[Long ass chapter]

Tae frowned as he emerged from the end of a tunnel, crossing his arms at yet another plateau with no sign of the rumored Pokémon.

Arven checked his Rotom phone and marked yet another tunnel that led them around with no result. It had been two hours, and Tae was getting tired of the lack of progress.

It almost seemed like the aforementioned Steel types were in hiding from whatever dug the holes.

'I'd ask to come back to this later but it's too important to him... and me.' Tae thought, balling his fists as Korai walked up to him.

"Well, that only leaves three tunnels left. No reports since we've been looking. It's almost like it disappeared." Arven said with clear disappointment and annoyance.

Tae hummed to acknowledge his words, and began to think. If it was a Titan Pokémon, could he entrust his own Pokémon to scout overnight?

'I need a way for us to stay connected in case of any sightings or disturbances. This is where a psychic type or Lucario would come in handy...'

"Do we know anyone with a Ground type?" Tae asked.

"...Me. Why?" Arven asked.

"If we disturb the terrain with tremors, maybe the Titan will be drawn to us. It's our last shot seeing as the Sun's gonna start setting soon." Tae deduced.

Arven groaned seeing as he knew they were running out of time, and decided to bring out his Toedscruel, a Grass and Ground type.

"Anywhere specific?" Arven asked impatiently.

"Somewhere with no where to run. We need to handle this now." Tae said with similar impatience.

•

Tremors began to shake the entire mines, debris and loose plating and cliffs crumbling with the sudden rupture of earth on the highest plateau.

Tae and Arven shielded themselves from the dust and dirt that flew around the crater Toedscruel created with Earth Power, swatting it away to quickly regain their vision.

A flurry of Pokémon scattered out of every cave and tunnel, some even clawing and digging their way through the dirt and earth to flee the scene.

Suddenly, a very large shadow was cast over the duo as a girl shrieked behind them.

Tae dart his head back in shock seeing the place wasn't vacated, but Arven pulled him back so they could face the massive amalgamation of metal flying towards them in the form of a hammer.

Korai and Mystic flew forward, Mystic spinning Korai around by his tail and launching him at the hammer. Korai erupted into his Apex form, slamming his burning fist into the hammer with a roar.

A slight struggle between the two forces caused a shockwave that sent Arven and Tae flying back towards the girl.

Meowscarada rushed behind the three and held them so they weren't sent flying off of the plateau, watching as Korai jumped back and skid back to them with a huff of steam from his snout.

Landing across from the group was a Tinkaton, but its hammer was a bit larger than recorded, and even had a different more sleek design— similar to a double-headed war hammer.

With a malicious giggle it looked around at the group in search of any mineral it could use to enhance its weapon.

"A Tinkaton... sort of makes sense. Basically the neighborhood bully." Tae chuckled as Arven watched his Toedscruel peak out from its camouflage on the ground.

"Wha... What are you Paldean ruffians up to?! What is the meaning of this?!" The girl behind the two left Mystic's hold and tried to distance herself from the matter, but this caught Tinkaton's attention.

The girl was wearing a rather sparkly necklace over her white sweater, and Tinkaton's eyes shone from the reflection. It's target had been set, and so it made its move.

"Paldean ruffians? What's that supposed to mea—"

"TAE!" Arven rushed at Tae and swung left for the three to dodge a lunge from the pink blur.

Meowscarada dodged the jab from Tinkaton by hopping over it. She vaulted off its head, spinning around in midair to kick away the swing of its hammer, landing to dash back to Tae and company as Korai rushed to its side.

Tinkaton dodged using the momentum of its parried strike, spinning away and following up to bash Koraidon over the head.

Korai blocked, trying to kick and disarm it, but it swung on the hammer and stomped on Korai's leg, before yanking the hammer back and swatting him away.

The girl let her jaw hang as the fight began to escalate.

Toedscruel was applying supportive fire with Bullet Seed, circling around the Korai-Mystic Double Team against the astonishing speed of the Titan. Korai would deal the heavier blows as Mystic would lead Tinkaton into them with feints and tricks.

