Welcome one, welcome all! You've stumbled upon (or perhaps intentionally sought out) this second book of the Ancienverse's Paldean Trilogy! As it suggests, this book is the next installment in my long-running series and the midpoint of the trilogy set in the region of Paldea. What's this mean? It means go back and read Book 1, review it, then come here!

Joking aside, with this book, we continue the adventure of Juliana as she seeks answers, and the events that happen in Paldea along the way. As we left things last time, she and Arven were confronted by Segin Squad, the truth of Juliana's involvement with Team Star came out, Titan Orthworm attacked but was driven back by Gloria, once-missing and now found. Finally, Juliana caught her team of ragamuffin Pokémon.

Now that we're caught up, let's dive in!

Author: Epicocity

Rating: T for violence and language

Pairings: Amourshipping, Gloria/Hop

DISCLAIMER: Context should suggest I do not own the series.

Love in the Time of Tension

Book Two of the Ancienverse Paldea Trilogy

Book Twelve of the Ancienverse

Chapter 1

A Class

"Be careful with those! They're precious artifacts of history!"

The woman's voice echoed amidst the clatter, some splashing of water joining with the clanging of rusted pots and pans. At its volume, Cynthia turned her eyes away from the bulwark of brick that sat before her. Her finger continued stroking her chin, but her sight locked on to that of Miss Raifort, the renowned history teacher of the Paldean Academy. The dark-skinned woman looked absolutely in her element, carefully giving diligent orders to the number of researchers and archeologists that had come to visit.

"All right, muchachos, you heard the professor," a man cried, this belonging to a burly trio of brothers. They lifted an old desk high, its wooden frame beginning to rot, and started carrying it towards the stone stairs. They were followed by some others ferreting around in the ice-encrusted rubble.

Cynthia turned back to the bricks, her finger now tapping against her chin. The composition confounded her, almost as much as a choice of ice cream.

"Gurra?" Garchomp's whine indicated her own sense of confusion, but unlike her trainer, she stepped forward and began clawing at the wall. The poking allowed some small shafts of light to pour into the watery chamber.

"Whoa, whoa, Miss Cynthia! Careful!"

"Don't worry. This isn't nearly as ancient an artifact as you think," Cynthia said to Raifort's warning. She leaned forward, confusion replaced with a smile, and dusted away some of the dirt and decayed mortar around the bricks. "This is simply a manmade barricade."

"It's still evidence of the civilization that used to live here," Raifort huffed, adjusting her glasses. She joined them in peering closer. "That said, given all of the texts we've found above, I'm surprised they would brick this chamber over."

"Mm, I don't think it was ever a chamber, but merely a nook set in the mountain," Cynthia said, pointing along the seam of brick and stone. Raifort nodded, her head swiveling between the upper part of the chamber and the shining yellow seal that sat at the other end. Even from that distance, the crystalline ice was evident, as were the two broken links. "I have a feeling the old civilization sealed it off so as to not have it found."

"Still an odd decision. The texts suggest that the village living in this mountain revered this seal as something of a god," Raifort said. It was her turn to tap her chin, her splashing revealing movement towards the seal. Cynthia followed. "I guess it would line up with the old legends."

"Those of the treasures?"

"I'm not surprised you're aware of such legends," Raifort said, hiding a rather girlish giggle behind her hand. "But yes. The great treasures gifted to the king, soon filled with such negative emotion they took on forms of their own. Legendary Pokémon capable of bringing down storms and avalanches and the death of trees."

"Legends certainly seem godlike," Cynthia concluded, stopping just short of the glowing seal. She reached out, careful as she ran her hand along its cool surface. Most of it was unremarkable, save for the broken links in the chains that once bound it. Whatever was contained inside had nearly made it out, yet something had prevented it. Cynthia scoffed. "And it wouldn't surprise me if reverence turned to fear."

"Ah, so you suggest they covered it up because they feared others coming near. An interesting hypothesis. I'll have to study the texts to learn more."

"Why not study the seals themselves, Miss Raifort?" Cynthia suggested, unable to stop the playful smirk from twitching at her lips. Raifort huffed loudly.

"Would that I could, but informing the students of tomorrow about the past of our great region comes first! Even Miss Serena needed special permission from the director to go for such a period. Though I'm glad she did! Such artifacts!"

