Accompanied by Emma, our heroine returns to the now-peaceful Santalune Forest. Opting to decline the invitation to enlist in the knights, Citrata and Emma are satisfied the Braixen card is in good hands with its missing owner's teammates.
"Axew sure is hungry." Citrata shakes some berries off a tree.
"Axew?" As if curious about something, Axew gulps a large berry, then wanders down a narrow cobblestone path nearly overgrown with bushes.
Concerned for the Pokémon's safety, Citrata and Emma follow it to a clearing. A young woman paying respects to a small, moss-covered shrine sets aside her flower and turns around to see what's going on.
"Hello again." It's Heather, elegant as usual. Under nature's light, the white miko costume dazzles even more.
"Axew!" The joyful little Pokémon opens its mouth in a pattern, like it wants to sing.
"What's that?" Heather watches Axew's feet twitch a bit. "Yes, I can sing for you."
The charming maiden's melody tells a romantic tale of a couple in Johto who met at a similar shrine, eventually falling in love when the cherry trees were in full bloom.
"That was really good!" Emma claps at the soothing performance.
"I haven't felt like this before." Citrata sips some tea offered by Heather.
Citrata and Emma retrieve Axew, waving goodbye to their friend. Continuing north on the trail, our heroine's group soon reaches the edge of the forest. They look around as the garden-themed Santalune City enters sight.
"We're almost there." Citrata pops up a basic map of Kalos on her Pokédex. "My first Pokémon gym is somewhere in this town!"
"I'll be rooting for you." Emma smiles, explaining she's not seeking to challenge the Pokémon League circuit.
"Alola!" A burly middle-aged man leans on a lamppost. "New trainers headed to town, I presume?"
"My name is Citrata." The unfamiliar greeting is lost on Citrata and her companion.
"Oh, no." The man chuckles. "It's a greeting from my homeland, the Alola islands. If you're looking for the gym, I think it's on the west side."
As our heroine and company enter the city, the scent of flowers softly breezes through the air. It appears the suspicious traveler misunderstood something though! The place Citrata and Emma find nestled between fancier shops is not a Pokémon League gym, but a boxing gym!
"The Fighting Vigor Gym?" Emma's eyes sparkle at the championship belts and news articles posted in the building's windows. "Cici, I don't see any Pokémon here."
"Gee, that old coot was way off the mark." Against her better judgment, Citrata enters the gym anyway. Emma shrugs and follows her in.
The room is steeped in athletic equipment. Sparring rings, weight benches, heavy bags, like every imaginable tool for the pugilistic arts.
"Hey there. Are you kids lost?" Understandably, the reception desk clerk is perplexed why someone like Emma would be here without a parent or guardian.
"I'm not a minor." Most accustomed to baseball, Citrata glances over at the various people in the rings, weaving about and punching each other. "What the heck, sign me up."
"I have a bad feeling about this." Emma sighs, her expression shifting to concern for her friend's safety.
Called over by the clerk, a fitness instructor sizes up Citrata's physique.
"I take it you've been keeping in shape." The woman holds a pencil to her notepad, prepared to write something. "Saralyn, nice to meet you."
"Citrata, Cici." Citrata shakes the instructor's hand. "Actually, I tried out for baseball in school."
"Very well." Saralyn takes notes of details like Citrata's name and weight. "Let's get started."
Citrata visits the locket room to change into sparring gear.
"Did you hear about that giant Flygon?" A somewhat older boxer training to recuperate from an injury, takes a drink of some water. "It's been all over TV!"
"Eyewitnesses say it blew up a Meowth!" Another contender looks at her waist, hoping to adorn it with a title someday, then stares at Citrata. "Gals, it's her! She's one of the robot's pilots!"
The recuperating boxer asks for an autograph, introducing herself as Janice. Our heroine's sudden popularity might've been unintended, but it's no mistake.
Following the battle between Flygon-One and Team Rocket, the ever-nosy press interviewed the victorious Knights of Fennekin, alongside their assistants Citrata and Emma of course.
