The Nimbasa Master Librarian

Here is how everything will be structured and tagged:

“Chapters”

Posted mostly in chronological order with one exception, with four chapters currently planned

Will all be tagged “#Chapters”

Will be posted in parts, as chapters will be quite long

Will mostly be comics with excerpts of text for fleshing out the narrative

“Remember This?”

Backstory and Flashbacks that are important to the narrative, but are not actively engaged with it

Will all be tagged “#Remember This”

Will mostly be fics and text with occasional art

“For Your Information”

Supplemental material that is not an active or important part of the narrative

Will be tagged “#FYI”

Will be almost entirely fics with minimal art

Asks

Ask box will always be open, but timelines for the asks will vary

Asks answered out of the timeline will be tagged “#General Asks”

Asks answered within the timeline will be tagged “#Story Asks”

“... I don’ have t’go?” 

“No, Marnie. Y’don’t have to go. My friend, she helped me get all the stupid paperwork. We’re staying together. Just like I promised” 

Marnie doesn’t remember what she did next other than cry and hold her brother close. Perhaps she thought to thank her brother's new friend, but that didn’t matter in the moment. 

The chaos that had been her and her brother's life since their father had died was at its most terrifying when those suited men and women told her big brother that he couldn’t take care of her - when he already had! He’d always taken care of her!

But it had taken piles and piles of paperwork for them to say so

The next time Marnie saw the girl she was over to study for some big test, and Piers seemed to want to formally introduce them (they’d only met in passing since Piers and her had become friends) 

“Are ya sure y’want me meetin’ ‘er? I’m no’ verrah good with kids” 

“She’s been asking about you. I promise she doesn’t bite” 

“Wh- I’m not worried she bites!” 

Marnie popped her little head into the doorway, seeing her brother’s friend standing in the kitchen. 

“Ah, Marnie! You can come out, come on” 

Curious, the girl walked out of her room, and looked up at the teenager. 

“This is Anya. She’s the friend that helped me” 

Marnie looked up at her, the teenager awkwardly waving at her “uh, hello, It’s-” 

“You like pink?” 

Anya paused “.. Uh.. yes. I’s my favorite color” 

“What’s your second favorite color?” 

“Wh- Marinie-” 

“Orange” Anya quickly answered. 

“Oh.. I like black! Just like my big brother does!” 

Piers huffed “It's not my favorite color” 

“... it isn’t???” Anya asked, somewhat baffled, “it’s all you wear!” 

“I wear purple!” 

“When??” 

The conversation flowed surprisingly easy with that silly little icebreaker, and Marnie was pleased to learn that her brother's new friend was also a music nerd. 

But no one was scared of Anya, despite her stature (She was the tallest girl in the school, but not that tall, all things considered). She was quiet, wore multiple shades of pink and orange, and even on the most humid of days was in a long sleeved shirt or sweater. Her head was always in books, she did her school-work program at the library, and of all the pokemon to have as a partner, she had a damned Yamask. 

Half a semester into the school year, Piers had taken to keeping an eye on his new friend. He saw those familiar stares - as in, he knew what people were thinking. He just hoped that no one would be stupid enough. 

But halfway through another long evening at the library filling out endless paperwork, Piers heard the startling sound of books falling onto the carpeted floor. 

“... oops” 

Piers stood up, a sinking feeling gathering in his chest. 

“... I’s alright” A slightly sheepish voice reacted. Anya. Her tone gave away that she knew it wasn’t really an accident. 

Piers started walking towards the conversation, slowly, quietly. 

“You’re in the AP English class, right? Anna?” 

“Anya” 

“Okay Emma” 

Well, that was a predictable dig

“I’s Anya. I’s pronounced-” 

“I know how it’s pronounced, mumble-mouth” 

“... if a’m mumblin, why’re ya understandin’ everythin’ I say but mah name?” 

Oh, sassy. Nice. 

“You’re the one with the accent here. Talk like you have a brain and I’ll think about saying your name correctly” 

“Ah sure hope y’never go north’a Wyndon with tha’ attitude” Anya responded. Piers cautiously watched a row away, looking between some books “According to you, there’s a whole lotta “no brains” up there. Y’ain’t even got the Spikemuth accent, an’ y’r tryin’ t’tell me that i’m brain-dead jus’ cause I don’t sound like you? Tha’s not fair t’anyone!”

Piers wondered how she could sound so sincere saying something that anyone else might have said with sarcasm. Hell, she did sound offended - but did she not know that she was deliberately being mocked?

On the bright side, it seemed to take the bully - a piss-poor battler Piers recognized from the after school battle group - completely off guard, as Anya adjusted the books in her hand 

“If y’ll ‘scuse me. I have these pulled f’r a book pickup comin’ up soon.” 

And she abruptly pivoted and left the blubbering buffoon standing there. 

Piers decided he needed to assist - if only in the aftermath, and turned the corner 

“You’ve got some fukin’ nerve, Herbert Shrew” 

“Wah - wuh - Cadell??” 

“Y’ know she’s my friend, right?” 

“What - well - I mean-” 

In what he knew was a rather pompous show, Piers put his hands in his pockets and walked up to the other teenager, leaning forward right into the man’s space 

“You talk to her like that again, an’ I’ll make sure you can’t sit right for a week, got it, ya belland?” 

“G-Got it!! Crystal!” And the coward rushed out the back door of the library

“Right fuckin wanker” Piers grumbled. 

“Mahsk?” 

Piers looked up, seeing that Drew - Anya’s Yamask - was floating a few feet away 

“Uh, hey, Anya back at the desk?” 

The yamask nodded, giving him an interesting look 

“What?” 

Drew motioned over towards the desk. Piers furrowed his brow.

Did he… want him to check on her? Piers supposed that made sense. 

