Phenac Stadium's shutters rattled. Trainers scrambled to their feet, but nothing happened. There was a lull. Amber crammed the belongings and leftover food she hastily gathered into her backpack. It was already too full. The shutters opened suddenly. If Cassia hadn't caught Amber, she'd have been trampled down. The stampede carried them like a wave into the turnstiles. Zane already held his ticket. Cassia was so squashed into a security guard's belly she couldn't quite reach the ticket in her pocket. Amber grabbed it for her. Frantic arms waved tickets over their heads. It was a free-for-all. There were somehow six people in front of even Zane. He reached to pull his friends through the tightly-packed crowd before the reception desk. Someone released a Stunky. The Trainers it sprayed refused to budge. No-one could breathe. At least Amber's dad was gone, or he'd have lectured everyone on queuing etiquette... although maybe, she thought as an elbow sank into her neck, this lot needed it.
They gasped for air when they were splayed over the desk. Staff were impassive. Ignoring Zane's complaints, they registered them in silence until they had to speak.
'Numbers? Colours?'
Zane and Cassia demanded #1 at the same time. Amber wasn't bothered. #1 was her dad's number.
'I'll take #8,' Seth said, clinging to the table for balance, 'Purple. Size XS.'
He disappeared into the locker rooms. Amber secured #13 in turquoise. Scurrying staff delivered freshly printed uniforms. Cassia had to settle for #21 in red. Zane got #99.
'That's better than #1,' he insisted, tugging at his slightly tight blue jersey, 'It's the highest number! For the highest quality challenger!'
'Get a grip.'
The jibe came from a girl in #96. Her hazel eyes swivelled to Amber.
'No secret whose kid you are. Did you have to run away from daddy, too?'
Amber was used to insults. She turned to ignore her, but she continued.
'I guess I'd run away if my dad was too busy being a victim to control his own son.'
She shrieked. Before she had time to bask in satisfaction from Amber's reaction, Charmeleon pinned her to the wall.
'Keep his name out of your mouth or you'll be sorry.'
As soon as Charmeleon released her, she sent out a Golduck and Ambipom. Amber threw her second Poké Ball. Her Alolan Sandshrew was already struggling to adjust to the heat. Ambipom's Low Kick flung it across the room. It clunked from the wall to the floor. Golduck's Hydro Pump doused Charmeleon. It hung on by sheer determination, but its Slash did little damage. Both Charmeleon and Amber were soaked. She had no other Pokémon. Onlookers pointed and laughed. Her opponent waited for her to get upset. She counted out prize money in silence. Inside, she was burning up with shame... but she knew, whether she wanted to take her dad's advice or not, he was right that defeating an infuriatingly good sport was rarely satisfying. A sharp glare stopped Zane and Cassia stepping in.
'You're pretty strong!'
She'd heard someone cheering for her. 'Bianka, was it? I bet you'll do well!'
Bianka's nose wrinkled. 'You've inherited everything but his talent. Well, you're in Orre now.'
A boy in grey stepped between them. His unruly hair was the colour of Amber's uniform.
'That's enough. What does it matter who anyone's parents are?'
Shrill whistles blew. Music boomed. The Gym Leaders and Elite Four were on the battlefield. Staff, pulling open frosted glass doors, yelled at challengers to form two orderly lines. Cassia squeezed Amber's shoulder.
'You weren't to know she was so experienced.'
But I shouldn't have reacted, she thought. And I won't next time. As her thoughts settled, she wasn't angry. She was determined to – and confident she would – defeat Bianka. Still, she couldn't silence the thought rewinding and replaying in her mind... that neither her dad nor Fayiz lost once during their Gym Challenges.
'And now, let's give a warm welcome to this year's challengers!'
This time, the whistles beckoned them out. Feet pounded the damp stone leading to the battlefield. Metal sheets covered the gurgling water flanking the corridor to stop anyone falling in. Orre's Governor, Snattle, stood atop a podium amongst the Elite Four. Rays of light fell from a deep blue dome above. Gym Leaders waited to shake hands with the scattering challengers. There were 30 in total. Some, like Bianka, were experienced Trainers. Others were yet to receive their starter Pokémon. Fans in suspended stands cheered and waved flags for their favourite Gym Leaders. No challenger was special or insignificant on the busy battlefield.
