XxxxX

The Pokémon Center cafeteria was a welcome change of pace. For the first time in what felt like too long, I could sit back, eat, and just breathe with no big jobs looming in front of me. not that I didn't have things to do, but they weren't anywhere even close to being dangerous.

Aster perched on the back of the chair across from me, quiet and watchful as always. At my feet, Rukia had curled up, her tails twitching lazily every so often. Both of them looked like they could finally relax, and I felt the same way after that whole fiasco with the Chateau.

Rotom, though, was still full of energy. That little Shi-Ahem* guy, was still in my phone… zipping wildly around the lobby, dragging a group of laughing kids into a game of tag. Now, see I'd love nothing more then to catch him and get my phone back… however he really is not willing to give my phone back, and I don't want my phone trapped inside a PokéBall if I ever need it.

"Never thought I'd have to babysit my own phone," I muttered, picking at the last bit of my meal. Rotom darted toward the vending machine, causing it to beep loudly before zipping off again. A few trainers turned to watch, but thankfully, no one seemed upset.

Rotom zipped back toward the kids, its face flickering mischievously on my phone's screen. One of the braver ones lunged forward, arms outstretched, but Rotom easily dodged, letting out a crackling laugh as it looped around them.

I sighed, dropping my fork onto the empty plate in front of me. "Alright, that's enough," I called, though I doubted Rotom cared. "You're gonna break my phone if you keep this up."

It chirped back at me—what I assumed was a mix of defiance and amusement—and zipped toward the outlet near the back wall. The kids scattered, giggling as one of the Center staff gave them a stern look.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and muttered, "How am I supposed to get my phone back from this brat…?" Aster let out a soft trill from her perch, and Rukia huffed, flicking her tails as if to say, 'This is your problem.'

Leaning back in my chair, I pulled out a notepad and started scribbling down ideas. Maybe I could train Rotom to act like one of those Rotom Phones I remember from sword and shield. If it was going to be stubborn and not give my phone back, I might as well make it useful. Text-to-speech so it can learn to talk… GPS… maybe teach it how to film my battles for later review? I wrote, tapping the pen against my chin.

As I flipped to a fresh page to jot down more ideas, a shadow fell across the table. I looked up, my pen hovering over the notepad, and saw Gardenia standing there, holding a drink. Her bright eyes flicked to my notes, then back to me, a friendly smile on her face.

"Mind if I join you for a bit?" she asked, her tone casual but warm.

"Uh, sure," I said, clearing some space. "Go ahead."

Gardenia set her drink down and pulled out the chair opposite me, glancing at the scribbles in my notebook. "Looks like you've got a lot on your mind," she said, her smile tilting into a smirk. "Still trying to figure out what to do with that Rotom, huh?"

I sighed, gesturing to my phone, which was now floating idly near the outlet behind the table. "Yeah. He's a bit… stubborn. Won't leave my phone, and I'm not about to trap it in a PokéBall. But if he's staying, I figure I might as well make him useful."

Gardenia chuckled softly, leaning back in her chair. "Well, I can't say I envy you. Rotom's have a reputation for being a might… difficult. Not to mention there isn't a lot known about them." She nodded toward the phone, which floated back from the outlet and hovered just close enough to make her tilt away. "That said... I might keep my distance. Ghost-types and I… don't get along great."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking a little. "Not great?"

She shrugged, giving me a sheepish look. "Let's just leave it at we don't get along. I can handle them, sure, but that doesn't mean I like it when they pop out of nowhere or start messing with my stuff." She gestured vaguely at Rotom, which let out a crackling laugh and made a playful circle around her chair. "That little guy's already a bit too much, ghosts tend to get more… eerie, whenever they come around Eterna…"

I snorted. "Don't worry, he's not dangerous. Just a bit of a brat." I glanced at Rotom, who was now peering over at Gardenia and slowly floating closer, clearly sensing her unease. "Hey, cut it out," I muttered, giving the screen a sharp look. Rotom let out another crackling chirp but backed off, settling near my shoulder instead.

Gardenia shook her head, her smile softening as she leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "You did a great job at the Chateau, though. The rangers and I wouldn't have made it back there in time to stop the poachers if you hadn't."

I shrugged, trying not to let the praise go to my head. "Just did what I had to. I was quite literally given a job to identify what was causing the disturbance in the forest by the Professor, and stop it if I could."

