“Cheers!”

  They all clinked glasses, clustered around the table at the restaurant. Before them was spread a veritable feast, Fiona's shout, their celebration in full swing.

  “I can't believe we all won first time,” Eleanor said, looking over at Chloe and Fiona, “Seriously, you two were amazing.”

  Troy nodded, “For sure, you girls kick ass.”

  “Tank was amazing,” Chloe gushed, “He just charged right through the Solar Beam! He was unbelievable!”

  Fiona snorted, “Says the girl with the Puff from Hell. I won with an overpowered Heracross, you did it with a Jigglypuff.”

  Eleanor nodded seriously, “Yeah, what the hell do you feed her? Mochi is a monster.”

  Chloe shrugged, “Food? I dunno, it was all her. That girl loves battling, what can I say?”

  “Still,” Chloe said, “You guys kicked ass as well.”

  “Here's to another seven badges,” Fiona chimed in seriously, and the others all raised their glasses as well.

  Eleanor however, slumped in her chair.

  “I don't know how I’m supposed to accomplish that if you two are the competition,” she muttered.

  Fiona laughed, “I wouldn't worry about that. We have a head start, but the gap will close. Diminishing returns and all that.”

  “That's right!” Troy declared, “We just have to double our workout routine and we'll catch up in no time!”

  “I don't think that's what she said,” Eleanor muttered, but Troy ignored her, having dropped to the floor to begin a set of crunches.

  “Still,” Chloe chimed in, “what now?”

  “Now, we eat,” Fiona said, “and tomorrow we get ready to head to Snowpoint.”

  Eleanor shuddered, “Are we sure? That's a long trip through Coronet.”

  “Would you rather go back through Eterna?” Fiona countered, “I don't know about you, but I am fucking over forests for a while. A nice, treeless cave sounds nice.”

  Chloe nodded, “We could always bike down to Oreburgh, but I like the Snowpoint plan. We may as well get it done while we’re up here.”

  “Fine,” Eleanor agreed, “Let's just make sure we are super over prepared, okay?”

  “Sounds good,” Chloe said, “What do you think Troy?”

  “15. 16. 17,” Troy counted, oblivious to the conversation around him.

  “I assume that means yes,” Fiona said, as Eleanor sighed and Chloe giggled.

  “Anyway, that can wait, first up, dessert!” Chloe declared, waving over the waiter.

  “Give me four of your pinkest parfaits!” she demanded, the man nodding and heading off to fulfill her order.

  “Pink is the best flavour,” Chloe explained, looking back at the others.

  “Of course you’d say that…” Fiona muttered, while Troy nodded enthusiastically.

  “Pink means protein,” he said seriously.

  Eleanor stared at him.

  “Troy… just… No.”

  Chloe giggled again, “Pink pals!” she declared, holding a fist up to Troy to bump.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  He obliged, and the two moved into a discussion of what colours tasted best.

  Eleanor sighed, attempting to make eye contact with Fiona to share an eye roll, but instead catching the other girl watching Chloe with a smile.

  The arrival of the parfaits interrupted them, Chloe’s eyes sparkling to see the tall glasses of pink that were placed before them.

  “Here’s to friendship,” she said, raising her glass again, “I’m glad I met you guys. This is way more fun in a group.”

  “Agreed,” Troy said, while Eleanor nodded.

  They looked at Fiona, who rolled her eyes, “Sure, whatever,” she said.

  “Aww, don't be like that Fi!” Chloe said, “You can admit that you like us.”

  “Yeah,” Troy said, “Your punk will still be there tomorrow.”

  “Fuck you guys,” Fiona said, ignoring them to take a bite of her parfait.

  “I love you too Fi!” Chloe declared, leaning over to hug Fiona. She gave Fiona a big kiss on the cheek, giggling as Fiona gagged and pushed her away.

  “Tomorrow we leave for Snowpoint!”

  Meanwhile:

  Cynthia sat in her office, reading the reports. She was tired, overworked, and frankly just kind of pissed. She wasn't in charge of the region as a whole, thank Arceus for that, but she was responsible for basically anything Pokemon related.

  Right now, that meant finding out who the hell took that Life Orb.

  A knock at her door, and Aaron entered.

  “Please tell me you have some good news,” she begged, rubbing her temples.

  “I brought yoghurt, does that count?” he asked, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.

  “Yes. Gimme.” Cynthia demanded, and Aaron handed over the treat.

  Cynthia cracked open the tub of yoghurt and dug in, groaning contentedly.

  “That's the stuff…” she muttered, leaning back into her chair. She really needed to invest more support. Her back ached. Too much time spent at her desk, and not enough on her feet. She missed the freedom of her younger days sometimes.

