Pokémon Nuzlocke Novels: Ancient Scarlet
Chapter 20: Mementos
Milo spent the better part of the afternoon taking a stroll through Artazon with Nemona, Hannah, Hassel and Brassius. The Gym Leader eccentrically praised each of them on at least three different occasions, even after they finally sat down for a picnic lunch by the pool.
The highlight of the picnic for Nemona, who eagerly talked with all of them about Milo's recent battle and her own rematch against Brassius earlier that day, was when Hannah Caballero talked about her school days at Naranja Academy. This included both how she got suspended from school for fighting and how she met Milo's father.
Considering today was the first time Nemona had heard of him, the young Champion was very interested. For Milo's part, he simply listened to the stories quietly and without comment.
After spending another night in Artazon as VIP's of Brassius, Milo and Nemona both decided to trek back to Naranja Academy through the Wilds, with Hannah taking the Flying Taxi back to Cabo Poco and Hassel remaining in Artazon to assist Brassius with a project for a few more days.
Naturally the duo found themselves in another Tera Den, with Milo and Nemona being joined by more members of the Crystal Containment Crew. This culminated in Milo snagging another Pawmi within a Fighting Tera Den. Upon exiting the den, Milo debated what to call the second Pawmi that had come under his care.
"This Pawmi is Female and has the Ability Static. Its Tera Type is Fighting." The Rotom Phone supplied, Milo making note of that information. His first Pawmi, Sparky, had been a boy and has an Electric Tera Type. This one was the opposite, in a way.
Well, there's no rules against getting Duplicates in your little challenge, so I guess we can let this happen. Just make sure this one doesn't faint!
"Volt." Milo said quietly as he registered the Pokémon in his Pokédex App. The Remnant snorted with derision from within Milo's head, but he ignored it.
"The Remnant is right though. I've gotta make sure she doesn't go out the same way as Sparky…Do I even want to use her? I might let her down like I did him." Milo thought to himself, his thoughts bitter for a moment before he returned the confused Pokémon and looked over at Nemona. The upperclassman was looking at Milo with some confusion, but he slipped his mask back on and smiled at her so she didn't really see how troubled he was. Nemona smiled back at her friend as he sent Volt's ball to PC Storage.
"I can see another Tera Den. Let's move!" Milo said with forced cheer as he started heading towards another outcropping of rocks in the distance. This time it was a blue pillar of light, and Nemona was able to call out that it was Water Tera Den well in advance. When asked how she could identify that, she admitted it was because of Hassel's Art Classes back at the Academy. Milo filed away that information for later.
Milo dropped in and found three 3XC members waiting for him, playing a round of rock-paper-scissors for some reason. Milo had to wait patiently for them to finish their game before the group went into the main chamber where a strange apple-like Pokémon sat awaiting them, coated in blue crystals.
"Oh hey, that's an Applin." Milo said immediately, grinning at the Pokémon he knew very well due to their popularity in Galar. He sent out Storm the Wattrel, who eyed the Applin hungrily for a moment before the Tera Battle began. Once again, the battle went fairly quickly due to how much stronger Milo and his team had gotten over the past few weeks.
"There's a few more Tera Dens just south of here!" Nemona remarked as Milo sent out his newly-caught Applin outside on the rocks, patting the Pokémon on the head as he pulled up its Pokédex entry.
"Applin. The Apple Core Pokémon. It grows by eating the flesh of an apple. Applin uses its own body fluid to strengthen the apple's skin and prevent it from rotting. This Applin is Male and has the Ability Gluttony. Its Tera Type is Water." The Rotom Phone explained as Milo hummed thoughtfully, smiling as he looked down at the Applin.
"I've always wondered what it'd be like to have my own Applin. It's not Corviknight, but I've always liked them." Milo admitted to Nemona, who looked interested.
"Oh yeah! They're supposed to be a big deal in Galar, aren't they?" Nemona asked Milo, who nodded.
"Yeah. There's an old tradition where you give an Applin or Applin-themed stuff to someone you have feelings for. It's still super popular even today…" Milo trailed off, realizing he was looking Nemona right in the eyes as he was saying that. Especially while holding the Applin in his arms, facing her direction.
"Um, are you good Milo? You look a little red." Nemona asked, sounding a little worried for her friend. Milo coughed and set the Applin on the ground, trying not to look her in the eyes and forcing himself to regain his composure. Unfortunately, as good as Milo was with his mask, getting flustered was one of the best ways to make him lose his composure. And Nemona was unintentionally great at doing that.
"I'm fine. Now I just need a name for this little guy." Milo remarked as he crouched on the ground, rubbing the top of the Applin with a smile as his blush slowly faded.
Well, let's hear your latest crap name, kid. We're all waiting with bated breath.
"I think I'll go with Smith. Like the apple breed, you know?" Milo said to Nemona, who's face lit up with a bright smile. "He isn't red like a Smith apple, but the name still fits."
"I like it!" Nemona said excitedly, with Milo grinning as he input the name into the Pokédex. With that, Smith the Applin joined the party.