"Well, they're all rounded up now," she continued. "They're being interrogated as we speak. We're hoping to figure out if they're part of a larger group. With how organized they were, it's hard to believe they were acting alone." Her expression darkened slightly. "Though, uh… from what I've seen, they're not in great shape after what happened."

I frowned, leaning forward. "Not in great shape? They didn't seem that bad off from what I had seen after we got blasted out of the building, unconscious yeah, but not too bad off."

"Most of them are just banged up pretty bad," she said quickly, waving a hand. "But that ghost girl you told me about, did not hold back. We're thinking the attack she hit them with left some sort of curse energy on them… and let's just say its not a kind one and leave it at that…"

I sat back, chewing on that for a second. The ghost girl had been protecting her home and those poor Pokémon from them bastards, so I say no harm no foul… though I guess technically there is some harm but then again nothing is enough for scum like them.

"Oh, not that I'm defending them mind you! I can't stand people that act like them, its just… like I said, ghosts and I really don't mix, and this just makes things a bit more terrifying now that I've seen what ghosts can do when they really aren't happy." Waving her hands rapidly in front of her as she spoke, a nervous smile on her face as she sighed.

"But hey," she said, exhaling slowly, "whatever that ghost girl did, its stopping them from anymore poaching. And you being there made sure the rangers could round them up."

"How much longer are you planning on sticking around Eterna?" she asked after taking a moment, her tone a bit lighter now.

"Probably just until tomorrow," I said. "I've got to make it to Floaroma for a friend's contest in a few days. But before I go…" I leaned forward, grinning. "Think I can get a gym battle in?"

Gardenia let out a sigh, shaking her head with a tired smile. "You've got bad timing, kid. The Gym's been closed for the past week, and with everything that's been going on, I haven't had time to reopen it yet. There's still paperwork, inspections, the usual boring stuff."

I blinked, surprised. "Paperwork? For a gym? Also kid? You look the same age I do."

"You'd be surprised how much there is," she said dryly. "Every trainer that comes through, every battle—it all has to be logged. And after everything with the Chateau, my schedule's been shot." She shrugged, giving me an apologetic look. "Sorry, but I won't be ready to take challenges for at least a few more days."

Then a grin grew on her face, "And yeah, kid," she said, a playful glint in her eye. "It's not about age—it's about experience. And I've got more then enough to pull rank on you."

She finished her drink and let out a long sigh, standing and stretching slightly. "Alright, I've got to get going. There's a mountain of paperwork waiting for me, thanks to everything. But don't be a stranger, okay?"

As she started to walk away, I called after her. "You better be ready when I'm back. I expect a good battle."

Gardenia turned, flashing a wide grin. "Oh, I'll be ready. Question is, will you?" she teased, her tone light. "You might want to get some more training in before you even think about taking on my gym."

I opened my mouth to retort, but the sound of a loud beep-beep-beep from the vending machine made my head snap around. Rotom had zipped back to it, sparks flying as it buzzed gleefully around the buttons.

"Rotom!" I shouted, already on my feet. "If you break that, I'm not paying for it!"

Gardenia's laughter echoed behind me as she waved and headed for the exit. "Good luck with that one, kid!" she called over her shoulder, her tone full of amusement.

I groaned, sprinting toward the vending machine as Rotom cackled and darted just out of reach. "I'm gonna have to figure out how to get this little brat under control," I muttered, dodging a startled trainer as I tried to catch my hyperactive ghost.

XxxxX

I shut the door behind me, letting out a content sigh as I took in the room. One of the things I loved about city Pokémon Centers was how much better the accommodations were compared to the ones along the routes. More room, and much better funding. These places actually felt more like hotels for trainers then Pokémon centers. Sure, you couldn't stay more then a day for free, and after that they were fairly pricey, but that one night?

Heaven.

And more importantly this room did not disappoint. A large soft bed, a little kitchenette, and what caught my attention the most—a massive tank in the corner, its water rippling gently under soft lights. Triton was going to love this.

"Well, this is a nice change," I muttered, tossing my bag onto the bed as Rotom started inspecting the room. My eyes lingered on the tank, and a grin tugged at my lips. "Alright, Triton, let's get you out for a bit."

I grabbed his Poké Ball from my belt and tapped the button. With a flash of light, my feebas appeared in the tank, his normally dull scales catching the glow as he swam a lazy loop around the glass. He let out a soft chirp, flicking his fins contentedly.

