Twin Colors

by tremor3258

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

10. First Gauntlet: Dusk side 2

Twin Colors

By tremor258

Chapter 10

First Gauntlet: Dusk side 2

---

The four considered Zania's announcement. Their attempt to avoid abusing a random purse-snatching victim's generosity had led to an oversized reward being doubled.

"We can't keep that," Rose said automatically, and then winced.

"Split four ways it would cover a lot of Ultra balls," she admitted.

"Bespoke Poke balls, high fashion, a week-long binge at Sushi High Roller," Zania listed, breathless, counting on her fingers.

"Split four ways those Ultra balls could come prefilled with fossil Pokemon," Alamy added drily.

"Someone once offered to buy Tinkie and they didn't offer that much before Rika threw him out," Poppy commented.

The four were sitting in one of the glass shelters of a Flying Taxi stand, waiting for a pick-up. They were also talking loudly with ear plugs in since there was an absolute anti-chorus of Squawkabilly taking off and landing. Their deployed partners were watching the traffic outside the glass, unconcerned with finances.

"Can we just send it back?" Poppy asked.

"Given I botched asking to reduce it so badly it doubled, I'm afraid if I try again, we'll end up owning property," Zania said.

"Can we donate it somewhere? Until whatever left is reasonable to what we did? It is Poppy's decision," Alamy said. Rose thought a moment and nodded.

Poppy looked back and forth and looked betrayed at Rose's agreement.

"Why me?" the little Elite Four member asked.

"It was your win. The best Alamy and I could do was stall," Rose explained.

"You were the ones who ran in to do the right thing. I took forever to pick a friend," Poppy protested, "I never would have caught up even with Corvi in the crowd."

"She did not want those Pokemon seeing the one she properly treated as a partner, or we would have been crushed," Alamy said, petting Resistor. Months of working and the pair were about as strong as a three-day old battle trainer.

"If she worked with her partners, she wouldn't be stealing," Poppy said. Alamy hesitated then nodded. That wasn't quite accurate for all trainers but close enough.

"Anyway, I don't need the money. I'm okay with giving it away," Poppy insisted.

"Where to?" Zania asked.

Poppy paused at that with her mouth opened.

"Oh, toughie," Poppy mused, "I've heard for things like Pokemon rehabilitation, libraries, or new machines for Pokemon Centers."

"This is a little more than that sort of donation usually is," Zania commented.

"You want to do something big with it" Rose asked. Zania shrugged.

"I prefer not to spend my time explaining to my parents how money briefly appeared in my account," Alamy opinioned.

"A group donation? Anonymous?" Zania suggested. Alamy nodded.

"I don't know Paldean charities. This is big enough for something like a research grant or a civic project like upgrading a neighborhood's sidewalks in Galar. But that's usually an actual trust, with setting up with lawyers. And this is a lot of money but I'm not sure it's that lot of money," Rose said.

"The city has a few civic funds for donation for extra projects. You can target it to be used for something. It would go further as one chunk, right?" Zania asked.

"Geeta doesn't like the court rental fees, so we could cover those for people?" Poppy suggested.

"They have rental fees?" Rose asked, surprised. "It didn't come up when Nemona reserved one our first day. I should pay her back."

"Students are covered by Naranja," Zania explained. Rose and Alamy nodded understanding.

"There is still that ugly hole in the court in front of the school," Alamy commented.

"That could be there for a while. That court is amazing," Rose said dreamily, "Incredibly tuned. It can't be cheap to keep it up," Rose stopped and Zania smiled.

"There's rumors Nemona punched it open or something? That wouldn't be bad for a student donation then," Zania said.

"My sister's better at this than I am. From what she and Nemona said, someone messed up bad when they were last upgrading the court. The connections weren't set right so all Nemona'a Pawmon had its last energy go background in the middle of the court instead of dispersing. It was grace of the dragons that Professor Saguaro's Hattrene wasn't hurt past the bond defenses," Rose explained.

Alamy whistled and said, "I heard it in my room. I wish I had seen it. What did it look lie?"

"A massive sphere of energy with sparks blazing out a path between the two Pokemon, then it all went white," Rose answered. Resistor nodded, mentally taking notes.

"Let's fix that then," Poppy said suddenly, "I really was hoping forward to more full-power matches with the Battle Brawl."

"You're the boss," Zania commented, "Let me check that donation page." Zania bent over her phone to concentrate.

Rose checked the time on hers. "If the Taxi is on time, we have ten more minutes," she noted. She reached into her purse and pulled out a brush. Ivy picking up the signal, jumped in her lap to get cleaned up after their battle earlier.

"Good idea," Poppy said, picking up her Fuey to put on the bench next to her and pulled a cloth and some scale cream.

Alamy merely looked at Resistor affectionately whose nose was pressed to the glass. Realizing Poppy sent a questioning glance she explained. "We will have a half hour or so in the Taxi to fix up her fur then, so she'd rather watch. Pichus have little fur to tangle," Alamy said.

"You two are really close," Poppy said encouragingly.

"She picked up what you wanted in battle really well," Rose said, cautiously. They'd hit a sore spot here earlier.

Alamy smiled again, however. "She did do a wonderful job tracking. She is quite smart, even if we can't quite communicate freely," she said.

Rose could feel a comment rise, that there was a way around that. What Alamy was doing now, she'd be brilliant. She forcibly quashed it down.

Poppy didn't have as many concerns there. Or possibly filters. "Imagine what the two of you could do as battlers," she said happily. Rose caught herself nodding before she managed to stop.

That got Resistor's attention, and she turned to look at Alamy briefly, before turning back to the glass.

Alamy's smile wavered at that.

"You didn't need battle sync for Resistor to help get that woman's purse back. And I'm having trouble moving both sides still," Rose said hastily.

"Really?" Poppy said. Rose nodded and Alamy's expression cleared, mouthing thanks.

"I'm doing something wrong, and I know it shouldn't be so hard. I'm either with my partner or with myself, not both," Rose said.

Poppy packed away the cloth she'd been shining Fuey with carefully and stood on the bench, before hopping next to Rose and putting her hand on the taller girl's forehead.

"Hold still, breathe, think about Ivy," Poppy directed. There was more force than usual in the little master's voice and Rose obeyed quickly, closing her eyes.

With the glass enclosure helping the noise and her eye's closed, the connections to her partners were easier to feel. Touching Ivy, she could feel his irritation that the brushing had stopped before it was finished, on top of an otherwise pleased emotional state. The connection and overlap was… diffuse without a battle going on. A tangle of vines was her visualization for where the souls overlapped. Azucena's sleepier weave, resting in her Poke ball, intermingled but didn't connect to Ivy. The threads wavered, sometimes popping and new ones appearing. Maybe a celebration of growth?

Her mind state wavered, and she could hear firmly, "Focus on Ivy," repeated by Poppy. She couldn't pull one thread out of the pile, but it was all there to make him up. It was a bit clearer than a few days ago, they were starting to synch up all the way.

"More in her than I thought. Can you try and move them a little? Or a little power? Don't make the bench grow," came Poppy's voice from outside. Rose tapped a few ones that looked small. Little pulses of power she channeled from… wherever it came with her exertions towards Ivy, who sniggered a purr. It still felt loose.

"Okay," Poppy said after another minute. Slightly reluctantly, Rose opened her eyes.

"You need practice," Poppy said gravely.

"That's all?" Rose asked. She was a bit relieved there wasn't something internally broken. The Ranger had been like a tree to the Pokemon instead of her bunch of kudzu.

"I don't think you're visualizing everything still, so you can't see all the waves when you move. And you're trying to grip it all and that's not what you want to do inside. You're pushing like you're trying to push a big slow Pokemon like 'Rajah', all in one line," Poppy directed.

"That was Mom's method. How do I stop?" Rose asked. Ivy meowed and she started brushing again.

"Dunno, exactly. More and more practice will help you figure where you need to be pulling with your friends. And should help you see the rest of it. Grandpa Hassel's friend can probably help to start. He's grass," Poppy said.

"I see," Rose said. She'd need to get to Artazon again during the Treasure Hunt.

"The movement thing – you're not just pushing too hard for how your energy is, you're gripping too hard. You need to help them so they can move fast, but you don't have to puppet everything," Poppy said.

"Ivy was moving all over against the thief," Alamy noted.

"Azucena can grip with her protrusions, but no arms, and Ivy's not very sturdy. I don't want either of them getting in a clinch. But building up strikes has been a problem while trying to move," Rose said, anxious.

"Stop trying to fix everything at once," Zania advised, "You're new and you're smart enough you've got a list. But trying to fix everything at once is too big and you can't start. Keep moving, right?" She'd looked up from her phone.

"I'd like to fix everything," Rose admitted. Ivy meowed encouragement.

"You're a bad influence, kitty," Zania said. Ivy disdainfully licked a paw in response.

"I think the gripping is the first thing, then. It's a dance with a partner and I'm trying to lead," Rose said, "Or that's what it feels like, just everything wanting to move and grow and light."

"Follow that," Poppy encouraged.

"Mom taught a lot, and a lot of stuff it's usually described as a straight tether," Rose said. Her past self certainly had.

Alamy patted her hand. "Throwing that away isn't easy," Alamy said sympathetically.

"Usually, I know to follow a vibe," Rose said uneasily. "Just how it comes together." She wasn't going to say the wind sometimes was worth listening to. It weirded Mei out even.

Poppy tapped her ear and asked, "Feel it sometimes?" Rose barely nodded.

"Rika said a lot of naturals are a little sensitive. It's the spiritual types like psychics who get all the fun with it like seeing the future," Poppy said.

"Oh, really?" Rose said, feeling a burst of relief.

"Environmental awareness one way or the other often develops. The Tower of Mastery usually looks for it to have developed in trainers before they will be accepted. Surprising your mother did not explain that to you," Alamy said.

"She probably didn't want Mei or I looking into anything we could do without Pokemon to get Pokemon. She had trouble keeping us on the right side of the Galar laws," Rose said, shrugging.

"Not enough people listen, anyway, so don't feel bad," Zania suggested.

"But on laws – I think I found how a donation goes through, it can show up under a pseudonym but it has an email attached. Anyone have an extra Paldean account?" Zania said.

"Oh, my League one is like, letters and numbers. The 'Poppy at Elite Four' actually directs to it," Poppy said.

"The League is pretty big, so a group of its trainers fronting some money to fix the Court wouldn't look too odd," Zania said.

"And it does not look like an Elite Four account. That would probably get attention even anonymously," Alamy said.

"Still can't believe this money just dropped on us," Zania said, tapping at her phone. Poppy's rang and she bounced the money on.

"How much are you leaving?" Alamy asked. Zania named the figure, and the others nodded.

"That will be plenty," Alamy said.

"I'm going to be able to get a lot more training in today with that," Rose calculated, "Even being able to front cash if there's any trainers that want to battle in Los Platos. It'll be nearly lunchtime with the Taxi?"

"I think so," Zania said, "May as well see the town a little before we head out in that case."

"You don't think you'll win?" Poppy asked.

"I'm not going to challenge people if I can't afford the money if I lose," Rose answered.

"Mature answer," Alamy said. Rose didn't meet her eyes. Hopefully that was really Rose's position.

"Okay, trying to stay on track with the donation. What pseudonym did we want to use? It probably wouldn't hurt to give the city a bit of a push since someone didn't check their work," Zania asked.

