Chapter 19: Team Balance

- - - - - The next morning, 7:00 AM, Northern Hulbury - - - - -

- - - - - Haru & Nessa's Home - - - - -

Haru walks outside to check on the garden he had begun to work on with his mother's help while also looking for morning mail. Seeds for Pecha, Chople, Chesto, and Iapapa berries were buried and expecting to start growing soon. He yawns, as the coffee he had was slowly starting to set in but had yet to give its 'super effectiveness'. Nora walks by his side while the Glaceon points to the mailbox, shouting at a Cramorant that was sitting on. As it flies away, Haru takes notice that the mailbox has already been stuffed with contents. Several envelopes of spam, a letter from a neighbor, financial information about his upcoming Gym, financial information of the staff he has for the Gym, and one letter simply labeled 'To the new Steel Gym Leader'.

"Huh...wonder who this could be from." Haru said to himself quietly, before tucking all the envelopes into his breastpocket and walking back inside. As Nessa was still asleep, he made sure not to make much noise after returning inside. The first order of business was to find who had addressed the letter so obtusely as to call his new title on the envelope itself, and upon reading it, his eyes grew from a small squint to a slow widening of both eyes.

He read out loud to the Glaceon sitting next to him on the couch. "To Haru!

I must apologize as I know this letter may come as a surprise to you, but I would like to congratulate you on opening up a new Steel Gym in the Galar Region. At some point I would like to invite you to come see me in the Crown Tundra in Galar on some future expedition work. I've considered calling them 'Adven-tours', but that may be a work-in-progress."

Haru's eyes narrowed and looked at Nora flatly, who looked back at him just as much right back. She sat closer to him while the ice blue fur rubbed up on his side while he continued.

"I have been gon' away from the mainland for so long that I was surprised when word came back to me a new Gym was opening up. Frankly, I'm a bit amiss for words, but between you an' I, I still would like to see how you stack up. Stories are one thing, and I'll give you my blessing for now, but when we meet, I'd like to show you how Gym Leaders like I did things! Then again, if the stories I've heard about you are true, then you may not need much mentoring from me. Still, some of us here in the Tundra may be onto something, so I'd appreciate if you wrote back whenever possible, or even came by! Stay safe and warm up there! Sincerely, Peony."

Haru leaned back on the couch and looked at the letter before setting it down on the table in front of him. He took off his glasses and pressed a few fingers to his forehead and looked at the Glaceon who had its chin resting on his right leg. "Peony, huh. A man who was an ex-Steel Gym Leader. How come I never heard of this guy, and why haven't I even seen any remnants of a Gym that he would have been in charge? Could he have possibly shared it with someone else like Allister and Bea do? Hmmm..." Nora simply blinked at him and wagged her flat ice tail while Haru then began petting her.

/If that's the case, I wonder if my wish to get a Steel Gym was approved so easily because of what he may or may not have done? Eh, it may not matter. Best not to ponder too much on it./ After thumbing through the rest of the mail, Haru went to the nearby kitchen and turned on the TV to a low volume so he could hear the news while he got some breakfast ready for everyone. On the telly some news caught his ears relating to Syra.

The reporter was reading back the updated information on her court case, and would sandwich its news with a hopeful wish for her victory. Updates on upcoming shifts of exhibition matches amongst the Gyms, and a bit on local news such as incoming data of what Pokemon were spawning at which dens.

It appeared the scents of cooked meats and veggies had woken up one Raging Wave, as Haru didn't catch the sounds of her coming downstairs. Looking down, he saw two dark arms come from behind and hug him. Feeling the taller woman lay her head on his shoulders silently while he was cutting vegetables, he snickered. "Morning, gorgeous."

"Mmm." He couldn't tell initially but caught on that she still was rocking her bed-hair due to the way she nonverbally responded without an actual word. Haru would move from one counter to the one next to it, as Nessa followed like one would in a 3-legged-race; her arms still wrapped around him from behind.

Letting out a soft laugh, Haru tilted his head to the side in a gesture that he was looking in her direction. "Someone's still sleepy. You haven't let go."

Nessa finally opened her eyes and looked at him half lidded. "Nnmmmmm. I'm allowed to be sleepy and cuddly in the morning."

"Well then, low tide as your waves may be this morning, would you like some boiled eggs with your chopped salad? Thought about adding a few m'self." Looking over to the pot with newly boiling water and some eggs inside it. She sleepily answers with a nod. "What are you going to be doing today, love?" Nessa asked, still not having let go.

The first answer that would have come was 'Study some more with Hop' but he remembered they hadn't set a time for him to come by quite yet for the day. All the reviewing and reading of information for a certification to head his own sanctuary had begun to reverse on a trait he once had; his indifference for the Pokedex of the Galar region. It was something of a hot button topic that tabloids ran with, and it was a question he had thrown in his direction in interviews both public Q&A and during sit-downs. Nessa noticed he hadn't answered and was worried, and sleepily rested her head on the opposite shoulder of him. "Haru?"

Haru set down the knife he was using to cut the vegetables he had and turned so she was facing him while still hugging. "Babe you know how awhile back I was sort of indifferent on our region's Pokedex? Well...I've begun thinking...that with my invested passion for Pokemon caretaking and my Steel Gym that maybe I should mark that off my 'bucket list'."

Pulling aside an aqua blue streak of her own hair looking down at him, Nessa had a small smile spread. "Oh? I think that's a wonderful idea. It may take awhile for you, but I know you can pull it off."

He blinked. It appeared that the immediate positive response she gave him was unexpected. "W...wait. Just like that? You're okay with it?"

She leaned down and gave him a morning kiss; letting their lips settle for a small while and then put both hands up from his waist to his shoulders. "I think after last night's talk I feel like I was able to clear some stuff that was built up in my mind. It's not like all of it is gone, but I don't think it's healthy to hold you back from doing something like this. You're going to be trading and collecting Pokemon, right? What if you find some that can gain a new home for your to-be sanctuary? You could come across a new best friend for your own family you're building up."

His face went red, and Nessa's cheeks turned red too when she realized her own wording could be misconstrued. "Ah! Y-y'know...the Pokemon we have here, and Masako and Mirukon's upcoming child!" Haru ended up stammering in response right back. "Y-yeah I know. No it's fine..!"

Her heartbeat was racing. The way how they both reacted to that made her happy. Before either could react further on the matter, both of their attention was brought back to the telly as the image of Sam was shown. Nessa let out a loud gasp while Haru held up a hand in disbelief to his forehead. The words were as plain as day:

[TEAM ROCKET CASE VERDICT: GIOVANNI AND ROCKET CO. FOUND GUILTY]

Haru clapped a few times while Nessa went over to the couch to get a better look and bent over it slightly while hopping a little. They were both extremely happy to see such news. Looking to the side, Haru just muttered to himself with a sly grin. "Ho-Oh of a different color, that son of a bitch did it...!"

- - - - - Amiri's Home, Circhester - - - - -

- - - - - That Same Moment, Living Room - - - - -

Gabe had just taken a bite of his jam and toast while the headline came on the telly in the front room. "Mom! Mom come look!"

The tall green haired mother came around the corner after seemingly drying her hair from a morning shower and pinched his shoulder, causing him to briefly reel. "Your sister is asleep, Gabe, don't yell."

The velvet haired boy shrugged it off as his mother did that and pointed with his left hand. "Ow! Look what's on the news!" Some mumbling was heard behind him; Syra had just reached the living room floor looking half asleep with a messy head of hair. "Don't worry, I haven't been having trouble sleeping or anything just ignore me. Morning Mom." She said while walking by her mom and brother in a way as if she were a Froslass. "Oh, morning sis."

Amiri turned to Syra and gave her a morning kiss on the cheek, who only grunted in response. "Insomnia? We have some Moomoo Milk in the fridge: that can help you sleep if you need to catch some extra hours. We won't wake you, right Gabe?"

As if the response came late, or if she were waking up if only for a moment, Syra's eyes widened when she looked at where Gabriel was staring. "Whoa..is that live? Did Sam ACTUALLY do it?!" She stepped closer to the television and got on her knees as if she were a little kid trying to get a closer picture of the screen. "Hey! Down in front, sis!"

"Shhhhhh!" Syra hushed her brother turning to him before looking back at the screen; Amiri sighing as it seemed the two were already acting up at the early parts of the morning.

- - - - - Wyndon, Pokemon League HQ - - - - -

- - - - - Oleana's Office - - - - -

The tall woman stared with her arms crossed looking at the multiple monitors that had the broadcast live on the screens as the morning mail had been dropped off, and her meeting with a client who was speaking on Pokemon Sponsorships from Unova had just walked out the door. As the papers for the all-star, olympic-esque tournament were signed, Oleana had began to wonder if Sam was ever coming home or if either of them had overlooked something. True to his word however, he was able to get a big victory for the safety of trainers and Pokemon everywhere.

Sam was currently on the screens speaking. "I do not have much to say, but I will say that as my fellow Kanto and Johto friends, and even those in Galar watch me, we are all happy that justice is finally being served. This was a very rough, and a very long test of endurance, but I'm happy to be standing here today in light of these good news. No more do people have to worry about casinos being used as fronts for trafficking, nor do we have to be scared that other local businesses be shut down in scare tactics of those wearing the black-and-red 'R' uniforms. No more do Pokemon Trainers have to worry about their own goods being stolen because of a coup. Wildlife can now flourish more easily without the involvement of such despicable pirates running amuck. Giovanni's age is over."