"There you go, buddy," I said, crouching by the tank. "Better than being cooped up, huh?"

"Bas!" Triton warbled out giving me a small splash, droplets flicking onto my shirt. I laughed, standing up and grabbing the rest of my Poké Balls. "Alright, guess we're all getting spoiled tonight. Come on out everyone."

With a series of flashes, the rest of my team appeared around the room. Aster hopped up onto the back of a chair, fluffing her feathers. Rukia stretched out on the carpet with a soft huff, curling her tails around her. Aria skittered up to a shelf, her mandibles clicking softly as she found a spot to perch. Nova sprawled out on the bed, as he let out a relaxed sigh.

I took a moment, just standing there and watching them. This was the first time in a while we've gotten a room like this, heck even before I went out to the chateau I had one of the smaller rooms. I think word must've gotten around and that's why nurse joy gave me this room. No way this is a standard.

"Well," I said, clapping my hands together and getting my teams attention. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Tomorrow, we're back on the road."

Triton chirped happily, and Rotom—still buzzing around inside my phone—let out a crackling laugh as it zipped closer to the tank, catching Triton's curious gaze. I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Rotom, don't even think about it. Last thing I need is you shorting out the filter, or electrocuting your teammates."

Rotom flickered on the screen, its mischievous grin telling me it was definitely thinking about it. "Alright, fine," I said, grabbing at the Pokémon in my phone. "Instead of causing some mayhem, what do you think about learning to properly use my phone?"

Rotom's face flickered, tilting as if it was considering my offer. Then it let out a crackling chirp and zipped in a loop around my head before settling in front of me again. Its expression didn't exactly scream "eager student," but at least it wasn't zapping the tank.

I sighed, grabbing a notepad from my bag. "Alright, listen up, you little troublemaker. If you're gonna live in my phone, you're gonna pull your weight. First lesson: text-to-speech."

Rotom chirped again, sparks flicking across the screen as it buzzed with energy. I wasn't entirely sure if it understood me, but at least it seemed interested.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I started explaining. "See, if you figure this out, you won't have to just zap stuff to get my attention. You can actually talk—or, well, type and have the phone talk for you."

Rotom's grin widened, and it flickered through several apps, as if showing off. My contacts popped up, followed by my camera, and then my notes app.

"Hey, no! Don't you dare—" I lunged forward as the camera app opened and the flash went off, leaving me blinking spots out of my vision. "What part of 'learn to use my phone' translates to 'mess with every button?'"

Aster chirped from her perch, clearly amused by my struggle. Rukia yawned, curling her tails tighter around herself, completely uninterested in the chaos. Even Triton gave what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle from his tank.

I groaned, sitting back again and rubbing my temples. "Alright, fine, lesson one is a bust. Let's try this a different way."

Rotom flickered, tilting its head at me curiously as I held up the phone. "How about this—you figure out how to type something. Anything. If you can do that, I'll let you... I don't know, zap the lights once. Just once."

The phone screen dimmed for a moment, and I thought I'd finally gotten through. Then, with a burst of sparks, Rotom started zipping between apps again, opening my messages, my calendar, and finally landing on an app labeled Vocal-Synth.

When it stopped, a robotic voice crackled out from the speaker: "Zap?"

I blinked, staring at the screen, then let out a tired laugh. "Okay, fair enough. But that's not quite what I meant."

Rotom chirped, clearly pleased with itself, and zipped in another loop around the room. I sighed, shaking my head as I set the phone down. "This is going to take a while."

What followed was an… Ordeal. For the next couple of hours, I tried everything I could think of to get Rotom to actually use the text-to-speech app. At first, it just kept typing "Zap" over and over, which was funny the first few times, but after the tenth, I was starting to think I should've bribed it with something less destructive.

Eventually, we made progress. Sort of. Rotom managed to type out a few basic words—Hi, Zap (again), and its personal favorite, Nope. It seemed way too proud of that last one, chirping loudly every time it sounded out from the phone.

By the time I glanced at the clock, I realized we'd been at it way longer than I planned, and I groaned, leaning back against the pillows. "Alright, that's enough for one night. We'll pick this up tomorrow."

Rotom chirped one last time, zipping around the room before settling back onto the table. My phone going dim as Rotom shut off the screen and for once, actually staying still.