"Akane is so mysterious!" The contender laces her shoes. "She didn't even gaze up from her book for the reporters. Oh, name's Darlette."
"Ooh! Do you think Senna actually likes Regina?" Janice has difficulty comprehending what the budding couple sees in each other. "She's got talent, but…"
Now fully equipped for a practice bout, our heroine says farewell, then returns to enter one of the rings alongside Saralyn.
"Cici!" Emma places her arms in a blocking pose. "You've gotta defend yourself."
"It's just training." Less afraid than a newbie in this sport should be, Citrata checks to make sure the ropes are tightened.
"We'll start by going over the rules." Saralyn puts on sparring headgear, and reminds Citrata of the basics of any fair bout. Mainly how conduct such as headbutts or kicking is prohibited.
Traditional martial arts competitions held between Pokémon are also known to take place, though they enjoy considerably less popularity than modern battle formats. In large part because many Pokémon species lack humanoid limbs suitable for it.
"How's this?" Citrata leans right a bit, then sends a blocked left jab.
"No problems so far." Saralyn demonstrates a right hook, to show how the punch's arc differs from a jab.
"Time out." Arriving in the room, Darlette makes a letter-T hand gesture. "The atmosphere of a fight is missing here."
"We're in the middle of a session." As she weaves under a right-left uppercut combination, Saralyn right jabs to her opponent's cheek.
During the next break, Darlette tells Saralyn about our heroine's latest appearance on TV.
"Listen up!" Saralyn speaks up, motioning for the attention of the rest of the people working out. "Darlette has informed me we have a special guest training with us today. Would you do the honors, Emma?"
"Ahem. How does this go again?" Emma pauses for a moment to try to make her voice more dramatic. "In the blue corner, from TCG Island, Citrata!"
While Citrata waves to her fellow trainees, Saralyn quietly introduces herself to Emma.
"And in the red corner, from Santalune City, your instructor Saralyn!" Emma claps in excitement.
"TCG Island, huh?" Surprised, Janice looks at Citrata. "She is a long way from home."
The sparring carries on for some time. Our heroine's aptitude in sports is natural accuracy, more than power or speed. She'll need to control the pace if she wishes to box effectively.
"That's enough." Saralyn hands Citrata a rag to dry off.
"Oww. I think I'm sticking to baseball." Sore from the fight, Citrata removes the headgear to rub her cheeks.
"Well, you've got heart." Pulling up a stool, Saralyn takes a deep breath. "We'll be here if you need us."
"Thanks." Citrata performs a slight bow, before leaving the ring to re-dress herself.
Time will tell how this unexpected training regimen will contribute to our heroine's Pokémon journey. In any event, Citrata admirably held ground against stronger, more experienced opposition. Many Pokémon trainers take for granted how formidable top competitors are, until they're humbled in defeat.
Each major regional conference of the Pokémon League features eight gyms, along with advanced-grade trainers comprising their region's Elite Four. Sometimes this system leads to rivalries, where geographically-close gyms compete over which one should be recognized as official.
Those at the pinnacle of Pokémon expertise, having won badges and tournaments across the world, are informally known as "Pokémon masters". Training and battling aren't the only paths to master recognition though. Such prestige can also be earned by a person who strives to capture, or even simply encounter, every discovered species of Pokemon.
Finished with the boxing gym, Citrata and Emma decide to rest at the Pokémon Center. These facilities offer a clinic for Pokémon, and are a popular gathering spot for trainers wishing to trade. Pokémon Centers may incorporate a convenience store as well, in areas without a separate Pokémon Mart.
The most defining feature of Pokémon Centers is that their head nurses are Nurse Joys. They too, much like Officer Jennys, tend to always be young women who look the same wherever they are found.
"How may I help you?" A nondescript Nurse Joy at the counter greets Citrata and Emma.
"We're resting up for the Pokémon gym." Citrata adjusts her fatigued shoulder.