"Pokemon Battle Lovers?" Poppy proposed.

"Nemona," Zania said immediately and the other two nodded.

"The Electric Path Restoration Committee," Alamy suggested, giggling a bit.

"Society for Better Battling?" Rose pitched.

"Okay, less like we're forty. Dumber and punchier," Zania directed.

" Blazing Path Restoration Committee?" Poppy suggested.

"Kind of punchy, doesn't directly reference the hole, like that one," Zania said.

"It's Rose's idea, really," Poppy said, "From how you described the Double Shock."

"I probably used the wrong word in Paldean," Rose admitted.

"Nah, it's fine, that'll probably generate some press with a unusual name," Zania predicted, "Sent to the city, let's split what's left."

"So that leaves a little time, has anyone actually been to Los Platos?" Alamy asked. Silence met the question.

---

The ride was only a half hour but as usual, the Squawkabilly made it impossible to hold a conversation. Zania's ear plugs turned out to be wireless and her head was bopping to something. Poppy was reorganizing her purse. Alamy gave Resistor the promised brush down. The Pichu was also getting to snack on the static electricity on the brush from rubbing the fur, so was having a great time.

Rose for the most part was content to watch the scenery go by, taking a few shots if she liked a particular layout. Mei looked at them sometimes if she was in a good mood, but they were mainly for her.

Some shock was starting to settle in and bring her mood down, now that she was isolated with her thoughts. She didn't regret leaping in, but she could have.

There was a long, long path from her to Poppy. Plenty of the plateaus up that mountain could simply crush her right now. And that hadn't been some nice court match, the crushing could have been literal. Life wasn't an anime, and righteous justice didn't always let the heroic underdog win.

Even with Squawkabilly, she could almost her hear mother next to her, chiding her for not checking the thief's strength. It at least didn't have the sting it would a week ago – her mother had shown she could be wrong. That didn't mean Hannah wasn't correct here, though Rose hadn't gone in hoping to win, just not letting them escape.

There were plenty of good reasons to do like the passerby had and kept her head down. She was glad she went in. Helping someone injured was good. Helping had stopped at least two Pokemon from being left alone and confused in the city too.

There were a couple areas that she and the Ranger's thoughts were in alignemnt enough the feelings came through strongly. One was that Budew were adorable. More applicable was that every responsible trainer's job was to correct abuse if they saw it. Or at least try.

That could go either way, but humans were usually the senior partner. Some relationships were toxic.

Her Pokemon were completely in favor of her decision. As soon as her thoughts had turned inward, she could feel waves of assurance. Feeling themselves recognized, they rattled their balls again. Admittedly, best psychological health for Pokemon involved sending torrents of elemental fury at each other on a regular basis, so they may not be the best judges of a situation, but she still appreciated it.

No, her biggest worry was she wasn't quite sure which one of her had started moving.

---

Familiar with Hammerlocke, Rose had thought Artazon was a small town. Los Platos made the artist's colony look like a bustling metropolis. The streets laid with cobblestones, and the yellow walls and trimmed flower paths were very pretty, but there just weren't that many houses. It was really a collection of farmhouses that had clustered around a Pokemon Center more than a full town.

Their Taxi was the only one at the Center's stand when they landed. The driver told them to call the service to go back – he was taking off already. Hardly any fares here. The Squawkabilly shouted among themselves back in the air almost immediately after they dismounted.

There was some pedestrian traffic, seniors and small children. The Taxi's landing had excited enough interest that people had stopped walking to watch. When four Naranja students turned out to be the cargo, people started moving again.

Rose stretched and grinned, and not just because they were away from the noise. Mesagoza was a modern, sensible community, but it was still a major city. The air here was fresher with more of a green feel. She couldn't help but get a charge out of it. She called Azucena out who ran excitedly to the roadside to breath in the flowers.

"Ask before you plant yourself in someone's yard, and don't if no one's there," Rose called. The little Petilil nodded.

"It's a farming community. They don't get weekends during the fall," Zania commented. She brought her Fidough out, who immediately sniffed the air and started barking excitedly. Fairies were more ephemeral than most grass-types, but they didn't like trace toxins either.

Alamy looked around several times. She had recalled Resistor once she was groomed, and now Bandwidth was staying cautiously near her feet.

"What's wrong?" Poppy asked. Alamy seemed to be fretting over something. Poppy was still working with her Fuecoco, who had immediately laid on his back to get some sun while they weren't moving.

"It does not feel normal to see the edge of town from a Pokemon Center," Alamy admitted. She put a hand to her back and stretched and took a deep breath.

"I can see the appeal, however," she added.

"It's pretty to visit, but I'd be bored to live here," Zania decided. "What Pokemon are supposed to be around here?"

Rose opened her mouth to rely, but Zania's Fi-cutie beat her to the cue. He quickly sniffed the air again and gave a quick tail wag before running across the Pokemon Center's plaza.

"I was talking to Rose!" Zania wailed but then took off after her starter. The others followed a beat later.

The Center was as busy as the town,so Fi-cutie didn't have to run around anyone, making it easy to keep him in view. He bypassed the desk and skidded to a stop at the edge of the tarmac and barked excitedly, running in a circle.

Zania skidded to a stop a few feet further away and saw where her Fidough had spotted. There was a small public faucet – for travelling trainers filling up water containers, a small puddle underneath from a slow drip. Two Igglybuff were in front of the pipe, the drip splashing one on the head as they looked at the trainers cautiously.

Zania whistled softly and patted Fi-cutie when he came over. "You are a good boy," she cooed. She waved cautiously at the two Baloon Pokemon. The one getting wet waved back, prompting a slap to the back of his head by his companion. Zania giggled.

Rose and Poppy turned, sensing something. The nurse manning the desk had left the station and was walking over. She waved to the two at their reactin.

"Whole bunch of serious trainers coming through today," she commented.

"Is it okay for you to be off the desk?" Poppy asked.

"Eh, I can see it if someone shows up. There's no legal reason to stop you, but could you not catch these two? They've been coming up to play around the faucet since we hit the dry season. People started leaving them food and the town is used to having them around. I think a couple of kids are talking them into being their starters. There are other Igglybuffs showing up to challenge trainers, don't worry," the nurse said.

"The town?" Poppy asked.

The nurse blushed a little at Poppy's skeptical expression. "They do help the shifts fly by watching them," she muttered.

"I'd hate to ruin a kid's week. We're really heavily in good karma today, and I'd hate to ruin it," Zania assured.

"Did you catch this little guy here?" the nurse asked, indicating Zania's partner. He barked and wagged his tail.

"Fi-cutie was a pet gift. Are there a lot of fairies around, then?" Zania asked.

"A lot of them like to hang around the edges of town. Not sure if it's a fairy mystical 'border' thing, or that people aren't good at securing their trash can lids. We do have a lot of Dachsbun helping on the farms, and that probably attracted others. Someone saw a Ralts last week, even," the nurse said.

The Igglybuffs, not interested in a partner, were back to their game. It seemed base on who could wait the longest under the faucet without being dripped on.

"They are very cute. Aren't they baby Pokemon though? Should they have a parent or older sibling nearby?" Alamy asked.

"I haven't convinced them to hop up for a full scan, but they're probably close. Early spring's ready to evolve, most likely," the nurse said.

"If the town has lots of working dogs, I doubt anything predatory moves in close. And a big Corvisquire or another bird wouldn't attack right at a Pokemon Center. It's like us catching in their breeding territory," Rose said. She held up her phone and took a couple shouts of the Igglybuff. She'd never seen them in the wild before. Mei and her mother would be surprised.

"Foods that are warm and soft like oatmeal or gelatins if they can," the nurse said, "Igglybuff tend to overstress their vocal cords so like things easy on a sore throat."

The two Igglybuff perked up at hearing oatmeal and starting cheeping and jumping up and down.

"Shameless," the nurse said fondly.

"I'm going to get some," Poppy declared, and then looked around. "Where would that be?"

The nurse pointed at a storefront a little larger than most of the town's houses with a few tables set up front several doors down. Poppy nodded and started trotting over with her Fuecoco.

"I guess we'll be here for a little bit – they are super cute. Are there any locals looking for a fresh match?" Rose asked, and Azucena flexed.

"Sorry, there were only a couple listed today and another Naranja student got them," the nurse apologized. "With the term started and the harvest not ready, a lot of our younger people are in Mesagoza working jobs right now. There's probably a few trainers camping in the hills, maybe." Azucena sighed and Zania winced.

"Stupid," she muttered.

Louder she apologized, "I'm sorry. If I'd been prepared properly we could have been out here hours ago."

"If we had been here sooner, I wouldn't have the money to put up a proper forfeit," Rose said equably. She turned to the nurse.

"By the way, I'd like to buy some potions later," she said politely. The nurse nodded.

Zania clenched her hands, unconvinced.

"My expectations today were that I'd just get some wild Pokemon, and not that many. With a good medicine supply it's going to be a much heavier pace without having to rest," Rose assured her. Azucena chirped a few times, cheered by the thoughts of bloodless carnage.

"We all have battle class and a whole school whose dorms are filling up for the term," Alamay added, "We did not have to listen to Squawkabilly for a half hour to find them here."

"You're not mad I messed up?" Zania asked. There was something dark behind her eyes for a moment before the bright walls went up and she smiled again.

"If it's really bothering you, you can take some photos of me with the Igglybuffs when Poppy gets back," Rose offered.

"Sure, but why?" Zania asked.

"Galar proper doesn't have them, just some of the islands off the east coast. I've never seen a wild one before today in real life. Mom will be surprised," Rose said.

"Just let them smell you a bit before you try and touch them. They are technically wild so they're going to be skittish. Though bribes help," the nurse said. Everyone nodded.

"As cute and perennially popular as they are, I am surprised no one set up a breeding colony on the mainland in Galar," Alamy said. She pointed over and Rose hurriedly snapped some pictures. One was inflating in irritation at his playmate winning two in a row.

"The factories drove them away a century or so ago, I think. It's fine now, but Galar industrialized a lot more than Paldea," Rose said.

"North Kalos got some of that," Alamy admitted.

Poppy called across the tarmac, her Fuecoco warming a steaming bowl on his head. "They had berry porridge!" she announced triumphantly.

---

As soon as Poppy set the bowl down, the Igglybuff went right to it, even before the Steel trainer could back away. While the nurse gave good advice, most starters weren't as used to strangers as these two were. A half hour of various combinations of Igglybuff, humans, and partners followed with everyone taking at least a few shots, until everyone was hungry.

Poppy ran another bowl over while everyone got a table and looked at everyone's best shots.

"These turned out pretty well," Zania commented. A few minutes of Igglybuff exposure had halted Zania castigating herself, and she'd started to pose as well. Sheer volume meant there were some good takes.

"I have an album I'm going to send to Mei, once the poor phone finishes zipping them up," Rose said, and patted her Rotom phone. It was sweating a little after the workout. All the other Pokemon were up; it was too hot to dine al fresco and the café's interior was small enough they'd blanket ordered Pokemon in their balls.

"They are super-cute but I'm still getting used to Fue-cutie to start feeding a third. And they seem to be right here if I change my mind," Zania said.

"Baby Pokemon can be a handful at first," Alamy said fondly, patting Resistor's Poke ball.

"You've had her a while, right?" Poppy asked.

"Several months. She got tired very easily at first, but her stamina had built up. She could not retain a charge very long either, so training has to be paced out," Alamy explained.