A news reporter had butt in at the last second while he was attempting to leave. "Sir? What about Mewtwo? Have you learned anything since this incident?"

He held up a hand as Gold, Clair, and Looker had helped him leave the podium. Looker walked up to the microphones and distracted them for the time being in saying "Relating to the case of Giovanni, today's ruling ensures that as our fellow ex-Champion's role is done, the rest of our department will handle the proceedings."

Oleana watched as Sam walked off from the camera with help of his friends and began to tear up. They had began to bud on the edges of her eyes but then fell freely as at that same time she got a message on her phone. Pulling it out and gasping out loud, Oleana's usual stoic face started to quiver into a smile.

[Sam: I'm coming home, Oleana.]

She was a strong woman who always was capable of holding herself high and with a presence that showed no weakness. Yet in the second she saw that text message on her phone, she began to sob. "Dummy...texting me this in the middle of my work day..."

[Oleana: You'd better come home quick. You owe me for these tears I'm shedding.]

[Sam: I'm sorry! D:]

[Oleana: Good! But come and hold me when you're here and I'll think about forgiving you.]

/It's finally over. Ugh..I shouldn't be like this here. Oleana you really are sometimes a hopeless woman../

On the broadcast that was covering the incident, she looked back and saw that people were trying to still get commentary from all involved parties. While Giovanni was already escorted out, they had attempted to milk this for all they could, and only had a passing shot of Sam finding a broadcast camera and waving to it. She knew that he was mostly doing this for the sake of trying to calm those watching, but felt it was aimed at her. In a way of him saying 'I'm done playing around and have fulfilled my duty. I'm coming home, love.'. Sam may have been born in Johto and traveled to several regions, but only a woman from Galar would be the one who ended up claiming him.

- - - - - Stow-In-Side - - - - -

- - - - - Fighting/Ghost Gym - - - - -

The sounds of punches were heard rapidly echoing from the interior of the Stow-In-Side Gym as the minimal janitorial and security staff patrolled the hallways. They came from the personal workout gym that was made for Bea's quarters. She wore her usual Gym Leader gear and had been awake for some time. Syra and her were going to hang out and do a 'Girls Day Out' shindig, but to pass the time Bea felt it necessary to keep her physique at her peak.

Hitting the punching bag over and over again in an increasing tempo, Bea pondered over on what to do for the next round of the Gym Challenge.

Meanwhile, outside of the same Gym location, Sevan was followed by his usual troupe. The Ninetails nicknamed 'Fen' was behaving for the time being, but he had been trying to get his mind cleared and had been thinking back on what Haru and him were discussing the other day. It appeared the words about the recent events, and the offhand mention of the Galar Gym Challenge had begun to brew some new ideas.

"Shin...do you think that someone like me would be worthy of going through that? By the time I even start, Haru still wouldn't be a Gym Leader yet cuz his building isn't done. However it may be for the best as it would be what they would want me to do." He asked, looking down at his ankles.

The Leafeon looked sad, and for the time being even Fen wasn't causing trouble within a few miles radius, sensing its master was in another slump. Eyeing around him, he noticed the Pidgeot wasn't within his periphery. "Where did Chorui go..?" he asks out loud, knowing the most his buddies couldn't speak the same language as him. He hears the sound of his bird companion call out to him as it had landed on a tree, having found a few berries that fell down and figuring its master could use them. A Greedent is seen seemingly yelling at the Pidgeot, who just screeches loudly back, causing it to run off scared. As Sevan walked over, Chorui climbed onto his shoulder from the ground and held out the berries with its claw-like feet to him. It lowers its head to to drop some from its protruding beak. "Hey, thanks Cho. I could try these in a new stew tonight...even if they aren't Pecha Berries from home..."

With the intention to turn back to the steps near the Gym, something catches his eye. He notices that a large section of windows on the lower floors within Stow-In-Side's Gym had their lights on; the periphery of his vision catching a figure bobbing back and forth. His curiosity getting the better of himself, him and the other partner Pokemon turn to face the same direction.

Inside, Bea had begun punching the bag faster and faster; a zen-like focus hitting her before Syra showed up at the entrance of the small gym. Flagging her down with a white towel in hand, the girl calls to Bea. "Hey bud, you all set? I know you've probably burnt a bunch of calories by now but I got some stuff from home my Mom and I made." Bea takes a second to wipe her forehead with a towel that Syra had been holding before walking back to the punching bag and began rapidly hitting it.

"So...did you get in touch with Haru by the way about what you're going to do on the next Gym Challenge?" holding her hands up defensively as if the bag itself were a new opponent. Smirking and walking over to Bea's side to watch her go at it in closer distance. "I told him that I'd most likely join up for the next one but it remains to be seen after this case with my dad carries out. Still, it'd be awesome if I could do it when his Gym is finished. I'd like to have a chance to take him down at his homeplace there."

Bea started exhaling slowly, as if to focus all her energy into one shot. Her right arm jettisons through the meter of distance between herself and the punching bag in what appeared to be lighting-like speeds. Syra's eyes go wide with shock and awe as the punching bag's chains from the ceiling snap, and the equipment goes flying across the room. Fillings from within the punching bag pour out onto the floor, and a new hole was seen being torn asunder. It was no longer usable. Bea kept her usual stoic expression and relaxed; finishing her workout before smiling up at Syra. "Okay. I think I'm good now."

The velvet haired girl laughed a little heartily and began to walk out of the gym room with Bea. "Hot damn, Bea. Have you done that often or something? I didn't know you were packing guns in those arms!" "What do you mean...?" Syra laughed it off as they exited the room, turning off the lights.

Meanwhile, outside, Sevan had been watching something he couldn't believe had actually transpired. His face was as red as Groudon's scales, and had locked in place. The other Pokemon were looking right alongside him, but Chorui had begun to notice its master was distracted. Sevan's pupils had dilated, and after a small poke of its beak, the man seemed to shake off whatever his temporary frozen state had been. /I don't know who that girl was, or what her name is at all...but holy shit. Sweet Arceus I have to know who she is...and if Haru knows her./

He looked down to Shinrin, Fen, and Chorui. Attempting to go back to walk down the stairs in front of the Fighting/Ghost Gym, he seemed to be taking more time in every single step. It was as if he was hit with his own 'Confused' state. /Was what I witnessed even real? I...is there a strength like that obtainable for someone like me...?/ From the distance he couldn't get a closer view of the girl, but for now the imagery of a short fit girl destroying a punching bag was going to run through his mind more than the Galarian Zapdos.

Sevan put a hand to his forehead and slicked back the parted blonde streak in his short, mostly black hair while reaching the outside stalls of the town. "I need to talk to Haru when I break out of this funk. It's not good for my brain to think on this now."

- - - - - Wyndon, Pokemon League HQ - - - - -

Staff activity had appeared to be as normal as can be while Nessa walked down the halls. For the most part this was something of the norm, though her eyes scanned through some passersby that caught her attention. A few staffers run by the Gym Leader carrying some stacks of papers; one holding several rolls of promotional poster drafts. Another was talking to someone seemingly attempting to get in contact with 'Red', though whether or not it was succeeding was one thing she'll find out in due time. Passing this, Nessa reached the quarters leading to where Chairman Oleana would reside. Outside the door that led to Oleana's room, the clerk spots the dark haired beauty. "Ma'am, can I help you?" It took her a second to realize it was Nessa, who was wearing a blue long-sleeve cutaway shoulder sweater with a high waisted leather skirt; a diagnol zipper in the front. "Oh, Nessa! At first I didn't recognize you, my apologies."

"I'm here to speak with the Chairman. I'll be quick." Nessa replies, wearing her Leader uniform. Having dealt with her in person once before long ago when she marched up to the same office to speak to Rose, the clerk knew better than to tell her otherwise if they knew Oleana was there. "Y-yes. Go right on in, although let me at least aler-"

"Pardon me." she says without saying much else, walking to the automated doors. They open, and Oleana is there looking through some papers. Looking up, Oleana smirked. She had an inkling of a feeling she knew what the reason for the visit would be. In spite of this, she had to ask. "May I help you?"

Nessa goes right up to the desk the Chairman was sitting at and slammed a right hand on it definitively. The entrance had an air of deja vu to it, with both ladies locking eyes. "The tournament that you're planning: I'd like to cordially make a request."

Putting a pen down after clicking its tip and folding both hands together, the Chairman leaned back in her chair. Eyeing Nessa when she was in such a mood was usually due to a few reasons. One possibility would be related to her Gym Leader responsibilities while the other would be for personal. It wasn't often that Gym Leaders had to take 'breaks' or 'ask time off' as the Gym Challenge was annual, and like sports in their 'off' seasons, their alotted time towards being at the Gym would be far more lax. Sighing, but nonetheless interested, Oleana spoke. "Go on, Nessa, I'm all ears. Do you have an issue concerning the email that I sent out?"

"Not at all, ma'am. Matter of fact, I welcome the whole event with open arms. It may have taken me until late last night to come across it formally, but I'm on board." She folded her arms together and stood up straight; having pushed from the desk. "It's come to my understanding Milo has already made a request, and is taking part of it...is that correct?"

"Yes it is. Are you saying you'd like a rematch during this event of all such things? Word's come 'round but I hope we can avoid what went on in Turffield the other day." Oleana stated, going from her usual stoic expression to a slight more 'boss' mode. They weren't on unfriendly terms, but Oleana knew when to use her position properly. The tone gave the impression she didn't want Nessa to be on her usually competitive, sore-loser self. However if the opportunity came for a unique idea there may be little choice but to go with it.