"My word, it looks like you're hurt too." Nurse Joy visually inspects Citrata's health.
Citrata explains she was sent to the boxing gym by mistake when she asked for directions.
"I bet it was that lazy guy again. "Offering some ointment, Nurse Joy borrows Chespin and Axew, in their Poké Balls, to ensure they're ready for their upcoming battle. "A kid named Ash said the same thing earlier, but I don't think he went inside."
Laying down on a couch is a half-asleep Akane, holding a sketchbook.
"She's drawing something." Emma tries to peek without making noise.
"It's a still life portrait of berries." Citrata notices one of the picture's corners isn't finished yet.
"Mmmm." Akane stretches her arms while yawning.
"Hi there." Emma greets her friend.
"Emma." Perhaps not wanting the incomplete art seen yet, Akane stuffs it into a bag.
"The pastel colors are relaxing." Citrata sits on the next chair, waiting for the Pokémon checkup to finish.
In her usual few-words way, Akane mentions the portrait is a gift. She rarely creates art otherwise. Deciding to let her nap, Citrata and Emma return to Nurse Joy.
"Your Chespin is doing well." Nurse Joy gives back the two Pokémon. "Axew is very young, it might need extra attention."
"Tell me something." Citrata looks deep in thought.
"What seems to be troubling you?" The curiosity has caught Nurse Joy's interest.
"It's just, how do I say this?" Citrata stalls for a moment. "Do I look like a member of Team Rocket?"
"I'm not sure I understand." This Nurse Joy is not acquainted with the pesky Team Rocket trio.
Citrata tells the nurse about her encounter with Ash, and her reasons for venturing to Kalos.
"That's very…" Nurse Joy cuts off her sentence. "Wait a second, why would you want to join a band of thieves!?"
"I guess it doesn't matter anymore." Weighing her past regrets, Citrata places a hand over her heart. "I'm a Pokémon trainer now, maybe along the way I'll uncover what really happened to my dad!"
"I'll wish you luck." Turning to help the next patient, the nurse waves goodbye.
Recuperated, our heroine and her friend at last reach their destination, the Santalune Gym. It stands out for its interior design. Trainers have to walk across a gigantic spiderweb to reach the leader.
Ash is seated on a bench, brushing his Pikachu. Citrata and Emma sit down near him.
"Heya." Citrata says.
"Is that you, Cici?" Ash seems thrilled about something. "I see you've brought a new friend."
"Hi, I'm Emma." Emma hasn't met Ash before.
"Ash Ketchum." Holding up the Santalune Gym badge, Ash grins. "I just collected my first Kalos region badge! Say, you look different somehow."
"Maybe." Not sure what he means, Citrata opens her second Poké Ball. "Meet Ash, Axew!"
"Axew?" The little Pokémon opens its mouth in greeting.
"Awesome! My friend Iris raised an Axew too." Ash thinks back to his travels in Unova.
"Any tips for this gym?" Emma asks.
"Viola specializes in bug Pokémon." Examining Axew closer, Ash has a worried expression. "No offense, but your buddy here looks a bit young for gym battles."
"Not to worry." Citrata has a working knowledge of type matchups from the trading card game; she tells Ash that her new friend Regina should be able to help her catch a flying Pokémon.
"I'm kinda jealous." Ash remarks. "The knights didn't let us into their awesome castle! They said they were cleaning up from Team Rocket's attack."
"Cici hasn't gotten to the best part." Emma shows him Citrata's black trench coat. "We helped fly a giant robot!"
Our heroine describes the mech battle to Ash.
"That's pretty cool too!" Looking at the clock, Ash stands back up. "Oh! I should get going, my friends are waiting for me."
Leaving the Pokémon Center, Citrata and Emma trace their steps back to the Knights of Fennekin headquarters, where they find Aldwin fishing in the moat.
"If it isn't our new co-pilots." Aldwin sets aside his trusty pole, it's seen better days. Pokémon trainers call this basic fishing tool an 'Old Rod'. "Are you back for some Flygon-One practice?"