Tae was giving orders as quick as he could with the speed of the battle, impressively not overwhelmed by the craze of attacks and trembling terrain.

"New here?" Arven smirked at the girl.

"Huh? Oh! N-No! I am a native to Paldea and I frequent this area...!" The girl crossed her arms and avoided his gaze.

"...A mining company?" Arven squinted his eyes.

"Absolutely. I just adore this mine and the practices of the compa—" She looked over and saw Arven shaking his head. "Fine. I'm a tourist." She gave up.

"My name is Arven. Second Year at Naruva Academy." Arven smirked, and the girl rolled her eyes in response.

"Carmine. Resident of Kitakami, Third Year student of Blueberry Academy, your sister school." The girl's arms stayed cross, but she gave him a glance of respect for the introduction.

"TAE! FIRST YEAR!" Tae flew by the two, rolling on his back as Korai and Tinkaton clashed again, but this time the hammer was cracking from the rapid blows of Korai's Collison Course attack.

Mystic and Toedscruel slid behind Korai and began to pelt the hammer with Flower bombs and Bullet Seeds.

With a boisterous clap, the Hammer was pulverized, disarming the Tinkaton and letting it fall on its rear.

Tae was face first in the dirt from being so close to the shockwave. He stood up and watched as the Tinkaton mourned the loss of its prized weapon by weeping into the handle.

Arven was already using Greedant to track the Herba Mystica from the den it came from, leaving Tae and Carmine.

Tae dusted off his clothes, panting as his Pokémon returned to him, including Arven's Toedscruel, who had grown fond of his battle prowess.

"Great job, guys! We... kinda ruined its life— but for the greater good!" Tae cheered awkwardly.

Korai gave a strong fist pump, contrasting Mystic's exasperated one, while Toedscruel wiggled in delight. All ignored the cries of the heartbroken Titan.

"You," the girl called to him.

Tae looked up and recoiled in shock. "Why the fuck are you so tall?!" He stepped back in disbelief, "Excuse you?!" as did she.

She was Arven's height...

'That's so unfair!' He squinted his eyes at her, and she responded with the same skepticism.

"That was rather admirable of you, but might I ask what this fiasco is about?" Carmine acknowledged the height difference to hold an imposing presence over him by leaning towards him.

"Well, we've got these drugs around Paldea that sort of act like steroids for Pokémon. They get territorial or whatever and sort of mix up the ecosystems, so the Pokémon League itself has got the best trainer on the job— The Fixer, me, Tae!"

Tae challenged her and leaned forward as well with a smirk, earning a scowl.

"Best trainer, you say? Are you even of Champion Rank?" Carmine crossed her arms, making Tae lean back from her chest.

"Nah, that's not my thing. I don't need some title to know I'm the best." Tae waved her off and saw Arven glaring at him from behind.

"Don't ever explain it like that again..."

"That's the most accurate description and you know it." Tae waved him off too and returned everyone but Korai, Arven doing the same for Toedscruel.

"So, what brings you here? You visiting Paldea?" Tae popped a seat on Korai as he returned to his transportation form.

"Indeed. Carmine, Third Year of Blueberry Academy. I'm doing... my own reconnaissance. I was interested in our sister school." Carmine turned to the destruction of the mines around her.

"I now substitute the interest for concern." She dusted off her sweater and turned back to the two.

Arven and Tae glanced at each other, before shrugging.

"Wanna tag along?" Tae pointed to Koraidon.

~•~

"I swear— if he finds one more woman I'm gonna wipe him off the face of Paldea." Nemona's muttering was only heard by Penny as she took a long sip of an energy drink.

"Eh. I'm confident." Nemona glared at Penny, and saw she was smugly scrolling through her Rotom Phone.

"Have you even seen who he's talking to? Foreign Beauty three years older than him..." Nemona was intrigued by Penny's nonchalance of a sudden third rival.