They were ushered out for the Elite Four to face off. Even from the lobby, they knew a battle had begun, because the crowd's roar reverberated. Zane wore a giddy grin.
'That was wild! Just wait 'til we're battling in a real colosseum!'
The boy who defended Amber sat against the wall, alone and staring at his P★DA. She was so swept up in the exciting frenzy she'd almost forgotten her run-in with Bianka, but she felt guilty when she walked by without saying anything, so she stepped back.
'Hey... thanks.'
He glanced briskly up. 'Oh? No worries. That girl won't get anywhere with an attitude like that.'
'What about you? Who's your partner Pokémon? And I don't know your name. I'm Amber.'
'Lumir.'
He looked a little flustered, as if startled someone was actually speaking to him, but a smile dimpled his pale cheeks when he showed her a Poké Ball.
'Omanyte.'
'Oh, a Water- and Rock-type! Perfect challenge for my Charmeleon. Then I'll see you at the Pokémon HQ Lab?'
'Certainly. Take care.'
'Some right weirdos here,' Zane said once they were out of earshot, 'Big-Head Bianka and that teenage grandpa you were just speaking to...'
Seth caught up to them. 'You guys heading to the Boltund Station?'
'Yeah! Well, quick trip to the Pokémon Center first. But then the adventure begins!'
Or at least they thought they were headed for the Boltund Station. Leaving the Pokémon Center, Zane guffawed. He nudged Cassia. She stifled a shriek. Raihan and her mother Olivia were leaning against a van, chatting to Leon and Abbey. Raihan waved.
'Hey, Cass! I know you wish I'd disappear, but you won't want to miss this gift!'
'I didn't know you were here, too.'
Olivia tutted before kissing her on the cheek. 'You think we'd miss your opening ceremony?'
'What's this gift, then?'
'Ta-dah!' Raihan announced, gesturing to the van, 'We were really proud of you passing your driving test, so ee-arr!'
Zane's eyes lit up. 'We'll get there before everyone on the Boltund!'
Amber surveyed the shiny silver van with its red Orre licence plates. She could live with that. At least it wasn't from Leon. Cassia couldn't help smiling.
'We really would've taken the Boltund... but thanks, mom. Dad.'
Raihan dropped the keys, with a Duraludon keyring, in her palm. 'Go on, then! Give it a whirl!'
Seth was taking battle advice from Leon. Amber couldn't bring herself to get in without saying goodbye. Since an accident before she was born, Leon was easily distracted, forgetting he was even speaking to Seth when she approached. Both he and Abbey hugged her tight.
'Travel safe. And remember to never leave your Poké Balls in the van.'
The door rolled shut behind her. She took the passenger seat beside Cassia. Zane excitably babbled to quiet Seth behind them. The engine rumbled. Seatbelts clicked. Cassia switched the radio on. She didn't want to fall asleep at the wheel after their night on the street. Upbeat jazz music played. Amber found herself dozing. She awoke to see a barren highway stretching endlessly to the horizon. Zane was snoring. Seth stared blankly out of the window.
'Arreet, Cass?'
Cassia sat bolt upright to keep herself awake. 'I'd be better if every passing driver wouldn't honk for no reason.'
Indeed, a horn blared from the next car to scoot around them, well past the 80mph speed limit. She jumped every time. Most cars turned to Pyrite Town or Mt. Battle. Cassia drove on until rising dunes turned to mountainous greens. Signs pointed to Agate Village, where Amber was born.
'Cassia! You're dozing!'
'Shit!'
She straightened up. 'I'm gonna have to make a stop. We'll still get to the lab before the Boltund lot.'
A dusty white bridge carried them across the river. Zane was jolted awake as the van rattled over potholes. Isolated drive-ins met suburbs. Pedestrians began to dot sidewalks. A Wingull-shaped sign welcomed them to Gateon Port. Bridges over choppy waves retracted to let boats through. The van stopped on broken tiles outside the Pokémon Center. A Poké Ball hologram flickered above. Cassia went inside to splash her face with cold water. The others bought supplies in the Poké Mart.
'Right!' Cassia announced when she re-emerged, 'Ready when you are!'
When her friends glanced back, they were aghast. She became suddenly aware of the keys in her hand... the keys she hadn't used.
She knew before she saw it that the van was gone.