This chapter was harder than expected. We're just not that good at writing detailed battles.
The Fire-type user of Team Star was close to Levincia, so that was what they chose to do. They expected to find Clavell again, and were not disappointed.
"Hey, Clive," Juliana said, pretending, as Clavell was, that he was merely an older student.
"Hello, Juliana. And Florian," he added, looking back at the boy.
Florian, surprised to be noticed, waved.
"Thanks to you two, I was accepted into Operation Starfall," Clive continued. "For that, I thank you."
"What do you want with Operation Starfall, anyway?" Juliana asked, tilting her head so that her braid swished.
"I want answers," Clive said, as if that was enough of an explanation. When both students stared at him, neither taking it as enough, he continued. "There have been rumors. They say that the leaders of Team Star haven't set foot in a classroom for over a year, and now the grunts have started causing trouble. I...have heard that Director Clavell has threatened to expel them. I'd prefer it didn't come to that."
"So you decided to do...this," said Juliana, gesturing at all of Clive.
"You joined Operation Starfall, as well," Clive reminded her.
"That's not what she was talking about," said Florian, but as always, he was ignored.
Clive continued his explanation instead. "I hope to talk them into accepting the offer to disband. I don't want things to come to expulsion."
Juliana decided it was best not to continue this conversation.
Florian was told to take care of the guard, since Lloyd was weak to Fire-types and he had only one Pokémon that was super-effective. Juliana would once again chase the boss, this time armed with Minecraft, Fletchinder, a Marill, and Webby.
When Mela made her appearance, riding a Starmobile with painted flames, Juliana wasn't as awestruck by it as she had been with Giacomo's.
"Nice car," she said, "but it's not as nice as Giacomo's. I think it's a color scheme thing. That or maybe the flames are just overdone..."
"Shut up!" Mela snapped, and Juliana stopped thinking.
"Ok."
Mela straightened up, pleased with the extra height of her boots and her Starmobile. "Prepare to face your worst nightmare!"
"I'm late to class, and when I get there I have to make a speech, and my pants are made of pudding?"
"What?"
"It's my worst nightmare," Juliana explained.
"You're not alone," said Florian.
"Shut up!" Mela shouted again. "It's me! I'm your worst nightmare!"
"Oh," Florian and Juliana said together. Clive fought a disappointed groan.
"The rules say that whoever defeats 30 of the grunts' Pokémon gets to battle the boss." Mela sent out a Torkoal. "You wanted me, you got me."
Juliana sent her Fletchinder first, and she managed to take down the Torkoal. But when Mela decided to fight with her Starmobile, Fletchinder was quickly taken out.
Webby was next. Mela swore loudly upon seeing her.
"I should've known you'd come prepared," she hissed. "After what happened to Giacomo..."
"Yeah, Tinkatuff was pretty rough on him." Juliana shrugged it off. "At least you took out Fletchinder."
And then she called for Aqua Cutter.
Arven stared up at the building, Greendale Home for the Non-Criminally Insane. He was giving himself a pep talk, trying to get up the nerve to go inside and introduce himself as Professor Turo's son.
"It shouldn't be hard," he said. "I know that he knows the Zero Book. I'll just talk about the Herba Mystica. He has coherent thoughts. He can probably hold a conversation."
His hands were shaking. His fresh-caught Toedscool looked up, concerned, but Arven brushed it off.
"It's fine," he said, failing his goal of 'reassuring' and ending up somewhere around 'stressed.' "I just haven't seen the man in years and have no memory of him."
Toedscool remained unconvinced. Arven took a breath to calm himself and open the door to Greendale.
He moved out of the way as a pair of men brought in a young woman who was babbling incoherently.
"That's the third person this week freaking out over seeing a giant Orthworm," one of them said.
"Huh," said the other man. "Hallucinations can be pretty powerful things."
"No, she saw the giant Orthworm living down by the old mines. She's struggling to grasp the reality that such a thing actually exists."
