"Two years of preparation led me to this position, but I never imagined my first battle as a gym leader would be this challenging. You've certainly earned this badge, so please, take it."

Rosa accepted the Basic Badge from Cheren with elation, carefully sliding it into its place in her badge case. It had been a full week since the incident at Floccesy Ranch, and in that time, Rosa had made the most of having a new partner. Zavied and Anna had trained relentlessly in preparation for the challenge at Aspertia's gym.

The dynamic had been strange at first, as Rosa had never tried training more than one Pokemon at once. She'd first tried alternating between Anna and Zaveid, but Oshawott wasted no time in making his displeasure at being ignored known.

So instead, Rosa strengthened them both.During Anna's leveling sessions, Zaveid built endurance, often swimming or running wide laps through the forest. When it was Zaveid's turn to train, Anna did the same. Though Rosa had worried Oshawott wouldn't get along with his new teammate, her fears never amounted to anything.

The battle he and Riolu shared against Stoutland had apparently been enough to forge a bond between them. If anything, Zaveid watched over Anna with careful diligence.

Rosa's royal-purple Basic Badge shined delicately in its case, and she smirked as she snapped it closed. The badge represented so much more than just conquering a gym: it was the first step to achieving her dream. Knowing it came from her hometown's leader only added to the effect, and in a way, Rosa felt completely liberated from Aspertia. Aside from visiting her mother, there was no reason to ever return to the city again.

The gym badge looked lonely in the case by itself. She'd have to fix that.

"I'm sure you'll reach the league if you work hard and keep training. That is where you're heading, isn't it?"

Rosa nodded. "Was it that obvious?"

"Sorry," Cheren said, running a hand ruefully through his raven hair. "That was a stupid question. Your battling style just reminded me of someone I knew when I was still a trainer. Don't get me wrong—it's not a bad thing. She was a firecracker in battles, always one step ahead of me. Her and her Pokémon were always showing me up."

The corner of his mouth pulled down slightly. "It was kind of annoying, actually. Battling against someone with natural talent always felt a bit unfair. Anyway," Cheren hesitated. "It's nice to see that fire again."

Rosa shifted her weight uneasily, unsure how to respond. The girl had clearly been important to him, but he'd referred to her in the past tense, meaning the topic was likely a touchy one. An awkward silence filled the space. Cheren shifted his weight uncomfortably, perhaps realizing he'd said too much to the stranger in front of him, and Rosa chewed the inside of her cheek before finally breaking the silence.

"Who was she?"

He shrugged in a noncommittal sort of way while adjusting his burgundy tie.

If he didn't want to talk about it, then why bring her up in the first place?

"Just a friend from a few years back. It isn't important. I just wanted you to know I enjoyed our battle. Thank you for challenging me. It's been a pleasure."

Weird. She offered Cheren a strained smile, thanked him for the battle, then made a hasty retreat for the exit.

The sun was shining as she left the Aspertia gym and strolled down the familiar cobblestone road to the marketplace. She wasn't yet running low on food or medical supplies, but there was little chance of finding a convenience store in the woods between Floccesy and Virbank city.

She stopped at the farmer's market to fill her pack with provisions, then headed into a Pokemart. The isles were less busy than the booths at the market, and she took her time browsing the goods for potions and status healers. After some thought, she tossed a small tent and tarp into her basket as well.

She was busy comparing berries when the buzzing sounded close by. A hopeful glance at the watch-like device showed no incoming call from Hugh, or anyone for that matter, and she deflated a little.

The buzzing continued, however. She stepped back from the shelf and looked around, searching for the source of the vibrating. It became louder the more it was ignored. Finally, Rosa fell onto her hands and knees to look underneath the display. Her eyes swept under the dusty shelf, and then she pulled out a polished onyx armband.

It was an older model of Xtransceiver, with the screen cracked in the upper right hand corner. As Rosa smeared some of the dust away with her thumb, the call answered with a click.

Oops. "Erm, hello?"

There was a long pause, and Rosa was about to hang up when a man's voice finally spoke, smooth and slightly bemused. "So, it's not buried in my bag, then? Unless this is the charming voice of my local backpack spirit?"

No image appeared to match a face to the speaker. His voice had a tenor quality that suggested he was young—around her age, maybe? His humor suggested so, though she wasn't sure if she should laugh or hang up. Of course, her mother would frown if she knew Rosa was considering a gesture so impolite.

A long, awkward pause followed with no response coming to mind. Thankfully he spared her the agonizing decision of whether or not to go against her upbringing when he finally said, "I can't even guess where you found it. Is it too much to hope you're at least somewhere in the Unova region?"

