B4 — 40. I Haven’t Even Had Coffee Yet

I loosely follow this map as a visual guide; the creator made it in paint?!?!  It’s insane!  Some errors here and there, but I follow its design for the most part.  Areas can be further apart, some cities are in the wrong places or not listed, and the regions aren’t nearly so close.  The best map I’ve found, though!

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9:22 a.m. November 2nd, Monday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 146. Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (32 days away).

Warmth surrounded Rhea, a comforting cocoon of soft fur and gentle breathing that grounded her in the present moment. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself snuggled deep into her luxurious bed, her Pokémon curled protectively around her.

Nova was, as usual, nestled between her legs. Lulu hugged her neck and Alice was draped across her chest with one large ear tucked under her pillow, the other cupping Shae against Rhea’s side. Mya was sprawled out against her left side, her large mouth lazily hanging over the side.

Yesterday was perfect… The thought drifted through her rousing mind, bringing a gentle smile to her lips. She let herself sink back into the pillows, savoring the memory of her day with Jason. Everything about it felt surreal, like stepping into a dream she never wanted to end. He really does love me… Is this how Mom feels with Dad?

A flush of warmth bloomed across her cheeks as she recalled the way he had looked at her throughout the day, his amber eyes full of unspoken words that still sent shivers down her spine. Her gaze shifted to the small basket sitting on the side table—Jason’s welcoming gift.

It made her smile widen, a soft giggle escaping her as she thought about Amira’s playful meddling. Of course, she’d be in on it. The Impidimp. Isn’t that Lori’s game?

She stretched, careful not to disturb her Pokémon too much as she somehow managed to slip out of bed without their notice. It was a first, and an accomplishment to her developing ninja skills! Not that she had any, but she could dream.

The unusually cold early-morning air for the tropical island nipped at her skin, but she ignored it, her mind already racing through the plans for the day. Her first course of action was to open her portable wardrobe and examine herself in the full-length mirror inside.

Not bad! I do have a bit of a glow, don’t I? I’m growing more pretty than cute, I think, she hummed, twisting left and right while focusing on specific areas. Now, what to wear for our second date?

She quickly decided and grabbed a cute summer dress from her wardrobe: something light and fun, perfect for hanging out with friends later with, as well. The pastel colors were cheerful, and underneath, she slipped on a stylish swimsuit, just in case the day took them near the water.

Can’t go wrong being prepared, she thought with a smirk while applying a tiny bit of makeup in the fashion Amira had taught her with the redhead’s newest song humming in her throat, likely partly inspired by the Plasma attack. Yet, somehow, it helped to calm her singing it.

Anxiety, got me in a headlock. Holding me, slipping into shell shock. Hard to breathe; I don’t know how to get out. I’m paranoid, and I’m paralyzed, scared of the outside, guess I’m just scared to die…

As she moved to the bathroom and her Pokemon began to rouse, her phone buzzed with a message from Jason. The simple text made her heart flutter.

6:20 a.m. Mankey Butt: Morning, Sunshine! Is the sun up? It is when you’re around! Breakfast at the café downstairs? Can’t wait to see you. Smoothies waiting!

Rhea bit her lip, the excitement bubbling up inside her as she quickly texted back.

6:20 a.m. Joltik Butt: You have to stop this! I’ll expect it every morning at this point. <3 See you soon. Make sure to get something for my girls, too. I’ll get you back. 6:21 a.m. Mankey Butt: Who do you think I is? I’ve got a rabbit that would strangle me if I didn’t get something for a certain fluffy-tailed bun. >.> He spent half of yesterday trying to figure out her favorite flavor for this moment. Dude has stood in front of the mirror for the last ten minutes trying different products to make his fur shinier…when he IS shiny! 6:22 a.m. Joltik Butt: ROLF! She’s just getting up, so no spoilers here. Can’t wait. See you soon, but I’m just about to get into the shower. I spent a bit longer in bed. 6:22 a.m. Mankey Butt: Good! My Spider Queen needs her rest, or else she builds up static, and we know what happens next! Zap! Zap! Zap!

