Twin Colors

by tremor3258

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

12. Refinement

Twin Colors

By tremor3258

Chapter 12

Refinement

---

"You have no recall of inviting anyone in?" Alamy asked. As Alamy had promised, she was helping haul today's crop of Hoppip entrapped from the morning prevailing winds against the Academy building.

All their Pokemon had their hands full of cheery little seeds. It was a bit after five, no one was up who would be bothered by extra Pokemon deployed in the halls.

"I keep thinking vaguely I had asked for help on something, but I might be dreaming that. I did have this ugly nightmare I was stuck in a dark forest trying to get away from something. Of all the ones to not get woken up during," Rose said with a shiver. Her dreams weren't always remembered, but this was crystal clear. On top of her recollection failing with Mei coming in, it was a bit daunting.

"Ivy and Azucena slept through the whole thing too. I'm embarrassed about falling asleep. I shouldn't have sat down. I haven't slept well since moving into the dorms," Rose said.

"You must have needed it, though you look well this morning," Alamy said kindly.

"Well, some of it is concealer," Rose admitted. The two were in pajamas still but Rose's mental alarm clock was still insistent on no more sleeping in until sunrise, let alone her old dragging out of bed at the last minute. She'd taken a quick shower before texting Alamy she was up.

"Same," Alamy sighed.

"You sure your legs are alright?" Rose asked, as they reached the roof access. Rose bumped the door open and the two paused, inhaling the fresh air. It smelled like rain was coming.

"A bit sore. I would not want to hike again today. Not as stiff as I feared," Alamy reported. She'd worn herself out in the woods, but while she didn't have outdoor experience, she had enough walking through Lumiose parks she was reasonably recovered.

"You did a good job, though we all pushed it too hard. Except maybe Poppy," Rose said. Reaching the edge of the railing, she let the Hoppip go, who burbled thanks as the wind took them to float over Mesagoza. A few seconds later, Alamy reached and did the same, their Pokemon dropping their smaller loads of Hoppip to bounce up on the railing and take flight.

The two humans waved at the departing Pokemon and Rose rubbed her shoulder. They had ended up bruised by her pack's straps. Somewhere in the week she was going to have to find a hip belt to distribute the weight.

"Mei did leave a text on my phone last night she wanted to do breakfast, but we should at least text Zania sometime this morning," Rose continued.

"What time for breakfast?" Alamy asked.

"She said 8:30 – that's on the early side for us. Or was the early side for me. If what you wanted to show me goes longer, I can text," Rose said.

"No, that should be fine," Alamy said. She stood at the other railing and looked west. The stars were occluded by clouds, and Resistor's cheek pouches sparked briefly in sympathy as lightning flashed between them.

"We're finally getting some rain, that should cool things off," Rose commented, following her look. She took a deep breath again and held it for a moment. Before she'd noted the scent of pine from the Crater, but she let it linger. Familiarity with it was helping distinguish a few other scenes underneath.

She let it go and walked to the west railing as well. Alamy had knelt to pat Bandwidth. "Do you like the rain?" she asked kindly. Bandwidth hesitantly nodded.

"We will go out into it later then," she promised, and gave the clouds another lingering look.

Alamy tore herself away from the view and said, "We have a day before the Academy truly starts. Let me show you my other self."

---

They did recall Bandwidth and Ivy for the trip downstairs. The dorm wing was quiet with most of the lights dimmed as they quietly walked to Alamy's room.

Alamy's room, unsurprisingly, was a design match for Rose's. Her counters showed a more natural inclination towards neatness than Rose's did; stuff uncommonly used wasn't shoved behind on the shelf but instead spaced neatly.

Her desk was busier, too, with several tablets set on stands with a microphone set in the middle, instead of Rose's keyboard she could plug her tablet into. Most of the desk was empty space for Azucena and Ivy or plushies. Resistor jumped up on the counter and with his agility, slipped around the obstructions to curl up by the microphone.

Bandwidth went into the bathroom and ran the tub to soak, quacking to himself.

There were some books set at the edge of the desk, paperbacks indicating they included scenes for young actors, and a couple plays Rose recognized the names of but hadn't seen.

There were posters on the walls, of course; several of Champion Diantha's movie roles. The posters were the Kalos ones Rose hadn't seen before, but she recognized several of the movies. Diantha's first breakthrough from a dark fantasy role and the mainstream romantic comedy she did after she became Champion, which got television play even in Galar.

"Which one is this?" Rose asked, pointing to one set near the bed. The angle was such you could see it lying down with your head on the pillow.

It looked like a modern setting. A Furfrou was howling mournfully at the moon with an actor and actress looking longingly at each other, Diantha was in the background wearing tweed and spectacles. Rose couldn't read the title. The font was loaded with serifs and curlicues.

"That is Bridge under the Moon. It is actually a monster movie as much as a romance, to be honest. The woman is a werewolf. Diantha only is in it for five minutes and twenty-three seconds in the release cut, but she gives such a sense of history and character into her role. She was nominated for it," Alamy said, enthused.

"Is she the romantic rival? The 'normal' one?" Rose asked.

"She is a researcher who failed to find a happy ending like Lupita and Roman are trying for. Roman is searching for ways to help Lupita retain control after she is poisoned with wolfsbane by the actual romantic rival. It is very sad," Almay said, sniffling slightly.

"Does it have a happy ending? Wait! Don't tell me. I'm going to look that one up," Rose promised. Alamy nodded, content, and mimed sealing her lips.

Alamy was looking at her bed as she did and muttered something under her breath. She reached into one of the cupboards and pulled out several plushies, including a life-sized Raichu she placed at the foot of the bed. Rose realized the way the colors were faded from life, Alamy and him were old, old friends.

She set two pastel-colored Magnemite plushies next to her microphones and a Dedenne on the bed, and then, with a blush, reached under the bed to retrieve a china doll. She delicately brushed her clear of dust before putting the doll so she 'rested' on the pillow.

"My courage failed again. I put them all away thinking you would think me childish, but I saw your room," Alamy said, downcast.

"My Milo was sewing practice, but I think I did a good job. Though I think Mei did better stitchwork on her Milo, I don't think I embarrassed myself," Rose said. Alamy gave a look that she was aware Rose was being deliberately obtuse.

"You are very kind to other's feelings," Alamy acknowledged, "But I was being silly again."

"They're old friends," Rose agreed, "I don't think anyone who thinks maturity is giving up everything you like was ever much fun." The Ranger hadn't carried much when she sold the ranch, but digital storage did mean you could bring your personal relics with you.

Alamy snorted. Understanding dawned in Rose, and Alamy nodded in response to the look on her face.

"Ambre is an antique and was acceptable to be put on a counter. The rest, my parents did not approve of if I were mature enough for a Pokemon. They fortunately rarely entered my room so they could come out and breathe at night instead of staying hidden," Alamy said.

She pointed at the stuffed Raichu. "Resistor enjoys sleeping in Lumiere's lap so I am pleased I kept him," she said happily. Resistor chittered agreement on the counter.

"Even if they were wrong, at least they bothered to try and teach you," Rose muttered. She paused, surprised at the acid there.

Alamy heard it too, and Rose winced at Alamy's expression.

"Sorry, this is for you today. Don't think you're a coward, either. You asked the Chairwoman of the Pokemon League for an interview," Rose said to change the subject.

Alamy folded her arms, and her face was set, angry. "Poppy was not happy, and that pressure was not fair to you," Alamy said. Rose was sure Geeta was never going to be one of Alamy's favored people.

Her expression softened. "It is easier when it is for others, is it not?" she asked. Rose nodded.

"I know how important Naranja is for you, and I hope it's worth it for me, the way it ties us to them," Rose said, gesturing to Azucena, who waved in response.

"That is my prayer," Alamy said, and then brushed herself off and pointed at the desk.

"Let us not dwell on what we are not strong enough to change. Yet. I would like to have you here while I record," Alamy said. Resistor popped her head up and uncoiled from the microphone, popping a drawer open for a headset she placed carefully on the desk and forced her head in between, giving a thumbs up.

"She is my editor," Alamy said with a laugh. Rose sat down on the bed, careful not to disturb Ambre, and pulled her Rotom phone down to her lap, setting a translator app on silent to read, remembering Alamy said she recorded in her native tongue.

Azucena hopped up beside her trainer and crawled into Rose's lap. The little Petilil settled in and closed her eyes. There was a mental tug and Rose put her hands on her Pokemon. Azucena settled in to meditate, working on pulling Mega Drain into a proper move instead of a concept she now had the strength to touch with a gentle link with her trainer.

Alamy adjusted the microphone a bit and brought up several windows on the tablets with what looked like a script and some reference sites. She took a deep breath, rubbed her eyes, and then again, and then Resistor nodded, and a light chimed red to record.

"[Hello again at Alamy's Sparks for this week's entry. I'm hoping you're enjoying listening,]" she began, and Rose stiffened a bit in surprise to avoid making noise.

Rose's Kalosian wasn't the best at keeping up. She could follow the tone. Alamy's voice was stronger and more confident, and sounded far more casual than her quiet, formal Paldean.

"[With the big trip last week, I've been looking into air travel, and how it's grown from the days of only the strongest of Flying masters held the skies to the creation of modern riding techniques for Pokemon. Now onto the mechanized marvels…]" Alamy continued.

---

It was about an hour and a half before Alamy finished. She'd stopped several times to repeat sections when Resistor indicated an issue. Rose couldn't really tell, and the pacing was fast enough the translator had trouble keeping up.

"[Reminder my schedule will be going biweekly,]" Alamy said, then glanced behind her, "[Though I expect to have some interesting stories from my own life this year. Thank you all for listening, have an enlightened week.]"

"I will have to go back and edit it together, then start putting together something for the next one," Alamy said after she shut the microphone off with finality.

"How long will it be?" Rose asked.

"Less than half an hour. If a topic interests me, I hope to make it interesting to others. It is not very popular, but it gives me practice," Alamy said.

"I don't really know how those get popular," Rose said.

"Luck to hit at the right moment to aggregate an audience. A regular release schedule is good, but I must move to every two weeks. With school and raising more Pokemon, I do not expect to have the time I did in Lumiose for research," Alamy said.

"What do you like to research?" Rose asked.

Alamy grabbed her phone and brought up a spread sheet with several ticked boxes. "If something sounds it might be interesting, I put it here," she explained.

Rose nodded and Alamy asked hesitantly, "What did you think?"

"I need to learn Kalosian, this app doesn't cover aeronautics. I couldn't follow enough to tell when you were having problems," Rose apologized, "But you sounded very confident and clear."

