I always like double meaning chapter titles. Wonder what this one could stand for… Read Chapter 15 to find out!

Chapter 15

A Shroud

"Your call cannot be completed at this time."

"What does that mean?!" issued the following shout. A couple banging sounds were heard next. "Clemont, what's the point of building a whole system if I can't reach you when I need to?!"

"Pikapi, pika pika chupika!" Ash stopped his rather percussive treatment of the device in his hands as Pikachu intervened. His soft, yellow paws pushed down on his hands, allowing the old system to tumble to the desk. Now saved from the man's wrath, Pikachu relaxed. Ash didn't.

"Sorry, Pikachu," he said, his face falling flat on the table. His eyes trailed upwards to the many screens in the briefing room where he sat, images that confounded him flashing across their monitors. "I'm just frustrated. Could really use someone like Clemont to help."

"Chu…"

"Have you tried Rotom Phones?" Geeta asked. She was preceded by the whooshing of a door, her long hair clearing it before it closed. Ash turned in her direction just briefly before he was drawn magnetically to the screens again. "The age of the IRCS has dwindled since they've become commonplace."

"Sure, but Clemont has often said he, Conway and Sophocles have made the IRCS safer or something. I dunno, it's a bunch of computer stuff I don't do." Geeta's soft chuckle showed her amusement, one Ash didn't share. He put his mind back on the images taken on the screen. "But Clemont can take care of himself. I'm more worried about this."

"Yes…the fact we were too late brings the talk of moles into consideration," Geeta said. She pressed a button, and more images were cycled through. They all showed the same thing: empty caverns, cleaned out in a hurry. "Though I suppose it's more likely that Miss Juliana and Arven's incursion caused them to pack up."

"Probably," Ash admitted. Next to him, Pikachu started playing with the abandoned device, already bored by the conversations Ash now found himself embroiled in all too often. "The Phantom… What else do you know of them?"

"Not much. They're the basis of a cult that's been around a while, but never more than shadows. Rumor always had it they started here in Paldea, though recent discoveries from Champion Gloria's work to some other rumors suggest that may not be the case."

"I know that." Ash now took the remote himself, flicking quickly through the pictures as if he'd find something. There were loose papers depicted, fragments of scraps and blueprints with no definitive meaning. A couple buttons belonging to Academy students were in the rubble, as were some arcane artifacts left behind. Their nebulous significance made Ash want to clutch his head from thought.

"Pikaka pi!" Pikachu's sudden shout brought a stop to his flicking, right on an image. He squinted at it, wondering just what his perennial partner had seen. After a couple seconds, he noticed it.

"An old Team Rocket uniform…?"

"Except they've long been defunct, now."

"I mean, I'm sure some got away. Not like we hunted them down or anything after IDEAL took care of them," Ash said. He dropped the remote and sat back, attempting to think of what it could mean. His foot started to tap, causing Pikachu some concern. "Arven mentioned that there were others there in the marketplace. People from old criminal organizations."

"That he did," Geeta said. She started to sip on her tea, watching him curiously. "What of it?"

"I mean, it's just a thought, but the Phantom clearly deals with a lot of old criminals and stuff," Ash said. His fingers rapped on the table, attempting to put all the pieces back together. "And maybe they're interested in stuff from the past. Gloria's own journal would suggest that, yeah?"

"Champion Gloria is possibly following a wild goose chase."

"I trust her, though," Ash continued, finally sliding his eyes over to Geeta, "and maybe it's all connected that way. Tell me, Professors Sada and Turo, why did they want to meet with Rose?"

Geeta stopped sipping her tea, her perfectly shaped eyebrows arching. "Rose? What, you think he has something to do with this?"

"I dunno," Ash admitted. He reached over, scratching behind Pikachu's ears. "But Rose met with them, and then there was an accident with the plane."

"Rose made it to the Zero Prison just fine."

"Yeah, but how?" Geeta fully placed her cup and saucer down. "How did he make it there? Shouldn't he have died?"

"The professors didn't," Geeta pointed out. Even Ash had to admit she had a point with that. He put his brain back to work, much as it didn't want to. "Though perhaps I see your point. Everything surrounding that exchange was odd, and I don't even know what Sada and Turo were up to. But I trusted them."

"Then maybe Rose knows?" Ash folded his arms, serious contemplation settling in on him. "Maybe they left him alive because they couldn't get information in time. The same kind of info the professors wanted. The kind that might be leading to all these other little problems across Paldea. It's gotta be connected, yeah?"

Geeta watched Ash for a bit, the man hardly realizing he had pushed his chair back and started to stand. His feet paced back and forth, mind working furiously for a conclusion that just wasn't there. Geeta soon sighed again. "Ash, sit down before you wear yourself out."

"I'm fine," he said. Pikachu hopped up to his shoulder, patting him on his cheek, but all it did was make his steps slow until his eyes inexorably found the screen again. "Team Rocket… Rose… Bunch of past events… Maybe the Phantom wanted important information that Rose had heard? Or maybe Rose struck a deal with them? Maybe-"

"Ash!" Geeta's shout finally broke the rambling that his brain had provided. It also gave him clarity, and he stamped his hands down on the table.

