#hamfiction

But the thought that they were having some kind of grown-up talk in there that she wasn’t privy to -- one that was almost definitely about her -- was digging one last pit in her stomach. What had she done wrong without noticing now, that was apparently worth worrying about but no one had the guts to just bring up to her directly? She gazed down at the intricate stone work under her red shoes, but took in none of what she was seeing.

But then, she heard a bit of commotion in the distance. Who was that coming up the road? With no less than three Pokemon all running up to her!? Was this that kid next door coming to visit, finally? Were they--

Alright, alright, cool it, look away for a sec, act natural, pretend you don’t see ‘em, don’t just stare and creep ‘em out. Wait for the right moment when they get close to turn around and give ‘em the ol’ razzle-dazzle... okay... and... go!

"Oh? Are you these three's Trainer?" Nemona greeted her visitor, coolly turning toward them with her gloved hand on her waist, a swirl of her ponytail and a nod of her head. Nailed it. “Buenas! We haven't met, have we?”

Nemona looked at the newcomer properly now. Looked to be a boy, though it was best not to assume those things in Paldea. Kinda on the younger side, or maybe just hadn’t the kind of growth spurt she had yet. Slightly spiky short brown hair and a paler complexion than her own, in the standard Uva Academy uniform. Not much to speak of in the style department. Yep, just the way they usually rolled out of the boy factory. Not that Nemona knew much about fashion either -- she mostly just let her family doll her up for events as they saw fit -- but she at least picked herself out some matching non-Academy-branded red-and-black accessories for school and adventures, even if it didn’t really go with the indigo-and-white uniform or the green bits in the front of her hair. Nobody seemed to get that she wanted it to look like leaves on a fruit! She wasn’t gonna cut it off no matter how dumb anyone thought it looked, though. It was a small act of rebellion, the only serving size of rebellion she could usually get away with, between the --

Anyway. The new kid seemed to be closely observing the Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly that had run ahead of him. In fact, it looked like he didn’t notice there was another human there too until the three little critters ran past her legs to play in the villa’s garden and fountain like they owned the place. He seemed a little surprised to be spoken to.

“H-huh? Oh. Uh, they’re not mine... yet. Um... the Academy Director left me to choose one of them.” The visitor eventually explained, avoiding eye contact instead of giving her a name. Was she making him nervous already?

Nemona heard the door open behind her seconds later to save them both from the awkward silence, and she turned to look as Director Clavell stepped out of the villa to greet their visitor. The old man cleared his throat to further announce his presence and pushed up his glasses. Nemona often wondered why he didn’t just get a new pair that stayed on better, but at this point touching his glasses all the time seemed to be as deep-set a habit of his as folding his hands behind his back, so it probably wouldn’t make much difference.

"Director... Is this who I think it is?" Nemona just had to ask, balling her fists excitedly against her chest like she was watching a battle.

“Indeed, this is our academy's newest student, Master Adam. He will be attending as of today.”

Nemona’s head whipped around to face Adam again upon having that confirmed. "So you ARE that kid who moved up in the road! I've been dying to find out more about you!"

He winced slightly at her enthusiasm. “Y-yeah, that’s me. Uh... I’ve been looking forward to getting my Trainer’s License for a while. Been studying on my own and everything.” Adam offered as some kind of information as he crouched down to watch Fuecoco in particular. He didn’t ask for Nemona’s name.

“Oh reaaaally?! Well, you’re talking to the right girl, then!” she enthused regardless. That eagerness of his was so exciting to her!

... Adam was mostly paying attention to the little fire croc having just roasted an orange that had fallen from one of the family’s trees, and nodded to it approvingly. Nemona, meanwhile, was getting lost in her head with excitement that this boy might be the friend she needed. She just needed to make sure to sink her teeth in early, before anyone else could tell him she was an annoying weirdo, or stuck-up nepo baby, or the chosen one, or--

“Uh... oh yeah?” Adam eventually responded. He didn’t really seem to be on Nemona’s wavelength, but his curiosity seemed a bit more piqued by the "right girl" line.

“Quite. Miss Nemona here is not only president of our fine Academy’s student council, but already a Champion-Rank Trainer in her own right." Clavell clarified before Nemona could.

Adam glanced up and down at Nemona, as if newly re-appraising her now. “Nemona, huh... Well, uh... good for you, Champion.” he said flatly as he stood back up, no longer looking quite so interested.

Nemona felt a bit of sweat on her brow. “U-um, hey, don’t let that intimidate‘cha, though! I was just like you, not too long ago! Honest!”

Adam, however, was looking at her family’s little seaside mansion with half-lidded eyes. “Sure.”

“Miss Nemona speaks the truth. Our school is quite proud to have a student so brilliantly passionate among us.”

At that, Adam and Nemona both snorted automatically and covered their mouths.

“Hm? Did I say something amusing...?”

“Nothing.” Adam and Nemona blurted out almost simultaneously. Nemona shot Adam a knowing glance, but he only returned it for a brief moment.

Clavell sighed. “I must say, I do still feel so out of the loop with the youth at times, despite my best efforts.” the Director admitted, pushing up his glasses. “Regardless... Master Adam, I wasn’t expecting to see you follow me here so soon. Shall I take that to mean you have already decided which of these Pokemon you would like to be your first partner?”

“Um, yeah. I think Fuecoco would be the smartest choice, given the types of the first two Gyms, and the potential of its Torch Song when it someday learns that.”

“... I see. You certainly have been doing your homework already, so to speak. Well, er... Fuecoco seems to have taken quite a liking to you as well. This is your first Pokemon, yes? Please do raise it with love and care, even when it is not the correct tactical choice. And of course, be sure to keep it tucked safely within this Poke Ball when it’s time for it to rest. Or if you’re unsure it will behave properly indoors just yet, hoho.”

Adam took the Ball and nodded, before recalling Fuecoco into it and attaching the Ball to his belt. It was officially his now. “Thank you, sir.”

Nemona had her hands clasped together in front of her and stars in her eyes as she watched. A brand new Trainer born before her eyes, like watching an egg hatch! “Adam... I can't believe you actually chose Fuecoco...”