Rhea choked out a laugh and responded with a long string of electric emojis and a leery-eyed emoji to finish the conversation. 

The thought of seeing him again so soon made her stomach do a little flip, the kind of excitement she used to read about but never quite believed. But this was real, so much better than anything she could have imagined.

Stepping into the shower, the water cascading over her in warm rivulets, she let herself daydream about the possibilities the day held. She only had this last day with him, and only half of it, so she had to make it count. Her thoughts were interrupted by a new message notification on the outside counter. She’d get to it later.

After drying off, she finished her after-shower routine, drying her hair with cold air before carefully tying it back in a loose ponytail that left a few strands framing her face.

Just like Auntie Cynthia! Perfect… Why’d I have to get the rare short genes in the family… Bah. Jason likes it, I think, and it’s nice when…

She cleared her throat and tried to cool off as her face turned bright red, her mind taking her back to the time he’d pinned her to the ground when just returning from Kalos.

Mind out of the gutter! Cool it! It was cute—just cute…totally cute.

A light touch of makeup later, just enough to enhance her natural features, as Amira showed her, and she was ready. One last look in the mirror, and she felt a rush of confidence fill her that she rarely experienced like this.

Beautiful! Let’s do this.

She wiped the moisture from her crystal-like phone to activate the hologram, spotting a message from both of her teammates. Amira’s would be more serious, so she tapped that one first.

6:41 a.m. Fire Stone: Docking at 3 p.m. Might be later before we enter, as you found out; the lines are crazy. Already booked Viridian Gym. We can pull out 3 days before if needed. ;,-( Rand leaked some info regarding the movie this week, so I’ve been getting a lot more people approaching me… My name was brought up as a contributing writer for the script.

Rhea chuckled, imagining the redhead dealing with the crowds of people already asking about her family, battles, or lowkey music career. Now, she was a movie script writer. She glanced down at Nova as she exited the shower after shaking herself off, the girl’s fluff all puffed up with Alice beside her, brandishing a comb like a samurai.

6:42 a.m. Joltik Butt: Keep strong! Nova’s really excited for it. If it makes you feel any better, I feel much better with you looking over the script and making suggestions. Thanks for all your hard work, Amira. You’re the best. Always plan ahead! Right? 6:43 a.m. Fire Stone: Thanks for always being positive. It helps more than you know. See you soon, Sunshine.

Her grin only widened when she saw Lori’s next text with an image attached, showing a sleeping Amira, Amber sprawled across her body upside down, her tail across the redhead’s face. The caption on it read:

6:45 a.m. Violet: And y’all think I’m the restless one! Girl’s about to get her face burned off by a fox!

Rhea giggled, shaking her head at the mental image. Lori never misses a chance to make me laugh.

Heading back to her room, she packed up and let Mya know they were getting something to eat to wake the sleepy girl up. Nova’s tail was wagging as she pranced next to her, Lulu riding atop her, ready for a beach adventure.

However, as she made her way out the door, her phone buzzed again. Frowning, she pulled it out of her belt strap and grimaced upon seeing the caller ID: Ayn Rand. She paused in the hallway, debating if she should answer it or not, but Nova’s eyes grew big at the name—she was looking forward to this movie to spend time with her family, after all.

What could he want? Rhea internally groaned, scratching her temple while glancing up and down the empty hotel hallway. Amira should be handling a lot of that stuff.

Rhea hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the accept button on her phone. The unmistakable, swirling mix of emotions that had become all too familiar with the name made her want to hang up. Nova’s ears perked up, no doubt sensing her unease as Lulu peered up at her with questioning eyes. The Eevee nudged Rhea’s leg with an encouraging bump of her head, making Rhea chuckle.

Alright, let’s get this over with.

She tapped the screen and lifted the phone to her ear.

“Hello, Mr. Rand,” she began, keeping her tone as neutral as possible.

“Rhea! I’m so glad you picked up,” his voice boomed through the speaker, carrying a level of enthusiasm that made her shoulders tense. “I’ve got fantastic news! We’ve secured an incredible budget and some of the biggest names in the industry for Nova’s debut! This is going to be huge, Rhea—bigger than anything we’ve ever done before. And I’ve done some big productions.”