Rosa sniffed and brushed dirt off her pants as she stood up. A regular trainer like herself wouldn't have to wonder what continent their Xtransiever was on. Maybe he was a foreigner who'd traveled to Unova on vacation. Aspertia wasn't the gem of the region, but the gym and dense forests attracted a lot of outdoors-types.

Was he one of those freaks that climbed mountains for fun?

"Yeah, somewhere," she squinted hard at the device. There was a dent in the metal on one side. "You must be one hell of a traveler if you're worried about it being across continents."

"You could say that," he said, sounding relieved.

"Well, it was under a grimy shelf in a Pokemart in Aspertia, so congratulations." Though how it got there, she could only begin to guess. The space between the bottom of the shelves and the floor was fairly large, so it was possible he'd dropped it and it had been kicked underneath. How long had it taken him to notice its absence? The dust coating the screen and band suggested it had been lost for sometime, but the floor was also quite grimy, so she supposed it was hard to say.

Rosa decided at that moment that the man was likely carefree and maybe even a little silly. He'd have to be, if he'd managed to travel to a different region before he'd even noticed his means of communication was missing.

She adjusted her bag and tossed both kinds of berries into her cart—she'd probably need them both anyway.

"I'm assuming you want this thing back," she said as she crossed into another aisle, "since you called looking for it. Should I leave it at the counter or something? They probably have a temporary lost and found. The screen's broken, though. Sorry."

"Oh, sweet. Love that for me," he replied. His comment was sarcastic, but his tone didn't sound like he was bothered at all. Maybe he was wealthy enough to buy a new one without a second thought. Suddenly, Rosa felt a wave of dislike toward him. "But I still want it back."

Then again, Hugh had always been fairly wealthy, and she hadn't minded spending time with him when he was in a good mood. "Cool, it'll be-"

"I'd prefer if you didn't leave it at the store, though."

Rosa was pulled from her thoughts as she mentally replayed his last two responses and snorted. "You're having preferences? It's covered in dust and half-broken. You're lucky it's not in a dumpster."

"My work schedule is strict," he said defensively, "and by the time I come back for it, it probably won't be around anymore."

"We can't even video chat on it," she remarked dryly. "By the time you come back, it might be dead."

His grumbling became muddled, and Rosa glanced down at her shoes. It seemed her initial impression of him being wealthy was wrong. Guilt and shame over her hasty judgment—along with a hint of distaste—squeezed her chest as she felt the sting of being unable to afford the things she needed. Surely it wouldn't be too much trouble to carry the device for a while. Starting at the array of pokeblocks in front of her, she heaved a sigh.

"Just ask me already."

"It's only until we can meet up," he said, his voice crackling through the dented speaker, returning to a charming nonchalance now that he was getting his way. "Keep it until I get some time off. Maybe I can make it up to you somehow? I'll call you from time to time—I've been told I'm great at conversation."

She rolled her eyes, but it was half hearted. It seemed he was definitely the type who floated through life without a care, but she didn't mind his casualness. "Make it up to me by picking it up quickly," Rosa said dismissively, tossing her bag into her cart as she started toward the front of the Pokemart. She had enough provisions to last her until she reached Virbank City. "What if I decide to keep it so I don't have to meet you?"

"I'll be heartbroken, backpack spirit. You want to carry that burden forever?"

She couldn't help her smirk. "I could sell this thing for maybe five bucks."

"I'm an emotional person," he said, "I'll cling to whatever junk I want, and you can keep whatever you like."

Maybe he was a wealthy hoarder who had attended one of those preppy private schools and used his charm to sweet-talk his classmates into doing his homework. Rosa frowned as she approached the front register, suddenly feeling annoyed with her own curiosity. He certainly seemed comfortable flirting with her. She'd need to keep her guard up.

"What's your name?" she asked, using one arm to unload her items onto the counter for the cashier to scan.

"Curtis," he replied.

She raised an eyebrow. "Just Curtis?"

"Would you like me to send you a copy of my birth certificate?"

The Pokéblocks in her hand slipped, causing the lid to pop off and spill across the counter. With a curse, she quickly began sweeping them back into the container. Just what she needed: another smart mouth in her life. Maybe she should set up a playdate with Hugh.

No, terrible idea.

"Of course not," she snapped the lid back on and passed it to the cashier to scan. "I'm just trying to gauge what kind of person you are, that's all."

The employee gave her a rehearsed smile and asked for her form of payment. Rosa pulled out her credit card.

"The best kind," Curtis said smoothly.

"Fine," she grumbled, snatching her items and stuffing them into her bag. "Swear to me I won't be stuck with it for the rest of harvest season, and I'll carry your Xtransceiver. But I charge interest—and if I get even the slightest hint that you're shady, I'll toss it. Deal?"