“Is she not doin’ great after that?” Piers asked the pokemon. 

Drew’s expression was telling. 

“Hm, alright, come on. Does she like coffee?” 

-

Anya had never gone to the principal’s office before. 

But then again, she’d never had to wrestle someone to the ground before - she was stronger than she looked, dang-nabit. She hated even touching people most of the time, but anger and determination can cloud that shit real quick. 

Piers was sat on her left, looking a little exhausted, black eye partially hidden by his makeup. 

The fight had been sudden, and hilariously unprovoked. At least, that's what Anya had assumed before Piers had admitted to threatening them. 

“They’d been talkin’ about wrecking the library to make your life harder an’ I told ‘em I’d get m’friends and I to wreck them if they did that” 

Anya was a bit too emotionally detached to speak, but signed a simple '... Why?' 

“It seems they didn’t like that you were beatin’ ‘em at wrestlin’” 

Anya’s scowl deepened, but she didn’t communicate further. 

“... They were wailing on me” Piers stated “Why’d you barge in?” 

Anya looked at him, and signed quite succinctly 

‘Friend’ 

Piers took in that simple sign, and the seeming weight it held coming from a person he knew didn’t have many friends, period. 

“... Can I have your hand?” 

His palm was up, an offer as casual as he could manage it given his emotions.

She stared at the hand for a while, eyes not staying focused on any one thing, but falling back on the hand again. 

Her hand grabbed his, and the two of them sat in silence, ready for the scolding they’d be getting from the principal. 

He knocked, and was called in, and the state of her living room was baffling the man. 

Currently, Anya was sitting in her small living room, with her yamask resting just behind her on the back of the sofa, her Froslass was floating right by her side on the sofa, and her Hatterene was hilariously taking up a huge part of her couch next to her. 

“What in the - Anya?” 

“Hm?” She didn’t give him a glace, as she was in the middle of eating something.

“.... Can I ask what the hell you're doing?” 

Anya looked up from her food, giving him a bewildered expression. 

“.... Dinner?” 

“... This is how you have dinner? With all of your pokemon just… around you?” He questioned

“.. Not usually? But the rain outside was makin’ me nervous - the power tends t’go out”

Milo could not, for the life of him, understand the logic there. But Anya was always a little enigmatic, really. They hadn’t known each other long, but she was good at confounding him with her logic leaps, if nothing else. 

“Do you usually let them out of their pokeballs when they get home, though?” 

“Yes?”

Huh. Something about that was interesting to Milo, though he didn’t linger on it 

“Well, I’m just here dropping off the sweets you asked for” 

“Yah?” Drew perked up at the mention of sugar.

“Oh, thank ye! Ye can put it on the counter” 

“Got it. Uh, see you tomorrow?” He questioned 

“Sure!” She waved to him, with her pokemon following suit.

Milo shut the door behind him, and his brow was furrowed as furrowed could be as he stood there in a small apartment building’s hallway. Anya could be quite the character sometimes, and while he had been bewildered, the more he thought about it, the less ridiculous it was. Seemed he was just caught off guard. She did love her pokemon, even if it seemed a little unconventional.

Anya reminded him of another person with a love of Galarian Punk and pink. Perhaps he should introduce them. 

Oh, that was a great idea! Both of them could use more friends! 

He’d look into it tomorrow. He was sure it was a good idea. 

-

Huh.

“So.. You two… know each other?” Milo questioned, genuinely surprised.

Anya glanced over at him “Hm?” 

“Hell yeah we fuckin’ do! Graduated secondary together!” Piers announced, arm around Anya’s shoulders. “Been friends f’r years! Surprised we hadn’t mentioned it to ya before now, but oh well!” 

The fact that he was touching her without asking and she was clearly fine with it was the answer in and of itself, but Piers' response clarified a lot. Milo couldn’t help but smile bemusedly at the situation

“Huh. Didn’t know you knew each other…. Is she the best friend you kept talking about?” Milo questioned almost playfully. 

“You bet!” Piers gave Milo a tired grin. Anya looked down with a red face. 

Milo chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, let’s not delay! We have a rented Karaoke room to abuse!” He waved for them to follow him into the venue they’d gotten the reservation in in the south end of Hammerlocke. 

“Oh, hell yeah! Ready, Anya??” 

Anya recovered from the bashfulness rather quickly at the promise of karaoke as Piers removed his arm from around her shoulders, and she gave a solid nod “Aye! Le’s’go!” 

“I push and you tend to shove I-” 

“Give in and you won’t give up I’m” 

“Not getting out of here this time!” 

“I bought a Lemon to a knife fight!!” 

Oh, now Milo just felt left out. 

That seemed to get the girl's attention, her yamask companion looking surprised at her excitement. 

“Yeah! Let's go! We got here before everyone else cause I know you don’t like all the crowds!” Leon gave her a thumbs up

Anya’s expression seemed about as delighted as it could get with her lopsided smile, and she followed Leon down the hill and into the chill wooloo herd. 

“Wooh?” 

“Wuh.. Hello” Anya stared down at the curious pokemon 

“Pet it! They really like getting head pats!” Leon showed, patting the head of a happy wooloo that brayed with delight. 

Anya looked at him, then back at the wooloo, before cautiously reaching towards the pokemon’s head, and giving it a few cautious pats. 

Oh, oh my goodness, they were so soft!!!

“Wow….” 

“Wooh!” The pokemon brayed happily at the patting, tilting its head 

Anya giggled “Wooh!” She imitated, 

“Wooh!” 

“Anya!” 

“Huh?” 

“Come here! The yampers want pets and I can't pet all of them!!” Leon requested. 

