#written only

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. 

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…” 

“Oh, Piers, thank goodness I got the right number on mah phone. I’m callin ya cause Anya won’t” 

“What?” Piers put down his songbook “Why wouldn’t she call me?” 

“Oh, well.. My husband, ‘e’s,he’s been in an accident.” Anya’s mother states “He’s - he’s in the hospital here in Wyndon.” 

Piers was understandably startled “Is - is he okay?” 

“We’re… not sure. But… Anya rushed from college, and hasn’t said anything. I was wondering if you could just... Talk to her?” 

 “... Talk to her?”

“Yes. just, to distract her? We won’t hear about him for some time…” 

Ah…

Piers stood up “Okay. uh, hand her the phone?” 

There was the sound of shuffling, and some muted words. 

“...Anya?” 

There was no response. 

“... Tap the receiver if you can hear me, Anya” 

A moment… and then a tap. 

“.. Good. Your Mum lemme know what happened” he started, getting up and grabbing his coat. He was grateful that Marnie was spending the night with her friends at some birthday sleepover thing as he stepped outside. “She said ya needed someone ta talk with ya? I don’t mind rambling to ya if that’s what ya want. Tap twice for yes, three times for no” 

There was another lack of response for several seconds, but then he got two taps. He waited a few seconds for a third, but it never came

“Alllrightie then. Hope y’r ready to hear about the writin’ process for this song, cause it has ta do with that right ol’ cunt I dated last year- “

-

Anya was still listening to Piers prattling when he paused

“Hey, Anya… Do me a favor, won’tcha?” 

Anya furrowed her brow, but did not verbally respond

“Can ya look up for a moment?” 

A bit startled by the request, Anya looked up, her chair staring down a wide hallway, where Piers was standing by the reception desk

“Can ya write me in?” 

Anya did not much more than stare at him for a few seconds, before ending the call, shoving the phone back into her mother’s hands, and speed walking (No running in the hospital!) down the corridor and wrapping Piers in a tight, intense hug. 

Slightly alarmed at the initiation of physical contact from someone who he’d always asked first, he took the chance to return the hug for a moment, before she let go, showing her tired, red eyes. 

Piers sighed “Alrightie; sign me in?” 

Anya just nodded, looking at the sympathetic nurse behind the counter, who had placed the paperwork for her to sign right on the table with a pen at the ready. 

Piers watched as she signed the papers, before turning back to him, and signing 

[Denton had to stay home with his wife. She’s sick]

“Ah… well, are you keeping him in the loop then?” 

Anya nodded, and motioned for him to follow

Piers followed behind, and greeted Mrs Ambermight 

He was then finally told what actually happened. 

Someone released a non-native electric type (An ampharos) into the woods outside of Wyndon, and Mr Ambermight had gone into corral it and get it placed in a rescue so it could be relocated to a native habitat. It had been much more hostile than predicted 

His heart had stopped. 

Oh sweet Xerneas… 

He understood Anya’s state better now. 

Piers sat down next to her, hand in hers, and he just kept on talking, rambling and ranting about the song he was now working through with the conversation. A win-win to him. 

He had a feeling he was going to be here a while. But that’s alright

Standing before the platform, with Drew and Daniel flanking her and keeping strangers from getting too close, she stared at the crowd, trying to find a good place to stand that wasn’t too far away from where the trains came and went. 

She spotted a black hat by one of the pillars, and recognized the symbol. 

The subway masters, the twins. Battle bosses - and they also ran the subway. 

Was this one of their regular stations? This wasn’t a battle subway station… 

But… no one seemed to be standing too close to him. It could be a good place to stand so she didn’t miss the train

“Phew, okay guys. Le’s go” 

She marched with purpose, and took up the safe, respectively distance from the subway master.

It was perfect. 

The subway master managed to tower over her by a good few inches, which surprised her - she was taller than average, even in Unova. He had a straight face, with what looked like a perpetual frown, and he matched all of his promotional photos to a T

Anya recalled that she had to take promotional photos. She fought to keep her expression even. 