"You think young Pokemon eat and eat, but then they evolve and then Rajah's eight times as hungry," Poppy noted.

"Sinnoh isn't as developed between towns. My mom's rule of thumb while journeying was to have a week of rations on top of how long you think travel will be," Rose said. Zania tapped her phone to make a note on that one.

"That's not a bad idea if you pick up a new partner. How much water do you bring?" Zania asked.

"I've got some good storage with my bag, and I can't stand how purification tablets taste, so I carry a lot. I use collapsable five-gallon containers, they're heavy so I got them knowing with Pokemon they would be easy to handle. I refill my water bottle and cooking pots off those. When camping with my Mom and Mei, I had to use one-gallon containers, but then quantity it starts becoming a pain to organize which are full and which aren't," Rose said.

"I just stuck a bunch of water bottles in my pack, but you're right on inventory. Purification tablets taste that bad?" Zania asked. Rose just made a face.

"They don't make you do a test round before a license here?" Alamy asked. Zania shook her head.

Alamy made a face of her own. "I have a bunch of powdered drink mixes for them," she explained.

"I'm not fond of sweet tastes either or I would," Rose said.

"Which ones do you like, Alamy? I usually like the Salac-flavored ones the best!" Poppy asked.

"The Shuca the most, the Salac are a little sour for me," Alamy said.

"Kind of tingly those," Poppy mused.

"Did you have to go through a wilderness basics course, Poppy?" Zania asked.

"When I said I was going to Naranja, Rika took me camping for a weekend to show me how to handle a tent and the cooking. I'm not a good cook, though. Most of what I have is prepacked," Poppy said bashfully.

"Mesagoza just dumps all that on getting into Naranja to handle it, don't they?" Zania said bitterly.

"We have a few weeks before the road is mandatory. Anything you're wondering about, ask," Rose urged. Alamy and Poppy nodded.

"Lumiose considers everywhere else a barbaric wilderness, so they prepared us with that in mind," Alamy consoled.

"Hammerlocke borders the Wild Area, so we really had a barbaric wilderness outside. It's a massive section of land between the cities in Galar that humanity deliberately renounced their claim on," Rose said.

"Geeta talks a lot about the end of the day about how Paldea's lucky. We don't have the problems other regions to do where people get greedy, even if there's someone for everyone out there."

Rose and Alamy winced a little.

"Oh, I didn't mean you two!" Poppy said.

"Oh, no, it is fair. Lysandre knocked a lot of pride out of Kalos. My parents were proud they could get the latest Holo Casters and how he was inspiring a better Kalos, but I'm old enough I got to learn what his vision really meant after Geosenge," Alamy said.

She looked at Rose for a moment, whose expression was that of someone who'd bitten into something sour.

"Sorry, I'm glad it got stopped so quickly most of the Pokemon could be rescued, but it got too close," Rose said, honest. She'd just stopped 'Be glad it wasn't worse' from slipping out.

"But then Galar ended up without a leg to stand on. I'm Hammerlocke enough we watched Kalos get humbled with some glee for that old rivalry, but then our own League chairman tried to kill us all. Because his pride was hurt his energy system wasn't eternal" Rose said, shrugging. The Ranger could provide a dozen examples of humanity doing terrible things for selfish ends, but even then, Macro Cosmos was sheer lunacy.

"The Darkest Day was handled so fast Kalos was just mainly shocked on Galar's behalf," Alamy said.

"Zania – what did the average Paldean think? I know the last Cycle affected here centuries ago, and the Galar Cup is popular," Rose asked.

Zania shook her head, having been a bit stunned how casually the two had been discussing recent terrorist attacks.

"Mainly we were happy it wasn't happening here. We got the news on Galar in drips and drags when the Championship feeds were cut. Kalos, we knew there was a terrorist plot, but the news cycle moved on after the Heroes of Kalos had their triumph in Lumiose. Most of what I know of Team Flare were documentaries later," Zania admitted.

Alamy's eyes flashed for a moment. "My parents frequented some of the restaurants that turned out to be fronts, and they are interested in social climbing. I am thankful they never made the right noises to get invited to Team Flare, praise liberated Xerenas. It did make it easier to argue for how 'open-minded' it would show them if I were admitted to Naranja," she said, and giggled, remembering something.

"Fronts?" Poppy gestured down her torso, confused.

"I am sorry, Poppy. Team Flare made a lot of their money hiding in plain sight, with businesses and social organizations owned secretly by them. Many were cafes designed to help pressure people to their twisted view on beauty. People thought they were forceful, not that they were planning to kill most of Kalos. A few of my early 'casts covered it," Alamy said.

"You should send me those," Zania urged.

Alamy put her face in her hands, "Oh no, no. They were very early and were mainly to an audience of my parents. Do not seek them out. Also, they are in very fast Kalosian."

Alamy was a quick speaker in Paldean, if carefully enunciated. Rose couldn't imagine what she could do in her native tongue.

"Kalosian is a problem. I've been loading up on biochem this summer," Zania said.

"My sister made sure I can speak a little. She likes the chivalry stories," Rose said.

"Interregional League business means Poppy's languages are 'yes'," Poppy added.

"We had to use Galar to Paldean as we couldn't find one. Did you do Kantonian from Paldean?" Rose asked smoothly in the language.

"It was from Unovan, the edition for the World Tournament four years ago. I didn't get to go, though," Poppy answered back in the same.

"Was that Kantonian?" Zania asked.

"Excellent Kantonian. Barely an accent," Rose said, a trifle glum. Alamy and Victor had traces of Kalos in their Paldean, but Poppy spoke Kantonian with less of an accent than Rose's Galarian, and she had six years of using it.

"Rika likes to practice with me when she's working on paperwork. She handles a lot of the Pokemon population tracking. That all goes to Kanto," Poppy said.

"The heart of the Pokedex. A lot of Kanto tourists to Lumiose are from Saffron," Alamy said.

"Do you know Kantonian then?" Rose asked.

"Only a few words. You always mean to go to the tourist spots when you live in a town, and do not get around to it," Alamy said.

"That's true. Mei and I have only been to the Vault and Stadium a few times," Rose said.

"You two should trade words, then," Poppy said.

Rose and Alamy looked at each other.

"That's not a bad idea, really, if you want. Or Zania. Most of my Kantonian is from a small ranch town in Sinnoh, and I'm not sure if I'm a good teacher," Rose cautioned.

"I have little teaching experience either, but would be better than nothing," Alamy said. She ducked her head, a bit shamed.

"That came out wrong. You and Poppy are already doing a lot for us today," she said.

"Oh, you're helping me. Seeing fresh trainers helps me get what Fuey is expecting while we're figuring out the energy connection," Poppy assured.

The Steel trainer's expression went crafty, "Though Poppy will accept cooking lessons."

"Those I can do," Zania said, "More languages are a good idea, but later. I think I have enough on my plate learning to be a trainer. I need to get my Pokemon ready for protection on the Hunt," Zania explained.

"This morning has been fun," Rose began.

"And oddly profitable," Zania interjected.

"That too, but we probably should get to the Center so our Pokemon can eat and get catching," Rose finished a bit reluctantly. It'd been nice to hang with people on her own, a novel experience.

Alamy looked outside at the street and said, "It does appear to be another hot day. Getting into the forest and the shade will help and… that is Victor," she finished flatly, pointing.

Poppy stood on her chair to look out the window. "That can't be right," she said.

"Not that many pale blondes in Paldea. Isn't he supposed to have a duel with your sister soon?" Zania asked, checking the time.

"From what Mei sent me earlier, they were planning to have a match in Mesagoza West. This is cutting it close," Rose said.

"Did the pop out here, is your sister stalking you?" Zania asked, half in jest. Rose's hand reached up to her necklace and she bit her lip, continuing lifting the hand in the air.

The café wasn't busy and the waiter came over quickly.

"I think I need my bill," Rose explained.

---

Victor was easy enough to follow on the nearly empty streets and caught up to him at the Center's nursing desk, drinking from a water bottle. The nurse from earlier was still on duty and waved at them. Victor glanced casually back at the motion before doing a double take.

"You're the quiet one, sorry. Thought I was being stalked for a moment," Victor said. Once Rose's eyes adjusted to the shade, she could see his clothing was soaked through with sweat.

"Are you alright? Did you hit something's territory?" she asked. Strong Pokemon usually didn't care about beginner trainers, but sometimes you had bad luck.

"Huh?" Victor said intelligently. He looked down as Rose pointed silently and nodded.

"Ah, understandable. This was training," Victor said.

"In a creek?" Poppy asked, doubtful.

"Briefly actually, yes," Victor said. He stepped back from the counter and gestured. A dozen Poke balls were sitting there. The nurse had one by her and was typing into the Center's computer. After a few more moments, she finished, and the ball teleported away. She grabbed another and started repeating the exercise.

"I know you all said something about more partners meant more effort and strain," Zania said.

"Absolutely, but these are just passing through," Victor said. He shifted his shoulders and Rose caught a glimpse of power when the irritation left a crack. Victor was keeping his light under a basket. He stopped mid shift and looked at Poppy, curious.

"That is a lot of Pokemon to stable. Are you helping a Professor?" Alamy asked. A few hours in electronic storage was one thing, but care and especially feeding added up.

Victor shook his gaze from Poppy and barked laughter. "I wish," he said.

He stopped, looking over his classmates, and shrugged. "There's no harm in telling. My family is covering my storage fees as long as I send some Pladean natives and variants home for the battle circuit."

"This is just their final health check before transfer over the global link," the nurse mentioned.

"This center is hooked up to the GTS?" Alamy asked. It was a very small town.

"All the Centers in Paldea are. There was a big upgrade grant a while ago. Never got to do this before though!" the nurse said.

"Why do it here, though? Don't you have a match?" Poppy asked.

"A few months ago, there were rumors the Paldean League computer systems were compromised. It didn't reach the storage system since it wasn't a regional scandal, but if someone was selling transfer records from trainers it'd be in Mesagoza, not out here," Victor said.

"I get to spend an hour getting out of town anytime I've put a set together," Victor griped.

His classmates weren't paying attention but looking at Poppy. She ducked her head and fiddled with her purse for a bit.

"Geeta said to say no comment," she mumbled.

"That's quite a gift to get your stable fees covered. It was very generous of your parents," Rose said quietly, trying to change the subject. She did make a mental note though.

"Oh, absolutely. A few Pokemon I don't even have to train up in exchange for as large a team as I want is ridiculous. It's a massive advantage for putting a team together, especially since I'm not established yet. I'll have to pay this boon forward, of course," Victor noted. Alamy nodded.

"Need to?" Zania asked.

"Kalosian oblige," Rose summed up. Alamy and Victor nodded.

"Even trying to keep up your end of the bargain, you're running yourself ragged," Zania noted. "You look like you did a half marathon between triathlons."

"Really, just training. I'll be fine later," Victor assured.

"If your Pokemon are okay and you're not at full, do you want to battle me then? Two on two?" Rose asked quietly.

Victor half-turned, not sure he heard correctly, but Rose kept looking up at him.

"I'm sorry, I only have two partners," Rose said. Victor's eyes narrowed.

"You saw through me, didn't you?" Victor said. Rose nodded.

"I thought I felt someone catching a glimpse, but I thought it was Miss Poppy here. My, oh my, you did get heavily prepped," Victor said.

