arven said, "getting stronger will prevent I hurt which is important. And with the list I'll know exactly when you are going after a Titan."
"Alright," Chloe said, getting out her Rotom Phone and putting something in. "I have a random list generator on my phone. I'll make the list now… and done. The list is:
Ghost
Flying
Dragon
Fire
Ground
Fighting
Water
Fairy
Poison
Grass
Electric
Ice
Bug
Dark
Steel
Normal
Psychic.
"That good for everyone?"
"Works for me," Arven said, realizing most of the Titans are early on.
"Me too!" Ashley said.
"I would like to join you in the Titans and gyms," Penny said, "you are my friends and I would like to help you. I already have prior responsibilities for the bases though."
"That's fine," Chloe said as Arven wondered what bases they meant. "So that's what we'll do."
The group then left the cave as Arven cleaned up only for the Rotom Phones to ring.
"Hello, Ashley, Chloe, this is Professor Turo," he said, "I detect that Miraidon has regained some of it's original ability and can now dash at high speeds while you are riding upon it. I hope you will continue to explore Paldea with Miraidon, as you have done here. Your route is not fixed but open before you. Seek out your own path, using your map, and the tools you have at hand. Whenever you find your curiosity piqued, you should go and explore as your heart desires. All that you experience will help you grow in some way, great or small. Go forth on your journey… and take good care of Miraidon for me."
With that Professor Turo hung up as they headed back to the academy for some rest before the lesson the next day.