As the train pulled into the station, a booming voice took over the echoing area

“STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS, PLEASE! THIS IS THE BLUE LINE THAT GOES TO THE NIMBASA PUBLIC SERVICE SQUARE, AND THE NORTH END ART DISTRICT! PLEASE ALLOW ALL OTHER GUESTS TO DEPART BEFORE BOARDING AND REMAIN BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE!” 

Ah, that's why people didn’t stand close. 

Daniel had taken to grabbing her arm, and Drew let out a yelp, though remained otherwise composed. 

She pat him briefly, before they rushed off onto the subway train. 

Other than the voice, that area was nice and open, She could deal with it.

For the sake of her comfort, Daniel was going to have to just learn to deal with it.

-

He did, thank whatever the gods of Unova were. Kyurem? Reshiram? She couldn’t recall off the top of her head. 

She needed to read up on it. 

So she did! 

Perk of being a master librarian. 

For the next few weeks, she’d started reading on the train platform, burning through books of Unovan history, eventually focusing on Nimbasa-related books. 

One that caught her eye was a historical fiction novel about the politics of creating the Subway system. She had no idea that Unova’s train system was over 150 years old, much less that getting the trains running in Nimbasa City was met with resistance from the initial residents. 

“Huh. So he funded it, an’ designed it?” she muttered, as if conversing to with Drew on the matter “Irving Mulligan, wha’ a name” 

“That is incorrect” A baritone voice interrupted her train of thought. 

Anya and her pokemon turned their heads to face the conductor, who was now looking at the book in her hands 

“Irving Mulligan was a rich man who funded the creation of the first train station in Nimbasa City, but he had nothing to do with its design. That was his wife, Melissa Mulligan” he stated. 

Anya blinked “.. Why is he listed as the designer though? The reference in the book states that the official documents ‘ave his name.” 

“Misogyny” 

Anya thought about it for about 2 seconds “Ah… tha’ makes sense. Her design seems very ahead o’ it’s time, if the book’s any indication” 

“It absolutely was, in more than just its design - it was decades ahead in disability access as well” 

Anya found her curiosity piqued in that regard “Really?” 

“Yes! You see, it was not just the shallow ramps, it was-” 

The tell tale bell of the upcoming subway stopping him in his tracks, so to speak, Anya startled “Oh, tha’s mah train. Sorreh!” 

“Ah, I must apologize, I got carried away” 

“No, not at all! It was really interestin!” There was a brightness in his eyes that showed some gratitude at her interest “Do have a safe trip” “Thank ya! Uh, have a good day!” She headed closer to the train, as the conductor returned to his work, calling out with his booming voice to direct passengers appropriately. 

As Anya got on the train, she thought about the interaction.

That was the first non-work interaction she’d had in Nimbasa City, other than retail workers. 

And now she had all these questions about what he’d been talking about. 

“Hm..”

-

The very Next day, Anya made a beeline for where the conductor was typically stationed. He made very, very brief eye contact with her, before looking back out at the crowd. 

She cleared her throat “Pardon me” 

He looked down at her, god, he was tall. 

She suddenly felt nervous. 

“How might I assist you?” 

“Uhm” she cleared her throat again - nervous habit - “ I uh. I would like to hear more about Melissa Mulligan!” She rushed out “Y’were interrupted by th’train before, an’ I couldn’t find anythin’ in the library ‘bout her that wasn’t checked out or about ‘er ‘usband” 

Though his expression remained flat, Anya could see the surprise in his eyes - it seemed to be positive? 

“If - uh - If ya want, if ye don’ i’s completely fine - I .. Ahm sorry that was-” 

“No!” 

Anya (And a few people nearby) startled a bit, and she looked back at him from her sheepish looking away. 

He cleared his own throat 

“Your curiosity is something I appreciate. I would be happy to explain more from yesterday's interrupted conversation” 

She hoped that she looked as relieved as she felt. “You said that her design was decades ahead for disabled peoples?” 