“Oh! Okay!” Anya jumped, before looking down at the wooloo “Pardon me, miss” 

“Wooh!” The sheep pokemon seemed not to mind, as Anya made her way over to the pile of five or so yampers crowding him for attention. Leon seemed to notice the nervousness coming over his friend, and gave her a grin. 

“They listen to commands really well!” he reassured “just be sure to tell them you don’t want them to jump on you, and they won't!”

“Oh, uh, okay??” Anya gave a nod to her friend, before taking a breath “He-ere yamper!” 

Several of the pokemon looked over at her excitedly, bounding over, but stopping when her hand was out 

“Wait!” 

They all stopped in their tracks, giving her a funny look 

“Wuh.. One at a time, please” She whimpered. 

The yampers (three of them) looked amongst each other, before the smallest one walked in front, giving an excited, but surprisingly soft “yap!” 

Though clearly still a little nervous, Anya reached down, and pat the stout pokemon on the head. 

Pleased with the action, the yamper lifted its head up to encourage further petting. One other one approached slowly, clearly gauging her comfort level. What a sweetheart!

And thus, Leon and Anya spent the next 30 minutes before anyone else arrived giving the wooloo and yamper a hilarious amount of affection, as Drew watched with a bemused expression on his face. 

“Ye he’rd me!” Anya glowered “Talkin’ out loud sayin’ such cruel thin’s when ye know he’s right here!!” 

Emmet seemed to only just realize that's what she was mad about. 

“Ah, Anya-” 

“Hey- its not-” 

“Not wha?? A big deal?? Sayin’ someone’s happy someone they love disappeared?? You don’ know ‘im!!” 

The rumors swirling around Emmet six months after Ingo’s disappearance were really starting to get nasty. 

Rumors he had something to do with the disappearance, that he had been jealous of his brother, that he’d secretly hated him. 

That he was happy his brother was gone. 

Sure, it hurt, but it wasn’t something that Emmet wasn’t at least a bit used to as a public figure in Nimbasa. Elesa had been keeping an eye on anything being published, but couldn’t do much about rumors. 

But judging by just how real Anya’s current scowl was, it seemed she was going to try to take that into her own hands. 

“Neither’a you got any fuckin’ manners!! If y’r gonna be a buncha spineless cowards spreadin’ bullshit, do it at home!!” 

Lucky for everyone involved, the two bozos stage whispering about how “happy” Emmet looked (he was not. He was tired) bolted the moment the subway car got to its next station. 

Was that their station? Did it matter?

Daniel and Drew were promptly trying to get Anya’s full attention to calm her down, and Emmet would admit he was at a bit of a loss as to if he could help. 

“... Anya?” 

She glanced over at him, before looking down at her hands, then back at him. 

“Ah… you are upset. Let us get off at the next station. We can walk” 

She just nodded, and Drew wrapped his arms around Anya’s. Daniel ended up doing the same to Emmet’s arm, opposite his arm band, and giving off an odd purring sound. He had heard it before, it was a sound of… gratitude? That was the best word for it. 

When they got off, Emmet directed Anya to the employee doors, and - with practiced ease, found his way to the quiet room across the way from the offices in that particular station. 

He shut the door behind him, and looked back at Anya, who hadn’t said a word, and she signed a simple word - a question

[Good?]

Emmet almost wanted to laugh “I am Emmet. I should be asking you that. You got very upset” 

Her brow knit in confusion 

[Of course.]

“Of course?” 

Anya took a moment to think - clearly trying to sort out the Unovan from Galarian sign in her head, before returning to the conversation with - 

[They hurt you. Mean words. Need to shut up]

Emmet huffed “Anya, I do not need defending from baseless rumors.” he argued “I am used to it” 

She didn’t respond to that, clearly frustrated but not about ready to speak just yet. Emmet looked towards the sensory tools. 

“Do you want a fidget?” 

She shook her head, sitting down on the larger couch and leaning her head back, Drew looking frustrated, but more so with her than him, it seemed. 

Daniel shared a look with him, and - still wrapped around Emmet’s arm, encouragingly pulling him towards the couch. 

Emmet decided to take the pokemon’s lead, and sat down a respectful distance away from Anya. When he sat down, Daniel let go of them, and seemed to spot something, and his face lit up with an idea. 

Daniel returned to his side with a pen and some loose papers that were left on the table just across the room. 

“Ah, perfect!” 

Emmet took a deep breath - if Anya wanted to use this, it might help, certainly 

“Thank you, Daniel” 

Emmet looked back over to Anya, who was doing some sort of breathing exercise. A part of him wanted to know which one, and watched for a few moments. 

Ah. Box breathing. Smart. 

He waited for a little longer, seeing her fall back into a normal breathing pattern, and opening her eyes. 

“Anya?” 

She looked over at him. 

“Would you like a pen and paper?” 

Her eyes lit up at the offer, and she nodded. He handed her the paper and pen, and she leaned over to the side table, immediately starting to scribble. Emmet just hoped that he could read her handwriting. 

It took her quite a while - he almost felt nervous. 

But he eventually was handed the paper, and looked over the message she scribbled down in her script. 

‘Of course I was upset. Those people knew that you had to keep up your decorum in public, and expected to get away with spreading flat-out lies about you and hurting your feelings! I have no such reputation, and rather than let them get away with treating you in such a way, I took the matter into my own hands. If they had not left, my time in wrestling would have come in handy. You are my friend. Friend’s defend each other.’

Emmet stared down at the words his friend had scribbled, and was filled with a sense of intense gratitude - and just a hint of confusion. 

Emmet swallowed his emotion for a moment, looking over at his friend and asking- 

Drew gave his partner an unimpressed stare. 

“I- Don’ give me tha!” 

Daniel pulled at her arm. “Yah! Mahsk!” 