“What do you --”

“I mean, like, way to make the perfect choice for you! You two make such a good combo!"

“... Oh. Uh, based on what? Like... vibes, or...?” Adam asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Um... yeah!”

Adam scratched his head awkwardly and shut his eyes, looking irritated. “... Okay.”

Even Nemona could tell this didn’t seem to be going well, but she stuck with it and turned to Clavell to let him know about her plan regardless. “H-hey, um, Director... can I choose one of these Pokemon, too?”

"Oh, but...did you not receive a Pokémon when you enrolled at the academy, Miss Nemona?"

Adam crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently as the conversation went on without him.

"Not back then, no! I had other Pokémon I was focused on raising at the time. But now I want to raise a new Pokémon alongside Adam while he raises his own new partner!"

“... Huh? What, like... just pretending you’re a new trainer?” Adam asked flatly.

“Yeah! I’ve been meaning to relive my first Gym Challenge anyway, and I’d love to have a rival along the way!”

Adam huffed, shut his eyes and rubbed his forehead like he had a headache. Nemona seemed to have struck a nerve she was unaware of. “... I get a say in this too, don’t I?”

“Um, well, yeah... I just thought it’d be nice to final-- t-to make a new friend today, though.”

“I’m sure someone like you has plenty already.”

Nemona’s gut twisted a bit. “Uh, well, um, I just wanna help out, too!” she continued desperately.

The irritated boy took a deep, weary breath. “I don’t know how much fun I’m going to have with someone who’s already done all this stuff breathing down my neck and talking my ear off.”

“Aw, c’mon, pleeeaaase? It’s not like that...”

“Go pick on somebody your own size.”

“What do you mean, ‘pick on’...?”

“Master Adam --” Clavell began, attempting to intervene.

“What reason would somebody like you have to give up what you’ve got and pretend we’re equals? You just want to lord over me, puff yourself up about how much better than me you are, try to tell me what to do... Something. I just know you’re up to something. Can’t you go buy yourself some friends?”

Nemona’s eyes widened and blood ran colder with every word. Her stomach felt like it had dropped right on through the ground into the cave system below. Where did all that even come from? If even a complete stranger could be like this to her now... what hope did she have left? “No, no, it’s not like that--” she said again shakily, stepping forward and reaching a hand toward Adam, who just took a step backward in response. Was she really that bad? Was he afraid of her now? No, no, no...

Director Clavell blocked Nemona with his arm before she could get any further, but his eyes were laser focused on the boy in front of him.

“Ahem! Master Adam! While you are as free as any of us to do as you see fit on your personal journey, and your boundaries are you own... I must ask you to please be more respectful of your fellow student, especially one merely trying to be your friend. Her idea would be quite a charming one, if I were a student in your position. Would you not appreciate having a peer take you under her wing as you get used to your new life here, making some memories together right from your very first day of school? It is quite presumptuous to believe she would do any of the things you have accused her of. Show a smidge of good faith, would you?”

Adam stood his ground for a moment, glaring at the two of them like they were about to jump him, but he sighed in resignation and unclenched his fists. Whatever awoke in him seemed to have quieted down, maybe out of fear of the Director. Adam shut his eyes and scratched the back of his neck. “... I... I see your point. I uh, apologize for my remarks, Director. And... Miss President. It’s, uh... nothing personal. I would rather go it alone, though.”

“... Okay. That’s... perfectly fine.” Nemona responded weakly, each word squeakier than the last, and gulped.

“Hmph. Very well... I’ll check in to be sure you had a safe trip to school on your own then, Master Adam. And I’ll be having a quick word with your mother about these ‘remarks’ once I’m done with my business here.” Clavell said sternly.

“Yes sir...” Adam grumbled as he set off alone toward Poco Path. “Teacher’s pet...” he muttered, too low for an old man’s ears to pick up.

Nemona still stood dumbfounded next to the Director. The excitement she had a few minutes ago had drained away into the hint of tears in her eyes. Why had it turned out this way? “I... I’m sorry...”

“What? Miss Nemona, you’ve done nothing wrong...?”

“Then why... why does this --” she tried to say, then gave up and wiped her face with her sleeve, trying to save face. “Okay... I just... ugh.”

Clavell looked a bit unsure of what to do in this situation -- Nemona had never let him see her this upset before. The old man hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder. “It seems he was... a bit intimidated and anxious because of the way I’d spoken of you. If anything, that was a mistake on my part, even if... it was certainly not an expected reaction. It is I who should be deeply sorry to you, if it cost you a friend.”

Nemona sniffled again and shook her head. “No, no... I can’t ask you to pretend I’m someone else, Director. I don’t think Adam was ever going to like me anyway.”

Clavell gazed down at the confused Sprigatito and Quaxly looking back up at the two of them, as he sighed and gave Nemona’s shoulder a couple small pats.

“... Perhaps not. But I will not stand to hear it as any fault of your own. His solitude is his loss. But people can change... especially if they find themselves haunted by regrets.”

Nemona lost track of how long he kept holding her shoulder as she kept gazing emptily at nothing in particular.

“... Er, before we forget, Miss Nemona... would it cheer you up if I still offered you one of these Pokemon?” he offered with a sympathetic smile.

Nemona was suddenly jolted back to reality by the reminder that the two remaining little buddies were still there, and joined the Director in looking down at them. She sighed as well and knelt down, letting the old man’s hand fall slack against his side. She was so tempted to say she wasn’t in the mood for her new adventure anymore and just leave, but... she couldn’t say no to that little Sprigatito’s face. This wasn’t its fault either, after all. She petted the little grass cat with a bittersweet smile as the Quaxly clung to familiar Clavell’s ankle. Nemona was planning on picking a Grass-type to make things easier for that boy’s Fire-type, but maybe he would have just found it patronizing. Or maybe he would have thought she was bullying him if she picked the Water-type. It seemed like maybe there was no right answer. Maybe this was just always going to happen to her and there was no point obsessing on it. She’d just have to find bits of joy wherever she could.