"Not today." Citrata shakes her head. "We're looking for Regina."
"Regina, you say? I'm afraid she isn't here." Aldwin replies. "Something about her favorite wrestler being in town for a fight."
While they wait for the wrestling event to open, Citrata and Emma join in on the fishing.
"How does this work?" Emma tugs on the line.
"You hook is stuck, it doesn't seem like a fish." Citrata munches a handful of trail mix.
"Let me try my special move." With a spinning motion, Aldwin yanks the object out of the water, flinging it towards Emma.
"Woah!" Narrowly avoiding injury, Emma picks up the heart-insignia Poké Ball.
"Hey, Regina has been looking for that Love Ball." Aldwin dries off the ball.
"It's pink enough for her." Citrata lets out a small laugh.
Accepting the Old Rods as thanks, Citrata and Emma head to Santalune City's recently-build sports stadium. Hundreds of people are around, scrambling to buy snacks and tickets before the show starts.
"Two tickets please." Citrata walks up to one of the booths.
"Here you are." The vendor hands over the tickets, gazing curiously at our heroine. "Didn't I see you on TV recently?"
Before Citrata can answer, Emma nudges her over to a concession stand.
"What is it?" Slightly confused by the rush, Citrata browses the wide assortment of sugary, salty, and greasy food. "Mmhm. We're going to need this stuff."
Their trays piled with the "essentials" such as popcorn and hot dogs, our heroine and her friend weave through the crowd to secure nice seats. In these situations, Citrata is anything but frugal.
It's time! The stage lights up with explosive pyrotechnic effects, set to the tune of popular rock music. Calling the action from the usually-soon-mangled commentator's table, are the improbable duo of Regina and Hilda.
"We have an extravaganza in store for all of you!" Regina is wearing a more practical dress for the occasion, albeit still her usual pink. "Regina is here with her special guest from Unova, Hilda!"
"Hello everyone." Hilda taps her microphone to check it. "Am I doing this right?"
"You'll be fine." Regina tries to cheer up her partner.
A near middle-aged cowboy holding a guitar walks down to the ring, playing along with a country song.
"It's the fastest rider in the west, Barnyard Steven!" Regina tries sell the wrestler as cool, even though she doesn't care for his gimmick.
"The name's Barnyard Steven, and I'd just like to say I think I can take on any challenger!" Steven boldly declares. "Last week, the cowardly Snivy Brothers ambushed me. No more of that sneaky stuff, ya'all! If you've got what it takes, face me one-on-one, tonight!"
A few moments pass without any response from backstage.
"Is that how it's gonna be?" Swinging around his guitar, Steven turns to walk out of the ring. "I hope one of you back there has swabbed your ears, because I'm headed your way!"
Before Steven can leave the ring, a referee pops out from the audience and confronts him, microphone in hand!
"Nobody wants to challenge you, because you're a two-bit has-been!" The referee points at Steven.
"What does a referee know about being somebody!?" Steven wags a finger in disappointment.
While Steven continues to argue with the official, a cowgirl marches down to the ring, holding a folding chair.
"It's Roundup Rhonda, and she's angrier than a beehive!" Regina exclaims. "The outnumbered ref might want to head for the hills!"
"Who do you think you are, insulting my man?" Rhonda hands the chair to Steven.
Swinging the chair poorly, Steven misses his target, giving the ref an opening to smash the cowboy's own guitar into him.
"That was a wild trick!" Emma is on the edge of her seat. "Will he be okay?"
"I'm pretty sure they rehearsed it, Emma." Citrata understands well, how cleverly wrestling blurs truth and fiction.
"I think Barnyard Steven won't be playing any more music tonight!" Hilda says to her broadcast partner, more than the home viewers.
The next several matches take a variety of forms, involving over two dozen competitors. Including a twenty-woman over-the-top-rope battle royal, a cage 2-on-2 match for the vacant tag team championship, and a high-flying ladder match between enigmatic masked wrestlers.