Poppy looked up from her continued fiddling. She'd pulled several large, prepped food packs out of her purse since they did still need to feed the Pokemon. "You mean how you can handle more friends as partners than you do? You want two friends at a time, have two friends. That's the important limit," she lectured.

"I didn't see that clearly. You tensed up for a second, and I saw there's… more," Rose said.

"Feeling me out for your sister?" Victor jibed.

Rose ignored it. "You're acting on my level, whatever your reason. You want to be a good match and so I'm offering. I'd like to see how the feel compares when someone's holding back, too," she said.

Victor looked her up and down for a bit. "Huh. You mean that. Surprising for someone raised in Galar," he commented.

"We love close matches," Rose said, confused.

"Getting ahead of yourself with 'close' but I wasn't talking about that," Victor said, "Galar style goes for all the early big hits between sides. You bury your opponent in power and force the battlefield to shape to you. The other side may get to fight back but it's decided early on."

"Dynamax is mainly for the big Stadium fights on the Circuit," Rose said.

"That's only the biggest example," Victor said with confidence.

"But I'd rather not battle you right now because of it. I have a plan for dealing with that kind of arrogant force today, and I'd rather save it for the loud main event then risk it getting out from the supporting feature," Victor explained.

"I'm not a sideshow," Rose said quietly, but it cut through the air. The nurse stopped mid-type and Poppy paused in arranging food. Azucena leaned against Rose's shin, ready to help.

Victor's lips thinned, and he bowed. "I apologize for that. You've done nothing to deserve it. Besides, you'd be there cheering her on if that was all you were instead of out here in the heat?" Victor glanced up at the roof over their heads.

"Metaphorically speaking," he added.

Alamy cautiously put a hand on Rose's shoulder and the Galar expat shuddered, relaxing. Popppy resumed pulling food and the nurse went back to work. Azucena backed away slightly with a chirp.

"No bluster, deep roots, I think I like you," Victor judged, "I'm sure with school we'll battle soon enough. But as an apology for not today, I assume you're still out here to catch Pokemon? I'm sending you the sightings my Pokedex app picked up this morning while training." He pulled his phone out to tap a bit.

All four phones beeped acknowledgement shortly thereafter. Rose checked the Pokedex. "There's at least a half-dozen species updates in here," Rose commented.

"I've been busy," Victor said, giving another bow.

"We're all finished here!" the nurse said, a little anxious. This was a lot of people for the Los Platos Center.

"I suppose I need to start getting back for the match then. I'm going to sit down and wait for a Taxi. Good luck with your training today, ladies," Victor said. He gave a one-handed salute as he gathered his stuff from the counter.

"Wait," Rose said, a burst of noise. She shrank slightly but didn't take it back. Victor paused.

"If you don't want to give a match, what does battle mean for you, then? You're far enough you should be starting to see it," Rose asked. Victor nodded, again.

"And another sign of good prep for someone so raw. Did you get trained in a dojo?" Victor asked.

"My mother," Rose said.

"I'm not sure yet on her success rate, but you got a good background education," Victor mused. He thought briefly.

"Battle is about wits. Most of the fight is done before anyone steps in the trainer's box. The right strategy, and anticipating the opponents, can make power irrelevant. Know yourself, know your enemy, as the saying goes," Victor said. Rose bowed and stepped back, implicitly ending the conversation. Victor gave his salute again and walked around the side of the Center to the drinks machines.

Zania waited until Victor walked off. "I'm surprised he didn't ask you back," she said.

"Rose is too new. Anything she would say would be different in a week," Poppy said.

"Well, you've been doing this for years, what do you see?" Zania asked.

"WAM! Clang, bang bang!" Poppy said, and mimed throwing punches. "You hold on with your friends until the other side breaks, and you and your friends stay tough!"

Zania nodded, uncertain.

---

The four went to getting their Pokemon fed, though Poppy had been dragging out food bags all the while. As her group set to munching through small hills of food, Zania glanced in comparison at the two small packets hers were eating.

"You weren't exaggerating that eight times thing," she commented.

"They've all got their favorites, but what they like most is 'lots'!" Poppy said cheerfully.

Rose had done cooking prep for hers – she was anticipating she wouldn't have time during the week. Her Pokemon ate with gusto. She suspected Ivy was used to the local mass-produced kibble. Azucena was still marveling at regular meals. She pulled her phone out and took some pictures, and paused then before putting it away.

"What are you going to tell her?" Alamy asked, anticipating herself. She was rubbing Bandwidth's back to soothe the duck as he ate nervously. Resistor was steadily gnawing down a protein bar.

"We saw Victor out here and he's been training," Rose said.

"I don't know what he could have done to get so sweaty out here. It wasn't that hot this morning," Poppy said. Rose shrugged. Her assumption had been running from some herd leader, but Victor insisted that wasn't the case.

"Tell her you offered to battle, and he turned you down because of the match with her," Zania directed. Rose cocked her head, puzzled.

"She seems the type that will be pleased her opponent is taking her seriously," Zania predicted.

"I'm not sure she wants Victor's respect," Rose said. Rose didn't mind an experienced trainer saying she was on the right path, though.

"The way they went at it? Probably not. But, and I'm sorry this may not be fair, known a couple how your sister was in class. She'll like being the topic on his mind," Zania said. She looked briefly like she'd chewed a lemon before her cheer returned.

Rose looked around at her classmates feeding her Pokemon. Battered for whatever reason by life, but not broken. Aren't we a set? She thought. They didn't think she was broken either.

And neither did her two. She patted her two partners. Looking at Poppy's massive team, she was going to miss when they were this easy to cuddle later. Not that she intended to impede their growth. The stone was going to be an issue, eventually.

"You two almost ready to start?' she asked. The two growled back affirmatively. Ivy crouched down to pounce as Azucena flexed.

She looked at her fingers for a moment and rubbed them. Ivy was shedding a bit, not wilting in the heat fortunately. It was probably his growth rate spiking with a trainer. The fur brought something to mind.

"Oh, I didn't think about this earlier. Pokemon when they get knocked out will sometimes leave a trophy when they recover enough to leave if they really like a battle. It's usually clumps of fur or feathers, but they're energized enough to be noticeable. The elemental charge is useful for all sorts of things, so they have a good price," Rose said.

"You may want to hold on," Poppy said, "The League will sell TM disks at a much lower rate if you can trade the building materials for them. And sometimes they can help in training."

"I did not see that on the price list, but that explains the costs. Thank you," Rose said. Poppy nodded.

"Battling is just full of useful rewards, it seems. Let's do this!" Zania enthused.

---

"Okay, we're doing this. Battling wild Pokemon. Doing what you're told never to do and going off the path. It's the whole trainer thing, think combative thoughts, call moves, throw the ball. Easy, easy," Zania babbled a bit later. She stood at the edge of the path, carefully still on the road. A Starly in a tree looked at her curiously, then shrugged and flew off.

The four had walked west out of town until a small rise blocked even the Pokemon Center's spinning sign from view.

"Do you need more time?" Poppy asked kindly. She was kicking her legs on her massive, placid Magnezone.

"No. Yes. No. Maybe. No, I've wasted enough. Maybe," Zania dithered. She ran her fingers through her hair and then clutched her head.

"I hate being frazzled in front of people. I'm going in. Come on Fue-cutie," she called, deploying the little Fuecoco. The little croc posed, breathing a small tongue of flame in anticipation. Shoulders set, Zania stomped off the road into the underbrush, rapidly fading from view behind the greenery.

"Should we parallel Zania a bit or split off to find more opponents?" Rose asked. Poppy held up her hand.

An inquisitive chitter could be heard out of the forest followed by a shriek. "It's in my hair, it's IN MY HAIR. Burn it! Burn it! Ember!" There was a brief flare of orange light, then a slightly smoked Tarountula skittered into view out of the forest, half his webbing ball charred away. He saw the three trainers, did a ninety degree turn and ran along the tree line before hopping back out of view.

Poppy cupped her hands. "You good?" she shouted into the trees.

"There's another one! Get it, try to aim them a little tighter this time!" came an eagerly shouted command out of the shadows.

"She's fine," the three concluded in unison.

---

Rose in theory had imparted experience and muscle memory from that past existence, but she was seeing the difference between an Ace and a Master. Kieran's dozens of casual little tips had really smoothed out Ivy's physical movements in battle. Compared to her battle against Mei the cat was far smoother. She was sending altered suggestions base on them to Azucena as she waited in her ball for Ivy to need a rest.

Paldea's heavy Pokemon population was living up to the hype. Every time a battle finished, and Rose started mentally calling for a challenge again, a few more steps would have another contender. With the pharmacy's worth of Potions she'd been able to buy with her reward, Ivy's physical stamina was effectively limitless. They were getting more battle-sync time than she'd expected in a week within the first half hour.

The three had decided to give Zania some space since she was having fun. They'd spread into the trees near Los Platos. Ivy was on his third Lechonk in a row when he paused and flashed fangs at her as they dropped to out-of-combat levels. There was a dark glow gathering there, and she nodded. "I felt it too, you're definitely getting Bite coming in already," she said happily. Ivy meowed agreement.

"I wasn't expecting us to be able to dig this deeply. How tired are you? And don't hide it from me for once. You want to rest up to meditate it or try and push a little more power through?" Rose asked. She knelt to look more closely at Ivy's mouth. The Sprigatito pawed at the ground and sniffed.

"Still want that Fidough whose trailer we crossed at least?" she confirmed. Ivy meowed in agreement and then pointed a paw at her and kneaded it in the air.

"I know, I need to practice moving more. You're drinking up so much, I got distracted," Rose answered. She rubbed his head. This was the early surge, when it felt like there weren't limits, and battling was a rush. Ivy gave her a look, knowing her thoughts.

"I know, it's my job to watch your limits. Trainers need to train too, I know," Rose said. Ivy hmphed but turned back to the trail they'd been following. The paw tracks were meandering and closely paced, but the soil was still fresh where it'd pressed. Given Victor's data on the locals, it was either a Fidough or a Shroodle. There wasn't any pigment scrawled on the trees and the paws were probably too small for the latter.

Also, Rose suspected if a young Shroodle was this close to town, it'd be eager to show up a Grass trainer. They made a couple more turns around trees, and Ivy suddenly halted and hissed. It was indeed a Fidough, drinking from a stream. She lifted her head at seeing them and nodded once in approval, before she barked and charged at them.

Rose moved to the side and the pair closed their eyes briefly to focus. Inwardly, the web between them came alive again, a rush of motion and delight at being as alive as they could be. Linked up to guide, Ivy easily cleared the clumsy rush. Rose stumbled as she tried to follow the move, but at least moved. She was too close, being bipedal felt odd somehow.

She reached out to grab to empower a Tail Whip and paused, remembering Poppy's advice. She could get an idea from the odd motion which tendrils had the most effect, and tapped them, instead of grabbing everywhere. Ivy, able to adjust more on his side instead of having precise movements to follow, timed his spin of his tail just as the energy fully fed into the move he was forming.

It wasn't a lot of energy, but it startled the Fidough, and left her open for follow-ups. The move had delivered everything they'd given it, which was much better than their average.

Ivy spun a bit more before catching himself. He paused to look at the Fidough and her. Even without a lot of oomph, that's been the cleanest hit they'd landed so far. Ivy jumped in the direction he'd been pointing at Rose's natural warning, dodging another pounce from the Fidough.