How is that like, only the fourth or fifth halfway decent name you've come up with!? I actually like that one!
Milo ignored the Remnant yet again and returned Smith, adding it to his current lineup of Pokémon. He hopped to his feet and began scouting the area with Nemona, quickly spotting a Steel Tera Den about a mile away hidden by a cliff.
With Nemona's help and plenty of fire from Reggie, Milo easily managed to take down his next target. This time it was Steel Tera Type Skwovet lurking within the rocky outcropping. After catching the Pokémon, Milo made sure to take a picture of it for his mother, sending it to her before sitting down and pulling up the 'Dex entry for Skwovet, a Pokémon who's name is very annoying to spell for me.
"Skwovet. The Cheeky Pokémon. It stores berries in its cheeks. When there are no berries to be found, Skwovet will stuff pebbles into its cheeks to stave off its cravings. This Skwovet is Male and has the Ability Cheek Pouch. It's Tera Type is Steel." Milo nodded as he listened to the entry, considering a possible name as the Remnant quietly began humming a tune in the background.
"Hmmm…Momo." Milo said with a shrug, inputting the name into the Pokédex. Milo noticed that the little squirrel-like Pokémon was much smaller than Conker, the Skwovet Hannah Caballero owned. Milo pet the Skwovet for a little while as Nemona fed Momo a berry, admiring the little Pokémon for a short time. He then recalled Momo to his Poké Ball before standing up and stretching, noticing that the sun was setting and that it would be nightfall soon enough.
"You wanna camp out here for a little while or head back to school? We might be able to beat curfew if we get a ride soon." Milo asked Nemona, who considered it.
"Let's head to school. I can try to schedule some more classes and get ahead of my studies. I fell a little behind in handling my League duties, so I've got to catch up." Nemona explained, earning a warm smile from Milo.
"You have an awesome work ethic, Nemona. I admire that." Milo remarked fondly, making the girl in question beam at her friend and Rival before giving him a thumbs up. Soon the Flying Taxi whisked them back to school, where they were able to sleep in their own beds and get a good night's sleep.
A week later Milo found himself sitting in Home Ec Class, joining Arven in a room filled with other students. Considering that it was late in the afternoon, the class was bright and alert as the instructor cleared his throat, preparing to speak.
The teacher in question stood at the front of the classroom wearing a rather bright outfit, with a pink and yellow striped button-up shirt and a purple apron. He had lustrous black hair that was combed back, but several long strands extending outwards despite that. He was also somewhat buff, with his hairy and toned arms catching the eyes of several female students in particular.
"Your time with me will be spent obtaining knowledge and skills indispensable for daily life." The man explained, his voice a deep baritone. He then gestured to the entire class for a moment and looked at them all. "I see we have some energetic young ones in our class this time around. You may call me Mr. Saguaro."
"Many of you have left the care of your parents to live here on your own in the academy dormitory. I pray that the knowledge I impart to you will improve the quality of your lives and the necessities thereof - food, clothing, and shelter." Saguaro went on with a grin, lowering his hands to his sides. "Of those three categories, I assume the most pressing and interesting for you all is food."
Several students laughed at that comment, with Arven smirking as he exchanged a glance with an amused Milo. Saguaro allowed the moment to pass before he continued his lecture. To the delight of Arven, the lesson mostly centered on sandwiches and how to prepare them.
This was mostly because sandwiches were extremely versatile as far as meals and snacks went, and could be had for breakfast, lunch and dinner depending on what you put in them.
"It's become a bit of a cultural thing here in Paldea." Saguaro explained, rubbing the back of his head with a wide smile. "So much so that even here at the Academy, our cafeteria sells all kinds of sandwiches to our students and staff."
"That's so weird though, sir. Isn't it?" Kara chimed in, with her twin sister nodding in agreement at the table behind Arven and Milo. "Like, don't get me wrong, I love a good sandwich. But the fact that they're so popular here is…odd."
"Not at all. Other regions do something similar, based on other trends and their culture." Saguaro responded gruffly, crossing his arms. He was smiling despite this, however. "Some places are absolutely crazy about certain foods. This can even sometimes stem from one person being a maniac for them."
"How do you mean, sir?" Sara asked, looking confused.
"Well, for instance, a certain Kahuna in Alola is an absolute fiend for malasadas. Malasadas are a type of exotic fried doughnut with delicious fillings inside. As a result of this, a malasada chain restaurant opened up in his town where there hadn't been one before! And people flock to this store, despite there being dozens throughout the region, just to eat a malasada with this Trainer. That is the power of food and culture, my young friends!" Saguaro boomed to the classroom, with Kara and Sara both nodding in understanding.
"It goes even further than that, though. Poffins, Poké Puffs, and even curry in the Galar region all follow a trend. Making food for the benefit of both yourself and Pokémon. And that's where picnics come in." Saguaro gestured to the screen, where a blown-up picture was on display. It was a photo of the teachers at Naranja Academy eating at a picnic table, with all of them wearing merry smiles. Rolling green hills could be seen in the background with a large lake nearby.
