I gripped my Pokeball tightly, feeling flustered. I had only had two Pokemon left, and now I was pushed back into the corner. I droned the crowd out, taking a deep breath and gaining my composure back. Then, looking down at Zorua, I nodded and pumped. "Don't worry, buddy, I'm not down yet, this is our final challenge, and I'm not giving up so easily."
Grusha covered his mouth with his scarf nodding. "Good, I hope you have far more than that, Y/N. Show me the bonds between you and your Pokemon."
Flipping the Pokeball in the air, I smirked. "You're going to regret that; let's break the ice Tinkaton!"
Tinkaton smashed down, swinging her hammer, ready to battle. Hoping side to side, keeping warm, I rubbed my face ready. "We're holding nothing back, girl; time for your ultimate form!"
Pulling out my tera orb, I was pushed back, holding the orb with both hands as it began charging up. Then, spinning the orb, I threw it at Tinkaton as she began to teraform.
Blasting from the crystals, fire ignited everywhere, warming me up. Cracking my knuckles, I began punching the air. "It's not or never, Tinkaton!"
Grusha took his orb out, doing the same, throwing it on Altaria and changing it into an ice type.
"You can do it, Y/N!" Nemona shouted from the crowd. I glanced at her, taken back. When did she get here?
"A little cheer isn't too bad, huh? But, then, Tinkaton, scorch the earth using Tera Blast!"
My attack shredded Altaria, almost knocked out in one hit, leaving me buzzing. One more time like that, and it's over!
"Don't get so cocky; I'm not done yet; Altaria, use dragon pulse!"
"Quick Tinkaton, use substitute!" I shout, buying us some time. Then, running to the side of the battlefield, I almost fell over the fencing barking orders. "Don't give them any time to react. Use Gigaton Hammer!"
Tinkaton reappeared, smashing the ground and propelling herself forward. "Go!"
Smashing down on Altaria, everyone was knocked back as a snow cloud ripped over the grounds making me watch anxiously.
As it settled, I saw Tinkaton standing next to a knocked-out Altaria. Jumping up, I shouted with glee. "Alright! We did it!"
Nemona was the first to run straight to me, ecstatic. "You did it! Like you really did it! See, I told you, Y/N, you're an amazing trainer!"
Grusha lowered his head in shame, approaching. "She's right... You broke the ice there for good. So here's the final gym badge and proof of your mastery over me. Congratulations."
Holding the badge, I stared at it in awe. "I did it... I really did it."
****
"Achoo!" Rubbing my nose, I sat on the bench overlooking the gym, reflecting on my journey so far. Nemona threw me a soda cracking one open herself. "Thanks."
"A drink set for a Champion Trainer." She chuckles, taking one big gulp. "Your Pokemon were amazing out there, dude; you've come so far since I found you and Zorua on that beach."
"Yeah, I guess it has been a wild two months... I didn't expect to see you here today, Nemona; I thought you were too caught up training a new team?" I question, sipping my drink. "Have you finalised it yet?"
"Yeah, huh! How about it? Wanna give my new team a whirl?"
"We just fought a super tough battle; let's pass for now."
Nemona slouched over, nodding. "I hear you; sorry again. I really want to battle, but you keep shooting down my shots."
"What can I say? You really pick bad moments to pop up like this." I smirk as Zorua laid on my lap, falling asleep. "I'm still worried no progress has been made to get me back home... It's starting to hit me where it hurts nowadays. I haven't been away from home for so long."
"It's that bad?"
I nodded, stroking Zorua. "Yeah, travel alone is fairly dangerous back home, even for someone like me. I might spend a few nights away from home base caught in a rainstorm, but never more than that... Do you think they've even noticed? But, of course, it was so long ago; maybe everyone moved on."
Sighing, I tried putting on my best smile again. "Look at me bringing the mood down; I need something to distract me."
Nemona took a moment snapping her fingers. "What else! You have eight badges now; there's only one place left to go! The Pokemon League, become a Champion!"