Mom, we are having a talk at some point , Rose vowed. She'd previously had Ivy as almost a robot in battle, a remote extension of her instead of the two working in parallel. Hannah had described full battle-sync as that, with the more complicated maneuvers Pokemon could do with their moves in full trainer link.

Instead, with the two of them working on parts of the timing together, even if it was going to be a lot more practice, it was already feeling better. Ivy adjusting her instructions on the ground and Rose's view, the little Sprigatito readying the constructs as Rose channeled energy.

I'm so sorry Ivy for how I've been doing – sorry, pull left that's a feint into a lick -good dodge. I'm so sorry for – okay jump backwards and we should have a good spot for a Leafage, Rose's apology kept being interrupted by the battle, but Ivy sent back confidence. With the plan set, Rose tapped into the mass again. Able to look at it more instead of trying to tug it all into shape, it felt more and more she just wasn't grasping part of it, somehow, but she wasn't sure what she should be 'looking' at.

As the Fidough tried to slobber in another Lick, Ivy used his training from yesterday and his trainer's plan to backflip even as his mane glowed into a Leafage. The leaf distribution was a bit even, but the Fidough didn't have a trainer and couldn't take advantage. The little puppy yelped as she took the hit, visibly slowing.

Rose grinned and opened her mouth as she readied a Poke ball, but a raspy noise is all that came out. That was still a problem, apparently. Pokemon didn't speak, after all. More important things were in mind. She grasped the Poke ball and looked at the Fidough, trying to think of the pet shop as clearly as possible before she threw the ball.

The Fidough, recovering, slowed as she looked over. She'd gotten something through. The Poke ball's tracking was true and kept pace with the change in speed, tapping and opening against the Fidough, who glowed and sucked in.

Rose kept the contact light, thinking of the pet ball, the better fit the puppy would be introduced to, as the Fidough reached out. There was a brief flare, she could almost feel the little fairy-type's yeasty breath on her face as they hit a basic level.

The Poke ball wiggled once. The bond could still fray either way. This was as deep as pet owners got while Rose could almost swim in Ivy or Azucena's sensorium. She thought the positives and negatives of pet life. Constant food, but she definitely didn't want to promise a battler she couldn't be certain as the Fidough's eventual end partner.

There was hesitation, but the link held, and the ball wiggled twice more and clicked, definitively. The link settled, weak but there, the puppy sending distant but patient thoughts – they didn't come through as concepts like her partners, more as implications, but they came through. Capture complete.

Rose slumped down to the grass and Ivy panted, both breathless. After a few heartbeats Rose shrieked in glee as they dropped from battle sync and Ivy jumped in her arms. The two snuggled as she walked over to the Poke ball. Her very first capture!

They'd done it.

---

Her excitement faded a little as she looked at the ball, feeling a little guilty her first capture wasn't a team member. She patted the ball as she picked it up. "Okay, I'm going to send you somewhere nice and comfy where you can rest after that fight. I need the energy here, but it shouldn't be more than a few hours before I can send you along to where you'll be staying," she promised. She wasn't sure how much of the words got through, but the ball shook acceptance. It really was a link as thin as gruel compared to the richness of her partners.

Rose called her phone out of the pocket and found the management app. She tapped the transfer function. The Poke ball glowed and vanished into Paldea's wireless network. The app dinged, indicating a transfer as a down payment for the next day. It was a bit more than Rose had expected but the cost list attached indicated a meal had been requested immediately.

"I shouldn't be surprised a wild Pokemon was hungry. Look at Azucena," Rose said aloud. Ivy shrugged. His life had been fortunate. She took a photo of the area to commemorate. There was only a trickle of a creek and the light was terrible, but here was her first.

She looked over Ivy. He was a bit stiff-necked about letting damage come through the link. There were a few discolored spots from grazes so she gave him a few potion sprays. They faded away almost immediately. The bond kept Ivy safe from serious injuries while active but there was some feedback.

She looked at the group list for the day within the group chat half the class had established yesterday and sent a text. I got one!

There was understandably no immediate response, and she put the phone right away. Only to jump in surprise as it floated back up. Someone had started a group call and as she tapped accept three windows popped on screen.

"Congrats!" Zania said first. Wherever she was around Los Platos, it was as shady as this section.

Alamy waved briefly, but her face was tight with concentration. There was a sound of buzzing wings and splashes off camera. "Go into pound while it's shaking the water off!" Alamy ordered and there was an answering quack. She was busy.

"Which one?" Poppy called from an open field. And called was right, she was nearly shouting. The screen briefly danced with static as electricity crackled, and a bird screeched in the background. The picture suddenly tilted as flames passed by before righting itself to show Poppy again.

"Are you alright?" Zania asked.

"Just a Talonflame," Poppy said casually. There was an angry screech, and the camera ducked again – her Rotom phone wasn't having the best time. The screen whited out briefly and Rose jumped as the flash of lightning was visible where she was through the few gaps in the trees. A second later there was a crack of thunder. Zania flinched and Alamy looked at the screen in surprise, with a burst of surprised quacking coming from off-camera.

"Good try!" Poppy called off to the side and waved before she turned to look at her camera. "So, which one?" she asked again.

It took Rose a few seconds to gather her thoughts. Poppy really was in a whole different world at her capabilities.

"A Fidough!" Rose managed to get out.

"Congratulations!" Alamy said, "Bandwidth, pound from below, you have this!" There was a whacking noise from off-camera and Alamy nodded. She was still a bit distracted.

"Yay!" Poppy said, the camera shifting. Rose realized she was climbing back on her Magnezone to float off to find another opponent.

"I'm glad you're on our side," Zania quipped.

"Is everything still well, Zania?" Rose asked.

"It's, uh, a bit wilder than I realized out here but I've managed to battle a couple more. Fue-cutie is a tank," Zania bragged. She pushed the phone down briefly to highlight said Fuecoco, who didn' t miss his cue to wave.

"I did see a Pachirisu in a tree earlier, but it was not interested enough in me to stay in the ball," Alamy reported.

"Victor missed those," Poppy complimented. She twisted a little. "Ooh, a Jumpluff! Want to go?" There was an answering chitter.

The tri-attack that followed from Magney Rose could feel in her bones, and Zania flinched again.

"You're amazing, Poppy," Zania said once she recovered.

"I'm so glad we waited and had lunch!" Poppy enthused, "Word got around while we were waiting."

"Did you send a pulse for challenges? I missed it," Rose asked. She had been proud of her skills there before this week.

Poppy shook her head in response. "No, Rika made me promise not to invite them when I'm still in town. Not after last time," she explained.

"I really hope we can give you a good match someday," Rose said. Poppy grinned. Alamy nodded agreement, seemingly without realizing.

Zania shook her head but was smiling. "You see the heavens quake and it's a goalpost. Teach me your strange foreign ways."

---

A few more hours passed. The classmates had drifted to loop around Los Platos's south side. The more hilly terrain was much less agricultural than the north facing Mesagoza. At last check in, Alamy had found a compliant Pachirisu and an Igglybuff. Rose had two more Fidough willing to try the easy life and one of the local poisonous Wooper that'd clearly been lost away from water, but eager to turn its bad luck around. Zania had nearly gotten an Azurill.

The occasional tremor through the Earth or beams outshining the sun let Rose know Poppy was having a good time still. She'd switched so Ivy could get some rest and meditate on his breakthrough. Azucena was currently making triumphant gestures at a fleeing Combee before they started walking again. Rose didn't have a real destination in mind and was letting the wind take her where it would.

"Stun Spore range and speed is getting a lot better. They're still pretty compact puffs, but we can work on spread during the week. When we reach Sleep Powder all the same practice will apply," Rose promised. Azucena nodded happily and flexed. Combee and other bugs had been a real threat when the Petilil was wild, and Rose's little starter was on a power trip.

Rose looked forward and came to a stop. "Oh," was all she said, but her heart was beating. The tree in front of them was… different than the forest surrounding it. It was an oak like most of the trees but three or five times as wide around as most of the forest. This tree was venerable, and probably a parent to much of the current forest.

She walked up to it reverently. A plant of this age was nearly an altar. She closed her thoughts inward, to stop waving a mental banner looking for fights as she studied the tree. The bark was solid, and nearly unscarred. Azucena chirped a question.

"I don't know how old it is but might be back to the Empire at this size. If nothing's ready to challenge now, come and feel it. Let me know what you think," Rose directed. Azucena spun around in a survey, but they were in a lull. She gave a half-shrug and waddled over.

The little Pokemon put one of her grabbers on the three, and then jumped back, trilling in excitement, eyes gleaming.

"Yeah, something this long-lived is like an antenna for Grass. The Ranger used to meditate under these when she came across them. Outside a Gym deliberately cultivating power, this is as tightly elemental aligned as you'll find. A space like this is great for trainers working to improve their energy flow," Rose said happily. They still weren't far from town, so this was quite a find.

She sent a quick text she was taking a break and took her hat off. She sat cross-legged, with her back against the tree. She put Azucena's empty ball and Ivy's full one in her lap as Azucena climbed to her shoulder. With the feelings of her connections to her Pokemon, she reached out to the tree, using the whole unit of them tied together to use this beacon of the natural world to expand their connection.

Five minutes later she opened her eyes in frustration. Nothing was happening. Their energy, which she usually visualized as tendrils, was brushing against the tree's slow pulse but not connecting. If she tried to force one in place, the rest drifted further away. Azucena cheaped, assuring Rose she was feeling the advantage in this place, but she wasn't getting anything extra from Rose.

"She did this dozens of times. It's like how Gyms are set up, it should make sense here. I can feel it's right here and I can't mesh at all," Rose said, angry. She stood up after letting Azucena hop down and clipped her Poke balls back as she brushed herself off. She eyed the tree, and seriously considered kicking it.

"This isn't even alignment thing, it's just getting better with channeling grass to your partners," Rose complained. She rested her forehead against the tree. She was close enough she could feel the vitality. And everything in her was just going around it.

"What's wrong with me?" Rose asked, standing up straight. "We've been making progress, it's working!"

Azucena chirped reassurances, patting the tree.

"No, it's not you or Ivy, you're powered up here," Rose muttered to her starter. Azucena pointed to the sun, noting Rose hadn't been working that long.

"I'm not expecting to suddenly be Poppy, just so I can use some of what we opened today so far. Everything I've been told, grass as can be, and there it is. Dragons, what do you want with me? I am this!" Rose shouted at the tree. It echoed in the air. There wasn't anything to answer.

"Whatever, I'm just the sideshow. I'll put a marker so Mei can find it later. Let's find you some Fletchling," Rose growled, and set off, opening up her intent again for opponents. After a moment, Azucena followed, worried.

---

Another Lechonk down helped Rose calm down a little. Adrenaline and battle-sync were decent self-medication for attacking oneself. Even if everything was strange, she and her partners together could do far greater things than one alone.

Now that she was thinking a little more clearly, she called Poppy, but was immediately distracted from her questions.

"Is that a dragon?" Rose asked. Something long and serpentine was bobbing in the air behind Poppy.

"Two, he has a 'prentice," Poppy said casually. She peered at the screen.

"You look down. Did the break not help? Do you need a lift to town?" the Elite asked.

"Something just went unexpected. I wanted to ask some more advice, if you don't mind," Rose said. She started walking on automatic. Nervous energy to get away and drain in.