Rhea forced a smile, even though he couldn’t see it. “That sounds…exciting. This is about the movie, then?”

“Absolutely! And guess what? I’ve been hearing nothing but glowing reviews about your friend Kate and her Pokémon. She’s turning out to be quite the hidden gem with the acting coaches. You have a good eye!”

Buttering me up, or genuine… I’ll never know, Rhea grumbled to her Pokemon as he continued.

“We’re gearing up to start everything in two months—two months, Rhea! We’ll be ready to shoot at the beginning of the year.”

Rhea sighed to herself. At least it will be after our birthdays and the Silver Cup.

“That’s great,” she replied, trying to sound as enthusiastic as he did, mainly for Nova’s sake, but it did mean one of her Aces would be MIA for a while. There was a knot in her stomach that refused to untangle due to that. “You mentioned working with Amira behind the scenes on the script. She’s been busy, though… You are really calling because you want me to talk to her, right?”

Rand’s laughter echoed through the phone, a sound that made her wince. “Well, I’ve been trying to reach her, but she’s not answering my calls lately. I figured, since you two are so close… You know, teammates and all.”

Rhea sighed, rubbing her temple with her free hand. “So, you want me to convince her to give you a call?”

“Oh, Rhea, this is all for your little girl’s debut on the big screen! Her parents are going to be in it, her best friend, everyone—Amira’s Feebas, what’s her name again?”

“Serenity,” Rhea corrected, her voice slightly sharper than she intended.

And ‘best friend’ is a strong word to use, she internally muttered. We hardly know Kate and her Pokemon…but they are nice, and we are friendly.

“Right, Serenity! She might play a role, too. This movie is going to be the biggest release of the year when it comes out. And if we start shooting in January, we’ll have a trailer ready to premiere at next year’s Pokémon World Tournament! It’s perfect timing, don’t you think? We may even be able to do a December release if we’re efficient about it!”

Rhea leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. “That’s…that’s great, Mr. Rand. Just keep trying Amira. We’ve got a lot on our plates right now with Encrusted Gym Badges and everything happening on the side. I’m sure she’ll get back to you when she can. Bye.”

She ended the call before he could say more, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as she let out a long breath. “Sorry, Nova,” she murmured, glancing down at the eager Eevee at her side. “I didn’t mean to be so cold, but he just…rubs me the wrong way. Amira knows what she’s doing. She’ll handle it.”

Nova’s tail wagged, and she gave Rhea an understanding look, her warm eyes reflecting trust and support. Rhea reached down to scratch behind Nova’s ears, smiling at the soft purr that rumbled in response before moving to the sparkly-eyed, poofy villainess riding her.

I’ll make it up to you, I promise.

As they made their way out of the hotel, Rhea’s phone buzzed yet again. This time, it was Kate, though. Grinning, she quickly tapped the screen.

“Hey, Kate! How’s it going? I heard you’re quite the developing talent. I…assume Rand just called you?”

“Rhea!” Kate’s voice was bright, but there was a hint of exhaustion beneath it. “Uh, yeah… I’ll just say I gave it my best shot. Sliding past that, uh, I’m doing alright. Just finished another round of training with the acting coaches. They’re really pushing us hard, but I think it’s paying off. I…like what I see when I look in the mirror now, so…thank you.”

Rhea chuckled. “I’m sure it is. And, while that’s awesome, just know you’re beautiful regardless of what stage you’re on. Keep it up.”

Kate laughed, though it sounded a bit strained. “Thanks. I know it’s kind of stupid to say. It’s just…I never thought I’d go this far or be training with such high-quality coaches. It’s… Again, thank you, Rhea. Yeah, I’ve heard from a few people about Rand’s trouble with Amira. She really does know how to handle him. He can be…overwhelming, honestly. But I’m trying to stay grounded. How about you? How are things on your end with the badges?”

