Twin Colors

by tremor3258

Generally getting cheat memories is supposed to be a *bonus*. OCs, Paldea, post-game.

9. First Gauntlet: Dusk side 1

Twin Colors

By tremor3258

Chapter 9

First Gauntlet: Dusk side

---

Rose stared at the clock app on her phone in disbelief. It was almost the only light in the room again, and according to it, it was barely after five in the morning. Sleep had been fitful again. She kept waking up from dreams she couldn't remember. And during the last half hour, she'd not been able to get any closer to sleep.

Ivy's eyes shone in the phone's dull line, watching her curiously. "You think I should give up?" she asked, and the little cat nodded. Grumbling, Rose spilled out of bed to turn on the overhead light. Azucena awoke in her pot as the light hit her, looking around and chirping.

"Sorry," Rose said quietly. Azucena chirped a sleepy questino and unrooted herself, stretching.

"No, I didn't sleep well again. But we figured, so at least I got to bed earlier, so better than yesterday," Rose said. She snapped her fingers on thinking of yesterday and opened the window. A fresh crop of Hoppip was there, cheerfully hoping to get a trainer, or at least a lift. Ivy meowed a wary question.

"I think they sprout until the first frost. So probably it'll happen through midterms," Rose answered, and looked at the group of little Pokemon, who cheeped questioningly. Ivy growled at them, and they shrank back, but Rose waved him down.

"He's cranky since he needs his eighteen hours. Don't worry, we'll get you to the roof, but this time I'm bringing my phone," she told them, to their confusion.

---

A few minutes later, Rose and company had as many Hoppip as they could carry in their arms as they headed out through the roof access. Once again, the mountain breeze that had trapped Hoppip against the building gave them a life to sail over the city.

Ivy made a dismissive noise. "I know most of them will get eaten, I just don't want a human building to be why," Rose said.

"You should probably text me next time to help haul," Alamy said. She was leaning against the railing and hadn't been visible until Rose's vision was clear of Cottonweed Pokemon. Resistor was on her shoulder, buzzing with vague interest as the Hoppip floated into the city.

"You still can't sleep?" Rose said, hiding her surprise. She hadn't thought to be meeting the Kalosian again.

Alamy pointed off in the distance. Somewhere in the east, lightning flashed, and Resistor's cheek pouches sparked harmlessly in response. The little Pichu rubbed them happily.

"She's quite fond of thunderstorms and we haven't many in Paldea," Alamy said. Rose cautiously held out her hand and Resistor grabbed with both paws to shake.

"But you can't sleep," Rose said, scooping up Azucena as Alamy mimicked Rose's greeting to Resistor.

"No, I seem to be sleeping lighter here. The more I thought about today, the more excited I got," Alamy confessed.

"Is that Helioptile on the pajamas? Some live near Hammerlocke," Rose identified.

"Yes, I am putting off putting the uniform on for the day," Alamy said glumly. Resistor made a face.

"And speaking of policy, you'll have to put a partner away if someone comes by," Alamy warned.

Rose nodded, and reached to pat Ivy, "Is that why Bandwidth isn't out?"

"He was not fond of the thunderstorm," Alamy said sadly, "Even at its distance."

Rose stretched into the breeze. This was going to be as cool as it was going to get today. She explained, "They're not my favorite to be caught out in, but this is better than caffeine for me."

Alamy closed her eyes briefly to enjoy. In the silence, Rose could hear a distant crack of thunder echoing. Suddenly her eyes flew open.

"Oh, if I had thought you were going to be up, I would have brought the boots," Alamy apologized.

"Have you used them before?" Rose asked.

"Mama and Papa are not fond of camping, so I have only used them in city parks to break them in," Alamy said.

"If you've worn them multiple times without issue, they'll be fine. I can take a look when we are taking Zania shopping," Rose assured.

"What about Poppy? She does not seem to have done much travelling," Alamy said, putting it politely.

"Steel Pokemon are usually found in rough terrain, and I'm sure her guardians prepared her well," Rose said, and sighed.

"Her parents are alive, but seemingly cut off contact after Poppy's talents came early. What little information there is online, she's been raised at the League for at least the last four years," Alamy said. Rose glanced over in surprise.

Alamy giggled, "One does not have to be psychic to see the worry on your face. I was curious yesterday to the history of such a recognized early talent."

"I was a little afraid she'd accidentally trampled her parents. Or something she called inadvertently had," Rose confessed. "Steel Pokemon tend act a lot rougher than something like Hoppip, and a lot of trainers have trouble with them."

Alamy mouthed something Rose couldn't catch, and Resistor gave a crackling giggle. Alamy shook her head at Rose's inquiring glance.

"Forget it," Alamy urged, "A bad thought. Poppy is seemingly without malice, and I hope she has a good day today. I would not want her to be driven from people."

"I hadn't really worried about that. She seems determined to try and reach out, even if she approaches people differently," Rose said. Azucena nodded and flexed, while Ivy merely yawned.

"She is six, despite her chronological age," Alamy said bluntly, "I know I had little margin between a brave front and exhausted crying." Resistor patted her cheek.

"I still wish her to come, though," Alamy said, "She is very sweet, and she wishes to grow. I know she is very powerful, but I feel she needs escorts, or allies may be better phrasing."

"Well, even with that, it just means we're all really new at going off-route," Rose said. Ivy meowed a question

"Sure, I've camped plenty, but my Mom's been there to keep any dangerous Pokemon away, and she didn't' seek matches when we were right with her either, so we only ever saw a few Pokemon a trip. This will be the first time in the wilds when I'm alone with my own power," Rose said, and took a deep breath, before smiling and leaning back into the breeze.

Ivy huffed in amusement. "This is training right at its very core. You, me, Azucena, the world in front of us and no one behind us," Rose defended herself.

"I should write that down," Alamy said, "I still have to prepare next week's 'cast topic."

"Ah-ha, I did bring my phone this time if you need to text yourself," Rose said.

"Oh, I have it," Alamy said, picking Resistor up to put her down gently on the rail and present it.

"Why did you bring yours?" Alamy asked. Rose gestured to the grand vista of Mesagoza below.

"With all the lights and our elevation, it feels quite mysterious," Rose said.

"Oh, let me take some notes then and you can do your photos," Alamy invited. Rose nodded. She doubted the phone's camera wouldn't get washed out by some of the light, but it'd be a pretty washout.

---

After the sun rose, they broke to prep for the day. A lot of the city's sit-down restaraunts weren't very Pokemon friendly, so everyone had to be fed beforehand as well.

"I don't know why the Hoppip are only waking me up, should I get Mei?" Rose asked her Pokemon as she prepped eggs. Ivy huffed.

"You can cat-nap in your Poke ball," Rose reminded him. Ivy stood up and growled eloquently for twenty seconds, an eternity of speech for him, especially as strong as their link already was.

Rose put the whisk down and sighed. "Mom had her job, and it was just the two of us, and she's always been there for me. I don't know if it's Pokemon, or the dragons' little gift, but I didn't think we would be splitting this fast. I was looking forward to doing today with her too," she explained.

Azucena chirped derisively. "I know, I saw circuit trainers in Galar, TV and a couple times in real life. These are the most competitive battlers wanting to be the best. They didn't go after their opponents the way Mei tore into Victor. Great dragons of space I know what a match you must fight looks like, and this was close," Rose said, gesturing to her eyes.

Azucena chirped one more suggestion, and Rose brightened. "Well, if she is just cranky, then definitely let her sleep in. I like Alamy and Zania I think is adopting us. And it's impossible not to want to take Poppy home and feed her. Talking to a few people isn't so bad, so maybe I don't need Mei to break the ice."

Ivy sleepily added another few comments. "You're right, I said it – us together forward without something behind us. Forward momentum!" Rose declared. She went back to the eggs and after a few minutes, plated for the two Pokemon.

"We only have one burner in the dorm room. When we get more partners, we're going to have to eat in shifts. Or mostly stock prepared stuff," Rose remarked. Ivy shook his head frantically at that, eggs around his mouth.

"That's all you got at the creche, huh? I thought you'd gotten on board with Sinnoh-style cuisine fast. I thought it was a starter thing with being adaptable to your trainer. The Ranger got her Torterra partner, Alilium, later in her career so she was more experienced at bonding. It took a while with Blossom," Rose reminisced on another life and shook herself.

"That's there, that's there, it's fine, let's eat," Rose muttered hurriedly. The two Pokemon exchanged worried looks.

"You don't have to say anything. Mirrors have been helping a lot. I don't look like those memories. But she was so strong. I want us to be great and whatever my 'personal style' is with battle-sync I don't understand it all yet," Rose admitted.

"Alamy let slip enough I know she had a rough time to get to Naranja, but she did it. Zania knows what she wants to do and really likes her Pokemon, too. I'm sure Poppy's whole life isn't easy, but she's so upbeat," Rose said, envious.

Ivy put a comforting paw on Rose's hand, but when she looked up, the Sprigatito batted her cheek with the same, thought with the claws retracted. He shook his head and meowed again before going to his food.

"I know, they're probably nervous on the inside. It's rude to reduce them to one thing. I really hope they still like me after today. Meeting people is hard," Rose said.

Azucena chirped around a mouthful of eggs. Rose patted her mouth with a napkin before answering. "Well, we had school to meet people but those sessions are short each time. And that part of Hammerlocke wasn't one people stuck around in. We had three apartments in different neighborhoods when Mom's job improved. Mei is probably worse with noise and crowds than me, but she fakes it better to go up to people. I just mainly hoped they'd like the weird twin when they noticed me," she said.

Ivy raised a paw in warning again and Rose held her hands up in surrender. "I'll stop, I promise. I just want today to go well. And money would be good. Besides food and emergency funds, we have ten Poke balls and eight potions for the next two weeks. That's not much wilderness training," she said.

Azucena voiced a suggestion. Rose shook her head.

She asked, "What, fool newbie pet trainers into matches? That's not very sporting. If we can tune up some today, we can probably take some jobs in Mesagoza. Urban gardens always need grass Pokemon." The two Pokemon nodded understanding at that.

"Finish up, so I can do dishes. We'll resplit chores once one of you gets thumbs. I can get ready then and you can watch that Mustard retrospective we found. The reviews said there's a lot on handling type advantage," Rose directed. The two voiced approval.

---

With Ivy's complaints about being awake, Azucena joined Rose at the front of the Academy when it was time to meet everyone. Rose was first down and found a bench in the receding shade, and waved at Alamy and Zania as they came down together. Resistor was still out, along with Fue-cutie for the day.

"I'm starving," Zania admitted, "But I think you'll like the place even if you aren't. The prices aren't bad either."

Alamy looked around. "Poppy dorms in another wing, right? I don't see her."

"We should give her a little more time," Zania said. The three looked at the doors to the wing expectantly, a slightly uneasy silence falling. It was still early enough for the weekend to not have much foot traffic.

"Hiii!" came to their lefts, from the main entrance to the library, and the sudden shift as the three swiveled forced them to jump up as the flimsy bench fell over. Their Pokemon yelped as they went to the ground in surprise.

Zania kicked the bench a few times punitively as the others dusted themselves off. "Lousy piece of trash bench, I-" Zania never got to finish what she would do, as Alamy and Rose each grabbed one of her arms, and spun her without explanation. The courtyard had gone into a hush

She turned to look at both, "What has you two so daz- holy Yveltal preparer of the great Cycle!" Zania's speech jumped an octave as she spotted what the other two were seeing.

