I wandered around Aquacorde Town, slightly lost; I knew this was where Nemona said the remaining Blueberry Academy was meeting, but I couldn't see them anywhere. Maybe they already left? Knowing my luck, that's probably true. I paused momentarily, taking a deep breath and glancing to my side, smirking. "Feels weird to be travelling on our own, huh, Mimi? Half expect Zinnia to jump out and blabber something about imagination."
Walking down the steps of Aquacorde Town, I stood by the fountain, seeing a small forest just up ahead. Deciding to take a small break, I sat beside the fountain. I pulled out my phone, scrolled through my socials, and saw what was happening. I stopped on one news post, surprised. "Someone already beat the Alola Elite Four and claimed the spot as Champion? Say... Does that mean I can finally stop using that title?"
Zorua giggled, wagging her tail, trying to look at herself. "That would make my life easier. Being a Champion Trainer of one region is good enough for me... Say, I wonder who beat Lillie? It must be someone strong."
Before I could check who it was, I heard a crowd roaring excitedly and what sounded like Pokemon battling. While I'd much prefer just sitting here for the rest of the afternoon and chilling, something tells me I already know who's picking a fight at this time of day. "No rest for the wicked, ready Mimi?"
Zorua jumped on my shoulder, walking over my back onto my left side, barking away again. "You sure have been vocal today, haven't you, girl? I'm glad one of us has a lot of energy. Let's go and see Nemona picking on a defenceless trainer into a one-sided Pokemon battle."
****
Making it to the back end of Aquacorde, I could see a small crowd forming; most looked to be students in outfits I didn't recognise. Arms crossed, I clicked my tongue, looking to Zorua. "How much you wanna bet these lots are the Blueberry Academy We've been looking for?"
Sitting on the steps, I better see the battle as Nemona took on a boy with purple hair and a dead serious glare. Nemona already had her Pokeball ready, smirking. "I heard you got real strong since we last battled Kieran, became Champion and everything. I'm so psyched! Time for us Champions to let loose!"
"Another Champ, huh? We sure love running into those lot, don't we?" I whisper, watching the battle take place.
"I put everything into studying and making my Pokémon stronger... I crushed the Elite Four and became Champion... All that hard work... All of it..." Kieran paused, clutching his Ultra Ball tightly. "All of it was just so that I could beat you-right here, right now!"
Nemona sent out her first pair of Pokémon, Pawmot the Hands-On Pokémon, and Lycanroc, the fierce Rock-type wolf Pokémon. On the other side of the field, Kieran countered with his duo, the mighty Dragonite and the technical prowess of Porygon-Z.
Kieran clenched his fist, glaring at Nemona. "I know I'm making the right choice... You'll understand that soon enough!"
"Alright, Pawmot, Lycanroc, let's show them what we're made of!" Nemona called out.
Kieran smirked confidently. "Let's settle who's the strongest between us two, once and for all, Nemona! Dragonite, Porygon-Z, let's give it our all!"
The battlefield crackled with anticipation as the trainers made their moves.
"Pawmot, start us off with a thunderbolt on Dragonite! Lycanroc, use Rock Slide to disrupt Porygon-Z!" Nemona commanded.
"Porygon-Z set up a Tri Attack on Pawmot! Dragonite, take to the skies and counter with a Thunder Punch on Lycanroc!" Kieran strategised.
The battlefield erupted in a flurry of elemental attacks. Electrical energy gathered around Pawmot as it launched a powerful thunderbolt toward Dragonite, while Lycanroc conjured a cascade of rocks with Rock Slide, aiming at Porygon-Z. Meanwhile, Porygon-Z unleashed a Tri Attack, its beams swirling with different types of energy, targeting Pawmot. Dragonite soared high, charging its Thunder Punch to strikeLycanroc from above.
"I've seen many Pokemon battles since arriving here, but... Why does this one feel so personal?"