Penny glanced up and saw Tae was goofing off with Korai as Carmine stood beside Arven, the two listening to Taemin's description of how he trained Iron Thorns.

Carmine seemed more analytical than infatuated, so she wasn't worried in the slightest.

"For someone of your status, you're surprisingly insecure. You don't have faith in yourself?"

As Penny took another sip, Nemona crossed her arms. "Well, he's a wild card. I'm not exactly sure what he's into, and it's very clear he's a magnet... I just want what I want to myself." Nemona sighed and gazed at Tae.

He was losing at Rock Paper Scizors again...

"How the hell are you guys so good at this?!" He shouted and groaned.

"So, Carmine. What have you been up to in Paldea?" Arven and Tae turned to her upon Arven's question.

"Well, I was going off a blog's list of hotspots, and was even hoping to see if Paldean Pokemon would make good additions to my team. I heard of a strong Pokémon in the mines, and stumbled upon you two taking care of it. I haven't been here but two days and I've had enough excitement."

She definitely looked tired. Tired of Paldea's bullshit.

"Dude we've really gotta crack down on the drug problem, huh?" Tae smirked mischievously before Arven popped him across the head.

"Quit that. They're just natural herbs. Speaking of, while you two were getting familiar, I saved your half of the Herba Mystica."

Arven revealed a plastic container with a rather savory smell coming through as he opened it.

Korai was quick to shove Tae away and lunge for the sandwich, but Tae rushed back and held him back as Arven began his speech about the dish and its effects.

"This here Herba Mystica helps with aching hands, feet, and a great agent for neuropathy and numbness. Should you have muscle weakness, this here will build up your strength again!"

"Dude, he's biting my head! Hurry it up!"

"A serving of my Salt Steel Reuben with sauerkraut and brown mustard—"

Arven held out the full sub, and by chance, Carmine took a half before Korai could snatch the whole thing. Korai knocked Tae away with his tail as he turned to devour his meal.

Tae stumbled but Carmine secured his balance and handed him his half.

He smiled and stood up straight. "Thank you..." He then glared at Arven. "You've gotta shorten those, man, he almost poked my eye out..."

"I can't withdraw an ounce of passion from my cuisine. Suffer."

Tae rolled his eyes as he took a bite, choosing not to express the overflowing joy from the taste of the sandwich. Carmine wondered what sort of herb would make Pokemon go crazy, but decided she'd just observe Korai and see it's effects.

On queue, Korai burped, before flaring with power for a brief second. Korai purred in delight, before leaping up nearly 40 feet.

Carmine's jaw dropped as Korai landed beside the table, nearly pushing it away.

"Glad you're back to full health..." Tae mumbled, before holding out his sandwich to Carmine.

She glanced in confusion, before looking up to see Nemona grab Tae by the throat.

"That's enough."

"What did I do?!" Tae wheezed as she strangled him.

'This is one of few Champion Ranks in Paldea. Her name is known through Blueberry Academy for her young age and prowess, rumored to be stronger than the region's own Champion.'

Carmine smirked, before leaning over to take a bite of Tae's sandwich, making everyone else freeze.

'Then she's my rival.'

Penny rose an eyebrow in disbelief, Nemona hiding her rage through a smile, Arven squinting his eyes in exasperation, and...

Tae clawing at his throat as Nemona tightened her grip.

"Exquisite, Arven. A fine choice for the salty herb. Incredibly rejuvenating." Carmine played off her taunt by engaging with Arven.

"It's a pleasure. I appreciate the feedback." Arven was pleased that someone from across the sea appreciated his work and smiled to himself with pride.

Tae began tapping in submission as Nemona's grip grew tighter.

"...mercy..." he wheezed.

Penny lightly smacked Nemona's hand, making her let go but keep her eyes trained in Carmine, who continued to eat the sandwich out of Tae's outstretched hand (he refused to drop such high quality food).

Nemona and Penny shared a glance.

'Threat Acknowledged.' The two nodded to each other.