The conductor nodded, “As I stated, it was not just the ramps for those with wheelchairs, there was also-” 

He started on yet another lecture that Anya’s full attention was taken by, going about explaining how the designer of the first station had built it with deaf and blind people in mind, as well as those with reading difficulties. To think that someone had thought of that over 150 years ago really was something else. Anya appreciated such things. 

But then the bell rung, and the conductor stopped 

“Ah, y’r Ingo, right? Subway master Ingo?” 

He nodded 

“I’s nice t’meet you! See ya tomorrah!” She managed, giving him a slight bow of her head before she rushed to the train. 

Ingo blinked, but returned to form and proceeded to conduct his business, thinking, distantly, that she didn’t introduce herself

Anya realized that very fact while she stood in the subway, and groaned in embarrassment. Her Yamasks - who had remained pretty quiet through the interaction, cooed little “yah”s in comfort. 

Ugh, she'll try again tomorrow.

-

“You are Anya, the new Battle Facility Head, yes?” 

He ‘greeted’ her when she approached. 

She looked surprised “Ah… yes. I ‘m” 

“Well, it is nice to meet you.. Would you like to continue?”

At long last she smiled, and gave him a nod. Her Yamasks looked at him suspiciously, but he said nothing about it, continuing his explanation from where it left off the other day. 

This went on for over two weeks, and by the end of it, Anya felt like she knew the entire history of the Nimbasa City Subway and Train system. 

It was fascinating, even if she didn’t have the same fascination with the trains themselves that Ingo did. 

“- There is far more history, I assure you, but that is all connected to Melissa Mulligan.” 

“... tha’s still a lo’ “ Anya commented “Bu’ absolutely fascinatin’” 

“I find it fascinating too” Ingo nodded “I  appreciate your listening ear” 

“I appreciate your knowledge!” She responds. 

Ingo seemed to have a contemplative look in his eyes for a moment, before checking the time with a pocket watch, and then lifting up his arm, showing his Xtrans “Do you have one?” 

She looked a it confused, but rolled her sleeve up, showing her Xtrans “I uh, jus’ go’ it yesterday” 

He looked at it, and tapped something on his, before holding it up to her, with hers promptly beeping

“Huh?” 

“My Xtrans code” he stated “Should you have any further questions” 

“Oh! Uh… thank you. Does that give ye mine in return? Back in Galar we jus’ ‘ave Rotophones…” 

“You can simply message me with your name and I will save you as a contact” Ingo nodded. 

“Oh… thank you” Anya gave him a small smile - opting to not tell him that his code was the first new one in her Xtrans. 

For just a split second, he flashed her a small, closed-mouth smile “Please, do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or clarifications” “I shall, thank ye vereh much, Ingo” “Your train will be arriving shortly. Have a good day at work, Miss Anya” “Just Anya, and I hope y’do as well” 

The two parted their ways, but both had that feeling you get after a good interaction

“Yamah! Yah!” Drew floated ahead on the path

“See somethin? I think the map says ruins - maybe time f’r a break?” 

Drew nodded. 

The Relic Castle - a once grand place, surely, now peaceful ruins with curious tourists and traveling trainers. 

Due to the lolling clouds threatening rain, there wasn’t a whisper of a soul there. 

“Huh… quiet” 

“Yamah?” 

“Nah, i’s fine” Anya sat herself on a metal bench “We can jus’ look. I need t’eat somethin’” 

Drew nodded, floating about nearby to investigate - he quite liked ruins, really - odd little pokemon, he was. 

“Mah?” 

Drew suddenly perked up, looking towards the castle ruins

“Yah! Mah! YAmah??!?!”

“Do you hear that, Drew?” Anya was getting up from her bench, looking concerned “it sounds scared” 

“Yah-” 

“YAhhh!!!”

“Which way, Drew??” 

“Yamah!” The yamask turned left rather sharply, following the sounds of distress he'd just heard

Anya followed Drew through the weaving ruins, until they came across a crumbled wall. 

There was a familiar pokemon there, missing something very important

“Yamah!!” Drew called out to get its attention

The Unovan Yamask startled, immediately floating backwards in what seemed to be alarm and fear

“Y’r mask” Anya got right to the point “is y’r mask under there?” 