I stretched, feeling my muscles protest after sitting still for so long. "Alright, time to call it a night," I muttered, pushing myself off the bed.

Nova lifted his head as I moved around the room, his eyes flickering faintly in the dim light. "Relax, buddy," I said, grabbing a pair of shorts and a clean shirt from my bag. "Just getting ready for bed."

A quick change and a brush of teeth later, I flicked off the room's main lights, leaving only the soft glow of the tank and the faint hum of Rotom resting in my phone. I climbed into bed, letting out a long breath as I sank into the mattress. Nova padded over, settling down beside me with a quiet huff, his warm body pressing against my side.

"Comfortable?" I asked, glancing down at him. He let out a soft grunt, his flames glowing faintly as if to say, 'Obviously.'

I chuckled, resting a hand on his back. "Alright, alright. Goodnight, Bud." My eyelids grew heavy, and the day's chaos started to fade away as I drifted off, my team all around me and the quiet hum of the tank lulling me to sleep.

XxxxX

The soft glow of morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, pulling me out of a surprisingly deep sleep. I groaned, stretching until my back popped, and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Not exactly the wake-up call I'd planned, but if I was heading out of Eterna today, it was probably for the best I get moving.

I glanced around the room. Nova was still curled up at the foot of the bed, his flames barely flickering as he snoozed. Rukia had taken over the rug by the window, her tails twitching lazily as she stretched. Aster perched above her, peering outside at the city below already awake and ready.

Triton, ever patient, was swimming slow circles around the tank shooting a few soft bubbles, trying, and failing to hit Aria as she danced above the tank on a web she must've built during the night.

Glancing over to where flash was repeatedly turning on and off, I caught Rotom playing around with everything on my phone once again, though this time it seemed like he was actually testing out what it could do on my phone… hopefully he doesn't find out about texting anyone anytime soon.

"Morning, everyone," I muttered, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. Nova let out a low grunt, not even bothering to open his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Lazy bones."

I shuffled over to the kitchenette, rubbing my face. Big city Pokémon Centers really were a step up. I mean, a stocked kitchenette? In this line of work, that might as well be a free buffet.

Pulling open a few cabinets, I started grabbing supplies. "Alright, time to get something together for the road," I muttered to myself, setting a pan on the stove. If there was one thing I wasn't about to skimp on, it was making sure my team ate well.

Slapping some bacon from the fridge onto the pan, and grabbing a few more things for breakfast, as I wasn't going to start cooking a bunch of food only to not eat something first.

I glanced at the stack of containers Brock had helped me fill back in Pewter City. His custom kibble recipes were still holding up, and my Pokémon clearly loved them. Well, most of them. Triton and Rotom were stuck with the standard stuff for now, and I felt a little bad about that. Nutrition mattered, especially for a water type like Triton, and Rotom's electric typing probably needed something with a bit more kick. I'd have to hit a Poké Mart—or, even better, a specialty shop—before we left.

"Sorry, buddy," I said, glancing at Triton as I portioned out some pokechow for him. He flicked his fins in the tank, his gaze following me like he understood. "I'll get you something better soon. Same for you, Rotom."

Rotom chirped faintly, but I couldn't tell if it was an acknowledgment or just random noise. Knowing it, probably both.

I leaned against the counter, watching Rotom's face flicker across my phone screen. "You know," I said, tapping the edge of the counter, "I've been calling you 'Rotom,' but that's not really a name, is it? You want something more personal?"

The phone screen dimmed for a moment before Rotom's grin lit up again. The text-to-speech app opened with a soft ding, and in a smooth voice, it declared, "Zaptronicus Voltregalia, Supreme Conductor of Mischief."

I froze, staring at the phone. "What… what did you just say?"

Rotom chirped proudly, zipping in a loop across the screen. Then it flickered through a set of photos it must've snapped in the lobby. One was of a poster for Zap Energy Drinks. The next showed a scenic ad for Voltaic Highlands, and another had a cartoon knight from something called Regalia Royale.

"You pieced that name together from… random posters?" I asked, my voice half disbelief, half tired.

Rotom flashed another picture: a flyer for a kids' activity called Pokémon: Masters of Mischief.

I let out a groan, dragging a hand down my face. "So, let me get this straight. You've been zipping around, reading every random word you can find, and that's how we ended up with…" I paused, narrowing my eyes, "Zaptronicus Voltregalia, Supreme Conductor of Mischief?"