Saguaro gestured to himself in the picture, holding a large sub that was practically bursting with peppers and other spicy vegetables. Milo shuddered at the thought of eating so many spicy things, and felt his respect for the teacher grow. "Yes, picnics are a great way to bond with both your Pokémon and others. It's been a recent movement within Paldea, but one I'm happy to see. Now, let's go into some of the more technical benefits of picnics, which'll be of use to the Pokémon Trainers in this class."
"When you eat sandwiches on your picnics, your Pokémon will of course be involved. As such, the HP of your party Pokémon will be restored. You will also gain something called Meal Powers, which can provide all manner of benefits. For example, these powers can make Pokémon easier to catch or increase the Exp. Points that your Pokémon receive."
"I think you will also find that the breadth of these effects can be expanded by crafting sandwiches of superb flavor. I know young Arven over there is particularly experienced when it comes to concocting fantastic sandwiches." Saguaro said warmly as he gestured to the upperclassman, who chuckled embarrassedly.
The class then spent a good half hour working on making sandwiches, referring to several pamphlets provided by Mr. Saguaro as a reference guide for good combinations for sandwiches. Thanks to Arven, Milo already knew them all, even if he still hadn't mastered the art of sandwich-making yet. The class even got to eat their own creations, which was a well-received announcement to the classroom of hungry students.
The instructor cleared his throat and continued with his lesson as the class ate. "There is a certain something that is particularly important if we wish to receive Meal Powers with even more helpful effects. Let me see…" Saguaro glanced around the room, and his eyes landed on Milo as the teen wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Master Florian! Tell me - what must you keep in mind to receive even more helpful Meal Powers?"
"My choice of fillings and condiments. Just because I like extra pickles on my sandwich doesn't mean that I'll get a lot of benefits from just that." Milo answered, earning a wide grin and a nod from the burly man.
"Perfectly correct, Master Florian!" Saguaro laughed, clapping his hands together. "Perhaps you were already aware of this fact from having helped your family with cooking at home?"
"I try to help, but I'm hopeless in the kitchen." Milo admitted sheepishly, blushing with embarrassment and earning a couple of chuckles from his classmates.
Saguaro smirked at the honest response, shaking his head. "Well, let's see if we can't work on that. After all, that's what we're here for!"
"But getting back to the lesson. Your choice of ingredients - including both fillings and condiments - is an important factor in gaining even more helpful Meal Powers. For example, using sweet ingredients in your sandwiches may help you gain Egg Power. Including numerous bitter ingredients, on the other hand, can gain Item Drop Power."
"Learning to aim for specific effects when crafting sandwiches will almost certainly make your culinary endeavors more enjoyable." Saguaro said with another joyful laugh, looking over the class. "Please be aware, however, that you can also receive Meal Powers by eating at restaurants."
A familiar chime echoed through the entire school, signaling the end of class. Saguaro seemed to deflate a little, but he clapped his hands together loudly.
"I must say that I would feel the utmost joy if you all learned much here in my class and came to better understand Home Economics. Our time together has come to an end for today. I bid you all farewell." Saguaro said as the class got out of their seats and exited the room, with Milo and Arven quickly falling into step with each other.
"Why were you in that class, Arven? You're already a pro when it comes to cooking and I bet you can out-sandwich the teacher." Milo asked his friend, who shrugged.
"I have a minimum number of classes I have to attend per semester and today was a review lesson. Meal Powers are easy-peasy. The real question is why you were there. You can't cook to save your life!" Arven accused Milo, who flushed at the very true remark. He had tried several times to cook simple things like scrambled eggs or grilled cheese, only for them to turn into culinary disasters. Anything more simple than cooking ramen noodles was beyond him.
"Because I suck at cooking and need to get better. Pre-packaged meals and MRE's can only get me so far." Milo remarked, crossing his arms huffily. "There's some Pokémon Trainers in other regions who can kill, skin and cook Pokémon out in the Wilds with no issues. I need to do better."
"And I agree with that. So, changing the subject, what's on your agenda for the rest of the day?" Arven asked Milo, who shrugged his shoulders in response.
"I'll probably try and track Nemona down before heading over to talk with the 3XC Club. I feel like I should've done it by now, but that's a really long walk and I keep putting it off." Milo remarked, earning a snort from Arven. "With how much I interact with the 3XC in the Tera Dens, it makes sense."
"Then why not just go there now? Why have Nemona with you?" Arven asked, trying not to sound too put-off when mentioning the Champion's name.
"Because meeting new people is scary and she said she was cool with coming with me." Milo admitted honestly, which earned him a worried frown from Arven before the teen nodded.
He was well aware of Milo's discomfort around crowds and people in general. Juliana had once explained it away as social anxiety, and once Arven looked up the term, he found that Milo probably suffered from it.
Arven found that he respected his friend more for accomplishing his goals despite his anxiety. After all, Milo had helped Arven take down the Stony Cliff Titan despite the risks.