"Yes, my apologies. I assure you that the only high tide coming from me will be on the battlefield. But more to the point: facing him and taking him down is only part of the equation. The invitation for this extends to the other regions, correct? If so, then I'd like to face Milo at the opening match: have Galar represent itself with an exhibition of what trainers can expect should anyone move here. If they already do live here, make it be a reason for those to look forward to challenging us Leaders. Ergo.." Nessa flashed all her fingers except her thumb. "It should showcase Milo, Kabu, and myself in a battle. Haru has his Gym still being constructed right now, but would it not suit the region well to debut the skillset of a new Gym Leader?"

Nodding slowly, Oleana tapped the pen she held previously on her lips. "You bring up a good detail; the construction is tracking to finish on time, but it still means he won't officially be around for a bit. While making this tournament happen isn't the same as building a Gym from the ground up, perhaps we can align both of these things together. I'll have to see how long it'll take for all the regions to be on board. Hmm."

Oleana looked around from left to right with her gaze narrowing as if to analyze some space floating in front of her. "Having Haru in an exhibition battle would greatly improve our relations. He may even be able to get some more sponsors for his Gym right from the performance shown. Did you have something more concrete in mind?" she inquired, looking over to the 'all business' Nessa standing opposite of her desk.

Flashing a thumbs up and a confident shift in her stature, Nessa smiled. "Have Haru team up with me, and make it a double battle. Milo and Kabu versus Haru and myself. You get the initial Gym Leaders together that more than 90% of all Challengers face, and then the upcoming new Gym so they have something to look forward to."

Nessa sees that Oleana grabs the mug of hot coffee on her desk and took a small sip before taking a second to enjoy the aftertaste, while their eyes met again. "Continue..."

"For one thing, you'd not only be advertising him as the next Gym Leader, but that he was previously the Champion responsible for saving our region. Him and Hop teamed up and did what they could to prevent The Darkest Day from happening. I'd say to include Piers into this, but we both know he's passed the mantle onto Marnie, and is touring." Nessa's blue eyes looked to the side as they narrowed. "This is all hypothetical."

Swiveling in the chair and looking up into the ceiling, the tall woman that was Oleana stood up and put one hand in one of her coat pockets. "Hmm. Hypothetical, you say? Perhaps it's not such a strange or even a 'Farfetch'd' idea." She had walked a few paces near her bookcase to ponder on the idea as Nessa stood in silence. A loud snapping of fingers is heard from Oleana as she turned to the Raging Wave with a smirk as her coat twirled. "Assemble your team, Nessa. You'll have your double battle."

The expert of fish Pokemon from Hulbury had bowed slightly, lowering her aggressive stance and smiled. "Thank you Chairman. Excuse me." Turning to exit, the double doors open automatically. Before she made it through the doors however, Oleana stopped her.

"Nessa."

"Hmm?"

It was almost unexpected, but strangely poetic and an inverse of a previous encounter the two had in the same office long ago. "Will you win that match, then?" Offering a hint of a smile. Nessa felt a fire in her belly as she clenched one fist and laughed. "You'll see!"

- - - - - Stow-On-Side, Outdoor Markets - - - - -

- - - - - 3:05 PM - - - - -

"Ma'am, if you don't have your card or another method of payment on hand I'm going to have to call the police..." said the voice of a cashier who appeared to have seen too many bad days to care for deescalating situations. In front of her was one Syra, who was frantically searching her bag in a slight panicked tone. Circulating in between her belt of Pokemon and her items she held, for some reason she was unable to figure out just what in Mimikyu's Real Face happened to her wallet. She knew it was on her person, and was attempting to pay for her meal.

"Hold on damn it! I have your money, shit! Just give me a second..!" Syra said, her face flustered and patting herself down. It seemed nary to work as the cashier started to reach for a phone dial and both were interrupted as a hand came from the side slapping down some cash. The gentleman whose hand it belonged to was Sevan, who looked at the cashier. "Keep the change."

Syra blinked, seeing the man already start to walk off. Silently, the cashier took the money and gave Syra her receipt and change. "Hey! Your change!" holding it up. He didn't turn around or even acknowledge that he heard her at all, and her increased volume and situation in the front entrance of the diner caused some fans to slow her exit. They simply wanted autographs while she wanted answers: answers on who just randomly paid for her meal.

Outside, Sevan was walking as he was earlier. He left Chorui at home to watch over Fen to the best of its ability while Shinrin stayed by his side. Chuckling in amusement and scratching his chin, his inner monologue escaped him. "She was kinda cute, right?" looking down at the Leafeon, who turned her head away. Sevan scoffs. "Oh come on, that's not fair. I'm decent looking, right?" he asked, while making a flex with his left bicep as if to deter the Pokemon's thoughts on him. It didn't work much, as she made a cooing sound. "Ouch, that's harsh, Shin, even for you."

The intention he had was to just continue walking off as aimlessly as he had been doing for the past undetermined amount of time. In his head he stopped counting the days he got lost walking around Galar long ago and was almost on auto-pilot. "Shin, do you think I'd even be able to get a date? At all?" The line of questioning didn't seem all too pleasing to the Grass based Eeveelution, as she walked to his pantleg and nibbled on it. "Hey hey! Keep this up and you're not getting dinner. You're acting like Fen; minus the thievery. What, do you want a boyfriend or something? Should I get Haru or someone else to ge-"

"AYE!" the sound of someone yelling in his direction came from where the diner was at, and as he turned towards it he sees the velvet haired girl raising a fist and power walking to meet him. "Hey! What the shit was that for? I found my wallet you know, and you can have the change!" she said, meeting up to him and holding a hand out. Putting both hands into his own pockets, Sevan shrugged and gave her an expression of indifference while Shinrin hid slightly behind one of his ankles. "It's overkill for the police to be called on you for 'forgetting' your wallet, and since nobody else looked like they were willing to help you out, it's not that big of a deal, really." He eyed the money and relaxed his shoulders. "You don't owe me anything. I paid for your meal and I'd do it again."

The expression granted to Syra's face hearing those words was of genuine confusion and slight irritation. "...but. Your money. Surely you have a need for it. Look, this is way too much! See?" she said, flashing over a thousand or so $ in hand. He held up a 'keep it' hand gesture with his left palm and it retreated back to his pants.

"Keep it. I'm getting paid tonight anyway so it's fine." Sevan nodded towards her and turned, walking off. He intended to make his exit once again but she met him on the other side. She seemed apprehensive, and with the exception of Haru, hadn't met anyone who was as stubborn. "What is it? Do you do this for every stranger that you come across and needs help?"

He eyed the sky for a moment, and Syra felt a blood vessel pop in her forehead. "WHAT?! Don't think I need he-" The one 'Miss Blue' was interrupted by his nonchalant response, stating "No. I don't do it normally...but I just sorta felt like it."

Syra looks down at the cash. It wasn't even that much, but it felt wrong to just keep the change. They were both at a stalemate, and it seemed nothing she said was going to work on him. Sighing, she put the money in her wallet, as Sevan spotted the Gym Badge Medallion. "Hey, sorry for butting in, but what is that?". She gave him a wry smirk and a raised eyebrow. "Oh NOW you're sorry for doing that? Tch, it's fine. This?" Taking it out she flashed it with a twist of her hand and beamed a little with pride. "It's the Sword Challenge Medallion showing I defeated all 8 Gym Leaders. In the end I wound up not defeating Haru, who was our Champion, but after some stuff went down I decided I'd try again the next time we have one. It won't mean the same since Leon will be Champion but I'm hoping to have a rematch at some point."

"AH, right...he did mention that..." Shinrin had poked her head out finally from hiding away slightly from Syra's presence while Sevan tapped on one knee. Her head whizzed in his direction. "Wait, you KNOW Haru?"

"Yeah. I met him doing a Snorlax Max Raid. He let me have it since he was mostly helping others during the time, but that's about it. I suppose that medallion thing is pretty cool; a lot different than what I'm used to but it's neat. Anyway, since you got that far I imagine you're pretty busy." He said, trying on yet another attempt to make an exit. She put a hand on her hip after putting the medallion away. "You just paid for my early dinner, bud. I'm basically free."

For a moment he tried to hide it but checked her out. "Well then...that's interesting."

"Is it?" She said back, wondering if he was going to throw down and got one hand lurking behind her back; ready to grab a PokeBall. "I take it you want to have a battle then?"

"I would, but I'm not sure it'd be fair. You're a pretty ace trainer, right? I'd most likely get demolished." Sevan let out a laugh as Syra put a pat on his shoulder with a confident smirk. /...pretty?/ She initially thought to herself, briefly rebounding from being told that outright. The comment left her as quickly as it came.

"It sounds like you need someone to help you get a good team, then. You have a type preference?" She asked, tilting her head at him. Running a hand through the black-and-blonde streak in the middle of his head, the only response that came to mind wasn't related to the question but whether or not Galar was ready to accept more Pokemon internationally. He was already breaking the rules by having Chorui be there with him, but it seemed the law was too lax on enforcing it. In truth, the majority was working on the fallout from the Team Rocket operation.

"Not particularly. Care to help me out then? Sorry if I bog you down, any. I suppose since I can't take the money back I'll fare with this then.." Sevan shook his head and looked to the ground sheepishly. Syra took a few steps away, gesturing to the horizon where The Wild Area was seen off in the distance and then gestured with a hand turning her face back to him. "C'mon then, I'll take care of you."

Sevan blinked twice when she said that to him. A small spread of pink went to his cheeks, with Shinrin looking up at her master's face and studying the expression. /Oh no../ "Yeah, sure thing. It's whatever. Just one thing."