"Geeta, I need to see Rose." She said nothing. Ash waited. "Um… I need to get into the prison to speak to-"

"I heard you the first time," Geeta said. Her legs were now crossed, regarding him as either brilliant or crazy; he really wasn't sure which and didn't want to know. "You're asking for something incredibly difficult, Liaison or not. The Zero Prison is the most fortified location in all of Paldea, perhaps the world, save for the Hub. We can't let people walk in on a whim. You know this!"

"Yeah, yeah, full of a bunch of bad guys, I know," Ash said, refusing to allow himself to become exasperated.

"Not just 'bad guys'," Geeta insisted. "The worst. Xerosic, IDEAL, remnants of Team Plasma, Team Magma, Team Aqua, Team Galactic. I'm sure that Giovanni would have been in there, were it not for his demise."

"And right now you have the best access."

"Of course, otherwise you wouldn't ask me." It was Geeta's turn to stand, meeting Ash's eyes. They stared across the table, their opposing views clashing in silent combat. Soon, Geeta sighed for a third time. "But you won't back down. Even if it means entering the upper strata of Area Zero."

"I mean, from everything you tell me, that's pretty close to League Headquarters here and the Academy."

"One of the only two, and only safest, ways to enter Area Zero, at least. Entry from any other point is met by a harsh security system, manmade and artificial." Geeta leaned over, now drumming her own fingers on the table. When she stopped, she frowned. "But very well. You may have a point. Zero Prison it is. I'll start making the calls, but it will take some time."

"Awesome!"

"But Ash," she warned, stopping him in his celebratory tracks, "do not breathe this to anybody but your wife or League personnel. It's our best kept secret for a reason. Let's not cause some panic for the students on its doorstep."

"I'm not stupid, Geeta, and thanks. Call me when you have something!" Ash said, swiping his semi-busted communications device from the table and making to leave the room. Before he could, Geeta had pulled out a phone, calling someone named "Larry", her voice tired and annoyed. Ash shrugged that one off and let the door close.

He didn't stop there, walking with purposeful strides through the Paldean League Headquarters. Some League workers recognized him, but no one said anything. Each was too absorbed in their task of whatever they were doing to maintain things. Various rooms were passed by in his stride, from a room set with monitors of what looked like a steel gate, to a hallway that led, presumably, to the place he was trying to get to. Another room looked like a conference center, a woman inside interviewing a student who looked about ready to faint. He couldn't have been that old, only eleven or twelve, off on his first adventure, but it turned Ash's mind towards someone else's potential first.

Or rather, the one that was a few years off and he didn't want to acknowledge.

"Come on, Pikachu, let's see if Serena and Hanna are free for lunch."

"Pi pikachu!" Pikachu's agreement was all he needed to spur himself out of the Headquarters. A grassy path with gamboling Pokémon presented itself, but Ash only waved to some of them as he began to run towards the city. His eyes trailed upwards a couple times, to the looming mountain that was the indicator of Area Zero, but it quickly passed from sight.

The thought of Area Zero also went out of his mind when he passed through the gate, and the sudden sounds and smells of Mesagoza washed over him. People came into his vision, some curious at him walking through the gate, while a police officer standing guard saluted him. Ash thanked the woman and joined the swell of people that thronged the streets of Mesagoza.

It was just as lively as ever, with many out shopping, or dining at cafes. There were plenty of students in the area, and the sounds of battle down the steps nearly drew Ash away. It probably would have, had his pocket not started to vibrate, this time with the Rotom Phone of his very own. He answered the video call, only to find his daughter's face smushed against the screen.

"Mama, I got daddy!"

"I can see that, Hanna." Serena pulled the little one back, smiling at Ash through the screen. He smiled back. "She's been trying to reach you all morning, but I think she keeps pressing the wrong numbers."

"No, I don't," Hanna protested. She giggled when her mother ruffled her hair, though. "Daddy, let's lunch."

"Great minds think alike, Hanna!" Ash said. Pikachu leaned over his shoulder to wave at the little girl, who issued another giggle. "How about near the battle court?"

"Already on our way," Serena admitted with a wink. She knew him far too well. He chuckled, and their call ended. His heart lighter, Ash picked up the pace. He jogged forward, slipping past the city folk on his way towards the massive stairs. He turned, darting past a proselytizing James and Meowth with a wave, before he began to jump the stairs two to three at a time.

Some students moved out of his way, including a pair of boys who snarled at him for his "insubordinate decorum". Ash ignored them, especially when his wife and daughter came right into view. He was barely at the open-air restaurant when Hanna launched herself at him.

"Daddy! Daddy's back!"

"For a while?" Serena's question didn't dampen the mood, but it did cause him to hitch Hanna on his shoulders while he carried her to the table. It was an action harder than it looked, for more than once, Hanna tried to slip down to pet a Phanpy that was bearing trays on its snout. Once they reached the table, and Hanna was placed in her chair, did Ash answer.

"A few days, at least," he said, pecking Serena on the cheek before taking a seat opposite her. Pikachu decided to sit opposite Hanna, who opened her menu with gusto. "I'm waiting on some permissions or something."