Poppy nodded, and Rose sighed in relief. She briefly explained her meditation difficulties.

Poppy beamed after the explanation finished.

"I've never had a 'prentice," Poppy mused, cheerful.

Rose ducked under a branch and said, "I'm flattered you would even consider me."

"But you are sort of floaty for what I do, so that may not work out," Poppy appraised. She thought briefly.

"A wild Pokemon appears! What's your first strategy?" Poppy asked.

"Use stun spore to limit its movements with Azucena so we can keep distance to power up with growth and drain it down. With Ivy, we go for a tail whip to leave it off balance for hit and runs," Rose answered right away.

"You've been thinking about this – that's good! And it's a good start to a battle style. Maybe annoying to try and counter, but it's a good basic strategy. But it's not my style. And there's a lot more to a forest than just trees," Poppy said.

"Oh, I see," Rose said, pausing her steps to consider. Almost subconsciously she started walking again after a second.

"Me? I'm all heavy metal so the forest is just something to go through. I don't know what should work for you, even if I'm really strong. But just because someone told you it would work doesn't mean you're wrong if it doesn't," Poppy said.

"Why does anyone ever think you're six?" Rose asked.

Poppy's smile drained to a sad expression. "Pokemon are all I know."

"I've lived in three regions and you speak all their languages better than I do, and more besides," Rose pointed out. Poppy's smile returned.

"Butter me up but you still can't be my 'prentice. I don't mind helping if you ask though," Poppy said. Rose giggled and they said their goodbyes on the call.

She looked around and stopped in confusion. She'd been walking on automatic and the woods around them were thinned to a few scattered trees. Ahead was a full break in the forest. The sun sparkled off a small mossy pond, with lush grass mixed with wildflowers filling the clearing and soaking up sunlight. Azucena stretched out to enjoy the photosynthesis as Rose checked the map.

"I didn't think the call was that long, but we covered quite a distance," Rose said aloud. She showed the map app to Azucena and traced a line on screen. "We were near Poppy but we're past Zania and near Alamy. I think this is technically Area Five."

Azucena chittered a suggestion. "It could be a Pokemon messing with us but why spend that kind of energy on us? It's too bright for Ghost pranks either," Rose commented. Azucena mimed thinking.

Rose looked around the clearing. No Pokemon were in sight, but they had their tricks for avoiding human line of sight when they wanted. The sun shone down and Rose was glad for her hat. Mist was gathering on the pond despite the heat, so Rose figured an underground spring was keeping the pond full and cool.

The wind picked up and swirled around them briefly, floating seeds and petals filling the air for a moment around Rose and Azucena. Every breath and movement scattered them into new patterns of light and shadow. Even a gentle touch reverberating. For a second, Rose felt like she could taste something, but it was suddenly overridden by the taste of ozone.

The petals whirled away, leaving a visible series of sparks coming out of the woods. Azucena started prepping an Absorb (decent size given it was her own effort) in anticipation.

A Ralts waded determinedly into the clearing out of the higher undergrowth in the trees. Rose couldn't help it and gave a low whistle. The species was notorious for rarely having interest in human contact or battles. There weren't a lot of them overall, either.

The Ralts froze on seeing another trainer pair in the clearing. Behind her, Alamy and Resistor pushed out from the trees, both breathing heavily. The little Feeling Pokemon looked back and forth. Whatever had attracted her she wasn't getting from Rose.

Azucena let the glowing green ball dissipate as Rose raised her hands, palms open. She carefully sat down while keeping her hands up. "We just wandered here, this is between you three," Rose said calmly. Alamy nodded thanks.

"Thundershock again, please," Alamy called. Resistor rubbed her cheeks and sent another zap forward that sent the Ralts tumbling back. She righted herself quickly and looked again at Rose nervously. She wasn't liking what she was seeing.

I'm messing this up for Alamy, Rose thought with clarity. The Ranger had a Gardevoir, Amarilys, and Rose had memories of dozens of battles. She couldn't help but look at one and think about their combat potential, and so the vibes she was sending weren't comfortable for one looking for a pet life.

She closed her eyes; meditation seemed the easiest answer. Sudden movements could spook the Ralts into teleporting away. Azucena climbed into her lap and assumed a lotus pose. This spot was such a mix of energies she should have her own energies and intent shoved inward. She really didn't want to scare away such a rare find, especially with the Kalosian building confidence.

Find my stillness, let my inner eye expand and GREAT DRAGONS AROUND ME! Rose's thoughts were interrupted in sheer surprise. This place was alive to her, almost feeling like a natural extension. Light and color and flowing energy swirled through the grass and flowers, up and down again. Azucena muttered to herself in surprise.

The Ralts yelped and started to concentrate in a panic. Rose couldn't pull her thoughts away. She'd not really had a chance to meditate in an aligned area since getting Pokemon, but it was a natural fit. And the waves of spatial distortion as the Ralts built a Teleport stood out, a break of order in the chaos. She opened her eyes – it wasn't helping, and a faint glow was starting to be visible around the little psychic/fairy.

Pokemon used moves in trainer battles, as long as their was one trainer – their own fights were different and more definitive. But without a trainer, it was random, and Ralts roulette wheel had landed on Teleport.

Resistor, interestingly, was already braced on all fours in anticipation of an attack call, cheek sacs already sparking with a built charge. Alamy shot a nervous glance at Rose, however.

The grass trainer realized two things quickly. First, Alamy had been a very naughty girl by her standards this afternoon. Second, she wasn't ready to give the call in front of her classmate.

Rose quickly shut her eyes again. "Meditating, closed off to the outer world," she announced loudly.

"Nuzzle!" Alamy called, and Rose heard the zap of electricity at the same time as the thump of physical contact. The waves of building distortion slowed, piled up and then stopped, the natural pattern reasserting itself.

There was a brief feeling of 'restriction' passing through, but Rose and Azucena were in the nimbus, and it was focused on Resistor. Locking in an electric-type, the element of motion, was like trying to stop the planet's rotation, and Ralts's natural ability failed to paralyze.

There was a woosh through the air, a crack of transmutation to energy, followed by a click. A bright point suddenly diminished, swallowed into Alamy's orbit. The flowers rustled three times and there was a latch closing. Rose relaxed.

Relaxing may have been a mistake. She fell further into the cloud around her. There was Azucena and her and a tiny and vibrant part of the world. There was energy here, not how she'd expected to be so available to her. Light and traces of a dozen species. Millions of small roots, and the constant flow to the water. Azucena tensed in her lap. They were close to something.

She felt like a dull skeleton among it all, young and a seedling and parts not yet grown in. She could feel it on the wind, she'd been led here. Ivy pulsed contentment in his ball, a thousand points of light to bat around and play with and manipulate were fine to him. She reached out mentally, feeling another representation of a petal. It chimed, and a dozen others echoed it, moved from the touch.

There was something so close, she could feel it was so close and –

A pressure on her shoulder brought the three of them back to themselves. Rose's eyes opened to find Alamy right in her face, looking at her with concern and touching her shoulder. Their spark had been too weak to register among the light. Rose and Azucena scooted backwards in surprise at the sudden presence in the material. The Kalosian and Resistor both bowed deeply in a way Hannah's etiquette lessons would find no fault in.

"I'm sorry if I woke you but thank you so much," Alamy said, fervent.

"It's not been like that before. I don't know why. But you did catch her?" Rose asked.

Alamy nodded, her phone floating by her. "I already sent the Poke ball to storage," she explained. She sighed.

"Thank you for indulging my stupidity," she added.

"Nothing you did was offensive," Rose said simply.

"I am hung up because my parents dislike a strategy. And I am also irritated at myself. Just using it this afternoon I can see three potential counters. It is not some unfair win button by any means," Alamy said.

"Before or after it lands?" Rose asked, the competitive part of her intrigued.

"Two before, one after. If I knew it would be a factor in a battle two more after," Alamy answered. Rose nodded.

"The better you two refine it the more you'll see the weak spots in your own technique to cover. You'll have a dozen more by the time you fall asleep tonight," Rose predicted and patted Aucena.

"That little surge was Mega Drain starting to come in?" Rose queried. The Petilil nodded in response.

"I may stay here for a bit. This place feels right somehow. Do you feel anything here?" Rose asked Alamy.

Alamy looked around. "It's beautiful. Bandwidth would like the pond, if it is deep enough. But for Pokemon energies? It's very bright, they both like a bit wetter. And tall trees are more interest to Resistor with how she loves storms," Alamy said.

She frowned slightly. "Should I?" she queried.

"I'm not sure? I didn't think I would," Rose answered.

There was a buzzing at the edge of the woods. The two turned to see a Combee poking out from behind a tree. He had a strained expression.

"He must be here for the flower nectar," Alamy said.

Rose checked the time. "I suppose it is getting late enough it's cooling down. If we're bothering the wildlife, we'll need to split up and I'll double back," she said.

"How are you holding up?" Rose asked, standing up after setting Azucena down.

"I will be sore tomorrow, but my boots are holding up fine," Alamy said.

"I hope Zania isn't being stupid brave," Rose said, "She hasn't said anything about her feet."

The two walked towards the edge of the clearing back towards town. Resistor waved at the cowering Combee as they left, who shrank back.

"I know the sun will still be out for a bit, but I do not want to eat dinner then face a flying Taxi. Another hour or so?" Alamy suggested.

Rose gave another glance at the clearing. There was something like a chime on the edge of sense, but more distant. Something was leaving for now. She made sure she had the spot marked on her map.

"I agree," she said, "Let's check in and we can get back to it a bit."

---

Rose doubled back but the clearing was swarming with Combee, like a hold had been broken over it, or an enchantment gone. She would have to come back closer to midday when the heat would keep the bugs down. She and her team went back to challenging wild Pokemon again.

It was about an hour and half since the Ralts when everyone gathered up at the Los Platos Pokemon Center again and looked at their score for the day. The nurse was looking a bit aghast at having a dozen Pokemon in queue.

While that was going on, they'd sat a table with drinks from the machine – the selection was exactly the same as Mesagoza.

Poppy had been trying to train Fuecoco a bit but mostly letting her Pokemon work in a way they couldn't safely at Naranja. Most of the Pokemon who'd come to challenge her advanced team were far too proud and battle-hardened to be pets. She had stumbled on a Pawmi, though.

Alamy had the crowning achievement of a Ralts. She also had captured two Pachirisu, the Igglybuff, a Fidough, and a Buziel.

Rose had three Fidough, the wooper, a Bonsly Ivy had accidentally tried to sharpen his claws on, and a late Pachirisu addition.

Zania had finally managed an Azurill after several attempts at different members of the species. It did have the Huge Power ability, which would be useful as a work Pokmeon. She'd also convinced a Shroodle and a Fidough. Her larger haul was a collection of unusual colored mushrooms, herbs, some bark, and even a few rocks she'd chipped free. Her most colorful non-toxic examples were laid out on the table.

Rose didn't have a better word to describe Zania's reaction to her collection but nerding out over it.

"No Berries this close to town, all the locals have picked over the trees. This one with the purple leaves I've seen at an herbal supplements shop in Mesagoza, but it's pricy. Most everything I've seen in plant catalogs but you have to post for a trainer to get most of these special."

"And I bet if you wanted mushrooms in bulk you'd need a someone with grass or poison Pokemon," Rose commented.

"Trainer commissions with type requirements are pricy," Zania confirmed, "My parents are encouraging, but not that encouraging."