Poppy was waving as she came out of the main doors, but it was difficult to register that. Alongside the little student was what might be the single most elegant person Zania had ever seen. There was a tremendous force of presence, but around it was a flawless combination of current styles. Her hair was styled into multiple strips and accented with gold and silver that spoke to a world-class hairdresser.

As the pair got closer, Zania's experience spotted the signs of artfully applied makeup. She was good at style, and the whole thing spoke one word: ruler.

"Hii!" Poppy said again, looking at her three poleaxed classmates. Zania's jaw worked but no sound came out.

"I think you broke them, Miss Geeta," Poppy observed. Alamy suddenly yelped, Resistor having given her a small shock to her ankle.

"I'm sorry, excuse my bad manners. Hello there, miss, and hello there Poppy," Alamy said, ducking her head a little.

"Strong," Rose whispered, then shook her head to try and fight clear of the daze.

The aura coming off the woman, Geeta presumably, suddenly cut off and they could breathe easily again. She was still pretty, but not nearly so overpowering.

She smiled, "Hello, my name is Geeta. Pardon me. I help look after Poppy at the League," she paused and adjusted her gloves markedly, making sure the three could see the Paldean League symbol on the back.

"I wanted to meet you briefly before Poppy went with you for the day. She's a dear child, and I worry for her, perhaps overmuch," Geeta continued with a light laugh.

"It'll be fine, miss Geeta," Poppy insisted.

Geeta peered and Rose could feel a brief echo of the presence Geeta had brought knife through her. "New trainers? Professionally, I'm always pleased to see more people taking the first steps on the journey alongside Pokemon as chairwoman of the League," Geeta said, "Personally, I hope to see you one day to battle at the Assessment."

"La Primera," Zania whispered. Geeta nodded.

Part of Rose's mind mulled over that worriedly. Paldea's final gate and League chairwoman? Leagues usually kept their battling apex separate from the administrative head, partially from differing mentalities and partially to keep anyone from that much power. Her eyes narrowed briefly, and she flinched as it attracted Geeta's gaze.

"Miss Geeta, you're scaring them," Poppy observed, looking worried. "She's really very nice!" she proclaimed.

"I'm sure," Alamy said weakly. Resistor poked her ankle, and Alamy nodded to the little PIchu.

"I know it would be a dear imposition, but would you mind answering a few questions to tape later? I have a small podcast and to hear what the Top Champion thinks of the state of the region would be fascinating," she asked. Rose was impressed she got that out.

"Send a request to my office with a list of questions. I'd rather be able to give comprehensive answers, and sadly don't have the time today. As board chairwoman of Naranja, I'm often at the school so we should be able to sync our schedules," Geeta said.

"Geeta – Miss Geeta, it'll be fine. And I'm hungry and we're going to breakfast. I'm old enough to look out for myself," Poppy said.

"Forgive me Poppy, I was less concerned about nutrition than your status as an evaluator," Geeta said, bending down and speaking kindly. She turned her head and once again speared the six with a glance, who stiffened defensively.

"There have been," Geeta intoned, "those who seek to take advantage of young Poppy's good nature, and her great power, before. Crushing local trainers by surprise does not encourage others to develop."

The pressure relented some, and Zania managed to get out, "We are going to be out of town all afternoon, hopefully most of the morning."

"Zania needed boots first," Rose said, too tense to be verbose. Zania nodded agreement.

"We were going to check a pet store first. There could be trainers in Los Platos, but I promise I'll let them know I'm strong, Miss Geeta," Poppy said.

"Which pet store?" Geeta asked.

"Bow's Friends, just on the eastern side," Zania said, nervous. Geeta nodded. Zania exhaled in relief.

"They've scored highly in previous inspections. Serving as a conduit for Pokemon and humans to meet is a great responsibility, especially given the temptations of the financial incentive," Geeta said.

Rose felt something in the breeze, and burst out, impressed, "You remember all the pet stores in Mesagoza?" The breeze still, a brief spike from Geeta cutting it, though it was quickly suppressed.

Physically, La Primera smiled. "You and your sister are not the only ones with good memory," Geeta answered.

Seeing Rose taken aback at her profile being read, Geeta chuckled lightly, a practiced smooth sound. "Early battle trainers are especially exciting to me," she explained.

Geeta held out a Poke ball, revealing a Pokemon that seemed like a gorgeous flower built out of crystal, with a small face in the center. It floated in the air, cheerful.

Azucena stepped forward as Rose rocked back on her heels, holding her arms up to ward her classmates. It looked like a flower, but her inherent nature wasn't feeling a connection. If anything, there was a general sort of antipathy to Rose. Geeta nodded once, approving.

"Gorgeous," Zania said, "Can I touch it? What is it?" She raised her hand but stopped as she bumped into Rose's arms.

" He's a Glimmora, and I wouldn't. Those are crystallized poison shards, not petals. They're protected in the Great Crater, but some occasionally leave to seek trainers," Geeta said.

Poppy sighed and rolled a Poke ball out of her palm, bringing out her Tinkaton. Tinkie swung its hammer a few times, a crack in the air. Geeta looked down at her subordinate, who folded her arms, frustrated.

"I can bring my Pokemon out on walks too, can't I?" Poppy challenged.

"Yes, I suppose I am teasing a bit much with this test. You have a vast presence for a new trainer, Rose – I could feel you reaching out. You often can get something without a trainer connection, can't you?" Geeta asked.

Rose shook her head. "On grass types best of all, but nothing from that one," she said.

The Glimmora looked smug. "Rock and poison with this one," Glmmora explained.

"See, she's fine? Can I please go?" Poppy pleaded.

"See? They're fine! Can I please go?" Poppy pleaded.

"Yes Poppy, enjoy your day out," Geeta said. Poppy kept her arms folded, not pleased.

"I'm sure I'll see you around campus in the future in one of my roles. I hope one day you and your sister will face Glimmora and I," Geeta said smoothly.

She spun on her heel and walked away, giving a jaunty wave.

"That was bad," Poppy said flatly, "She surprised me in my room, and didn't let me text. I hoped she just wanted to meet you, but that was bad. Rika and Larry don't like it when she shows off like that. I don't think I do either."

"It's fine," Alamy said, automatically going to appeasement. Then she blinked. "That was intense, though," she followed up. Resistor buzzed agreement, for quite a while.

"Resistor seems to think it was a threat display, not showing off," Alamy translated.

"I feel threatened. La Primera got in she was chairwoman of the school board and the League in there," Zania noted, and then shivered.

"And then there were her eyes," she said, still shaking a little.

Poppy huffed. "It's a trick. You go 'grr' inside and push it out," she explained.

Seeing that not completely clarify, Rose elucidated, "It's the challenge intent. Geeta was pushing it at us." Poppy nodded.

"Rude if you don't mean to match," Poppy muttered.

"Was that a powers test to me? Like I was hiding what I could connect to?" Rose asked, uncomfortable. Geeta definitely seemed the sort who would lock Mei and her in a room to check what they knew.

Poppy sighed and patted Tinkie for comfort. "She didn't say to me," Poppy confessed.

"The intent," Alamy muttered, "There was something else earlier. You were getting somewhere."

Rose thought back over the conversation. "The pet stores?" Rose hazarded.

Zania was still shivering a little but clenched her fists and tried to focus. "Poppy, did Geeta see the text we sent planning the day?" she asked. Poppy nodded.

"Nice trick, if you know in advance the question," Zania said flatly, "She didn't look them all up, she looked one up. My father does the trick sometimes when ordering new product. If you run all the specs on part of the order from memory, it can lead to them opening with a lowball offer, like you know the value better than they do."

"I do not understand why Paldea's most powerful individual would need to intimidate students," Alamy murmured. Resistor hissed agreement, looking ready to go storm a castle in the best Kalos tradition.

Poppy did not look happy. "Grandpa Hassel asked once. She says since new trainers can't always see her strength otherwise, she sets a bar trainers jump. Or something," she said.

"This was all for you then," Alamy said to Rose.

Rose felt something crack inside her, and hurriedly bowed to Alamy and Zania. "I am so sorry," she said,

Zania looked like she'd just switched to Kantonian and grown another head. "What? It's nothing you did or are. That's on her for pushing down," she said. Alamy nodded. Rose smiled, slowly.

"So, feel lucky though? La Primera watching your progress?" Zania teased once she saw Rose wasn't about to bolt.

"I want us to get there. Not because the League is looking at me," Rose said, gesturing to Azucena and tapping Ivy's ball. Azucena flexed happily.

"Now that's a trainer thing to say," Zania said, approving, then sighed.

"But it's not quite true, right? None of us are scholarship, are we?" Zania asked. The three others shook their heads.

"Still, we need to make the most of it, right?" Alamy prompted. Zania nodded.

"Yeah, it's a Pokemon academy our parents are paying for, let's Pokemon. Well, let's get breakfast before it gets hotter," Zania directed.

---

"Okay it is in here, farther back than I thought. Rarely found through Paldea outside the walls of the Crater, but the pre-evolution Glimmet is found occasionally feeding on cave walls throughout the region," Zania read off. She hadn't been able to shake the Glimmora's good looks out of her mind, and once they had ordered she'd looked it up on the Pokedex app.

"So you can work one up without going to the one part of Paldea that requires special permission," Alamy noted.

"Glimmora has a few sightings outside as singletons. Most of its behavior was determined during the last Area Zero expedition," Zania continued.

"They must return to the Crater after they evolve, then," Poppy concluded, "Miss Geeta has had her Glimmora as a partner as long as I've known her. It's her favorite."

"Gorgeous, but dangerous to handle. La Primera likes to partner her metaphors," Zania decided.

"Do you want one? There aren't any caves on the map near Los Platos, but you can on the Hunt," Rose encouraged.

Their drinks arrived, juices and caffeine to order, which interrupted the conversation a bit. Alamy hadn't been able to get hers pressed and so eyed her espresso with some trepidation, though smiled after she took a sip.

Poppy had joined Zania in normal coffee – surprising the waitress someone so young was interested, before her hasty backtracking at Poppy's sulky presentation of her student id.

Rose had gone for tea – no green but at least they'd provided tea balls instead of the bag.

Once they'd settled back in, Rose asked again. "Are you interested in partnering with one?"

"Well, poison has a rep. Paldea's been lucky, but a lot of nasty people gravitate to poison. On the other hand, it's a natural chemical factory if it produces pure elemental energy crystals. And there's plenty in nature that's pretty as a warning, so that's not just Glimmora."

"Miss Geeta's not nasty. She tries to look out for everyone! She's mainly intense!" Poppy protested.

"Sorry, Poppy, I didn't mean La Primera there. She was a very pretty Pokemon. Maybe if I meet the right one on the Hunt, but Miriam said we shouldn't be spreading around yet?" Zania asked.

"Your output's going to be lower, so you'll need more time to build endurance," Rose advised, "These captures are going to be featherlight on the bonds, and I'm going to make sure they understand they're not staying." Rose grabbed her necklace and looked down.

She looked up briefly to check her tea then glanced down to continue. " Really make sure if you want to do any sales all the Pokemon know up front they're going to find permanent partners somewhere else. I don't want anyone to be surprised they're going to be in a shop. It's terrible to the Pokemon and dangerous to the store."

"I've had to stop a couple of those," Poppy said. "No one was happy."

"Fi-cutie had been there a bit before I picked him up," Zania reminisced. "The store seemed comfortable to him, but he was bored."

"A store owner or a breeder's looking after dozens. Resistor is very pleased to have a trainer for a proper team," Alamy said, smiling.