"I am sorry for not looking at you. I can act stronger when recording, but I am not used to an audience," Alamy said. Rose waved a hand, not minding.

"You are taking acting lessons here?" Rose asked.

"The stage when lit it is difficult to see past your fellows in the art. If I know the cast, it should not be so much pressure. I hope. I was signed up for classes on editing, mixing, and electronics too," Alamy said.

Resistor looked back and forth. Rose's eyes met the little Pichu and she understood the challenge. "Battle practice and a full team will take a lot of time too," Rose said carefully, "You're afraid of losing this?"

"I am afraid I won't care that I do," Alamy said, "It has been a big part of building myself up."

"Are you doing it to get ready, or because you enjoy it?" Rose said. She held her phone out as an example, opening one of her photo folders to an old favorite, an ethereal forest of city lights, set amid strange and eerie lights of nature.

"I like being outside in the air. Hammerlocke is dry and I got a picture book of gardens that helped being in the apartment, so I wanted to do my own," Rose said.

"I started taking pictures to remind me when we were able to go out of the city, and it's a habit now. This was a business trip to Ballonlea mom was able to take us on, and is one of my favorites," Rose said.

"It's not a big thing. Every few months I go through and get rid of a bunch of them because they're terrible. I spent a few years reading photography books, but in the last year I started getting ready for Naranja and I just stopped. I doubt I would ever get them published, but I keep it up when I do get somewhere I find interesting or pretty," Rose said.

"I don't have a good example of something that isn't training in my life. It's always been coming for me, and I do a lot of reading for it. This is probably the closest to a non-trainer hobby," Rose apologized.

"I think you are trying to say if it is important, I will find time for it. But if this is just a step I am doing, it may go away?" Alamy asked. Rose nodded.

"In a very clumsy way," Rose sighed. Alamy giggled and Rose smiled back.

"It's a big perspective change having someone tied to you. Their care is your care," Rose said, gesturing down at Azucena who was still meditating.

"I think you and Resistor are as close as can be with where you are. A lot of battle trainers have a more business relationship, especially if they keep a stable. I haven't known you for very long, but she seems to be worried about how you're treating yourself over the question," Rose said.

"Resistor and I have moves that feel right and link together. I cannot comfortably use one because I worry over people will think over how well it works for us. What good am I battling if my concern isn't us?" Alamy said, and looked at Resistor, who nodded.

"You are paying attention and have tried to follow in a language you do not know, but you were also training. I could feel it, just a touch," Alamy noted.

"I hope I didn't distract," Rose said.

"No, it was not annoying. But it is always on your mind. Victor and your sister are aggressive, and everyone has a strange impression of the student council president," Alamy said.

"Mei and I have had a couple of bad days," Rose said, "Nemona is a great trainer, but I think battling is her hobby on top of it. But it's not like Paldea has a Contest Hall circuit. And there's breeding and people interested in research Pokemon abilities and behaviors. On top of just using them in life, like Resistor helping out."

"What are you interested in?" Alamy asked.

Rose thought for a bit, to try and articulate it.

"I want my partners to be their best selves, and I want to be a trainer who can keep up with that. Galar Champion is a good goal for that or was. Now that I'm a trainer, I want to press forward with it. Matches are important for my Pokemon and so I want to make sure I do the best guiding and empowering them," Rose said finally.

Alamy closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead for a few moments, until Resistor squeaked at her.

"I do not mean to offend with this next," Alamy said carefully, "I have seen how you can move as a battler. Resistor and I can only match with all our practice what you can just do." Rose nodded, motioning for her to continue.

"You do not find my hobbies off-putting. You wanted to understand to help me and saw my drive. You understand why I hesitate. We get along well so far," Alamy listed.

"Our senses of humor are similar. You've been patient with me. I'm not always… easily sociable," Rose said, "And I thought you enjoyed the trip to Los Platos."

"I did, and the match beforehand to help that poor woman. I am glad what I did there to help. It was important," Alamy said, and then rubbed her forehead again.

"If the question comes up from Resistor or Bandwidth to make that change, I was worried about being good enough, if I cannot even call a Nuzzle. Would more aggression just make me better, or let me make things the old Alamy wanted to do? But would I care still?" Alamy asked.

Alamy pointed at the Ballonlea album. "You had other things come up before partnering is some weight removed, and thank you," Alamy said.

"I really don't think less of you or Zania before or after yesterday for not being battle trainers. You love your partners. You want to get out there and do stuff. And it was you and Resistor that saved that lady's purse," Rose said.

"You are happy I have made… progress, though," Alamy said.

"Well, yes. You weren't happy with where you were," Rose said.

"No, I was not. Am not, really. It is easy to always see one's flaws, yes?" Alamy asked. Rose nodded. Azucena made a choking laughing sound, stirring from her meditation.

"Therapy Pokemon," Rose said drily, and Alamy giggled again.

"It was an easy choice for me. There are the issues, with what I am, that made it easier. They've always reached out," Rose said. She shook her head, suddenly feeling a chill.

"Finally, I was allowed to finally dive in, to get it deeper than just being able to communicate, so I was happy to drown in it. It wasn't that we would be stronger; it was to be with Pokemon," Rose said.

"But it is called battle-sync for a reason. If I were to take that choice, assuming Resistor offers," Alamy said, studying the floor, "It would loom large for both of us, wouldn't it?"

"Yes," Rose acknowledged quietly. Azucena flexed. Both humans glanced at Resistor who shook her head.

"I think you still have time," Rose commented.

"Yes, neither of us are ready, me especially. But I think, as much as one can predict, I am getting closer," Alamy said. She looked around the room.

"Thank you for coming this morning. If it is offered and I do accept, I wanted you to see me now. Just so you could tell me afterward. I felt… it was important," Alamy said.

"It was interesting. You work hard at this," Rose assured her.

"Will I see you at the fields this afternoon?" Alamy asked.

"Depends on the weather, but I don't think the rain will last long?" Rose said. Resistor shook her head again.

"I still need to catch up with Mei. She wants to cook breakfast so she must be excited. That field I found yesterday I want to see again, too, if I have time," Rose said.

"You feel you are missing something," Alamy stated.

"I'm missing something or something is missing from me. There is something I'm not seeing or doing. Poppy helped some, but I felt like I got close to figuring a piece of it out," Rose said.

"No one asked you yesterday, but you look as if you want me to. What is it to you, battle?" Alamy asked.

"It's a dance. With myself and my partners. The opponent is there, yes. It doesn't work without an opponent to give the beat. But if we can step right and in sync with each other, they are something our rhythm moves around," Rose said.

Rose fell back on the bed, covering her face with her hands. "I can't find the full rhythm though, or am missing steps," she said. Azucena broke out of her pose to go over and pat Rose on the cheek comfortingly.

"But we are working on it," Rose added. Azucena cheeped victory.

"I hope we both find the pieces we want," Alamy said, straightening.

Rose sat back up. "Who knows where we'll be in a year. I want to be Rose, born in Solaceon, out of Hammerlocke, and someone that this self now would be proud they turned into. Not something I got blown away from myself, forced into, or dragged into."

"I really want to be Rose," she said. Alamy looked at her quizzically for a moment, then shook her head.

"May we both succeed at the Academy this year," Alamy said and held out her hand. After a moment, Rose clasped it and stood up.

"Thank you again for showing this you to me," Rose said, giving a bow.

Alamy nodded and stood. "You understood why. That means something to me," Alamy said.

"I'll let you get breakfast, I should, well, put that uniform on for the day," Rose said with a sigh.

"United in poor color choices," Alamy giggled.

"I just like to look good and with my hair it's dark colors. The school makes it a struggle," Rose said. Alamy nodded agreement.

"Another challenge for us," Alamy said straight-faced and now Rose laughed back.

Rose picked up Azucena to head out, and Alamy held a hand up as Rose turned the corner to the suite's door.

"You'll find some hobby here, I'm sure, that isn't just that Rose is a grass Pokemon trainer with potential," Alamy said, voice stronger than usual.

Rose rubbed Azucena's cheek, and said, "I hope so. Thank you again. See you this afternoon?"

Alamy nodded and Rose headed to the door, giving one last wave to each other before she stepped out.

---

Rose had some time to freshen up, organize some of yesterday's haul, stare balefully at the uniform and put it on before Mei's scheduled meetup time. She couldn't hear Mei's alarms through the walls, but she still sent a text to confirm Mei was up.

While she waited, she looked into the mirror to center herself. It was her, no one else. She'd grow into something different than the Ranger and it may not be as good or better, but it would be different and would be her. The mantra she'd stumbled on with Alamy helped.

Mei sent a text back that she was indeed up and Rose walked next door.

Mei's hair was a mess again, and she looked a bit wild-eyed as she looked at Rose.

"You look together, are you okay? Your energy seems different. Better, too," Mei asked her sister. Rose nodded and looked hard into Mei.

"You did a lot of work yesterday, I can see the development," Rose complimented. Wild Pokemon weren't bad practice but trainer battles, either because of multiple Pokemon in succession or some quirk of the synergy, pushed trainers harder.

"I actually slept better, thank you," Rose continued politely. The smell of miso and roasted fish had her stomach growling, but she had other things to do first after letting Ivy and Azucena out to greet Pome and Terpsi and closed the door behind her.

"Oh, these are for you," Rose said, bringing a plastic case out of her purse. Mei looked at it, her eyes widened, and she held it up to the light to confirm.

"They're mainly just Hoppip leaves and Lechonk fur, but it's something at least," Rose explained. It was a bit more than half, but Rose had been rude enough to ask to meet and then fell asleep.

"I got incredibly lucky yesterday," Rose continued and paused at Mei's expression. "Incredibly lucky," she confirmed, "And wanted to share some of the rewards since I know you were in town." Instead of what we were planning together last week hung unsaid in the air.

"You weren't out of town until the afternoon. No wonder you were tired if you were backtracking to town and back all the time," Mei said, "But if you don't need these, shouldn't you sell them? A lot of pet trainers in Mesagoza were willing to make a go for it, so I'm set for a bit."

Rose winced. It was one thing while journeying through a town and giving the locals a different battle, usually there were battle trainers too which were less certain for someone trying to be a professional. Deliberately seeking them out for funds felt a bit exploitive.

Mei was staring at her expectantly, and Rose remembered what Mei likely wanted to talk about.

"How was your battle against Victor? Did it go well?" Rose asked to let Mei start talking.

"You don't remember last night at all, do you?" Mei burst out.