"I suppose I've come this far; it would be something to brag about back at home," I mutter, whispering. "What say, you Mimi? Want to show the world what we're made of?"
Zorua gave a half-hearted bark making me roll my eyes. "I hear you, girl; lunch first."
"I'll whip us up something real quick, a picnic for the ages." Nemona boasted, already juggling a loaf of bread. "Come come; it's my treat."
Sitting down, they leaned against the picnic table, yawning. "I don't know how you've already done the gym challenge; this was exhausting."
"Was it? I never saw it like that." She shrugged off cutting up some ham. "Each battle was one step closer to my dream; becoming a Champion at my age was something no one else had done. Nothing was holding me back."
Throwing a ball ahead, I watched Zorua run after it, happy as ever. Then, smiling, I found myself curious. "If you've already found your treasure, what next? I mean, you've conquered this region in those regards, then? Why haven't you travelled somewhere else?"
"Travelled somewhere else?" Nemona said, conflicted. "The idea has crossed my mind; I mean, there are so many regions to visit. Of course, there is where you're from, Sinnoh, but I've been interested in the Almia region oh and the Orange Islands. I almost transferred to Blueberry Academy as an exchange student last year but decided against it at the last minute. I could only imagine the powerful trainers, though!"
"Wow, you've really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you? So why not go for it then?"
Nemona shook her head, laughing. "I still have so much of my home to explore; powerful Pokemon like your Koraidon are still for the battling. Besides, if I had moved on, I would have never met someone like you, Y/N."
Koraidon burst out from their ball, goggling over my sandwich and keeping it away, scolding them. "Why do you decide it's time to come out every time I'm about to eat? You were the same with Arven..."
Breaking off a third, I gave one to Zorua and Koraidon, eating the rest myself. Nemona gave me half of hers, nodding. "I heard you were helping Arven, I jumped in, taking out one of those super strong Titans myself, but you took down the other two quite easily. Is his partner up to scratch?"
"Good as new, I believe... I couldn't imagine going through someone like that." I said, upset. "Oh, and I finished up the last of Team Star too, well, I think? Then, of course, there's the boss, but I don't know anything about that."
"You really have been busy, huh? Say, what will you do if you can't get home?"
My eyes widened at this as I fell silent. "I-."
We were cut off as Nemona's phone rang. The Rotom phone floated in front of her. "It's Director Clavell? Could it be!?"
Crawling over, I leaned over Nemona's shoulder, looking. "Director!? Is it good news?"
"Oh splendid, I was right to assume calling Miss Nemona would find you Y/N. The Professors wish to discuss urgent matters; they believe in having a way back home."
****
I felt my legs shaking as we approached the academy again. Finally, we were back after so long. "This is it... A way back home."
Nemona looked deflated, wanting to say, someone. But instead, she took a deep breath speaking her mind. "Do you have to... Just don't get your hopes up."
About to enter, I was stopped as Penny tapped me on my shoulder. "Oh, Penny, fancy bumping into you again. Were you in class?"
Penny looked around; something about her was off, no different. "Thank you for everything you did for Operation Starfall."
"Don't mention it, I'm just glad they won't be harassing people anymore, but I guess they weren't so bad after all, huh?"
"Right, but there's still one last case to resolve."
"Oh, you mean the boss?"
"I do. Can you meet me in the school courtyard?" Penny asked, trembling. "It's important."
"I've missed home for three months now; what will a few more hours do?" I state, agreeing. "Nemona?"
"Why not? I'll inform the Director you'll be a little late."
"Thanks, so? Shall we?"
Following Penny, I could tell something was up, I had suspicions, but I decided to play this one out. So let's see where this goes.
Standing in the courtyard, I whistled, Zorua standing on my shoulder. "So... Are you going to admit it yet? You're this Cassiopeia, aren't you?"
Penny looked startled for a brief moment before nodding. "I am; how did you know?"