"Investigation going well, then?"

"Maybe…" he said. His head soon slumped. "Not really sure. Feels like there's more questions than answers. It's all pretty secretive stuff."

"Pika…"

"You're telling me," Serena said. The closer Ash looked, the more she appeared tired. It was if she had been staying up every night with no end in sight. He reached across the table to take her hand. She squeezed back. "Sorry, I've just had some stuff on my mind. Nothing compared to yours, though."

"Don't do that, Serena," he said, his voice lower than he intended it to be. "Your stuff is just as valuable. If you're struggling, just talk to me."

"I'm just dealing with schoolyard bullying, Ash. Hardly the end of the world."

"But mama's not sleeping," Hanna said. Serena gave her a playful glare for her innocent remark, while Ash laughed and patted his daughter on the head. "She spends all night reading, daddy. Ooh, I want pancakes! Sprigatito pancakes!"

"Coming right up."

"Pancakes are meant for breakfast, Hanna." The little girl clearly didn't care, already too absorbed in a coloring book to care. It gave Ash a chuckle to watch his daughter color in a Zorua from memory, though in very off colors, keeping only the red that went wildly outside the lines. It also gave the couple a chance to simply look at each other, their hands joined until Serena at last relented. "I just…I think I found some disturbing stuff."

"Stuff like…?" Ash squeezed now, giving Serena the encouragement to go on.

"Records of bullying that looks like it was just removed. The formation of the Disciplinary Committee and how it's all connected. And I'd like to think it leads to a conclusion, that maybe the Committee was involved, but the Student Council approved them, and a teacher approved that, so who's to blame here? The Phantom? Or is this just the school size showing greater impact?" Serena ran her free hand through her hair, the wind making it look like honey blonde wisps. "I can't seem to…get close enough to grab anything."

"Well, if there is a connection and it is the Phantom, that makes sense," Ash said, trying to laugh at his own joke. Serena offered a wan smile at the thought. "Makes you wonder, though. All this stuff going on in Paldea…how much of it is coincidence? Or is there something going on? Something the Phantom is after?"

"If we go by Gloria's theory, it's something left behind from times past, but I can't find anything back that far," Serena said. She let go of Ash's hand, and the couple both found themselves staring out, well past the walls of Mesagoza and into the wilds. "All I know is that it feels wrong."

"Well, we've dealt with wrong before."

"Not like this," Serena said. Her lips became pursed and Ash was now watching her, and only her. "Alola and Galar all had their problems, but they were just…byproducts. Alola was born through negligence, and Galar was…well, that was just Rose."

Ash found himself frowning, all thoughts leading back to the man he now knew he had to speak to. He pushed that thought aside in favor of another. "And here? Why do you think it's different?"

"I'm not sure. I can't put my finger on it exactly. Just that it feels so…fake. Manufactured. As if all these little problems, including the bullying, were purposely created."

"Why would anyone do that?"

Serena shook her head, but unpursed her lips. She looked straight at Ash, trying to put a smile back on her face. "That's what I don't know. But if it is…Ash, I think Paldea might be in for a system shock."

"Feels like we might already be having it," Ash muttered. More images of the emptied Phantom Zero hideout surfaced, as did the two teens that had escaped from the Phantom's grasp. "But whatever it is, we'll face it. I mean, unless your dad wants to help."

"I'm sure he and Alastair are off somewhere else."

"Then facing it, it is. All we can do is live in the moment and deal with the present. Like that girl, Juliana."

"Oh, you saw her?" Serena asked. The conversation shifting to lighter fare brought sunlight back to the atmosphere, the scratching of Hanna's coloring intervening and the placement of food brushing away all negative thoughts. "How is she?"

"Dealing, I think," Ash said. A plate of pasta was put in front of him and he dug right in with gusto. Next to him, Hanna did the same, spearing her pancakes and eating them as though she were a Gulpin. "She suffered a pretty bad loss to Nemona. Really shook her."

"Mm, well, she'll bounce back," Serena said, twirling some pasta on her fork and popping it in her mouth with a tomato.

"You think?" Ash wiped at his mouth just in time to see his wife wink once again.

"Of course," she said. "After all, just like us, she can only deal with right now."

To Ash, at least, that was a comforting thought. So, he put aside all worry and embraced the moment with his family under the sun.

"All right, Tinkatuff, Play Rough! Wattrel, use Spark, but try generating as much energy as you can with your wings!"

"Crocalor, use Flamethrower…and heat this pot!"

"Croca!" The Pokémon at the campsite all launched their attacks at once, as if Crocalor was the one giving a great rallying cry. His flames shot out with greater intensity and less effort than before, all while Wattrel charged up his own electricity to ram into Tinkatuff, the prankster knocking him away.

"Looking good, looking good!" Juliana cheered. She watched all her Pokémon, from Lokix and Dolliv sparring to Quaxwell dancing atop a rock with swift movements. A small part of her chuckled, thinking he looked awkward without a partner, but then she was pulled in by Wattrel pecking at Tinkatuff; no doubt the latter had pulled some trick. "Okay, you two, that's enough."

"Tinka."

"Trrell!"