  “What do you have for me Aaron?” she asked, reluctantly returning to business.

  “Fuck all, I’m afraid,” he replied, “None of our tracking methods are working. No scent, no psychic traces. They're either lucky, or professionals.”

  “Let's assume professionals,” Cynthia said, “We can plan for that, we can't for lucky.”

  Aaron nodded, “Fair point. What do you want to do?”

  Cynthia considered.

  “Right now? There's not a lot we can do. We up the patrols on the routes, keep the Gym Leaders informed and check in on our other… problem ancient friends.”

  “Got it,” Aaron said, turning to leave. Then he paused.

  “Hey Cynthia?” he asked.

  Cynthia ate another spoonful of yoghurt.

  “Yeah?” she asked after she swallowed. She loved yoghurt. It was the little things that kept her sane.

  “Tell me straight, are we in for another Team Galactic situation here?”

  Cynthia paused, placing her yoghurt down on the desk. She stood up, chair scraping backwards.

  “Honestly? I have no idea,” she replied, moving to the window. She looked out across the ocean view. She had failed to protect her region from Team Galactic. She had needed the help of some random kids. Not that Dawn and Ethan qualified as that anymore, but defending the region was her duty, she couldn't rely on another intervention from children. She would not rely on that.

  “But I can promise you this,” she continued, “I will not allow another madman to endanger this world. Even if it costs me everything.”

  Aaron left, leaving Cynthia to her thoughts. She hated this job. Hated the paperwork, hated being cooped up in this room. She missed the days of freedom, when it was just her and her team.

  But she had duties. She was the Champion. She would not fail again.

  But that would come later. Right now she had paperwork to do, and if she was lucky, she might even get time to watch a few of the Challenge battles. They reminded her of a simpler time, before she had become a legend. Still, being Champion had its perks.

  Like access to yoghurt.

  Back in Kalos:

  “Calem, it's starting!”

  “Coming!”

  Calem handed the delivery guy the money, retrieving the pizza box in return. He headed back into the loungeroom, where Serena was perched on the couch. Though couch was too small a word for it. Serena’s house was enormous, the perks of being the Grand Duchess of the Battle Chateau.

  You wouldn't know that she carried such a fancy title just by looking at the woman however. She was currently bouncing up and down in her seat, glaring at him.

  “Hurry up!” she demanded.

  Calem rolled his eyes, she always was the demanding one out of the two of them, giving even Shauna a run for her money.

  “I’m here, settle down,” he said, sitting on the couch next to her, placing the pizza box on her enormous, ornate coffee table.

  In front of them her massive TV displayed the distinctive interior of Eterna City’s gym.

  “Your girl is on second, right?” Serena asked, grabbing a slice out of the box, settling in with her feet underneath her, pizza in one hand, wine glass in the other.

  “That's what she said,” Calem confirmed. “I think her friend is first.”

  “I am still pissed that you took an apprentice and never introduced her to me,” Serena pouted.

  Calem rolled his eyes, “She's not my apprentice, I just helped her out.”

  “Sure, that's why you keep checking the badge tallies.”

  “I like to know who’s doing well,” Calem shot back, “Now shut up, it's starting.”

  “An Abernathy hey?” Serena said, as the first of the two girls was announced.

  Calem nodded, “Chloe says she's pretty good too.”

  Serena snorted when Fiona delivered her opening lines.

  “She sassy as hell, I like her.”

  They watched as the girl’s Rufflet faced Gardenia’s Carnivine.

  “Impressive,” Calem admitted, when Thistle unleashed the Heat Wave. He whistled when she released her Heracross.

  “Hot damn,” Serena said. “That's a bug and a half.”

  “Yeah,” Calem agreed, “Wonder if she can control it.”

  It turned out that she could, both trainers watching enraptured as the Heracross proceeded to dismantle Gardenia.

  Serena burst into laughter as the girl flipped off the camera.

  “Girl knows how to send a message. Your kid is next, right?”

  Calem nodded, “Yep.”

  “Gonna be a tough act to follow,” Serana said, and Calem grinned.

  “Just you wait. This will be good.”

  It turned out he lied. It was incredible.

  “Holy… that is one intense Jigglypuff,” Serana said, eyes wide.

  Calem meanwhile, couldn't help grinning. Chloe was putting on a show. He had helped her that first day because it's what older trainers did. He had kept helping her because he saw the spark. It was nice to be proven right so quickly.

  “I can see why you like her,” Serana admitted, watching the Jigglypuff sweep through Gardenia like a broom through dust.

  Calem simply nodded.

  Chloe was off to a great start. He couldn't wait to see where she ended up.