Right. They were just standing there in front of the townhouse. She needed to ring the damn doorbell. 

“Fine, fine, don’ yell!” 

She walked up the stoop to the hardwood door painted blue, and sighed deeply. 

“Y’r just here t’listen to the new Commotion’s album. Tha’s all. Just here to listen t’it” Anya psyched herself up. “Okay” 

She rang the doorbell. 

There was a rather startling noise of things falling over, followed by a few seconds of silence before the door opened. 

“Hi! Hey, hi Anya. Thanks for comin’” 

“Oh, no problem! Yeah, uh, can I come in?” 

“Of course, come on!” 

Anya came inside with Drew and Daniel following behind, the two of them sharing an amused look. 

January led her friend inside of the home, walking through the parlor and front sitting room and over into the living room “My sister is out, but she might be coming back while we’re listening to the album - just a heads up” 

“Oh ah, tha’s no problem” 

“Excellent! Uh, take a seat, I'll be right back!” 

Anya gave her a nod as she disappeared into her small kitchen. 

Anya took a few deep, even breaths to calm herself. There was no need to freak out. She was just in the house of the cutest girl she’d ever seen. No big deal. 

“Yah?” 

‘M’fine, shush” Anya huffed

Daniel looked unimpressed at being shushed. 

“Ugh, ah know, jus - not now, okay?” 

Drew rolled his eyes at the nerves, starting to curiously look around the living room. 

Anya’s eyes fell on the woman’s record collection, eyes scanning the sorting and well-curated look of it on the antique bookshelf. 

“Oh wow… there’s a lot here..” 

Her eyes fell on the newer records, seeing Galarian punk of all things. 

Her eyes lit up at seeing a band she’d liked - “Well Wyndon”, but she spotted something even more familiar. 

Something… Pink. 

She couldn't help herself, that particular shade of borderline neon pink was only associated with - 

She held the record in her hands. 

“PIERS AND THE MINIONS - TEAM YELL ANTHEMS PART ONE” 

Huh… Anya didn’t know he’d made a new album. 

The album cover had nothing more than the stylized letters of the album title and Piers’ name in bright white, pink, and a stark black, making the colors really pop. 

It came out six months ago. She hadn’t even heard it had come out. 

… Had he removed her from the mailing list? Had she removed herself and forgotten?

She found herself staring at it for a moment before managing to shake herself out and putting back the record. 

She cleared her throat “Ah, January, can I use y’r restroom?” 

“Sure!” The woman called from her kitchen “First door down the hall!” 

“Thank ye” 

Anya shut herself into the bathroom for a moment, taking several deep breaths. 

In… Out…

Arceus above, you’d think 9 months in Nimbasa City would separate her feelings. 

But alas, it still stung. 

Okay, Anya. Deep breaths. Controlled breaths. You’re fine. 

There was a familiar “thunk thunk” against the door. 

“One moment” 

Deep breath, control breath. Okay. You’re fine. 

She left the restroom, and gave Drew - who was clearly concerned at her reaction to the album - a pat 

“Ahm alright, Drew. Le’s jus’ f’rget” 

“Yah…” 

“... Visitors, ‘r challengers?” Anya requested a little specification as she put one bin away with Drew’s assistance. 

“Uh.. I think one of them is a challenger? The other one is just visiting, she said” 

“... Who are they?” Anya questioned as she started putting away the next bin. 

“She said not to tell you….?” Patrick admitted “It's a surprise, she said.”

Anya’s brow furrowed - confusion evident in her and her Yamask’s face. She shut the archive locker, waiting for the secure click and beep. 

“... I will be up soon” The librarian nodded. 

“I’ll let them know!” Patrick called back before she heard his dress shoes “clack” up the stairs. Drew’s head tilted curiously

“Yahma?” 

“Let’s see, Drew” The woman sighed “Let’s hope it's not Elesa with December again. I don’t need ‘er tryin’ me again so soon

Anya and her pokemon made their way back up the stairs and into the library, towards the front circulation desk, seeing a familiar oversized sweater contrasted against dark skin, joined by a pale boy with a pikachu on his shoulder.  

“Hi Miss Anya!” Iris greeted, keeping her voice low for the sake of the echoey library foyer

Pleasantly surprised, Anya waved back, with her Yamasks floating forward to greet the teenager and her friend “Ah, Hello, Iris” 

The young champion grinned at the librarian pleasantly - her friend next to her giving Anya an interested stare before he was distracted by Drew and Daniel

“My friend here wanted to take your challenge!” The girl sounded very enthusiastic, bouncing a bit before motioning over to the boy “This is my friend, Ash! He’s from Kanto!” 

“Hiya!” Ash waved, voice surprisingly boisterous.

“Sh!!!” a gaggle of people hissed at him from the nearby children's library area

The teenager tensed at the wordless scolding- the library was clearly not a place he frequented with that volume of voice. 

“Sorry” he shrugged nervously - several decibels lower, and getting an amused chuckled out of his friend. 

“Aye, i’s fine.” Anya reassured with a raised hand “Nice t’meet ya, Ash. I’m Anya Ambermight, and these are m’yamasks, Drew ‘n’ Daniel” 

“Yah!” 

“Yah!” 

The teenage boy stared wide-eyed at the Yamasks with sheer wonder “Oh wow! Two different Yamasks! A Glarian one to boot!” 

Iris began scolding him before anyone could even shush him “Ash, stop yelling!” 

“Yahmah?” 

“Mas-Mask!” 

Anya chuckled with a shake of her head. “So, ye wanted t’take m’challenge?” Anya asked, getting everyone’s attention once more. 

Ash collected himself a bit, before lowering his tone again to respond “I mean, yeah! Iris told me about it - and I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it before! Sounds like a real challenge, and my pokemon and I love a good challenge, right Pikachu?” 