The pokemon still looked concerned, but nodded at her. 

“Hm.. looks heavy..” She grabbed a pokeball on her belt, releasing her Hatterene “Irene, I need y’r assistance f’r a moment” 

“Reenhe!” 

“Please move th’stones so this Yamask can get i’s mask back” 

Irene gave her trainer a nod, not even questioning it, and using a rather simple psychic ability to raise the stones off of the mask. 

“Drew, ask if they want me to pick it up for ‘em” 

“Yah!” Drew looked to the Yamask “Yam-Yamah! Mask!” 

“Y-ya…yahma…” The pokemon responded - looking a little less nervous. 

Drew turned back to Anya, and nodded. 

Anya returned Irene to her pokeball, and got down on one knee to take the mask in both hands, standing up and turned to face the cautious pokemon. She held out the mask “Here ya are. Take it” 

There was a bit of pause from the pokemon, before its clumsy hands reached forward and took the mask, placing it back on its hanging space on it’s "tail". 

“Better?” 

The Yamask nodded, giving her an interested look and floating closer to her, before Drew got in the way 

“Yama!” Drew seemed to threaten, startling the yamask, making it float backwards, practically cowering “Drew! Don’t be rude!” Anya scolded the pokemon “Ye can see e’s just curious!” 

“Yah!” 

“No!” 

The Unovan Yamask watched the two bicker back and forth, as if Anya knew exactly what Drew was saying. He looked like he was trying to scold her right back, and the yamask couldn’t help but snicker at the fight, causing them to pause. 

“... Shut up” Anya got the final word, looking at the yamask “Are you okay?” 

The yamask nodded 

“Good.. I need to sit down and eat something - hungry, Drew?” 

“Yamah!” Drew nodded

Anya thought for a moment, and turned to the other Yamask. “Would ya like t’join us?” 

“Yah?” 

“Aye, you?”

Drew looked almost offended for a second, but rolled his eyes, motioning for the Unovan variant to follow them 

The pokemon seemed to lighten up “Yahma!” They bounced around, getting a lopsided grin out of Anya, and they followed behind her as she turned, spotting a bench just a few meters away. 

“... D’ye need any help?” 

Looking up from the book for the first time in what felt like hours, he was met by the eyes of the new girl at school. 

She’d come in the middle of the year, moved from some place up north, and immediately volunteered for the library for her school/work hours. 

She had a yamask that followed her around. People didn’t talk to her, and that had included Piers. 

Not because he didn’t like her- she seemed aloof, but not unpleasant from his cursory observation- but his life was currently a mess, and he didn’t have time for school friends 

Pier grumbled a bit “If you can make this book easier t’read that’d be nice” He muttered “No, ‘m’fine. Thanks” he waved her off, starting to mutter to himself. 

He could feel her still standing there for a moment, like she wanted to say more, but then she left, heavy steps carrying her deeper into the library. 

A few minutes later, his attention was taken by someone clearing their throat. 

He turned his head, and was greeted by a thin book shown to him 

“The Practical Law Guide for Guardianship Vol 2- All Paperwork” 

He stared at the title of the book, then up at the person holding it. 

She looked nervous 

“I.. I saw ye were strugglin wit’ the text. This book was in the archive, i’s a few years outta date, but its probably a better start than readin’ that damned thin’” 

A bit surprised at her attentiveness, he took the book, and looked at the cover for a moment “... Thank you” he looked back up at her, seeing a level of nervousness in her eyes that he was familiar with “You’re uh, Anna?” 

“Anya” 

“Anya.” he nodded, committing the name to memory “I’m Piers” 

She nodded “Oh uh, this is Drew” She motioned to the Yamask floating by her head, who had been quietly observing the two “He’s mah partner pokemon.” 

“Ah” That made more sense than the weird rumor that it was an ex-boyfriend's ghost that was going around. Piers cleared this throat “If this has the right docs, I’ll need t’make copies. Is there a printer here?” 