Zania and Rose looked at each other and said nothing besides waiting to see if Alamy would continue. Poppy looked between Alamy and Resistor, curious. Alamy finally relented

"Yes, it took a little work to make sure we absolutely were getting through to each other, but we sat down and had that talk. Resistor wants me to be me, just… more," she said.

"Is your Pichu getting ready to ask you?" Poppy said, excited.

"She's been hinting at it for a bit. I am worried how it will change me, if I would like that person," Alamy admitted.

"What was yours like, Poppy?" Zania asked.

"It was a long time ago. I was little then," Poppy said, and scrunched her face in thought.

"Tinkie was little too. I don't remember exactly, but I kept feeling something was missing. My parents got sad 'cause I kept looking for it. Tinkie was looking for something to, and when we found each other, we fitted right together!" Poppy explained.

"How'd you get a Poke ball so young?" Zania asked, fascinated.

"That came later, when my parents gave up trying to get Tinkie to leave!" Poppy exclaimed. Zania nearly dropped her cup in shock.

"Then Miss Geeta came to take me to live with Rika at the League and she gave me one! Wait, no, sorry! She gave me a bunch and we went to find more friends!" Poppy said happily.

"So when was this?" Alamy asked, fascinated.

"Were you three?" Rose interrupted.

Poppy thought, counted on her fingers briefly, then nodded.

"You have a great friend in Tinkie," Rose said, voice a little thick, "Were your parents battlers?"

Poppy shook her head. "No, Geeta told me they would have known to watch for friends trying to find me. I'm glad they didn't. I've met so many friends!" she exclaimed.

"Did you and Mei start attracting Pokemon then?" Alamy guessed.

"We didn't mesh quickly enough before my mother shooed them off. You have an incredible talent, Poppy. And you were lucky enough to have someone to help teach to take care of them," Rose complimented.

"That sounds like a story," Zania said with a grin.

"So Oddish and Roselia are popular with Sinnoh farmers. Mei made a couple neighbors' Oddish sick overfeeding them before we moved," Rose explained. "Oddish are toxic normally so you can't imagine the smell when they're sick." Rose shuddered, and her classmates giggled.

"Yeah, Tinkie was pretty chubby for a while before Rika explained how to know when to stop," Poppy said with a smile.

"'Mei' overfed them?" Zania asked, still grinning.

Rose clutched her necklace and looked up. "I swear to the dragons I'm not throwing my sister under the bus for my mistakes. I was too nervous to mess with another trainer's bond, but Mei picked up they were peckish."

"The Oddish didn't know to stop?" Alamy asked.

"Pokemon are really smart, but their instincts are much more powerful than humans. Wild ones don't get to eat regularly. So young ones in training ask for food all the time when they realize they can," Rose said.

"Our mother had to sit us down and explain just because they wanted food didn't mean they needed food," Rose half-lied. In absolute honesty, the lecture had been about the twins being too tender-hearted every time a Pokemon gave them sad eyes.

"Fi-cutie tried that. Guess it's worse when their hunger is in your head too, huh?" Zania asked. Poppy and Rose shrugged.

"They'll definitely need food, and deserve it, after we spend time training," Rose cautioned.

"I bought the list the Academy recommends. This bag isn't quite as good as yours, but I have a week's worth," Zania assured her. She paused in thought, looking at the table.

"Though if the prices in Los Platos are better, we may want to bring some back," she mused.

"It is really shocking. This menu's pricing is more a café on a major street in Lumiose than a small breakfast place," Alamy commented.

Zania winced and explained, "They've reprinted their menus since I was last here. That was only a few weeks ago, when I got my acceptance letter."

"There's a lot of power flowing to the Tera Crystals right now," Poppy said.

"The League may have to put the convoy system in effect," Alamy said idly.

"Those are a pain off the major routes. Mom got stuck in Spikemuth for a week when the Octillery breeding session got out of hand without enough trainers available," Rose said.

"It's annoying, but you don't want anyone to get hurt," Alamy agreed.

"What do you mean, 'the' convoy system?" Zania asked, curious.

"Maybe Paldea uses a different word? When something happens so it's out of balance with Pokemon and they push into human routes? People have to travel in groups until it settles down between settlements? In Galar, there were certifications you could get for independent travel, but the guard money was good enough most qualified trainers waited for the convoy if it was only a few days," Rose said.

"Kalos would just let you go if you had five badges, but there were honors for escorts. I think a few times a year there's some outbreak of Pokemon that makes it risky," Alamy said.

"Oh, the League usually closes routes completely here," Zania said.

"It really annoys Miss Geeta when she has to do that," Poppy said. "But then we go on a trip to take care of it. Sometimes it takes a while."

"Wouldn't the cities hire experienced private trainers to cover the route?" Rose asked.

"Where are you conjuring up that many qualified trainers? Like a dozen extra? Three? Most people never make it to four badges," Zania said, matter of fact. Alamy and Rose shared a brief look before turning back.

"Oh. Well, Paldea is here so it works out fine?" Rose said awkwardly. She felt like she'd hit a verbal tripwire.

"Perhaps Geeta really is checking all the new battle trainers, then," Alamy commented, looking a little pale.

"You'll get there!" Poppy said enthusiastically.

Rose opened her mouth to reply she wasn't planning to stay in Paldea after the Academy, but looking at Poppy's open expression, couldn't bring herself to.

---

Breakfast arrived soon after to keep them busy.

"Poppy if you just eat churros, I'm never going to convince our foreigners that Mesagoza cuisine is anything else," Zania warned.

"I just got two! You have four!" Poppy countered, which was accurate. Poppy was merely chowing down on hers first with a potato omelet sitting lonely on the side. Zania giggled and put a napkin over hers.

"Fair, but they're excellent here. And it's the first week of classes to celebrate," Zania defended herself.

The foreigners were sticking with a couple kinds of tostada for the main course and stayed out of it. Instead, Alamy asked, "Do we want to get Zania boots or check the pet store first?" Poppy's had turned out to be fine. Excellent, in fact. Geeta didn't skimp.

"How busy do you think both places will get?" Rose asked Zania.

"The boots will probably be worse, with everyone at Naranja prepping for the next few months, they're probably reading down the Treasure Hunt item lists. I imagine most people will look for new Pokemon closer to the Hunt to increase teams," Zania said.

"Remember to keep to safe zones for catching! Breeding spaces are Pokemon's, not trainers!" Poppy recited earnestly.

Rose just had her big travel pack with her, but reache din and pulled out a Poke ball. "Don't Paldean Poke balls have the GPS lock? You shouldn't be able to?" she asked, looking at it closely. It looked standard. With the Ranger's experience, she could bypass the lock with a couple of minute's work with a stylus, if you didn't mind the tampering being obvious.

"Yeah, but Rika says it's easy to mess up," Poppy said. She realized what she just said and slapped her hands over her mouth. Rose nodded.

"What happens?" Zania asked.

"The chip is supposed to expend the capture net without opening the ball in prohibited areas. I've been to parts of the net looking at poaching which said the chip is added on to the normal function, so you can pry it out. But we shouldn't get outside the mixed zones today. Los Platos has a wide occupied belt around it," Rose said.

"The maps I've seen it looks like it takes several hours of hiking to hit Pokemon-dedicated territory. I'm sure the phone's GPS would warn if we somehow got that far," Alamy added.

"Is it only poaching if it's outside human or mixed zones? In the movies poachers always have those big cages. I glanced at the laws last night, but that didn't help," Zania said.

"Ooh, I had to memorize this before I could go to school for the Hunt: Seizing fainted Pokemon, forcing multiple Pokemon at once into a challenge, or capturing Pokemon outside permitted zones," Poppy listed.

"The cages are so Pokemon can't escape until they get browbeaten into accepting a partner," Rose said with disgust.

"What if the Pokemon gang up to challenge a stronger trainer?" Alamy asked.

"That's not forcing them into a challenge, so they can escape or battle, right?" Poppy asked.

The table looked at Rose expectantly.

"I haven't actually done captures. Mom wanted to make sure I had a fallback option so I've read a lot on wildlife management," Rose cautioned. It was, on reflection, perhaps why she'd gotten the Sinnoh one in her head.

"If you say so, you know a lot," Zania said cheerfully.

Rose found herself clutching her necklace. Too much stuff was coming with another life's experience flavoring it instead of just facts. She wasn't very good at normal.

"From what my Mom covered and what I read, groups usually cover each other against Poke balls. Even if you can focus well enough to try to connect with one with all the distractions. So if you want to catch, it usually comes down to a one-on-one before you can," Rose said.

"It's still about the Pokemon choices, then," Zania commented.

"Primary trainer school in Galar spent weeks talking about the connection before getting around to anything on Poke balls. It's easy to summarize it so far it just sounds like people stuffing Pokemon in. They wanted to make sure everyone knew it was a mutual partnership," Rose said.

"'Weaken the Pokemon to catch it' sounds abhorrent, as smart as Pokemon are, if that was all it took. Kalos was the same way before I could get a basic license for Resistor," Alamy said.

"Our school covered Pokemon care mainly. We went into the bonding existing and needed for a capture. I think there's an assumption if you're going to head out of the city to learn it, you're going to learn it at Naranja," Zania said. Rose could feel her face twisting up and concentrated on looking at her plate to dissect her breakfast.

Poppy had been demolishing her breakfast in between comments but stopped to look at both the non-natives and sighed. "They've got that look," she said. Zania nodded.

"You two can say it. You deserve too, really. And I don't want you to have to run to a bathroom to yell at a mirror to be polite," Zania said, resigned.

"Paldea is lazy about prepping trainers ," Rose muttered.

"You call that trainer school?" Alamy hissed, her hand was on Resistor's Poke ball at her side.

Rose grabbed her necklace and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. You're asking the right questions because you don't know them. It's great you are! And I'm a jerk just because you have to ask," Rose said.

"You have been sorely mistreated," Alamy said righteously.

"You're not jerks! You could just laugh at me for not knowing. I didn't even think to ask about almost all this until meeting the class! And I've wanted to travel and know you need to train for it," Zania grumbled.

"I don't mind answering, I'm just angry they think you're ready to head out," Rose said hastily. Alamy nodded.

"You can ask me too!" Poppy said, "I know training for me is a lot of 'it's ker-chunk and then wham!'. Fuey's not happy with that either, but I'll try!"

"Galar's so battle-mad, maybe we just got extra?" Rose theorized.

"Kalos is the heart of the Cycle, so we have fewer Pokemon to want to match humans. So our teachers expect we have to work harder to find partners? Paldea is just full of Pokemon seeking humans, with everything I've heard," Alamy offered.

"You two are being sweet," Zania said warmly, "You don't have to apologize for reacting on my behalf. I've had a lot worse from people who meant to be nasty." The sun left her expression briefly before snapping back up as a shield.

"Oh, who?" Poppy asked, curious.

"Maybe later for that," Zania said hastily, "But I know you two aren't yelling at me, you're yelling at all of this." She waved her arms, indicating the city.

"I still should apologize. I usually have better control," Alamy said.

"You have to let it out some time," Zania said philosophically.

"I still shouldn't be mad at a whole region for how your schooling went," Rose said, bobbing her head.

"Paldea, low-key region without a strong battle tradition, known for its Pokemon Academy," Zania recited, "That's the 'pedia entry, until you get to the list of cities. Terastal doesn't even get a mention. And you two worry about money for the Academy? I don't. And if I keep to the dotted lines, I won't ever."

"And so a lot of people," Zania continued, then paused to keep her breathing under control.