The pokemon on his shoulder nodded excitedly.

“Yeah! And when I told him I haven’t beaten you yet, he really wanted to give it a try” Iris chuckled “Right?”  

“Haha, guilty is charged. Kinda wanna beat her to it” Ash grinned.  

“Pika!” 

The librarian waved them over as she turned around “Follow me, then” 

Anya led the friends to the back of the library, where the arena was, with the study hall on one side, a reading area on the other, and the two circulation desks hard at work. 

Anya turned around once they were in the center of the arena, hand on her hip “So… Did Iris tell ya ‘bout the rules?” 

Ash shrugged honestly “Kinda!” 

Anya sighed, not seeing Iris’s excited grin “Alright. Lemme give ya the rules, then.” 

Anya made a sign to one of the librarians behind the left circulation desk who nodded, and flipped two switches behind said desk. One of them turned on the disc, which made a soft whirring sound before going quiet again, and flashing green. The other seemed to activate some kind of protective shield around the area - which seemed to startle Ash and his Pikachu. 

“Up above us is “the disc”, i’s a noise sensor.” she slightly raised her voice as she continued to speak “If it get’s too loud” The disc’s green ring turned yellow in a circular flash “it changes color.” She lowered her voice again “If it gets t’red, the person who made th’sound automatically loses- even if ye managed t’beat m’pokemon.” 

Ash nodded in understanding. “How many pokemon?” 

“Two on two, one at a time” Anya explained “If ye can beat me an’ my two pokemon wit’out settin’ off the alarm, y’win the challenge” 

Ash grinned “Al-rightie! I think I got it! I can totally do that!” 

Anya rose a brow in amusement at his enthusiasm. “We’ll have t’see - go to the right side, I’ll be on the left.” 

Iris seemed just as hyped as her friend, grinning widely and rushing over to the rear circulation desks - that Ash was realizing also worked as the officiator of the battles that happened back here. She walked through the weird shield that had gone up - how did that work? - and waved at him. 

Anya and Ash stood on opposite sides of the arena, and Anya tossed out a pokeball with no fanfare, her hatterne bouncing out, surprisingly quiet, and glancing back at Anya, who gave her a singular nod. 

Ash contemplated who he could use against a hatterene, and threw out his Lucario, whose steely personality seemed perfect for the challenge. 

Ash stage-whispered to get the pokemon’s attention “Lucario!” 

“Roh?” 

“This is a quiet challenge! You gotta be quiet! Listen for me!” Ash instructed the pokemon, giving a hilariously playful wink. 

Iris giggled quietly at his determination. Just “being quiet” was what she tried her first time too. This was gonna be a funny battle, if nothing else. 

Anya looked over to one of the librarians, standing in the officiant space, and making a motion with their hands in quick succession to a dramatic point

Ash tilted his head “Huh? Was that sign? Has the -” 

With a rather aggressive diagonal motion - with one hand curled into a sign Ash didn’t understand, the hatterene quickly lunged forward, startling both Ash and Lucario. 

The minute Irene lunged, Iris hit the “start” button on her Xtrans’ timer. 

The battle lasted only 25 seconds, and all because Ash yelled “Dodge!”  the second time Lucaro was getting attacked

The red light bathed the arena in a harsh flash, and Irene looked unimpressed at the quick completion of the fight. A perfect imitation of her trainer’s expression - which was a bit softer. 

“... Damn” was all Ash said as he recalled Lucario before the pokemon could also look at him with a disappointed stare

Anya returned Irene to her pokeball similarly, giving Ash a nod, which seemed to be enough to get his attention  “Well then. You had a go at it, but unfortunately, ye didn’t succeed” The vaguely sparkly barrier seemed to dissipate. “Ye can try again another time, if ya like” 

“Hah, wow, that was fast” Iris teased, returning to Ash’s side and punching his shoulder playfully “Maybe you need to do “silent training” with Lucario and try again!”

Ash huffed, that determined glint in his eyes returning almost immediately “Maybe Lucario and I should!” He announced - once again too loud- 

“SHHHH” 

Piers frowned at his friend’s defensiveness. It wasn’t like her.

Anya shoved her head back into her book, but Piers wasn’t about to let that linger. 

“Nuh uh, take y’r nose outta the book!” 

“No!” 

Piers, unimpressed, yanked the book right out of her hands “Talk, Anya. Tell me what’s goin’ on with Irene. I’ve been askin’ f’r days!” 

Despite her intense glare, he knew she’d acquiesce if he glared right back for long enough. 

He counted 25 seconds

“... I don’t know why exactly…” Anya started “Bu- I think she wants a real challenge” 

Piers furrowed his brow, but returned the book “Real challenge?” 

Anya nodded “At least, tha’s what I’ve surmised. She’s not strong enough t’fight Frankie, bu’ she’s too powerful f’r most wild pokemon” 

“Huh, have ya thought of challengin’ someone?” 

“Too nervous,” She admitted. 

Ah. 

“.. How about battlin’ me?” 

The teenager blinked “Wha?” 

“Battle me! Ollie could use a lesson in control!” 

“I… are you sure? You’ve got a lot more experience than me” 

Piers suddenly stood up from the picnic table they’d been sitting at “That should make me an’ Ollie an even better choice!!!”

“.. Why?” 

“More experience!!” 

“.... rewind and stop speakin Spikemuth f’r a minute” 

That was what she said when he didn’t connect his thought train correctly - it happened sometimes. 

“Oh, I mean we know your pokemon, which means we won’t hurt ‘em too bad, and battling a pokemon with more experience means that Irene’ll get more experience in less time!” 

Anya contemplated the logic there. 

“Hm.. It could work “

“Of course it could work!!” Piers argued “I’m smart you know!” 