“... Yeah, I’ll take this one. Thanks, Director...” Nemona said without any of the usual life in her voice.

Clavell solemnly reached down to hand Nemona the Poke Ball for Sprigatito, unsure if she would be getting back up anytime soon, and she accepted it. After a moment, she did in fact stand up and recall her new Pokemon quietly. Clavell similarly returned his Quaxly to its Ball and tucked it into his coat for another day.

“... May I ask a delicate question, Miss Nemona?”

“... Go ahead, sir.”

“Does this... sort of thing happen to you often?” the Director asked in a low voice. “This brand of... open hostility towards your, er, social standing and achievements?”

Her eyes widened and and she glanced away. “Huh? Um... not... really...” she lied.

“... I assure you that your answer will be quite confidential when I resume speaking with your parents.” he clarified, pushing his glasses to his brow. “However, I cannot escape the feeling that much of the events that transpire at our school occur hidden from my watch.”

Nemona took a deep breath. “It’s fine, I’ll find somebody. I just need to be... different. Or something.”

Clavell blinked. “You... do have friends your own age, do you not? I recall seeing you quite often with Master Arven or Master Aliquis in the schoolyard...”

Nemona staggered for a moment at that question. It was a wonder she kept standing. “... They... they both got tired of me. I don’t know if they were really ever my friends. They just... thought it was really important to beat me in a battle, and got really angry when they couldn’t. And when I started taking it easier on them or trying to help and encourage them, they... they told me I was being patronizing and rude, and got even angrier. They stopped returning my calls, too...”

“Ah... and here I’d assumed it was typically you who initiated those battles, given your passion for them.”

Nemona stood up straight, closed her eyes to take another deep breath, and pulled her glove on tighter. “At least my Pokemon like me! Don’t know what I’d do without ‘em!” She said in her usual bright and happy tone.

The young Champion put away her new Sprigatito’s Poke Ball and pulled out a different one, releasing her Cyclizar in front of the villa. Rather than get onto its back just yet, however, she just knelt down with her arms outstretched. “Right, buddy?”

The lizard Pokemon stepped up and gave her a hug without hesitation, despite the awkward tire-like sac on its chest. A smile slowly crept back onto her face as she closed her eyes and soaked in the moment. “Yeah... love you too, li’l guy.”

Clavell looked away sadly. “So... this does indeed happen often.”

Nemona didn’t respond, other than a deep breath through her nose. She continued to cling to Cyclizar.

“... I can make some time to discuss this with you privately this evening, if you’d like. Right now, I’m afraid I’m falling behind schedule for everyone else. In the meantime... please do not be afraid to reach out to the other adults in your life, Miss Nemona. Take care.”

“If they have time for me.” She muttered under her breath.

Clavell lingered and looked back at her for a moment, before sighing and heading for the door back into the villa. He probably heard that one.

“... You take care too, Director.” Nemona finally added at the last second before he went back inside. He was right, Mother and Father were probably tired of waiting for him by now. She’d been holding him up. Stupid, needy, pathetic girl, never happy with what she had...

Nemona picked up the riding gear she’d been keeping in front of the villa until it was time to go and strapped it onto Cyclizar’s back. She still wasn’t in the mood to start a new Pokemon team with Sprigatito, at least not today. It’d remind her too much of how much fun she could be having if she just had a friend. Nope, with how she felt right now, she was just gonna skip the exercise potential and zoom straight to her dorm room at Uva, dump her bags and pockets wherever, and crash in bed until she didn’t feel quite as awful. Normally when she was in a mood like this, she’d train one of her Pokemon against a whole outbreak of powerful wild ones, like in a martial arts movie or something, to clear her head. But today, a nap sounded better. Or at least easier.

She’d been rolling the Director’s advice around in her head for a minute too, though... and took out her solid black Rotom Phone to consider dialing La Primera. No, no, Geeta was probably just as busy as Clavell was, especially today. She sighed and let it float back into her pocket before getting on Cyclizar and riding off down Poco Path.

"YOU DID IT!!! This is legit incredible! You’re the strongest out there, Juliana!" Nemona suddenly roared. The relieved audience resumed their cheers as Nemona rapidly closed the rest of the distance to Juliana, holding up her shaking, clenched fists like she was barely restraining herself from launching onto the rooftops like a rocket.

Juliana giggled with a proud, toothy smile. In another timeline, she could've easily flinched and backed away from Nemona's overwhelming energy, but not this one. "Hehehe, thank--"

"I mean, you knocked me flat, and I was… giving you absolutely EVERYTHING I had! Everything I… I… Ha haaa! Hahaha! Oh man. Pokémon battling, am I right??? It’s so much better, so much more fun than I ever even knew! Man! Hahaha! Haaah... hoo..." Nemona continued to enthuse, sounding like she was nearly hyperventilating.

"Y-yeah, that was a lotta fun! I'm glad I finally got to see what you're like without holding yourself back for my sake."

"… Heh! And I'm so super proud of you for bein' able to handle it! Now I've got a real challenge to overcome again! It's like you've… like… given me back the thing I loved most! But uh… heh, I guess that's just kinda what you do, though, isn't it?"

"Mmm, I guess so, huh?" Juliana had to agree. It was true, this was at least the third new friend whose Treasure Report she was very likely to end up in that semester, at the expense of her sleep schedule. "Well… I wouldn't be here without you, either. I might've never known I could do something like this, if you didn't... take me under your wing and believe in me."

"Aww. Well, I might've had an ulterior motive, heh heh… but that sparkle in your eyes during our first battle was your own! I can't make you love something if you didn't already! Believe me, I've tried. I mean, why else would you go all the way to the top, huh?"

"… To see you this happy?" Juliana offered.

"Heh! Good one! Put 'er there, rival!" Nemona said as she offered her hand to shake, which Juliana took and held firmly as if she was being helped to stand up. "Now I gotta think about what Pokemon to bring for round two!" the council president declared, eliciting some facepalms from Geeta and Clavell. "Decisions, decisions…"

Juliana side-eyed those two but didn't point them out to Nemona. "No, really, I mean it."