"Well, have fun with that little buddy. I'm gonna grab some snacks before checking out the Library. Do you have any issues with me swingin' by later to compare notes on the Titan we've been researching?" Arven asked Milo, who shook his head.
Since Milo had returned to school, Arven had informed him about his research into the Open Sky Titan, who lurked somewhere within the mountains that lay between Cortondo and Cascarrafa. Apparently the Titan was a bird of some kind who kept throwing boulders down the mountainside, and had actually injured several Trainers passing through over the years. No one had been daring enough to try and confront the beast head-on.
Until now, of course. Milo had already been informed by the Remnant that the next Objective for Milo to complete was dealing with the Open Sky Titan. Milo would have to try and keep a careful eye on his Pokémon's levels and hope he could take down this Titan as smoothly as Titan Klawf.
"Juliana might be joining us. She's been super busy with her Pep Rally stuff, so I forced her to take a break and come hang out with me for a bit." Milo responded as they rounded a corner and entered the main lobby of the school.
"That's fine with me. See you soon!" Arven said as he fist-bumped Milo and walked up the stairs to get to the second floor of the library. Milo watched his friend for a moment before texting Nemona. After a few minutes of waiting and getting no response, he decided to try and track her down on his own.
His first stop was the Biology Lab, which was Milo and Nemona's homeroom. Milo found the room fairly easily, since attending Naranja Academy for almost four months had helped the teen figure out the layout of the school at long last.
The Galarian student walked into the room and glanced around, seeing that only a few students were hanging out in the room. Mr. Jacq himself was standing at the front of the classroom and eating an apple, glancing over something on his Rotom Phone as he did. Milo took a fortifying breath before walking over to his homeroom teacher.
"Hey Mr. Jacq, have you seen Nemona?" Milo asked Jacq, who paused with his teeth about to bite down on the apple again. The man lowered his apple and raised a hand in greeting.
"Ah! Hello, hello!" Jacq said brightly to Milo, grinning at the student. "And I have not seen Miss Nemona, but I'm sure she's around here somewhere."
"Oh well. I'm sure she'll answer her phone eventually. Thanks anyway." Milo said to the teacher, with Jacq considering that response for a moment before his cheery smile became a little more serious.
"Have you gotten used to things here at the Academy, Milo? Moving from one region to another is no small thing, after all, and Paldea and Galar are very different places." Jacq asked the teen, who nodded in answer.
"Yeah. It's really starting to feel like home to me." Milo admitted sheepishly, but it was true. His room at the Academy felt more homey than his room back home, and he had more friends now than he ever had back in Galar. Naranja Academy was exactly as good as his parents had said it was, if not better.
"Great! Glad to see you're having fun." Jacq said with a nod before straightening up, putting a hand to his chin. "Oh! Have you been using the Pokédex App?"
Milo nodded. "I've been using it whenever I see a new Pokémon. It's been really helpful. I caught a Skwovet, an Applin and a Pawmi the other day, so the Pokédex App got a bunch of use then."
Jacq laughed at that comment, scratching his cheek. "I'm, uh, hehe…I'm the one who made it, you know. Every time someone using the app catches a Pokémon, that data gets sent to me. It's really helping with my Pokémon research! So be sure to catch any new Pokémon you find and work on filling in your Pokédex."
"Can do, sir. I've caught some Pokémon already, so hopefully that's helped a little bit." Milo replied, with Jacq laughing good-naturedly.
"For your first goal, let's aim for, say…30! Register 30 Pokémon in your app!" Jacq said to Milo, catching the student off-guard. He wasn't expecting that! "Let me know once you've done so!"
"Um, okay sir. I'll check back in with you once I've caught more Pokémon." Milo promised his homeroom teacher before departing for the day and heading back to his room. He was only slightly surprised to see Arven and Juliana chatting outside of it. Milo walked past his two friends, opened his door and walked in, with Juliana and Arven following behind him.
Juliana immediately hurried to Milo's fridge and began riffling through it, pulling out a small carton of chocolate milk and opening it. Arven smirked at the girl as she chugged it, with Milo huffing in annoyance.
"Yes. Please drink my chocolate milk. It's not like I bought that for me or anything." Milo grumbled as he slung his backpack onto his bed and called out his team. Arven snickered at Milo's annoyance, causing Juliana to grin happily.
"I'm glad you're so understanding. Hey Arven, you want one?" Juliana asked, pulling out a second carton and tossing it to Arven. Milo's right eye twitched as the girl walked over to Milo and plopped down on his bed.
"Before I strangle Juliana, did you need something Arven? Tonight's probably a night-in for me. I can't find Nemona and that 3XC meeting was about the only thing I wanted to do. I know we wanted to go over Titan stuff, but I don't have much research to show for it yet." Milo said to his friend, who looked a little disappointed hearing that.
"Damn. I was hoping you wanted to hang out some. It occurred to me that we could outfit our teams with some Held Items. Especially since the Open Sky Titan is supposed to be even tougher than the Stony Cliff Titan was." Arven remarked, crossing his arms.