“Sometimes” 

Piers scowled 

“Well, whadaya think? Need a lil’ time to think it over?” 

Anya tilted her head, eyes closed for a moment “... I”ll get back t’ye, okay?” 

“That’s all I ask” 

“Now get back t’yr homework!” 

Anya looked back down at her book, missing Piers scowl yet again. 

Drew didn’t, and stuck his tongue out at the teenager with a shocking playfulness

“Oh don’t you go mockin’ me you-!!!” 

-

Well, at least Irene was having fun. 

Anya… wasn’t

Anya - while not hating battles - didn’t like battling every day. It could be an emotionally exhausting experience for her, and Piers was aware, but she was doing this for Irene

She could push herself a little for the Hattrem. 

But after getting defeated again, Piers put his hand up. 

“Tha’s enough, Anya. Y’good?” 

Anya returned Irene to her pokeball, and gave him a nod. 

“... Worded out?” 

Anya nodded again. 

Piers sighed “Anya, come on, le’s get some coffee ‘r somethin” 

Anya’s brow furrowed at the sigh, and signed 

[Wrong?] 

“No, I jus- Nothin’s wrong. I just need some caffeine.” 

He could tell she didn’t believe him, but followed behind with Drew in tow, and the two finally got some coffee in their systems - being teenagers, they probably shouldn’t have been drinking so much of it, but they loved a good cup of galarian coffee. Sue them. 

“... Anya” 

She looked back at him 

“I know I can be pushy but like… you can tell me ‘no’” 

Anya tilted her head. 

“You look real worn out, Anya” 

Anya contemplated, then sighed, slowly

[For Irene. It is fine] 

“You really think that?” 

Piers waited for Anya’s curious expression before he continued. 

“You’ve gone mute, Anya. You’ve never okay when you get like tha’. Not like this”

The girl looked a bit annoyed at him, signing back at him, the “words” feeling rather clipped. 

[For Irene. It is fine. I know my limit] She pressed. 

Piers huffed “.. Fine. But tell me if it gets too much, hm?” 

[I will] 

He took another sip of his Galarian coffee, and the two fell into silence at their table. 

-

“Trem-trem!” 

“Hm?” 

The Hattrem was pouting rather intensely at her trainer. 

“Wha’s wrong, Irene?” Anya furrowed her brow, looking up from her homework. 

“Treeh! Trem!” 

She looked pretty upset. Anya put her pencil down “Wha is it?” 

Drew floated over from his little bed, questioning “Yah mah?” 

Anya watched with some confusion as Drew and Irene went back and forth, and Drew seemed surprisingly understanding of the younger pokemon, before turning his attention back to Anya. 

“Mas-mask!” 

“What?” 

Drew made a familiar motion, telling her to get up

Anya followed his instruction, and Irene pulled on her sweatshirt towards the couch - no one was home that particular evening. 

 “What - No, I have homework!” 

“Trem!!” 

“I can’ rest now! I’ve got a big test tomorrah!” 

“Trem! Trrrrrrem!” Irene argued 

“Yahmah!” Drew nudged the pillows over on the couch, encouraging. 

Anya sighed in defeat “Alrightie… but only f’r an hour! This test is important!” 

Irene seemed happy with the response, trilling and bouncing up onto the couch “Trem! Trem!” 

“Mah- Mask!” 

“Fine- Fine!” 

Anya sat herself down on the couch with a huff, and Drew dropped the remote on her lap.

“Hm… i’s time f’r Professor? Alrightie then” 

Drew looked quite happy with her “decision”, with Irene happy to sit on the couch with her trainer. 

It took a few moments, before Anya said out loud. 

“... Maybe Piers was right” 

“Trrem?” 

“.. Think we might ‘ave t’ take a break from all the battlin, Irene, that okay?” 

The Hattrem just gave her trainer a nod, before looking at her arm, then back to her “Trrrem?” 

“Heh, sure, Irene. Thank ya f’r askin’” 

Irene Trilled quietly, resting her little head on Anya’s arm. Drew had grabbed his little “pokepet” bed and placed it on Anya’s other side, resting in it. 

The teenager quickly chuckled, leaning back against the couch - this one had to be her favorite couch in any apartment they’d ever lived in. Right fabric, right amount of cushion, she was going to miss it when they eventually moved. 

She’d text Piers later and get that “I told you so” in writing. 

For now, she was going to go quiet, and finish watching the new episode of the “Professor” 

-

“Oh. shit” 

“What? What happened?” 

Piers rolled over on his bed, seeing Anya letting out a huff at the pokeball in her hands 

“I jus’ got the docs from the pokemon center” Anya looked back at her tablet. “Says Irene’s ready t’evolve, but she’s…” 

“Doesn’t wanna?” 

Anya huffed “... Looks like” 

Piers let out a huff on his friends behalf “Got any idea as t’why?” 

Anya leaned back against the bedpost, having sat herself on the floor of Piers bedroom to study for their final round of tests for school. And yet she couldn’t focus because of this… “issue” with Irene. 

Battling with Piers had helped a lot, and Irene was clearly excited, but they’d hit a wall - that’s why Anya had taken her to the pokemon center. 

“I think i need to do more research on ‘er an’ ‘er evolutions. Maybe ahm missin’ somethin’” 

“I don’t think you are, but it might help” Piers shrugged “By the way, I think it’s roundabout time for a break” 

“Wha makes ya say tha?” 

The crashing noise bordered on comical 

“Marnie’s up from ‘er nap” Piers got himself up, stretching as he walked right out the door. 

Anya just huffed, getting up to follow. 

-

“Whadaya think, Drew?” 

The yamask made a thoughtful expression “Yah….” 