"Mean what now sorry?" Nemona blurted out quickly, snapping her attention back to the present.

"I never gave up any of the times I was tempted to on my Gym Challenge, 'cause… I wanted you to share your favorite thing in the world with me. 'Cause… I imagined how happy you'd be right now, and didn't think anything would make ME happier than seeing that."

"… Jules, I-- Don't make me cry in fronta all these people, c'mon!"

Juliana smiled sheepishly. "Sorry!"

Nemona responded with a hearty laugh and a tight hug. "Hahaha! Man… I think YOU'RE my favorite thing in the world, actually."

"Aww. Best treasures?"

"Best treasures."

Nemona rattled her head, sending her ponytail swinging, and dismissively pawed at the air between her and her new neighbor as if tossing the unfinished thought out of her mind.

"Ah, whatever! Don't you worry about those weird vibes, Juliana! You've got enough on your plate, signing up to a new school in a new place with your new Pokemon-- You don't need to get sucked into whatever dumb drama the rest of us have goin' on. This is your big day! Sorry about all that."

"Nah, nah, it's fine, you didn't do anything wrong. It's, uh... definitely been an exciting day so far, that's for sure! Hehehe..."

"Ah, haha, yeah, for sure! Heh… man..."

Juliana turned to Nemona with a reassuring smile... and noticed her friend's hand seemed to be hovering over her shoulder. Nemona glanced away and quickly jerked her arm away to scratch her own scalp instead.

"… You okay?"

Nemona froze mid-scratch, eyes wide. "Huh?"

"I, uh… I guess I'm not the only one feeling kinda jittery this morning, huh? I promise I won't fall off any more cliffs for a while." Juliana said with a slightly forced-looking smile.

The taller girl remained frozen for a second as they walked, before snorting and visibly releasing a bit of her own tension. "Ha! Haha! Yeah, you better not, 'cause you know what happens when you scare somebody half to death twice?"

"They… get scared three-quarters to death?"

"… Heh! You've got a quick wit to go with that sharp eye, bud! No wonder you've been such a fast learner!"

"Hehehe. Thanks."

There was a pleasant lull in the conversation as they both grinned down at the road...

Soon, though, Nemona cleared her throat and stopped in her tracks. Juliana stopped too and turned to face her curiously.

"Speaking of fast learning, I should probably get out of your hair and let you have fun doing, uh, Trainer-y stuff without me hovering over your shoulder." Nemona suddenly decided. "Do what you want for a bit and I'll see you up ahead at the Pokemon Center, all right?" she proposed, pointing her thumb at the red-roofed, ad-covered outpost off in the distance.

"Oh, um… wait…" Juliana softly protested when Nemona started to leave, raising a limp hand as if she had a question in class and wished she didn't.

"Huh? What's up? Think you'll need more Poke Balls? I've got a bunch..." Nemona began, already digging noisily through her bag.

"No… well, I mean, maybe later, but, I just, um-- You're not bugging me, you can stay."

Once again, Nemona seemed to not expect that. "Oh... really? You'd... rather I stick around and keep an eye on ya, huh? All right then! You got it, boss!"

Juliana smiled brightly up at her. The morning light seemed to sparkle in the new student's eyes. "Well, yeah. We're friends now, right?"

Nemona smiled back as she zipped her bag shut, then rubbed the back of her neck and suddenly seemed very interested in the grassy field nearby. "… Yeah, but, y'know, sometimes friends might need… a little space and quiet and stuff. Gotta be considerate."

"No, I'm glad you're here! I mean... if you have some business you need to get to right now, that's fine..."

"Nope! No, all my attention's on you, bud! Well, I mean, unless you don't want--"

"Okay, okay! Just making sure." Juliana mercifully interrupted. "So uhhh… you said Normal Pokemon are pretty good against everything, yeah?" she asked casually, starting to walk down the road again.

Nemona's eyes brightened with renewed energy at the topic change. "Oh, uh, yeah! I mean, they've got a FEW issues, there's a few types that-- Uh, I'll warn ya if you're gonna run into 'em, but that Lechonk should be consistently solid against mooost things with some training, which is good if you're not sure what to expect yet! Now, you might end up not keeping it on your team forever, though, 'cause it's not really gonna have the advantage against much of anything, either. Well, unless you give it--" she rambled, then glanced down at her companion's attentive gaze. "Uh, never mind, I can nerd out about all that later. Yeah, Normal-types are nice and reliable, yep!"

Juliana nodded a few times. "Hmm… I dunno… I don't think I'd replace the first Pokemon we caught together. That's gonna be a great memory someday, right?"

Nemona blinked. "Wh-- Oh, yeah, true, can't be, uh, what's the word… too pragmatic about it, heh. Stuff like that matters for sure! Sorry, there's that competitive brain again…" she responded, looking away once more. "I'll make sure to train up that Pawmi I caught with you too, then."

"Nice! More little rivals, just like the Pokemon the Director gave us, hehehe!"

"Heh! Yeah… little rivals…"

"… Ooh, what's that?" Juliana soon asked, pointing ahead at what appeared to be a green-haired baby plodding around in a long white dress that would be a better fit for a green-haired toddler.

Nemona rattled her head again like she'd been caught zoning out. "Huh, wha-- Oh, that's a Ralts! They're pretty rare! Psychic and Fairy type, pretty good with special moves. It's a little flimsy at first and takes a while to train, but it's totally worth it in the end."

"Whoa, Psychic? And Fairy?"

"Yeah, there's a buncha Fairies around here, actually..."

"Well, I'm already sold on this one from how cute it is! I'm definitely gonna try and catch it."

The little Ralts seemed to immediately take notice of Juliana when she said that, and turned to face her.

"Oh, uh, Ralts can sense folks' feelings! It probably knows what you're thinkin' right now. Heh, wish I had that power…"

Juliana, meanwhile, was grinning confidently with a Poke Ball in hand. "Well, I've got nothing to hide from it. Let's make another new friend, Lechonk!"

