Disclaimer: These characters belong to Game Freak, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company.

May God bless you all.

Ah, Levicinia city. It was like a metropolis compared to most of the other places Florian had been to. This was a legit city. There were so many stands, and shops and posters. So many posters everywhere. Also, people seemed to be talking about their gym leader like she was this big deal. Not that most cities didn't do that but this one seemed more so. Like Florian should have somehow knew who she was from her live streams or something like that.

He didn't and Mela was the first one to give him a slap in the back of his head.

"Okay, we're here!" Nemona shouted. "Let's get you to the gym!"

"It's 10 o clock at night." Eri pointed out. "Let's just find a place to crash."

"But… battle?" Said Nemona.

"The gym's closed, we'll hit it in the morning." Said Arven.

"Oh, well how about a warm-up battle with me then." Nemona insisted.

"Sure." Florian agreed.

He'd learned from experience that she wouldn't stop asking until he said yes.

"Yeah, wouldn't mind seeing you kick her butt again." Said Meli.

"No, I'm gonna win this time!" Nemona assured her. "No, one can beat him but me!" She shouted as she made her way to the battle arena.

Florian hung around a bit, but began to slowly follow after Nemona. He and Eri hung back just a little outside of everyone else's hearing range for how low their voices were.

"So, when are you going to tell her that I beat you the first time you showed up at my Team start base?" She asked.

Florian looked at the taller girl.

"Never sounds good." He said.

Eri smiled. "You can't hide that from her forever I mean the whole base watched me beat you."

Florian sighed.

"You're probably right, but I'd rather keep her in the dark as long as I can."

"What are you guys doing!?" Asked Meli.

"Talking." Eri responded.

"Look at you two hanging back being all secretive." Said Arven.

"We were just discussing what happened when he came to my Team start base." Eri responded.

"Psst…" Said Mela. "…I would rather forget about what happened when he came to mine."

"You did well…" Florian started but Mela cut him off.

"Don't patronize me or I'll punch you square in the mouth." She warned.

Florian gave an awkward smile before joining Nemona at the battle arena.

"Okay Florian, give it all you got!" She shouted.

Truth be told if he did that the battle would be over pretty quickly. A small crowd began to gather around and…

…Florian felt like they deserved more of the show.

"Oof." Said Iono as she lay in her bed. She had just finished a 16-hour straight live stream and was pretty much ready to sleep. However, her body wouldn't allow it. She was so wired from all the streaming, and somewhat jittery from all that coffee she drank to keep herself vibrant during the stream.

A lot of people believed she had it made. She was actually Thankful to God that she was able to make a living doing what she loved. However, it was hard work trying to stay positive for the streamers almost all day. It was also exhausting not being able to go anywhere without people rushing her and trying to be a part of the show.

She sighed as she took off her rather large and iconic T-shirt that barely allowed her to use her hands while she streamed.

"Come on!" Someone shouted outside her apartment.

Iono chose one close to the battle arena and would occasionally watch battles from the comfort of her balcony. Sometimes she would even go down there and make them a part of the stream. However, she wasn't used to a battle this late at night.

"Oh, it's her…" Iono said as she recognized the champion Nemona. She now wondered if she would have to close her windows tonight to get any sleep as Nemona could and would battle all the way into the wee hours of the morning if she her opponent was willing.

Speaking of which Iono looked at the boy battling her. She couldn't put her finger on it but… she knew she had seen that face somewhere before. He wasn't a champion that she would have known but… Perhaps she should…

No. She thought. If she went down there the crowd would rush her and she didn't feel like being the center of attention right now… wait… yes…

An idea found its way to her brain and she went with it almost immediately. She had already taken off her jacket. Now all she had to do was quickly place her hair in one. Put on a hat and… yes… perhaps God willing…

…no one would recognize her.

"Oh come on just one more!" Nemona shouted.

"Nemona you lost three in a row." Mela told her. "Time to call it quits."