“Busy as always. Lost my last one, but I had fun, and we’ll beat Erika next time! Just trying to keep up with everything. That being said, don’t let Rand push you around. Speak up and know you’ve got people at your back.”

Kate sighed softly. “Wow, that’s…mmm. You really are something else, Rhea. Yeah, it’s a lot to handle but you really do make everything easier every time I talk with you. Don’t worry! But I’m hanging in there. Thanks for cheering me up when I needed it, Rhea. It means a lot. Good luck.”

“Of course. We’re in this together, remember? Nova’s all about it, so I’d like it to be a great production and for her to get a chance to spend some quality time with her parents. We’ll have to—”

Just as they were about to wrap up the call, Rhea’s phone buzzed again with an incoming call. “Umm, hey, Kate, I’ve got another call coming in. Oh… It’s from Cami—Jade’s sister. You wouldn’t know her, but I need to take this. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”

“Sure thing. Take care, Rhea.”

Rhea switched to the new call, her voice softening with a hint of worry touching it as she greeted Cami. “Hey, Cami, what’s up?”

“Rhea…” Cami’s voice was quiet, almost melancholic. “I can’t talk long. Just know that we’re okay. We had to make an emergency stop at one of the Seafoam Islands. Our boat was attacked—they say it was a war between two rival Gyarados factions fighting over territory that we happened to get into the middle of.”

“Oh, no…”

“Yeah, but we’re fine,” she gulped, not sounding like she was fine, “but it’ll be a few more days before we can make it to Cinnabar, probably Wednesday.”

Rhea’s heart skipped a beat. “Really, is everything okay? ”

“The two Masters onboard were able to handle most of it and get us out. There were some…problems, though. We can talk about it if you’re still in Cinnabar—”

Before Cami could answer, Rhea heard Jade’s voice in the background, calling out, “Cami, have you seen Rylee?”

“No, not since Hannah and Jay were with her. Why? Did she disappear again?” Cami replied, sounding distracted. “Sorry, Rhea, I’ve got to go. We’ll be in touch soon.”

The line went dead before Rhea could ask any more questions. Frowning, she quickly sent a text to Sam, Jade, Hannah, Rylee, and Jay, asking what had happened and asking if everyone was alright because she was worried they had to stop at one of the Seafoam Islands.

I hope everything’s alright…

Trying to shake off the worry, she continued her walk to the café, now recalling everything she knew about the samurai-loving Trainer who had joined the Wooloo Crew.

Rylee disappeared again? I hope nothing really bad happened. She’s pretty tough with her Honedge, Slowpoke, and Crystal Onix…two of which can swim really well. If anything she’d be the main support with her Crystal Onix being able to carry all of them in the water.

Her mouth creased, recalling her Slowpoke Rescued Pokemon and how his previous Trainer had died.

Speedo’s previous Trainer drowned before he could get to him, and he stayed with his Trainer’s body until the Rangers got to them… If they got thrown overboard, I can see him having some anxiety over maybe Rylee drowning since it took her years to convince him to bond to another Trainer…to her. No, don’t go drawing conclusions! Just wait for the truth.

Her thoughts drifted back to Jason as she approached their meeting spot. Trying to refocus wasn’t hard when her heart fluttered with anticipation to see her boyfriend.

Alright, Rhea, deep breaths. You’ve got this. Don’t fall for his jokes and blush! You have to win this battle. He’s got too many Ws already. I can make him blush! You got this, girl! Crush his Geodudes! She internally cheered, doing her best Lori impression before making herself blush. Too far! Why do you put these thoughts in my head I’ve never had in my life, Lori?!

Taking a second to linger outside and cool off, she squared her shoulders and walked through the door.

Jason was already there, waiting outside the café with a smile that made her heart skip a beat—all prep went out the window. His soft eyes sparkled with warmth and something deeper that always seemed to tug at her insides. He had that effortlessly cool look about him—casual yet put-together, with a confidence that radiated from him like the sun.

How does he always manage to look so good? Rhea couldn’t help but wonder as she approached, her cheeks may have been burning slightly; she truly didn’t know at this point.

