#nimbasa librarian

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. 

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” 

“... 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. 

“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.

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. 

Which is why she didn’t turn down Emmet and Ingo’s offer to go out on a lovely little hike with their new friend, Anya. 

They’d met a few weeks prior at Elesa’s birthday at the request of the twins. Apparently she was new to the city - the new Battle Boss at the Library. 

She seemed… nice? 

She’d been the one to recommend karaoke apparently - something Elesa had never done with the twins before - apparently they quite enjoyed it! That was a cool thing to learn. She’d only done karaoke with Skyla, and admittedly wasn’t all that great at it. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun! 

And so, Elesa had gone, and had met their new friend. 

She was.. Awkward, in a single word.

Reminded her a lot of when she’d first met Ingo in elementary school. 

Her smile was a little lopsided, but seemed genuine, though when Elesa offered a hand to shake, she didn’t take it

“Please ask before touching, Elesa,” Ingo had informed. 

“Ah!” Elesa jumped a bit “Sorry! Can I shake your hand?” 

“Aye, thank ye” Anya nodded “Nice t’meet’ya. Twin’s told me lot’s about ya” 

“Good things?” 

“I assure ya” 

Elesa grinned “Excellent! Let's get to singing then!” 

While Anya had been awkward around her, on the mic she was anything but. Neither was Ingo! The two got together and did a rather pitch-perfect cover of “I need a hero” and Elesa was starting to feel like the odd one out. And then Emmet sang, and Elesa realized that all of her friends could sing but her. 

Oh well, time to embarrass them!!!!

Elesa jammed out to one of her favorite pop songs, and her friends didn’t seem to give much of a shit about her lack of pitch. It had been fun, overall, even if she didn’t really get to speak with Anya all that much. 

There was always next time, and this was next time! 

Now if only she could actually get to the trail head. 

Left turn here…. Up the way… 

“Yama!” 

Elesa turned her head, greeted by a yamask - but not a unovan one? 

“Oh! Hello there, you’re unfamiliar” Elesa commented “Stone… galarian?” 

“Drew! Drew, where the ‘ell did you go??” 

“Huh, Anya?” 

Anya crested a hill to Elesa’s left 

“Oh! Uh, hello there” 

Anya was in cargo pants and what looked like a long-sleeved workout shirt with a pink puffer vest. It was an … interesting look. But it was also almost 83 degrees 

“Hey! Is this one yours? Ingo said you have two!” 

“Ah, yes. Daniel is catchin’ up. He didn’ sleep las’ night and he’s cranky” 

Elesa thought that over “Isn’t he a ghost type?” 

Anya shrugged “He’s always liked to sleep. Ah don’ question it” 

Huh. New fact. 

“Well, are you with Ingo and Emmet?” 

“No. They’re no’ with ya?” 

Elesa shook her head “lemme check my phone” She took out the device, “Oh, Emmet texted me” 

“Hm?” 

Elesa read aloud “Sorry! Ingo and I were called in for an emergency meeting. We texted Anya too, please go on without us” She looked to Anya, who was now checking her Xtrans

“... Ah, so ‘e did” 

“Huh… well uh, do you still wanna hike? I mean, I’m game for it” 

Anya contemplated it, though her pokemon seemed to have made the decision for her, the galarian one grabbing her arm and pulling her towards the trail head 

“Yah! Yaama!!” 

“Gah!” 

Elesa snorted “I think he wants to go?” 

“Drew, f’r the love of all!” 

“Yahma!” Daniel grabbed at her other arm, and Elesa couldn’t old back a laugh 

“Are they always like this??” 

“Ah wish they weren’t but yes” Anya huffed “Okay, we’ll go! Jus lemme go ya clingy bastards!” 

The pokemon - satisfied - let go and went back to happily floated about. 

Elesa managed to stop laughing “Okay, well, can I let out my Emolga? She’s friendly, and won’t leave my shoulder, promise!” Elesa made sure to add that last part, recalling a warning from Ingo 

“Oh uh, sure. Drew an’ Daniel don’ bite. They can’t” She glares at Daniel specifically “So we’ve learned” 

Oh… there was a story there. 

“Uh, they can’t?” 

“... It’s a long story” 

“I mean, if we’re gonna hike, we have the time” She offered

Anya seemed to contemplate it “... Okay, but don’t blame me if ya don’t believe me!” She gave Elesa a slightly crooked smile, and Elesa smiled back. 

This was going to be an interesting story, Elesa couldn’t wait to hear. After all, she wanted to know if what Emmet said was true: was Anya a good storyteller? 

“... 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”