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

May God bless you all.

"Well, that was something." Said Arven as he recalled his Greedent.

"Yeah, who knew we'd have to face two of em." Said Florian as he recalled his Raichu.

"So, this is the last one right?" Asked Florian.

"Yup. Let's just pray to God that this works on Mabosstiff."

Arven was practically jumping up and down. Even Mabosstiff almost was.

"Yes!" He shouted.

"I'm glad about Mabosstiff." Said Florian.

"Not as glad as I am." Replied Arven.

"Come on let's get out of here." Said Florian. "It's late we should set up camp."

"Sure, come on buddy." He said referring to his pokemon.

The stars were pretty that night. There weren't much lights around them except for the campfire.

"So, thanks again." Said Arven.

"Don't mention it. I probably would have fought these titans anyway." Replied Florian.

"There you are!" Shouted a familiar voice nearby. Well familiar to Florian.

He turned around and saw…

"Oh no…" Said Arven.

"Florian!" Shouted Nemona as she ran to him.

"Hey, Nemona?" He replied. "What are you doing…?"

Suddenly she was face to face with him. "What am I doing!? What are you doing!?" She asked back. "How could you have only done two gym badges by now?"

"Oh, yeah… I've been busy." He told her.

"How could you be so busy that you didn't…"

"Please, president." Said Arven. "It's too late for this."

"Yeah, um Nemona we'll talk… wait a second how did you find us here?" He asked.

"Oh, well I had some help." She said as she pointed behind him.

Florian looked. Now he was really surprised.

"Hey, Florian!" Yelled two voices.

"Hey, guys!" He said though still shocked.

"How's it hanging?" Asked the red-headed girl.

"What are you two doing here?" He asked.

"Oh, you aren't happy to see us?" Asked Eri.

"No, I am…" Florian quickly replied. "…Just surprised."

"Well, we figured we owed you." Said Mila. "Plus when we got back to school this one was asking all types of questions."

"They told me you were out shutting down Team Star and fighting giant monster Pokemon!" Shouted Nemona.

"Yeah… like I said I've been busy." He replied.

"Well guess I better go." Said Arven.

"Where are you going?" Nemona asked.

"To set up another tent."

"Well that was something huh?" asked Florian as the two settled down to sleep.

"You're telling me? I practically got accused of sabotaging her plan for you to also be a champion!" Arven replied.

"Yeah, that was kind of funny." He admitted.

"Not if you're the one being yelled at." Arven said.

*yawn*

"Well anyway… goodnight." Said Florian.

"Yeah… night." Replied Arven.

"Goodnight! Florian!" Shouted An enthusiastic Nemona from the tent next door.

"Tomorrow we work on getting you those gym badges!" She screamed.

"Will you shut up!" Said Mila.

Florian and Arven gave each other wary looks.

"So… when should I tell her I still have one more Team star base to deal with?" Asked Florian nervously.

"After you put your affairs in order."

"What!?"

"I'm sorry Nem…"

"No! Why are we at another one of those star bases!?" She asked.

"I just figured I might as well finish this before getting the other gym badges." He explained.

"No! You can do this after you become a champion like me!" She practically yelled at him.

"Nemona we're already here so…" Arven began

"You stay out of this! It's your fault he doesn't even have those badges yet. If you hadn't come at him with his…"

"Nemona!" Yelled Florian. "I'm going to finish off team star!"

For one of the few moments since he met her Nemona seemed at a loss for words. Which Florian took as a chance to walk by and head for the Team Star gate.

"Well, that probably was one of the more difficult ones." Said Florian after defeating Ortega.

"You didn't look that bothered by it." Said Mila. "Not even one of your Pokemon fainted."

"Still though I didn't have any that were particularly good against fairy types." He told them.

"I don't think they needed to be super effective against them." Said Eri. "It's kind of like a wrestler who beats someone because they are in a different weight class than them, it doesn't matter if they are not as skilled."

"Well it's getting late…" Said Arven. "We should probably set up camp."

"Well, we are near Montenevera." Said Florian as he looked over at Nemona who had pretty much been silent during this whole affair.

"Perhaps we should just head to the gym there." He said.

"What!?" Yelled Nemona. "Oh boy! Finally!"

"Oh, great now she'll never shut up." Said Arven.

And he was pretty much right.

The bed never looked so good. Florian practically face-planted on it. After defeating Ryme which was actually not that difficult after leveling his Pokemon that high, Nemona had insisted on them doing the Glaseado Gym immediately as the two towns were pretty near one another. Florian had refused at first but after constant prodding from his neighbor, he decided on a compromise. Which is why the group currently was spending the night at a hotel in Glaseado. That way he could head out and have his gym battle early in the morning.

"Aren't you gonna change into your PJs?" Asked Arven as he lay in the second bed.

"Only if they can somehow teleport from my bag." He said.

Arven yawned. "Well, whatever… goodnight."

"Night." Florian responded.

*ring*

Florian took his Rotom out of his pocket and looked at the screen.

"Well, that's all of them." Said Cassiopeia from the other side.

"Yup." Responded Florian though he desperately wanted this call to end.