"Hmm? What is it NOW? Max Dens change daily, you know. You wanna hit something rare or what?" Syra appeared slightly annoyed this newcomer was tackling on another request on top of insisting she keep the change. He held up a finger. "If this goes on for awhile and you get hungry, I'm paying."

"Oh wha-hey!" Syra faked out a punch to his shoulder, expecting him to reel like Haru does when she's done the same thing but he barely flinches. "Stop doing that!"

Rubbing the back of his neck and sighing, Sevan stopped her thought with his own. "It has now occurred to me I never got your name throughout all this. Sevan."

She huffed with her nostrils and sighed, smiling at him softly. "Syra. Can't promise I'll be able to give you all the tips but then again, I wanna make sure if I ever fought you I'd make it a challenge. You're an interesting one already, and I don't really do this for anyone. But that works doesn't it? Mr 'I don't normally pay for random strangers food but this girl, I will', right?"

They started heading down the steps while Syra tipped her hat downward to shield from the bright sun and looked to him. "So, I haven't seen you around. You thinking about doing the Gym Challenge?".

Sevan thought back to his past, and hid a pained expression. "Hmm? Ehh..maybe. Jury's still out on that."

As Shinrin followed in her master she noticed that the mood in him enhanced for a bit while getting to know this new person he just happened to meet. Throughout his own usual daily occurrences of wandering for the sake of wandering, someone finally got him to focus on a thing that made him smile. Perhaps it was the gesture, her, or something else that started to bring him down to Earth.

- - - - - Postwicke, Lana's Home - - - - -

- - - - - 3:00 PM - - - - -

The Gardevoir walked in carrying the egg around happily as its loving Lucario joined up; Haru following the two inside. "Hey Mom, sorry I took awhile to come by. Had some things to take care of before arriving, such as making sure the tote bag you had sewn for me would fit this egg." He gestured, pointing to the egg. Inside he took off his shoes while Mirukon made sure Masako sat comfortably on the couch. Inside a Bidew and now a Lilligant had appeared. "Oh Kiara! I hadn't expected to see you visiting!" Haru said, giving a hug to the grass based Pokemon as it hopped in place happily. His mother walked over and smiled, ready to explain. "I told the trainer that I had such a fun time with her helping around the house and your own home that I wished to hire her again. But it turns out Kiara here was also expressing it to her trainer in much the same way. She simply asked that I give her updates on how she's doing, and here we are!"

Lana leaned forward and hugged Kiara, who let out some happy shakes. "Awww...that's good mom! You having more company while I'm away is a good thing.." Haru began to say, before his eyes caught a familiar item. Walking over in the living room he passes by some photos and clasped his hands together in a prayer-like formation, bowing his head. In front of him was a small urn and a picture of Hiro. The ashes of his body were inside, kept safe and represented by the memorabilia of some things he left behind. A pair of 3D glasses that one would wear at movie theaters, and some coins. "Hey Hiro..." He began to say before whispering at the urn. "Thanks for visiting me, brother.."

After giving a glass of mineral water for the Pokemon Haru brought over and some ice water for him, she sat down. "Hiro appreciates your visit, I'm sure. So what brought you here by the way? You never told me."

Sitting opposite of his mother, Haru gestured to the egg Masako was proudly setting on her lap and holding. "Well...I realized that throughout my youth I never got any official training from you on how to raise a Pokemon baby. You tended to bring some of those from the clinic home if you felt they needed more personal tender loving care, but I kind of realized I never once actually asked for official knowledge on some of it. I myself had come across first form Pokemon in the wild, of course; Masako herself was a Ralts when we met. Despite that, I don't know exactly how to help take care of one from birth and I'd really like your personal help in establishing a plan. Mirukon is here to also learn, too." He took a swig of some water, appreciating the Mago Berry inside his drink that was sliced to add flavor. "You're also the only parent I know I could talk to about this, so there's that. Hop's parents are out currently, and Hiro's..."

The room got a little quiet while he brought it up. Sighing, Haru shook his head. "Sorry, Mom, I didn't mean to bring that up."

"No, Haru it's okay. I know what you mean..." She patted one of his knees while he tilted a drink back once again.

Almost seeing too perfect of an opportunity, Lana spoke. "Are you certain you don't need help learning to raise your own child, too?" Nigh instantly upon hearing this Haru spittakes his water and begins to cough. His cheeks are flushed red and is wiping his chin. "MOM!"

"What?"

"C'mon, you know that's...that's not what I'm here for!"

"But you DID think about it didn't you?" she pointed to him, a little proud of herself with the commentary, though with the motherly instincts at bay she had gotten up from her seat to fetch him a towel. Grumbling and looking at the carpet floor, Haru noticed Kiara had been laughing with the other Pokemon who were in earshot and visual range of the gag.

"Either way, it's way too early for us to be thinking about such things!" He huffed.

Lana appeared to his other side handing him a towel while he was still sitting. "Are you using protection?"

"Mom, please-"

"ARE YOU?"

"Arceus have mercy; YES!" Haru's face had turned almost as red as his own hair, and Lana finally decided to back off. Walking to the other side of him and sitting next to him on the couch she leaned over and pinched his arm.

He withdrew his arm closer to himself, looking at her. "Ow! What was that for?"

"I'm just looking out for you okay? I had to make sure this wasn't some sort of ploy to get around talking about having children. I had you young, remember? If anyone knows what explosive, youthful love is like, it's me." She leaned back in the couch but looked over to Mirukon and Masako. Despite the difference of species, love still found a way as pure as could be. "Right, you've told me before. Sorry, still a little fagged from that commentary. This won't be as complicated as the stuff I've been studying up with Hop on the daily, will it?"

"Hmm...well the parents here are a male Lucario and a female Gardevoir. It means it will be a Ralts. I hope you know that much at least. Granted I myself didn't work too much with baby Ralts at the vet, but...I think I have some books on them. Once I fetch them we can chitchat on more about this okay?"

As Haru saw Lana walk up to go look at the shelving he thought back to a conversation he had with Hiro. Looking over to his left he saw a memory play out. Many memories occured there, and even though he had reached his own peace by being visited in his dream, one thought remained. /I still wish he had at least been able to accomplish what he set out to do. Maybe he already is in that other place he's at right now./

The rest of the visit was a no-nonsense educational lesson with Lana taking the Pokemon parents and Haru as the witness to the whole lesson. He hadn't been tracking how many steps they already took with the egg, but felt that perhaps soon the egg would hatch. At worst, it only meant that the new home he now lived in would become even livelier than it was before.

- - - - - Haru & Nessa's Home - - - - -

- - - - - Evening, 5:30pm - - - - -

The time with his mother took up a bit of the afternoon. Looking to his phone, Haru notices that Nessa hadn't sent anything for a bit after the two of them departed on their errands for the day. For one micro second he figures she was most likely had to tend to either a call for a new modeling shoot, a commercial, or was stopped by fans. The least likely option would also have been that Sonia called her and asked for a 'lunch with her bestie'. None of these scenarios were true however. Masako and Mirukon followed him back into the home but with a few other Pokemon greeting them all when they arrived back.

Upon arriving home, Haru sees that the door swung open to Nessa's Drednaw and Toxipex eyeing the group. They seemingly gestured him to 'follow them'. "You go rest up you two, I'm going to go see what's up." he said, looking to the Lucario and Gardevoir with the egg in her arms. He was unsure if it was the light from the outdoors going in, or the change of heat but Haru felt himself get a little dizzy walking in. He shrugged it off for the moment; slight discomfort wasn't so important that he had to focus on it for now. The two led him to the office room where he was greeted by the room now being plastered with hung up pieces of combat data and Pokemon statistics galore. Nessa herself is standing by the desk with a very focused expression on herself. The walls had a board with photos of what he could only guess were match ups. She had several lines of tape 'connecting' fully known abilites of some Pokemon with one other photo of a Gigantimaxed Appletun, Cherrim, Milotic, Seismitoad, Centiskorch, and Chandelure. The table itself had a few binders that Haru was able to parse most likely came from Sonia's laboratory, while there were also printouts filled with base statistics and weakness charts.

"Uh...hello hon. You seem busy." He spoke, having stopped until he was a meter away to her left and behind her. Without looking at him, Nessa held up a left hand and pointed at him. "Duraludon."

"...babe?"

"Base stats for a Duraludon. GO." The Raging Wave snapped her fingers and then curled them as if she was needing to be fed information. Almost in a panic, like he was caught in a pop quiz that Hop would throw in his way, Haru stammered. A hand goes to his hair as he combs it back, thinking. "Uh..uhmm...HP is 70, Attack is 95, Defense is 115, Special Attack is 120, Special defense is 50, and Speed is 85! All together the base stats...uh...that's...shit..I know this."

She encouraged him, now turning to him from the side as her high ponytail was readjusted to not fall over her face. "C'mon darling you got this."

Both of his fists came together as if one were to brace on a rollercoaster car before pointing at her with both hands when the number hit him. "Hang on...535!"

Nessa had bent over the desk a bit, whipping out a pen from one of the cups on it and wrote those numbers down on a personal notepad she had at the ready. "GOT IT! Okay...that's what I had thought but wasn't sure. Hmm. Okay." Feeling a little lost and bewildered at the sudden pop quiz, Haru had to ask albeit with a little sweat coming down his face. "Hon what are you doing exactly?"