"It's our last bout of the evening." Regina drums her hands on the table. "Who will prevail in the gripping main event!?"
"We've been told a special enforcer will be guarding the entrance ramp." Hilda observes the scene closely. "If either competitor tries to escape, they'll be sorry!"
Riding a spaceship-shaped car to the ring, it's Captain Katelyn! Her techno entrance music sounds as if it were composed on a distant planet.
"Captain Katelyn has her work cut out for her." Hilda raises three fingers. "She'll be facing the vile crimson empress Ligella, and her friendly rival Camilla!"
"In a three-way match, there are no alliances, no second chances." Regina reminds everyone. "The first person to defeat any opponent, wins it all!"
Ligella enters to a foreboding melody, the sounds of cat Pokémon in the background. A black jumpsuit and reddish cape complete the ensemble of a dark warrior queen.
"Ooh!" Emma isn't sure whether to cheer or boo. The atmosphere is excellent, yet it's for a villainous character.
Last but not least, Camilla is stylized as a trainer of mushroom Pokémon, Unusual for a wrestler, she has chosen an opera song.
"Camilla's makeover is turning heads!" Regina tries not to laugh at her friend's comedic new look.
"What is she trying to be?" Citrata muses to herself. "I don't like mushrooms, or opera."
The match carries on for a while. Each competitor regularly breaking up attempted falls.
"Are we nearing the…" Before Regina can complete her sentence, the action spills outside of the ring, where Camilla promptly vertical-suplexes Ligella through the announce table! "Yow! Our desk has been shattered!"
A different referee, more orthodox than the one from earlier in the show, begins the pin count.
"This fight is down to the wire!" Hilda retrieves her dropped microphone. "Can Katelyn find the energy to get ringside and stop the three-count!?""
"One, two…" As the ref nearly finishes their task, Katelyn pulls Camilla away, in order to pin Lieglla herself.
Katelyn is victorious by pinfall! Or is she!? Traditionally, falls only count inside the ring. Either way, the timekeeper has rang the bell!
"I've done it!" Katelyn grabs a mic from a staff member, then returns to the ring. "Ligella will no longer threaten anyone's galaxy! Hey!"
The rumored enforcer emerges from the crowd, revealing themselves to be a masked follower of Ligella. They chase Camilla away as Katelyn continues her celebration.
"Such naivety." Ligella confronts Katelyn. "This is far from over!"
"There you have it!" Regina watches as the arena's lights dim to indicate the event is over. "The empress has declared she's still a menace to free galaxies everywhere!"
"Thank you every much for attending." Her commentary gig finished, Hilda accompanies Regina backstage.
"Let's go, Emma." Citrata stands up.
"Aw, I've still got popcorn left." Emma takes a bite of her snack.
Nibbling on food along the way, our heroine and her friend seek out Hilda and Regina. They happen upon a break room where most of the wrestlers and other staff have gathered to relax after the physical intensity they endured.
"Sorry ladies, this area is for staff only." A security guard crosses his arms.
"We're looking for Regina." Citrata peeks around the corner, toward the parking garage.
"Oh! I know you!" The guard lightens up a little. "You and your pal helped the knights against Team Rocket. Wait here, I'll fetch Regina."
A few minutes later, Regina appears, along with Hilda and several of the wrestlers. They've reverted to their civilian personas, however.
"If it isn't Cici, and little Emma." Regina grins.
"Hey, the name's Megan." In the outside world, Megan is obviously not space conqueror Ligella.
"Camilla. Regina and I go back a ways." Camilla on the other hand isn't too different from her screen character, beside the fact she never dresses like a mushroom.
Camilla carries on, saying that she bumped into Hilda at the Pokémon Center, resting from challenging the Santalune Gym. One thing led to another, Hilda found herself commentating alongside Regina.
"I'm still Katelyn too." Katelyn is wrestling to pay for astronaut school. Her fondness of flight takes a different form than Regina. "My win counting outside the ring was a big swerve, huh?"