"A lot of people wonder why I want to color outside the lines anyway. It's not easy to try and push. Fi-cutie and I could stay in a bubble in Mesagoza. You all offering to bring me along because you can help my dream, even if it slows you down, means a lot to me. You could of just worried why I should work hard. And wondering it loud enough I start to have trouble remembering."

Poppy patted her hand. "You're still here, though," she said, "Miss Geeta said that's important."

"We can't all be Galar miracles," Zania agreed. "Sorry, not you Rose – the last two Champions."

"Nemona is incredible. She barely had to try in the match I saw. I hope to see her battle again tomorrow like Kieran said. It's an incredible training experience," Rose readily agreed.

Breakfast was pretty much gone at this point. Poppy moved her plate aside to put her Poke balls on the table, dividing into a group of five and singleton. She pointed at the larger group.

"These are smooth and easy. I can walk to almost any Steel type, barely do a move too say hi, and they'll want to be on my team. I have nice reserves too that the Centers help me take care of. I want more people to have a good time with Steel types, but I don't have the words," Poppy said, frustrated. She pointed to the other lone ball.

"This little guy wants to be my friend so bad. I want to be his friend! But it's so rough compared to Tinkie, Rajah, or any of my other friends. Most people with a type learn on the way so they can 'relate' outside. I just have it, so I'm going to learn. I know it's not going to be the same, but I'm going to so I'm not just 'freaky good with Steel' Poppy said, face set.

"Poppy, that's," Zania started to say but Poppy looked and her eyes were gleaming grey. Briefly, the Elite Four trainer was present instead of a short Naranja student. Conversation stilled in the restaurant for a moment as the presence was felt, before it passed through like a freight train at the crossing.

"I know, all right? Miss Geeta, Rika, Grandpa Hassel, and even Larry tries to keep it away. I still hear it. Poppy's not good with words, Poppy is short and too young, and she shouldn't be able to do what she can do. I care about them, and they've been so nice to me and my friends, but I don't want to always be that Poppy. I can't do that at the League," Poppy said.

"And Poppy sees it at the League too. A lot of people come to be 'Champion' because it's an elite rank here and they can go back home. People from Paldea looking to push? We don't see many. Poppy – I – understand, Zania. No one expects us to not be safe, right?" the little Steel trainer asked.

Zania nodded.

"Paldeans get hit back at to go and be safe," Poppy concluded, "But we have friends who don't care about that outside the trap, right?"

Rose's heart soared, but there was too much pain there to just say yes. "I'd like to be friends, but don't feel obligated to me," Rose cautioned.

"There is a lot of me I do not like very much," Alamy warned.

Poppy's face fell but Zania laughed.

"If you were happy with yourself totally at ten, you couldn't grow up, right?" Zania said. Poppy's face brightened. Zania gave a small smile.

"Okay, so, that was maybe a little heavy with breakfast. Should we change sites? After a pit stop. I think I need to apply a bit around my eyes," Zania stated, and rubbed at some redness around them.

Poppy followed Zania to the bathroom as their classmates wandered to the host stand at the entrance. They watched the streets silently for a bit. They were starting to fill as the day picked up.

"That was a lot," Alamy said at last.

"Did I do okay? I don't want them to hate me," Rose asked, worried.

"We are strange to their ways, and they make allowances," Alamy intoned, quoting something Rose didn't recognize.

"No, we did not anger them, I believe. I did not think Zania was lonely," Alamy said.

"She seems like she's good at reaching out. That'd be nice to have," Rose said wistfully. Sometimes the wind helped her, but no intuition boosts to go through that conversation.

"Are they reaching out to us too fast, just since we're here?" Alamy suddenly fretted.

"You and I have our own problems reaching out," Rose said, not as a question.

"Class threw us together suddenly. Maybe this speed is normal when you don't know anyone?" the grass trainer asked.

"I hope not," Alamy said. Rose glanced in surprise.

"I don't think normal for Paldea is an ideal," she explained quietly.

---

The streets were even busier as they left, deploying Pokemon as escorts. Poppy had swapped over to her new Fuecoco. "Poppy, I'm only saying this because you don't live in the city, but watch your purse," Zania warned.

Poppy was already clutching it. "Okay, way ahead of me," Zania said with a laugh.

"Rika and Grandpa Hassel and Miss Geeta and a couple random trainers at the League and the floor warden told me there'd been more bag snatching this summer," Poppy answered.

Rose had her pack with her versus her smaller purse, but she'd clipped the zippers together. She'd left the camping supplies in her room for this, but what training and other outdoor supplies were in there. There was a good chunk of her total life in there. Azucena was keeping an extra eye on passerbys for potential threats from the sidewalk. She was sending little warning notices for people walking by with ride Pokemon or just getting too close.

Alamy had Resistor riding on her shoulder where she had her purse strap. From what Rose recalled from Mei, Kalos had very fierce ideas of punishing crime.

"The shop I'm thinking of is another block. They advertise they stock stuff for Naranja students so should have something for me, right?" Zania asked.

"You want nice interior padding and something sturdy over the ankle, mainly. Given how hot it is here, you don't want Galar-style galoshes, but there are gaiters you can buy to put on," Rose answered.

"I looked a little into local brands, but nothing stood out. We have our phones to check individual shoes easily," Alamy said.

"Let's head off then," Zania directed, pointing a direction. Rose reached out mentally to Azucena for assurance. This wasn't as crowded as the first day, and her body wasn't so stressed. It was still noisier and more crowded than she liked. Keeping her focus on her partner gave her something to block it out, especially since the little Petilil would keep watch. She kept one hand on her necklace and tried not to think about the press.

As Poppy dashed ahead to open the door so they could go in, Rose noticed the knuckles on Alamy's hand clutching the strap were as white as hers. Resistor saw her gaze and shrugged, philosophical on her trainer's strain.

It was fortunately cooler and quieter inside. Only a few people were hitting the store yet. Rose breathed a sigh of relief as the air hit. Alamy nodded sympathetically, letting her grip loosen.

While the store wasn't busy, it also wasn't very staffed yet, and there weren't any free clerks on the floor.

"What do we do?" Poppy asked.

"It's still only nine, so we're good on time. We have the power of Internet and fashion on our side, it'll be fine," Zania said. This was an arena she knew and her confidence was back as she drew her phone dramatically.

---

"Okay there's only three of these brands where any reviewers checked their actual hiking ability, and they didn't like any of them," Zania reported a half hour later, her good mood gone. The Pokemon had given up ten minutes ago and were snoozing in front of the main hiking display.

"I am still surprised none of the brands they carry are names Rose or I recognize," Alamy said.

"I think this brand is in Unova, but the one review on this model is just a long rant about breaking their ankle chasing a Deerling," Rose said, holding the offending sneaker.

"Okay even I can tell that has no business being in the hiking display," Zania commented.

"Do we surrender commander, and get a clerk?" Rose asked hesitantly. She hated to disappoint her classmates. No one had even come by to ask.

"I bet if we had made a mess they would have come by," Zania observed, and cupped her hands over her mouth. Alamy and Rose had time to slap their hands to their ears.

"I THINK I'M READY TO BUY!" Zania announced. None of the salesclerks looked up.

Rose's instincts jangled and Azucena jolted awake. The little Petilil poked her head free and started conjuring an Absorb. A moment later, she had to jump clear as Poppy's Fuecoco burst out from the bottom of the pile where he'd been a warning stone. He landed on the display, sending shoes tumbling, his 'hair' light flickering dangerous with flames around his teeth.

Zania yelped as a salesclerk teleported a moment later right in front of her courtesy of a Ralts in her hands. The clerk looked around at two Pokemon powering up attacks and fell backwards, clutching her chest. Her Ralts clutched onto her shirt as she fell and his his face.

Poppy had a fist up with a thumb extended, sighting a shot at where the clerk had appeared. After a few heartbeats she put her hand down and the flames died in Fuecoco's jaws. Rose hadn't moved as much physically but her eyes were gleaming. Azucena waited for Rose's silent nod before letting her build-up disperse.

The two battle trainers stood tensely for another few seconds. Poppy visibly forced herself to relax and turned to Rose.

"Did you see how hot his flame is getting?" she asked conversationally.

Rose closed her eyes, letting herself clear back to herself and swallowed. When she opened them, her eyes were reflecting the light normally again.

"That wasn't Ember," Rose said, trying to match Poppy's tone.

"I used a TM for Fire Spin. Most of the moves I see are continuous flame instead of sparks so I thought I'd get him to start practicing with an easy one," Poppy said, still eerily calm.

"That makes sense to me," Rose agreed. She swallowed again, then extended a hand to the clerk, who stared at like it was a Gyarados.

"Please don't surprise attack your customers," Poppy said sternly. Rose nodded agreement.

The salesclerk's mouth worked a few times, but said nothing. Zania looked about as poleaxes. Alamy had grabbed a shoe off the shelf and was holding it defensively.

Resistor's angry buzzing broke the tableau. She'd ended up head down in a boot from Fuecoco's burst of movement. Fi-cutie was on the floor on her back, tail wagging, and barked cheerfully.

"Uh, anyway I could use a bit of help with finishing picking something out?" Zania said, tentatively.

"We'll get this cleaned up," Rose offered. The clerk took the hand, and when it didn't bite her, let herself be pulled to her feet. Poppy, humming cheerfully, went to help Rose putting the shoes back. Zania started discussing with the clerk.

Alamy looked at the shoe in her hand and blushed. She hurriedly set it down and went to free her Pichu. Rose motioned and Azucena jumped in her arms for a quick pet before scooting to her shoulder. Rose started to work on resetting the main display. Alamy came over with a freed Resistor shortly thereafter.

"Good reflexes," Rose said softly, and honestly.

"Wrong weapon," Alamy said, embarrassed. Resistor buzzed agreement, shaking her head sadly. Alamy scratched the Pichu's cheek reflexively.

"Not every battle trainer notices an incoming teleport in time. You're not wired to Resistor, so you went for a tool," Rose said gently.

Poppy came with an armload of boots. "A strange Pokemon appearing that close would have almost every trainer reacting for battle. You moved fast, Rose," Poppy complimented.

"That part's working," Rose muttered.

"I notice you two just synched on how you handled it," Alamy said. Poppy rubbed the back of her head, a little embarrassed.

"We needed something to settle it after spiking up, and a little trick seemed fair since she hadn't attacked us," Poppy said.

"I followed her lead," Rose answered.

"Excuse me," called a voice. A second salesclerk, looking very nervous, called for their attention. She flinched as they spun. Resistor playfully started to build charge in her cheeks until Alamy tapped her head.

"I'll get the rest of that," the clerk said, indicating the display. "We do apologize – her Ralts is new and 'ported in too close."

"Are all the clerks here psychic trainers?" Poppy asked. Ralts were famously picky about approaching battle trainers but psychics tended to have better luck with getting them to make an appearance.

"Some people manage it with trick room or get pulled by a fast Pokemon. It's part of the service to appear as needed," the salesclerk explained. Rose glanced down and wasn't surprised the woman's shadow smiled back at her.

Poppy shivered a bit as she realized there were ghosts about, but kept it off her face.

"It's mainly Mesagozans who shop here, then?" Alamy asked.

"Most foreign students come with hiking equipment. Your boots are nice," the clerk answered, and bustled up to start adjusting the display subtly to refine the two's efforts.

Alamy nodded to herself. "Planning an episode?" Rose guessed.

"I think so. This week I was finishing off talking about flight since I was reading up on that with coming to Paldea. The trick is can I do it without sounding too much a Kalos snob," Alamy said, deliberately thickening her accent briefly.

"Kalos snob! Battle girl! Elite battle girl!" Zania called and waved for them around the display.

