what fresh hell is this?

Orla was sat in the furnace room of the Brave Asagi, staring at a pokeball. Or what vaguely resembled one. The start of something that vaguely resembled a pokeball.

Orla was going to visit Karna for a while, taking a break from the Brave Asagi.

It was something the Rising Volteccers had decided was a good idea. One because it gave Orla a break. She was the living definition of a workaholic, so this was a way to make her take a break. Second reason was that it meant Orla got to see her partner.

Orla and Karna both claimed that having a long distance relationship was fine for the two of them. And for the most part, they weren't lying. But they did miss seeing each other.

So giving them a month together was a good way to settle this.

This time however, Orla had something big planned for her visit.

She wanted to propose to Karna.

But not with a simple ring. No, she wanted to make another pokeball for her.

The first time she made one for her she felt very and extremely nervous.

She remembered how critical she had been of Karna's factory layout the first time she laid eyes on it.

She was expecting that same level of criticism for the pokeball she made.

But that criticism never came, she loved it as much as she loved the woman that made it for her.

'This one has to out do it.' Orla thought. 'But how..? Maybe if I could find some hard to find metal. But where would I begin to look..?' She leaned back getting lost in thought.

Then her eyes trailed over to her rotom phone.

'Maybe he'll know.' She picked up her phone and dialed his contact.

.....

Friede grumbled, waking up to the sound of his rotom phone.

"It's your day off, that better not be exceed." Nova grumbled.

Friede picked up his rotom phone, "Nope, no need to worry. It's just Orla."

Nova's eyes instantly lit up, "Tell her I say hi!"

Friede smiled and answered the phone, "Hello?"

"Hey..." Orla asked, trying her best to sound calm and casual. "You know how you're like... super smart?"

Friede froze, "What's wrong with you?"

"Wh.. What do you mean what's wrong with me?" Orla questioned.

"We've known each other for years. And in all the years I've known you, not once have you called me 'smart'. Not even when I became a Pokémon Professor. You were all like 'I can't believe you actually managed to become a Pokémon Professor.'" Friede answered.

"I mean.. can you blame me?" Orla teased, Friede sighed. "You know I was proud of you though, still am."

Friede chuckled, "Yeah, I know. So.. what do you need?"

"It's a... bit of an odd ask but you wouldn't know where I could find some.. rare metal? Or anyone who might know?"

"You're the mechanic, shouldn't you know? What do you need rare metal for the Brave Asagi for anyway?" Friede questioned.

"It's.. not for the Brave Asagi."

"Oh. A personal project then?"

"Yeah.. it's something really important." Orla chuckled sheepishly. "I want to propose to Karna but with a pokeball."

Friede grinned, that was such a sweet idea, and so Karna and Orla but then he tried hard to act nonchalant. "That's a very sweet idea, Ore." He reached for Nova's hand, taking it in his attempts to stay calm.

"Thanks.. so.. any ideas?" Orla asked.

"Hmm..." Friede glanced at Nova, "Sweetie, do you know if the mines in Galar were ever known to contain rare metal?"

Nova gave it a thought, "I believe so."

Friede nodded, "Try the mines in Galar."

"Thanks Friede!" Orla exclaimed.

"Thank Nova, she's the one who told me." Friede chuckled.

"Pass Nova the phone."

Friede passed his phone to Nova.

"Hey, Orla." Nova greeted.

"Thank you so much, Nova! Okay, gotta go now, bye!" Orla exclaimed.

Nova passed Friede his phone back, "What was that about?"

Friede grinned, unable to hide how he really felt about the situation from Nova, "Orla's gonna propose to Karna!"

"Oh my Arceus, no way!" Nova exclaimed, flashing a grin that matched Friede's.

"Yes! And she's making a pokeball to do it!"

"That's so cute!"

"I know!"

.....

Orla flew to the Galar mines on Metagross, and with it's help manged to find some metal called 'rhodium.' Happy with finding this metal, Orla got to work immediately on the pokeball.