"They're doing well," Gloria said. It drew the attention of Juliana, who looked away. Tinkatuff took advantage of the distraction, but received a bonk to the head herself. "It's kinda nice, seeing you embrace the training side of things."

"You're telling me! Even Crocalor is getting powered up. And we're sharing all that energy with Mabosstiff, aren't we, buddy?" Juliana looked away and to the side, where Arven's precious partner was resting under a hanging cliff. Doused in the shade, his rhythmic, weak breathing indicated his half-recovered state, though he didn't respond to Arven quite yet. "Well, we're getting there."

"Maybe make him some special stew," Juliana suggested. "Just make sure Koraidon doesn't eat it all up."

"Korra?" the large lizard said, perking his head up from next to Mabosstiff. Juliana walked over, patting him on the head and then running a hand through Mabosstiff's fur.

"Don't act like you don't know. Just keep keeping watch."

"Kor." His snort and nod told Juliana all she needed to. She retreated from the pair and took a seat at the table across from Gloria, whose Pokémon were resting in the dim sunlight. They had taken quite the trek to get there, climbing up mountains to reach the easiest road to Cascarrafa, a location that was still a day or two out.

"Hey, what do you make of this?" Gloria leaned across the table, shoving the contents of the old journal in her face. Juliana backed up a bit, right against Arven, who was looking at the muddied contents of the pages with her. There were pictures on the page, right next to another scrawled in a seemingly ancient language that was the same word written over and over. Gloria was focused on the first, though. "Looks like a book, yeah?"

"Kinda similar to the Scarlet and Violet Books my mom had. Er…guess I have one now."

"That's real imaginative…"

"Not like they named them," Arven said, rustling Juliana's hair. She waved him off. Her eyes slid to the side, keeping an eye on her Pokémon while the older boy continued. "Apparently, they were used as locks on old research in Area Zero, way back in the day. Were penned by a guy named Heath. Pretty sure they're defunct, now, otherwise I wouldn't have one."

"Makes sense," Gloria said, nodding. She took the book back and thumbed through more pages. "Time has passed since then, so if there was something going on back then, it makes sense the books would have been important. Your parents probably changed things as project leads, then."

"I would think so. I never remember seeing the books except in their studies on the upper level. And when I looked through my copy it just read like a fairy tale, so there wasn't much worth in keeping it except as an heirloom. Ah, food's ready. Juli, you mind taking some to Mabosstiff?"

"Sure." Juliana took the bowls from Arven, making her way over to the dozing pair of lizard and dog. Koraidon was quick to lap his up, but Mabosstiff was slower. She petted him, urging him to take his time and watched as a single lick lapped at the bowl. "Good job. You'll get better in no time. Especially once we get to Casseroya Lake."

"Presuming the storms don't bother us," Gloria said. "Mm, good stew, Arven. What spices you use?"

"A culinary recipe passed down my line for genera-"

"Ah, some cayenne pepper and…is that a Mago Berry?" Arven deflated. "Mm, but these storms. They're not usually this common, right?"

"You're awfully inquisitive today, Gloria," Juliana said. Sure that Mabosstiff was eating, she stepped away for her own food. "Why the questions?"

"Just trying to link things between the past and the present. The books might be useless now, but there's records in this journal about weather anomalies, too. I wonder if that's all connected with it. Though I suppose Cynthia will be the one to figure that out." Gloria now sighed, and with a snap, closed the book. She stowed it away in her bag and returned to her stew, ignoring the very loud munching from her team. "Just wish I could find some way to connect it. To reach out and reconcile it. If I can't do that…I'm not doing a very good job bridging things as a Champion."

"What's that even supposed to mean? Bridging?"

Gloria stopped, her lips pouting and a haze entering her eyes. In fact, the entire air was starting to become a brown haze around them. Still, Gloria had the time to answer. "Not entirely sure, myself. It's what I want to be, but how to attain it… I feel like that's something even becoming Champion hasn't answered."

"Hmmm…" Arven's vocalization said there wasn't much more to say. Each returned to their food, only to have the same reaction. "Blegh. The heck is this?"

Juliana brought her spoon out and let the stew trickle down, revealing particles within the base. "Sand? But…"

"Naw!" Drednaw's shout made all turn in the direction of the path off the mountains. They all stood, looking out at the hazy distance. They couldn't see much. Certainly not what lay in that direction. But they could all reach the same conclusion about what was coming at them.

"Sandstorm! Take cover!" Gloria shouted.

They didn't need telling twice. With a deft flick of the wrist, all of their Pokémon were returned, and the three of them ran for cover beneath the overhang. Arven grabbed their table, flipping it sideways to use as a shield. They barely made it when the sandstorm hit full force, rolling over the mountains and hills with a crackling, whipping intensity. The three of them and Koraidon all kept low, waiting for the worst of it to pass, unable to block out the howling and the trembling on the air.

Eventually, it died down enough, leaving sand whirling in the air, but breathable atmosphere.

"Blegh, sand in my boots," Gloria commented with a frown. "I don't think that storm is over, though."

"Can't see a thing. What made it happen so suddenly?" Arven said. He was at the edge of the hill, peering off to the northwest, but could find nothing.