Looking down at the large printouts of statistics she leaned over the table again and had pointed to one of the charts as if to mentally note something she decided on earlier. "I need to beat Milo once and for all. Today I went to Wyndon to talk to Oleana about what I found out the last time I spoke to him. You know how after I calmed down I went into details of this 'tournament' that's being set up?"

"Yeah, it's going to be something that involves all the regions. Well...those that decide to show up, anyway. Big event, lots of people. Wyndon will be sold out for sure! Why do you ask?" Walking up to the other side of the table. On the opposite end of the table he sees Nora walking in past the two water Pokemon from earlier, cooing curiously.

Straightening herself before putting a hand on her back, Nessa looked to him. "Well, don't be mad, but I sorta put you in with a match."

The man before her seemed a little shocked. Taking the time to look around curiously as if he heard her correctly before his eyes met hers again. Bringing up arms to fold over each other and pursing his lips, the mind within him seemed to be at work as much as her own.

Nessa blinked at him, afraid she said something wrong. "What?"

Shrugging, Haru replied. "I don't know. Not sure what I thought you were going to say. What type of match?"

"Double Battle. It's wi-HEY!" Like it were a gag she saw Haru take a step back with his eyes suddenly twice as wide open as before. She persisted. "Haru are you okay?"

He shook his head, then nodded. "Yeah just..I had to remember we talked about having one as our debut together. I'm fine. The sudden knowledge about this happening now took me by surprise." /Maybe the day out with Mom tired me out more than I thought../

Nessa looked him up and down with a bit of worry her statement hit too hard. "Babe I can help you get used to double battles okay? We can train together in the Water Gym and anywhere else necessary."

"Man, as if studying for my own stuff is enough..." He sighed and laughed weakly, with Nessa looking a little glum. Her head sunk a little and let a hand rest on the desk. "I know, I'm sorry. I just...I really want to beat Milo and I think I'm onto something finally. It was wrong to speak on your behalf.."

The mood would shift back as Haru walked up to her and held both hands together before leaning forward into a kiss. Looking up at her while he parted his lips from hers, he gave the best smile he could for such a situation. "It's okay, love. The fact you have your mind set to do this is inspiring, and knowing you've invited me to help you makes me happy. I'll follow your lead on this, though; you know double battles are not my forte."

"Tch..." she stifled a chuckle while her cheeks went a little red and looked at him with relief. She pulled some of her hair back behind an ear. "You have that much confidence in me huh? Even in a 'number 2' Gym Leader like me?"

Without even thinking about it Haru replied, teethy smile applied to it, "I don't care if you're ranked number 2 to Galar, you're number 1 to me."

"I would make a comment on how cheesy that is..." Nessa sighed. "...but hearing that actually makes me feel better." Haru seemed proud of that alone, and beamed. She turned with him back to the desk as he joined her in their 'lab time'. "Okay, so hear me out, there's several ways we can go about this but we can't take down Milo and Kabu where I'm using the exact same team as before. As both of us will be using only 3 of our full roster, that means the match is over if we lose 3 of yours and 3 of my own. I do think we got a way to mitigate as much damage as possible."

Pursing his lips again, Haru threw out a metaphorical comment. "Shouldn't be too hard, right? Considering all options, I'd have to remind myself what items I have on hand and what the natures of each one in my possible side of the team would be. Duraludon would be a glass cannon, sure, but I would think I could help support you against Milo due to his Grass type. I would have to get 2 others that could pair well not just with him but whatever you had planned...and I'm on a much better path to procuring that knowledge than before."

"Yes but again, you'll have Kabu to deal with at the same time which makes you the sitting duck for him unless we can pull something off; something that can either resist or sway his Fire team. This'll take some time, and a lot of thinking. We may not even be able to get this working or feeling 'right' until the final hour..." Her eyebrows furrowed together while glancing at the statistics sheet of Chandelure. "One can hope that it won't come to that, however."

Glancing back over the room that had an enormous amount of data plastered over it with Pokemon metadata on it, Haru remembered something. "I just recalled something I wanted to ask upon coming in here: how did you get all these printouts?"

Nessa laughed a bit and looked around. In the haste she was in to make sure all her thoughts could be "Oh, these? Yeah...these didn't come from my own Gym. None of my trainers had the exact kind of printouts I was looking for so I decided on another solution: my bestie Sonia's lab. Did that earlier when you went to go see your Mom. Buu~ut she wasn't there, and instead Hop led me to some of the extra strategic battle data you see before you."

Her expression went from neutral to smug, and Haru met her expression with an equally smug look himself. "Must be having a date with Leon, then." he surmised. Nessa flashed a confirming thumbs-up with a cheeky smirk. "Yes, actually. But! Onto bigger things, let's see if we can start thinking of a group of Pokemon for us. I have a few in mind..."

Stepping back and wiping his forehead, Haru gestured with a thumbs-up towards the door. "Delay that for a second. I'm going to go get us something to help us focus from the kitchen. You just stay here and I'll be back with refreshments." Kissing her once again, Haru walked out onto the hallway heading back.

- - - 7 minutes later - - -

Nessa was quietly looking over the multitude of papers around everywhere when she heard the footsteps of her Drednaw come by the door and poke its head in. "Oh hey there Drednaw. Curious to get a closer look too?" She asks it, not expecting it to come by her leg and start nudging her by the ankles in a seemingly wanting manner. It makes a low grunt; briefly misinterpreted as it needing some attention. Before she could ask what he wanted, the turtle-like Water/Rock Pokemon walked back to the door then looked at her, turning back and hopping. She was able to finally interpret that Drednaw's face showed worry.

Something was wrong. It finally hit her that Haru had been gone on for too long.

Following her trusty Drednaw down the hallway she was then led to a scene that made her gasp loudly. The scene horrified and made her worry with tears budding up as she saw Haru slumped on the floor of the kitchen. On the kitchen floor he was leaned against one of the counters with his head hung forward and one arm that showed an attempt to stand by up was made, but failed. He was breathing quietly but looking like he had nearly passed out. Barely awake, he only mumbled, "Nessa...hey...t...tired..." Several of the Pokemon they both took care of were unsure of what to do, so they kept their distance but looked just as worried as she became.

"Haru!" Taking action immediately she had her Drednaw help him off the floor while she called emergency services. Phone in hand, she asked the others to help bring him upstairs to the bedroom. "Mirukon. Please get me some ice, and Masako, try to keep him level while Drednaw helps carry him."

- - - - - 1 hour later. . . - - - - -

Haru was now laying in bed, shivering as if he were cold despite several blankets on him. To the bedside, a Blissey and Nurse Joy were looking over him carefully and diagnosing his condition for Nessa and the others. Near the entrance of the bedroom the rest of the Pokemon were looking inside while Nessa kept her distance at the window. A good deal of looking over his symptoms, having an ice pack on his head, thermometer in his mouth and the Blissey assisting the nurse with checking his body all over, and the pink haired lady had all she needed to know. Walking over to Nessa she gestured her to follow her to the hallway. Haru had gotten a really bad fever from over exertion, but stress was not ruled out either. He had a temperature of 39'C, increased sweating, and until he woke up to say otherwise nothing else could be ruled out. The Nurse Joy recommended the usual: making sure he has plenty of rest and water on standby.

When she left, Nessa got on the other side of him on the bed as he lazily looked over to her, no glasses in sight. "So now there's 2 of you..? heheh...". She didn't enjoy the joke and had to wipe a tear that she shed from the worry of earlier. "You know I'm glad it's just a fever. Just rest up please? Let me know if you need anything. I'll be there immediately. You could have been hurt badly if it were anywhere else in the house!"

It almost seemed like he didn't hear her and was in another apologetic stint. His mind wandered to something he said months ago. "I'm sorry I made you worry again. Said I didn't want to stress you out cuz..." He hesitated due to a wave of fatigue hitting him, prompting Nessa to worry briefly if he just passed out or worse. "...cuz you..."

"Haru, you need to sleep, okay? I love you, but please just get some rest." She laid a hand on his forehead while he had a lazy eye and an even lazier smile. A hand lazily goes to the one holding onto his forehead. "cuz...you're the best thing that's...ever...happened to me...in my life..." Despite his illness he kept his brown eyes locked onto her blue eyes up until they shut and fell asleep.

Wasting no time as he passed out, while Leafa showed up with a new ice pack to place on his forehead, Nessa got her phone and hit the tab for contacts to write to Hop.

[Nessa: Hey Hop, FYI, Haru is out of commission for a bit so no more studying for awhile okay? He has a fever. If you want to come by and say hi that's fine but bring any books and you'll be washed away immediately, got it?]

At that point in the evening, Hop had already started walking home and felt a cold chill suddenly wash over him. "I hope he's okay.."

[Hop: Okay sorry to hear that Nessa! D: Hope he gets better soon. Keep me posted.]

Nessa's eyes narrowed before replying back.

[Nessa: Will do. Remember, no books! Haru needs to rest, and it won't do anyone good if he tries to outdo himself with more strenuous activity soon!]

She put her phone away and stayed by Haru's side for the rest of the evening before going downstairs to the couch to sleep. Despite asking the Pokemon to alert her if Haru shows any signs of getting worse, or needing help, not even that was enough to help her fall asleep in her usual timespan. Laying there and staring into the ceiling she could only think up of several things at once: all of them conflicting with each other. /Tomorrow is a new day, Nessa. Tomorrow is a new day.../

- - - - - The Next Day, Hammerlocke - - - - -

- - - - - Noon - - - - -

"Dressing up Pokemon like that seems really weird though, doesn't it?" Syra commented while near the train station overlooking the view while munching on some Tauros Meat Sticks with various fruit. Next to her, the Intelleon that trailed her was also eating something similar though more aimed towards its diet. Sevan chuckled at Syra's dismissal and eyed her from the side. "Is it really so weird?" Shinrin was laying on the bench in between them, not having full trust of Syra being around her master and because the warmth of the bench had caught her attention.