"Indeed…" Cynthia's drawl went unnoticed by Raifort. The woman was filled with too much excitement as she began to examine more of the seal, herself. Garchomp went off elsewhere, no doubt digging at other hidden secrets of the cavern.

"Though I have to wonder…how are the chains breaking?" Raifort's question drew Cynthia away from what otherwise would have become a reverie. She peered just a bit closer. This time, her hand touched one of the broken links.

"This is clearly a Pokémon's doing. Nothing could be so sharp, or so accurate," Cynthia said. The thought gave her pause, and brought a frown to Raifort's face, but neither woman said anything on the matter. It put their attention on the other broken link. "This one, though…it's as though it was forcibly wrenched apart by some unknown entity."

"Hmm…not a being or an attack…" Raifort's eyes rolled to the back of her head, the woman quickly thinking. "Ah, perhaps an emotion?"

"Emotion?" Cynthia said, her eyebrows quickly raising. Raifort started to laugh again.

"A mere theory. But the legend of the treasures puts particular emphasis on all the negative emotions. Things like hate, greed, envy, all that stuff. Maybe, such intense emotions tossed into a blender around Paldea is causing the links to snap. Though even as I say it out loud it sounds foolish."

"Maybe not," Cynthia said, winking in the teacher's direction. Raifort began to look, if anything, more interested. "Emotions form such an important basis of everything. Bonds between people and Pokémon. As I always say, when one life meets another life, something will be born."

"Ah, an old Hisuian saying."

"You're familiar?"

"I dabble," Raifort said, waving off the subject to examine the mottled chain further. "Hisui isn't as well known. Most just refer to it as ancient Sinnoh or whatever, but to a history buff like me, I like to have the accurate origin point of such sayings."

"And good thing you do!" Cynthia said with a laugh. She shoved her hands into her coat, beginning to gaze around the chamber like it would offer up further clues. It gave her none. "To be honest, it's something I've become more interested in myself lately. Hisui. The family tree. You know, there's a theory that with Hisui as the beginning of the world, Paldea is a counterpart in the beginning of life?"

"Maybe. Personally, I think it's all unsubstantiated," Raifort said with a wave, never taking her eyes off the chain. "There are ruins all over the world, each bearing similar distinctions as the ones from the old tribes. Nothing suggests they're all connected."

"Not unless we use your theory. Emotion affecting seals and legends. Stoke enough of an emotion, things tip the wrong way," Cynthia said. She now walked over, taking the link from Raifort and running her hands over it. Even there, she could feel an intense hatred emanating from it. One that, if left unchecked, threatened to drink the world dry. "They say Hisui nearly vanished when its own negative emotions frayed at its very existence. Then you have the Tapus of Alola, choosing on the quality of emotion. Or Zygarde."

"But all of those were involved in tipping points, yes? Or so history has shown." Raifort, gleaning no new information, pulled back, allowing her eyes to travel through the holes to the hidden village above. "Those are long past, right?"

"Mm, indeed. Our world is past them. But emotion can remain a powerful tool in the wrong hands. Emotion strong enough to tether one to the world…or burn it down. I'd hope whatever's causing this isn't the latter."

"Ah, I wouldn't worry. That's what historians, er, sorry…archeologists like us are here for!" Raifort now posed, hands on her hips. She started to point forward at the seal, as if challenging it to create a mystery she couldn't crack. "We look into the seals, discover their deeper meanings, and what it can mean. The tipping points are nothing to worry about. You can leave uncovering all those mysteries to us."

"Not just us," Cynthia said, stepping for the stairs with a smile. Garchomp was quick to follow. "Though I like the idea of looking into any of these other seals, I don't think we should just look at the past to solve any problems.

"It's the youth of the future and the bridges connecting us that are just as vital to understanding what's to come."

With an enthusiastic nod of agreement from Raifort, and another clamor from upstairs, Cynthia exhaled with a breath she didn't know she was holding. Heaviness was sitting on her heart, and worry with it, the events of the past few weeks sitting far deeper than Raifort could guess.