“Hey, Sunshine,” he greeted her, his voice low and smooth, like the gentle breeze on a warm day. “You look amazing. Ah, did you hear about the Articuno that flew by this morning””

Rhea felt her smile widen as she reached up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear and sat across from him. “You don’t look so bad yourself. And no, I haven’t heard about the Articuno. It makes sense, though, with how chilly it was this morning.”

He flashed his teeth, looking down at his flashy Alolan-style shirt, sunglasses hanging off the partially unbuttoned top. “Hey, I gotta dress to impress when seen with a blonde of your caliber. By the way, I saw your GPS tag nearing so I ordered your favorite smoothie; it should be out shortly. I bet they can’t make it like you can, though. Remember when you blew up that Razz smoothie all over the kitchen, and Franky cleaned it up by the time you got the towels?”

Rolling her eyes, Rhea shook her head. “I was ten, and it was my first time using the blender. I cried my eyes out and Franky was so sweet. He even showed me how to do it after.”

They exchanged a few more playful quips before their drinks arrived, the air between them charged with the kind of easy, comfortable chemistry that made everything feel right. It was the same as it had been back home, only somehow deeper and more meaningful. Whatever it was, it made her feel good.

As they continued, Rhea found herself studying Jason more closely—his strong, defined features, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her like she was something priceless, the warmth in his gaze that always seemed to be directed solely at her. This was paradise. She felt special while lost inside his piercing eyes, like he’d walk through fire just to look at her, that she was worth everything.

He’s perfect… absolutely perfect. And for a moment, everything else faded away—Ayn Rand, the movie, the worries about her friends. All that mattered was this moment, here with Jason.

Rhea’s heartbeat fluttered with every twist and turn Jason made, his eyes locked onto hers, but something in his gaze shifted once they finished their drinks, just slightly, as he leaned forward, concern edging into his smile.

“You seem a little distracted, Rhea,” his voice softened, pulling her from the clouds and grounding her in the moment. “What’s bothering you?”

Rhea blinked, taken aback by how well he could read her.

Was it that obvious? Am I that obvious?

She felt the familiar warmth of his studious look wrapping around her like a safety net. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the fabric of her dress, twisting it as if to find stability in the soft material. Jason’s eyes didn’t miss the motion, and his brow furrowed slightly while looking at it as she gathered her thoughts.

“You only do that when you’re worried about your mom,” he added, his tone gentle but probing. “What’s up? Is it me going tonight?”

She hadn’t even realized she was fidgeting so much, so lost in their conversation and the joy of being with him that the edges of her anxiety had blurred into the background. Still, the worry resurfaced with his words, nudging its way back into her consciousness.

Rhea sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the finished Berry smoothie in front of her and trying to relax.

“No. No, it’s not that. My friends had to make an emergency stop,” she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended. “I’m just…worried about them, I guess. They’re not responding to my messages. It’s probably just anxiety since I don’t know what’s going on.”

Jason’s frown deepened, his fingers drumming lightly on the table as he considered her words. “If they’re keeping things quiet, there’s probably a reason for it,” he said after a moment. “It’s not something they’d want to talk about over the phone, maybe. Not that they’re trying to shut you out.”

Rhea nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, but the knot in her stomach remained tight. She sipped what little of her smoothie was left, hoping the cool, sweet taste would distract her from the unease gnawing at her insides.

Trying to steer the conversation away from her worries, she said, “I guess they’ll let me know on Wednesday. Anyway, how do you think the Kalos Silver Cup will be? I’d like to be there to cheer you on.”

Jason’s response was immediate, cutting off her train of thought. “You can’t, Rhea. Nope. I won’t have it! You’ve got four badges to get in a month, and, uh-ahem, how long has it taken you to get four Encrusted Badges so far?” he asked, left eye playfully crinkling. “Just under, uh, five times that amount of days you have left?”

Rhea pouted, her playful spirit bubbling back to the surface despite her earlier concerns. “Sure, but we’ve been enjoying ourselves! Besides, I’m here to have fun on this journey now, remember?” She tried to inject some lightheartedness into her voice, but there was still a lingering edge of anxiety that she couldn’t quite shake. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come to at least some of your matches? I’m sure I can squeeze in the time for a day or two if Amira plans it in.”