"Well...I don't know. I've been reading up on what the other regions do and that one really caught onto me. See, with people I can see doing things like that since it's not so far fetched to imagine guys or girls or those in between doing stuff that's similar. We have models: Cynthia, Nessa, Diantha." She chewed on the end of the stick before leaning forward and thinking back to the big operation when her, Leon, Haru and Sam teamed up with the others. A blush goes across her cheeks while sighing.

Sevan winced, accidentally biting on the inside of his lip due to an injury he sustained outside of their meetup. "You suddenly sound so glum. What, is talking about Hoenn making you glum? The only one allowed to feel that way between us is me." /Damn, didn't think my cheek was that swollen that eating would be such a pain today. Shit../

She looked over to Shinrin, who looked back and then raised its head as if doing so in an unapproving manner. Syra's eyes trail back to the view the two of them were looking at and leaned forward with her arms on her knees. "I thought back about the incident that I took part in when I met those women I just talked about."

"What about them?" Sevan inquired, finally able to down a piece of his own snack while getting a small bag containing a snack for Shinrin. As one foot dangled across her leg, Syra sighed. "Much as I hate to admit it, I honestly feel like I still have a lot to learn about growing up. There's a lot of shit that I've been through already being a Gym Challenger who got to the place I did, and even to this moment I'm not sure I deserved to partake in something very important I was involved in awhile back."

Looking to the ground, Sevan seemed to recall some memories that brought with them some pained expression, though he held a reaction back a little. "Bad incident?"

"No. Yes." Her face winced in confusion at herself. "I don't know, it's confusing to say either way. So basically everything turned out fine in the end but it was because of a fuck-up I made. I often reflect back to those ladies and how I'm nowhere anywhere close to reaching the same status as them. Haru was right: there's a lot more to Pokemon than just simply being a stronger trainer with better statistics. You have to take care of them and love them dearly as if they were your best friend or a family member, or both."

"Whoa whoa what do you mean 'status'? You're a pretty good trainer from what I've gathered.." Sevan began to compliment, while Syra just gave him a side glance of neutral expression. He withdrew it halfly. "Well, from what little I know of you anyways."

She smiled in reaction to his response and chuckled. "It's more that the other things surrounding them that has stuck with me. Cynthia is a model, and so is Nessa. They're both two different people of entirely different surroundings but I can't help but wonder what it would be like, you know? Lots of people look at you differently when you're putting yourself out there."

The black-and-blonde-streak man next to her was stuck on a bite on his snack while watching her pull part of her hair back as she continued. "You're basically showing yourself off to the whole world. Nothing is hidden to anyone's eyes. As it stands now I would probably buckle showing off my body in such ways, but maybe one day building up enough courage to do that wouldn't be so bad. What do you think?"

"Huh? Think what?" It appeared she interrupted whatever his brain was processing.

"Do you think, hypothetically, I could be a model?" She raised her head up a little; confident in the current state she was in at the moment. The blue jacket, white undershirt, short shorts, pink leggings, black boots and white cap may not be 'model' material yet she did bare a striking appearance that was beginning to be hard to look away.

Before Sevan was able to answer her, the Intelleon standing next to her looked at her and squatted until it was eye level with her sitting on the bench. Syra smirks and gestures a handwave to the Intelleon. "No no, it doesn't mean that I would just abandon you or anything, Josef. Don't pay much mind to your master okay? She's just thinking on new options okay? A hypothetical situation of the future, you know?" Rubbing the top of its slender head while the water based starter seemed really happy as a result.

"Is that a serious question by the way?" He would ask while Syra was headpatting her partner Pokemon. She nods.

"I mean...what's stopping you?" Sevan would ask.

Syra, still giving a headpat to her Intelleon, looks over to Sevan. "There's an important step in my life that has to finish off first before I really focus on doing anything extraneous and fun. Becoming a model would maybe be fun. Maybe it wouldn't be. For one thing, I'm waiting for Haru's Gym to finish before I reenlist into the Gym Challenge and start over so I can have a proper rematch with him. The other..." Her mind flashes to her old man wearing the prison garb and shook her head with a sigh. "It's nothing."

As an eyebrow raised and eye narrowed, Sevan gave a side eye back to her. "People don't normally sigh and shake their head over nothing."

"Well I'm not 'people'. I'm Syra, and one day I'm going to become Champion over this whole region. Just you wait." She got up after tossing the remainder of the Tauros Meat Stick into the trash and looked to Sevan after picking up her bag. "I have to head out, but thanks for lunch again. You STILL didn't have to pay for me so it's making this really hard on me to figure out how to pay you back."

He held up a hand and looked off to the side, though Shinrin got up on her hindlegs and leaned on him as if to object to his random act of kindness. It was as if she was telling her master to be more frugal with the new girl. "It's fine. Just don't lose touch when you're doing your...'nothing' that you said you have to finish."

"Yeah? Wouldn't worry about losing touch, but you should get that injury checked out." She comments, nodding to Josef before her and the Pokemon start walking off. The reaction on his part was delayed but Sevan blinked after realizing that she read his body language in having an injury without saying anything or pointing it out. "Hey wait!"

As she walked off Syra just waves back to him by taking her cap off and grinning. "Try not to get messed up so badly that we can't meet anymore okay? I'm still trying to figure out a way to pay you back."

/How did she know I was../ Shaking his own head, Sevan sighed with a blush coming back to his cheeks. "She's something, huh, Shin." The Leafeon looked at him with a pout, but then gave no indication on its thoughts afterwards. Crawling up onto his lap while he was still on the bench, it curled up onto a circle as if to try absorbing more of the Galarian sunlight. "Oh NOW that the other girl is gone you're being clingy more openly huh?" Joking, he started to pat the Grassy Eeveelution slowly.

He brought up his phone when Syra had disappeared off into the horizon and looked for Haru's contact information. The last message that they shared together was still on 'Read', so he decided to put it away. If the response didn't come back yet then he must have been busy.

The Intelleon nudges Syra from the side while they walked to a station where a Corviknight would be landing. His master looks up at him. "What?"

It seemed to be catching onto her 'shtick' and only made its usually half lidded eyes more narrow: judging her silently. Syra scoffs at him, lifting her head up. "Oh pish posh, Josef. Don't read too far into it! He's a nice guy and it's beneath me to just stop talking to him suddenly after hanging out with him for one afternoon." Josef leaned in closer, as some sweat bead formed on her forehead. "H-hey. Okay, it was evening. I didn't get home until evening and Mom was wondering what happened." It leaned further still while Syra felt a vein throb in her forehead. "LOOK! Don't read so much into it okay?! Besides, I'm too damaged of a person to just willy nilly go for anyone!"

Her water starter blinked at her, not meaning to have her say something so callous but in her own haste it appeared Syra admitted something to herself out loud she didn't want to confront. Looking at the ground, she kicked an idle rock with her right foot and sighed. "Look...I just got done getting used to this whole thing happening with Bea, okay? I can't just start reacting so curt to people and especially don't need to be flirting with someone like that so soon. It's not right, and whoever that person is deserves someone who..."

The two of them were interrupted as a Corviknight and its Cabbie landed with the Cab Car making a loud 'thunk' on the ground. "Oh! Hey there Challenger! Syra, right?"

Pushing the thought out of her mind as soon as it came to her, Syra waved to him and walked over. Opening the door for herself and her Intelleon the two get in. "Heheh...Hey there. Would you mind taking us to Circhester, please?"

As the Steel Bird Pokemon flapped its wings for lift off, Syra looked out the window while her best friend Josef, the Sobble who became the dependable Intelleon on her journey, looked back at it. His face showed a pained mood. He had gotten the intention of what she was going to say earlier before being cut off by the landing of the Air Taxi, and put a hand on top of her head. For some reason without speaking it, Syra felt as if Josef understood what she was going to say and began to tear up. /...I'm too damaged to even be bothered with such trite connections like that./ She thought to herself, while a few tears started streaming down her face. The Water Pokemon pulled her in for a hug and she just held on quietly while the two were in the air taking their trip.

- - - - - Wyndon, Battle Tower - - - - -

- - - - - That Same Moment... - - - - -

Overlooking the same view as he had before it was hard to see whether or not things were going to get better for himself. Challenging Rose's Plan, possibly endangering Galar through his decisions, and leaving behind a legacy of 'The Undefeatable Champion' whose own gimmick was his seemingly easy ability to get lost. Leon looked upon the horizon of Galar at the society below and let out a small exhale. /Haru and Hop were the ones right there with me throughout all that, and yet I sometimes wonder if what Rose said was true.../

/"The future is more important than just one day! We must act as quickly as we possibly can! We must take action in order to avert tragedy! So that all can look forward to a better future!"/

/"I'm sorry it's come to this. But it's you who forced my hand, Leon. You refused to listen!"/

Leon's thoughts weren't alone as Sonia had appeared, having arrived as he called for her. No longer needing to be coy about their feelings, the young professor and Champion embrace each other with a kiss. Afterwards, Sonia felt him hug her a little more tightly. "Leon..?"

Letting go of her embrace while turning back to the horizon view, Leon seemed more tense than he let up. "Sonia, now that I'm Champion again, I've been thinking back to everything. I was a fool."