"But… I know I can…"

"Come on, let's get some shut-eye." Arven insisted as they began to move away from the battle arena.

This truly was the city that never sleeps. The crowd had stayed mostly for all three battles. They were right there cheering pretty much the whole time. Afterward, a few even came and asked both of the participants questions. Like how did you train, where did you catch that Pokemon, are you seeing anyone? That last one was from some guy hitting on Nemona, but she didn't even realize and had answered "I see plenty of people."

Florian had used mostly Pokemon not a part of his main party so he didn't even really need to visit a center. However old habits did die hard.

"I'll catch up with you guys. Gonna head to a poke center." He told them.

"Okay, don't get lost… it's a big city." Eri warned as the others began to leave.

"Definitely I want to watch you clobber Iono!" Nemona shouted as she left with the others.

Florian smiled. She may have been annoying, but she did always try to encourage him. She actually wanted him to get stronger. Sure so that he could be a rival that matched her but… in any case, she did try to encourage him. That's what mattered.

Florian began walking to one of the two poke centers in the city. The North one was closer, but they had entered from there, so he decided to head South.

Florian looked around… most of the crowd had dispersed but he had this weird feeling… he couldn't shake it…

…Like someone in the crowd was watching him.

Please don't be Nemona again.

Iono looked as the boy headed South. She wasn't even sure why she was following him. However, the way he beat Nemona… she could tell…

…He was holding back. He had much stronger Pokemon than he was using. She knew this from experience. She was usually one of the gym trainers that people went to in the middle of the gym challenge. So her Pokemon weren't too strong or too weak. However, she never used her stronger Pokemon as the gym challenge required leaders to be on different levels. If everyone used the strongest then, pretty much almost all trainers would fail. Sometimes this frustrated her, but all in all it was a good way to use many different Pokemon for her battles. All were electric types of course but she had a lot of em. It was good for them to get out of there's balls every now and again.

Iono quickly ducked behind one of the buildings as the boy turned. Did he know she had been following him? When she peeked out…

"No." She said as she couldn't tell where he was in the crowd. It may have been approaching midnight but the city was still very much alive.

Iono came out of her hiding spot and scanned the people. She still couldn't see him.

"Looking for someone?" A voice from behind her said causing her to jump and fall on her behind.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to startle you like that." Said Florian as he offered her his hand.

She took it and he helped her up.

"Um… I can…sorry." She blurted out not sure exactly what to say.

"It's okay." Said Florian. "At least it wasn't Nemona again."

"What?" She asked.

"Um… never mind." He replied. "So, why are you following me?" He asked.

Iono thought for a moment. She couldn't reveal her identity. However, she had to think of some reason…

"I… saw you battle… that girl… Nemona." She said. "…Umm…. I…."

"Are you okay?" Asked Florian. "Do you know Nemona or something?"

"Um… kind of, we've battled before." Iono answered.

"Ah… I'm sorry." He replied jokingly.

Iono laughed slightly realizing the implication.

"So, you still haven't answered my question." He said.

"Um… well…" She stammered. "…I guess it was surprising that you beat her without a single one of your Pokemon fainting… even though you weren't using your best." She said finally.

"OH… you knew that huh?" Asked Florian.

"I could tell you weren't using your main party." She said.

"You have good insight." Said Florian. "Are you a local?"

"Um… yes I live here." Iono replied.

"Well… could you help me find the Southern poke center?" He asked.

"Oh, of course!" She answered him quickly.

"Just follow me."

Arven practically dropped as he reached his room. He probably should have skipped the battle and just gone to bed ahead of everyone else.

"Nemona…" He said as he laid down. She seemed to have almost an endless supply of energy.

*knock* *knock*

Oh yeah, Arven thought as he remembered Florian would not have his room key.

He got up and answered the door.

"That was qui…" He began to say before realizing.

"Hey, Arv." Said Juliana.