Nemona played along as she rose shakily from the ground to meet his pained smile. “Heh. Hi Arven, nice to meet you too.” She wasn’t really sure if it was normal to be letting him reset their relationship like this, but at this point holding the grudge didn’t feel worth missing out on a connection. She just needed one too badly... and it felt like she’d already made progress on humanizing herself to him, even if it wasn’t in a way she was proud of. It felt like she was just drifting on instinct with no plan now. Hopefully everything didn’t fall apart again...

Once he’d helped her stand, a few awkward moments passed where they were both unsure what to say, or where to look, or what to do with their hands once they’d quickly let go of each other.

Arven eventually decided to just turn to face Miraidon again, with one hand on his hip and the other rubbing his forehead. “So, uh... right then, let’s get to business. What’s that you said about finding this brute crash landed on the beach?”

“Oh, right. Yeah, it just fell right out of the sky like it ran out of fuel or something! I went down to feed it some Berries and fend off a bunch of Houndour that were checking it out, then when it felt better it wanted to come up here to the lighthouse, so we went through that tunnel back there...”

Arven crossed his arms. “Huh. Not sure why it’s here, but I guess it’s probably grateful to you.”

“Agias!” Miraidon affirmed.

“Hmph.”

Nemona couldn’t help but notice the way Arven seemed to resent this Pokemon for some reason, even after calming down. “So... if I can ask now... what’s your connection to Miraidon, Arven? Why’s it pawing at your door?”

Arven took a deep breath and gazed up at the horizon, toward the Great Crater. “You’re not going to babble about this to, uh... Chairwoman Geeta or whoever, right?”

“I meannn... you’re right, we do talk, but I can keep a secret.”

“You sure? President’s honor?”

“Promise.”

“... It used to live here with me. It’s something Dad found in Area Zero, I guess? He just... brought it home one day, didn’t tell me much. Guess it was confidential or what have you. But when it snuck out and people found out about it, he took it with him back into the crater before it caused more of a fuss.” he explained, nodding in the forbidden zone’s direction. “I haven’t seen either of ‘em again until just now, so seeing it with you was a bit much to take in. I used to at least get calls or emails from my old man, trying to convince me how much he still cared and he was totally gonna make it all worth it someday, but... those stopped eventually, too.”

He then turned back to Miraidon. “You really ruined my childhood, y’know.”

“Gia...” it responded, cowering again and looking away.

“Whoof... Well, I don’t know if that’s fair to Miraidon. I mean, Professor Turo could come back for you if he really wanted-”

“Yeah, he sure could’ve!” Arven spat, then stepped back sheepishly when Tauros snorted at him.

Nemona winced. “Sorry. Uh... w-what about your mom? Is she cool at least?”

“... Never really knew her. Took off after I was born for whatever reason. Mother of the year, eh?”

Nemona’s eyes turned to saucers.

”Apparently she used to work with Dad, but they fought so much that she just completely up and left one day. Don’t think they even had the chance to get married. Maybe I reminded her of him so much that she didn’t... wanna look at me. Kinda like how I don’t wanna look at this brute. Who knows. Who cares! She can shove it too. Probably just wanted a little lab assistant instead of a son. So yeah, I may as well be an orphan at this rate.”

“Oh my gosh, Arven... I had no idea...”

“Yeah. So that’s what me being ‘the big shot son of the famous, brilliant Professor Turo’ has gotten me in life. And then... uh...”

Arven seemed to be looking at something over Nemona’s shoulder and stopped talking. Nemona turned to look as well.

Adam was walking down the road as far away from them as possible, but when he noticed them looking at him -- or maybe when he heard Arven say who he was in such an over-the-top snarky tone -- he glared straight at them as he passed by. Nemona felt cold and sick again, but Adam never said anything.

Step by step, the anticipation was tearing Nemona up. But nothing happened. Adam just kept on going and eventually looked away and disappeared down the hill ahead.

Arven slumped forward once the new trainer was out of sight. “...Yeesh, what was that all about? S’like that little guy was possessed by the lingering spirit of my beef with you or something.”

Nemona snorted and smiled, to her own surprise. “Heh. Um... that was Adam, he just moved in next door. I uh, well... We, um... He doesn’t like me, no.”

“What’d you do? Uh I mean, what happened?”

Nemona narrowed her eyes at the implication it was her fault, but she resisted snapping back. “Well, uh... basically I told him I was a Champion who wanted to... start my team and my Gym Challenge over, to be a rival to somebody new, and picked out a new little starter Pokemon along with him. Y’know, I wanted to... take him under my wing, share some of my stuff and my knowledge, watch him grow! Maybe... maybe make a... a friend out of it...” she recounted, tapping her fingertips together.

Arven raised an eyebrow when Nemona got shaky at that last part.

“... But he seemed to think I was just doing it to, I don’t know, stroke my ego, or boss him around, or whatever the heck else people think I do. He...” Nemona had to hug herself while she thought about it. “...He kinda started ranting about it at me, until Director Clavell chewed him out for it. It was like Adam thought he already knew who I was and had enough of me in, like... minutes. It just... ouch, y’know? And, to be honest. I don’t think the Director sticking up for me did anything to help the kid thinking I was some kind of ‘teacher’s pet,’ either...”

“...Oh.” Arven guiltily rubbed the back of his neck. “...How many times did you battle him?“

“I didn’t even ask for one yet!” Nemona responded with an angry pout.

“Huh. So that’s the state you were in when I came along and did the same thing to you, huh...”

She softened. “Yeah. ...Yeah. Y-you didn’t know, it’s okay!”

“Is it, though?”

“We’re talking now, I think it turned out okay. But... but...”

Nemona sighed. She felt an instinctive anxiety that she was telling Arven way too much and she should stop, but it seemed far too late to stop now. He’d already seen her fall apart, he should know why too. Especially when he’d revealed so much to her today.

“... I dunno, it all just left me wondering... If... if a total stranger who just moved here can hate me that much, what hope do I have at... at ever...”

Nope, couldn’t keep it together long enough to finish her sentence. She covered her face as her jaw quivered. The audible sniffle probably told Arven what he needed to know.