"Correct!" the app replied cheerfully, the smooth voice somehow making it sound even more smug.

I blinked, then laughed despite myself. "This is ridiculous. You barely learned three words last night, and now you're out here giving yourself the world's longest, most pretentious name?"

Rotom chirped louder, spinning across the screen again like it had just been crowned champion of something. I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out if it'd been playing me the entire time. "You're not messing with me, are you? You actually pulled this nonsense together with 'Zap' and some random posters?"

The app's voice chimed in again, as if Rotom had been waiting for its moment. "Supreme Conductor of Mischief is very accurate."

"Yeah, no," I said flatly, waving the phone like I could shoo the words off the screen. "We're not doing this. I can't yell 'Zaptronicus Voltregalia' in the middle of a battle without getting weird looks."

I leaned back against the counter, crossing my arms as Rotom flickered expectantly on the screen. "Alright," I muttered, tapping a finger against my arm. "If you're so into this conductor nonsense, what about… Tesla?"

Rotom paused, its sparks dimming slightly as if considering it. Then the phone's text-to-speech app kicked in again, the voice slower this time, almost deliberate. "Tes-la?"

I smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, Tesla. It's short, sharp, and actually makes sense for you. You're an electric type, after all."

The screen lit up brighter, and Rotom let out an excited chirp. "Tesla!" the app repeated, this time with more energy, and Rotom zipped in a loop around the screen like it was doing a victory lap.

"Alright, looks like that's settled," I said, shaking my head. "Welcome to the team, Tesla. And for the love of Arceus, no more learning weird words from posters, okay?"

Tesla buzzed happily, sparks crackling across the screen as it settled back on the home page, its face still wearing that smug little grin. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, you're still gonna be a lot of trouble, aren't you?"

Then a smell hit me. Not a warm, savory scent that I was expecting, but something distinctly… acrid.

I spun back to the stove, where the bacon I'd been cooking for my breakfast was now a little too well-done. The strips curled at the edges, the once-perfect sizzle replaced by a faint smoke trail wafting toward the ceiling.

"Fuck…" I muttered, snatching the pan off the heat and poking at the charred bacon with my spatula. "Great. This was supposed to be breakfast."

Tesla's screen lit up, and the app chimed in with its usual monotone: "Warning: bacon. Burnt."

I shot it a look, my expression somewhere between exasperation and amusement. "Thanks for the help Tesla..."

Rukia sniffed the air, her nose crinkling as she glanced at the stove, then let out an unimpressed huff, flicking her tails dismissively before curling up tighter. Aster tilted her head from her perch but didn't seem particularly interested either. Triton chirped softly in the tank, and I could swear it sounded like he was chuckling at my expense.

"Yeah, yeah, real supportive team I've got here," I muttered, scraping the strips onto a plate. As I turned back to the counter, Nova padded over, his flames flickering low. "What, you wanna laugh at me too?" I asked, glancing down at him.

Instead of sniffing and walking off like I expected, Nova's nose twitched, and his flames flared a little brighter. He leaned in, sniffed again, and then let out an eager bark, "Quil! Quil!"

"Wait," I said, blinking. "You… like this?"

Nova glanced up at me, tail wagging slightly, his eyes locked on the plate of crispy, burnt bacon. I hesitated, breaking off a piece and holding it out. "You're serious? Alright, here. Try it."

Nova didn't need to be told twice. He snapped up the piece in one bite, his flames flaring warmly as he chewed with obvious enthusiasm. The crunch echoed louder than I'd expected, but when he finished, his fire burnt a bit greasier and he let out a satisfied huff, licking his lips.

I stared at him, then the plate. "No way. You actually like this stuff?"

Tesla chimed in from my phone, its smooth voice amused: "Fireproof taste buds."

Nova tilted his head, letting out another happy bark before nudging the plate with his nose. I sighed, breaking off another strip and handing it over. "Here. But don't expect this to be a regular thing, alright? This was supposed to be my breakfast."

He wagged his fire spiking again, completely ignoring me as he chomped down on the next piece.

I shook my head, smirking. "Great. Burnt bacon's a delicacy now, apparently."