"OH… Juliana? Um, when did you…"

"About an hour ago. " She replied. "Man, this is one big city. Good thing we still have our Rotoms connected or I wouldn't have been able…

"Is that Juliana!?" Nemona shouted from her room next door.

"OH no!" Juliana said. "Quick Arven."

"oof." Said Arven as Juliana pushed him back into his room and shut the door.

"Come back and see us again whenever you need!" Said The nurse

"Thank you." Florian said as he took his Pokemon.

"And thank you for showing me where it is." Florian told the girl.

"No, problem."

"My name's Florian by the way."

At that, Iono paused for a moment. She knew she had seen his face before. This was Florian the boy who was sweeping the gym challenge. Tulip just the other day had told her about their battle and how this boy's Cinderace completely obliterated most of her Pokemon. No wonder Nemona didn't seem as much of a challenge for him.

"OH… Florian." She stuttered. "I've heard of you."

"Really, I don't think I'm famous or anything." He replied.

"Oh… well people who beat gym leaders tend to get popular pretty quickly." Iono assured him.

*rumble*

Iono blushed slightly as it just occurred to her, that she hadn't eaten since lunch. She was so busy streaming and then shortly after arriving at her apartment had rushed out to watch the battles.

"Um… you hungry?" Asked Florian.

"OH well…"

"There's a sandwich place nearby. How about I treat you… as a thank you." Said Florian.

Iono was honestly unsure about this. However, her stomach wasn't.

"Sure." She answered. "I actually haven't been there in a while."

"OH, you don't like their sandwiches?" Asked Florian.

Iono wasn't sure how to answer. In truth, she hardly ate out due to most likely being swarmed by her fans. Most of the time she simply had food brought to the gym or ate at home. But she couldn't tell Florian that.

"Ummm…." She went.

"We could eat somewhere else if you want." Said Florian.

"No, come on." She answered as she walked toward the sandwich joint.

Upon going in she noticed something strange, but welcomed.

No one was even looking at her.

"Sorry about that." Said Juliana after they arrived in the room.

"Uh… no problem." Said Arven.

"I thought I heard her." Nemona said from outside.

"Shs." Said Juliana warning Arven to keep quiet.

"Close the door girl, people are trying to sleep!" He heard Mela yell.

"I was pretty sure…"

Juliana breathed a sigh of relief as she heard the door close.

"Thank you, Arven." She said.

"No problem." Answered the much taller boy.

"So… where's my brother?" She asked him.

"Um… he went to the poke center, he and Nemona had some… battles." He answered.

"Say no more…" answered Juliana. *yawn* "…Guess I'll catch up with him in the morning."

"Be quiet, wouldn't want Nemona to see me sneak back to my room."

"Yeah." Said Arven.

"Good night." She said as she left.

"Night." Arven replied.

"I just heard the door close!" Nemona said from the other room.

"Is Florian back!?"

Arven sighed.

"That's it! She's getting shoved into the bathroom!" Mela shouted.

"No, Mela wait!" Eri protested.

Arven simply put in some earplugs he had bought and went to bed.

Ignoring the feud going on in the room next door.

"Wow, that was really good." Said Iono after the two had finished eating.

"Yup, they make pretty decent subs." Florian said.

"Thanks for that. I haven't eaten there in a while." Said Iono.

"No, problem." Said Florian.

"Well, I better get some shut-eye. Got to battle the gym leader tomorrow." Florian said.

"Oh, yeah, definitely." Said Iono almost forgetting that was her he was talking about.

"Oh, by the way, what's your name?" Asked Florian.

With everything that had happened, Iono hadn't realized she hadn't told him. But she couldn't really tell him or he'd know who she was.

"Um… I." She told him. "You can call me I."

"Okay…" Replied Florian. "…Good night… I."

"Good night."

"Maybe I'll see you when I battle the gym leader." Florian told her as he left.

Iono watched as the boy got further and further.

"Oh trust me…" She said.

"I'll be there."

Thank you all who made it to the end.

May God bless you all.