"I sent Penny to you for your reward so be expecting her. Cassiopeia out."

With that, the call ended and there was a knock on the door.

"Seriously?" Asked Florian as he got up and answered.

"Hey, Florian." Said Penny.

"Hey…" He said as he looked at the red/blue-haired girl.

"Here's your rewards." She said as she handed him a TM and some materials.

"Thanks. So you have a room here?" He asked.

"Yeah, of course." She told him.

"Cool, I'm heading to face Grusha tomorrow morning if you want to watch." He said as he closed the door.

He would have waited for her to answer but that bed was calling him…

…and he had an answer that it couldn't refuse.

Penny stood… well not too far but not close enough to be considered part of the crowd. She didn't want to be noticed. Least of all by Florian. However, she still wanted to see him. Be there to (if only silently) cheer him on. When she thought about how he had helped her with the bases and in other ways, she… sort of owed him.

"Get ready for the gym battle!" The announcer said.

Penny watched as Florian came first then Grusha. Florian sent out his Cinderace…

…And that was all she wrote.

"That was so cool!" Nemona said. "Watching you completely destroy her with just one Pokemon."

"Thanks, Nemona."

"Okay now on to the next one!" She shouted.

"Um… excuse me." A familiar voice said from behind Florian.

"Oh, hey Grusha. Did you need something?" He asked the gym leader he had just defeated.

"Um, can we have some privacy?" She asked.

"Okay." Said Eri as she and the others departed from Florian.

"What's up?" Asked Florian.

"What's up? You tore me to shreds like I used to my snowboarding opponents." She told him.

"Oh… um should I apologize or…"

"No…I just want to know… like why?" During the battle, I felt as though you didn't even care about the badge. So why are you doing this?" She asked.

"Oh…" Florian replied. He then looked around to make sure his friends weren't in earshot.

"…Can you keep a secret?" He asked her.

Grusha nodded.

"Well, I don't really care about the Gym challenge." He told her.

"What? Then why even participate in it?" She asked surprised.

"Because it's a stepping stone to where I'm actually trying to get to." He replied.

"And where is that?" She asked.

"…That I can't tell you. Sorry, but I've been told to keep it a secret." Said Florian.

Grusha eyed him strangely.

"By who?" She asked.

"I can't tell you that either." He replied.

Grusha sighed. "Okay, kid guess I'll be seeing you around." She said as she waved goodbye and left.

This caused the others to return to him.

"What did she say?" Asked Nemona. "Tell me everything!"

"Um… we better go." He told her. "Want to try to make it to my last gym battle before dark."

"Oh, yeah of course let's go!" Said Nemona.

"Next gym battle?" Asked another familiar voice.

Florian turned to see the red/blue-haired girl looking over at them.

"Hey, Penny." He said as she walked over.

"Where's your next battle?" Penny asked.

"Levicinia city. Why are you heading that way?" He asked her.

"Um… well I guess…"

"Wait, I know you. You were that girl we met before classes began. Wait Florian how do you know this girl?" Asked Nemona.

At this, Florian went silent. Eri and Meli were right there. How would they react if he told them who Penny was?

"Um…"

"We've been… working on a special project together." He said.

"Special project?" Asked Meli.

"Yeah, as part of the treasure hunt." Penny quickly jumped in.

"Oh, yeah that's still going on." Said Eri.

"Well, you're welcome to come with us if you want Penny." Florian told her. "You interested in seeing Levicinia?"

"Yes, the more the merrier!" Nemona shouted. "It'll be good to get to know you."

"Does everything excite you?" Asked Arven.

"Come on we should be heading out." Said Florian. "We got a long journey ahead of us."

At that, the group started heading down the mountain. Sure the trail wasn't the best but it was better to do it in the daytime.

Along the way, Nemona had all sorts of questions for Penny. What was the project? Did it involve Pokemon battles? What was her favorite Pokemon?

Florian sighed, but in truth he was somewhat relieved that Nemona had someone else to constantly bombard with questions.

The Zero Gate was actually quite big. Though was it really a gate as opposed to like, a station? As the young girl walked through it, she noticed that nothing seemed to be on. She wasn't exactly sure whether or not she had to flip a switch or turn a nob but it didn't really matter now. They had been instructed to get allies, and at this point, she didn't believe they had enough. Still, though it was cool to check out the place before officially starting their mission.

*Rotom* *Rotom*

She looked at her Rotom phone and saw there was a message from Florian.

On my way to Levicinia city. Final badge.

She sighed. She had finished the gym path long ago, but he was always one to drag his feet. However there was no point in staying here and since she had been to that city before, she could just call a flying taxi.

Okay… She typed in her phone.

…I'll meet you there.

He quickly messaged back. Just so you know I think I may have found us some more allies.

She chuckled. Let me guess all girls?

How'd you know?

Woman's intuition… She replied before putting up her phone.

She laughed slightly as she had to take it out again to call the flying taxi. She had known Florian all her life and his density when it came to fairer sex was laughable at best and sad at worst.

But he was her big brother and when push came to shove…

…She had his back.

Thank you all who made it to the end.

And yes that was Juliana at the end there.

May God bless you all.