A bright laugh echoed from the speaker, and Rosa grudgingly felt the corner of her lip quirk up. There was something infectious about his laughter.

"I can live with that," he agreed, still chuckling. "May I ask the name of the woman who's threatening me?"

Rosa shoved her cart back into the line near the entrance with a loud crash. "Rosa."

"Just Rosa?"

Muffled chatter buzzed in the background as Rosa overheard Curtis responding to someone on his end. After a moment, his voice returned, clear and sharp.

"I have to go. Thanks again for looking after one of my most prized possessions. Don't worry, I'll keep in touch until I get it back."

"You don't have to," she said quickly.

"Until later," he said, his voice like silk. "Rosa."

The call dropped, and Rosa tossed Curtis's Xtransceiver into the key items pocket of her bag with a huff. It was already dented, so he wouldn't notice if she damaged it a little more, right? But then a wave of disapproval from her mother flooded her thoughts, and she grumbled under her breath as she gently repositioned the device in a more protected spot.

Such trouble for such a small device.

***

Night fell over Route 20 like a silent curtain. The crescent moon from the previous cycle had finally slipped into darkness, leaving only starlight overhead. It pooled in the rustling leaves of the trees and shimmered across the river's rapids, reflecting in the sweat that trickled down Rosa's forehead. She wiped the offending trail away with her arm.

"Anna, use Force Palm!"

Riolu's chest heaved rapidly, already spent from a grueling afternoon of battling wild Pokémon. The training session had been worth it—Anna had finally reached level nineteen—but she regretted accepting a challenge from the boastful hiker they now faced. The dirt-streaked brute had come tromping through the dim thickets like the highlands were his personal property, and he wouldn't leave her and her team alone until she agreed to battle. She had hoped it would be an easy fight, but the Lileep Anna confronted now was tougher than expected.

Anna wound up her right arm, her gloved fist gathering potential energy as she pulled her elbow back. She shifted her weight onto one heel to build momentum, then sprang forward, releasing the burst of energy toward Lileep. The grass-type bent its large head to one side, narrowly avoiding the full force of the attack. Still, the brunt of Riolu's strike slammed into its side, sending a gust of wind through the air that made Lileep's great pink petals sway. But the Pokémon endured.

The hiker's thick arms flexed as he pumped the air, letting out a whoop. "Ya'll call that an attack? I knew you and your Pokémon were a bunch of city-slickers!" His backpack bounced with his movements, and from across the field, Rosa could see him springing up and down on his toes. "Take notes, little girl! That's how a real Pokémon does it. Lileep, let's kick these guys all the way back to town!"

Her fists clenched as the jackal Pokémon dodged another attack. She wished, more than ever, that she had chosen Zaveid for this battle instead. Anna's thin legs trembled with fatigue, and great beads of sweat rolled down her face and soaked into her fur. Still, she held her fighting stance. As if sensing her anxiety, Anna glanced back for just a second, flashing her trainer a cheeky grin.

Pride and guilt mixed in her chest. "Anna, again! Force Palm!"

"You'll have to do better than that!" the hiker shouted. "Ancient Power, Lileep!"

The vacant-eyed plant extended its petals, surrounding itself with psychic energy. Enormous chunks of rock and earth tore free from the soil, drawn into Lileep's swirling aura. They spiraled high above its head, suspended like celestial bodies in the night.

Anna braced herself, pressing back on her left heel as she gathered energy in her clammy palms. The air grew tense, humming with the power building between them. But as the floating rocks began their descent, one hurtled directly toward her.

It smashed into the ground with a deafening crash, sending a shockwave through the earth. The ground beneath Anna quaked violently, and her back foot slipped, throwing her off balance. She staggered, but still managed to hold her position, maintaining her Force Palm.

Her initial relief was short-lived. The remainder of the rocks—massive and relentless—plummeted toward Anna with horrifying speed. There was no way her Riolu could dodge them all.

Instinctively, Anna adjusted her aim, redirecting her attack to meet the incoming barrage. Her body twitched with the strain, but the wind kicked up fiercely as she released her stored energy. The force of her attack collided with the falling rocks, but it wasn't enough. The explosion of rocks reverberated in the air, and Anna was forced back by the impact.

She flinched, throwing her arm up to shield her face from the flying debris. The sharp sting of splintered rock against her skin barely registered in her mind as the blast sent shards of stone in every direction. Her breath caught in her throat.