While Nova happily polished off the last of the overcooked breakfast, I got to work prepping something more practical for the road. Sandwiches were the easiest go-to: I slapped together a few with simple ingredients—ham and cheese, peanut butter, and Pecha Berry jam (which is surprisingly sweet), and one with roasted chicken and lettuce. Nothing fancy, but they'd keep for more then half the journey to floaroma.

For snacks, I boiled a few eggs, packed a handful of trail mix, and tossed in some pre-packed energy bars. Not gourmet, but hey, the bars were free.

Sliding the packed containers into the satchel Rowan had given me, I couldn't help but marvel at it again. "Man, this bag's ridiculous," I muttered, slipping in another container. "Once again, thank you very much Prof. Don't know how I'd survive without this thing."

With everything packed, I leaned back against the counter, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Alright, food's ready, bag's loaded. Just gotta grab something better for Triton and Tesla on the way out, and we're good to go."

After finishing up in the room, I slung my satchel over my shoulder and made my way downstairs. The lobby was already starting to fill up with trainers getting ready to head out for their own journeys, and I nodded politely to a few as I passed. Tesla chirped from my phone, its face flickering with excitement as it zipped between a map app and the camera.

"Don't start taking pictures of strangers," I muttered, shooting the phone a look. "I don't need you causing a scene before we've even left town."

Tesla chirped innocently, but I wasn't buying it.

Before heading out, I stopped by the Poké Mart just down the street. The small shop was already bustling, shelves lined with everything from healing items to specialty treats for Pokémon. A cheerful shopkeeper greeted me as I walked in. "Morning! Let us know if you need help finding anything."

"Thanks," I said, giving a small wave. Nova trotted in behind me, his flames flickering softly as he sniffed at a display of potions. "Not for you, bud," I said, nudging him along gently. "We're here for food."

Making my way to the back of the store, I scanned the shelves labeled "Pokémon Nutrition." There were dozens of options, each boasting specialized formulas for every type and diet.

"Alright," I muttered to myself. "Triton first." My eyes landed on a bag with a sleek design and the words Water-Type Chow: Premium Hydration Blend. It wasn't cheap, but it looked like the kind of thing that'd keep Triton happy and healthy. I grabbed it and turned my attention to Tesla next.

Finding food for an Electric-type ghost living in my phone? Yeah, that was a tad trickier. After a few minutes of searching, I finally found something promising: ElectroBites: Energy-Boosting Chow for Electric Types. Tesla chirped excitedly as I held up the bag.

"You like this one?" I asked, and the text-to-speech app chimed back: "Yes."

I smirked. "Alright, this better be worth it. No complaints later."

With both bags in hand, I made my way to the counter, tossing in a couple of potions for good measure. The shopkeeper rang me up, and after a quick exchange of credits, I was on my way.

Nova padded along at my side, his flames casting soft light against the cobblestones. Tesla buzzed faintly from my phone, its screen flickering now and then, like it was itching to mess with something.

The streets of Eterna were calm, with just a few trainers and shopkeepers starting their day. For once, it felt like I wasn't rushing anywhere, and I let myself slow down to take it in.

The city really was beautiful. The way the vines wrapped around its old stone buildings made it feel alive, like it had grown alongside the massive trees that surrounded it. Even the air had a different quality here—cleaner, cool.

But still…

"Too bad I didn't get to fight Gardenia," I muttered, glancing toward the Gym's direction. "Feels like I wasted a trip."

Nova let out a low grunt, his flames flaring slightly as he flicked an ear in my direction. I could feel the unspoken, 'it's not the end of the world' from the slight bit of control I still had over my aura.

From my phone, Tesla's text-to-speech app chimed in, its tone cheerful and a little too smug. "Next time!"

I snorted, shaking my head. "Next time, huh? Sure. Not like I was looking forward to it or anything." I adjusted the strap on my bag, glancing down at Nova as we walked. "Guess it just gives me an excuse to come back, right?"

Nova huffed softly as he padded along. Tesla buzzed faintly, its screen flickering again, but it stayed quiet for once.

For now anyways…

We reached the edge of town, where the cobblestones gave way to a dirt trail lined with wildflowers and overgrown grass. The path ahead was quiet, winding lazily toward Floaroma. I had around bit more then a week before Dawn's contest, plenty of time to take it slow for once.

"Alright then you guys, lets get moving. I want to make some distance through the edge of the forest before we have to make camp. I know now that the ghost girl has stopped making Pokémon aggressive but I don't want to chance anything to much. So we'll follow the outer line of the forest even if it's a tad slower, we've got more then enough time to make it through."