“Aye, Ah think so too” Anya nodded “but she’s stubborn. I don’t know how t’bring it up wit’er” 

Anya leaned back against her bed, reaching for her three-layers of comforters 

“Yah?” 

“Tomorrow, we’ll think’ bout it tomorrow, hm?” 

The yamask rolled its eyes, but gave the girl a nod, and watched her fall asleep as quickly as always - what a gift. 

Anya heard that soft, almost sarcastic click of Denton turning off his hearing aid, and grumbled from her place on the couch as she stewed in her negative feelings. 

They were moving. Again. 

Anya really was starting to get sick of it. 

She heard a small click again after a few minutes of stewing, dreading whatever nonsense was coming next.

“I don’know why y’re so upset. It's not like this is the first time. Mom and Dad move. It's just what Dad’s job has t’do.” He reasoned

“Oh, you don’ get a say - you’re in college! In a dorm! Same place!” Anya huffed, not moving from the couch

“Yah!” Drew agreed

“Yeah but I also moved around with Mom an’ Dad too. Y’r the one who didn’ wanna go on a journey or do the league” 

“Ugh, you don’ get it. You have friends now, so maybe shut up and let me mope!” 

Denton paused at that, thinking a little - while also blatantly avoiding the intense stare-down he was getting from his sister's pokemon. 

Drew was rather protective of his trainer’s feelings - which was probably a good thing? Denton supposed it depended on who you asked. 

But as he thought about it more, he remembered how angry he used to get when they moved - before he went off on his own time to take on the gyms. 

He huffed - he was visiting for summer holiday and here he was, annoyed at her anger like she was still a whiny 5 year old. She was 16, not a baby by any stretch - 

And… unlike him at that age, she knew exactly what she wanted to do - who she wanted to be - by the time she was 7, and only solidified her desire in her teens. Acquiring her own team in spite of never going on a journey, she had something she wanted to do, and partners to do it with. 

That desired career needed an education in a way that his didn’t - he was able to take a high school equivalency test, and then go right into college for the teaching degree that he wanted. She needed an actual school diploma, with an actual GPA and real final test scores - apparently working in restoration was prestigious enough to warrant that level of education. 

And that was being made a lot harder with all the moving - she often had to keep track of her grades and make sure her records were in order by herself - mom and dad had a bad case of “Didn’t get it” about how serious she was taking this career goal.

The more Denton thought about it, the worse he felt. Ugh…. Being a big brother is so frustrating sometimes. So did having empathy, but that wasn’t a factor here. 

After a moment, he called out “... Hey Anya” 

“Turn off your aids. I don wanna hear you, an’ you don’ wanna hear me” she grumbled out, not even getting up to look back at him

“.... Is tha’ you tellin’ me t’shut up but different?” 

She just grumbled at him again - no verbal words that he could hear. He adjusted his hearing aid on more time

“Jus- Jus’listen…” He attempted to start. He wished she was looking at him so he could sign, but it was clear she wasn’t up for it “... I’m sorry f’r bein’ dismissive, I know it’s hard” 

Anya’s head popped up from the couch almost instantly, an expression of disbelief marring her scowl. Denton had to suppress a laugh at the reation “Wha’, feel bad f’r makin’ me upset?” 

“Yes” 

“Huh… Thanks then” 

Drew gave Denton an approving nod at the apology, before seeming to motion for him to keep talking…? The young man wondered what the pokemon was attempting to suggest, but Drew seemed to be pointing to Anya’s pokeballs, which were set up on a little pillow on a dresser by the door to the apartment. The idea clicked. 

“Uhm…. you wanna…. go battle? At the park?” “What?” 

“Do you wanna battle?” he repeated “Haven’t been out all day an’ Gengar could use a battle. He likes battling with Frankie, y’know” 

“.. He does?” 

“Aye” 

Anya looked skeptical at that reassurance, but sighed, getting into a proper sitting position on the couch before getting up, stretching as she did so “You know what, sure? I need to get outta this damn place anyway” 

“I thought you liked this apartment?” 

Her scowl became a bit more sincere for a moment. “Don’t test my patience. Ah don’ have any” 

“We are leaving the ice rink” Emmet announced “You tried! But it is time to get out”

“Yes please” Anya nodded, eyes already at the exit. 

“Holy shit!” 

Elesa got their attention as she slid over to the two of them. Just as she approached, Anya stepped onto the carpeted outer rink. 

“You nearly had a hell of a fall, you okay?” Elesa asked as Anya immediately moved to take off the ice skates, her scowl prominent. 

“No. I want to sit” The woman stated flatly. 

“So we are going to join Ingo!” Emmet added, also looking a little weathered by the brief few seconds of near-harm. 

Elesa sighed, what a right mess this turned into!

Elesa had just wanted to go to the winter fair, and perhaps do some ice skating. She could have never guessed that literally none of her friends had any balance. 

Only her beautiful and perfect girlfriend could also skate. Oh well. 

“Skyla, let's go around one more time before we end their suffering” Elesa reached out a hand. 

Skyla laughed “I told you this would happen, babe” 

“I know, I know- sue me for wanting my friends to try something new!” 

“Maybe I will” 

Anya watched as the two skated away, and sighed deeply. Ingo waved to get her attention. 

“How are you?” 

“... A tad discombobulated, but fine” she reassured. 

Ingo huffed “Next time, we are just going to the winter village for the food and shops” 

“Agreed” 

“Yah-Mah!!” Drew practically shouted, looking appropriately miffed at the near-accident that occurred on the ice 

“Oh, calm y’rself” Anya rolled her eyes. Ingo looked up at the Yamask - Daniel was holding at Anya’s arm in the meanwhile - having a different reaction to her near-hit to the head. 