Arven recalled Toedscool and started off in the direction the new patient had come from. He wasn't ready to meet his father. Now he had an excuse to hide that fact from his Pokémon.
And, more importantly, from Florian.
After being completely stomped by Juliana, Mela was silent. The girls hadn't exactly been having a conversation during the battle, but now she was completely quiet.
"What are you thinking about?" Juliana asked, just to break the silence.
"Team Star," was the simple answer. She looked down at her feet, lost in thought once again.
Clive diverted her attention. "There was a rumor," he said, "that Team Star was behind bullying incidents."
"I've never heard of those rumors," Mela answered immediately. Her fists clenched. "Who started them?"
"No one knows for certain. I merely wanted to get to the truth."
Mela did not let go of her anger, but she kept her temper in check with her next move. "I suppose I should give Juliana the Fire badge," she said, irritation clear. She thrust it into the other girl's hands, and turned to leave.
She did stay when Juliana asked her for a photograph. That was a step in the right direction.
As Mela turned to go, however, Clive called a Pokémon forward. It was small and human-shaped, looking almost like a Power Ranger with its black mask-like face. Mela stopped at once.
"It seems they recognize each other," said Clive, watching as Mela and the Pokémon reunited.
"Hey, Charlos," Mela said, her voice softer than it had been when battling Juliana. "How's it going?"
Charlos immediately released a string of Charcadet-speech, hopping around as he explained. Mela nodded along as if she understood.
"Fascinating," she said, giving the Charcadet a smile. "You seem to still be having fun at the school."
Charcadet mimed throwing something, then jumped at the trainer. It was almost as if he was telling Mela about the Dodge-mon Incident. Florian looked away. Juliana didn't understand.
Clive seemed to. "It seems that Charlos here misses you," he said, and Mela looked back at him. "I'm here representing Director Clavell. May I have a word with you?"
"Um..."
"Trust us," Florian said, and Mela looked back at him as if noticing him for the first time. "You were the bully victim, weren't you?"
Mela leaned back, startled. "Yeah," she admitted. "Because I'm short."
"And because you have a bad attitude," Juliana muttered, but Florian nudged her to keep her quiet.
Clive was too deep in thought to notice. "I suppose we have quite a few things to discuss."
And he, Mela, and Charlos walked away, leaving the kids to wait for Penny.
Penny showed up shortly after. It was almost like she was waiting for them.
Juliana was waiting for her. "Where did you get your Miss Eevee zipper charm?" she asked.
Penny immediately lit up. "You read Miss Eevee?"
"We both do," Florian confirmed for his friend.
"Did you get to the part where Lord Splashy -"
Juliana clamped her hands over her ears. "No spoilers!" she complained. "I'm only on Zorua Kid's second fight!"
"You're way behind, then." Florian then proceeded to ignore her. "I've been wondering about your charm, too. You think I could get a Jolteon pin for my bag? Or a Zorua Kid mask?"
"I ordered mine online," Penny explained, conversation coming easily now that it was about something she knew. "I can text you the link to the shop, if you'd like."
"You have my number?"
Penny stopped talking. "Er...Casseopeia gave it to me," she said. "I didn't...well, I didn't think you would be happy to hear from me."
Koraidon popped from his ball to chirp at her. Penny took a step back.
"What is that?"
"My ride," Juliana said simply. "He's called Koraidon. He likes sandwiches, and babies...not eating babies, obviously..."
Koraidon chirped happily.
"But what is it?" Penny asked again.
"We don't know," said Florian, which was enough.
As Koraidon started sniffing at her, Penny stepped back again. "I don't have any sandwiches," she said, and Koraidon's slight disappointment went unnoticed by the others as he continued sniffing the new girl.
Then he licked her face so hard he lifted her glasses up.
"I think he likes you," Florian commented as Penny wiped her face with her sleeve.
Penny barely glanced in his direction, as she was more focused on Juliana. "Tell him not to do that, please!"
Juliana just laughed maniacally, giving no orders to Koraidon at all.