The group discusses the direction the storyline between Katelyn and Ligella is taking.
"I didn't know that much goes into planning a show." Emma says.
"I'd be more concerned about my snacking." Citrata giggles.
"We've got other events to prepare for." Picking up her suitcase, Megan heads toward the exit. "It was good meeting you."
The wrestlers now gone, our heroine tells Regina about the Love Ball she found, as well as her lack of Pokémon suited for taking on the gym.
"My lost Love Ball, thanks!" Regina places her hand on the ball, gently pushing it back toward Citrata. "I was going to give the darling Hoppip inside to my sweetie, but…"
"I'll raise it for Senna's sake." Citrata slots the ball next to the rest of her team.
"That won't do, Cici." Regina raises Citrata's arm into the air, showing her how most Pokémon trainers celebrate additions to their roster. "For Senna!"
Saying goodbye to Regina, Citrata and Emma decide to scope out a hotel to snooze in.
They've had a long day, and our heroine needs to be rested up for her first Kalos gym challenge!
Sparing no expense, they follow the Pokédex's map to arrive at an excessively-named place. It's somewhat less brilliant than the finest lodgings in Lumiose City, but still amazes Emma.
"This is the place." Citrata checks her map again. "The beautiful Grand Ritz Plus!"
"It's so big!" Emma tries to count the windows, but loses count when she yawns.
Inside, the duo walks up to the reception desk. The staff have difficulty resisting the skepticism they can afford to stay in luxury.
"Will that be a room for two, ladies?" A stuffy receptionist asks.
"The spa package please." Citrata examines a list of options. Such as basic rooms, family rooms, and suites.
"You're something, Cici." Emma takes a complimentary chocolate.
Citrata and Emma accompany a bellhop upstairs to a modest suite. Our heroine is more interested in the relaxation services, than having the fanciest bedroom.
"Isn't this great?" Citrata leads back on a couch to watch TV. "They'll feed us, polish our nails…"
"It's nice." Emma pauses to think. "But I don't have the cash for this lifestyle."
"I'm not sticking around, you know." Changing the channel, Citrata finds shows not seen on TCG Island. "They'd rope me into being like a fashion model. Boring!"
"Is that why you wear that motorcycle vest?" With more popcorn in her mouth, Emma's voice is difficult to understand.
"So people don't think I'm rich?" Citrata pours herself classy tea. "Not really. I wanted to impress Team GR."
"You're funny, Cici." Emma giggles a bit. "I can't imagine you joining a gang!"
"Neither can I anymore." Citrata tunes into a show profiling the gym leaders. "I failed their tests so badly, they started calling me a stray rocket who wouldn't have a future."
Finished with the TV's unfamiliar programming, Citrata and Emma sleep well on the hotel's exquisite mattresses. In the early morning, they eat an even finer breakfast, lounge in the outdoor hot spring, and have their hair and nails treated. Their Pokémon are also fed and washed.
"We're off to the Santalune Gym!" Citrata exclaims, looking the happiest she has been in a while.
"Hey, where's your vest?" Emma notices her friend's appearance is slightly different too.
"Ah. I don't need it today." Citrata smirks, pointing to the small hair braids added just above her temples.
Omitting the vest alone, better highlights our heroine's athleticism. Citrata's attire is otherwise the same as before. Her sporty tank top was largely hidden beneath the vest.
As they arrive at the gym, Hilda is already there. She holds up her own newly acquired badge with a grin.
"Sorry we're a bit late." Citrata greets her friend.
"I haven't seen you like this before." Hilda remarks, sensing Citrata's emotional state has brightened.
"What can I say?" Citrata shows off the little hair braids. "The biker chic just wasn't working."
A stylish journalist soon walks by, recognizing our heroine from TV. She has a compact camera on a strap, to capture any breaking news.
"Hi!" The woman introduces herself. "Alexa. The gym leader here is my sister, Viola."