"You woke me up with two of the older students on our floor. If you're mad that I fell asleep after I called you up, I understand," Rose said. Her stomach growled.

"Though if you could wait to lecture until after we start breakfast, I really would take it as a favor," Rose pleaded.

"Dragons, Rose, you thought I invited you to breakfast to yell at you?" Mei asked, loudly.

"At least a little? I messed up," Rose said. This was much more confusing than she thought it would be.

Mei clenched her fists and Fuecoco gave a warning whistle. With visible effort, she unclenched.

"Rose. Sit. I'm not going to yell at you. I'm not angry," Mei asserted.

Rose didn't believe that, but sat down nervously, setting the case on the table since Mei hadn't taken it.

"You really don't remember anything before I took the necklace back from you?" Mei pressed.

"Not after I sat down by the bed for a minute. I think I fell asleep. Maybe I heard Terpsi speaking to me a bit?" Rose offered. That was apparently the wrong answer.

"We're going to the chapel after breakfast," Mei declared.

"I hadn't even thought of it with everything going on this weekend," Rose confessed. She peered at Mei, who was looking at her nervously.

"I had figured you weren't very interested in talking to the higher powers since the dragons did… this to us," Rose said.

"It's not for me," Mei said through gritted teeth. "Ugh, I'm bad at this. No wonder you hate me."

Ivy and Azucena crouched in prep as Rose stood up so fast the chair she was in pushed back two feet.

"Thank you for the invitation, but I don't think I'm feeling like eating now. You can keep the spoils," Rose said, tautly but technically not raising her voice.

"Rose, stop," Mei said, miserable.

"I don't want to have this conversation," Rose said tautly," You did a good job, and you won. I'd rather win, but if you think I'm such a trainer that a loss to someone I love would break-"

"Don't say break," Mei thundered. Pome fell to his knees at supplying it and Rose stopped, covering her ears.

"I'm going to be in so much trouble in a minute," Mei muttered, her throat suddenly dried out. She took a drink of water before continuing.

"Rose, I was in your room for minutes and you were in some kind of trance fighting for yourself. You were being called by something. You were fighting it and trying so hard, but some of things you said. I'm worried and I'm not doing a good job again," Mei said, frustrated with herself.

Rose blinked, and then opened the door. Netty was there about to slam a fist on it. She took a deep breath before making her decision.

"Thank you, a training technique went badly. We apologize," Rose lied smoothly.

"Oh, glad you're up. Did she tell you yet?" Netty asked.

"I think just now," Rose said.

"Good," Netty said, then winked and stepped back. "Honest mistake people!" she called down the hall, "Won't happen again."

Rose closed the door and turned around.

"I'm not a psychic. They can test that. And we're in a major city, anyway. Strong wild Pokemon don't come here," Rose protested.

"Apparently elemental sensitivity can do it sometimes," Mei said, "I did some very hasty reading this morning. It's so basic I found it on child-rearing sites. If a strong affinity is present, it's a matter of course to have a couple warding seals under the bed. They can do a more precise test with strong trainer Pokemon, usually."

"We never had seals in Hammerlocke, and the Ranger didn't – wait, no there were carvings in her bed," Rose said. "Those may have done it; they were pretty traditional."

"There were probably a few around in Kalos, Flare was careful, but she had Pokemon early," Mei said, and swallowed.

"What?" Rose asked.

"But what if they didn't at all? We'd been assuming we had their abilities, but our natural training bonds aren't working out the same. What if we're wrong about being a match?" Mei asked.

"We haven't been experimented on by Team Flare or come from a world missing an entire element," Rose said flatly.

"That just helps my argument," Mei countered.

"Pokemon are different here, I'm not surprised I use them differently. And with the Ranger Mom was giving more training assistance until she was almost ready for her journey. She didn't have to-"

"What?" Mei pressed.

"It's not important," Rose demurred.

"Rose. I watched you fall twice. If that thing had taken you for any time, you probably would have smashed your head on the door. It's important," Mei said.

"She didn't have two trainers to try and teach so she could fine-tune," Rose whispered angrily, "She paid attention there, all right? She'll talk to you for an hour but barely to me. And if we are the same, then thanks to the dragons, we know why I'm extra, don't we?" Rose's voice was hoarse but still technically quiet, and she was panting heavily, getting it out.

"You're not extra! And what hour?" Mei wailed, but quietly.

"Friday, she called me after. Maybe three minutes?" Rose said bitterly.

"Rose, I had no idea," Mei whispered in shock.

"I wasn't going to bring it up, what would it change?" Rose answered.

After a beat, "You aren't going to say she had a good reason?" Rose prompted.

"After the last two days? Time and Space, no," Mei said vehemently.

"Oh," Rose said, surprised.

"Rose, I'm… more in the middle than you. I know I'm not always good at that, but I wouldn't mean to take Mom for myself. We're both supposed to be here. I don't know what's happening with Mom but you're wrong about being extra," Mei said, clasping Rose's hands, and pulling her back to a seat, sitting them both down. Rose came willingly and her Pokemon relaxed.

"Mom's been wrong about a lot lately. We haven't even started an education yet and I know that," Mei summarized.

"I'm not sure what she knows about Pokemon Leagues, but I don't think we should go," Rose said.

"Are you surprised how young you look in mirrors until you catch yourself?" Mei countered.

"You too?" Rose asked. Mei nodded. Rose sighed.

"Thank Dialga she dyed her hair, it makes it easier," Rose said.

"Since you warned me a couple days ago – I can catch sometimes when it's slipping in. She was a much better trainer than Mei in Hammerlocke and I want that so bad. And she really wanted to be a proper hero, and oh look, the spotlight," Mei said, sighing.

"I know I've been extra the last few days," Mei admitted. Terpsi and Rose snorted. Pome coughed up a smoke ring and looked chagrined.

"Okay, I deserve that too. But there's so many easy mistakes I'm skipping right past as a new trainer and I just can't bear to slow them down," Mei said, pointing to her partners.

"I'd be even clumsier. Poppy and Kieran have helped, but she's got a head full of Sinnoh tactics she poured into mine, and what I can tap for them, I'd be just flailing around," Rose said miserably.

"I don't like her style but she's seen so many-" Mei started

"-that we get to pick," Rose concluded, "Which is great because everything Mom taught about the bond doesn't work for me at all."

Mei looked like she was chewing glass for a second. "You did nearly beat a fire-type with a brand-new grass-type, Rose" she said.

"That was luck with you getting close in for a Stun Spore. I know I was doing less than half the damage I should. You wouldn't fall for that again," Rose said.

"Is that all Azucena can do, still?" Mei asked. Rose shook her head and hesitated to explain.

"Sorry, that was rude to ask another trainer," Mei apologized, "Even if you are my sister. You weren't stronger than me, but you were better than me. It's not always enough, but it's something."

Mei swallowed and mumbled something.

"I missed that," Rose said.

"And I lost to Victor," Mei admitted.

"I thought you'd brushed past that earlier," Rose said, "I figured you'd be chatting nonstop."

"Bigger priorities!" Mei declared, "And you're probably right," she deflated right afterwards.

"He was doing something I – the Knight- saw with Flare. For disposable soldiers who didn't' know better. It's not just giving lots of strength, it's slotting himself in the moves. It could knock him out or worse, you can't control the flow. He's terrified of being left behind," Mei said.

"He's stronger than us, though," Rose said in wonder.

"How did you know?" Mei demanded.

"He let his guard down and I got a glimpse," Rose said.

"It would have really helped my yelling at him if I'd known that," Mei ranted quietly. Terpsi squeaked reprovingly at her trainer.

"If you'd come with like you said, you could have seen it too," Rose reproached.

Mei took a deep breath. "That's good work, and that's got to be your practice," Mei encouraged.

"I hope he doesn't do it again, but it proved how much work I have to do – and Mom's training isn't quite right for me either. I'm more… structured. I'm trying not to say frozen. I don't think it feels frozen. Really," Mei insisted, "And there's something else."

"What?" Rose asked.

"You said you were missing something, last night," Mei said. Rose picked up Azucena and hugged her. Ivy hopped up to her shoulder.

"I can't believe I said it out loud," Rose muttered.

"The way the bond is reacting at battle-sync, I'm missing something," she clarified after petting her partners for a moment.

"I just thought I was stiff, but I yelled at a ghost last night. It reacted," Mei said.

"A ghost Pokemon or a spirit?" Rose asked.

"Shuppet," Mei answered, "Thought he wasn't kidding around." Mei shivered.

"You're thinking we've only been developing part of ourselves?" Rose asked. Mei nodded. Rose's eyes glinted and Mei held her breath, but then when Rose spoke her voice was normal.

"That would… easily explain a few things. And Poppy said something she felt underneath. The Knight and Ranger were both grass, mostly. She had some ground tricks. And everyone's always just said grass with us," Rose said.

"I don't think I'm a strong enough trainer just to have a trained Pokemon react to me," Mei said. She grabbed her sister's hands.

"I think we had some mistakes done to us, and I don't mean the dragons. I would like to know why, but I don't think you're messed up. I think it's something worth exploring and I think," Mei paused and looked at Rose's hands.

"You really were doing a lot of training yesterday," she said as an aside.

"I think you're you still. I love my sister. You meander a bit on the path but it works for you, alright? Please don't forget that," Mei said, "And please don't let yourself be taken away again."

Mei looked at the human portion of breakfast she'd help back from the Pokemon. "It's a bit dry but we should finish this first. You've been working a lot harder than I thought. Let's catch up."

---

By the time they were done the Pokemon were bored enough to be playing tag in the room. Mei was thankful she hadn't unpacked everything yet, or it'd really be a mess.

"I've never heard of anything like that technique Victor used," Rose said.

"I don't think any legitimate tutor would teach it, it's too self-destructive," Mei said, "But Flare did it in Kalos. Victor heard something, or, and I hate to say this, he may have worked it out, as many moves as he knows, he's got to be good on theory."

"If someone who's less than a year in training is coming up with new move forms, maybe the dragons sent him to fix Paldea," Rose mused.

"The dragons were only in our – their - last adventure because one got hit by Team Flare's weapon," Mei reminded her sister. "I mean, they keep everything running but they have bigger worries than trainers being slow to get started."

"But you agree that something's odd in Paldea," Rose said.

"Absolutely, but it may just be cultural, or something we're missing with the language from that blasted quick-learn, like that stupid hard age-restriction in Galar," Mei said.

"I really hated that," Rose muttered.