"It is something I hope to grab a couple when I'm farther along. If the price list for today is right, I'll make up some of the Potions I used up today but this kind of training pace is expensive," Rose said.

"I think I overbought on Poke balls, so I should be good for a while. It's going to be move practice and battle strategies for us a bit after this workout," Alamy said.

"You guys all did great for keeping up a pace like you did. You wouldn't have captured so many," Poppy said. She waved her phone to flip around, and showed some lines she'd drawn on the map, with their progress of the day.

"Look how far everyone was able to go!" Poppy marveled. She traced a green line briefly and scanned Rose up and down.

"You've put in a lot of work since lunch. Did you find your not-tree?" Poppy asked.

"Maybe, but I'll have to come back. All this effort pushed Azucena and Ivy to some move breakthroughs, but they need development. If I could afford this every day and didn't have classes, Ivy would probably evolve soon. I'm really proud of their progress," Rose said. She stretched. Now that she was sitting her back and shoulders were stiff from her pack.

Electronic storage kept the weight at one level no matter what you put in but the base weight of the pack was still a bit heavy as slight as she was.

Zania watched the stretching and said ruefully, "I'm afraid I locked up when I sat down. I'm going to waddle to the Taxi like I'm ancient. But Fi-cutie's going to get extra treats tonight! The boots have been perfect, no warm spots or anything!" She twisted, very slowly, her leg to highlight said boot. They were scuffed and grass strained from a day out.

"That's great news," Rose said, meaning it.

"I don't suppose I can ask your Bronzong to carry me to the taxi?" Zania continued to Poppy.

"Bronzy isn't very comfortable to sit on with how its shoulders are. It's more use psychic powers to punch than the tele-kin, teke-kin," Poppy's face screwed up and she sighed, "the mind move stuff," she fnished.

"Well, it was worth a shot," Zania said equably.

There was a bell chime, and the nurse came out from behind the desk with a large tray slotted with holes for Poke balls. She set it down, then paused and twisted it ninety degrees so everyone had their partners in front of them.

"Just some stamina recovery and a few minor injuries. Good job on keeping them watered out there. I've had new students come in with their partners exhausted," the nurse praised.

She looked around, though no one else was at the Center, and bent down conspiratorially. "I'm glad you all are fine. Something strong was moving through the area. We could see big energy flashes and hear it all afternoon from town."

Poppy opened her mouth to reply but Zania rushed to get ahead of her, raising her hand as she did so. "Question: Do you get senior wild Pokemon close to town often?"

"The older folks in town said it used to be once a year. This summer wild Terastal Pokemon have been trying to nest in the fields or close to the roads. They pick fights with everyone when they're out of a crystal," the nurse said.

"I didn't see any bounties posted for the sector today," Poppy said.

"That battle maniac girl from Cabo Paco grabbed the whole list a few days ago. Said she didn't want a friend to have any battle distractions. I'm sure more will move back in soon. Tera Energy's high all over. The summer session doesn't have a Treasure Hunt so the crystals are all full, I'm sure," the nurse said.

"Everything we saw today, someone in the group was able to handle it," Alamy said politely. Poppy giggled. The nurse nodded, and after they reclaimed their Pokemon, she took the tray back to the counter.

Poppy waited until the nurse was out of easy earshot to say solemnly, "I definitely checked this morning though, since you don't have Tera Orbs yet."

"Thank you, Poppy. Are the bounties not very good, if only students go for them?" Rose asked.

"I dunno. There are so many raid crystals though. Pokemon used to stay in them just to soak up power until some trainers challenged them. Now wild Pokemon are squabbling over the crystals or the Tera Pokemon are laving and being big bullies until their charge runs out," Poppy said.

"'This summer' seems to be repeating a lot for Paldea," Alamy noted.

"Don't look at me. My family got here three weeks ago," Rose said, a trifle nervous.

"It's my fault. There are people who said the world would break before I passed the history part of the entrance exam," Zania said drily. She held a straight expression long enough the others started to get worried, before bursting into laughter, setting off a general round of giggles.

"Great events accompany great trainers' starts, according to legend. You're some young prodigy just starting to bloom into a demigoddess. Stabilize the region, beat the Champion, inspire everyone," Rose suggested, smiling.

"But we have one of those with Florian! Except the demigoddess part," Poppy said. That brought the mood down.

"Well, that's a load off me, then," Zania offered.

"A champion can't be everywhere. Trainers should do what they can," Rose warned righteously. She clutched her necklace.

The dragons didn't think anything was going on, but what's a god's perspective to a burnt field? Then, there was always something for the Ranger to do, Rose thought to herself.

Alamy rushed Resistor's cheek above the electric sac. "There is always work to do, then, but later," she stated. The Kalosian stood and then wobbled and grabbed her vacated chair.

"I would prefer taking the Taxi back to Naranja directly. I think I am done for the day," she said shakily.

"We still need to go to Bow's Friends," Rose reminded her apologetically. Alamy said something in Kalosian Rose didn't know, but the Ranger had heard from Team Flare members.

---

"This is a Ralts," Arrow said for the second time, holding the Poke ball in question.

"Yes, she was interested in a pet arrangement," Alamy repeated. She turned and mouthed a question.

Rose nodded back, and mouthed, "I understood you."

"No, I understand the words. And the Pokemon species. Just, why here? I mean, yes, I'll take it. Happily. Conscience demands, though, even over business, that I tell you that Ralts are worth three or four times as much in a private sale then what I put on the sheet," Arrow said.

"So my first week of school I would be trying to care for a delicate Pokemon while investigating potential buyers. Even the League notes your Pokemon placement skills, so I trust you can find a trainer for her needs," Alamy said.

"I still feel a bit dirty, but you're making the mature decision. Let me show you the Ralts box, though," Arrow said. He put the Poke ball down and went into the back.

He came out a minute later with a purple box, painted with several sigils in pink. It had several glass portholes and a small Ralts-sized door in the side.

"I've only gotten to use this once, but it worked great. It's psychically warded so all the human population won't overwhelm her without a trainer link to focus on. The portholes and doors all can be covered and kept closed from the inside, so she can have as much contact as she likes," Arrow explains.

"I would not be able to provide that," Alamy said.

"You seem well-prepared for it anyway," Rose noted.

"You would not believe the line this place got last time when word got around. They need peace and quiet. They're friendlier than Hattena about it, but some people just want them because they're rare," Arrow said, sounding tired.

"Jerks," Zania said from where she was sitting down. They'd run her through first so she could get off her feet. The Shroodle was already decorating his enclosure. Arrow had hung a few perfume atomizers to cover the smell.

"I don't think they would mistreat a Ralts, but their first though isn't them as Pokemon. Pokemon in general rely a lot on emotional contact over the content. Someone loving them as an object isn't comfortable in the long run, but it's hard for them to distinguish," Arrow explained.

Alamy was tapping on her phone for a second. "Are you keeping her?" Arrow asked, sounding both dismayed and hopeful.

"Absolutely not, you know how to care for her far better than I. I'm making a note. Trainers who shouldn't sounds like an interesting 'cast idea in the future," she explained.

"It doesn't get enough coverage," Arrow agreed. He tapped a number out with a stylus.

"This is what I'm willing to pay for all your captures," he said.

Alamy looked at the number and her eyes widened briefly before she got under control. Resistor had less self-control and whistled, echoing her trainer's amazement.

"That seems fine," she said, smooth and controlled, "Just I am glad they will get good homes. I did my best to promise." Poppy and Rose nodded.

"If you need to send the League after me, I'm right here," Arrow promised. He held up an electronic pad. The two touched the ball together on it, letting Arrow take the connection. Alamy looked at her fingers in surprise as she lifted them and rubbed them together.

"Even a little time with Pokmeon leaves traces," Poppy said.

Alamy looked around the shop before rubbing her fingers again. "I think everyone wins, but I was not expecting that," she stated.

"Let's finish this up and get everyone else," Arrow prompted.

Alamy finished and hung back as Poppy and Rose processed theirs quickly. They limped back to the taxi stand, the two battle trainers supporting Zania. As the door on Bow's Friends swung shut, Rose saw the Igglybuff being added to the front group. They greeted the new addition with open arms.

"Aww," she cooed, but couldn't stop to watch.

"I hope that didn't bring up bad memories," Poppy said as they walked with Zania gripping them as impromptu crutches.

"What? Mister Arrow seems to take his job as temporary trainer very seriously," Rose said.

"I mean with handing the captures over. You did great this time," Poppy said.

"I really didn't have any partners before Azcuena and Ivy. I tried a couple times, but Mom was too alert," Rose said.

She sighed after a few moments' reflection. "Everyone just kept moving on," she said absently and winced.

"Don't worry, we're stuck together for the next couple of years," Zania assured her.

"Given we did our best to encourage you to run yourself into the ground, I know you mean it," Rose said, smiling. Zania grinned back.

"You can't get rid of us!" Poppy promised excitedly.

"Why would she want to?" Alamy asked simply.

"Thanks," Rose said to her friends, throat suddenly thick.

"You did me a lot of favors here. I'm a mess right now, but I'm so glad I did this. I know I can now, even without you as bodyguards. Maybe not this much at once, but I'm not stuck in a city," Zania said, determined.

"The Treasure Hunt will have surprises, but just surviving the outdoors will not be one," Alamy said.

"I haven't been able to let everyone out in a bit. That was a good rampage," Poppy reflected.

---

"I see it's some of our senior students back on school grounds," Miriam teased. She was working through a box of cream puffs, on duty at the Taxi stand for new arrivals.

"If I could raise my arms above my elbows, I would disagree," Rose said. She and Poppy each held one of Zania's arms as she stood up slowly in the Taxi. Her weight had been off her feet long enough, the blood had rushed back. The Paldean gave a yelp as the weight went on.

Miriam was on her feet and by them almost instantaneously, with her Toxapex being called out. "Any blisters?" the health professor asked. Zania shook her head, tears in the corners of her eyes.

"It's just the heels," she gasped. Poppy and Rose shifted, trying to take all the weight they could. Rose inhaled sharply as Zania pressed down where the pack had been riding.

"It's fine," Rose lied as the pressure sharply eased off. "I need a hip belt for that pack, though." She'd never had to wear it so long consecutively on her trips with Mei and Hannah.

"Did you all take painkillers already?" Miriam asked. She lifted one of Zania's shoes – she'd switched out of the boots – and pulled it off, pulling down the sock briefly to inspect the skin.

"In the Taxi," Alamy answered, hobbling like she had arthritis as she got out herself. She really wanted a hot bath. The Squawkabilly screamed, making everyone jump, as they took off to make room at the stand.

"They should kick in soon. How are you, Poppy?" Miriam asked.

"Steel trainer, and I rode part of the day. I can hold it off to bed," Poppy answered.

"Don't try to do it indefinitely, I know it's tempting," Miriam said, and put Zania's shoe back on and checked the other foot.

"There's swelling, but it doesn't look like any blisters," Miriam explained. Zania sighed in relief.

"These three really talked up how bad those are," Zania said, and winced as she stepped.

"Are the elevators to the dorm floors busy still today? It's, what, seven?" Zania asked.

"We had two Taxis land a few minutes ago. Another is scheduled in five minutes. Everyone seems to be moving in tonight," Miriam answered.