"How about this? You did some research about it already. How about I do some research, and we go out shopping for equipment later this week?" Milo suggested to Arven, feeling bad about inconveniencing his friend. Arven grinned at the young Trainer, giving him a thumbs up.
"Sounds good to me! If you find something interesting, let me know. I'll get out of your hair and get back to you later. Goodnight!" Arven said to the two Galarian students, who both nodded and waved at Arven as he departed.
"You are such an antisocial Skitty." Juliana giggled as the door shut behind Arven. Milo walked over to the door and locked it, but paused when his friend spoke.
"I've gotten better…haven't I?" Milo asked quietly, looking back at her. Juliana saw the unsure expression on her best friend's face and mentally kicked herself for teasing him. She quickly clapped her hands loudly and hopped up from the bed as she walked over to Milo.
"Yes, mate. You're doing a lot better." Juliana said with a comforting smile, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're making friends. You're being a Pokémon Trainer like you've always wanted. You're really pushing yourself and it's incredible. Just…don't forget to drop your Poker Face every now and then, Milo. You're awesome and people should be able to see you for who you really are. Not for who you want to be."
Milo remained silent at that, not really having a response to his friend's wisdom. It was almost a relief to the boy when his phone started ringing loudly, flying out of his pocket and showing a rainbow-colored question mark.
Cassiopeia was reaching out to him. With a click, the call was automatically accepted by Milo's Rotom Phone.
"Hello Milo. Sounds like you're back at the Academy."
"Cassiopeia. What can I do for my favorite anonymous spooky person?" Milo asked as he picked up Smith the Applin from the floor and walked over to his bed, sitting down on it and putting the Applin in his lap. Cocoa and Reggie hopped up onto his bed and joined him while Storm went to start trouble with Echo and Fleur, chirping at them.
"So you're Cassiopeia!" Juliana exclaimed, pointing at the phone while Milo smirked triumphantly. His fellow Galarian hadn't believed that Milo had been press-ganged into dealing with Team Star by an anonymous caller who could hack into his phone at will.
"Of course I am. And you're Milo's best friend from Galar, Juliana Anderson." Cassiopeia replied after a moment's pause. "You have four Gym Badges under your belt and you're currently in the General Studies track, enrolling at Naranja Academy on a music scholarship like Milo here. You play the violin and have an internet browsing history more cursed than Milo's by a country mile."
"Oh wow…that's spooky." Juliana said quietly, shrinking back from the phone as everything Milo had warned her about truly sank in.
"Yep. Kinda terrifying, huh?" Milo asked in a stage-whisper, causing Cassiopeia to cough a few times to get their attention again.
"I was curious about your current status. It's been a little while since I've checked in and I see that you have another Gym Badge under your belt. Very impressive, by the way. You nearly had a perfect battle against Brassius. And because of that, I think you may have just what it takes to topple the weakest of the Team Star Bosses."
Milo crossed his arms, annoyed at being pestered again. "It's on my to-do list. I've got some more experience and caught a few more Pokémon. I'll probably head out that way in a week or two and see what Team Star really is all about. Mostly because you won't tell me a damn thing."
"And the Titans?"
Milo scowled at the blatant invasion of his privacy, which Cassiopeia seemed to sense. "Sorry, but I took the liberty of going through your phone and spotted some very interesting things you had open in your tabs. The Open Sky Titan, huh? After how close things seemed to be with Titan Klawf, do you really want to put yourself in danger like that again?"
"I know the danger, but I want to help my friends out. And beating those Titans and uncovering their secrets is something I'm committed to. I don't have to explain myself to someone who won't explain themselves in return." Milo shot back, causing Juliana to give him a thumbs up.
"Hmm. Well, I'll be keeping in touch. There's still plenty of time to handle Team Star and I wouldn't want my favorite partner in crime to get hurt." Milo snorted in amusement at the statement, shaking his head. "Farewell for now, Milo."
The phone call ended and Milo let out a deep sigh. Juliana stared at her best friend with a concerned expression. Milo stuffed his phone away into a pocket and then leaned back, sighing tiredly.
"At least their phone calls are brief. Doesn't usually call me for more than a minute or two, but they're annoying." Milo explained, closing his eyes with a small smile. "Do you want to hang out or go somewhere more lively? I'll be researching the Titans tonight, but you're more than welcome to hang out here with me and my team instead of working your fingers to the bone on that pep rally thing. I know Koraidon enjoys having you around."
Koraidon let out a loud growl of agreement, causing them both to chuckle. Milo had only let the beast out of its Poké Ball after Arven left, due to his strong feelings about it.
"Koraidon likes everyone, Milo. But no, I think I'll head out and take a nap in my room. I don't want to bother you. But thanks for reminding me about taking breaks…Sometimes I get too focused on stuff." Juliana thanked her best friend, smiling at him.
Milo hopped to his feet, with Juliana doing the same. She then surprised Milo by moving towards him and pulling him into a tight hug. Milo returned the hug, somewhat confused, and when he pulled away from Juliana he saw her worried frown.