"Sorry, what? Where is this coming from?" She walked to his side. Most of the time he was known to be a very positive beacon of hope even when he wasn't Champion after the defeat by Haru, but this felt like something was amiss.

"Haru is out there right now finding his calling; it is as I knew he would. My little brother, Hop, joined you of his own volition to pursue the knowledge of helping this world to understand Pokemon. Every day he's surprising me with new facts just like how you do, though I tend to get lost much more easily when you inform me of such things in conversation." Rubbing the back of his head, Leon let out a weak laugh. Sonia puffed her cheeks, being a little flustered.

"If it's so confusing then why don't you tell me to ease off a little then?! If we're talking and you're lost you can just tell me to explain it more simply!" She huffed, but Leon found that reaction more satisfying.

He ended up laughing and going to hold one of her hands. "I like hearing you speak passionately about what you're doing and learning every day, love. That's all."

That calmed Sonia down near instantly, though her earlier question stood. They shared a silence together while Leon sighed and further elaborated. "Everybody is figuring out their calling. Haru, Hop, You, Marnie, Piers, heck, I heard even Gordie and Melony are fixing their differences so Circhester has less to worry about. Isn't that nuts?"

His girlfriend squeezed his hands and frowned. "Leon.."

He didn't wait any longer to explain and his smile turned to a frown. "...all this time and I still don't know what I want to do. That's kind of pathetic isn't it? Is all I'm good for just being some sort of icon? A mascot who is there to help others get a vague idea of what awaits them?"

"Leon...hey..." Sonia began to say before Leon turned his frown towards her. "Tell me I'm wrong then, please. I...I know I'm only Champion per due responsibility and I told Haru I would since he wanted to retire a year after becoming it. It's only fair I stay here until I'm defeated again. But after that? What if I don't know what to do when it's over? What if I'm just stuck here competing in the Battle Tower? Isn't it boring to be with someone who only thinks of competing against strong opponents? I don't have any big aspirations like you do, and I certainly don't have the brains to pull off the things others around here or even other regions have done. But...it just feels maybe I've wasted my potential.."

"Hey. He~y. Don't think like that. Look, everybody here is figuring themselves out in different ways and especially at different times. I don't love you less just because for you, you feel lost." She let go of his hands and clasped both together, walking away a few paces from him before turning back. "Let's think of this in another way, shall we? Look at what Haru is choosing to do: become a Gym Leader. Now, what is the ultimate goal of a Gym Leader?"

Leon took a second to ponder on the wording that would actually be correct for that inquiry. "To pose a challenge to all Gym Challengers, and to help them grow as Pokemon Trainers. It's in their nature to defend the type of Pokemon they choose or are assigned to, and generally are obstacles for trainers to overcome."

The redhead walked over back to him and grabbed both of his hands before holding them together upwards. She looked him in the face with a confidant smile. "So then why aren't you looking at your being Champion in the same light?"

/Critical Hit..!/ Leon thinks to himself, looking away sheepishly. "Okay, you got me. I can't think of a good response to that at all. Those are all good points.."

Sonia nodded and pondered for a bit on what exactly could have been bothering him. "Is it because you're simply not going at the same 'speed' you used to? Because I don't think that makes you a lesser man, you know. It just means that you're focusing a lot more on the greater impact you'll have one everyone."

Looking back, Leon's harsh expression slowly disappeared; his self doubt and deprecation making way to accept some of the praise Sonia was giving him.

Stepping forward, Sonia gave Leon a kiss and held it before letting her hand rest on his cheek. "Just because you haven't figured it out now doesn't mean you won't figure it out later, or that you're a lesser person. Haru and Hop are some examples of those sparked by the inspirations of their journeys to lead them to where they're at: you know where they want to be. Nobody else is in the unique position as you and ever will be. You are you, and you shouldn't feel beholden to what others are going through okay?"

Looking back at her and no longer caring about the horizon, it appeared Leon's perspective had shifted back to thinking about the bigger picture. Whether or not his self doubt was erased was one thing to figure out for another time, but the words Sonia spoke to him felt endearing and very insightful even without her own personal experience to speak from. "I may not understand a lot of the things you speak of considering your position and the way you elaborate on them, but saying all that..." Leon's eyes narrow while a smile crept on his face. His own gaze locking to Sonia's before shaking his head from side to side. "...I don't know what it is about you but it just makes me comfortable. Like even the simplest of things are suddenly a lot more easy for me to understand."

The young professor seemed to beam with pride, pushing her chest outward and nodding as if she had completed a hard mission. "Be that as it may, my dear, it's true. All of it. Just because your 'speed' may not be as fast as Haru or Hop's doesn't make you a lesser person, okay? Please don't ever think that. I know one day you'll have an epiphany that will shake the foundations of Galar to its very core just like you did when you were nicknamed 'The Legendary, Unbeatable Champion Leon' before Haru came along. That sort of stuff just doesn't 'go away' you know."

"Are you sure you're not-" Leon began to contest, but was stopped by Sonia holding her pointer and middle finger to his lips. "Hey. Shhh. You've never let me down once."

A small pink line crept across his cheeks looking at her. "Not even once? Considering even what happened with the ex-Chairman: Rose? Not then? Even when I wasn't able to be the one person responsible for-"

His line of questioning was interrupted again with a cheeky smile and the seemingly neverending positivity Sonia exuded. She smiled and kissed the bottom of his chin. "Not even once."

The two shared a small laugh before Leon, while holding Sonia's hands, turned back to the horizon before him. He had been studying things in such a level of detail be it for battle or his own goals he set forth. In this moment, however, it appeared Sonia had managed to clear up his mind speaking only the simplest of ways as she normally had done. Even with the events that had occurred even since Haru became Champion, such as herself becoming a new Pokemon Professor in Galar, Sonia never lost her edge in being able to 'dial in' Leon to a degree. Standing near him, her head lays on the side of his chest and sighs contently.

Leon felt as if the world was always against him in some light or another, but with Sonia by his side the ability to chastize his own actions and give a self deprecating 'jab' at his abilities (or lack thereof) had lightened up to almost nill from the past. He was unsure if it was due to the new career she had come upon her own volition or something else, but the words she spoke, and the emotions within them had reassured one key fact to Leon. Looking back down at her, his heart felt full. /Sonia's right. I may not be able to figure things out right now, tomorrow, or even the next week or month. But no matter what I'm doing, it may not feel as scary as it normally would./

Clasping her hand over his own and then bringing her back into another embrace, the two stood in silence where they were at as the long spiky haired ex-turned-current Champion stroked her back affectionately. "Sorry for bringing it up Sonia. I should know by now to not mind the current conditions and just look forward to tomorrow."

Her own expression had gone from one that was critical of his current mood to one showing understanding to his predicament. Smiling, Sonia laid her head on his chest and hummed. "It's okay. But...let's just stay like this for a little while okay? We've both had a lot going on lately..."

Sonia had said 'a little while' to him right then and there, but it appeared that the couple stood there in silence just simply being around each other and cuddling for no other reason just to be comfortable around each other. Leon's personal issues wouldn't exactly be 'defeated' by any means, but with the way Sonia had told him what she did, it put things into a new light. As the sounds of Wyndon, and ergo, Galar, had continued to fill in the white noise between the couple merely being silent with each other, both of their minds cleared up. Being known as someone who would 'get lost easily', Leon was a man who put up a facade more times than not just to excuse the 'gimmick' so that he could be more readily left alone to his own devices. Sonia, the journalist-turned-professor, was the only one who truly understood him and knew what his words and actions actually meant upon every instance.

Sticking out her tongue and covering her bases in terms of the previous conversation, the redhead looked up to her beloved and smirked. "...I didn't mention her but one can only hope that Syra reaches the same fire that the others did too. But if she didn't, that's okay as well. All of us are in this at the same time. We all know she's going through a rough time currently, but like I to you, she has a support group that hasn't forgotten her."

Embracing the love from the professor who had been expressing such kindness, Leon stroked Sonia's back and sighed. Content. "You're right...and I'm thankful for you being with me all this time my darling."

- - - - - Amiri's Home, Circhester - - - - -

- - - - - 9:10 PM - - - - -

The pizza delivery had been made, meaning that Gabriel, Amiri, and Syra had put aside a lot of the current events big or small to just enjoy a nice dinner as a family. Big, or hot button topics such as politics or careers were forbidden but the table didn't seem to object when Syra took a bite of her pizza and looked to her mom and brother with a sigh. "I think once this is all over with the court case I want to start all over."

Gabriel had just taken a bite of his, swallowed it and upon hearing his sister say such a line began to choke, if only briefly, on the news. Amiri patted his back to help him un-choke himself and looked to Syra with a narrowed expression. "What do you mean, dear? Do you want to start over with the Gym Challenge, perhaps?"

In the middle of her exclamation, Syra swatted a hand away from Gabriel trying to take another slice from the pizza and getting it onto her own plate. Mouth full for a moment, she tilted her head back and looked at Amiri before replying. "Well, basically yeah. It's not so much that I don't think I could come out as a Champion this time around, but it wouldn't mean much if I didn't start from the beginning. Haru owes me a Scorbunn-"

"Yes yes I know dear. I was there when you demanded him to give you one even though you said he didn't. Are you sure you're not still feeling for him?" She chuckled to herself, tilting her water back while Syra's face turned as red as a Voltorb. "MOM~! Sweet Arceus I'm not crushing on him!"