"I'd rather not stick around to find out. We need cover."

"Straight to Cascarrafa, then?" Juliana questioned. Gloria gave her a curt nod. It all but gave them permission to dig in their bags and make whatever kind of cloak they could out of the materials they had. More than once, the wind picked back up with the sand, but before long, they were protected and on their way.

The leisurely pace they had taken the last couple days faded away, replaced with a duck and cover jog that brought them towards the road. Other trainers and students could be found here and there, but they were all hiding in clefts and trenches along the road just the same. A moon and sunrise later and Juliana began to think the same thing about all of it: no one had expected a sandstorm here, and not of this intensity.

That outlook changed a bit the closer they got to Cascarrafa, with the travelers passing by them seeming more equipped for the sandstorms they were facing. Traversal was still a pain, with the traveling trio forced to ride Koraidon more than once as the sand started to pile up to their knees. Koraidon found it no easier, but he at least had the strength to push through until they met the glorious sight of their destination.

After one more night camping in a small cave off the road, and through the briefly lightening sandstorm, Juliana could finally see it in all its multi-tiered glory: Cascarrafa. Even from a distance it looked majestic, with waters spouting from all sorts of Pokémon-shaped fountains. They all seemed to run down from the top of the city, one that had elevators ascending and descending to get them there. Lanterns and balloons looked strung up, though they appeared to have seen better days. To top it all off was the water-lined battle court, a place currently empty but no less striking.

Unfortunately, even from that short distance it was clear Cascarrafa was not in its usual state of glory. That was a fact made apparent when they crossed the bridge over the river and into the lowest level of town.

"Great. More sand," Arven said. In response, Koraidon attempted to lick the sand off his face, to little success. "I thought Cascarrafa was the city of water, not desert."

Juliana was inclined to agree. The longer she looked, the more the once pristine waterways appeared to be glutted with sand. The lively marketplace that stretched down the main road was all but abandoned as well, and many windows and doors were so completely shut off to the public, it may as well have been a ghost town. Only a few inhabitants wandered the street, preventing it from becoming an empty city, but each hurried from one spot to the next, eager to get out of the merciless sand and winds.

Another gust blew, this time from the west, prompting Juliana to turn around. She was half-tempted to call Wattrel and get a good view on what lay towards the gusting sands, but deep down she knew it would be to no avail. Gloria knew it, too.

"Come on. Let's get the lay of the land," she suggested. Both teens couldn't agree more. Drawing their cloaks close, the trio proceeded deeper into Cascarrafa. Traversal was hardly any easier than outside the city, with sand piling up in front of doors and filling the market stands. Juliana could see the way the city must have once looked and felt a small pang of what was.

No one said a word to them, or stopped to look at them. Everyone moved on their way, dressed in their own cloaks. They passed by barely dripping fountains, and soon the sight of the elevator up became visible through the haze. Gloria was first to swing the gate open and let them aboard.

"Hold it!" a citizen cried. He dashed with all the speed his legs could muster through the sand, but jumped on just as the elevator jolted upwards. "Thanks."

"None necessary," Arven said. The elevator began to rise faster, taking them towards the second tier of the city. "Hey, is…this isn't normal, right?"

The man looked at Arven, and Juliana finally noticed the pallor of his face: drained, as if the sand was sucking the very life out of him. "Obviously not. We're used to sandstorms, sure, but something like this…"

"How long ago?" Gloria asked, her curt tone indicating she was all business. Juliana didn't begrudge her that; the thoughts she'd had about natural disasters in Paldea was no doubt at the forefront of her mind.

"Don't remember. A few days, maybe? Or was it a month? Time kinda loses all meaning in the sandstorm." The lift juddered to a halt, and the gate swung open. The man stepped forward to leave towards a bigger building that looked like a city hall of sorts. "If you want to know more, ask Kofu. He kept the Gym open to the last minute, and last I heard, he knows everything from here to Porto Marinada."

"Kofu," Juliana muttered, the name gracing her tongue again. As if hearing the inherent question, the man pointed upwards.

"Third level. You'll find the Gym there."

"Then we're set," Gloria said. She uttered some more thanks and the man scampered off to wherever safety could be found. With him gone, each of them coughed a little. "This sand is getting on my nerves. Can only imagine what it's doing to most Pokémon."

"I doubt even Rock and Ground types would find this all that relaxing," Arven noted. Koraidon sneezed next to him, his ears twitching this way and that, disturbed by the sand and, judging by his far-off glances, something else. "Still, looks like we were heading in the right direction after all."

"Assuming we find this Kofu," Juliana said. Her dose of pessimism was enough to silence the group as they climbed the sloping second level for the next lift. True to Gloria's observations, the lack of Pokémon became starkly obvious to them. Not a fluttering Fletchling nor a dozing Dedenne could be seen. What flickers there were of Pokémon all appeared to be in the lights within houses. The disturbing sight was enough to make them move faster and engage the second lift up.