Between Gloria's personal mission, Serena's discoveries, her own investigations…and the rumor of the mysterious Phantom who came and went like the wind, their motives unknown, Cynthia's heart became troubled. Casting a look back at the seal, she could only guess at what had undone its chains. And if there was any connection to such intense negative emotion, she knew the course that was set to her before it became too late.

Yet as she climbed the stairs, she held a greater emotion deeper in her soul: the earnest conviction and belief in the youth of tomorrow, holding tight to the future. For them, she stepped forward, the ex-Champion running towards the next investigation.

"The youth of tomorrow is the blood that keeps a battle pumpin'!"

A fist thrusted through the air, splitting it. The owner grinned and soon began to bounce up and down on her feet, the Medicham next to her copying the movement. Nearby, some students started to mimic her, getting themselves pumped up and earning scowls and growls from some of the others; those who felt a Battle Studies class this early in the morning was a bad idea.

Juliana was inclined to agree, stifling a yawn until she felt a bonk to the back of her head. She whipped around, her brunette braid traveling with her.

"Quit it, Tinkatink."

"Hey, pay attention!" Juliana rolled her eyes, and offered a glare in Des's direction. The older boy leered right back, testing her to see if she'd retaliate against his remonstration. She did no such thing.

Tinkatink was a different story, clutching her hammer tight and beating it into her hand. "Tinktink?"

"No," Juliana warned under her breath. The little one was utterly crestfallen. Juliana spared another glance at the haughty Des and his lapdog, Fidel. "Okay, maybe just a little."

"Tink!" Tinkatink took her step forward, only for her attempt at assault to be interrupted.

"HIII-YAH!" Dendra's sudden shout rippled through the class, waking up the few students that were still half asleep. "All right, now that I have everyone's attention, today's class is focused on new technique!"

"What makes that so different from old technique?" Juliana muttered. Her hand felt for her phone, trying to sneak a peek if there was a message on there. Nothing appeared on the screen, so she focused on Dendra's words, the tracksuit-wearing teacher having enough energy for three classes combined. She was only matched by Nemona, bouncing up and down on her heels a few feet away.

"It's a proven concept that today's young trainers are growing at an exponential rate compared to the older trainers, thanks to access like League replays and livestreaming," Dendra explained. She started to run in place, her feet crunching on the grass of the school's upper courtyard (or battleyard, as they often called it). It masked the syncopated rhythm of other footsteps drawing closer. "New abilities, twists on old ones. The current Champion of Galar was only twenty when she took the mantle, and of course, our very own Nemona is just sixteen and Champion Rank."

"And one day I'll become La Primera!" Nemona's enthusiasm earned laughs. Juliana rolled her eyes. It was still just about battling with her.

"Point is, these modern training techniques have taken the world by storm, ushering in a new generation. So, I want to help impart some of those to you all!" Dendra, finally, stopped moving, whirling around as if in presentation. "To that end, I've brought in the pioneer of unorthodox moves, creator of the Countershield, and one wacky battler to boot. Class, welcome our guest teacher for the day, Ash Ketchum!"

Scattered applause, some polite, some roaring, echoed over the courtyard. It was loud enough that some pockets of lounging students were caught by it, too. All eyes turned to the new pair of footsteps, belonging to the young man striding forward, Pikachu on his shoulder. There was a smattering of gasps here and there, with others pointing. Nemona, naturally, was over the moon.

"Oh wow! I can't believe it! Lessons from Ash Ketchum! Pinch me!"

Tinkatink decided to hit her instead, bruising her in the calf before walking back over to Juliana with a little grin. Juliana shook her head in turn, feeling Nemona's eyes start to latch on to her.

"Hey, everyone!" Ash said, coming to a stop next to Dendra with a hand waved. "Good to see you all."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ketchum!"

Juliana snorted. If there was one thing she'd already come to learn, it was that the Ketchums were not a family that showed propriety. The further respect Ash was shown almost made her laugh aloud. He wasn't some unknown person around the campus, often seen meeting his wife or daughter, and just as often indulging in a battle with some students that asked him.

He trounced them every time, including Nemona.

"Just Ash is fine."

"Pipikachu!" Pikachu greeted. Ash looked at his partner, the two sharing a silent nod. Pikachu, having gotten some message, leapt down to the grass, cheeks sparking as though ready for battle.