"A lot of stuff happened this summer before we were even in Paldea, it sounds like. Some of the Galar Gym leaders vacation here, and there is a Psychic Gym. If there was some sort of compulsion, I think it would be noticed. It could just be Zania and Trigo pushed through peer pressure," Mei mused, "Naranja also had a bunch of reforms a few years ago with the help of the League, so they may be increasing their emphasis on battle education to give Paldea a kick. I don't think it's something mystical a plucky trainer can fix in a match."

"Speaking of giving Paldea a kick; I mentioned Geeta did a 'friendly introduction', right? I started to bring it up earlier, but we covered a lot. I don't think Mom's paranoia is right, but meeting Geeta I don't think it's wrong either," Rose said. Mei nodded.

"I still don't like, morally or from historical precedent, the power of both halves of a League concentrated in one person. It doesn't seem like she's using it badly, but neither did that maniac Rose. And at best she's a control freak," Mei judged.

"Expect her to come to you, and I think she's going to be fierce. If I hadn't met her yesterday, after what you said happened, I would be going right to the Nurse's office and the Director to tell what was going on and get us counselling," Rose said.

"I can't risk having them taken away," Rose said solemnly. The moment was slightly ruined as Azucena went flying over the table, thrown by Pome. Chittering in response, the twins reflexively lifted their legs out of the way as she charged back in.

"If I was Champion and told the dragons of creation had gifted knowledge to two trainers, I'd try and recruit them, especially with that short description. It's a little more complicated - Terpsi if you stay on the counter, Ivy's going to – ooh ouch," Mei winced in sympathy from the impact, then continued, "A little more complicated, but I worry Geeta would use threats, or blunt methods, as hard as she came on what are new trainers, as far she knows. Psychic interrogation damages training even if it's done well."

"Whatever Mom was involved in; she doesn't like legends meddling. If I held all the power in the region, I'd be uncomfortable that the legends might disagree," Rose mused.

"The last few years all sorts of terrorist threats have tried to control the world's greatest Pokemon. I hope our generation does better. We grew up with the Poke ball, at least. We know they're not magic tools that makes you a Pokemon master," Mei said.

"I'm sure we'll find our own things to resent," Rose said, her expression dark.

"That's right, Mom," Mei said, snapping her fingers, which briefly paused the Pokemon's game. She waved at them and they went back to it.

"You said something about Mom last night. Whatever's going on with her, you never got a hint she was anything more than she said she was," Mei said.

"I don't know if she was Warden in the Ranger's universe. The Ranger wasn't an outsider there, her mailbox was there, technically. They didn't say anything. But you get access to certain things since the Rangers worked with them closely sometimes. Those sites require some additional protections from wild Pokemon over how trainers are normally guarded by their Pokemon from the elements."

"We should get to the chapel before it gets busy, and see if they want to do that purification," Mei said. The Pokemon stopped their game and lined up on hearing it.

"Can the one on campus do it? I thought they were nondenominational," Rose asked, dubious.

"Netty seemed to think they could. We're not seeking a blessing from Xerneas, this is separating the material from the immaterial, I think. That's probably something they can handle," Mei said. Rose started to stand, and Mei waved her down.

"Let me do the dishes," Mei commanded. She glanced out the window.

"Might as well stay inside to go to the chapel anyway. The rain's here," she reported.

---

Poppy was working through a practice recipe for eggs Zania had provided when her phone rang. Tinkie had been provided the eggshells to pound on, and Poppy motioned for her to pause as she accepted the call.

"Hey Rika!" Poppy said cheerfully. The rain strummed against the windows. Poppy was on the counter mixing, getting ready to pour the scrambled eggs in the pan.

"Hey squirt," Rika said affectionately. Poppy could see she looked worried about something, though. She had her glasses on too, which meant League business. Rika liked the aesthetic for doing paperwork.

"Do I need to come in today? Did someone challenge?" Poppy asked. Rika shook her head.

"Poppy, this is an odd question, but your classmates didn't ask you to dump your money somewhere?" Rika asked.

Poppy giggled. "It wasn't my money," she said, and gave a rough summary of the previous day's adventure in crime fighting.

"Hang on, checking the police report and, okay, wow, she owns like three blocks of Mesagoza. That would explain the reward size," Rika mused. She turned to the phone to look Poppy in the eyes, who did her best to look attentive.

"Squirt, that does sound like a good use for the money, but I think your friends think our League's a little more like theirs. Their Gyms are more tied to the cities and the League makes sure everyone's playing fair and making sure people and Pokemon get along, instead of organizing the whole thing," Rika explained.

"Okay," Poppy said, not following.

"The League helped consult on that battle court upgrade. It's a slow news week and so people are making noise about the League making a rush so that we can hide someone messing up. Geeta thinks at this point the whole court is going to have to be dug out and rebuilt to clear the air," Rika said.

"Did we mess up?" Poppy asked.

"You did something great for that lady, catching a thief. And you just wanted to help trainers. You all did fine. It's just it's in Mesagoza and that's complicated right now," Rika explained. She raised her glasses to rub her eyes.

"Listen, squirt, you mind if your email's off for a few hours? Geeta hasn't gotten around to asking who owns the email address yet. I'm going to switch yours out and then let Geeta know. I don't want her coming down to lecture you by surprise," Rika said.

"She did that yesterday to my friends and it wasn't fun at all," Poppy reported.

"She's been planning to give a jolt to the incoming students. It worked on Florian, and she's hoping that lighting will strike twice," Rika said.

"Florian was fun even if I couldn't revenge you," Poppy said.

Rika raised an eyebrow. "Avenge, I know. Now," Poppy said, teasing.

"You just concentrate on your studies. I'm sorry we couldn't pull you off the League so you could just go to school, squirt," Rika apologized.

"It's all right. My new friends are excited about heading to the League some day, and they aren't mad or scared I'm stronger," Popppy enthused.

"That's great! I did get a report about some alpha Pokemon on a tear near Los Platos yesterday. You have fun?" Rika asked. Poppy nodded.

"I'll let you get back to – which are you cooking kiddo?" Rika asked.

"Eggs! I have some salsa too," Poppy reported.

"Eggs then. Oh, do you know a student named Mei? Very high affinity, mainly grass," Rika said.

"Yes! We had to hose her down," Poppy informed Rika gravely.

Rika wasn't quite sure how to process that. "You can let her know she's on Geeta's list to talk to. It may be intense," Rika warned.

"Was the last one? Golly. Rose is my friend, and Mei is her sister. I'll probably see them this afternoon," Poppy said.

"The weather should clear up by then – it slowed down west of town. There's probably another Tera Pokemon causing trouble with Rain Dance," Rika groaned, then waved.

"Take care, squirt, enjoy school. Be sure to stay in touch!"

"Bye, Rika!" Poppy said. The phone disconnected and Poppy went back to her eggs, whistling to herself.

---

"How do you feel?" Mei asked, it was coming up on ten by the time they were done at the chapel. They walked through the halls, which were now starting to have decent traffic with the term starting tomorrow. Rose's hair was damp from where she'd been misted with water as part of the ritual.

"Wet," Rose said curtly, "And Ivy and Azucena feel distant." Ivy was padding alongside and meowed, and then meowed angrily at Rose's lack of comprehension. Rose bent down and petted him apologetically.

"Sorry, that water they used was as purified of Pokemon influences as they can," Mei said, "Human power. Good for breaking possession links, mainly." Pome whistled sadly.

"They said the effects on us as a unit should wear off soon," Rose reminded Ivy. She held the pieces of paper they'd been given marked with seals. Mei had put hers carefully in her bag already.

"They sure acted like this was avoidable. I know you looked at it, but I want to talk to Miriam. Maybe this is on our medical history somewhere," Rose said.

"But this isn't something we've seen in the, uh, past," Mei said with a glance around.

Rose grinned at that. Mei looked a bit appalled.

"I'm sorry I still don't remember it, but it ended well. And this is something that's just me and maybe you. That's important right now," Rose said, though now whispering

They reached a set of corridors and motion caught Mei's eye as they passed one of the classrooms.

"It's raining," she reported.

"Still? I thought it would be over," Rose said.

"You still want to head out to those sites by Los Platos?" Mei asked.

"Especially if you think you're missing something too, I want your assessment, see if I'm panicking over nothing. It's important, I think. Though it means losing at least a couple hours," Rose cautioned. Ivy meowed in warning.

"I know, it would be a good spot for practicing moves. But it should have been a good spot for improving channeling on my side, too," Rose said. Ivy hmphed.

"He's also thinking you're being really hard on yourself about that tree," Mei translated. Rose looked down and Ivy nodded.

"Next time I'm tired I'm just going to sleep. I don't want to get soaked like this again," Rose vowed.

"It's my fault for being late. I thought you weren't taking this seriously, but something worked for you out there," Mei said, appraising.

"It doesn't feel like that much," Rose said.

"Maybe it's more the practice helping the bond but definitely brighter than Friday," Mei analyzed.

"I was loaded with stamina boosters, we were able to go pretty hard," Rose reported.

"And I'm curious about the other side, that meadow. Last night with the Shuppet has me wondering too," Mei admitted.

"Did you understand him? Even fuzzy?" Rose asked.

"No, just normal Pokemon noises, and you pick up some of what they want from emotion. I think Bozo heard me more than normal for not being bonded. I was just yelling by reflex, not trying to command, and he still backed up."

Rose chuckled, "Was Netty trying for sunny weather when she named him?" Mei gave her an irritated look at her trying to lift the mood. She pressed on.

"It's probably a coincidence," Mei said, "I'd expect a Gym Leader to have the sort of force of will to do that, but most type specialists can't intimidate trained Pokemon."

"But you think there's a 'knack' we have naturally that's buried?" Rose asked. Mei nodded.

"It could just be we have a natural inclination towards a subset in Grass that's throwing us off that's starting to develop now that we're training. There's a lot of Normal type trainers who specialize in a form like birds, dogs, sloths, or cats," Rose warned.

Mei looked around and held up a hand for Rose to stop. They were in the music wing on the way to the entrance, and she pulled open an unoccupied practice room, and ushered her in.

"You said something last night how you used to be oriented to ground. That team wasn't that heavy with it, though," Mei said once the door was closed.

"Not many grass/ground types around Sinnoh. I don't remember why but she didn't connect with Geodudes or the like, but that Turtwig shot up like a weed. And she was so good with Earthquake and some of the other high-powered ground moves she charged money as a move trainer for other trainers' Pokemon," Rose said.

"Well, if there's one type that's in trouble around grass and ground, it would be rock," Mei noted, "Maybe it caused some sort of aversion? We didn't get the emotional states very well. And there's the way ice types react to us, so maybe it was like that in the other direction."