After she waved goodbye to the others on the Brave Asagi, she started to think of how and when she would propose. It had to be perfect.

Karna was still at the factory so that gave Orla time to prepare. She would take her on a ride on Metagross and bring her to Ballonlea, that place was known for its beautiful forest, and they would have a picnic. Then she would propose. It was perfect.

A few hours later, Karna came home.

"Is my gorgeous mechanic home?" Karna called out into the house.

"She sure is!" Orla exclaimed, rushing downstairs to greet her by lifting her in her arms. The two shared a brief kiss before Orla placed her back down.

Now that she really got a look at her, Karna realised Orla wasn't wearing her usual attire.

"You look... different." Karna spoke, then realising how vague what she said sounded. "In a good way! You look cute! Gorgeous even!"

Orla chuckled at Karna's panic of accidently insulting her, "Thank you, my love. I was.. wondering if I could take you on a date."

Karna beamed, "Oh! Of course! Let me get ready!" Karna rushed upstairs, tripping on her way up to get ready.

"I'll get you outside!" Orla exclaimed.

.....

Once she was ready and came outside, she found Orla sitting on top of Metagross waiting for her.

"We're riding on Metagross...?" Karna asked nervously.

"Yeah, I know it might seem a little scary, I remember when Friede first convinced me to do it, but once you're used to it's a super fun and convenient way of travel." Orla explained. Karna stood, still looking unsure so she reached a hand out for her. "You can hold on to me all you want."

Karna took a deep breath and after a few seconds, took Orla's hand and let her guide her on to Metagross. The second she was sat she instantly clung to her.

Orla laughed, "We haven't even took off yet."

"You said I can cling to you all I want."

"Yeah, I did say that."

And so they took off.

The longer they were airborne, the more comfortable Karna started to feel. Although she grip on Orla never loosened.

"So... Friede convinced you to do this?" Karna asked.

"Hmm? Oh yeah. Back when he was first training and studying to be a Pokémon Professor he had to do a whole bunch of exercises, exams and different things. One experiment he considered once Metagross evolved was the possibility of flying on it and just how far someone could go. Like what he does with Charizard." Orla explained, "So, he asked if I wouldn't mind giving his hypothesis a go."

"Weren't you nervous at all?" Karna asked.

Orla shook her head, "Nah, around that point me and Friede had been friends for.. about ten years or so, his recklessness had definitely rubbed off on me by then. I also knew he would have teased me endlessly if I didn't."

"And.. how did that first flight go?"

"It wasn't bad. I would be lying if I said I wasn't shaking the whole time. But it was good, I didn't end up injured. Friede would fly next to me on Charizard. Partly, to take notes but also to make sure me and Metagross were okay. And in the end, the University were happy with his work, so it all worked out." Orla smiled.

"You and Friede have always been so supportive of each other, huh?" Karna asked with a smile.

"Yeah, he was the first person I told I wanted to be a mechanic, first person I came out to when I realised I liked woman. So many things."

"I wish I had a friend like that."

At last, the two reached Ballonlea.

Orla laid out the picnic blanket and set out the food she had prepared.

"Wow..." Karna gasped, "You really didn't have to do all this."

"I wanted to, I want to do something special for my girlfriend. Especially since I don't get to see her often." Orla explained.

The two enjoyed the picnic, talking and laughing through eating and drinking.

Once they were done with the food and drink, Orla spoke up.

"I have one more surprise for you..."

"Orla, you have already done so much. What else could there possibly be?" Karna giggled.

"You'll see... could you close your eyes for me, honey?"

Karna nodded, closing her eyes.

Orla pulled out the pokeball she had made especially for this occasion and carefully got on to one knee in front of Karna.

"Okay... you can open them."

Karna opened her eyes, her eyes going wide at the sight of Orla in front of her.