“So uh... you don’t have life handed to you on a platter like people might assume either, eh?”

Nemona rapidly shook her head no without uncovering it. “N-no. My family’s basically never home either. Today’s the first time I’ve seen them in ages. They kinda... leave me to fend for myself out here. Not that I don’t like the freedom sometimes, but... I dunno.”

“Fend for yourself, huh...” he repeated quietly, looking down at the ground.

Nemona removed her braced arm from her face and rested it in her other palm. “Well, I mean, not literally -- housekeepers come by here and there -- but they know I don’t really like being taken care of like that.”

“Hmph. Well, still no substitute for family, I s’pose.”

“And then when I get out of there and back to school where I belong, it feels like a lotta kids are jealous of me, and everyone I battle or even talk to about Pokemon just gets mad. I wanna have fun with ‘em, maybe even help ‘em get stronger, but they’re all sour grapes about it. Like I’m making fun of them by just... being here, and they’ve gotta fight back.”

Arven scratched the back of his neck some more and looked away. Nemona also averted her gaze, toward her Tauros.

“... Some days, it feels like all I’ve got is my Pokemon.” she continued as she pet the loyal bull. “Everybody thinks ‘cause I’m a Champion and have a rich family and decent grades and stuff, I’m, just... born different. Like I can do things they never could. Like I’m gifted and special, or cheating, when...”

Nemona showed Arven the red glove on her right hand. He took a step back defensively, but then took a closer look at it as she flexed her fingers.

“...When I have to wear this brace just to be able to throw a Poke Ball even halfway right or get through a day of homework without pain, and I can barely make it up the stairs to school without help, and... everyone looks at me like I’m an alien or a science experiment, or like Pokemon battles are an annoying niche interest if I’m the one talking about them...”

Nemona crossed her arms and looked out at the ocean. When she glanced back at Arven, there was a strange mix of emotions on his face. Mostly like he was sad and unsure what to do, like Clavell was, but there was something else going on there too that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“Well, no... that's not fair, the new teachers are fine, and little kids like me... and-- S-sorry, sorry, I’m totally unloading on you, I’m sorry, you’ve got it worse. I’m okay, really...” she quickly apologized, rattling her head and turning away again.

“No you’re not.” Arven said firmly.

“Yes I am sorry, you--” Nemona started, falling into her old habits around Arven.

He raised his hands. “Nonono, shush, I mean, you’re not okay.”

“Don’t shush-- Y-yeah, and what about it, huh?”

“And that’s rough, but... pretending you don’t need help isn’t... i-isn’t the way to make it better, is it?”

“Oh.” she responded, deflating. “...Yeah, I guess it really hasn’t been. I just... don’t wanna look needy.”

An awkward pause passed. Both of the teens’ eyes searched the road for nothing in particular as Nemona thought about what Arven said.

“... W-well, I’m as shocked as you are that I ended up being the person you told all this to. And spice adversa, I guess.” he acknowledged as he combed a hand through his fluffy hair.

“... Vice versa?” She quietly corrected.

“Ghk-- Shush, you... nerd.”

Nemona snorted and smiled a bit. “Just making sure you have it right next time.”

“Sure. Anyway... it sounds like you could really use someone in your corner. I could too, I suppose. Maybe we have enough in common to make something work.”

“You... wanna be friends?” Nemona guessed as her face began to light up back to the brightness it belonged at, like the sun rising over the horizon.

“... Yeah. I’ll give it another shot.” Once again, Arven offered her his hand, this time to shake on it, though he was looking away like it was a little embarrassing for him.

Nemona shook his hand eagerly. Somehow, falling apart in front of someone she thought hated her just led to him putting her back together instead of kicking the pieces around. Maybe this morning wouldn’t be so bad. Best not to dwell on how long ago they could’ve been friends if they’d just been a little more open, though...

“Yeah! Sounds good to me, amigo! We should get to school soon, though. Uh... what’re we gonna do with Miraidon?”

“Woorgh?”

“Ugh, right, where are we going to keep that brute now? We can’t put it in a Ball because it’s already registered to my dad, and I’d rather not leave it unsupervised...”

“Oh wait, hold on! I found a Poke Ball in the sand next to this fella.” Nemona remembered, and went to dig through her satchel for it. Being in a different pocket than the others made it stand out. “You never know, this could be it.”

“Agias!”

“Well, try it and see, I suppose...”

Nemona attempted to recall Miraidon into the Poke Ball, and sure enough, it succeeded. Whatever this thing was, it was in her hand now... even if it was apparently not in any shape to be used yet.

“Well I’ll be a Mankey’s uncle, that solves that problem! Normally I’d tell you not to go parading it around Paldea, but actually, now that I think about it... I’m honestly all for doing anything that would make my old man steamed, so go ahead. I have to admit Miraidon was pretty clever bringing its own Ball along like that, though. Hmmm... unless Dad sent it back here on purpose for some reason? If it’s supposed to be his messenger, I don’t know what the message is, or how an email wouldn’t have been easier. I don’t suppose there were any sticky notes under its, uh, saddle or anything, were there?”

“Don’t think so. Um... you think something bad happened to the professor?”

“... It’s possible. Last time I went-- Uh, last time I heard it was a really dangerous place. Really earned that restricted access.”

“Dangerous? Like, full of super-strong Pokemon? I could probably handle those!”

Arven rolled his eyes. “... Well, yeah, but also the thousand foot drops, and I doubt all the radiation from those crystal things has been healthy for Dad’s brain in the long term... Anyway, right, school. I was just gonna walk, maybe train up this Skwovet I caught earlier, but now I’m pretty behind schedule. Err, uhh, not that this little chat wasn’t worth it, ‘course.”

“You wanna ride on my Cyclizar?” Nemona offered eagerly. “I think it’s strong enough for two. Can't go skipping class if I bring you there myself!”

Arven pinched his brow like this was the hardest decision of his life. “...Fine.”

“Heh heh! Alright! Get on and let’s vamos!”