"Thought you'd come running back sooner or later." Carmine pointed out, standing next to me, watching the battle, looking deflated. "There goes Kiki again, trying to prove a point. He's been like this for over a month now."
Seeing Kieran's tryhard nature made me reflect on Galar; I was like that when Giovanni brainwashed me. The urge to win took over everything else; I had everything to prove. "What happened?"
"You're looking at her." She responded with a sigh. "Nemona, that girl, I swear to Arcues. She visits our region for a school trip and not only shows us all up but becomes the hero of Kitakami; it broke Kieran."
"Yup. Sounds like Nemona."
The attacks collided in a spectacular display of power, shaking the stadium with their force. Dragonite roared as it took the full brunt of the thunderbolt, while Porygon-Z staggered from the impact of the Rock Slide. However, Pawmot grunted in pain as the Tri Attack connected, and Lycanroc was left reeling from the Thunder Punch.
As the dust settled, both sides assessed the damage. Dragonite and Porygon-Z looked worn down, but Pawmot and Lycanroc weren't much better.
"It's not over yet! Quaquaval, Ogerpon, let's join the fray!" Nemona declared, sending out her final pair of Pokémon.
I sat up at one particular Pokemon wearing a stone mask; I had never seen one like that before. "Nemona never showed that one before."
"Ogerpon?" Carmine whispered, arms crossed. "Of course, she'd send out the Ogre."
"Ogerpon?" I respond, looking back, seeing Kieran losing his mind and screaming. "you've got some nerve... Bringing out the ogre NOW of all times?! Incineroar, Hydrapple, let's finish this!"
Nemona and Kieran exchanged determined glances, both trainers knowing victory hung in the balance.
"Quaquaval hit Incineroar with a Hydro Pump! Ogerpon, use Stomping Tantrum to shake up Hydrapple!" Nemona commanded.
"Incineroar, counter with a Flare Blitz on Quaquaval! Hydrapple, unleash a Leaf Storm on Ogerpon!" Kieran retaliated.
The battlefield erupted once more as the Pokémon launched their final assaults. Quaquaval blasted a powerful Hydro Pump at Incineroar, while Ogerpon caused the ground to tremble with a devastating Stomping Tantrum aimed at Hydrapple. Incineroar charged forward with Flare Blitz, its fiery mane ablaze, targeting Quaquaval. Hydrapple conjured a fierce Leaf Storm, a swirling vortex of leaves and energy directed at Ogerpon.
The attacks collided in a dazzling display of elemental power, shaking the stadium to its core. Quaquaval and Ogerpon struggled against the onslaught, while Incineroar and Hydrapple took heavy hits in return.
As the dust settled, both sides looked on with bated breath, waiting to see the outcome of their intense battle. The Pokémon stood on the field, panting and exhausted from their efforts.
In the end, neither side emerged victorious. Despite their best efforts, Nemona and Kieran had fought to a draw. Their Pokémon matched in skill and determination equally.
Nemona was looking far more excited over the outcome already celebrating. "Wow, that was an amazing battle! You've gotten so much stronger, Kieran! We have to battle again."
On the other hand, Kieran snarled at the enthusiasm, walking towards us. We made brief eye contact, forcing him to stop glaring at me. "What are you looking at?"
"That was a good battle Kiki... This is Y/N, he's a friend of Nemona."
Now paying more attention, Kieran looked directly at me, hands in his pocket. "Another one, I would ask if you're strong, but just looking at that Zorua, I can tell you're weak."
I flinched hearing that. I wanted to argue back; I knew Zorua wasn't weak, but me... I couldn't bring myself to do it. He's right. Looking away, this got another tut. "So that means you're just OK being this weak forever? That's what I'm hearing?"
"Hey, that isn't fair; Y/N here is a Champion from Paldea; that's what Nemona said."
"Shut it, sis." He barks, staring at me again, shaking his head. "Lies."
Leaving us dumbfounded, Kieran stormed off for the Pokemon Centre, getting a tired sigh from Carmine. "Sorry about that, he isn't usually so mean."