When the dust cleared, she immediately searched the field with frantic eyes. The darkness of night had already reduced visibility, but now the smoky haze from the explosion made it nearly impossible to see. Anna and Lileep had vanished into the mist, their silhouettes swallowed by the thick cloud.

Tension hung in the air like a taut wire, both trainers holding their breath, waiting for the dust to settle, for one side to make a move. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sound of rustling leaves.

The first thing she saw was a body on the ground. It rested flat on its back and wasn't moving, but the more she squinted to manipulate the starlight to show her what she needed to see, the more she recognized it was Anna. Lileep stood triumphant a few feet back.

The hiker slapped his knee and howled with laughter. "That's the way! That is the way! Nice going Lileep! Nice! That's how it's done."

She tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she stared at the body of her partner lying on the ground. Defeat didn't bother her, but Anna's still form shadowed by galaxies was enough to turn her insides to ice. Her Riolu had never been knocked out under her care.

"Ri . . ."

She paused her retrieval of Anna's pokeball, and the celebration on the other side of the field quieted. Slowly, painfully, Anna lifted her head. Her arms quivered as they braced against the ground, but there was determination in her crimson eyes as she forced herself into a sitting position. Dust clung to her sweaty pelt.

In that moment, no trainer had ever been prouder of their Pokemon than she was of her beautiful, stubborn Riolu. Anna's chest heaved with exertion, but she balanced herself up onto one foot. The other foot pushed against the grass. She swayed, and then Anna was standing.

She's so strong. Anna carefully balanced back into her usual fighting stance, attention trained on Lileep.

But I can't let her fight anymore.

Anna had done her part, and now she needed rest.

The hiker's voice broke through her train of thought. "Ya'll are dumb for getting back up! Don't you know when a battle is over? I'm not gonna do this all night. Lileep, swat it down with Ancient Power!"

"No, wait," She cried, "Stop!"

Jagged boulders splinted off the earth. Psychic power hummed about the rocks as they swirled threateningly in the air above Lileep, and Rosa panicked. There was no way her Riolu could handle another powerful attack. She was struggling to stand!

Anna knew as well. Rosa's blood drained, and her heart pounded erratically in her chest as she watched her Pokémon draw a deep breath and close her eyes.

It was acceptance—the quiet surrender to the inevitable.

The Poké Ball on Rosa's belt erupted with a burst of light, so bright it lit up the entire field for a fleeting moment. She stumbled back in surprise, her mind scrambling to process what was happening, but before she could react, Zaveid was already charging across the field toward Anna.

Light blazed around him, a fiery halo that seemed to consume him whole. With a fluid, protective motion, he grabbed Riolu around the waist, pulling her tightly against him. As he moved, his body grew—larger, more powerful—shifting in front of Anna like a living shield. The searing light of his evolution faded as quickly as it had come, and where Oshawott had stood moments before, Dewott now took his place. His frame was leaner, his features sharper, and his tail had transformed into a sleek, oval shape that swayed with deadly grace.

His cold, charcoal eyes locked on the battlefield, brittle and unyielding. In a swift motion, he drew the twin razor shells from his hips and swung them with precision, slashing through the air like knives. The boulders summoned by Lileep's Ancient Power crumbled to dust, falling harmlessly to the ground as Zaveid stood firm, his stance unwavering.

The hiker howled, but there was no amusement in his tone now. "That's not fair! You can't call out another Pokemon, this is a one on one battle! What kind of trainer are you, you can't even obey simple rules? You're a cheat!"

"I'm sorry," She pleaded, "I didn't mean-"

He stomped across the field waving a beefy arm as he scolded, "You owe me money, 'ya hear? You forfeit the second you cheated. I want double for breaking the rules! Pay up!"

"I'll pay you, just hang on-"

Zaveid withdrew his razor shells again, but this time he left Anna's side to stop the man's advance. The hiker paused to stare, temporarily unsure what to do.

"Move it, 'ya little bugger. This is between me and your trainer. I said move it!" His anger escalated. He aimed a kick at the otter.

"No, don't!"

Zaveid's eyes flashed, his body tensing as the hiker lunged toward him. With a fluid twist, he dodged the incoming kick, his sleek form sidestepping with ease. In a single, seamless motion, he repositioned himself, stepping back into a defensive stance in front of her.

The hiker's lower lip curled into a snarl, but he directed his words to her. "Tell your Pokemon to back away. I'm not leaving until I get what I'm entitled to!"

He drew back his thick calf to kick at Zavied again, but missed. "Urgh! This wouldn't be a problem if you knew how to control your Pokemon! Be a halfway decent trainer, and make him back off!"