"Better watch out then." Citrata taps on her Love Ball. "I borrowed a new Pokémon to give myself an edge."
"Well, I can't wait to write this story." Alexa looks at her notepad, filled with article ideas. "Trainers from TCG Island don't exactly visit Kalos every day."
The four enter the Santalune Gym, it's even stranger viewed from the inside. The miniature forest creates shadows all over the room. It feels as if bug Pokémon could leap out from anywhere, and the spiderweb floors add a very slight spring to one's steps.
"How are you, Alexa?" Viola sets down the Combee she was grooming.
"I've brought along a rare challenger." Alexa motions Citrata to step closer.
"I'm Citrata, this is Emma." Citrata says.
"Hello." Emma joins Alexa and Hilda on the spectator bench.
"Combee." The Pokédex responds to Citrata activating it. "It is said to have three different tastes in nectar."
"Let's go, Hoppip!" Citrata tosses her Love Ball.
The little plant Pokémon glances around at its surroundings. It isn't yet accustomed to our heroine or her battle style.
"Jump up for a tackle attack!" Citrata instructs, expecting a Pokémon raised by Regina will excel in the air.
"Combee, disrupt it with Gust!" Viola wastes no time preparing her response.
Swirly winds launch Hoppip across the room; it narrowly avoids slamming into a tree.
"Poison Powder!" Citrata says. "We need to slow our foe down!"
Hoppip surrounds itself with a disgusting mist, then flings the toxin back toward Combee.
"Com!?" The flustered Combee shakes to try and clear its head.
"Tackle, once more!" Citrata's form in battle seems to be more confident than usual.
Leaping again, Hoppip crashes into its opponent.
"Combee!" Viola looks worried about her Pokémon. "Basic tackles usually don't have that much impact!"
"Heh, my new pal isn't some hatchling." Citrata boasts. "Regina entrusted me to train this Hoppip."
"Did you say Regina?" Viola's expression turns to surprise. "I didn't know she was interested in Pokémon."
Our heroine tells Viola that she's raising Hoppip to give to Senna.
"I see how it is." Viola gives a thumb-up gesture. "But our contest isn't over yet! Combee, use Bug Buzz!"
A concentrated burst of sound emits from Combee, causing Hoppip to tumble to the floor.
"You stayed too close, Hoppip!" Citrata suspects she's on her last chance to turn around the fight. "Now, Bullet Seed! It's still effective from the ground!"
The battle is over! Hoppip sprays out sharp-edged seeds that barrage Combee.
"Bee…" Combee is too disoriented to continue battling.
"You deserve a good rest." Viola returns her Pokémon, then shakes our heroine's hand. "Congratulations, Citrata. You have earned a Bug Badge!"
Our heroine accepts her first badge, along with a storage case featuring slots shaped like the eight Kalos badges.
"We've done it!" An uncharacteristically emotional Citrata calls back Hoppip, repeating the arm motion Regina taught her. "Are you listening, Team GR? I'm not a reject!"
"That's the spirit!" Emma applauds.
"I'll put in a good word at the office." Alexa leaves to work on her article. "You might be in the newspaper soon!"
"Cici, I was thinking…" Hilda stands up.
"Are we going to battle again?" Getting the wrong idea, Citrata reaches for her Poké Balls.
"Not this time." Hilda smiles, holding her fist forward. "How about we travel together? We'll see who bests the Kalos league first!"
"I'm in." Citrata lightly bumps her own fist against Hilda's.
"A team it is, then!" Since Emma isn't challenging the gyms, she places her hand on top instead of joining in.
"Alright, you've had your celebrating." Viola begins to clean the gym, preparing it for whoever fights her next. "I've been told Lumiose gym leader is on vacation. I'd suggest taking the west exit toward Cyllage City first. It's a long way!"
Earning their first Kalos region gym badges, Citrata and Hilda have taken another step in the Pokémon League journey. What adventure awaits them, not to mention Emma, next? First, they must brave the road to Lumiose City...