"Well, she did call herself a grass trainer, but it was only half her team. She did connect with them a lot better than her others. I think Ranger encounters encouraged her to diversify. Steel defenses were 'tighter' in that universe, remember, ghost and dark too," Rose reported.

"How does that work? Sorry, no, that's a bad question. But the Knight didn't think the Ranger was a natural generalist either, and not really one who had trained up to be one. Her three other Pokemon were a few grades below her core," Mei said, "Sorry, but true."

"They aren't the team I'm training," Rose said, though a bit stiffly, "I hope I'd give everyone the same attention if I wanted to call myself a trainer." Ivy purred encouragement.

"Same. You're going to be amazing, little guy," Mei promised her Fuecoco. Pome clacked his jaws eagerly.

"Just to argue the different point on subsets, Pome does get the ghost type when he grows up," Rose mused.

"From the guides I've read, he's got almost no connection to ghosts at this stage. The only move anyone's managed to teach a Fuecoco is Curse and not everyone agrees that's a ghost move when other types use it," Mei said. She reached down and patted her little crocodile.

"Don't worry, we'll figure it out. When you're older you can spit all the Shadow Balls you want. I don't think Curse will help you in battle right now, though we can learn it if you want," Mei consoled. Fuecoco already had tough scales, but his natural strength was going to be breathing fire, not punching it. Curse only tightened up muscles, not all offense.

"Back on improving – we should be able to get a Taxi slot easily with everyone coming onto campus. I need to change, first, though?" Rose asked hesitantly. Mei nodded and Rose grinned, still pleased Mei was coming along.

"I'll send to group chat you found something Grass-related you wanted to show me in Los Platos. I don't think Kieran's group will be in town yet," Mei said as she tapped her phone. "I don't know who will be up on a rainy Sunday anyway."

Rose's phone dinged after a moment, a private text from Alamy. Are you following up the meadow?

There's a big tree, too, Rose sent back, then winced, Sending you a map marker. I was in too much a state yesterday, you even said Resistor likes trees. Sorry.

Really, anything that's a lightning rod she can get a charge from. A lone tree in a prairie is more her ideal, Alamy sent back. Rose sighed. Hopefully she hadn't made a faux pas.

Are you doing move training this afternoon? Zania suggested earlier to reserve a field so we would have space. The small practice rooms are already filled up, came back afterward to Rose's surprise.

Probably. It's going to be too wet to be very comfortable at Los Platos, Rose texted

This storm really is lingering. Stay dry, Alamy texted. Rose smiled.

"Oh, Kieran saw the chat. He's not sure if everyone will be back. Florian wants to get another Tera raid in, but Nemona has a battle scheduled and Kieran wants to see the upperclassmen here," Mei reported, not paying attention to Rose's byplay.

Rose swapped windows and sure enough, Kieran promised at least some people would be back this afternoon.

"The elusive Florian," she commented.

"As much as people say he does, he's going to burn out," Mei predicted, "But he seems to have an incredible sense of responsibility. I wonder what his battle style is like?"

"Well, he's not the only one. The nurse in Los Platos said Nemona, or at least the description matched, had picked up every Pokemon bounty in the area just so Florian wouldn't," Rose said.

"There's a lot of people who like the catching side and making partners. Maybe Florian's one of those? Researchers love that sort," Mei theorized.

"Shame Paldea doesn't have an active regional research team," Rose said with assumed innocence. Mei had, in a fit of pretension, tried to find the contact information for a Professor in Paldea to get for a sponsorship before they moved to Artazon.

"Do you still count it as scoring a point if the person misses your insinuation?" Mei asked, one of her ways of trying to bypass Rose being snide.

"Absolutely, or I'd stop doing it to Mom," Rose replied.

---

Both had to change to raingear – and Rose had to transfer her remaining medicine and Poke ball stock to a purse since she couldn't bear wearing her pack. It was a much more clunky storage device for finding something quickly compared to the pack, without her suitcase's virtue of easy access either. But the strap didn't ride across her bruised shoulders.

Getting a taxi from Naranja was indeed easy with people still arriving on campus. Zania's reserved field announcement came when they were in the air. Nemona's pre-scheduled battle was in another courtyard in Narnja late in the afternoon when it was cooler, but it would probably be a good time for a break.

Rose spent a lot of time fitfully trying to rearrange the items she'd piled into her purse if she had to grab something quickly. It gave her something to do with her hands, mainly. Visibility was too poor to see the ground at height and the Squawkabilly were complaining more than usual. Mei eyed the mass of curatives.

"How many pets did you catch yesterday?" she signed to her sister.

"Got lucky yesterday. Reward money – stopped a thief with everyone after getting boots for Z," Rose signed back. The system they used was based on Ranger training and was good for speed and subtlety, not proper names.

Mei slumped after some mental arithmetic on just what was present. While her tearing through the locals had done well for her, even with her loss to Victor, she had missed out, financially. No wonder Rose had handed over so many trophy items at breakfast.

Rose signed, "Ears okay?" Mei nodded. Somehow, even with spending time slumming on wild Pokemon with a bunch of hobbyists, she felt like her sister had won.

Terpsi's ball rattled in response. She was quite happy to get access to some materials to help get her Grass Knot problems settled and start Bullet Seed proper. If Rose wanted to do charity, she'd rather not have Mei cut the supply.

Mei sent mental agreement back, a bit reluctantly. Mei was overall stronger right now, and she'd feel better if Rose seemed bothered by it. Her sister was annoyingly content. Given it was only a few days, the carefully studious trainer parts of Mei argued Rose had no reason to be displeased with her progress. That was annoying too.

They were right to turn the hose on me. I keep jumping on things and it nearly got me in real trouble with my sister. Twice. I'd like to stop, Mei thought.

---

Even with the rainstorms and the Squawkabilly disagreeing with each other, the driver brought them down to a smooth landing. Knowing they'd be fighting through branches and narrow passages, neither sister bothered with an umbrella. They hustled under the Pokemon Center's roof with hoods up on their coats to finish planning. Terpsi and Ivy got called out, though they stayed out in the rain to get some natural hydration.

A different nurse was on duty from yesterday and the Igglybuff weren't around – though their usual game with the faucet they could play anywhere while the rain lasted.

Mei bought a few potions with a chunk of her winnings from yesterday. Even if it was two trainers together and they weren't seeking matches, heading off-route still meant a few battles were likely.

Rose checked the local challenge board to the side of the nurse, which had some postings unlike yesterday. Immediately she spotted a problem.

"This is just contact info to do the challenge, there's no information on the trainers or teams," Rose said.

"Do you have it zoomed in?" Mei asked as she completed the transaction, not looking.

"I don't think so, but the master list was behind the counters in Galar," Rose said. Those typically had a badge count if the trainer had tried the Circuit. Otherwise, people usually posted the time they'd been training seriously to give a rough indicator for matches.

Mei, her arms full of color-coded spray bottles, craned over to see. "Weird. Shame we can't use the app yet." With their trainer ids coded as students, the Trainer Eyes app was locked until the Hunt to encourage focusing on their studies.

The nurse manning all the counters commented, "It does list badges. If it doesn't show the column, the people signed up don't have any."

"There's like five names here," Rose said, surprised no one had any. In Paldea you didn't need an endorsement. A lot of trainers in Sinnoh would get a couple even if they weren't planning to be battle trainers on a short journey.

"Yeah, Nemona's reportedly in the north part of Paldea today so it was safe to sign up," the nurse said.

Mei's mouth opened and she took a breath, and Rose grabbed her hand before she could say anything.

It won't help here, Rose signed.

The nurse looked back and forth. "Are you new students at Naranja? It's a wet day."

Mei ground her teeth briefly but got out pleasantly, "We just started training a few days ago."

"I don't know how long it will take in this weather. Maybe look for matches on the way back?" Rose asked aloud. Mei nodded.

Once Mei had shoved her restoratives away and they were walking out in the rain, she muttered, "I have literally seen terrorist organizations fail to hold regions in such an icy grip of terror as one student council president." Terpsi squeaked amazement.

"It wasn't you," Rose said quietly but fiercely. "And yes. Kieran insisted she doesn't bully people, and she seems to want tough matches. Why hide from her?"

Mei didn't have anything to add to that, and they walked in silence for a bit, boots squelching.

---

"We need Ride Pokemon," Mei declared twenty minutes later. The moisture and travelling in a group had kept wild encounters down, though a pair of hydrating Hoppip had proven game.

"If you're still off Skiddo, it's probably Cyclizars in Paldea," Rose commented.

"I'm not off Skiddo, just I didn't feel like I could start with one after everything that's been happening," Mei protested, "And team wise, a Skiddo's a tough physical grass type, and Terpsi's got that role down." Terpsi, who was enjoying being wet enough in the rain, squeaked agreement cheerfully.

"I don't think I could have a grass type under me and not make it a full team member. And the subsidized program they stay stabled most of the time they're not in use," Mei concluded.

"You sound like you've got your team planned out. I'm not sure I have roles picked yet," Rose said.

"I know I shouldn't, but I have a lot of ideas on what sort of specific species I want for which roles. A tough, bulky Pokemon like Gogoat who can take multiple hits would fit in, but there's a few I'm thinking about for that role," Mei said. Terpsi protested.

"Just because you're both strong doesn't mean you're doing the same thing. You're the ace attacker! But something that can take hits with a different move set to throw off an opponent's plans would be useful. But that would be something like a fourth or a fifth pick for a teammate," Mei countered. Terpsi settled down, grumbling a bit.

Rose giggled at the byplay. Even with the rain, the outdoors was nice. Especially since Mei had cooled down. It helped there wasn't anyone for her to preen at.

"Sorry, Terpsi's a little unsecure about her position still. She's had a lot of siblings end up eaten," Mei said.

"I get it. Azucena's still amazed at regular meals," Rose said. Ivy who was out scoffed, but he'd been a carefully prepared starter raised in comfort. Most cats didn't like water, but Sprigatitos were too grassy not to enjoy getting misted.

"That's it ahead? Starting to feel something," Mei asked. The ground was getting slipperier as they approached, roots broaching the surface. It was almost a dark wall of bark ahead rather than a tree.

"It stood out more in the sun, but you just started feeling it?" Rose said.

Mei stopped. "Hang on, how did you come across this? How long have you been feeling it?" she asked.

"Five minutes or so? I was focused on wild Pokemon yesterday and wasn't expecting to find one. I looked up while moving around, and there here it was," Rose said.