"Your hearing is really something," Poppy admired after they came over.

"You're not as quiet as you think. Be careful," Zania retorted quietly.

Switching back on the brightness she turned back to the clerk. "So, can you get it out?" she asked the clerk, who was staring at Poppy and Rose still. Poppy smiled, and Rose gave a nervous wave.

"Miss? The boot you were talking about?" Zania prompted.

"What? Oh, yes," the clerk answered. Her Ralts glared at Rose before they popped away.

"I don't think I should shop here," Rose said.

"I know some other places," Zania assured her.

Poppy and Rose tensed, and a few moments later, the clerk popped back, notably ten feet away. She was carrying a box over half a meter long.

"This is our most popular model for students right now. It's licensed from the Atticus Schedar line," the clerk said. She kept glancing over at Poppy and her Fuecoco, who waved back, tooting a happy puff of smoke.

She opened the box, revealing a massive boot in red leather, with extra leather sewn on to give the appearance of trailing flame.

"That's a thighboot," Zania identified. She poked it but it didn't yield.

"And a stiff one. Can you walk on uneven ground in that?" Zania asked.

"With some patience," the clerk answered evasively. Zania looked skeptical.

"It's our best model for waterproofing, you can check the reviews," the salesclerk insisted.

"Isn't everything?" Rose asked politely, though the clerk still jumped. Rose pointed to a sign that said 'Waterproofed!' in letters shaped out of Veluza on the wall in the section.

"One of the 'waterproof' boots we did find a review for just copied the medical diagnosis for trench foot," Alamy said. The Ralts buried its head deeper as his trainer winced before her sales smile came back.

"We weren't looking at thighboots – are there reviews?" Rose asked. She copied Zania in poking the boot experimentally.

Alamy checked her phone and reported, "A lot actually. Most are just the Team Star slogan. This may be a minute."

"Poppy, I don't suppose Steel mastery tells you anything?" Zania asked. Poppy also poked it experimentally and shrugged.

"It's tough," she reported, "I can't tell if it sweats."

Rose's phone buzzed at her. "Oh, it's Mei," she said, "I should check this."

"We could have her hold the boot and spray it with a hose?" Poppy suggested. Yesterday had been a huge success in her mind.

"She's probably just waking up. I wasn't a morning person either until this week," Rose said, and stepped away for a moment.

---

Where are you? The line just read that for the text. Rose stared at it blankly for a few seconds. She was doing what they were both going to be doing today originally! And Mei had her and the others chat about it before she'd going off on the campaign against Victor. Her sister had been in an odd mood since her recovery after bonding, but she couldn't be paying that little attention to Rose, could she?

It took a bit of effort, but Rose shook that thought away. The original plan had been breakfast and the pet shop, before Zania's shoe problem revealed itself. It was about nine-thirty, so Mei was probably seeing if they were in the city yet.

Shoe shopping still in Mesagoza, she sent. After a minute, there was still no follow-up. Mei had just been doing a check-in, apparently. If she'd needed something from Rose, she'd have sent it by now.

Rose thought about sending a follow-up wishing Mei luck, but she wasn't sure about how ugly this sudden competitive streak was. If this was bleeding through from some other world's Champion, she hoped Mei would get through it fast.

---

"Everything okay?" Alamy asked when Rose came back.

"I think so," Rose said, "Any luck here?"

"So, I managed to filter down the reviews that were just Team Star promoting each other, and it seems the boot works. If you don't mind standing still," Alamy said.

"But we have one that we know has good water proofing, so it's time for my secret weapon!" Zania announced, gesturing to Fi-cutie, who rolled back to stand on his legs and barked excitedly.

"Yup, you guessed it you little doughball!" Zania said, "It's you!" The little Fidough looked up and cocked his head, panting.

"I've not been the best partner for giving him training for matches, but his noise is great. We have a game where I hide Berries for him in our apartment. He always wins," Zania explained.

"You're going to squish Berry juice on the boots?" Poppy guessed. The salesclerk looked ready to hyperventilate again.

"That would work but be a nasty cleanup job if anything leaked through," Zania teased. The clerk inhaled.

"Same basic idee though. Fi-cutie, find the five pairs of boots in this section that smell most like this!" Zania ordered. The Fidough barked again and inhaled hard enough he looked ready to be kneaded. With the scent in mind and tail wagging, he put his nose to the ground and started snuffling.

"Clever," Rose praised, and stepped back out from the display as the dog jumped on the table to start sniffing through the options.

"Thank you!" Zania said brightly. "He's not quite the natural gatherer some species are, but he can't be swayed off the track either."

Azucena puffed up and flexed on Rose's shoulder. Rose rubbed her head affectionately. "Azucena's got Own Tempo too. There's a bunch of dance moves she can learn after she evolves to take advantage of it," Rose explained.

"It's the sun abilities plants get otherwise for her? Would you have picked a Fuecoco then?" Poppy asked. Ivy's ball rattled briefly at that. He was apparently awake now. Poppy's Fuecoco looked on, genially interested.

"Right now, I don't know the partners I'll end with well enough to think about a sun team," Rose said, and she could feel smugness radiating off Ivy. "There's a lot of grass types that do well in intense light. And Solarbeam's the 'big move' for grass trainers practically since people figured out Apricorns could help bond partners. But there are a lot of semi-aquatic grass types that like rain instead."

"And sun helps all fire, and it's specific grass types that like sun," Poppy said.

"I bet you see that in your day job all the time," Alamy said. "My parents had me study weather strategies since the Pichu line learns Thunder." Both her and Resistor's face indicated they weren't most in favor of that.

Poppy nodded, having to jump on a chair as Fi-cutie snuffled by, then sat on it. "People know the league has a steel trainer, so a lot of fire and sun. That's why I have a hat with a good brim!"

"What about your pokemon?" Zania asked.

"We don't use items for evaluation so they can't have hats," Poppy said patiently. After a moment she laughed.

"Got you! Anyway, it's a good idea but Rika likes ground types and sandstorms, so they don't usually get their day in the sun," Poppy said with a grin.

"Can't a lot of steel types call up sand?" Alamy asked.

"Geeta doesn't want the evaluation to use the same strategies, so I set up traps right now. Exploding rocks handle most fire types," Poppy said.

"Poppy, maybe you're giving too much away?" Zania asked, worried.

Rose shook her head. "Four different types and four different strategies from trainers better than Aces, back-to-back? You need to be amazing yourself," she said. Poppy nodded.

Poppy held her hand up with all her fingers. "Five! Miss Geeta does the final evaluation," she explained.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Rose told Azucena gravely, who nodded back.

"What are you all thinking for teams?" Poppy asked, curious.

"I'm not sure how many more I want to support. My two are getting along well, and I'm more interested in travelling freely than battling," Zania said.

Alamy and Rose looked at each other, and Alamy gestured.

Rose started, "I need to meet more Pokemon and do a lot of training on power and moves to put together a full strategy. I'd rather get who will 'click' right now and build around that. Azucena's bulky and can learn a lot of grass's equalizers, and Ivy is fast and hits hard. I may have one who is a 'cheat' too after I get more partners."

"Cheat?" Zania asked.

"A lot of specialists may take one outside the type. With all the friends, they can still support it well. The Gym Leaders do it as part of their trials!" Poppy said. She looked at Fuecoco and sighed.

"Well, normally you can. Most specialists," Poppy said. Rose gave an encouraging smile.

"Did you sister do it too early? You two are pretty much grass energy from the start instead of refining it?" Alamy said.

"There's a lot but I wouldn't say all," Poppy gauged.

"Is that why she's cranky?" Zania asked bluntly.

"I don't think so. We're not trained enough to be full specialists, even if we're aligned heavily," Rose admitted. Poppy nodded agreement.

"You have a lot of work to do to get that all untangled," she said, gesturing vaguely around Rose. Azucena stared at Poppy, surprised.

"I have got to work on my assessing. You see me better than I do, and teachers keep sneaking up on me," Rose muttered.

"They have very quiet energy. They sneak up on me at meetings," Poppy said.

Fi-cutie barked, having dragged five pairs together. Zania clapped appreciatively.

Alamy walked over to examine the selection and Rose tapped a table, making her jump.

"What were you thinking, Alamy?" Rose asked softly.

Alamy flinched.

"Tried to slip by?" Zania said, not unkindly. Alamy nodded sheepishly and Poppy looked wide-eyed at her.

"Well, as everyone but me could see, I clearly am going one direction with Resistor. Speed is working well for her and Bandwith, but they can't take many hits. I'm still figuring that out," Alamy said softly. Resistor's cheek pouches sparked and she buzzed irritably, jumping away from Alamy to stand on a table and shake a front paw at her. The air smelled briefly of ozone as Resistor put all her willpower into it.

"She's right," Poppy and Rose said together. Resistor slumped over, exhausted from the effort and Alamy scooped her up.

"She put a lot into that. I think I nearly got it. Paralysis?" Zania asked.

"Electric's favorite!" Poppy said cheerfully, "It slows you down and messes up moves if you're not careful! Really annoying!"

"It seems rude. I hope to train Protect eventually," Alamy mumbled while looking down. Resistor gave an irritated tired buzz.

Rose looked at Zania helplessly. Somehow Rose had badly upset her. Alamy was almost physically drawing in to herself.

She's backsliding, Zania mouthed carefully, and bit her lip in frustration.

"Azucena knows Stun Spore, mostly," Rose offered. Azucena drew herself up to protest, but on consideration, shrugged.

"You aren't-" Alamy started to say sharply, and then looked down, "Excuse me, no. It would be wrong to push the opponent," she finished tonelessly.

"It's a match though," Poppy said, not following, "You have your fight and then you're friends again!"

Resistor started clapping. As Alamy looked at her Pichu, she started pointing at Poppy and trying to give thumb-ups.

"This is the subject of some discussion, I take it," Zania said, holding a pair of light yellow boots, and gesturing to the salesclerk as she sat down in a chair.

Alamy clenched her fists. "I know it is not perhaps sensible, but it is there. I am not so brave with – excuse me, I should go to the bathroom," she said, setting Resistor down and brushing past them.

Resistor stared to follow then sighed.

"I don't know how much you can get from me, but she really likes you a lot," Rose said. Resistor nodded glumly.

"We didn't know there was a nerve there," Zania added, sitting down as the clerk pushed the boots on. Resistor shrugged.

"Something's stopping her from herself, huh?" Poppy asked. Resistor just put her head in her paws.

"Alamy knows how you evolve?" Rose asked gently.

Resistor looked up, tears in her eyes, and nodded while chittering. Rose winced.

"It's a bond evolution with trainers, right?" Zania said, starting to walk around in the boots.

"Someone messed her up," Poppy decided. The others, including the salesclerk, nodded.

"Keep in motion, keep in motion," Rose muttered.

"Huh?" Poppy asked.

"I'm going to go check on her," Rose said. "May I?" she asked Resistor, who nodded, hopping in her arms as Azucena followed.

---

Her courage died as she opened the door, but Alamy wasn't in one of the stalls, and saw her enter. Azucena shoved her forward, forcing her to continue.

Alamy glanced back at the mirror, touching up around her eyes.

"Do you need some help?" Rose asked. Getting no negative response, and Azucena pushing at her a bit, she went forward, setting Resistor down on the counter. Alamy smiled tautly at her partner as Azucena hopped up.

"That is kind. Can you hold the tray please?" Alamy asked. Rose did so and watched Alamy for a while. She didn't know how to continue. From the way Alamy kept shifting her glance to and from Rose, she wasn't sure either.