"Right, so…uh…" The man froze a second, hand behind his head and a chuckle on his lips. He looked to Dendra, clearly aware of all the eyes on him, from Nemona's shining ones to Des's arched brows. "What was it you wanted me to do again? Serena's the teacher, not me. I barely got through helping Gloria."

"You can battle m-"

"Nemona," Juliana said, almost through clenched teeth, "shut up."

"Jul-"

"Just give 'em a display of awesome techniques! Show it in action!"

"Cham Medicham!"

Ash looked yet more confused by this, now scratching at his cheek. He let loose a sigh, fiddling with the hat on his head before his lips started to twitch into a smile. "Not really my style. Besides, just showing techniques won't help students learn, right? Sometimes, you gotta just do!"

"That's my motto exactly! Miss Dendra, are we allowed to battle Ash?"

"I think we'll take a different approach," Ash said. At his feet, Pikachu's ears drooped, the spark from his cheeks disappearing. It was clear he was looking forward to a battle. The rattling of Poké Balls on Ash's belt showed his other Pokémon were hoping the same. Juliana could feel the same presence from her own, but only Tinkatink remained out, twirling her hammer as she readied for bloodthirsty battle. "I think it'll be better if you all battle each other. Show me everything you've learned, and I'll try to pitch in!"

It was eerily similar to Serena's teaching style, though perhaps far more freeform. Serena had, at the least, spent time on some of the basics before having them make their own performances.

"That's a great idea! Okay, class, pair up and let's show Mr. Ketchum-er, Ash, just what the Paldean youths are up to today!"

"Yeah!" The cry was one of consensus, an exuberant need to show a top-tier trainer just what they could do as students. Juliana supposed she couldn't blame them; if Geeta had shown up to class, there was little doubt even she would stand a little straighter. For those invested in Victory Road, it was even more so.

Of course, there were just as many students with a laissez-faire attitude to the whole thing, like Des and Fidel, idly moving to a far-off battlefield and looking interested in not taking part in the practical activity at all. For once, Juliana actually found herself jealous. After all, it didn't take long before she felt the insistent pull on her arm.

"Juli, come on!" Nemona all but screeched, causing Juliana to wince. "I wanna battle you! All out!"

"It's a training battle, in class. Are you forgetting that?" Juliana said. She flashed her eyes down, stopping Tinkatink before she stubbed the older girl's toes.

"Battle's a battle!" Nemona chirped. Yet as Juliana watched her, the joy that she usually showed with such a proclamation didn't quite reach her eyes. Nemona shook it aside. "But enough of that! Battle me!"

"Which Pokémon do you want to use?" Ash was walking up, hands in his pockets. Some other students had already started battling, overseen by Dendra or trying to get the man's attention. They had at least earned Pikachu's, the man's partner issuing instructions and cheers.

"Ooh, I have way too many to choose from!" Nemona shouted. She'd let go of Juliana, spinning with a grin. When she stopped, she was holding all her Poké Balls in her hands. "I decided I think I want to go for a blend on this challenge. Some old classics and then the new members of my team. Pawmot and Finizen are absolutes, and I'd love to pit them against your Quaxwell, but Sprigatito and Nacli could use the work out. Hmm…

"Guess I'll go with my gut!"

"That's a good way to start," Ash said, grinning as the words left his mouth. "Impulse can be a strong tool in battle. Your gut is usually right."

"Sounds like a road to trouble to me," Juliana muttered. Ash looked her over at those words, and she began to feel uncomfortable. Worst of all, it meant a battle with Nemona was swiftly becoming inevitable. At that, her mind began to sift through the options, and what would give her the greatest tactical advantage.

"Let me guess," Ash said, stepping closer to Juliana, "you're not the type to charge in. You like to think and plan ahead where you can. Set up before you blast 'em down, right?"

"Something like that."

"Can be a good thing, too. A great rival of mine is the same. But he knows as well as anyone that you hafta be adjustable. Gotta be ready to pull out an impulsive move at any time. Don't think, just act." Juliana didn't like the sound of that advice, sound as it might have been for others. She started to sigh, and soon felt Ash's hand on her shoulder. It was warm, just like his wife, but didn't hold the same comfort for her. "Let's try it, Juliana. Go with your gut. None of that setup."