"You weren't looking for some sort of aligned spot. You got drawn to it?" Mei asked leadingly.

"They're very rare for nature to pull so strongly in one direction. I guess my subconscious called me to it," Rose explained.

She shuddered and rubbed her arms, suddenly cold. "And I just realized how that sounds after what happened last night," Rose said, speaking quickly, taking a few steps back cautiously.

"You were unfocused, and got called in to a mass of grass? Then you tried to connect to it but didn't notice anything?" Mei summarized. Rose nodded.

"Stay here?" Rose asked, gesturing at being well back from the tree.

"Given what happened a few hours later I think you got set up. I don't know what range a non-psychic has at trying to tune in, so hold on to that necklace and watch my back," Mei directed.

Ivy jumped on a root and posed attentively as Rose dutifully clutched her Trio symbol. Terpsi gave a sigh and followed Mei as she crept forward.

Mei walked, as quietly as she could, up to the tree but nothing jumped out at either of them. The tree itself was innocuous enough. Remarkably healthy looking given the age. This was a rarity in the natural world, but if some grass Pokemon had cultivated the spot, it would explain it.

Mei's coat was long enough she could sit down despite the wet, though Terpsi did a brief dusting of Rapid Spin to clean any mud off first. She closed her eyes and focused internally on the tree.

After a minute she opened her eyes and folded her arms. "You're feeling the power in the area, right?" she asked Terpsi, who nodded back.

"I do too. And that thing feels like a channeling conduit on top of it. It doesn't feel ideal but it's big and old and slow pulsing with life. I could feel it moving away though, when I tried to latch on. If whatever owns this was interested in Rose and wanted to weaken her, it probably shut the whole tree down. Someone is not sharing," Mei declared. Terpsi eyed the tree and gave a suggestion.

Mei cracked her knuckles and grinned. "Oh, absolutely we're doing that. I'd bet Lapras to Magikarp Rose is too gentle to try and push," Mei said. Terpsi jumped in her lap and squeaked ferally.

Rose had kept describing her connections as delicate and separated. The aggregate power was there, but it wasn't something you could shove around. Mei saw her connection as an old forest, thick branches with sap and power running between her and her partners.

Experience and their battle styles had shifted right away from their mother's. Mei was, she had to admit, classic Galar with big showy hits working for her. With Terpsi helping her out, they concentrated together to form a mental 'taproot' instead of just a tendril. Instead of just a probe, the two together rammed it mentally into the tree like a spear.

She didn't hear a cry of rage, but she felt it in her bones. Somewhere in the vast web of the forest, she'd caught something strong by surprise. It was old, experienced, and had been using this natural channel to power itself on its own.

Terpsi and Mei tried to spread out from their violation, to dig in their connection. But the alpha Pokemon had much more experience with the tree, and easily drew it together.

Even water could cut with enough force, and here the power was used similarly, slicing them off from the taproot and knocking them loose.

Mei's eyes flew open, and she saw Rose and Ivy looking at her in concern. Aware of the outside world again, Mei realized she was on her back, looking up at the sky. "I felt both of those," Rose said. For some reason Rose was holding a handkerchief. Mei sniffed and realized why when she smelled iron.

Mei took the proffered handkerchief and held it to her nose. "Thanks. This isn't from me," she said, slightly stuffed, gesturing around. There was a prickle in the air, like a million blades of grass poking through the soil. She pulled it away briefly and checked, there was just a little blood.

"Keep that on," Rose said firmly, "And I know what yours was like. Your big push in the match felt similar. This was bigger."

"Flatterer," Mei said, "Did I jump backwards or did I get shoved? How long was I in there?"

"There were a few flashes in the first minute, then you did that big pulse. I didn't really feel anything for a couple minutes, then it got weird. Like a spiritual solar beam. You jumped back like you'd touched something hot," Rose reported.

"I think I did," Mei said, getting up, though still holding the handkerchief.

"I got closer when you jumped," Rose said, and pointed at the tree. "I can feel it this time. I got really messed with, didn't I?" She clutched her necklace and tried to keep centered.

"Well, you have to weaken something before you can catch it," Mei said without thinking. Mei watched the blood drain from her sister's face.

"Sorry. I'm not letting you get poached," Mei assured her sister, and stood up.

She risked standing closer to the tree, even as something was starting to pulse from a trainer's eye. Right where Mei's eyes and attention had been focused, the tree was blemished. The bark was gray and pushed out as if from infection. She closed her eyes briefly to check. The force was busy washing away what was 'left' of her connection. She opened them quickly though, there was a rising tide that threatened to blind her.

The blemish was visibly smaller by the time her eyes were open again.

"I think I got something," Mei said, "What does that feel like?"

"Mulched," Rose said hurriedly, "We should hurry and leave. Something's pulling in close enough I can hear it yelling in the distance."

The two started to move away from the tree – the grass was noticeably taller around it than it'd been a minute ago. It hadn't started to writhe to catch them, but that was probably a matter of time.

"You can hear which way it's coming from?" Mei asked. Rose nodded.

"Forget the Ranger, do what you do – find us a path," Mei directed.

Terpsi squeaked nervously. Mei stuffed the handkerchief into her pocket and closed her eyes again.

This time wasn't a taproot or the like, it was gathering herself up as a trainer. It was mainly useful as a special effect when brought to visible concentration, a show of elemental intimidation.

She balled as much as herself she could, drawing on herself to her partners and back as a reflection. She held her palms out and opened her eyes. A small glowing sprout was born from a seed in each hand, each with several leaves. They were burning though, ethereal green flames surrounding them and pushing against the growth.

"Somewhere to the south," Rose said, realizing what was going on.

Mei hurled both seeds in that direction as fast as they could. The grass, still growing, suddenly shifted as if in a wind, and followed the two sparks as they dwindled out. There was a burst of noise, and something pulsed from the tree into the forest, sending Pokemon into startled cries as they left their dry homes in fear. It wasn't refined into anything like a trainer would call a move, but it was certainly angry.

Terpsi gasped weakly, and Mei scooped her in her arms. That had cost something.

"All the distance you can," Mei said.

Rose swallowed and closed her eyes, "That bought us a little quiet," she said softly. When her eyes opened, they sparkled with different colors instead of just a mundane green. There was a brief stir. She dropped her hand away from her necklace and Ivy burst into motion in the forest, headed northeast.

Rose turned and called without looking back, "Follow my steps." She took after Ivy, moving at not quite a job, and very clearly not touching any of the tree's roots. Mei wasn't arguing in the circumstances. She kept Terpsi in her arms and concentrated on following.

---

Mei wasn't sure how much distance they'd covered before they stopped, ten minutes later. Some parts had been at Pokemon-assisted strength. Each step Rose had taken had been fine footing, but how they were connected Mei couldn't follow. They hadn't felt a touch of follow-up in the whole time, though. And though Mei had spotted a few Pokemon looking nervous, none had stopped them to challenge them.

When Rose finally stopped, they were at the edge of a clearing. Flowers were mixed in with the grass, though the rain was keeping things all beaten down rather than colorful. Ivy stepped out into the rain and yowled triumph as Rose visibly slumped over, tired.

She staggered to the nearest tree and leaned against it and panted. Mei for once stayed silent, watching her sister. When Rose opened her eyes, they were perfectly mundane.

"Mom's not here to complain. Ivy's very good at stealth, and my friends don't mind," Rose said quietly.

"You know I don't mind. I've just said I don't understand how you put the pieces together. I know you make it work," Mei answered. Mei's natural gifts were more generative. They could both talk to grass Pokemon fine, but Rose could listen.

"The necklace did help – make sure I knew it wasn't my own voice bouncing back. I had to ask for help there," Rose said, "Now that I know it's obvious. Thanks, Mom."

"I'm so sorry that happened," Mei said, "Are you okay?"

"Just tired. That was a lot to do all at once," Rose said, "Listening is fine to add some hints but we needed the cheat book here. I figured this close to town the local Pokemon were going to be more pro-human. I asked around for some help. They thought it was funny to spite it, in a deniable way, fortunately. Don't rely on this," she finished with a warning. She pulled her hood back to wipe sweat.

"That was pretty cool, though – Ivy was a big help too for keeping it quiet, I could tell," Mei said. There was certainly some of Rose's other self in there in the footwork – she idly wondered how much ninja training Sinnoh Rangers get.

"I had to use some of the Ranger," Rose admitted, "Just to translate since Ivy's quadrupedal." Terpsi squeaked thanks and shifted slightly reproachfully.

"She's right – thank you. Sorry. I thought it would be impressed," Mei said.

"This isn't its nest. That's an odd reaction for a Pokemon," Rose agreed.

Ivy meowed some suggestions, and Terpsi chittered back disdainfully.

"You were completely on board until we had to run," Mei countered to her partner.

"Ivy's right, it isn't living there. It did a better job hiding against me," Rose said.

"I don't think it expected to see two of us. Or it thought we'd be the same, the way it reacted to my probes would have worked better against you, from what I've seen of your training," Mei said.

"It was worth it," Rose said, tired but firm, "If something was messing with me, it means I'm not… wrong."

"If it'd been there, you probably wouldn't have gotten away. I'm surprised it didn't try to force you towards it then," Mei said.

Rose looked directly into Mei's eyes. The match a few days ago was too soon and nothing passed in between, but Mei could see something almost black behind the green for a second. There was something vicious in Rose's eyes, though it wasn't directed at Mei.

"I think I was too angry at myself to try to stay put and try again. Maybe it thought I would wear myself out. It wasn't expecting me to just leave the stress," Rose said eventually.

Mei could tell that had been edited a bit, but she wasn't going to push. She'd been doing plenty of that.

"Fair," Mei simply said aloud, and looked around awkwardly.

"You were strong enough to make it angry yourself," Rose said as a follow-up.

"What?" Mei asked, looking back. Rose's mood had passed, or her self-control recovered.

"You're completely entitled to brag about that whatever it was, you shook it," Rose said, "I'm too tired to walk back to town yet." Terpsi snickered.

"Wasn't strong enough to beat it," Mei said grimly.

"Yet," Rose said.

"That goes without saying," Mei answered.

"Not in Paldea," Rose said, sounding extra weary.

"That's their problem. Just because you did something impressive doesn't mean I have to try to talk about my score," Mei said. Terpsi's snickering broke into laughter, with tears gathering at the ends of the Bounsweet's eyes.

Mei lifted her partner up and turned her around to look at her. Terpsi continued to laugh. "Hey, whose side are you on here?"