And with that, the ornery outdoorsman clung tightly to Nemona’s back as they zipped through the rest of Poco Path, the nearby village of Los Platos, and the hills beyond on her galloping Cyclizar. The entrance gates to Mesagoza were soon just a few minutes away despite the interruptions.

Nemona hadn’t even considered that Arven would have to do such an overly familiar thing when she brought up the idea to hitch a ride, but he eventually gave up his pride after falling off for trying to be hands-off. She had to admit -- at least to herself -- that a hug from a peer felt pretty nice even if it was for purely practical reasons.

“Soooo, that Skwovet you mentioned! Are you starting over with a new Pokemon too, then? Or did you just finally decide to start training something besides that Mabosstiff?” she asked loudly enough to be heard while they were moving.

“Mmm. Uh. You remember him, huh?”

“Of course! You two seemed as inseparable as it gets -- a real inspiration for how close a Trainer and Pokemon can be!”

Arven took a deep breath for some reason. “...Thanks. Yeah, I guess I am... s-starting over. Sorta. I’ll put Mabosstiff back on my team when everyone else, uh, catches up to him, ‘course...”

“Hey, alright! Maybe we can get some battles in with your Skwovet and my Sprigatito then! You ‘n’ me could even do that idea I had with...” No, no need to say that kid’s name anymore. Forget him. “...Uh, that idea to start new teams and do the Gyms over and stuff!” Calm down, don’t ask for too much. “......If you want. No pressure.”

"Whoa, hold up, Cyclizar." she commanded in a low voice, and the motorcycle-like lizard slowed to a stop a few yards away from her least favorite staircase -- gradually, so as to not throw Arven off. It didn't particularly enjoy stairs either, so they were going to stop there regardless.

Arven had been uncharacteristically quiet most of the way, but the commotion ahead got his attention. "Huh?"

Two members of the delinquent student gang known as Team Star seemed to be blocking the path of a teen with short but eye-catching red and blue hair and a big plush Eevee backpack. Even though their target didn't seem to be wearing Uva's uniform, Nemona quickly decided it was her duty to watch what happened next and possibly intervene…

"Don’t you get it?! If you join Team Star, you can shine as bright as anybody!" "Yeah! Seriously, what’s with you? Don’t you wanna burn bright with awesome friends like us?"

The girl they were harassing sighed. "… Not really."

The pair's casual demeanor quickly flipped to aggressive. "Look, we’ve got a quota we’re supposed to fill for new members, so just sign up already!"

Typical recruiters. Nemona rolled her shoulders and began stomping toward them.

"Um… I'd rather not…" the cornered girl muttered flatly, unmoved -- though her Galarian accent poked through, regardless.

The student council president made her presence known behind the delinquent duo, as Arven dismounted her Cyclizar in the background. "Oye! Pero bueno, what's going on here? Trying to pressure people into signing up again?"

The two punks jumped out of their skin and spun around, instantly toppled from the high ground they thought they had over the situation. Now that she saw their faces, Nemona remembered their last names from having reported them previously…

"Gah! It's that student council dweeb!" shouted Gruntae, the newer recruit. "Shh! Ah, hi. We weren't… NOT doing that…" added Gruntby, unhelpfully.

Nemona's expression shifted from protective anger to a dangerous smirk as she got closer. "Well, it just so happens me and my friend here are just DYING for a battle--" she began, tilting her head in Arven's direction.

"We are?" he asked, glancing down at Cyclizar as if expecting the lizard to shrug.

"-- so why don't you two help me make an example of what happens when someone tries bullying kids on my watch?"

"Uh, yeah, pick on somebody your own size, like her!" Arven awkwardly joined in, pointing at Nemona.

The Eevee fan pushed up her round glasses. "Um, actually I'm perfectly capa--"

"Bullying? Hey, you heard us, we're just looking for new friends! Right?" Gruntby asked Gruntae. "Yeah! W-we just want folks to know how much more popular they'd be with us!" "Right! Seems SOME people are fine with being total nobodies forever, though…"

"HEY!" yelled Nemona, which made the quiet girl trying to slip past the grunts unnoticed jump in surprise and skitter the rest of the way to her defenders' side.

Nemona cleared her throat before continuing, feeling a little hoarse after her previous outburst that morning. "I don't know what you call that kinda talk except bullying! Now, if you really wanna-- *cough* wanna 'make friends' with this girl, you're gonna have to get past us first." Nemona challenged. She held out a Poke Ball with one of her arms bracing the other, like it was an arm cannon ready to fire. "Ready?"

"Hold on, I'm not sure I should, uh…" Arven began to protest.

"Right, right, this would be a much more fruitful battle if we got our new Pokemon some beginner's experience with it! Silly me!" she said, swapping out her Tauros's Ball for Sprigatito's.

Arven blinked. "… Yeah, I mean, I… sure. Okay. Just what I was gonna say, Prez." he said with a shrug before holding up a Ball of his own.

"Beginners?! Hey! You can't just go treatin' Team Star like easy pickings! For the honor of the team, we've got no choice but to burn you to ash now!" shouted Gruntby. "… We don't?" asked Gruntae. "Shouldn't we just book it? I mean--" "No way! C'mon!" her teammate insisted.

With that, the four students spread out and turned the side street into their impromptu battlefield. The red-and-blue-haired girl stuck around to watch as well, lightly knocking on the side of her head like she was trying to remember something…

Arven, staring down their opponents, stepped up to Nemona's side and whispered "Didn't we both just get these Pokemon? Are you sure they can handle this?"

"Hey, we're both pros even if they're not yet, right? And we've both got Tera Orbs -- I'm sure these punks don't."

"You think I'm a pro…? But you're--"

"YO, EARTH TO DWEEBS! Less prattling, more battling!" interrupted Gruntae.

"Nice." approved Gruntby with a high-five.

=====

Gruntae and Gruntby of Team Star want to battle!

Gruntae sent out Shroodle! Gruntby sent out Yungoos!

Nemona sent out Sprigatito! Arven sent out Skwovet!

=====

"Haha, weak! You must be really full of yourselves if you think you can win with those!" taunted Gruntby.