Lightly punching her side of the table, Syra huffed and took a moment before continuing. "Anyways. The idea is that if we succeed-"

"WHEN we succeed..." Amiri corrected her. Knowing what her daughter had gone through, though the guilt not having vanished completely by then, she was more than willing to do whatever possible to protect her now that she was back in Syra's life.

Taking a bite of her pizza slice before continuing, almost in her usual pouty demeanor, Syra looked to them and replied. "Right, when we succeed, and when the Gym Challenge comes back around I'm going to start with a clean slate. Josef will continue alongside me, but I want to go through them all again. Maybe on my second runaround in the Gym Challenge there will be something new for me to discover or learn. Personally I'm unsure, but it's best that I look on things positively rather than not at all. Haru is going to be starting his life anew with a new Gym, and once things clear up for all of us, it'd only be fair if I did the same thing."

"Why not just go right to Wyndon Stadium and challenge Haru directly?" Gabriel asked, still having no idea how the whole program works while cutting up his slice with a fork and knife. His big sister eyed him almost with an irritation that grew from the comment.

She swallowed her bite before continuing. "Because then it wouldn't prove anything! I would just be coming in for a rematch, and then it would mean I'd be beating everyone else to the punch! If I don't go through the Pokemon League Tournament and beat them all again AND Haru, then it'll be meaningless! I have to prove my worth!"

It had been a good while since Amiri had been consistently surrounded by positivity. Seeing her daughter fired up after being a little emotional filled her soul with a renewed sense of purpose and vigor. "Back in the day when I challenged Haru's mother and neither of us ended up as Champion, I had a similar sense of fire: a sense of purpose."

Syra seemed to be taken aback by the comment. Turning to her mother while taking another bite of pizza she only listened in while Amiri sighed and continued. "In the end neither of us really found our ground and lost, but it didn't change us as people. Surely, back then it was a challenging time as both of you are painfully aware with Ritsu, but it didn't hinder us in any way. We both grew from it." Amiri took off her glasses and looked to the side, realizing what she had just said and frowned. "...perhaps it's been too long since I held onto this guilt and should contact Lana again. Such circumstances should not be the reason for friends to depart, and it's high time I acted my age." She looked to Syra and sighed, lowering her head. "I hope that when you're done you can reach the same kind of peace with Haru."

Her own face going from regular to stark red, Syra shouts in her normally chaotic manner. "Mom! I'm not even crushing on him anymore, it's someone else okay? You can lay off just a litle bi-!" Her right hand cupped over her mouth to shut herself up while her little brother, Gabriel got a Meowth-esque smile on his face. Sneering. He leaned forward and tried to reach across the table to poke at her. "WHAT was that sis? You get a crush on someone new?"

"Shut up! It's none of your stupid business anyway!" Syra said, swatting his hand away while the siblings seemed to start bickering amongst each other. Amiri stared at the scene unfolding before her and couldn't help but laugh. Pulling out her phone from underneath the table she simply sent a message in hopes it would deliver to the same number.

[Amiri: Lana it has been too long, and I am very sorry I dropped off the face of the planet. I only hope you can forgive me, but can we talk soon? Maybe meet up at the Seafood place in Hulbury? It'll be my treat.]

Watching her two children have a bickering match, it was a flavor of chaos that she had honestly missed. Most parents missed certain things when their children weren't around: the sounds of video games being played, toys being tossed, conversations being had at the drop of a hat. For Amiri, it was these things and more, such as the simple hectic activity of two siblings having a 'fight' amongst each other for the most inane reasons. Her phone vibrated. A reply.

[Lana: I have missed you so much, and I am so sorry for what I did too. Even though it wasn't my fault I feel like I was still responsible. I can't quite pin down a day, but Haru has told me a lot on what has been happening. Thanks to that, I've been able to keep up with things on your end to a degree. Let us talk at this place okay? How about tomorrow in the noon?]

Pulling back some of the green hair on her side, Amiri smiled. Even as the court case proceedings had been weighing down on her psyche, not to mention the actual content of the lawsuit itself, she felt a wave of relief. /The world hasn't completely gone to madness it seems.../

- - - - - Wyndon, In Front of the Pokemon League Building - - - - -

"Thank you so very much Miss Chairman. We've managed to make amazing strides today..!" One man said, shaking Oleana's hand while she stood outside the tall skyscraper. The weather had grown a bit more windy, and with the current events as well as the upcoming new plans for the Multi-Regional Tournament to be held, Oleana faced most of the day making phonecalls and discussing possible plans. Sponsors were phoned, corporation heads were clued into the project, and for once the current events of Team Rocket were held down to a minimum. Legality of Pokemon trading notwithstanding, Oleana had made progress for the day on multiple fronts.

She bowed slightly while shaking hands cordially and kept her usual stoic expression. "Much obliged. Goodnight."

The nightlife had begun to blossom forth on the streets. Poke Fanatics with partner Pokemon such as were performing in the streets, bars had begun to open up, private fight clubs were quietly letting in their contestants or contestant Pokemon to attend; Wyndon had lit up just as much as it did in the daytime. While walking past her own memories of the day had flashed back. The 'National Dex' issue seemed to be coming along fine and was in its final stages of resolving. Trade with other Regions had begun to have an up-tick of activity thanks to the lack of Team Rocket controlling the transport alongside other villainous teams. A new discussion on the legality of relations with Pokemon had also started to hit the private conference rooms as many areas were pontificating on what to do on incidents 'involving' Gardevoir and other human-like Pokemon.

/I hadn't expected that today was going to start on trying to make sure relations with Sinnoh were as tightknit as the day before and ended on the intricacies of inter-species relations. Hmm.../

Oleana kept pondering this while checking her button-up jacket was still closed all the way up to the top. The seasons had seen a change; nights were longer and as such, colder much earlier too. Long hours at the Pokemon League Headquarters felt much longer due to the change of the year's seasons, though she kept in the back of her head the thought of Sam eventually coming back home.

She didn't have to wait long.

A large gust of wind was felt near her vicinity while a Corviknight had landed with its Air Taxi Cab clinged onto by its talons. The Cab Car made a loud 'thunk', and in front of Oleana she saw a man step out. The figure turned to her and made a single wave, causing her to feel her heart jump into her chest.

"Oleana..!"

The young man wore a cap, a large bag slung over his shoulder, a jacket that bore silver and gold patterns on the front while the back had a Lugia symbol on it and glasses.

It was Sam. Sam finally came home.

He smiled, and Oleana looked at him as tears began to bud. Up to this point the two of them had made it a habit to downplay or otherwise hide the fact that she was romantically involved with someone just to make sure that tabloid journalists would not get their greasy mits on a 'hot topic' story to write with little more than hyperbole. But as her heart had swollen with love seeing Sam come back home, knowing that he had finally made his decision, her bag dropped and she ran to him.

The woman embraced him and spun him around while the ex-Champion of Johto embraced his arms around her. The emotional high that made her tear up seemed to reflect back on him, as his own eyes welled up. The couple were finally reunited. "I'm home Oleana...just as I promised."

"Hush, please...I've had a long, 13 hour day..." Oleana says weakly, fighting back the urge to cry right in front of him openly. She could not help but feel comforted knowing he kept his promise to come back to her. As the Cabbie looked over he started to say something but his Corviknight let out a loud caw as if to shush its pilot. He snickered and rubbed the back of his head.

Sam kept his arms around Oleana and buried his head onto her chest while he was partially covered by the coat she wore. They stood in silence while it took Oleana a bit to realize this was reality rather than fiction. A moment passes by and she lifts his head up to hers and kisses him deeply: no longer caring if anyone with a spare camera or phone had seen. Nothing else surrounding her had mattered. In what was a long, very arduous process of Sam learning what his placement was in the world and figuring out what to do, he had let go of his past.

What was once a man born in Johto who had seen several other regions for the sake of his own curiosity, he finally ended his 'bucket list' of tasks before making a permanent, new home in Galar. Jet lagged be damned, feeling the lips of the woman he loved kiss him deeply gave him a new sense of reenergization that made him forget all his troubles. No longer would he have to worry about one day being taken down by Rocket or be distracted by the judgments of those he grew up alongside in his hometown. Oleana, the one true passion left in his life, was the one center of his universe.

The two parted as she wiped one of her eyes with a thumb before sniffling and saying to him. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up suddenly like this..."

"I told you I'd be back, didn't I? Did you not expect that I would be back so soon...?" His hands resting around her hips. The Cabbie at this point relied on an audible signal before making sure he would be needed again.

Shaking her head, the blonde woman laughed weakly. "I...I'm not sure. Today's been a first for a lot of things. I'll tell you all about them in a bit but, perhaps you'd like a ride first?"

Looking over to the Air Taxi and the Corviknight that occupied it, Sam let out a laugh while readjusting his hat, as it had been almost pushed off from the force of Oleana's sudden kissing to him in public. "Sure. Take me home, then..." his face turned back up to her. "...my new home, Oleana."

Galar kept moving on throughout its nightlife as if the event never happened. Nobody paid any mind to the random act of romance that occurred within the middle of the streets of Wyndon, but on the way home during the ride to her place, the windows of the taxi got a bit foggier due to the passion Oleana was able to pour back to him. She normally would not lose herself to such things even if it meant a moment of pure bliss, but now with Sam being home she was no longer about to let him go anywhere without knowing how intense her feelings were for him.

The beginning of this connection will be told another day of course, but for now, Galar's night skies could not begin to contain the brightness that shone within Sam's heart whenever he looked upon the woman known as 'Miss Chairman'.

- - - - - END OF CHAPTER 19 - - - - -