"Your better nature's?" Rose asked. When Mei gave a glare (with more real heat than she would ever admit) her sister's face was the picture of all innocence, but there was at least real amusement in her expression.

"Fine, fine, I get it's a problem. I need to work on it," Mei said. Terpsi's laughter dropped down and Mei put her starter gently on the ground.

"Still was pretty cool, wasn't it?" Mei asked after a pause. Terpsi burst out again laughing, rolling around on the ground. It was easy when you were a completely round fruit, or Mei would have been more irritated at the show.

Rose merely nodded. "You have a good reach, and your Pokemon are working well with it. Until I can deal with Pome better, I can't match that," she admitted.

Rose pointed at the clearing. "I think some of it's here," she explained.

"This is the other place you wanted to show me? How did you find this one?" Mei asked.

"It looks more impressive when it's not raining. I was talking to Poppy and ended up here. And quickly," Rose admitted.

"You had two Pokemon trying to get in your head?" Mei asked, frustrated again.

"This one was deliberately inviting, though was keeping quiet. Or I'm not good enough to hear it yet. I was… frustrated, and I think something decided to be kind and offer an answer. I didn't see all of it to know if it's a right answer. I only got part before Alamy chased a Ralts in," Rose said.

"Alamy got a Ralts? The little Kalosian?" Mei asked.

"She's better than you think. Her parents messed her up too," Rose said stiffly.

"For a pet trainer that's quite a team," Mei said, considering the implications.

"The Ralts wanted a pet life in the city, not going on a journey. It's probably still at Bow Friends," Rose said.

"That makes sense then. You think something offered help, then? Do you know what?" Mei asked. She looked at the clearing, and realized they'd been there several minutes without one Pokemon going to graze or even just fly overhead, even with the rain.

"Not yet, if it's here, it didn't show itself," Rose admitted.

"Do you believe it isn't here now?" Mei asked quietly. Rose shook her head.

"No, it's too quiet – after Alamy showed up the clearing was noisier. Some Combee started to come around for the flowers too," Rose said, and sighed.

"I'm sure it was helpful, but if it was looking to see if I was worth being its trainer, I didn't pass that time," Rose said.

"That time?" Mei inquired.

"I think it likes how I feel and is being patient. For some reason. This spot is open again for us. There's no Pokemon around. Maybe it likes hard-luck cases," Rose theorized calmly.

"Well, there are wildflowers. Maybe a Shaymin wants a friend for a short few decades?" Mei joked.

"Please, no great powers. If I remember the stories right, the field would probably be all flowers instead of just a prairie mix. Mundane Pokemon would be great. A Sunkern with a strong personality angling for a Sun Stone would be fine. Great, in fact," Rose said cheerfully.

"You don't know what it is and you can't just focus in on it. So it's not a grass Pokemon, unless maybe a very crafty Shiftry. Did you check the pond?" Mei asked.

"I looked in briefly. There wasn't anything visible for whatever that's worth. If you're right we sort of pushed each other inadvertently to looking for sub-specialties, water would explain a lot. Hammerlocke was as dry as it was grassless," Rose said.

"Even if I didn't quite get the traffic you did, that wasn't great for either of us. Dragons swamping out everything else," Mei muttered.

"It's where there was work. I can't blame Mom for that," Rose said, "Artazon is much better."

"I know a wild Maractus or Hoppip would get desperate enough to wander close, even if it was just to talk about dancing or flying," Mei reminisced, "But Circuit trainers brought water Pokemon in the city. I don't remember either of us feeling a pull to them. Outside that one Lombre, and that was both of us. I'd like to think we would have noticed if everything that swam and chucked ice beams at Raihan were having a pull on you."

Rose glanced skeptically at Mei. "I would have noticed," Mei corrected herself.

"Not many ghosts either, for your theory," Rose said, "But the ones that were there stayed further away."

"Not like you could get anything on TV. I know Mom got tickets to the Stadium a few times, but I don't remember the matches, the views we got were so lousy I didn't ask to go back," Mei said. She paused and thought about what she said, and realization dawned in Rose's eyes as well.

"Okay, point to Mom. Or it could just be the cheap seats really are that bad," Rose said.

"I'm sure she has a good reason for all this," Mei half-prayed. She waved her hands to take in both of them, their partners, and their mother by implication.

"I can wait," Rose promised, "I want to be a great trainer. We have a great gift and it would be a tragedy to not use it, and then got a second… gift, if an awkward one. Even a little help from Kieran feels like I skipped weeks of effort, and classes haven't started yet. You managed a full consistent elemental manifestation, and we haven't trained a week! I can't risk Naranja, Mei."

"That was more from the tree than Naranja. But I wouldn't have it without the Academy," Mei replied, "I know, I know. I'm sure there's something that'll explain it but she's already unsettled, thanks to the dragons. We need to focus on the finances side so we can move up and out."

Mei gestured at her belt. "Terpsi and Pome are picking up some new natural moves, and grass knot is coming along for Terpsi. It's a bit experimental still, though your present will help," Mei admitted. Terpsi rolled her eyes.

"That you got anything at all to grow says great things about your work ethic," Mei encouraged. Terpsi still muttered a bit. If plants were meant to fly, she'd be a Hoppip.

"Round and bite for Pome, then?" Rose asked. Mei stared.

"We're not ready for a rematch now but I did read up a little on expected development. So soon says a lot about how much power you two are bringing out together," Rose complimented.

Mei noted Rose hadn't said what her Pokemon were doing still. Sooner or later, Sleep Powder was going to come in and Mei spared a thought in pity for whoever the first victim would be.

Mei looked over the clearing instead. It was muddy, and rivulets of water were everywhere. The petals were droopy and faded. Even Ivy was squelching in the mud despite his care as he soaked up water.

"Do you want to try a little more?" Mei asked. Rose glanced at her legs, then stopped leaning against the tree.

"Watch for me, please? Just in case it turns out this wants a toxic relationship too?" Rose asked in a small voice.

Mei nodded and Rose put her hood up and went into the clearing, Ivy squelching alongside.

---

Mei watched Rose walk into the clearing, sit cross-legged and go still. Ivy paced around her, occasionally sniffing the air. The rain kept things from being silent, but Mei didn't say anything and kept scanning the clearing with Terpsi.

For the first time in Paldea, Mei was starting to get chilly. No Pokemon were entering the clearing yet. Mei could feel an itch in the back of her mind. Whatever was imposing itself to give them privacy was starting to fatigue.

She risked a glimpse, not wanting to break whatever Rose was doing. It felt normal – bright, but it didn't align itself in Mei's mind the way the tree had with grass. This wasn't a place of great energy. There wasn't a sense of rejection or anything moving away from her. This place just was vibrant, but not anchored into one element. Something in it Rose was finding clarity in, though, and that was reason enough to let the rain chill her.

At least Mei kept telling herself that. It wasn't hers, and that was something she was fighting down. Terpsi just eyed Mei as she fought it. Mei knew what she wanted, and they were unique whatever their faces were. Intellectually, they'd been bracing for this the last few weeks, knowing this transplant was going to let the aroma girls bloom.

They'd spent years hating everyone assuming they were the exact same, wanted to be the exact same. And here Mei was, even if she'd gotten something, irritated Rose was getting something she wasn't out of this. Terpsi chirped at her.

"I know. I even did the same thing to her yesterday, just ignored her to go off and eat up pet owners," Mei whispered. "I can't blame the extra lifetime for that. And the whole young trainer aggressiveness can explain it but doesn't justify. Keep looking out for me?" Terpsi nodded in response.

Mei cracked her knuckles and kept watch. "We're going to get a match in Los Platos before we go back. I want to burn some of this off before I'm in a small box with her." Terpsi burbled cheerfully at that. Any match with a trainer was a dozen times more fun than wild Pokemon battles, and a lot less desperate.

---

Instinct attracted Mei to look back at Rose rather than the edges of the clearing. The rain suddenly stopped, a final hush, and there was a brief flash of white light – where from Mei couldn't follow.

The wind suddenly picked up around them and suddenly the sounds of the forest, birds and insects going about their business, the snort of a Lechonk out of sight. The rain burst back in, stronger than before. Mei tightened her hood and stomped through the mud with Terpsi.

Ivy was pawing at Rose nervously as she stiffly got to her feet. She rubbed her arms and was shivering a little, jumping up and down to get her circulation going again. She ducked her head against the rain.

"I think this is the last burst of the rain," she yelled over the increased noise.

"Are you alright?" Mei yelled back. Hesitantly, she stepped closer and handsigned. Did you get anything? Rose blinked a little as Mei probed at her hard. Mei couldn't feel any great difference.

"I think so!" Rose said aloud.

"No superpowers, then? You seem the same," Mei said. She was a little disappointed in the anti-climax. Rose seemed lighter, somehow, though.

"This isn't the movies. You don't spend five minutes studying at a sacred table and suddenly be a grandmaster. It was educational," Rose insisted. She jumped up and down a few more times to get her blood moving, then bowed to the field, in several directions, just to be sure.

"For today, though, this was more than enough. I think I'll want to come back later, see if I'm good enough for whatever helped. Do you mind if we get a match in Los Platos? I'm itching to try this," Rose admitted. Mei nodded and pushed Rose into motion. Her teeth were chattering slightly.

---

Rose had been right in that the rain was about done. That and moving helped the twins warm up. She and Ivy were too tired to try and stride through the forest at accelerated speeds. Mei didn't have Ivy's gift for footing with her partners, so she couldn't just carry Rose either. They'd end up with mouthfuls of twigs.

They headed back to the Rose at a more sedate pace. A few Pokemon came out for some sparring, of course, with the weather improving. By the time they hit the road and travelled west, the sun was breaking out. Mei switched Pome out for a walk so Terpsi could enjoy being bloated with water longer.

No Pokemon interfered on the road. "It sounds like Tera Pokemon would be driving a few on the path, but Nemona got all the dens," Rose said.

"When Naranja offers sign-ups, we need to get on that. You can't fight Pokemon in the Crystals without them, and the bounty's supposed to be good. And it's another way to see higher level trainers in action," Mei said.

"Helping hold off this Pokemon imbalance until someone finds the root cause too," Rose prompted.

"Please, that goes without saying, if you want to call yourself a trainer," Mei remarked, snapping a little. That was a bit insulting.

"Sorry, you've been tense since the clearing for some reason. I was trying to joke," Rose apologized.

"You could just ask," Mei said irritably. Pome whistled at her.

"You did beat me a couple days ago," Rose added as a note. There was a bit of a hierarchy built in there.

"Ganged up on by my flesh and blood and partners," Mei said, though without rancor. She stopped walking and flapped her arms around.