She pointed “It’s up at circulation. Uh, If ya wan’, I can make sure i’s free for ye.” 

“.. I’d appreciate it” 

She managed a nervous smile for him “Jus’ come up when y’r ready. I’ll be puttin’ books back” 

He nodded, and watched her walk away, looking back at the book in his hands. 

Huh.

-

She liked “the Skirmish” 

He’d heard the starting riff to “Rock the Citadel” from her headphones before they were popped into her ears, and it caught his attention immediately

He hadn’t ever heard anyone listen to the Skirmish that wasn’t over the age of 35. 

He had to bring it up. 

But with school and the stupid law stuff, he found himself without much of a social battery to speak of. 

Ugh, why did he need to go back to school again? 

Right. Marnie. 

He sighed deeply, going over the notes from the lawyer he’d managed to get, and spending the afternoon after school filling out even more tedious paperwork. 

He heard the thunder before the rain started. 

Ugh, spring in Spikemuth could be so dreary. He loved this place, but the downsides were clear. 

“Yama” 

He turned his head to see Anya, looking out the window with a grumble 

“Ah know, Drew. I don’ like gettin’ wet neither, but Pap can’t pick us up today, He’s in Circhester visitin’ Denton. We’re jus gon’ have t’grin an’ bear it” 

Piers felt himself grimacing at her statement to her yamask - Drew? That was its name - the rain came down pretty hard in the spring around these parts. She was gonna be drenched when she got home. 

Wait

Oh, shit, duh. 

He stared at his heavy duty umbrella, then back at her. 

Perfect excuse. Yes. 

He just… hoped she wouldn’t take it the wrong way. 

He packed up his things, and, with a deep sigh, approached the assistant

“Uh, ahem, hi” 

She looked over at him, Drew giving him a curious look “Uh, Hi, d’ye need any help? I’m leavin’ f’r the day” 

“Oh uh, yeah, I saw you don’t have any cover and the rain is pretty intense. You live in the Sheff Apartments, right? That’s on my way home” 

She blinked 

“Uh, I was gonna as if ye wanted some cover? I’ve got a big umbrella” 

‘Oh, oh! Uh…” 

Drew nudged her head, as if scolding “Yama! Ya!” 

“Ghfk!” She startled, and Piers had to fight to hold back a laugh “Fine, fine! Yes, Thank ye” 

“He always like tha’?” 

“He’s pushy when it comes t’my social life” She glared at the pokemon. 

“I’ve never heard of a Yamask like that” 

“He’s a special case” She poked Drew between the eyes, who let out an indignant squeak. 

“Heh, well, d’ya want the umbrella?” 

“... I’d like to not be soaked, yes” Anya nodded “Y’sure ye don’ need anythin’ before ya leave?” 

“Nah, I’ve got what I need f’r now” He assured, showing his umbrella “Need to grab anythin’?” 

“Jus’ my bag” Anya pointed over to the storage lockers at the front of the library 

Piers motioned forward with his free hand, and once Anya had grabbed her school satchel, they headed outside, the two of them fitting comfortably under his large, sturdy umbrella 

“Ah, thank ye, again. I’d be drenched once I got home” 

“No problem. Maybe invest in one of these. It gets nasty this time of year” 

“Noted. Y’lived here a while?” 

“My whole life. Might be a bit damp, but it’s home to me.” 

“Heh, damp is right.. But it must be nice” 

“Hm?” 

“I move a lot. Don’t really have a “home”” She shrugged “but I'm here now. Pap says it's longer term than usual. We’ll see” 

Huh. Interesting life details. 

Piers hummed in response “Well, as long as you’re here. I hope you like it” “So far it’s been nice. I like the record store” 

“Oh, that’s a great little place. Doubles as a concert venue. Seen some nice bands there” 

“Oh, really? I didn’ know a place that small could host bands” 

“Only small ones” 

Anya hummed back in response. 

Piers cleared his throat for the sake of his nerves. “So uh, earlier, I thought I heard “Rock the Citadel” on your headphones?” He attempted to bring up. 