With the prodding to engage from Azucena in her mind, Rose looked at Alamy in the mirror. "I didn't want you to be left out from talking, like yesterday," she started.

"And got me to talk about battle strategies and progress," Alamy said without rancor.

"That wasn't on the front of my mind," Rose protested. She thought a moment.

"It could have been part of it, without realizing," she admitted.

Alamy looked at the two counter Pokemon. "You do push her towards it. It is in your makeup. Pokemon are competition," Alamy directed at Azucena. Azucena shrugged, expressively.

"But there are other ways they compete. If I get a partner with… a Whismur, for instance, to help mainly with recordings. Then if I become a battle trainer and he is tied, did I mislead him?" Alamy fretted.

"You were going to say they are not in this region, weren't you? You really want to share the love," Alamy said. Rose opened her mouth again, closed it, and giggled.

"I spend, or spent, a lot of time reading," Rose said quietly.

"I do too. And in dance lessons or etiquette. My parents are interested in rising higher. Not to the sort of mindset of Team Flare, Blessed Xerenas continue to shine. But Pokemon battling is a noble sport in Kalos. It was acceptable for me to get a partner to start," Alamy said. She gently took the make-up case from Rose's hands and packed it up, then stood looking forward as Rose looked.

"I can't tell," Rose reported. Alamy nodded.

"Trainers must spend some time on their own. Lumiose has many wonderful things, but it was an escape. Resistor wanted to go further, but a journey so young was 'pretentious'. I was lucky to come across Naranja, to find another hope," Alamy said.

"But I'm not a brave experienced trainer like you. I can feel their eyes when I want Resistor to fight how she likes best, and it stops me still. I know I should work towards… refining with my friends and I am pleasing the wrong people now," Alamy said.

"I really just read a lot. You have months on me," Rose said, uncomfortable.

" Were you? Did something happen?" Alamy asked, "You move like Poppy, not Victor. You speak with confidence on the wild, and battle strategies you have no intention of using yourself. You don't have her strength, but you have every expectation it will come."

"I swear on my name and the great dragons who watch over time and space, I never bonded with Pokemon until this Thursday. Dialga knows I tried, but that's it," Rose answered. Azucena hugged her arm and nodded.

"But why would you waste time on us if you hadn't been broken? Poppy joined late. It would be, objectively speaking, two dilettante deadweights you were shepherding," Alamy said. She sniffed but held her expression.

"You both have been nice. I don't mind helping and you don't-" Rose stopped. Alamy grabbed her hands. Rose twitched but the Ranger was in abeyance at the moment, and the contact didn't send shivers.

"Please," Alamy urged, "You… bother with me and I do not understand why you would. You are not slumming or taunting. Your twin's head is full of dreams of rivals and the Circuit, so why do you care?"

"You don't mind me. You're fun to be around, and you don't mind me," Rose finished, looking down. There was something she should be doing here, but she couldn't see the clue to piece together. She braced for rejection.

Alamy was silent for a minute, then released Rose's hands and picked up Resistor, and hugged her, gently.

"You said it earlier. We are both very bad at this," Alamy said.

She patted Resistor again and looked at Azucena.

"Resistor likes fights. I enjoy matches. A puzzle. But to have all the freedom of the journey funneled to one thing scares me, that I would just take a different trap," Alamy said. Azcuena huffed, offended at the implication.

"It's not just Mei. I'm going to show you some action movies and you can see why she thinks like this," Rose informed her partner.

"So many just out the door and seeking rivals," Alamy murmured.

"I fear that, and my parents weigh on me, that what Resistor wants is wrong. And if I get that question, even the kindest of battlers are still battlers. I think unkind of you, that you see me as an investment too for future matches," Alamy admitted.

"My first day I accidentally challenged Miriam to a fight in a way we both got affected by. I had to fight, and so I did. But it wasn't with Miriam. If you want to battle, I am happy too, but we can do other things," Rose said.

"I get your worries Alamy, and I'm sorry I don't have better answers. I don't know who I am after the last few days," Rose admitted. Azucena side-eyed her but said nothing. It was a weight off Rose's chest to say it even if she knew it would be confused.

"I know my first match was a beautiful thing, even though we lost. It was a glorious dance with my partners and I would never give it up. ," Rose said.

"I know I can simply say no, but it is easier if I say yes to say I was pushed. I am such a coward," Alamy said.

Resistor started to chitter and Alamy held up a finger to stop her. "I've hurt you too with it, not standing up for you. Because they thought your move was ugly and I would be ugly for using it. That it was too hard to work around and against the spirit of things."

"No one complains in Galar. It's strategy," Rose said. Alamy looked, and the two burst into giggles.

"And as I say it, I realize how little that would help you," Rose said when the stress laughter subsided.

"You're trying. Zania is trying. Poppy is trying. I must try to. Resistor, I won't ask for forgiveness, but I will try to be the partner you were looking for at that pet shop," Alamy said. Resistor waved a paw, and affectionately nuzzled Alamy's hand where she was being held.

"You are far too good to me," Alamy murmured.

"Thank you for coming in here," Alamy said, looking at Rose.

"I had to do something," Rose said.

"I must ask something before we go back," Alamy said. Rose nodded, and the Kaloisan took a deep breath.

"I know… you have your own fears of being accepted. Is helping us… hurting your development? Am I taking advantage of you? It may be my life at some point, but it is yours," Alamy asked.

"Oh. That? The rush they talk about is adjusting to the much deeper power a closer relationship gives. I don't need to throw myself into matches the first week or be stunted permanently," Rose said easily.

Alamy sagged, "Oh Yveltal keep away that is good to know. I was afraid to ask earlier, I'm sorry. If you had not come in, I'm sure I would have come out and tried to ignore this. Thank you for finding me when vulnerable."

"I decided with Azucena if I can't find a best move, I should do a move. Mei would be happy to tell you I'm a ditherer," Rose said.

Alamy closed her eyes. "Have you regretted it yet?" she asked.

"I do wish I'd found a better way to ask you out there," Rose said. Alamy opened her eyes and looked at Rose, and the two burst out laughing.

---

"Hi again!" Poppy said when they came back out, waving from the front. Zania was dealing with the register. It'd taken a bit longer to put themselves together after that.

"Went with the yellow ones?" Alamy asked.

"I did! They're only a little stiff, but I think I can wear them until the taxi for sure," Zania said.

"Just watch for warm spots," the clerk warned. Zania nodded and reached down to pat Fi-cutie again.

"You did such a good job picking these out!" she cooed. The little bread-dog barked happily again. His tail seemed to have been wagging continuously since before Alamy went to the bathroom.

"They pick a lot up from their trainers," Poppy complimented, and Zania looked appropriately pleased.

"Still a good fit!" Zania said after she put them on. She motioned for them to head out and held the door open for the small convoy to emerge on the street.

She carefully shut the door, turned, and her face turned grim. "I'm never going back in there. They didn't know anything beyond what's on the packaging!" Zania declared.

"Have you used them before?" Alamy asked as everyone donned hats.

"I've not needed hiking stuff, and they're supposed to be trainer friendly," Zania said as they started walking.

"Their Pokemon were nice, but they weren't very strong," Poppy said.

"All the popping around though?" Zania asked.

"Not many psychics learn Teleport, but if they do it's early protection until their telekinesis develops," Rose said.

"And jumping shadow to shadow is kindergarten for creepy ghosts," Poppy said shivering despite the heat.

"Put on a good show but there's nothing behind it if you push," Alamy said suddenly. She ducked her head as everyone looked at her.

"I love Paldea and I'm all for the home team, but you're not wrong," Zania said.

"You'd warned me earlier on my volume," Alamy said quietly.

"Tempers are up this summer. Probably all the food prices," Zania said.

"We've been busier at the League since the summer too. Not very busy, but more people since our last Champion," Poppy said.

"Florian, right?" Alamy said, "Everyone says he really charged up Paldea." Her steps took a hitch, and she rolled her eyes.

"I am back to puns again," she said.

"A lot of people take a while to figure out what kind of trainer they want to be!" Poppy assured her.

"Just because you like a type doesn't mean you're set on a strategy though," Rose said hastily. Alamy favored her with a smile.

"You did say something earlier Rose, though," Zania said, having been thinking.

"On weather strategies or the heat? Poppy's strong enough to put a rain cloud over the city, but you'll wear her and her Pokemon out. And eventually some Pokemon you don't want to meet would want to know who is changing the weather," Rose said, glancing up at the nearly empty sky.

"No, not that, but informative. Even our homeroom teacher says she spent years before she took steps on her dream. Poppy has been in her lane. The prep work for Naranja felt like it took everything I had. You dove headfirst into having Pokemon in your head. Alamy escaped to another region. No wonder the two youngest Champions are Galarian.

"Galar gets intense with its Circuit," Rose said.

"Exactly – you have to grab for it in Galar! They took the tradition and turned into the world's biggest open-air tournament! You have to grab for it!" Zania repeated.

"All right let's go make sure this shop is legitimate, then get a Taxi. Let's move forward. I'm in it to win it, let's get catching!" Zania enthused.

---

Zania's newfound fervor nearly dissipated as she entered the pet shop, but stronger people than her have been distracted by an entire playpen full of Igglybuff. She gave a wordless shriek of appreciation until Fi-cutie nudged her. The Igglybuff waved, used to people.

Poppy waved back casually as she entered but didn't give them much thought.

"Aren't they the cutest though?" Zania asked her.

Poppy stopped and studied them briefly before shrugging. "Tinkie's much cuter," she informed her gravely. Zania shrugged.

Rose and Alamy fell prey as they entered. "Never seen this many together," Alamy commented. Rose merely cooed at them, eyes shining. Azucena chirped, and Rose shook herself.

"They are really cute," Rose defended herself, and looked at the sticker and jumped backwards. "And expensive."

The little baby balloon Pokemon giggled. "They have water and food, is this enough space?" Alamy asked.

"I don't know Igglybuff outside TV, but they've got a trainer around here somewhere. They won't be territorial," Rose said.

She tore her eyes away to look over the rest of the store. "Azurill, Bonsly, Chewtle, Shinx, that must be a Rockruff, and I think that's a Phanpy in the back," she listed. There were at least a dozen species all told, though no display area had as many as the Igglybuff pen.

A man, probably in his thirties, stepped out from behind the counter at the back of the store as he saw them come in. "Ah, dropping off or picking up?" he said, laughing at a minor joke.

"The former, later," Poppy said. She was watching the Chewtle gnaw on a set of bone chips in her habitat with fascination.

"I didn't think my next inspection was due," the man said. "My name's Arrow, and Bow's Friends is mine." The owner gave a small bow. Poppy curtsied back, and then hit a fist against her palm.

"Oh, I get it," Poppy said.

"We're here in a private capacity," Zania assured, "Are you accepting wild Pokemon?"

"Yes please, with the Naranja season starting up a lot of people have been shopping for additional starters for students. Compared to previous years, a lot of people are looking for support for the Naranja study Pokemon. Our second busiest time is a week after the Hunt starts when people reassess their team. We're under a third of total capacity. It would be worse, but there was an Igglybuff brood that got displaced by the Terastal mess west of town and I managed to get them here," Arrow explained.

"What species are you looking for?" Alamy asked.

"It's mostly pet trainers who come in for the pick-ups, but they tend to look for the more exotic selection. I can mail you all the general price sheet. Unusual abilities or learned moves are a bonus. Cradled Pokemon tend to keep a strong connection to their hatchers, so I prefer not to get from Breeders unless I'm desperate," Arrow continued.