"Tink?" Juliana looked to the little one, smacking her hammer on the ground. With another sigh, she realized Tinkatink was the only one to fit the bill, especially after all she'd worked on the previous weeks.

But I'd still prefer a set up. He's right, though. Try to think impulsive.

"All right, Tinkatink, let's do this."

"Tink!"

"I've decided! Nacli, vamos a batalla!" Nemona's great shout was met by an equal heave of her Poké Ball. It burst with light, and on the battlefield emerged the small, sentient rock, its yellow eyes looking bright and fierce. Ash tapped Juliana's shoulder and backed away, ready to watch. Tinkatink sauntered on the battlefield. She bashed her hammer on the ground, but it did nothing to intimidate her opponent.

Juliana sucked in a breath. She watched Ash. Before long, her eyes moved past him, focusing on the elevators where someone else was watching, unnoticed. That, more than anything, made her feel a touch self-conscious. She turned to the battlefield, attempting to figure the first move.

Nemona struck first.

"Rock Polish! Headbutt!"

"Ji!" Nacli's high-pitched squeak was matched by its equally fast movements. The little rock began to shine, a glimmer and glitter passing up every carving of its body. Then it shot off from its spot like a spinning top. In no time, it had slammed into Tinkatink, driving her back.

"Metal Claw." Tinkatink was just as fast. She spun her hammer around, glowing a bright silver and becoming jagged with the form of claws. With force, she swung it around and managed to catch Nacli, flinging it high into the air.

"Smack Down! Ay, let's get it going!" Nemona was already pumping her fist, while Juliana scanned the battlefield. Nacli fell, gathering speed and shining energy that would soon be unstoppable, the force of its own body forming the basis for the attack.

"Catch it with Brutal Swing!" Juliana bit her lip, waiting for Nacli to reach the perfect moment to catch it and send it flying. Nacli was so close, and Tinkatink braced, her feet moving as she readied the mighty swing.

"Mud Shot with a spin!"

"Jicliiii!" Nacli started to spin further, dirty globs of mud beginning to fly off its body. Tinkatink grimaced, glaring at her opponent and looking to Juliana for direction of what to do next. She couldn't formulate that quickly, and watched as some of the globs struck the ground. They exploded, smoking and leaving tiny pockmarks behind. Hidden in the center of it all was Nacli.

Juliana's eyes found Ash. Be impulsive.

"Keep moving and spinning with Brual Swing, beat it all away!"

"Tinkaaaa!" Tinkatink began to move her feet in quick step. Not unlike Quaxwell's dancing, the moves taught by Serena gave her speed, her hammer becoming a metal blur that faded into black and red sparks. With that spin, she caught one glob and then the next, soon collecting them as she went to meet with Nacli on a collision course…

…only to miss entirely.

"Beat it in!" Nacli gave a scream at its trainer's cry, and its body hurtled straight into Tinkatink's frame. There was such force behind it that Tinkatink was flattened down, her body driven into a depression within the ground. Her hammer left her hand, flying through and clattering at Ash's feet.

Juliana winced this time. Tinkatink was already down for the count.

"Ah, I knew Nacli was the right choice! Our special gravity driven Smack Down is so powerful! It can even overcome steel!"

"Nacki! Nacki!"

Juliana frowned, walking over to swipe the hammer and hand it back to Tinkatink as she sat up, pouting. "I just left you wide open, didn't I? So much for impulse…"

"It's a start," Ash said. He offered a warm smile, but Juliana didn't feel much from it. "You just need to time it better."

"Think I wanna stick with my own way of battling."

"Juli, don't be so stuck in your own world!" Juliana's cheek twitched at the words. Instead of wanting a Pokémon battle, she wanted to clock the girl in the face. "How about another battle? I could use another warmup!"

"Nemona…" Ash said with a groan, beginning to facepalm. As he did, Juliana felt her shorts vibrate, and all thoughts of battle fled her mind. "She just lost, and quickly. That's not the time to ask for another battle. And definitely don't frame it as a warm-up."

"It's fine, I'm not interested anyway!" Juliana said. With a flash of her Poké Ball, she returned Tinkatink, replacing it with her phone in her hand. "Raincheck."