This one moved faster, and once it locked into place, the trio caught immediate sight of the Gym, its bright lights serving as a beacon and lighthouse atop Cascarrafa. Gloria forged ahead of all of them, reaching its doors with meaningful strides. They didn't open right away, too battered by the winds, so she reached in and attempted to wrench them apart. After seconds of failing, Arven joined in. With a yank, the three tumbled into the relative peace of the Gym lobby.

Which, of course, meant solely an absence of the sandstorm and just about all other noises. Save one.

"What do you mean, 'he's busy'? That's what you said yesterday!"

Juliana felt a shiver roll down her spine without anticipation. She drew the hood of her cloak back and looked over to the receptionist's desk. Said woman was seated calmly behind it, tapping away at a computer and barely paying any attention to the other lone occupant of the room. "I'm sorry, Miss Nemona, but our Gym Leader is a very busy man right now."

"Ay, I know that, pero he should still make time to see me!"

"For what? A battle, Nemona? Surely you can think of more than that," Arven said. Juliana wanted to screech at him, to tell him to stop. She didn't want Nemona to turn around and see them. To see her. Or maybe she didn't want them to see each other. Sadly, her thoughts did not reach Arven, and the girl dressed in their orange Academy uniform turned around, just in time to get the boy's hand around her shoulder. Somehow, she flushed. "How long have you been here?"

"J-just a few days," Nemona expressed, wriggling out from under him. "A-and no. I mean, yes, I wanted a battle, but Kofu has been busy. I'm just trying to reach him now, but he…" Nemona's pause said all that it needed to say. She had noticed Juliana, and the girl had noticed her, staring into her eyes. The air in the room plummeted a few degrees. Nemona's lips turned down. "Juli."

"Nemona."

"Gloria." Gloria's bored tone tore the girls away from each other. "Oh, I'm sorry. We're not just saying each other's names?"

"Nothing to say," Juliana said. She hitched her bag and walked right past Nemona, refusing to acknowledge the burgeoning pain inside her breast. The loss was still too fresh, and Nemona's words moreso.

"Good, then if we're all on the same page," Gloria said. She walked right up to the receptionist, rolling up her sleeves as she did so. "As Champion of the Galar region, I request an audience of Gym Leader Kofu."

"Someone's cutting through the red tape," Arven said. He took a step back, as if filling the space between Juliana and Nemona. To that, the older girl hung her head, eyes pensive. Compared to Gloria, she ironically looked smaller than she had before.

The receptionist sighed. "I've already mentioned that he's busy."

"And I don't really care," Gloria said, slamming a fist on the counter. The woman jumped, her finger missing a keystroke. "You've got a problem. I've got questions. As Gym Leader of this town, I want him to give answers."

"Try all you like, but she doesn't budge," Nemona said. That didn't stop Gloria from trying.

"Look, bring him now or I'm calling a League Liaison blitzkrieg on your sorry arses. I don't think my big brother would take to you ignoring anyone here to help." The woman blinked at Gloria's sudden tirade, but only two words of the entire exchange seemed to resonate with her. All the teens stepped back, waiting and watching until, finally, the woman adjusted her glasses.

"Just a moment," she said, and she flipped a small switch. "Sir, you have a-"

Whoosh!

The door sliding open caught everyone by surprise. Nemona even jumped, as if it was the crackle of lightning freaking her out. She held on to Arven, but relaxed when she saw who walked through the door. Gloria and Juliana were the last to turn in his direction: a burly man dressed in a bright blue apron. More striking than that, though, was the distinctive, curling and wavy design of his facial hair, covering so much of his face that he could stand out in any crowd.

"No need to worry, Francisca," the man said, his voice soft but booming. He covered the room in as few strides as possible, holding out a meaty hand to Gloria, who took it without hesitation. "I heard everything from the other room. Vaultin' Veluza, a League examination threat, is it?"

"Well, I had to make it serious. Kofu, I presume?"

"One and the same. And you must be Galar Champion Gloria. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Don't think pleasure has anything to do with it," Gloria confirmed. Kofu nodded in turn, and his eyes darted to the side, catching sight of the teens. He offered the slightest of nods to Nemona, who retained her frown and nodded back. Gloria continued as if they weren't in the room. "I see the problem you're facing outside. And it's not the only one, is it?"

"Aye, no…" Kofu admitted. He reached up, scratching at his bald head with a succession of gruff grunts. "I've got plenty of problems, and only so many options. Though I'm not sure what it could have to do with a Champion and her student entourage."

Juliana wanted to protest, but thought better of it. Instead, she came to stand by Gloria's side. "We were trying to get to the heart of Casseroya Lake. Didn't expect these sandstorms, though."

"Casseroya? What're you going there for?" Nemona asked of Arven. He didn't respond, each waiting instead for Kofu's response.

It took a moment, but the man began to laugh. Raucously. "You muchachas are either brave or stupid, diving right into the lake. But then…I don't think the storms and this sand are necessarily disconnected either."

"Oh? Know something we don't?" Gloria asked. A cheeky grin had found its way to her lips, one that Kofu took with all the good humor in the world. Nemona still looked confused as could be, but any question she had was met with Arven's shrug. Juliana just refused to acknowledge it entirely. Standing with her in a Gym was uncomfortable enough.