“Ah, while we are here, actually” Ingo motioned to his shoulder bag, reaching for something “As we will not be seeing you for the holiday, I thought I should give you your gift now” 

The surprise in his friends eyes was evident “What? Gift?” 

“Yes. For the festival of Justice, it's customary to exchange gifts” He explained “As to give appreciation to your friends and family - it's an odd thing, I think it was taken from a Kalosian holiday, actually” he pointed out “but it is apt. You are my friend, and I wish to gift you with something.” 

“Ah… I… I don’  have a gift in return!” 

“Next time there is a Galarian gift-giving holiday, you can return the favor” Ingo simply reasoned, holding out a small box “Please, take it” 

Despite her odd nerves, Anya took the box, which wasn’t wrapped, and opened it. 

Inside of the box was a woven bracelet, made with a soft, comfortable cotton material. 

“It is for your watch. It should be the right width” 

It was the right width. Just a few weeks prior, her cloth (she hated the feeling of leather on her bare skin) wristband that held her wristwatch broke, and she had been waiting on a sale for a company that she liked to buy a new one. It seemed her friend was a step ahead. 

“I know that you were waiting for the sale, but they were almost out of stock of the pink one” Ingo responded “So, I purchased it to give to you for the festival” 

Anya took the wristband out of its box, feeling the cloth between her fingers - soft and gentle on the skin, with the insert for the watch face that makes sure that the metal doesn’t touch the skin. These were not cheap - it's why she was waiting for the sale. 

But he bought it for her, in the pink gradient that she’d wanted. 

“I …” She looked back up at him, her emotions starting to get a little out of hand already - ah, emotional disregulation: but good this time! “Thank… thank ya, Ingo. I … “ 

“It’s okay” he reassured “Take a breath” 

She took a moment to collect herself “.. Thank ye, Ingo.” 

“You are very welcome, Anya.” He gave her a happy nod. 

“Oh yay! She likes it!” 

Emmet approached them - having gone to grab coffee “Happy Kalde-mas!” 

Anya let out a laugh at the slightly ridiculous colloquial name, and gratefully took the coffee, her lopsided smile a full-on grin.

“... Mum!! Mum come look! Look at the TV!!!” 

“What?” 

“Mum, look who the champion is! Come in here!” 

“Yamah!” Drew agreed with the urgency, looking absolutely bewildered in his own, funny way. 

When her mother popped her head in, she stared at the screen and gasped “Well I’ll be!” She exclaimed “Its the boy you befriended in Postwick! Wow, wouldya look at tha’” 

“Yeah…” Anya trailed off, seeing Leon holding the championship trophy with his big, doofy grin on his face, his guardians and little brother in the background, the toddler grinning and laughing excitedly. 

Though Anya’s mother had returned to whatever she’d been doing, Anya sat on the couch of their rental apartment in Wyndon, and stared at the Television 

“.. I wish he had a phone” Anya lamented “I wanna congratulate him. He did it!” She partially lamented to her Yamask. “And I wanna introduce him to Irene. Do you think he’d like ‘er?” 

“Yamah!” Drew nodded affirmatively. 

Anya contemplated it “But… he did it. Before me!!!” Anya suddenly jumped up “Do ya know what that means, Drew?” 

“Yah?” 

“That means I gotta work even harder!!! He may be the youngest Galarian champ, but Ah’ll be the youngest rest’rationist! I’ll work on the Book Ah The Wolves before ya know it!” 

Amused at her sheer enthusiasm, Drew gave an enthusiastic “Yah!” in response, and Anya cheered in repetition right after. 

“That way, when we meet again, I can tell ‘im that we both made it!” 

Drew nodded in agreement with the statement, seeing the enthusiasm for her passion - and perhaps just a hint of honest competitiveness burn in her eyes. 

The old pokemon had no doubt she’d accomplish that dream - though “how soon” was debatable. 

But he wasn’t about to snuff out such promising ambition

-

“Leon?” 

“Hm?” 

Hop poked his head into the kitchen of his brother’s apartment “Did you used to know someone named Anya? You did, right?” 

Leon paused, the microwave going off as he let himself think “Ah, yes! Yes, I did, way back when you were a baby! Anya Ambermight”  he laughed “Hard to forget a girl with a Yamask. Why?” 

“I was reading the Newsletter for International Battle Club, and her name came up” Hop held up the little magazine, open to a single-page article “its from the Nimbasa Battle Boss Newsletter” 

“Nimbasa? As in Unova?” Leon turned around, after opening the microwave, holding out his hand 

“Yeah, look” Hop handed it over. 

“NIMBASA CITY WELCOMES NEWEST MASTER LIBRARIAN AND BATTLE BOSS” he reads aloud “Galarian Native Anya Ambermight Takes Over As the First Immigrant to Run A Battle Challenge in Nimbasa City - We’ll I’ll be damned!!” Leon suddenly grinned, as if giddy 

“Huh?” 

Leon quickly read the short article, and spotted a particular phrase

“Head preservationist” 

“Aha! She did it! She really did it!” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“She works with books!” 

Hop gave a confused look “Yeah…?” 

“No that's - that's what she wanted to do! She wanted to restore books when we were kids - and she is!” 

“Oooh… that’s cool!” Hop commented “Her teams interesting though” 

Leon looked at the color photo just above the article, showing a now grown-up Anya with her team

“... She has two yamasks now” he can’t stop himself from laughing “with a Frosslass… and a Hatterene? Good for her. Hatterene are notoriously hard to train!” 

“Did you read it? Apparently her challenge is really hard. I kinda wanna go and try” Hop grinned

“Hah! Perhaps one day we will! I’ve never been to Unova!” 

The conversation died off after that, and Leon couldn’t stop smiling. 

To think, just one summer together, sharing adventures and dreams, and there they were as adults - accomplishing those dreams.