"Callate, you! Now, let's focus down that Shroodle, before it--"

"Acid Spray!" interrupted Gruntae.

"Dive low and Scratch!"

After a moment, Nemona's Sprigatito did in fact pounce on the Shroodle and dodge the Poison attack in the process, correctly predicting the spray would launch in an arc and not straight at the little cat's face. She was also correct to assume that a starter Pokemon from the school would have some basic training.

"Bite that Shroodle like a Berry, before it moves again!" called Arven to Skwovet, keeping up the pressure on the opponent that had a type advantage just as Nemona wanted.

"Tackle 'em!" ordered Gruntby to his Yungoos, knocking back the weaker Sprigatito several feet and chasing it down to finish it off.

"Here goes… Terastallize!" shouted Nemona, tossing her Tera Orb to encrust her Sprigatito in brilliant green crystal. "Overgrown Leafage on that Yungoos!"

Arven followed suit, turning his little squirrel a shining white. "You too, Skwovet! Use this to Tackle that Shroodle with all you've got!

And soon…

=====

Nemona and Arven won the battle!

=====

"W-well, um, uh, h-hasta la vistar! ☆" Gruntae sputtered, hastily signing the team's signature star symbol before she ran off toward a nearby alley.

Gruntby, meanwhile, stood his ground, gritting his teeth. "Hmph. Figures your pal here would be a cheater like you, Prez. Did your daddies buy you those toys, just like your grades?"

Nemona's eye twitched as her face scrunched up to mirror his. "I earned mine fair and square, by putting in the work -- and so could you, if you'd stop skipping class and causing trouble! I'm not special!"

"Tch! Like you're gonna let any of us set foot in that school again without reportin' us. You got a point with that last part, though -- you ain't special, just lucky."

Nemona did her best to ignore that jab. "You guys do realize you haven't been expelled yet because we don't WANT to, right? Because the Director's been holding out hope that we can help you grow like we're supposed to?"

The Team Star boy stared blankly for a moment, then flipped back to casual mode. "Whatever. I'll be on my merry way back where I don't need fixing… Hasta la vistaaarrr! ☆"

She watched him run off, her face frozen in a frown. It was so frustrating how Team Star thought they were in the right, even as they insulted, hassled, and blockaded whoever they wanted. Neither she nor the teachers could really figure out what to do about them, especially given that they were just kids in need of guidance and not real criminals. If only she could solve this problem through battling. That was one of maybe two things she was actually good--

"I… uh… I just… Well, thanks." stammered the girl they helped, snapping Nemona back to normal.

"Wha-- Yeah! Yeah, no problem!"

"You all right there, Prez?" Arven asked.

Nemona suddenly realized she had quite a few eyes on her at that moment, human and Pokemon alike. She cleared her throat, straightened her tie, and tightened her glove before turning around. "Yeah, I'm fine! Wish battling actually solved anything, though. Um, how about you, uh…?"

"… Oh, P-Penny. Name's Penny. I'm a student here, too…"

"Hi, Penny! I'm Nemona!"

"And I'm Arven."

"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" Nemona asked, twisting herself around to inspect the new girl curiously.

"No, Team Star doesn't, uh, didn't hurt me, no." she stammered.

"Good!" Nemona exclaimed, as Arven nodded.

"I… wouldn't let them." Penny added with an unexpected confidence.

"I don't think I've seen you around before -- I'll be your student council president this semester, in theory. Nice to meet you!" Nemona said, holding out her gloved hand.

Penny glanced between Nemona's smile and hand a few times before going for the handshake. "N-nice to meet you, too, Nemona. Arven. Um… g-good to, uh, know we've got… h-heroes watching over us… I, um, we should probably get going before we're late, though…"

"Right, I guess that ate up the time we had to spare, eh?" Arven noted.

Penny turned to face the massive staircase up to Uva Academy. "See you around…"

"All right! We'll catch up to you in a sec! Cool bag, by the way! Love that fluff!"

"Uh… thanks."

Nemona sighed contentedly as she watched that Penny girl make her way up, proud to be someone's hero. She rattled her head to get her mind back to business and started digging through her bag, looking for a healing Potion to spray Sprigatito with and the Balls to put it and Cyclizar into, as the two Pokemon looked up at her expectantly.

"Sorry, I, uh--" Arven began to mutter.

"Wha-huh? For what?"

"Those guys kinda remind me of what I'm normally like…"

"Pshhh, not even close! Besides, we turned over a new leaf, bud! Right?"

"I… yeah, I guess. I've just never been on your side of something like that before."

"Well… I'm glad you're here now." Nemona said with a warm smile.

Arven averted his gaze toward the stairs, rubbing the back of his neck while Skwovet sat on his other shoulder. "Bit weird she's not in uniform, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I wasn't sure if she went here at first! She must be new -- the Director or somebody'll probably say something to her about the dress code before I have to, though." Nemona reasoned as she finished up her team maintenance. "All right… ready for the worst staircase in the world?"

"Yep." Arven answered, pulling the straps taut on his heavy backpack.

Nemona took a deep breath, and… dashed up at full speed!

"Whoa, take it easy, you maniac!"

… She only made it about halfway before she stopped to catch her breath, and looked back to see Arven -- as well as several other students -- catching up to her at a comfortable walking pace.

Arven smirked as he walked up to her again. "Guess you were right about not making it up here easily. You looked like more of an athlete than that…"

"Haha… nope… definitely… not…"

"Well, you'd probably make it further if you took your time and paced yourself. Less likely to break something if you trip, too." Arven advised. "Keep those legs loose at least, you don't want to cramp up from suddenly standing still." His Skwovet squeaked in agreement.

Nemona took the suggestion and started shifting around on her feet. "Heh… are YOU an athlete, Arven?"

"Me? Nah, just stuff you should know if you do a lot of hiking."

Nemona nodded. "Guess I've been pretty reliant on my Pokemon to help me get around…"

After a moment or two, she looked back up from the ground and was pleasantly surprised to realize Arven was still waiting for her.

"You ready?" he asked.

"I think so. Pacing myself, huh…"