Juliana sighed, an annoyed sound that bespoke the concern she felt. "This is so wildly out of character for you and it's insane…but I trust that you're not dumb enough to die. So be safe with this stuff. You and Arven watch each other's backs, okay? If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."
Milo grinned at his longtime best friend. "I haven't died yet, and I don't plan on dying anytime soon. I'll be around for a while before we start trying to find this thing."
"I mean it, Princess Fluffyflower. If you die, I'll kill you."
"That's the spirit."
Milo said farewell to his best friend before hopping on his laptop and booting up a search engine, intent on prowling the web for rumors about the Open SKy Titan. He'd already made plans to stop through Cortondo with Arven to stock up on any extra supplies just in case the search for the Open Sky Titan took as long as the Rocky Cliff Titan did, but Arven seemed optimistic.
Sunset had rolled around by the time Milo eventually closed his laptop, rubbing his eyes and glancing down at the various notes he had made. Thanks to the various reports he and Arven had tracked down, Milo was successful in narrowing down the list of Pokémon that the Open Sky Titan could be, which made dealing with it easier.
It was only luck that Milo had gone into battling Titan Klawf with a team that had such a big advantage against it. He wanted that same luck for whatever Titan was waiting for them next. Milo also expected some answers from Arven, because the older student was clearly hiding something.
Milo sighed, leaning back in his chair. His eyes drifted over to a large cardboard box that was sitting on his desk, half-opened. It was the latest care package from Hannah Caballero, and it contained various items that Milo had been asking about for the past month or so. Chiefly, some of his room decorations and Galar Pokémon League merchandise.
It also contained various personal items that Milo hadn't asked for, which was why it had been sitting on his desk for the past three days.
"Mum can be really stubborn sometimes…" Milo muttered, shaking his head at the open box.
Milo's stomach rumbled then, and he debated whether he wanted to head down to the cafeteria or make a bowl of cereal. Juliana, Hannah Caballero and even Nemona had all attempted to teach Milo to cook something simple, but all attempts ended in failure. He hadn't been lying in Mr. Saguaro's class about his lack of skill in the kitchen.
And speaking of Nemona-
The Champion-ranked Trainer suddenly opened the door, grinning as she made eye-contact with her friend. Milo jumped in surprise as she bounded through the door, closing it behind her with a slam.
"Milo! Sorry I haven't answered your texts! I was helping Hassel with something for the Pokémon League and lost track of time!" Nemona apologized, running forward while Koraidon barked a greeting to the girl.
"Does the term breaking and entering mean anything to you?" Milo asked with a laugh as Nemona froze, realizing that she had once again done just that. The Champion blushed with embarrassment, rubbing the back of her head.
"S-sorry, Milo! I can leave if now's a bad time." Nemona apologized, but Milo waved off her concerns with an easy smile.
"Nah, you're good. If it was anyone but you, I'd probably be annoyed." Milo admitted, laughing as he walked over to Nemona. "I had actually given up on meeting the 3XC today. Did you still want to go meet them tonight with me?"
Nemona nodded enthusiastically, beaming at him. "Yeah! You pretty much catch Pokémon exclusively from Tera Dens and keep battling alongside the 3XC, right? Well, the Club President himself just got back from his vacation back home in Sinnoh, so it's a perfect time to meet him and see if you can join the club."
"Still undecided on that, but it's worth meeting the guy in charge." Milo agreed, but was interrupted by his own growling stomach. "Maybe after I get some food. I got caught up researching stuff for Arven and forgot to eat. Maybe I can snag something from the cafeteria on the way if they're still open."
"Ooh, I haven't eaten dinner yet either. Would you mind some company?" Nemona asked tentatively, with a nervousness that surprised Milo. A few moments later Milo realized exactly why that was. Nemona was afraid of bothering him when it was obvious he had been planning on spending the night inside, even if they did have plans for the 3XC.
"Not at all. In fact, we can go out into Mesagoza and visit the Battle Food Court after we meet with the 3XC. I hear they're starting a thing for tag-battles on weekends and winners get free dessert." Milo suggested, causing Nemona's eyes to light up with joy. Good food and battles with her friend? To her that sounded like an amazing time!
"Well, what are we waiting for!?" Nemona declared with an excited laugh, with Milo chuckling as he walked over to his dresser and pulled out a clean uniform. He was currently dressed in gym shorts and a hoodie, since he had decided to just stay in for the night.
"Let me change and get ready. Give me a few minutes, and we can go bother the President of the Crystal Containment Crew. Even if I don't join the club, which is always a possibility, it never hurts to say hi." Milo offered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Even though you'd rather be stuck in your room?" Nemona asked cheekily, causing Milo to blush at being called out like that, but he still laughed at the lighthearted jab.
"Especially because I'd rather be in my room. But hanging out with you is more important. But yeah, give me like three minutes and I'll be ready to roll." Milo said as he walked into his bathroom and locked the door, leaving Nemona to her own devices. The girl found herself smiling happily at his parting comment about her being more important than his own unease.