"I might. I might. And I like your moxie. What say we have this conversation more properly? Vamanos." Like a tsunami breaking on the shores, Kofu all but bowled their group over as he made to the door. Unlike Gloria and Arven, he managed to wrench the malfunctioning door open with one hand, striding into the sandstorm like it was just a light breeze. Gloria was the second to follow.

Juliana paused a moment, fixing her cloak on herself, but the longer she stood there, the more she felt Nemona's eyes on the back of her head. She really didn't wish to be judged like that, and her finger began to fiddle with Larry's badge in her pocket. Part of her had to remind herself that she had nothing to prove. Not about anything.

But she couldn't lie: the detour looked like it was going to have a point.

"Nemona, did you have a cloak?"

"Huh, uh…no need for one Arven!"

"You can't battle a sandstorm…" Juliana shook her head, but didn't need to look to know that Arven was offering his. She left them behind, out into the sand-whipped streets.

Kofu and Gloria were already some distance ahead, making for the second largest building on the third level. It had lights on, and unlike most of the city, appeared to actually be lively on the whole. Entering inside, the reason why was apparent: it was a restaurant.

"Are all Gym Leaders associated with restaurants in Paldea?' Juliana asked glibly, already knowing the answer. Kofu gave a booming laugh.

"Only about half, chica. Come, take a seat. Ernesto, bring us the special platter."

"On it, mi cocinero."

Kofu cut a path through the patrons, which looked like it was about half the city. Juliana wouldn't have been surprised if it was half the city, with many taking refuge in the one place where they could find food and shelter. Many of said citizens shouted welcomes to Kofu, who returned them with boisterous waves. A couple even noticed Gloria, but in this case, she showed modesty, preferring to take a seat than soak in the adoration. That, or she was truly hungry, as once the platter was set before them, she dug in.

Admittedly, Juliana heard her own stomach grumble, and she began to eat with gusto. If anything, the only one showing no hunger, in an almost uncharacteristic sense, was Nemona. The girl just sat there, picking at some lettuce and glowering at it. Arven poked her as she was seated between her classmates.

"Come on, eat. When you're in a chef's place, you never want to disrespect them that way," he said. He looked about ready to force-feed her, too, but that got her embarrassment engines running and she decided to partake.

The atmosphere around them remained lively, with a band in the corner starting to play a rather jazzy piece before it shifted to something of a salsa (ironically as Juliana had some of her own). More than once, she thought Nemona was watching her, as if to determine if she had changed, but Juliana didn't give her a second of her time; whether the girl was right or not, there was no going back from the vitriol they'd spat at one another. She focused on her food until she (and Koraidon at her feet) were full enough that each was sitting back and Kofu looked pleased. It was an almost lazy, fulfilling sensation. One that shattered when Kofu clapped his booming hands together.

"So, Casseroya Lake, is it?" Juliana sat up with a shot, as did her companions. Nemona even appeared to wake from a drowsy state.

"The way you're talking, it sounds like you know what's going on with that," Gloria said, wiping at her lips. She was the only one among them that looked ready to eat even more. That made Juliana's stomach hurt.

"It is the most prominent body of water in Paldea, and water is my specialty. I take it that's why Senor Larry directed you to me." The wink in Kofu's eye made plain what should have been obvious. "Aye, I'm aware of what's troubling Casseroya, at least in part. Veluza."

"Veluza?" Nemona asked, her voice subdued but quickly regaining its fervor. "The fish? I know they're fast, but surely not problem makers."

"Oh, Veluza are fast all right. They're also real troublesome in a pack," Kofu said. Some of his waiters appeared, taking away the plates and platters and leaving the table clean at last. "And that's what's going on. I've watched those waters long enough to know. Somethin' is disturbing them around the lake. Or, more like, something's disturbing our Titan pair."

"Titan pair?" Arven said. He exchanged quick glances with Juliana, who took out her own notebook and began to jot down quick as she could. "You're saying there are two Titans in the lake?"

"Well, they're more a unit than a pair, come to think of it. And they're the trusted guardians of the lake, no less, so if there's a problem and they know it, the other Pokémon gather round to protect them. Hence, the entire school of Veluza are likely banding together in response and creating a storm so thick, you can't see your stem from your stern. And given the time of year it is, that makes it worse."

"So, we're stuck until the Titans calm down," Juliana concluded. This brought another frown to her face and she sighed, beginning to tap her pen in some frustration.

Kofu gave another boisterous laugh, one that almost shook the table. "Now, I didn't say that! The situation is easy enough to be handled, in theory."

"In theory?" Gloria said. She quirked an eyebrow in Kofu's direction and the man took it as his cue to laugh even more. Clearly, he was not one of poor humor.

"I've dealt with enough Veluza in my lifetime to know what calms 'em. And you're lookin' at it." Kofu spread his arms wide, as if opening up the restaurant to them. Juliana blinked, something twinging inside, as if her eyes were widening to reveal more than the quest, but instead all of the people inside. "They need a special feed. Unfortunately, it needs to be fresh, which means it needs to go straight from Porto Marinada to the Veluza. Only problem there is…"

"The sandstorms," all four agreed. Kofu nodded.