"It's stupid. It's on me to fix it, but I keep on doing it and I can't seem to stop," Mei complained.

"I was hoping I could figure out what I did to apologize. It's not challenge lock from earlier – I didn't feel anything," Rose said quietly.

Pome whistled nervously. "No, it's not either of you," Mei answered, "I was being a jerk about it with Terpsi out too in the rain. You're a great little guy, it's not the fire." The little Fuecoco sighed in relief.

"Something wants to lend you a hand," Mei said finally, "I'm doing great by any sane benchmark, but the Knight was insane. She could start earlier and was clearing gyms. She knew exactly what she'd be facing, but still, you need skill. I'm competing against a horrible version of myself optimized for battling and I'm losing. And everyone in our class is spectacular. I'm buying my own hype," Mei summarized.

Rose held her arms wide without saying anything and Mei went in for a hug. "This helping?" Rose asked.

"A little but I feel even more dumb saying it out loud. It must be nice to be quiet enough you can just stand around until you've decided on something clever to say," Mei said when she stepped back.

It's nice to not have too many people looking at me. You're not wrong for wanting more than I do. It's nice to have a few people though, and my partners," Rose said. Ivy purred as Rose automatically reached down to scratch his ears.

"Right, it's all nice and normal. Let's do what trainers normally do and find some other trainer to burn all our aggression out on," Mei suggested. Pome did a happy dance in response. Rose nodded.

---

The rain fortunately didn't return, though plenty of puddles remained with they hit city limits. The short walk to the Pokemon Center didn't affect them much either. For once in Los Platos, other people besides the nurse were in the open structure. Two teenaged boys dressed casually were rummaging through snack bags at one of the tables.

When they saw the twins approaching, they stood up immediately, picking up rain jackets from the chairs and tying them around their waists. They started walking to intercept the sisters short of the counter.

Rose and Mei stopped walking and rocked on the balls of their feet. A light touch showed they weren't something like a League hit squad, but Rose stayed cautious. Ivy and Pome stood in front of the girls, tense.

There was a brief feeling like a forest yawning open and shut next to Rose.

"The darker-haired one is suppressing," Mei noted quietly, "But I'm not sure how much." Rose nodded a little, impressed. That had been fast work. The two boys came to a stop a respectful distance away.

"You two were looking at the board earlier?" the taller one with lighter hair asked. It was all relative as both towered over the twins. He glanced down, eyeing Pome, who waved back nervously.

"That's right," Mei said cautiously. She glanced at the desk. The same nurse who was on duty earlier nodded at them.

The shorter one folded his arms and leaned back, a studied move to seem casual. "Twins, huh? You ever dress the same?" Rose and Mei looked at each other. Both were wearing the autumn uniform under their differently colored raincoats.

"Uniforms are still mandatory at Naranja," Mei acknowledged.

"Ignore him. A lot of people do," the taller one stated. "The nurse said two people came through and bought a bunch of medicine, so you're here to train. Our Pokemon could use some variety, if you'd like a match."

"Always training," Mei said, equally forcibly casual, though she used a shrug Rose had seen Mei practice in Hammerlocke.

"My brother could use the experience in a trainer match. I'm trying to get him up to speed," the shorter one continued. He chuckled.

"Not usual of him to actually call out for some trainers wandering through but I'll take it," he said.

"Which with which?" Rose asked, entering the conversation for the first time.

"Multi battle?" the shorter one suggested.

"Two Pokemon all around." the taller one added.

Mei frowned at that last one. It hadn't been a question, and their Poke balls weren't visible under their raincoats.

"I'm Mei, this is Rose," Mei said, giving a very slight bow, "Which of us will be working with which of you?" Rose smiled. Pome whistled and waved.

"Funny," the taller one said, "Not like we know which Pokemon you have." The shorter one glanced over and his face darkened briefly. After Victor, and experience with Mei, Rose had been expecting an opportunity like this. Knowing he was masking made it easier to know where to take a peek – he was stronger than either twin, not absurdly so though. The taller one was a pet trainer, and not as far along as Alamy either. He was what he looked like.

"Your little Naranja Pokemon look decent," the shorter one said, and there was a brief feeling of a probe. He stood up straight and smiled afterward.

"I'm Ted, this is my brother Ed – we have posted forfeits on the board, but I'll throw extra in for a multi against battle trainers," Ted offered. Ed next to him mouthed 'battle?' questioningly, and Ted spotted it and grinned again.

"He's got to learn to deal with hordes – bugs don't come single file for crops. I think he's got potential, too," Ted said.

"Are you matching your brother, Ted? I haven't practiced holding back yet. Not that there's that much to hold back yet. I don't mind either way," Rose asked neutrally. Ted grinned again, more ferally, deliberately meeting Mei's eyes. The younger brother glanced back and forth, getting more nervous. Ivy gave a purring chuckle. Terpsi however, chittered, bloodthirsty through the link.

"Good guess," Ed grumbled.

Mei slammed her fist into her palm, making Ed jump. Her blood was up now. "She's observant, this one," Mei warned loudly, "But we do happen to have two Pokemon each, so two all-around is fine." She glanced at the nurse again who looked down at her console. Ah ha.

"Where do you battle in town?" Rose asked.

"It's just a field a minute from here, but it's in decent shape. It works for us," Ted drawled.

"Fine. We were out in the cold for a bit. Can we get our Pokemon a quick check and take the postings officially?" Mei asked, starting to shift back and forth. There was a need to move that came with it. Ted nodded, glanced at Ed, who nodded as well, who was also starting to get antsy. Both could hold it off for a few minutes for a bitter location.

The two walked away, recalling their Pokemon, and the brothers started arguing quietly. Mei grinned, charged on adrenaline with the upcoming match.

"No walking Pokemon," Rose muttered as they walked to the console. They were going in blind.

"You got it when he twitched, right? I caught a flash of it myself. I know I shouldn't have let myself get committed to a fight against someone masking, anyway, but it doesn't look too bad," Mei said. There wasn't a question of getting out of it.

"Stronger than either of us and a battle trainer. I don't think he's so powerful we don't stand a chance, but he's going to have more court experience than we do," Rose warned. Mei grinned at that. They had an edge there she was especially willing to abuse.

"The other one's a pushover, though," Mei mused.

They reached the counter and Mei glared at the nurse as they handed over their Pokemon.

"I said a couple trainers from Naranja had come from out of town and asked about the board," the nurse defended herself as she placed the Poke balls for diagnosis.

"Oh please, we hadn't even asked yet," Mei answered. The nurse winced.

"They offered two on two to new Naranja students, and we both have the study Pokemon out. But Mei was using Terpsi earlier," Rose pointed out, "He should have asked for more than one-on-one."

"Sloppy," Mei muttered. His brother had noticed too, so he wasn't in on it.

Rose continued coldly, "You mentioned a Pokemon trainer's team to another trainer without their permission."

The nurse stopped typing. "You don't know that for sure," she said nervously.

"It's a small town. Are you related? Forfeit for non-badged trainers isn't a lot for one battle," Mei said with experience, "So it can't be a kickback."

Rose tapped at the board. "You're still taking the postings?" the nurse said in surprise.

"Why not?" Mei asked, and then grinned wickedly, "I mean, for all you know, we're crippled League spec ops here to recover our training," she said with a straight face.

Rose glanced over in surprise but rallied. "It is amazing what they can do with biosculpt these days," she said neutrally.

The nurse looked back and forth, laughed nervously, and took their Pokemon back for treatment.

"Sorry about the challenge," Rose said sympathetically once the nurse was gone.

"I think the older one was being honest about the match, so I don't really mind. The nurse shouldn't have let that slip, though," Mei said, and pulled out her phone.

"Filing a complaint?" Rose asked.

"I doubt it'll go anywhere but if she's not being a neutral party to trainers, she deserves to sweat a bit," Mei answered. Rose nodded. Even if Mei wasn't charged with aggression, it was a move Rose agreed with.

"So how do you want to handle the match?" Rose asked.

"I think whatever plan they had assumed new student trainers without any preparation. Most Naranja attendees aren't battle trainers," Mei said, "So they're starting from scratch."

"They know three of our Pokemon and have had time to research Terpsi and Ivy's likely moves. We're going in blind for their teams," Rose cautioned but was smiling. Maybe it was the natural battle sync but she was looking forward to this. Alamy had some of the right on it for what battlers were like.

"They don't know us, and Ed's going to be a deadweight. It's really going to come down to Ted's Pokemon," Mei said cheerfully.

"Azucena can set Helping Hand in one of her slots," Rose said serenely, "And you've got more powerful hits than I do." Mei looked at her closely. Whatever had happened out there, she was confident.

The nurse returned with their Pokemon. "Just a minor stamina recovery," she said quickly. The two nodded thanks but snatched their partners back quickly.

Mei punched the air a few times. "Let's give them a lesson in the folly of gambling."

---

Notes: Diantha's 'dark fantasy' first role references Adventures where her character in what's shown as her first major role is clearly, blatantly City of Lost Children.

Alamy seemed the type if she were to pick her favorite role of Kalos's most famous star, it'd be some dumb 'paycheck' job in what should be a fairly bad movie, but Diantha acted the hell out of a small role anyway that elevated it because you can't be Champion and not try to be excellent in all things.

Rose (and Mei, ifonce she finishes unpacking) have plenty of stuffed plushies, which has been noted before that they both put together a Milo as sewing practice but with different Pokemon.

Rose and Mei's room at home was a pit and part of Rose's 'new school, new you, keep moving forward' plan for the year is she's trying to be better about keeping the place picked up. That would have been some desperate cleaning up before Alamy came in otherwise. Probably vacuuming with owning a cat for a few days.

Rika's making sure if someone bribes a League employee to look through the system later, it won't tie to Poppy. It's being cautious, but they did get hacked by Penny last year.

Rose with Bozo the Shuppet was referring to the Teri Teri Bozu in Japan Shuppet's based on. Little paper ghosts put up for nicer weather. Sunny Day is in their TM moveset in ninth generation, incidentally.

Generation gaps: Mei's referencing Curse being very different on ghost types. At one point it was ?-type but that was a long time ago now. The Ranger version for the backstory was a Gen IV/V universe so steel typing covered ghost and dark there, before trading out both for fairy in Gen VI.

At one point this day was going to be one chapter, but the writing pacing and letting the results of last chapter breathe stretched it out more.

Next chapter probably won't be the whole day either. At some point they're actually getting to the school week, I promise.
Next time; battles, and back to Naranja.