"Okay, let's go sit in the cafeteria and eat while the meds do their work. I can't handle the stairs," Zania admitted. Poppy brought her Magnezone out – there was more space than the Paldean streets, and Zania sat gratefully on its hard carapace. She nodded thanks.

"Are you sure you can make it?" Miriam asked. Zania winced again but nodded. Their homeroom teacher recalled Toxapex.

"If it seems more than sore in the morning, go right to Nurse Barnaby. That goes for all of you," she directed. The four nodded and slowly set off.

"And take it easier tomorrow! Victory Road isn't built in a day!" she called after them.

---

"I feel olllld," Zania complained as she set her tray down. Poppy's Magnezone would tear through the floor with the cafeteria above ground level. She'd been able to walk on her own, but slowly. She put plates down for both her Pokemon, who tore into the food right away.

"Is it any better?" Alamy asked.

"Walking did help a little with the stiffness," Zania said, rubbing her calves.

"I wish we could bounce back as quickly as they do," Alamy said, rubbing Resistor. She pointed at Poppy and Rose who were much fresher and had opened their mouths.

"I'm in no condition to consider that decision right now. Do not give her ideas," Alamy said, miming she was covering ears by putting hands on the sides of Resistor's head. She chuckled, but tired. Resistor wasn't up for pushing through either at the moment. Bandwidth looked back and forth.

Rose closed her mouth and changed subjects. "I wish I had an idea why he's so nervous all the time," she said, pointing at Alamy's duck. Azucena was resting her 'roots' in a bowl of water as Ivy scarfed food.

Bandwidth flinched at the attention and ducked his head to concentrate on his food bowl. "I am not sure why either," Alamy said, "I thought he would be a good foil to Resistor. I feel more and more I dragged him to something he did not expect. What link I do have gives stress. He is fine in matches but the rest of the time he almost seems to expect being put to roast on a spit."

"Maybe put something on the school's site as a request. There must be a few water specialists in the student body, as many water types as there are," Zania suggested. Alamy nodded.

"Are you worried about being replaced?" Poppy asked. Bandwidth looked over, surprised but not agreeing.

"Alamy can switch your Tera type these days. You would be a kickboxing, water-spraying Electric type if you wanted," Poppy explained. Bandwidth considered that, and then shrugged. That didn't seem to be it.

"Trading Pokemon feels a bit odd to me now, even as little I had with those ones today. Letting go felt strange," Alamy said.

"It's commerce, with both sides hopefully coming out ahead," Zania reflected.

"It was a Pokemon donation. Those feel a little different, even with getting money or something back. A normal trade something fills the hole right away. I have some Pokemon I got from Boo-Blueberry Academy this summer for some of Tinkie's eggs," Poppy explained. Tinkie hopped on the table from where she'd been eating, having heard her name. Popppy rubbed her head and smiled.

"She left her hammer," Rose warned.

"The table would flip over. Tinkie worked hard on that hammer. It's really heavy," Poppy said. Tinkie flexed some muscles before jumping down to resume eating.

"How do you feed everyone with the Academy's weight limit?" Rose asked.

"I thought of that already! I go to one of the battle courts and set them out on the track," Poppy said, full of cunning.

"Oh, did you hit the track today?" a voice interrupted. A dull-green haired boy from their class was passing by with a bagged meal. Rose's classamtes looked hesitant.

"Hello Kern," Rose identified him politely and the others relaxed. Names tagged to faces with her recall was easy.

"Were you hitting one of the tracks? You all look like you had a busy Saturday," Kern repeated.

"We went catching," Zania said, rubbing her calves again.

"Wow. I mean, we have the whole year, you know?" he said with a laugh.

"These weren't for our teams, just training and for pets," Poppy explained.

"Working on a Saturday. Half of you look ready to hit your beds, and the other half already have," Kern joked.

"We would except the dorm elevators are still busy," Alamy said, a bit stiffly.

"You should ask about my Saturday then," Kern prompted.

"How was your Saturday?" Zania asked tonelessly.

"Glad you asked! I was exploring this maze of an Academy. If you take the elevator to the biology floors, you can cross over to the dorms with your passes. There's a couple steps down so you can't move furniture that way," Kern explained, delighted.

"Thank you," Zania said, relieved she wasn't stuck here. Kern waved and moved on, still chuckling. Zania waved again as he walked out the door then her face fell.

"I don't want to work, why should you?" Zania muttered, and rubbed her calves again.

"Not to pile on Zania," Alamy said, cautious, "Rose, did he say he was from Paldea?"

"Medali, wherever that is," Rose answered.

"Northwest part of the region, near the Crater," Zania clarified.

"Seeing bad habits?" Rose asked Zania.

"I'm starting to be aware, and I can't help it now. You all are a terrible influence," Zania said.

Alamy pointed at Poppy and gave the devil's argument. "Poppy is ten and at almost the apex of training. She is from Paldea," Alamy said.

"I only applied to Naranja because Florian invited me to Blueberry to lecture. It would have been rude to say no, but seeing the Academy, it didn't seem so bad," Poppy admitted.

"Most of our good habits are tips we were taught for training, Zania. You may be reading too much into it," Rose said, hesitant.

"You don't entirely believe that," Zania shot back. Rose sighed and nodded.

"But you're probably partially right. Kieran's only a few years older than us and is Champion-grade. It makes everyone seem like slackers," Zania mused.

"Well, except you Poppy," she amended after a second. The little Steel trainer grinned.

"But if we don't have to slack off here, I'm shoveling this down, as good as it is, so I can slack in my room," Zania announced. Her friends nodded.

"I have to go feed my other friends after this. Will you be okay at the elevator?" Poppy asked.

"It'll be slow, but I'll get there," Zania promised.

---

Zania made it, indeed. Though their combined ground speed was something that could only impress a lamed Torkoal. The elevators were indeed empty and unlockable with their IDs. Their ride up was in silence.

Alamy held the door as Rose got off, a floor down from theirs. "You did not ask me at lunch. I am not a battle trainer, but I have had some matches," Alamy prompted. Zania looked back and forth.

"Whatever you would have said at lunch, you wouldn't have really meant it," Rose said quietly.

"Thank you," Alamy said.

"What would you say now?" Zania asked.

"That Resistor and I are getting closer to finding it," Alamy said, determined.

"I think so," Rose answered. There was a lightness to both of them at dinner, despite the fatigue. She thought of a Budew another self knew, and looked at Alamy, considering. It was probably close, but that was too happy a surprise to spoil.

Alamy took a deep breath. "I will help with the Hoppip, but can we rush the roof? I have something to show you."

"Of course," Rose said, "Should I dress for anything?"

"Just indoors," Alamy answered.

"What about me?" Zania asked in mock outrage.

"Both of us keep waking up before six," Alamy said.

"Have fun you too," Zania said immediately.

"I probably will be at the school fields or training rooms in the afternoon. If I remember what Kieran said, some of the top Naranja students will be sparring at the school courts tomorrow afternoon," Rose said.

Zania nodded understanding. "I am interested in seeing the big names come out to play," she said.

"With schoolwork starting, this will be our last chance for serious training before the Hunt," Alamy predicted.

"Good luck let us get a lot more done than I thought. Refining moves are easier to do on your own than exercise up your power," Rose said brightly.

"We've been lucky," Zania agreed, "Though my dad likes to say 'Luck isn't anything unless you use it."

"Good saying," Alamy said. The door started to beep, irritated at being blocked open. Alamy let it go and waved as it closed. Rose started walking to her room. She could manage a good pace, but her shoulders were tender, if not bruised.

Rose called Ivy out for the walk. "Good day," she commented again. Ivy meowed agreement and briefly mimed sharpening his claws against each other, and then clicked his jaws closed. Three was a hint of shadows around both.

" Both coming in? And Azucena's a push from mega drain, too. We're doing great together," Rose said. Ivy meowed agreement again. They walked in silence, but as Rose started descending the stairs, the little Sprigatito paused and pointed at Rose's belt with his tail when it was level with him.

"No, I still want to hold off a third partner. Capturing today wasn't much of a drain but a third partner would need a lot more of me. I need to make sure I can keep up with you guys," Rose said with a smile.

Ivy purred a comment as they continued after the stairs.

"You got something too in the clearing? If Mei isn't busy maybe we can spend some time out there and figure it out. Mom's meditation training never suggested a mixed setting would do any better than our dorm room. And the Ranger stuck to big trees," Rose said.

Ivy gave a hacking cough. "I'm sure Mei got enough battling today she needs to spend some time refining. She'll be in a better mood, too," Rose said, more prayer than prediction.

Ivy gave a hissing laugh, his best approximation of a human snigger. "This week has been very strange, be nice to her," Rose admonished.

The next section was actual dorm, but before their 'wing'. This one was mainly humanities students and they brought more equipment with them. It was full of people dragging items too big for digital storage, or just meeting up with each other or family saying goodbye. It was too noisy for conversation.

Rose borrowed Ivy's grace as the two slid through and around people without bumping anyone. It didn't take long to reach the door to their section, which thankfully shut out the noise.

Rose checked by the common area and kitchenette. Two girls Rose had seen at the floor meeting were watching a variety show on the main couch. One shifted as Rose's steps approached, seemingly angry. Rose halted in confusion.

The dark-blue haired one laughed. "It's fine, you can come in." She nudged her couchmate, also an older teenager but with white streaks through dark hair.

"Hey, relax. See? That's the quiet one from the meeting. The other one has longer hair," the first one pointed out.

Rose bowed. "I was actually just checking if my sister was here to talk. So I think I'll continue to my room." The two on the couch waved.

"She's probably still out. No one's thumping the whole wing," the irritated one called out. Her friend mock cuffed her on the back of her head and laughed again.

Rose and Ivy exchanged a look after she left.

Rose waited to speak until the door clicked shut. "No, I have no idea what that was about," she stated.

Rose called Azucena out and waved her phone out of her pocket. She sat down on her bed as her Pokemon stretched and yawned.

"If it wasn't for you two, I'd be out already. I don't have long left in me, but I bet Mei wants to talk about her wins," Rose commented. She glanced out the window. The sun was sitting fast and after a day like this, when the photosynthesis cut out her partners were going to be asleep. Everyone had made it to ten a few days ago, but that had been with a midday nap.

Azcuena planted herself in her topsoil and asked a question.

Rose rubbed her shoulders but nodded. "Yes, there's other stuff, but this is mainly about Paldea. We'd be here without the dragons, so I don't think it's some holy quest. Humans and Pokemon aren't perfect, there's always something."

"But there's some negative trend here. I think it's something we need to reconsider our plans for, or we shouldn't call ourselves trainers."

---

Notes:

Arceus might have different ideas than Rose when it comes to sending trainers along to Hisui, but that's the Original One's prerogative. Lesser Legendaries work within the system established.

A couple ten years old from regions with stronger Leagues probably have a different idea about what sort of interest one of the Leauge's email accounts would give (PokePal, or something similar as a financial transfer service, I'm sure) over that of the school. They meant well, at least.

A trainer not seeking confrontation ('wading through the tall grass' as it were) would get a few Pokemon interested just from being in the area, but at a much slower rate. Paldea's high Pokemon population near routes increases the encounter rate as well, the girls didn't have to go very deep.

Poppy's Fuecoco should be getting a boost from seeing and the energy expenditures of fighting high-level wild Pokemon, but she's still working on that and it bothers her. Her case as a specialist is unusual compared to even Rose and Mei's rather extreme example.

Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter will be shorter, and a bit different.