"I have my doubts over your identity. But I knew it from the start, you could say. When my phone was hacked, I was only gifted it that very morning. So there was no way a third party could have found my details and hacked it so quickly. Unless they were in the school. Plus, you care for the Team Star Bosses; that was a dead giveaway."
Penny sighed, defeated. "I tried my best to hide such a secret; nothing gets past you, though. I began Operation Starfall to dissolve a team that was no longer needed, a team that would suffer because of me. I originally started it to combat the bullies, but now it's far out of control. You stop that; all that's left is me."
"Is that needed?" I question, arms crossed. "Your resolve started and disbanded Team Star; challenging you won't change anything."
"Maybe it won't. But I need this to be official once and for all."
"I suppose leaving loose ends untied is worse for wear. I accept; however, we will stick to one Pokemon. No more, no less."
"Why... Fine, I accept."
"If you don't mind, I wish to record this battle for the books."
"That's fine by me. Mimi? You good to go?" I asked as Zorua jumped down, ready to battle.
Penny held her Pokeball up, ready sending in Umbreon. "I am the Boss of Team Star, Penny. Bow down to the founder of Team Star!"
I stood by waiting as I gave no orders to Zorua; she didn't look worried though waiting. Penny gripped her fists, shouting. "I will give it my all and stay true to the Team Star's code. Umbreon use dark pulse."
Before Penny could even get a hit in, I shook my head, giving Zorua one order. "Mimi, return."
Zorua ran back to my side, catching Penny off guard. "What are you doing!? We are meant to be battling; why aren't you taking me seriously."
"The only person who isn't taking you seriously is yourself. This isn't you, Penny."
"What isn't?"
"All of this; why did you begin Operation Starfall?"
"Why?" She echoed. "Why? Because Team Star had overstayed their welcome, they weren't needed anymore. So I needed to disband them."
"You're wrong, Penny," I explain, annoyed. "You're lying to yourself even now. You were scared, scared for them to see who you were. If you wanted to disband Team Star, you could have done that yourself; instead, you used me to do it for you. You were scared of them seeing who the boss really was. You don't have to be scared, right guys?"
The rest of Team Star's bosses came in, freaking Penny out. "What is this? When did you?"
I took out a Rotom phone spinning it around. "I got with the times, you could say. But, after taking down Eri, I knew you would want me to defeat you, too, but that wouldn't change how you feel about yourself. So I decided to contact the former Team Star Bosses promising them all one thing. To finally meet the big boss."
"But why? Why?"
"Isn't that obvious because they care about you?" I state, stepping aside.
"Yo, big boss, long time no see." Giacomo saluted strolling in.
"Although, it's more like a long time no meet, right? We only just found out your real name." Mela smirked, getting everyone else to agree.
"Yeah, what gives!? You have no idea how worried we've been about you... After all this time, we found you." Eri shouted
"So let's do it, gang. Altogether, 1...2...3 Hasta la vistar Cassiopeia! Hello Penny!"
Zorua jumped back on my shoulder as I petted her chin. "This is all they ever wanted, Penny. Don't you think it's a bit selfish to be decided what's best for them? The disbanding of Team Star, since when, was that ever a good idea? It brought people together when they felt most alone. Created everlasting friendships and gave a place where people could feel like they belonged. Who are we to take that away?"
"You're... You're right."
"Of course I am; I'm always right." I joke, smiling. "Don't let this opportunity slip through your fingers, Penny... You never know if you'd see your friends again... I'll leave you guys in peace. Hasta la vistar."
My breathing was shaky as I stood before the Director's office. I had no idea what was to come, but regardless I was ready. Opening the door, I stepped in, bowing. "Director Clavell, I'm here. You said there was a way home?"
I saw Professor Sada in person, looking severely. I approached as Clavell turned to Professor Sada, not saying a word. "Y/N, thank you for coming. Unfortunately, I must keep this brief as Turo doesn't know of this conversation."
"What is it?"
"It's time I told you the truth," Sada said, pausing. "The truth about why you're here."
To be continued...