"Hey! You can't run from me forever! Can't be a coward like that, Juli!"

Juliana paused in her steps, fingers gripping just a little too tightly to the phone. Coward. Engage. All the words Giacomo and others had confronted her with, that she hated to hear. It was like they were chastising her for not being in their world. The world that didn't matter. All that mattered was the text on the screen, and the road and strength to meet it.

Not deigning the shout with a response, Juliana forced her body to move again.

Far as she was concerned, Battle Studies was over. The Path of Titans was ahead, triggered by the simple text on her phone: "Penny found Orthworm". Juliana picked up the pace, making a beeline for the elevator. She was about to board it when a hand slapped out to stop it, a familiar face framed by brunette hair with brown eyes joining her.

"Mind if I join you?"

The similar accent to her own took Juliana off-guard, more than the look of the Galar Champion. She wore a smile, one not dissimilar to Ash's, but enough to cause the student to nod meekly. Taking it as acceptance, Gloria sidled into the elevator and it started to shoot down. Silence filled the space between them.

Not for long, though, as Gloria showed little trouble with speaking. "She's pretty intense, yeah?"

"Huh?" It wasn't the words Juliana expected, eliciting from her a doubletake. Gloria met her eyes, that little grin not quite leaving her lips. She might have thought it to just be an act from the young woman, but all of the smiles met her eyes. There was a genuine joy there, some unshakable confidence; like no matter what illness she was suffering or chasing, she was content with herself and who she was. That impressed itself on to her words, too, the elevator continuing to hurtle down.

"Your rival. Nemona, I think Serena called her?"

"Not really my rival. She's the one that cares for battling. Not me."

"I noticed," Gloria said, slinging her hands behind her head. It reminded Juliana of Ash, but not in an exact way. Something about Gloria's state said she wasn't quite the same; maybe a bit more mysterious or something. Juliana didn't know. She almost wanted the elevator ride to end. "Noticed you didn't take to Ash's advice well, either."

"You were watching?"

"What can I say? Serena took an interest in you, and I saw how you and your Pokémon held off that Orthworm. I like a girl with guts."

"You would know…" Juliana found herself muttering. Gloria arched an eyebrow at that, causing a distracted cough to rise from the younger girl. "I'm just saying. You had guts fighting off Eternatus like that."

"Oh, you saw that?"

"It was televised."

"Feels like ancient history." Gloria's smile dropped, her hands patting her gray cardigan, a notebook jiggling in her pockets. "Can't say those things don't affect the present, though. I can remember it like yesterday. Can remember Ash training me, too."

"You learned from him?" Out of all the things Gloria had said, that surprised Juliana the most. She really shouldn't have been, remembering a bit more of the events of the Darkest Day, but it still didn't quite connect.

"He's a great teacher…if a bit more…his speed. The way you were battling seemed more rehearsed. Like you were playing chess while the others were just playing sports. Ash…doesn't do good with that stuff." Gloria was back to smiling. Juliana was back to feeling uncomfortable. She wanted this ride to end so badly, experiencing equal parts fascination and awkwardness. "Great at breaking it, and he's bloody brilliant, but he likes striking hard and fast. The more methodical, slow road isn't really his. Not like you, or like a bit of me."
"What's that mean?" The elevator finally started slowing.

"If you put Pikachu against my Cinderace, I lose every time. You put his Torterra against my Drednaw, though, and even with type disadvantage, I sweep him. Get it? You're a bit more like that latter." Gloria tilted her head back into a full laugh. "Which honestly surprises me, given you walked out on class like a little troublemaker."

"That's-!" The elevator pulled to a stop, and Juliana had no desire to be teased further. She quickly stepped out. "I have places to be."

"Tracking Orthworm, no doubt?" Juliana froze in her tracks, turning slowly on the spot. "Serena might have mentioned a thing or two. So, I had to wonder: what's a girl who stood up with little strength and skill doing taking on Titans?"

Juliana pursed her lips. The obvious question followed. "What do you know?"

Gloria paced forward, now walking with slowness and deliberation to each of her steps. She started to circle Juliana, taking her in. It reminded her of the hawkish stare Serena sometimes had. Like she was being examined. Finally, Gloria stopped in front of her.