“Oh, uh, shit, was it tha’ loud?” She sheepishly asked, on hand reaching for the headphones 

“No! No, i jus’ heard it before y’put them in your ears! The Skirmish ‘re my favorite band” 

“Oh” Anya’s expression changed over to surprise “I mean, I like ‘em, but I tend to prefer Turf-Noon Joggers” She stated the silly name of the classic band without a hint of irony. That was a good sign. 

“Oh? Which Album?” 

That started a conversation that didn’t stop until they got to the apartment complex. 

“So wait, you’ve lived here for two months and you haven’t gone to the Spire?” 

“I didn’t know it was all ages!” 

“Well there you go! Karaoke, located!” 

“Yama!” Drew spoke up 

“Hm?” 

“Ya. Ma” Drew nudged her 

Piers tilted his head “.. I think he wants you to ask if we can go to karaoke together” He reasoned, and the yamask nodded

Anya’s face turned bright red “What are ya, my mum?!” 

Piers couldn’t hold back a laugh “I mean, I like Karaoke, if you wanna. I’m pretty busy with school and the paperwork, but I could use the destressor” 

“... Really?” 

He nodded “Yeah, I mean, I need t’see if you can keep up with the Skirmish’s vocals” He gave her a grin that she ended up returning 

“Uh, then… friday?” 

He thought for a moment “Friday” 

The Yamask looked so very smug. 

“Well uh, thank ye f’r the cover home. Get home safe… Piers?” 

“Piers Caddell” 

“Piers Caddell” She repeated “Anya Ambermight” 

“Well, see ya tomorrow, Ambermight” 

She nodded back to him, smile remaining, and disappeared into the complex lobby.

-

Well damn

She could sing. 

Like, really sing. 

She got through the entirety of Turf-Noon Joggers “Let’s go Irene” with a certain eagerness, and the two of them were able to pull off the multiple parts of “Wanderlust Symphony” near flawlessly, with him getting the high notes and her getting those hard to manage harmonies. 

He hadn’t had that much fun at karaoke in a long time, and it seemed she felt the same. 

“Y’ever listened to the Koalas?” He asked 

“Oh, yeah that new album is really fuckin good” She rubbed her face. 

“Wanna try out one a the songs? They got “lemon to a knife fight” He scrolled through the song choices 

“Oh shite, really? Le’s get it! We only go’ enough time f’r one more time anyway” 

“Hell yeah!” 

He didn’t have any friends that liked Karaoke as much as he did - much less liked the Koalas, of all bands. 

When the song started, Anya seemed to shake away any tiredness she was feeling, and she grabbed at the resting mic again 

“You ready?” Piers grinned “I know I can keep up, but can you?” 

“Is that a challenge, Caddell?” 

“Mayhaps, Keep up!” 

The last song was by far their best, and when they parted ways, Piers couldn’t help but think that he’d really made a new friend. 

“... I am Emmet. She did not like me very much” He’d told his brother when they got home

“You did come on a bit strong” Ingo commented “But worry not. You will get another try” 

Emmet supposed that he would, but a part of him did not want to wait until thier schedules aligned once again. 

So he decided to look her up on the internet. 

The first thing that came up was a news report from the year prior - he recalled it, distantly, it had been sent in the Battle Bosses Newsletter, but he hadn’t found time to read it. 

No time like the present!

NIMBASA CITY WELCOMES NEWEST MASTER LIBRARIAN AND BATTLE BOSS

Galarian Native Anya Ambermight takes over as the first immigrant to run a battle challenge in Nimbasa city

Well, that was an interesting place to start. 

The article was a bit broad - Anya declining an interview, but going into her background and some first impressions from trainers

The reactions seemed… politely mixed. 

But! No one won against her - even the champion, who made her way to the challenge to “inaugurate it” had lost. Now that was interesting. 

To the XTrans!

It took a few messages to ensure he could get through, but after a second, he was connected to Iris. 

“Emmet! Hi!” 

“I am Emmet! Hello Iris! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me!” 