"He's so patient. I didn't even have to ask him about battling!" Nemona thought excitedly, doing a small fist-pump. "And he's always looking for ways to improve himself. I respect the heck out of that!"
Nemona glanced around the room, seeing several textbooks out on the desk and a half-packed backpack resting nearby. No doubt Milo was preparing for another extended outing, though where he was planning on going was something she wasn't privy to. But Nemona knew that no matter what her friend had going on, he always had time for her.
"I've been here at the Academy for a while, but no one's really understood me like Milo." Nemona reflected with a small frown, her words quiet as she really thought about her friend.
All the battles they had shared, the conversations they had, their hangouts within Mesagoza and how highly Milo seemed to think of her in general. It made her feel appreciated, and not just for what she had done for Milo as his friend and mentor, but just for Nemona being herself.
"He really seems to appreciate all the stuff that I do for him, but he kinda does even more in return…He treats me like a friend, rather than just Champion Nemona. He doesn't judge me for how much I enjoy battles, and even supports me. No one else really does that…" The upperclassman realized, leaning against Milo's desk and considering just how important that fact was to her. Milo of course respected her skills as a Trainer and what she had accomplished, but that wasn't all she was to him. She was his friend, first and foremost.
The young Champion noticed that her heart was beating quickly, and she giggled to herself. "That guy rocks. Milo gets me so amped up that I can barely control myself! I can't wait for some tag-battling later!"
Nemona decided to look around the room a bit more closely, since Milo seemed to be taking longer than he said he would be in the bathroom. She made sure to take a few moments to pet Koraidon, rubbing its head. It was then that Nemona noticed a half-open box on Milo's desk. Curiosity got the better of the Champion, and she walked over to the box and peeked inside.
Within it were several packaged bags of chocolate and candy, as well as several Galar League Trainer Cards that were all signed. Nemona recognized the cards from Raihan and Bea, and even a rare Trainer Card from Opal tucked away in a protective covering.
However, it was the two items at the top of the box that Nemona's zeroed-in on. The first of which was a photograph in a wooden frame, leaning against the side of the box. She then noticed that a silver necklace was draped around it, with a six-sided dice attached to it that looked to be made of silver. Nemona leaned in to get a better look, and saw that there were words on the dice. Engraved in delicate calligraphy was a small quote in what Nemona noticed was Paldean. The Champion squinted, trying to read the small font without touching any of the items within.
"Roll the dice and truly live, for life is nothing without risk." Nemona read the inscription softly before she looked at the picture more carefully. "What is this…?"
It was a family photo of four people, and Nemona recognized Milo and his mother Hannah instantly. Hannah Caballero herself was beaming at the camera, holding up her hand in a peace sign. Milo himself was looking at the camera with a shy smile. But it was the two new faces that dominated Nemona's attention.
Nemona looked carefully at the man in the picture who could only be Milo's father. He had tanned skin and a handlebar mustache that had been groomed to perfection with a rugged and handsome face. His eyes were the same shade of brown as Milo's, and he wore a warm smile as he regarded the camera with a mischievous wink. He had one arm wrapped around his wife's waist with another resting lightly on Milo's shoulder. What was surprising was how short the man was, not being much taller than Milo himself.
The other new face was a girl that looked to be no more than ten years old, with dark brown curly hair wearing a yellow sundress. She also had the same color eyes as the man and Milo, but her eyes seemed to twinkle brightly with excitement. The girl was clutching Milo's arm with a wide toothy smile, pressed up against the teen's side while standing on her toes. Conker the Skwovet was standing on her shoulder eating an Oran Berry.
"Milo's father…and his little sister?" Nemona thought with a tilt of the head as she looked down at the happy family photo. "How strange that I haven't heard about them yet from Milo. He talks about his mother all of the time, and I even met her in-person twice! Are his father and sister living back home in Galar? Mrs. Caballero didn't say anything about where they were when we had that picnic the other day. They look so…happy."
"Alright, I'm finished! Sorry about that!" Milo called out as he opened the bathroom door. Nemona quickly moved away from the picture and walked over to Milo, who was now back in a pristine academy uniform.
"You look refreshed! Ready to go see if the 3XC has any openings?" Nemona said excitedly as Milo grabbed his Poké Balls from the counter and clipped them to his belt after returning all of his Pokémon and Koraidon. He then walked over to his backpack, threw in a few items that were on his desk, and zipped it up.
"Absolutely. Even if I don't join, they might have some tips about the Tera Dens. Hopefully the Club President isn't mad about a late visit." Milo replied with a grin, throwing his backpack over his shoulder as he followed Nemona out of his room, closing and locking the door behind him. The two friends continued down the hallway, which was empty at the moment.
Nemona chose that moment to inquire about the picture she saw. "Hey Milo, I saw a picture in your room. The one with the silver dice around it that had you and your mother. What's up with that? That guy was your father and that girl was your sister, right?"