He glanced at Rose, and said, "Battle trainers tend to special order from Breeders if they can't find it on the trade network."

"You're keeping all these linked?" Rose asked, impressed.

"It's a pretty soft touch," Arrow assured, "I need to ensure a clean breakaway." He casually jerked a thumb over his shoulder. There was a certificate with a gold seal on the back wall. Poppy and Zania nodded.

"Um," Rose said.

"Oh, that's a Champion certification!" Poppy explained, "See the compass shape on the seal? That's the Paldean League symbol."

Rose looked back at Arrow who shrugged. "It gets the Pokemon riled if I'm at full power in the shop. It's not what they're looking for," he explained. "That's why I leave it out, so people know I know what I'm doing." Rose and Alamy nodded.

Arrow continued, quite proud, as he listed his store features, "Between the storage in the back and the pens here, the store's official rated for everything that isn't oceanic, can control its temperature to under 250 degrees, and isn't more than a Class II biohazard. Technically I have a little leeway if the main danger is acid, but I prefer to avoid the biohazards. Most poison types' smell in close quarters upsets other Pokemon."

"You're not worried about ghosts getting out?" Poppy asked.

"You can't really keep them contained, but I hang some toy mobiles and it keeps them busy," Arrow said. Poppy swallowed.

"Do you have more staff?" Alamy asked.

"Morning and evening for feedings and cleanings. I have some temp-hours for keeping the Pokemon entertained and groomed when it's busier, but we're so empty the regular staff can get it," Arrow said.

Zania glanced at Rose, who nodded as subtly as she could. "Seems fine, we'll take the price sheets. Hopefully we'll find something. Do you have any tips?" Zania asked.

"Getting out there is a lot more than some 'trainers' do. Just really concentrate on you are taking them somewhere they don't have to worry about food or shelter. Don't think about battle partners, and there usually aren't misgivings. I'd double-check once they're caught and you have a connection if they have any questions. Better to have gotten someone's hopes up for a partner than rip them out of the ecosystem when they don't want it," Arrow directed.

The girls nodded, and after a quick exchange, got the price lists on their phone.

"There's a market for Magikarps?" Zania asked on briefly scanning the list.

"There's this jump competition that's more popular than you would think," Arrow said with a shrug.

---

"If it wasn't for school, I think you'd be pretty set for pocket money if you found a couple every weekend," Zania said, doing some mental math as they walked to the Taxi stand. The streets were really congesting as they approached the stand, and the group with Pokemon were walking tightly.

"So, battlers, what's the catch to the catch?" Zania said, amused at her wordplay.

Alamy answered first. "It takes a lot of time getting into the wilds and challenging Pokemon. People pay for convenience," she said.

"We're going to be close to human lands, so there's little risk of anything that got strong in the wild. But any time you're off-route or outside human territory, you're technically fair game for an encounter. Most of the powerful ones wouldn't consider us worth the bother, but there's always risk," Rose admitted.

"Also, Pokemon like good matches, and specializations attract them. Everyone here would see Lechonk and Combee foraging, but if anyone is going to see a Pikachu, it'll be Alamy. Rose is going to have Applin and Poppy Pineco more than the other way around," Poppy predictd.

Resistor buzzed angrily. "You are irreplaceable!" Alamy assured her starter, "But going against Pikachu would be good practice for you, no?" Resistor squeaked equivocally.

"It works for same types, but it doesn't the other way. Alamy won't get Toedscruel trying to prove themselves," Poppy added.

"That I remember – Pokemon don't conceptualize the element system the way humans do when unpartnered," Zania said. Poppy nodded.

"They're still affected by it and pick up some hints. Rookidee know Blipbug are easy targets," Rose said.

"What's a Blipbug?" Zania asked.

"Little unevolved bug like a Caterpie," Rose said, which still left Zania still confused.

"Whatever in Paldea cocoons up and gets wings as it evolves?" Alamy proposed.

"Oh, Scatterbug," Zania said, "Over there by the hydrant there's one of the evolved forms."

She pointed to a butterfly Pokemon with pink and green wings perched on an old lady's head as she struggled with finding something in her purse.

"Vivillon," Alamy identified, "They are usually pink in Kalos."

"Katy has nearly the complete set! She's still waiting to hear back on the Snow one. And no one's sure what causes the Poke Ball pattern. I think she tried rubbing a Voltorb on a Spewpa once," Poppy said.

"Pretty wings," Rose said with guarded appreciation. Grass and psychic trainers often found a commonality with butterfly Pokemon, but they were real trouble to handle as opponents. It certainly was pretty though.

There was a sudden pop of a Poke ball somewhere in the crowd, and the Vivillion was suddenly swept away by a dark blur. A figure rushed out of the press to snatch the purse and take off running. Surprised, the lady crumpled to her knees.

The crowd noise stilled briefly then picked up more in confusion.

Azucena nodded to Rose as she got recalled. Rose threw Ivy as far forward into the crowd as she could in the direction the thief had taken. The sound of Poke balls operating stirred people to motion, causing a sudden press in the direction opposite the thief.

"Resistor, follow!" Alamy snapped, moving towards the fallen woman. The Pichu squeaked and started dashing through feet after the purse-snatcher.

"Fuey, fire spi- wait! No!" Poppy suddenly snapped as the fire croc took a deep breath. The little starter coughed out fire and looked up in surprise.

Zania's mouth fell open in surprise. She snapped into motion after the others moved, and hit the emergency button on her phone as Fi-cutie barked angrily.

"Too many people for fire. Who to pick," Poppy fretted as she returned Fuey. She was used to court matches, not street fights.

Rose said nothing and started heading after Ivy and Resistor, only to be brought short as she was shoved backwards. She was a slight ten-year old girl, and some of the crowd had enough training connections to outmatch her physically.

"Are you running in?" Zania asked as Rose fell backwards. Zania took the woman's hand and Alamy nodded, and also started down the street.

"If that thief gets out of sight into the crowd, no one may ever find them. Have to force them to slow down," Rose said tersely, and switched to trying to slide through the press.

---

Rose had been raised knowing her father had been awful and pushed them too hard. She'd seen enough primetime television to see what happened to Pokemon whose trainers convinced them to bad ends. And she had a second lifetime of having to deal with some of the worst of humanity.

Responsible trainers dealt with people using Pokemon maliciously. Her mother had put it so deep in her twice over she didn't think she could articulate it.

Ivy was forward and could send updates, but if the purse-snatcher did any distractions, she wouldn't be able to put him back on the trail.

Also Rose wasn't good enough in battle sync to move both sides at the same time separately, and Ivy was quadrupedal. He was much less sturdy without it, but she needed to get in view. She had to hold off as long as possible before mentally starting a 'match', as she still struggled against the crowd.

There was a screech and honking after a moment, and the push of the crowd suddenly changed to be more forceful, sending her skidding backwards but on her feet. There was the shimmer of sparks and crackle of electricity ahead. Resistor had done something on her initiative.

She was going to get crushed if this continued. She couldn't see what was going on and if she had to pull Ivy back to partner up to get clear of the crowd, they may lose them. Ivy was mainly sending irritation at the moment.

There was a yowl and a pulse of green light, Ivy calling power on her own. A column of bright leaves shot in the sky, angled over Rose's head. The crowd parted sideways in both directions before and after Rose. Ahead was an empty spot the crowd was running from, and behind Alamy was coming up fast. In spite of the issues pressing forward, the difference in trainer abilities meant Rose was almost a block ahead in the short time. Ivy licked his paw, looking incredibly smug at his Leafage crowd control.

He'd been clever enough to fire it overhead for more visibility too. You're wonderful she sent, assuring him, and broke into a run to catch up.

Rose came to a stop besides Ivy, who meowed confidence but pointed his tail forward nervously. Rose crouched down and let themselves flow together. In front, Resistor, still sparking, was facing off on a big black bug, with a young woman behind it. She had a brimmed hat pulled low to conceal her face and hair.

Resistor jumped forward and spun, wagging her tail to distract the Lokix, but jumped backwards before the Grasshopper's Mandibles could close down on her. She chuckled and jumped forward to do it again, but her opponents had caught onto the timing. She was caught in a Bug Bite and tossed to the side. The little mouse Pokemon squeaked but rolled back to her feet, and started waggling her tail again. Rose frowned.

The tangle before Rose was back again, and a surge of delight as the two finished moving together. She couldn't enjoy it in the situation – but at least hitting a lot of power on moves wasn't so important as keeping the opponent engaged.

Ivy, get in fast – Resistor needs Alamy for move calls, watch for an ambush, Rose directed. This wasn't the battle court. The Lokix didn't seem like much to deal with a baby Pokemon, but there was definite power in the purse snatcher. More than Alamy and Rose together.

Instead of the ambush Rose was expecting, the thief frowned and threw another Poke ball as Ivy dashed forward, sending a spray of leaves as he did. The Lokix growled irritably as the Tarountula resolved too late to help as the Leafage did its work. Ivy moved to follow up with a Scratch, dodging a telegraphed String Shot with an easy sidestep to smack the Tarountula back on his web-sack, keeping both Pokemon's attention on the Sprigatito.

The Tarountula chittered as he rolled back onto his legs, launching a swarm of fireflies as a Struggle Bug. Ivy hissed and jumped backwards, with a Leafage counter. The bugs ate through the leaves easily, but the compact stream ( bless that cat being on my wavelength Rose thought) left some of the sated bugs to fall out, leaving a hole.

The spider Pokemon waved his forelimbs irritably, but the bugs only lurched instead of smoothly closing the hole up. Ivy jumped through like a hoop trick at the circus, with only a few bugs trying to burrow into Ivy's fur as they expired.

Ivy actually looked at his flank in confusion that he was still in the fight after a super-effective attack. Rose urged him into motion, just as Lokix came down with his forelegs where Ivy had been sitting with an Assurance, sending a cloud of dust up on the sidewalk. Ivy used some of the tricks they'd worked yesterday and backflipped into another scratch, leaving glowing traces against the bug's carapace.

The purse-snatcher's Pokemon had a solid combo, but the thief hadn't gotten the close timing correct. Double battles were tricky for professionals. Given Ivy was dodging quick, evolved Pokemon, the thief had to be holding back for something.

Alamy ran up besides Rose and took in the scene for a moment, as she panted from the sprint. Ivy stilled on the field for a moment as Rose pointed at Resistor, still twitching her tail.

"Sweet kiss, Resistor," she called. There was a dim glow of power as Alamy came in, and Resistor shot her trainer a grateful look as she turned around. Her mouth glowed pink as she reset her energies.

"Tarountula, stop messing around. It's not one trainer, it's two and they're both Naranja," the thief snapped angrily. The two opponent Pokemon stood straighter.

Tarountula was unimpeded thanks to Rose having to pull her concentration to herself, and quickly weaved a pattern into a silk seal and threw it forward. It glowed white on the ground and Resistor and Alamy glowed in response. The Pichu squeaked in surprise as the air rippled around her. Alamy twitched and rubbed her head, glancing at her legs. The Tarountula rocked backwards as Ivy surged back into motion, sniping with a Leafage from range.

With Alamy reacting as well, it was probably some trapping move. Resistor was able to move forward with her full range of motion within the battle, delivering a pink glowing Kiss to the Lokix. The Lokix's arms had been glowing as wind wrapped around them but instead of delivering an attack, he deployed his third legs in surprise as his energies got disrupted.

Ivy delivered another couple of quick slashes to the spider while the trainer was focused on her Lokix. "Oh damn it, a battler," the thief remarked, picking up on the speed. The Lokix tried to build up another Aerial Ace only to screech in surprise as the move broke apart in a backfire, washing over the bug.