"I... have no idea how I got so lucky in life to be introduced to such a beautiful, talented, creative, funny... Just... such an amazing woman like you. But everyday I am so thankful that I got to meet you and that I'm the one who gets to love you. So... I would be so honoured if you would let me be the person who gets to love you for the rest of our lives." Orla spoke, smile wide and eyes shimmering with love and hope.

"Oh, Orla..." Karna gasped. "Well.. this is.. sure an interesting turn of events." Her eyes widened when she saw the shimmer in Orla's eyes dimmer and started waving her hands. "No, no, no! Arceus... I can be so bad at words.. what I mean is I.. uhh... actually have a proposal pokeball for you too.." Karna chuckled sheepishly. The shimmer instantly came back to Orla's eyes. "I don't have it on me though, I was waiting for the right time. But it looks like you beat me to it."

Orla lunged forward and pulled Karna into a kiss, their lips moved together as they both melted into the kiss before pulling away.

"Just to be clear.. that's a yes, right?" Orla asked.

Karna chuckled, "Of course, it's a yes."

They shared another kiss.

Karna then took the pokeball from Orla and inspected it.

"I can feel the love and dedication you put into each pokeball you make."

"I only make them for you, so that makes sense. I can't wait to see the one you made for me."

"It's all yours the second we get home."

Orla kissed her cheek, "Wonderful."

Note: if you're familiar with me, you'll know nova and frienova is my yumeship, im sorry i couldn't resist sneaking that in here.

Orla couldn't sleep. She had been struggling to sleep ever since the incident at Laqua.

She saw her childhood friend... die. Her best friend for years.

"No point in trying to force myself to sleep." She spoke to herself, getting up and out of the bed. She had been staying Karna's guest room since she came to Galar to work with her.

As quietly as she could, as to not disturb both Karna and the Pokémon in the house, she left to go and get some fresh air.

And found herself once again at the Brave Asagi.

She checked in on all the Pokémon aboard the ship and put out some food for them. And after that she started doing maintenance checks.

"The ship doesn't need as much maintenance without everyone on it." She muttered to herself. Doing maintenance on the ship was daily routine for Orla, it had been for years. It was odd to think it didn't need that anymore and she was struggling to adjust to the change. Or maybe it was that she wasn't able to adjust at all.

Once satisfied, Orla left and went back to Karna's house. She reached the guest room door but hesitated when reaching for the door handle.

And her head turned towards Karna's bedroom door.

Without thinking, her legs started walking on their own and the next thing she knew, she was at the bedroom door. She hesitated to fully open the door but after a second, gave in and entered the room.

Orla had come to learn that Karna was a pretty heavy sleeper, it took a lot to wake her up. Right now, Karna was still snoring into her pillow.

Should she wake her up or just slide into bed and explain herself in the morning?

Arceus.. why did things have to be so complicated?

After a few more minutes of thinking, she slid in beside her, trying her best not to disturb her but after a few more seconds of Orla shuffling into the bed, Karna started to stir.

"Oreo..?" Karna's voice came out in a tired, sluggish tone.

"Sorry, Karna.. I didn't mean to disturb you I just..."

Karna turned on her bedside lamp and grabbed her glasses, putting them on so she could see Orla. "You just?" She asked, now that she could see Orla though, she immediately noticed the tears streaming down her face. "Oh, Oreo..."

Orla lunged forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Karna, like she was afraid she'd disappear if she didn't hold on tight enough.

"I'm so sorry... I just don't wanna be alone tonight."

Karna hugged back, rubbing Orla's back. "You don't ever have to be alone, I'm here for you."

Orla didn't talk and Karna didn't pry. They had talked about the incident already and Orla didn't like talking about it. So, Karna didn't make her.

Karna may not have known Friede well, but she knew that he and Orla were best friends and had been for almost their whole lives. If it hadn't been for him bringing Orla to her, she would never have met her.

After a little while, Orla had calmed down a bit.