Nova let out a soft bark, his flames flaring a little brighter as he took the lead. Tesla chirped a playful, "Zap!" from the phone, buzzing excitedly as we set off down the dirt path we had followed not long ago and set off towards the forest.

XxxxX

Current Roster

Slot 1 – Nova

Species – Quilava

Gender – Male

Type – Fire

Ability: Flash Fire – Powers up the user's Fire-type moves if hit by a Fire-type move.

Moves – Tackle, Quick Attack, Flame Wheel, Flame Charge, Ember, Extrasensory, Leer, Smokescreen, Defense Curl, Double Team.

Tidbit – Nova has an uncanny ability to mirror Rusk's emotions. When Rusk is focused, Nova burns with intensity, and when Rusk needs to lighten up, Nova isn't above teasing him with little puffs of flame or tugging on his sleeve. He's not just a partner—he's the kind of Pokémon who keeps his trainer grounded, whether it's with warmth or a little mischief.

Slot 2 – Aster *

Species – Staravia

Gender – Female

Type – Normal/Flying

Ability – Reckless – Boosts the power of moves that cause recoil damage.

Moves – Tackle, Quick Attack, Wing Attack, Endeavor, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing, Growl, Double Team, Whirlwind, Tailwind.

Tidbit: As the speedster of the team, Aster's pride in her aerial agility is unmatched. Her favorite pastime is racing other flying Pokémon, and Rusk often finds himself apologizing for her showboating when she races against other trainers Pokémon and win. (though its more for their sake as he praises her a lot after they leave)

Slot 3 – Aria

Species – Ariados

Gender – Female

Type – Bug/Poison

Ability – Sniper – Critical hits land with devastating precision

Moves – Bug Bite, Poison Sting, Shadow Sneak, Fury Swipes, Sucker Punch, Infestation, Night Shade, Swords Dance, Venom Drench, Focus Energy, Scary Face, String Shot, Attract.

Tidbit – Despite her eerie appearance, Aria has a surprisingly adorable quirk: she loves weaving small, intricate webs into shapes of things she's seen—stars, flowers, and even little hearts. Rusk often finds them scattered around camp like tiny decorations. While she's a fierce fighter in battle, off the field, she's a little artist at heart.

Slot 4 – Rukia *

Species – A. Vulpix

Gender – Female

Type – ice

Ability – Snow warning – Summons a hailstorm upon entering battle

Moves – Ice Shard, Payback, Feint Attack, Powder Snow, Icy Wind, Tail Whip, Fake Tears, Agility, Baby-Doll Eyes, Disable, Spite, Confuse Ray

Tidbit – With a past shadowed by captivity, Rukia has a sharp edge to her personality that's softened only by sweet treats—her weakness for poffins is now legendary amongst the team. Despite her aloof demeanor, she keeps a close eye on her teammates, ready to step in at a moment's notice.

Slot 5 – Triton

Species – Feebas

Gender – Male

Type – Water

Ability – Swift Swim - Doubles Speed in rain.

Moves – Tackle, Brine, Splash.

Tidbit - Triton may lack strength now, but his determined spirit shines through. Often found watching his reflection in puddles or the Pokémon Center's tanks, he dreams of evolving into something magnificent. His playful curiosity keeps Rusk on his toes as he works toward finding Triton the perfect nutrition plan

Slot N/A – Tesla

Species – Rotom

Gender – ?

Type – Electric/Ghost

Ability – Levitate – Grants immunity to Ground-type moves.

Moves – Astonish, Confuse Ray, Thunder-shock, Thunder Wave, Trick, Uproar, Double Team, Electro Ball, Charge.

Tidbit - Tesla's boundless energy and mischievous streak make it both a joy and a headache for Rusk. It has a habit of zipping between apps on Rusk's phone at lightning speed, often leaving behind silly selfies or cryptic notes. Despite the chaos, Tesla has a surprising knack for sensing when Rusk and his team needs a pick-me-up, using its antics to spark laughter—or frustration that might eventually turn into laughter.

That's the end of chapter 20 folks! I wanted to give Rusk some more time to really bond with his team and show off a bit more personality for the new members.

Anyways chapter question time! What do you think of the name Rotom chose for itself?