Alamy opened her mouth, then glanced at Rose. Rose nodded, and Alamy shook her head. "Thunder shock the 'tula!" Alamy ordered. Resistor, at close range on the Lokix, looked over in surprise and irritated, started charging up. Ivy had plenty of time to get clear of the Tula, even using a Leafage for extra momentum to the jump.

The little Sprigatito landed cleanly in a pose no judge would knock points for as the lightning hit the spider, the combined assault finally knocking it into unconsciousness.

Those tips yesterday really did some good for him, Rose thought.

The Lokix Low Kicked into Resistor, sending the mouse backwards, as it blocked another set of leaves with his other arm. The ripple around her dissipated as she landed and Alamy shook her head. "That felt odd," she commented, reaching down to rub a leg.

The thief recalled her Tarountula. The Lokix unsteadily folded up his back legs, the confusion seemingly done, and took a fighting stance. "Time to get serious," the thief commented, reaching for a third Poke ball.

"Okay!" came a young voice behind the two classmates. A black shadow swept past them and their partners, edged in gold. The Lokix hit the ground and the thief was knocked backwards. Before she could recover her balance, the blur resolved into a mighty Corviknight. It dived down and pushed her to the sidewalk with his talons, the thief's arms spread from her sides so she couldn't reach any Poke balls. The Lokix was unconscious from the passage.

"Nice work Corvi!" Poppy said as she came alongside.

Resistor and Ivy gave a cry of borrowed victory. Alamy and Rose blinked as the Pokemon stopped the power flow on the connections, relaxing as they considered the battle finished.

"Sorry," Poppy said, "Thieves are bad. She's got something in that third Poke ball she focused all her attention on too."

Rose got shakily to her feet as Ivy came over and rubbed her feet. "You have a good time?" she asked. Ivy purred agreement. This was a win, as far as he was concerned. And they'd improved from yesterday, even if power was still erratic.

"You know, the Pokemon League isn't going to like you breaking into a match," the thief said from the ground under her hat. Poppy pointed to the woman's belt, and the two others moved forward to take the three Poke balls away and the purse back.

"I think this is the empty one," Alamy said and held it forward experimentally. The thief sighed and Lokix suddenly retreated back into his Poke ball.

"Cycle you two are raw. You're thinking you can get someone else's Pokemon back into the ball?" the thief said. "And dumb enough for both to chase me. You kids ready to lose your licenses to the League? Ganging up on a match like this. Let me go before the cops arrive and-"

Poppy interrupted with a very real and loud giggle. She reached into her key-purse and pulled out a pair of black gloves with the League's symbol on them. She slapped them together against an open palm. "Oh, I think Poppy's friends will be fine with the League," she said. The thief groaned.

"Taking back from a thief isn't a match," Alamy said mildly. Resistor buzzed and started rubbing her ankles as well.

"Sorry," Poppy apologized, "Took a bit to think which friend would work best – you two did great!"

Rose glanced down at the preening cat and over at the smug Resistor. "This is nothing against what you two did, but her bug Pokemon weren't very much," Rose said. Ivy hitched for a moment, then shrugged and went back to preening.

"Press the button on that third Poke ball and see how lucky you are," the thief countered. Alamy put the ball carefully on the ground instead.

Rose glanced at Poppy, who nodded, and then bent down to examine the ball closely.

"You gave a lot more to that one," Rose said.

"Why send your other friends with so little when you can do that?" Poppy said. The thief said nothing. Alamy reached over and removed the hat, but the thief refused to meet their eyes.

"You were going to dump them," Rose said slowly, voice rising in horror. Poppy just gave a shrill yelp at the thought.

"They fought for you!" Alamy said hotly. Resistor and Ivy added their protests, cut off by Corvi giving a mighty, but dismissive squawk.

"Releasing is perfectly legal," the thief said evenly. She yelped afterward as Corvi gave a slight squeeze.

"Bet you didn't tell them that," Poppy said angrily. She was a few feet of righteous rage and pointed at the third ball. "No wonder that one didn't come out to help," she spat.

Use a couple Pokemon anyone would be looking for afterward, then drop them and crush the Poke balls so police would be looking for someone with a different team. Rose's stomach twisted a little at the thought. No wonder the poor things had been so weak, the thief had done everything to not bond with them so she could just use them for profit.

A Vivillion's squeak came from overhead, and the three turned to see Zania letting the old woman lean on her, Fi-cutie running in a circle around them, barking. "My purse!" the woman said joyfully.

Rose held it out, and the woman took it back, then impulsively embraced her. Rose flinched but didn't have time to comment as the woman hugged the rest of her classmates. Poppy being really the only one that reciprocated.

"Are you sure you should be moving like that?" Zania cautioned, misinterpreting the other two taller girls being taken aback.

"I was lucky in how I fell," the woman acknowledged. "I'm a bit sore but I'll be fine. Poor Vivi is going to need a Pokemon Center visit."

Vivi, presumably, landed, then artfully staggered, playing it up. Resistor buzzed, not impressed with the acting.

"Shame on you, young lady," the woman directed down at the thief.

"Not everyone's got it cushy and fancy, lady. A couple credit cards before they're declined covers a lot of time for me and Maschiff," the thief snapped back.

Sirens finally became audible in the distance. Zania listened with the practiced ear of a city dweller and shook her head. "They'll still be a few minutes," she stated.

Seven, minus Corvi, still keeping the thief pressed down, withdrew a little as the older lady and the thief traded barbs with each other.

"Should we stop this?" Rose asked.

"Usually the purses never get found and the thieves will have run up orders of small electronics or at convenience stores until the cards get declines," Zania whispered back, "She's relishing how lucky she got."

The crowd had drifted back forward, apparently to watch the match, with people and Pokemon looking on without interacting. Alamy looked around and glanced at Zania.

"You guys are a bad influence on me, getting me all involved," Zania said playfully, though quietly.

"Speaking of bad influences – Sweet Kiss?" Rose asked Alamy.

"Confusion was deemed barely acceptable, being more a matter of will," Alamy said a trifle rueful. All four of them knew she'd been in a perfect position to Nuzzle or Thunder Wave the Lokix and probably stop Resistor from getting the hit as a follow-up.

The Kalosian sighed and bent down next to her Pichu. "I am really trying," she said. Resistor nodded. She wasn't going to expect miracles right after a breakthrough.

---

The police arrived and spent a few minutes taking statements. Poppy's League ID meant they'd not spent much time asking for any details on the Naranja students' statements.

As the thief was led away, the Poke balls in a sealed case, the old lady who'd been a victim came up. In spite of Vivi's earlier performance, the butterfly was back squarely on the woman's head.

"Your heroics saved me a tremendous amount of trouble. Let me give you all a reward," she said.

"That wasn't on my mind at all," Rose said honestly.

"It's important for citizens to come to each other's aid," Alamy said. Apparently Kalos drilled it in too.

The woman blinked for a few seconds at the two's accents, and looked at the other two students in surprise.

"It's a trainer's duty, Miss Geeta said," Poppy explained.

"I just pressed a button on the phone and walked you along," Zania demurred.

"Mesagozans!" the woman identified happily. "I know your bank will work with mine so I can do a direct transfer and you can decide for the other two. It warms my heart to see people here who step up."

"Alamy and Rose with their Pokemon did most of the work so the thief couldn't' escape," Zania pointed out.

The woman waved dismissively. "Don't they always?" she asked.

Rose put her hands forcibly around the straps of her pack and said nothing. Resistor jumped in Alamy's arms, so she'd have something to do with her hands, and the Kalosian smiled tautly.

The older lady looked at the other two's tense faces and added hastily, "Oh, don't think I'm not grateful! You foreign students just don't seem to be interested in self-preservation."

Ivy's eyes narrowed but a hasty mental message kept him silent. Rose could hear Resistor's fur shifting as Alamy's grip tightened a little. Rose started running through some of her meditation breathing exercises and said nothing.

With the bank info exchanged, the classmates beat a hasty retreat along the sidewalk towards the taxi.

Nothing was said until the Taxi came into view, then Zania looked behind her and growled.

"Treating you like talking Pokemon. I'm sorry, Naranja students are sort of their own species for Mesagozans, but that was appalling," Zania said.

"The expectations are different for us," Alamy murmured. Resistor chittered. "You did a wonderful job, dear, and so clever," Alamy assured her.

"We're not really wanted to linger in Paldea, are we?" Rose asked quietly, thinking of Nemona.

"And I'm what passes for a good example. I should have sent Fi-cutie to help track. I was just bragging about his nose!" Zania said, angry at herself in hindsight.

"You went right into action. Some Elite Four I am when I can't even pick a friend to call," Poppy castigated herself.

"It's crowded here. What works in an open court may not on a sidewalk," Rose consoled. Alamy shivered.

"An open court would be very pleasant right now," she muttered.

"Sorry, we're almost to the stand, hopefully we can get a little space there," Zania said.

"Poppy should have thought about being ready. Trainers need to be aware of their surroundings," Poppy muttered, still angry with herself. She slapped her cheeks a few times with her hands, trying to improve her concentration.

"Well one thing about the diversion is we don't have to wait as long. The reserved taxi will be here at stand five in a minute," Zania said, having checked her phone. The stand was pretty much a three-sided glass box covered in ads with a bench inside it. It still gave a breakwater against the pedestrian traffic and the four sat down.

Alamy gave a deep breath and leaned back with her eyes closed. "Too many things to try to follow at once," she said and rubbed her head.

"It's the social pressure that gets me," Rose sympathized, "All these people I don't know so close."

"You guys need to let us know. Papa is an introvert and he does the smile quietly until he screams on the inside thing too," Zania observed.

"Next time we should eat outside the city," Poppy suggested. Zania nodded.

"Or at least off the main street. Maybe invest in Cyclizars, though rental prices are high, so we don't have to walk with the crowd," Zania said. The other two nodded, game for either ridea.

Zania's phone bobbed up and down for attention and beeped. Zania read the screen. "Oh, speaking of prices, looks like she already sent a reward over," Zania said.

"And I think she mistyped," Zania added quickly when she'd opened the message.

"I really meant it when I wasn't expecting anything," Rose said.

"No, I think she put an extra zero in. I need to call and put this back," Zania explained. She rotated the phone to show the total as the other three leaned forward. Poppy counted on her fingers.

"Oh dear, that is a lot of Poke balls," Rose said inanely.

"She may have been rude but that is still a very generous tip," Alamy said.

Zania tapped a few more buttons and held a hand up for silence as she started a call.

"Ma'am, yes – yes, the young lady who helped you walk. The reward you sent was-" Zania started, then stopped as the woman started speaking.

"Oh, dear, let me see," they could hear over the speaker, and then tapping noises. "Oh, yes, I see. You're right, considering. Can you send it back? I'll adjust it."

"Of course," Zania said politely, and the call terminated.

Zania worked on her phone briefly before it beeped almost immediately in response. The Paldean gawked.

"She doubled it," Zania said quietly.

---

Notes: This took a bit longer to put together than I thought, and I thought it'd be shorter, but it looks like Rose's day will have two parts if they get out of the city.

For some reason the girls kibitzing just really has the dialog flow. Zania's easy to bounce questions off the quieter 'cast'.

Good deeds have their rewards, apparently, though Rose would probably be happy with a Great ball or a bullet seed TM. Apparently the game's still giving late game payouts even without Florian in the party. :D

Rose probably would have gone with the crowd to trawl the newbies at Mesagoza West if everyone was in favor, but hopefully she'd need to take a shower afterward