"So you snooped through my stuff…That was a family photo we took at the beginning of this year." Nemona winced at the sudden change in Milo's tone. While his facial expression was completely neutral, as his mask had slipped firmly into place, his voice was terse. The change in his bearing and tone had been almost instant.
"Oh! Okay. Do you-" Nemona began to say, not seeing Milo's eyes narrow slightly before he cut her off.
"Nemona, I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not? They're your family, right?" Nemona asked, confused as to why that would be. It didn't make any sense to her.
"Let me try this another way. Nemona, I am not talking about it." Milo stated firmly in a tone that made Nemona stop in her tracks. It was a tone that brooked no argument. Milo also stopped walking, but didn't look at her as he spoke his next words. "You either respect that or you don't. And I hope my friend can understand that I have things I don't want to talk about, and care about me enough to appreciate that."
The Champion-ranked Trainer winced at the harshness in Milo's voice as he refused to meet Nemona's eyes. Nemona looked at Milo in surprise for several long seconds at the completely neutral expression on his face that betrayed no emotion. She wouldn't have known he was upset if it hadn't been for the tone of his voice, something he was unable to hold back. The mask had slipped back into place, but now Nemona understood what kind of emotions her friend was hiding.
He was holding back anger. At her.
"If you're sure…I'd like to know more about them, though." Nemona said weakly, unnerved by the realization that she had made her friend and rival angry. And with such simple questions too!
"And you will. When I'm ready to talk about it. Not a minute sooner. Now are you going to keep pushing this? Or am I going to walk to meet with 3XC on my own?" Milo asked Nemona pointedly, finally looking at his friend. Nemona felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity of Milo's stare, and after a moment she shook her head. She could feel the tranquil fury behind Milo's gaze, and even with her boundless curiosity, she knew not to push the issue.
"Nope! I'll drop it. S-sorry for bringing it up." Nemona apologized to her friend, rubbing the back of her head. "I just…want to learn more about you. And sometimes when you get cagey about stuff, I start to worry. Not wanting to talk about big stuff like this just makes me even more curious."
Milo's expression softened, with the teen even smiling at her. Nemona somehow knew that the smile was more for her benefit than anything the teen was actually feeling. She wondered why that was. "There's no need to be worried. I'm just, uh, processing a lot of stuff. I'll be happy to talk about it when I'm ready, okay? Please don't pry or dig for answers. I just need to figure some things out."
Nemona wasn't quite sure what he was alluding to, but she nodded regardless. "Of course! I totally understand! And whatever is going on, know that I've got your back!"
"Thank you…That means a lot, Nemona." Milo said quietly, his smile becoming more genuine. Milo exhaled a breath and some of the tension in the teen seemed to seep out of him. The duo took a left turn and continued their way to the headquarters of the Crystal Containment Crew.
But all the while Nemona wondered what secrets her friend was hiding. She thought back to the photo of Milo's family, and of the man and girl who had to have been his father and sister. Why didn't he talk about them? What exactly happened before Milo moved to Paldea?
Nemona yearned to know so she could learn more about him. She wanted to help her friend through whatever was bothering him so much. Getting through this would just make Nemona and Milo even better friends and rivals. Besides, he had done so much for her since arriving in Paldea, and she wanted to return the favor and support him back.
"Besides, the best way to get past painful things is to talk about them with your friends, right?" Nemona thought to herself, smiling as Milo talked with her about his most recent catches and his plans for the team. Nemona half-listened to her friend, partly dwelling on the secrets he was keeping from her.
Little did Champion Nemona truly understand that not all questions needed to be answered.
Milo's Current Party:
Reggie (Crocalor) M - Tera Fire
Cocoa (P. Wooper) F - Tera Ground
Storm (Wattrel) F - Tera Flying
Smith (Applin) M - Tera Water
Fleur (Steenee) F - Tera Dark
Echo (Toxel) F - Tera Ice
Benched/PC Storage:
Fiona (Flittle) F - Tera Grass
Shelly (Shellder) F - Tera Fighting
Bronson (Barbcoach) M - Tera Fire
Donut (Fidough) F - Tera Ice
Momo (Skwovet) M - Tera Steel
Volt (Pawmi) F -Tera Steel
Graveyard:
Pepper (Maschiff) F - Tera Poison
Sparky (Pawmi) M - Tera Electric
Victor (Venonat) M - Tera Electric
Another round of catches in the book! We've got some more surprises in store before we confront the Open Sky Titan!
No questions this time, since I think I answered them all in the chapter itself. As always, feel free to ask whatever's on your mind in the review section below for Q & A stuff.
Also, apologies for the delay in between chapters. This past month or so has had a boatload of game releases that distracted me, on top of me needing to puzzle out how the next 15 or so chapters will play out with story events. I think I've got everything all sorted out, and things should be a bit smoother from here on in.
Shoutout to the legends who have reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, BraviaryScout, LostinTime27 and Rare Joe Star. Additional shoutout to Anasazi Darkmoon and McBrads for favoriting and following the story. You all are amazing people and I appreciate the heck out of you!
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Take care and stay awesome!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!