“No problem! You had questions about The Library Challenge?” 

“Indeed! Most descriptions online and in forums are oddly vague. Could you perhaps explain it to me?” 

“Sure!” 

Emmet listened carefully as Iris explained that once you’ve challenged the Master Librarian, you join her in an area right there in the back of the library, across the way from the archives. Above the arena is a circular device that flows a soft yellow

“It’s a sound detector! It turns color when it gets too loud, and that's the key to the challenge!” Iris explained “Once the battle starts, you have to keep an eye on it. It’ll go from yellow to orange, and if it turns red, you’re too loud, and you automatically lose!” 

“Won’t the Master librarian also be at risk of triggering it?” 

“Oh no, not at all. She didn’t make a single sound, and neither did her Pokemon! It was kind of crazy. I beat the other Master Librarian, but I wasn’t able to beat her! I won’t spoil how she’s so quiet, but she's super clever!” 

Ooh, Emmet was intrigued now. 

A little more conversation with Iris, and he felt like he was prepared enough. 

“INGO!” 

“Yes Emmet?” 

“I wish to try something new on our day off this week!!”

Ingo turned his head “And what is that?” 

“I want to do the Nimbasa City Public Library Battle Challenge!” 

Ingo tilted his head “Oh?” 

He nodded “I want to see just how good of a battler your new friend is!” 

Ingo gave his brother an interested expression. “I am curious too… very well! I shall adjust our schedule!” 

“Wonderful!”

-

“Master Ambermight” 

Anya huffed. She hated that title

“Yes?” 

“You have a challenger today” 

Her brow furrowed. 

“Alright. Let me put these things away. Have them read the riot act at the arena” She called back to the junior librarian, who nodded and rushed off. 

Why had he run off like that? Had she forgotten about her face again?

“Yama?” 

Daniel floated just before her face to get her attention 

“Yes, I know. But Irene and Frankie could use the fight anyway. The restoration doesn't have a time limit” 

“Ya-ma!” Drew floated over to the storage for the more sensitive archived collections

“Yes, yes, but those also don’t have a time limit. I wan’to keep workin’ too, but I’m not *just* a preservationist, y’know” 

Drew seemed to roll his eyes, but floated nearby as Anya closed and stored the 200 year old edition of “The Legends of Kanto” she had been studying the binding of. 

Leaving the archives, Anya climbed up the stairs and over to the arena, seeing her opponent on the other side.

She stared with wide eyes at Emmet, who was giving her a hell of a grin. 

“Hello, Anya! I am Emmet! I am curious to see if I can beat your challenge!” 

Well…. This wasn’t what she was expecting at 4 PM on a Wednesday. 

“... Y’do?” 

“I do!” 

Huh. Well then. 

Anya took a moment to school her expression “Have ye been given the rules?” 

“I wanted to hear them from you!” “Very well” Anya huffed, her voice still not very loud, and pointed above, where Daniel and Drew floated around a circular device, shaped like a disk, with a yellow band glowed gently about it from the ceiling. 

“Above us, is a sound sensor, called the “disc” - think of it as a noise-activated alarm” She started, reciting what she’d written for herself to introduce new challengers “This is a library - ye can’t be too loud. Not you, not y’r pokemon. So you have t’battle me with tha’ sensor lingerin’. If it turns red, y’lose.” 

“So I win if I beat you without setting off the alarm?” “Aye” 

“Excellent!” 

The light suddenly burst in red, bathing everyone in the arena in that cherry-colored light. 

“... That does not count?”

“It does not” 

“Good” Emmet cleared his throat, taking a moment to think, before asking “how many pokemon per battle?”

“Two maximum for each - one on one” Anya stated, moving to the other side of the area, but keeping her voice low and even ”Whenever y’r ready, the junior librarian will announce the fight with this sign” Anya raised her hands in fists at shoulder height, crossed them, and then pointed forward.

“Ah, Unovan Sign language” Emmet pointed out “I am familiar - is that how you communicate with your pokemon, Miss Anya?” 