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t want you to stress about it. Besides, Sunny would be too embarrassed. He wants to ‘beef up’ before Alice comes to see his big show.”

Rhea couldn’t help but snicker at the image of Jason’s Starter balking inside his Poké Ball, with Alice rolling around in her own giggling.

By ‘beef up,’ she internally explained to her bun, he means evolving so he isn’t shorter than her anymore and can look cool.

Alice’s feelings echoed through her soul, sweet and affectionate while insisting that he was plenty cool already. His cute, shy moments help his case in her eyes, too. She seemed to like him just the way he was.

Rhea’s heart warmed at Alice’s loyalty and honesty. That’s sweet, Little Bun, but try not to bash his dream, too. He has to be confident in himself, and if he’s trying to get stronger for you, then we should support him, she added.

Alice’s agreement came swiftly, and Rhea’s smile softened at the cute dynamic between Jason and her party.

She tried to steer the conversation back to the present. “So, what do you want to do now that we’ve got a few hours before Amira and Lori arrive? We’ve got some time to kill.”

Jason’s eyes lit up with the spark of a new idea. “First, we should find a Beach Battlefield to rent and book it for our Baby Double Battle—our BDB!” he said to her snickers as he continued.

“It might be hard to find one later on. After that, how about we walk around and talk? We can have a picnic for lunch and maybe—oh, what about we do a little shopping now that we’ve got that portable wardrobe?” he thoughtfully added. “We could pick out each other’s outfits—what you like on me, and what I like on you.”

Rhea’s brow creased as she considered his suggestion, a playful curiosity sparking in her eyes. “What kind of clothes are you thinking of?” she teasingly asked, intrigued.

Jason grinned, leaning back in his chair with a teasing glint in his amber eyes. “I mean, we could go straight to bathing suits right off the cuff, but why not work our way up to the fun bit, huh? Fashion show shopping stuff, of course. And we’ll pick out stuff for our Pokémon, too.”

She laughed, the sound light and genuine while feeling her Pokemon perk up at the offer, the weight of her earlier worries lifting just a bit; he was too good—the best. “Alright, fashion show shopping it is!”

The morning unfolded in a series of playful banter and laughter as they explored the shops, trying on outfits that ranged from the stylish to the outright silly—she got plenty of pictures to add to her secret folder.

They shared jokes, made each other blush with teasing comments, and picked out a few items that emphasized each other’s best features. She had to admit that a man did look good with a bit of a well-defined trunk, and showing well-defined abs wasn’t half bad. And by the time of their picnic, their arms were laden with bags, and Rhea’s heart felt like it rested on a cloud.

As they strolled hand in hand, sharing the load, Rhea’s thoughts drifted back to her friends, the knot in her stomach tightening once more. She squeezed Jason’s hand, finding comfort in his steady presence beside her.

They only left for the dock after getting the text from Amira that they were nearing the end of the exhaustive process. When they reached the dock, Lori and Amira were just getting out, breaking away from the crowd and looking slightly annoyed.

Lori was complaining about the wait time, as usual.

“Finally free!” Lori grumbled, Gables and Terri scanning the area nearby while the violet-haired girl marched up to them. “I thought we’d never get through that line. Oh, you two look adorable! Picture! Snap. Snap. I’m ready to go! You two didn’t have too much fun without us, did you? Because you look like you’ve been dating for years!”

Jason smirked, sharing a knowing glance with Rhea. “Eh. Not far off. If you’re up for it, we’ve already booked a battlefield for 5 p.m. Turned out to be the right move to set it for later, too—it’s nearly that time. And what time did you get in?”

“Three…” Amira sighed, shaking her head. “It’s done, though.”

Lori grinned, a competitive gleam in her eye while nudging the redhead. “I called teaming with my Sunshine! Amira’s been talking smack all morning, saying she and Jason were going to roast us, Rhea!”