She stood frozen, her hand gripping her bag tightly, torn between reason and rage. She knew she should call Zaveid off—should scold him for breaking the rules, for stepping out of line. She should reprimand him, remind him of the order of things. But as the hiker's actions boiled her blood. His blatant disregard for her Pokémon's well-being, the way he threatened them—

The pressure in her chest grew heavier, and in that moment, all she could think was that she couldn't let him get away with it.

She dropped her bag and advanced. Her hands were trembling, so she clenched them into fists to still them. "Purposely trying to harm another person's Pokemon outside of battle is far worse than cheating – it's a crime. If you don't collect your Pokemon and leave now, I swear to you, you will definitely receive your payment."

He seemed taken back by her words, but he didn't back up. He locked his jaw, but with each step closer, Zaveid growled louder.

She had forgotten about Lileep. It was still on the opposite side of the field, observing. It finally made a squealing sound that drew its trainer's attention.

The backpacker's eyes danced between Zaveid and Lileep until at last he stepped back. "Fine. You aren't worth my time anyway." With his fists still clenched, he retreated back to where his pokemon stood. He kept his back to Rosa as he said, "It doesn't matter anyway, you and your Pokemon are weak. Ya'll can train until you're blue in the face, but you'll never be a great trainer until your Pokemon learn to submit."

He returned Lileep to its pokeball, and then with a huff, stormed into the misty trees.

She stood in the silence, her eyes locked on the empty darkness where the hiker had vanished. Her nails dug into her palms, the sharp sting grounding her in the moment, but still, she couldn't tear her gaze away. Was he right? Was she a bad trainer because her Pokémon had minds of their own?

A gentle tug on her pants pulled her from her thoughts. Rosa blinked and looked down, meeting Zaveid's concerned gaze. One of his blue paws held Anna's tiny paw, while the other gripped the fabric of her blue jeans with quiet insistence. He tilted his head, his expression softening with understanding.

The suffocating weight of her anger lifted, replaced by something gentler. Gratitude swelled in her chest, and without thinking, she dropped to her knees, her arms instinctively wrapping around Zaveid's neck.

To her surprise, he didn't stiffen at the embrace. Instead, the otter Pokémon purred softly, leaning his forehead against hers in a quiet show of affection and reassurance.

"You're the best, Zaveid," She whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you."

She loosened her grip on Zaveid, then gently scooped Anna into her arms, cradling the small Riolu close to her chest. Despite the sweat still clinging to Anna's fur from the battle, Rosa buried her face into the soft pelt, breathing in the comforting warmth of her Pokémon.

"I'm sorry, Anna," She murmured. "I pushed you too hard again."

The Riolu let out a low, content rumble, snuggling deeper into her damp neck. The guilt in her chest grew, creeping up her throat, but she swallowed it down.

"We're done for the night, Hun. Let's get you healed up, and then you can get some rest."

Everyone was healthy and fed less than an hour later. Rosa hadn't bothered setting up her tent because the night was so warm, and had instead rolled her sleeping bag out under the stars. Anna rubbed at her eyes tiredly, watching her trainer settle beneath the bag's covers.

Despite his new size, Zaveid claimed his usual spot on her stomach. He didn't really fit, but he burrowed his head into the hollow between her ribs and seemed content with his makeshift pillow.

"Oh, hang on."

She sat up partially and extended her arms. Anna rushed into the embrace, rumbling happily, and she tucked her pokemon beside her as they lay down to sleep.

This had become their routine—every night since Anna had joined them. The first night, she'd tried to convince her Pokémon to sleep in their Pokéballs. It had been a disaster. Zaveid's response had been to pull down the corner of his eyelid, stick out his tongue, and then forcefully sit on her sleeping bag. Anna hadn't wanted to be the odd one out, so she'd followed Zaveid's defiant lead and refused to return either.

Maybe she really didn't have a handle on her Pokemon.

Rosa had only just closed her eyes to sleep when she felt Anna squirming in her arms. Her heavy eyelids curled back open, and she shot Riolu a "what's your problem?" look.

Anna's eyes were expectant as she made a low humming sound in the back of her throat. It was scratchy and disjointed, but Rosa recognized what the Pokemon wanted.

She grumbled, but lifted herself onto one elbow. Why could she never say no to those innocent, garnet eyes? The movement jostled Zaveid, but he didn't seem to mind. He just angled his head slightly and yawned.

"Fine. But this was never meant to be a tradition, you know."

She opened her mouth, and as the first notes of her lullaby filled the night air, Anna relaxed further into her arms, her eyes slipping closed with the comfort of the familiar melody.

"Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly, lavender's green . . ."

The tender night sighed, and as Rosa sang softly to her Pokemon, the heavens turned an ear to listen.