"No, he's not wrong," I whisper, seeing Nemona running over, waving. "Hey, Nemona."
"Buenas!I knew you couldn't resist tagging along, Y/N; this will be so much fun, like travelling through Paldea... Oh, where did your friend, Zinnia, go?"
"She went home."
"Oh... That's a shame; I was hoping to battle her."
Getting a faint chuckle from me, I shook my head. "Of course you did. That was a good battle."
"You think? It was so much fun; I'm still trying to work on my bond with Ogerpon; it's taking some work; I'm really experimenting with what mask to use."
"Mask?"
"Yeah, depending on the mask she wears, it changes her type and abilities. I was messing around with a rock type build, it can do with some work."
"A Pokemon who can change types on the fly? Talk about overpowered." I state, hearing my stomach rumbling and flinching. "So much for being discrete."
"Nothing makes me hungry than a good Pokemon battle; we can get lunch; care to join us, Carmine?"
"No." She responds, walking away. Talk about blunt.
"More for us then, how about we have a picnic? I've been gathering some ingredients."
"And who do we have here?" A woman spoke, walking down the stairs. "Hmm, the attire, that shiny Zorua. You wouldn't happen to be Y/N, would you?"
"That's me... Do I know you?"
"My name is Briar; I'm one of the teachers at Blueberry Academy. I'm running the school trip your school is joined with ours on. Director Clavell spoke highly of you and filled me in on your situation, expecting we might run into each other sooner or later. How fitting you'd end up in Kalos at the same time we are!"
"Yeah, what a coincidence," I mutter. "When you say fill you in on my situation, you mean?"
"Why the fact you are from the Hisui region? Yes, Director Clavell gave me the rundown. You see, I've taken a great interest in your case; my ancestor was a part of the first expedition into the depths of Area Zero."
"He sure loves to tell everyone I'm from the past, doesn't he?" I complain, trying to keep a friendly appearance up. "Have you managed to investigate Area Zero yourself, Briar?"
"Unfortunately, no, but I heard you two actually got to step foot in there first-hand; what was it like?"
"A nightmare." I sighed, rubbing my head. "It's not somewhere I'm dying to return to, let's put it that way."
Briar held her chin, nodding along. "I see; since we've got you here, Y/N, why don't you join our school trip? You are a student of the Naranja Academy, after all."
"What is the school trip about?"
"We're studying the Mega Evolution phenomenon that first appeared in Kalos." Nemona boldly stated, holding her hands together. "Such a way of battling gets me so pumped. I want to Mega Evolve all of my partners!"
"Mega Evolution? Oh yeah, I've seen Zinnia use it with her Salamance. It originated in Kalos?"
"Yup, yup, I bet you're interested in learning how it works to use yourself, aren't you rival!?"
"Not really."
"Sorry, I didn't hear you. What was that?"
"We're not beating the dead Ponyta with a stick again," I grumbled, arms crossed. "I don't have anything going on... I was just planning on returning to Paldea. I suppose... I couldn't join a School trip halfway through; I'm not on the list; besides, I don't have permission."
Briar waved it off, smiling. "The Director already reserved a place for you if you ever return during a trip. Besides, I think it may be difficult to get your parent's permission, right?"
"You didn't have to remind me." I whimper, sighing, lowering my head. "It wouldn't hurt to see what Kalos is about with everyone..."
Nemona jumped up, already cheering. "Alright, that's what I like to hear! I'm in a new region, travelling with my bestie with every opportunity to battle; what more could you want!?"
"To not battle."
"No can do, we've got to battle now! It's been a year, and I know you've become much stronger. Come on, it will cheer you up, I know it!"
"No."
Nemona tried arguing again, only for her stomach to grumble. "Scratch that; I'm as hungry as a Snorlax! Let's eat first, come on I'll set up the picnic table!"
Nemona had already run off before I could get a word in, making me look at Zorua blankly. "Good grief, I should have gone to Unova instead..."