For the first time, he saw a new expression on her - a smirk 

“Ye’ll have’t wait an’ see, Subway Master” 

Ooooh, Verrrrry interesting

Emmet tamed his smile into something a little less enthusiastic, a little more focused, and made the effort to lower his voice. 

“Then let us begin!” 

The sound disc turned orange briefly. Damn. 

This was going to be harder than he thought.

Emmet decided to go with Gavantula as his first pick, and the pokeball flashed open, the bug pokemon letting out a small squeaking noise, and Emmet found himself glancing up at the disc. 

That was going to be verrrrrry distracting. 

Anya gave the pokemon a once over, and reached to her own pokeballs, releasing a Foslass who didn’t vocalize at all once released from the pokeball, and floated behind the trainer. Anya’s eyes fell to the junior librarian - a young woman with bright blonde hair, who raised her arms in that tell tale “fight” sign language

Emmet took a breath, and said, as quiet as he could manage “We must be quiet, Gavantula! Pay attention!” 

Anya said nothing, making a sign he didn’t recognize, before the Froslass (Frankie, was its name? He knew that Ingo had mentioned the Froslass once before) nodded. 

It didn’t take Emmet too long before he realized just how Anya communicated with her pokemon, and why it made her battle so very, very difficult. 

Sign language 

And it wasn’t even Unovan sign - something he and his brother were fluent in. 

It must have been Galarian. 

That left her at somewhat of a disadvantage, with her Froslass having to either circle back around to Anya, or turn to look directly at her trainer to get instruction 

But the two were in perfect sync - with the Froslass gracefully twisting and turning to look back at her trainer and - with just a few seconds of sign, was given specific instruction on what attacks to use and where to go

Emmet only started to know which signs meant which when it was too late. 

Anya made a sign with her hands one hand had three fingers up, the other in a fist, and she sharply crossed them and pointed

Frankie used “Hex”, and though Gavantula was not down for the count, it did let out a loud, startled cry, and the stadium was bathed in bright red. 

He has lost. The battle had only been 3 minutes long. 

Despite the brief time, he felt winded, he felt …great! 

“Wonderful!” Emmet shouted, getting sudden shushing from the surrounding librarians and library guests “Oh, sorry” he covered his mouth. 

Anya was gently signing to her Froslass, giving it an affectionate pat before returning Frankie to her pokeball, and looking back at Emmet. 

“Y’lasted longer than’ most, an’ y’r clearly very skilled” She nodded “Thank y’for trying. Y’r always welcomed to try again” 

“Oh, I most certainly will! What an excellent challenge! You are extremely skilled!” 

Emmet managed to keep his voice down, but his grin was ear to ear. 

Anya, for her part, was surprised at the compliment, her complexion turning bright red

“Oh, uh, thank ye’, but I doubt I’d beat ya outside a my challenge” She shrugged 

 “I doubt that, but regardless!” Emmet grinned “I wish to speak with you at length about your creative battle strategy! I am Emmet and I want to learn more!” 

That also seemed to startle her, her entire face bright red still 

“Uh…. uhm” 

Oh, oh, he was coming on too strong again!

He backed up, putting his hands behind his back “I apologize, I get overzealous quite quickly” 

“No, no.. i’s fine” She attempted to assure. “Uh… Well, I work until 6 t’night.. If ye want, ye can meet me later..?” 

Emmet’s eyes looked like they were sparkling 

“Oh, yes! Yes please!” 

Anya seemed a bit overwhelmed for a second, but the expression changed to a smile - a real one - and Emmet gave her a thumbs up

“Ingo and I shall be waiting at 6! Please have a wonderful rest of your work day and stay on track!” 

“I will” 

Emmet tilted his hat to her with his smile still wide, and he marched out of the library, leaving Anya to sigh deeply, and her yamasks somewhat bewildered at the interaction. 

“.... Holy shit was that the subway boss?” One of the junior librarians questioned. 

“Yup” another spoke up “Master Ambermight is friend’s with ‘em” 

“Cool!” 

Anya couldn’t hide another smile as she turned to head back to the archives