"Aye…those unusual storms have been stirred up since around the time the Veluza acted up. Around the time there were those reports of Orthworm stirring up a Beedrill's nest in Cortondo." Gloria's eyes narrowed, and Juliana started tapping her foot in tandem with her pen. "At first, they weren't too bad. But they got worse when the tremors from the Asado Desert started. We sent scouts, but it's hard to see too much in the desert. All we got back were hazy sightings of what looked like two unfamiliar, giant beasts within the sands."

"Giant? Two?" Arven leaned across Nemona to speak to Juliana directly, and she found herself doing the same. "There wasn't any reference to a Titan in the desert. If one appears there, it might be because they were drawn there."

"You're thinking Herba Mystica. But two of them?"

"I mean, Kofu is already saying there are two in the lake. It would make sense, right?" Juliana had to admit he was right; there was no other explanation for what would lay in the desert. "And your people are sure of both these things?"

"Clear as a bell," Kofu said. The beaming smile on his face showcased his pride, though it quickly fell off. "And there's the problem. We need to get to Porto Marinada posthaste. The longer the Veluza act up, the worse the damage to that ecosystem will be. Reports are already there that the water level has risen. But if we want to get there fast…we'd need to cross the desert. It's simply too long to go around. I don't have a party that can help me do that. Need all hands on deck helping Cascarrafa."

"So, it's a lose-lose situation," Gloria said. She sat back, crossing one leg over the other and beginning to tap her knee. She looked to be contemplating something, perhaps about her weather-beaten journal, or some other thing. More than once, her eyes slid over to the teens. "Or maybe not. You just need capable trainers to help through the desert and bring food to the Veluza, no?"

"Aye. I'd rather leave my best here to run the restaurant. You know anyone, Senorita Campeona." Gloria began to grin.

And Juliana's heart soared.

They had walked far from the beaten path, deep into the misery of a storm, yet now she could see the light, and the path they had been trying to find since Zapapico had knocked her off it. She grinned across to Arven, who brushed some hair out of his eye. They reached across, and tapped their fists against each other, right in front of Nemona.

"Count us in, Gym Leader Kofu," Juliana said. "We've got your skilled trainers right here."

"We might be students, but we've crossed countless rugged terrains and faced more Titans than you could shake a stick at."

"I can vouch for them. And besides, I think a group of a Champion, a Gym Leader and some ace battling students would be enough to see us through in no time. What say you, Kofu?" Gloria was now the one to offer her hand to the man. He regarded it a second, looking almost confused by it.

That lasted all of a second. His booming laugh returned. "Vaultin' Veluza! I knew you had moxie, but now you've got some real grit and zeal! Guess it means we have a mission party!"

"Yes!" Arven and Juliana clapped hands in front of Nemona's stunned face, only to quickly retract. A ball returned to Juliana's throat at the sight, causing her lips to purse as she weighed the older girl's reaction.

"So…the Gym will be closed for a while?" she asked, quieter than she had any right to be. All eyes turned in her direction, but Nemona's turned in Juliana's, both girls having no choice but to acknowledge the other's presence.

"I'm sorry, Nemona, but this takes precedence over a Gym battle," Kofu said, his words more solemn than they had been. Nemona still didn't break eye contact with Juliana. It was like she was trying to see something, anything that had changed since their battle. Whether she did or didn't, she began to sigh.

"I know…" she said. "And if I can't do anything then…maybe I can join you?"

"For what?"

"Hey, Juli, doesn't hurt to have some powerful backup." Juliana wouldn't argue that point. She still held reservations, though.

"Fine, but why would you want to go with us? It's not gonna be all battles."

"I-I know that!" Nemona insisted, her eyes sharpening just a tad. "I'm just trying to…" Nemona groaned, running a hand through her ponytail with an ounce of frustration. "If I can't be in my world, and you won't look into mine, maybe I should understand yours? I don't know…"

"Well, whatever the reason," Gloria said, snapping her chair legs forward with a grin, "you'll be a welcome addition to the team. Isn't that right, Juliana?"

Their eyes still hadn't broken, both girls still searching for something in each other. Yet she was the one to break it, looking away into the rest of the restaurant. "Yeah, sure. Can't hurt to have a battle junkie."

"Juli…"

"Oh brother…" Arven said, his sardonic chuckle making Juliana want to kick him. "Either way, looks like the group is set, yeah? Across the Asado Desert it is."

"That it is." Kofu stood, the great scraping of his chair echoing. "Very well, muchachas and muchacho, tomorrow morning, we cross the desert for Porto Marinada!"

Author's Note: This chapter really starts moving things forward. We have quite a bit from Ash's end as he plans to question Rose, and Serena's investigations are hardly pleasing for her. But the bulk of this chapter is focused on Juliana and the gang as they get closer to another clash with some Titans, this time with Kofu and Nemona in the group!

It may seem early for Juliana and Nemona to meet again, and it's obvious that what happened between them isn't easy to sweep under the rug, but it's important for Nemona to be a part of the group for what happens next. At the very least, it certainly brings them all together and makes for some potential interesting conflict.

So, with that all said, hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did (or didn't), please leave me a review or comment and, as always, Dare to Be Silly.