Amira rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. “I heard about Jason’s battle with you, and Lapras is a beast. But it’s time to put your money where your mouth is, Lori, because you’ve got 500 credits riding on this.”

Rhea arched an eyebrow, giving Lori a skeptical look. “That’s the weakest bet I’ve ever heard you make. Huh?”

Lori burst out laughing, throwing her hands up in surrender. “Red’s as scary as the real Red, I swear—your man’s scary, okay, girl? I’m confident, but not that confident! I still placed money on it. That’s like…a month of food, okay!”

“In this party?” Jason snickered, glancing between them as Rhea and her two teammates gave her boyfriend a light glare. “That won’t last two meals!”

“A tad exaggerated,” Amira mumbled, looking off to the side with slightly red cheeks, “but we all know how much calories we burn when our Fortitude is growing so fast. We’ve mostly maintained our weight, I’d say.”

“Well,” Lori flashed her teeth, catching Rhea’s eye with a twinkling smile before looking at a few key areas, “with some exceptions for Rhea in ways I don’t think you mind, lover boy.”

“Lori…” Rhea groaned, making the girl snicker.

“Facts are facts, girl! You didn’t eat at all when growing up, so it only makes sense now that you’ve become our resident cute Munchlax! Hey, I didn’t get these curves fasting, you know!” she boasted, taking a pose that would make Rhea die inside to do in public.

“Where was that battlefield again?” Jason asked, looking away and making them laugh.

Their voices filled the air as they made their way to the battlefield, the excitement building with each step. As they took their positions, Rhea couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation. A crowd had already started to gather, possibly after seeing their names and team listed on reserving it. Some were even recording, and others were chatting excitedly on their live streams. It seemed that no matter where they went, they attracted attention—and today was no exception.

Rhea took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she reached for Shae’s Poké Ball. The countdown began, and with a flick of her wrist, she released her Pokémon onto the sandy, beach-side field. Serenade emerged opposite them, her energy allowing her to hover slightly over the sand, looking regal and composed.

However, Rhea’s attention was immediately drawn to her teammates’ new Pokemon.

Lori’s Pokemon exited in a rush of energy, only to plop onto her belly. The patterns immediately stood out to Rhea. Normally, she would have had a yellow tail and head with a bright pink body. Yet, instead, the Slow Pokemon followed the same unique black and white pattern of all her mother’s uniquely colored Pokemon.

Jason whistled. “A Slowpoke, huh? Nice!”

“Galarian, baby!” Lori shouted with a grin. “Ready to lose?”

“Sloooo.”

“Ra-Ralts!” Shae greeted, jogging over, only to trip onto her face to roll to a stop beside the Slowpoke, eyes spinning while looking into the reddening heavens. The crowd chuckled at the reveals, talk already spreading about their newest Pokemon. “Ralts?” 

Rhea’s thoughts were sent back to Misty’s battle against Miky and Lori before her mind turned to the story Rylee had shared about her Slowpoke’s rescue. Mom…was this on purpose, and Amira’s Pokemon… Wow, that’s a tough pick, she smiled beside her at the redhead, no doubt silently coaching her black-and-white spiked baby.

“A Ferroseed, Amira? Well, this is an interesting match-up. Are we ready?”

“Don’t cry when we win, Lori, Rhea,” Amira called out. “I know you hate losing bets.”

“Hah! When have I ever cried about losing a bet?” the violet-haired girl scoffed. “You’re about to get burned by the sun, baby girl!”

“Oh, your big sister has a few stories to tell,” the redhead shot back, making Lori wince.

“You’re bluffing! No way, Shauntel would talk about that… No, she’d totally talk. Shoot. I was fourteen and got busted for illegal gambling! I was scared. You can’t hold that against me! Besides, I’m not going to lose! Let’s go, Red.”

Rhea sent her internal message to her young little Emotion Pokemon, getting back to her feet and patting the Slowpoke to see if she was okay.

This is going to be interesting… We are going for the win, Shae. Trace, and steal Serenade’s Wave Rider again. We’re taking this battle to the sea!

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