"I can see you're a girl very focused on her goal. And that's good. If you don't lose sight of yourself."

"I know myself just fine," Juliana snapped before she could help it. Gloria didn't even flinch.

"That, I can see. You know yourself. Your Pokémon. Even in a one-on-one, you hoped to treat everything like a puzzle, parts of a whole you're piecing together, rather than a mere one step at a time." Gloria's assessment made her yet more uncomfortable, fidgeting in her skin and looking for a way out. "Makes you interesting to watch. And if half of what Serena said is true, you're not a half-bad battler."

"If that's what this is about, not interested," Juliana said. She brushed past Gloria, putting all of her willpower to break the conversation and make for the doors out of the Academy. Gloria had little trouble in keeping up with her.

"Maybe you're not, but if you're hunting a beast like that Orthworm, you're gonna need more than fancy strategies. You'll need strength and willpower. It just needs to compliment you."

"I told you, I don't care to battle. If I run across an obstacle that needs it, I'll do it. Otherwise, no thank you. Don't know why you'd want to do it anyway." The sudden stop of Gloria's footsteps when Juliana's hand was on the door gave her pause. She looked back at the young Champion, looking lost in thought.

"Number of reasons, I guess. Can't quite put my finger on it." Gloria began to tap her foot. "Easiest way of putting it is that I look at battles as a way to connect me to others. Even if it's only an end goal, I find battling helped me discover who I was. Or at least understand me. Brings out something beneath the surface level. And maybe, if I help a girl who sees them as objectives, I can bridge some gap between her and the world outside the one she's stuck in."

"Sounds pretentious to me," Juliana said, pushing at the doors and letting sunlight stream in. Gloria scoffed.

"Then maybe it's because you're new to this whole trainer thing and I'm new to the whole Champion thing. I know what I want, but not quite how to get there, you know? You feel the same. I think it could work out."

"Makes me feel like a test subject." That earned another chortle from Gloria, but she didn't rescind her offer. Like some coach, the unspoken words hung in the air, telling her that this young Champion could offer a way to some strength; the thing she needed to help her find her answers. She would have told her she'd offer consideration, if there wasn't a shout.

"Keep that thing away from me!"

"Koraidon, no! Penny's hair is not something you lick!"

"Korrr…" Juliana quickened her steps at the whine, swiftly approaching the pair of students and the great creature next to them. His red scales rippled at her approach, looking up with shining eyes. She shot back ones of consternation, especially upon seeing Penny's saliva-drenched hair. She attempted to wipe it, but it took the waving brush tail of an Eevee on her shoulders to clean up the mess.

"I see Koraidon is busy causing trouble again," she said. Part of her realized Gloria had followed, watching the exchange from a nearby lamppost.

"Restless, more like. I think he's ready to get back on the road. Towards another Titan."

"That makes a few of us," Juliana said, slapping her hand against Arven as they both grinned a little. The expression felt foreign on Juliana's face, and it didn't last long, causing her to turn towards the Academy's resident shut-in. "Arven said you found Orthworm."

"Sort of…" Penny said, blanching. She finished wiping herself off, looking ready to be anywhere but here. "I just tracked some rumblings, like you both asked, though I don't know why we couldn't hold this conversation inside."

"It's good to get out and about," Arven said with a grin. At his comment, Fuecoco appeared from his Poké Ball, quickly climbing atop Arven's head with a smile. "Expand your world a little, huh?"

Juliana shifted a bit, that same awkward feeling as with Gloria rearing its head. She looked to the Champion, locking eyes briefly. Past her, on a grassy part of the entrance courtyard, Serena's class could be seen practicing, the teacher giving every student attention. She, too, looked over, but Juliana looked away. Her eyes focused on Penny. "Where?"

"My room, of course. I hate leaving it for-"

"I meant where's Orthworm."

Penny blinked, her eyes going wide behind her glasses. She watched Juliana a moment before some dull disappointment visited her. She sagged. "Oh. Somewhere beyond Levincia. Though I don't know for how long."

"Score! We ready to go?"

"Can be ready any time. Just some light packing," Arven answered. Koraidon looked just as excited, all but prancing on the stone. Near the post, Gloria raised an eyebrow, the interest growing deeper in her eyes.

Penny, meanwhile, cleared her throat loudly. "You, er…you know that's past Schedar Squad territory, right?"

"Eh, we'll find a way around," Juliana said, waving a dismissive hand. Gloria's eyes narrowed at that, as did Penny's.

"But you…" Penny took a step back, biting her lip. Eyes fell on her, something she clearly didn't enjoy, for she turned away from them to look up at the Academy, taking it all in. "You knew them, right? Arven mentioned you were…friends. Wouldn't you want to… I mean, going around them is…"

"Penny?" Arven asked, tilting his head and trying to get closer. She threw his hand off her shoulder.

"I'm just surprised you wouldn't think of going to them."

"I don't think we parted on friendly terms when we encountered Segin Squad," Juliana said, now folding her arms. "Besides, I've no intention of going back there. Didn't want to hurt them or anything, but at this point, we were just acquaintances. Like I said, we'll find a way around."

"I see…" Penny's voice lowered, an almost confused or wounded coldness on her tongue. She started taking steps away, digging into her sweatshirt for her phone. Appointed social time was over. "Good luck, then. Hope you find your treasure."

"Hey, you too, Penny!" Arven called. The girl didn't respond. The remaining students shrugged. "Well, shall we?"

"Question," Gloria's voice called, loud enough that some passing students looked at her. Even Serena paused, her eyes now meeting Juliana's. She wanted to balk, recalling the words at Segin Squad's base of a few weeks ago. "How do you two greenhorns plan to handle Orthworm?"

"Juli can do it."

"Hey, I'm not some piñata!"

"Didn't say you were!" Arven protested. "But you're the better battler of the two of us."

"You got your arses handed to you," Gloria pointed out. She pushed off the lamppost and began to weave between the pair. Juliana tightened up, feeling her Poké Balls shake as each of her Pokémon bristled with indignation. Her pocket shook, too, her phone beginning to vibrate, but going ignored. "Which is why you need toughening up. As a Champion, I can't just let you run off half-cocked and get yourselves killed. My offer stands, Juliana."

"Offer? And wait, I thought you were the Champion that disappeared. I don't think you're one to lecture us on-"

"Why?"

Juliana's simple question was met with immediate silence. Gloria pursed her lips. She leaned forward. "Maybe if I stick around you, we'll both find out."

"If that's the case, then you fight Orthworm for us."

"Nah, better if you do it under your own power." Gloria spun away, eyes turned to the bright blue sky that hung above them, all the way to the wall of the Crater. "Still, I don't want to throw you in. Need to see what you're capable of first. What do you say?"

"I say she's capable of far more than anyone realizes."

Juliana froze. Arven scrunched his forehead. Gloria once more quirked an eyebrow.

Their reactions weren't unwarranted, and each only displayed further confusion when Juliana reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. It hung in midair, displaying a face on the screen surrounded by flaming locks of hair. Juliana swallowed. "Mela."

"That's Squad Captain to you. Or did you forget that Eri and I trained you so soon?" the girl on the other end said, her face torn between scowl and familiarity. Arven and Gloria leaned over, trying to glean the interruption. Juliana was the one to step back.

"And how did you get my number? Why are you calling now?"

"Because I hear you want past Schedar Base," Mela said, a smirk gracing her lips. She leaned back from the squad, showing an assembly of Team Star members behind on the grassy fields of her base. It was a sight, one only matched by her proclamation, ringing over the courtyard. "And because we accept your declaration of war."

Author's Note: While not an explosive first chapter, I tried to keep things interesting. About a month has passed, giving Juliana time with her team, a greater familiarity with the Ketchums and Gloria time to be hanging around. Relationships haven't progressed, but given Juliana's stance on them…that's no surprise.

As for the first scene, it's fun to sort of give Cynthia more screentime. I always liked her, but Diantha just became my go-to Champion for the series. Now I really get the chance to give Cynthia more to do, while throwing in fun references to Trepidation in the meantime! But for now, war is declared and Juliana is confronted by Mela!

How will this play out? The next chapter shall tell, so for now, thanks for joining me on the ride, and I look forward to all your reviews and comments! Until then, just remember, Dare to Be Silly.