When I leave, however, I decide to give Arven some time with Mabosstiff. Touching-up my makeup, I call the Flying Taxi and head back to Cortondo. The town of Alfornada, nearby, has a Gym I haven’t visited yet. My team is pretty strong now, but I need to get myself a Dark-type. The Gym Leader, Tulip, uses Psychic-types, so I should make use of any advantage I can.

  Not too far from Cortondo, I run into a Houndour, and swap out my Skeledirge, adding the new Dark/Fire type Pokémon to my party. It takes four days of hard work, but Houndour evolves to Houndoom, and I hang round the vicinity of Alfornada, challenging any Trainer to battle in order to make sure I can be at peak condition for my Gym test. It feels good to train my team some more, and I get the feeling that Arven needs some time to renew his bond with his Mabosstiff.

  On the morning of the third day, I sigh, standing outside the Gym building. This is Gym number six. It feels strange to think that I’ve been on the Treasure Hunt for almost three weeks. So far, I still don’t have any idea of what my ‘treasure’ would be, but I’m starting to narrow it down. It’s only been a few months since I left Gar with mom to move here, but… I’m starting to feel like this pce has become my home. I slowly walk through the automated doors into the lobby of the Alfornada Gym.

  “Mr. Jacq?” I ask, seeing my homeroom teacher standing there.

  “Hello, hello, Carmina! How goes your Treasure Hunt? Figured out what you’re hunting for, yet?”

  I shake my head. “I have no real idea yet, sorry…”

  “Haha! I get it. Director Cvell doesn’t like questions with easy answers, does he? Many students choose to make the Gym circuit a part of their Treasure Hunt. It’s no easy feat, but even making the attempt is a worthwhile experience. That’s why I was waiting here- to let you know your homeroom teacher’s got your back! I hope you keep working on that Pokédex of yours, too!” that’s all from me. Just do your best, and keep out of danger, ok?”

  “Goodbye, Mr. Jacq!”

  I turn back to the League staffer and approach the counter. “I’d like to take the Gym test, please.”

  “Challenger… Carmina, yes?”

  I nod. “That’s right.

  “Great! Now, in order to face Gym Leader Tulip, you’ll be working up a sweat with a special kind of exercise! I’m talking about the Emotional Spectrum Practice created by Tulip herself, of course. Complete it, and you pass the test! The woman wearing the bck tracksuit in the practice area will expin the rules to you! Just turn left after leaving the Gym and you’ll find the practice area right next door. Now get out there and have fun!”

  I nod and turn, leaving the Gym and heading to the practice area.

  “Oh! Ms. Dendra?!” I gasp, seeing the Battle Studies teacher standing in the practice area. She waves, and I join the group of people clustered around her.

  “Osu! Welcome! This is where we do Emotional Spectrum Practice! Oh, if you’re wondering why I’m here, I’ve been friends with Tulip since we were kids. She asked me for help, and I agreed. This is a chance for both an extra workout and to help my friend out when I don’t have a css to teach!”

  She folds her arms. “The rules of Emotional Spectrum Practice-or ESP for short- are simple! I’ll show you a certain movement, and all you have to do is copy it! Ready? And start!”

  After five minutes of mimicking my teacher, she sics one of the other participants on me! The Trainer sends out a Gothorita, only for my Houndoom to crush it in one Dark Pulse. Her Kirlia ends up crispier than before thanks to a Fmethrower, and the Trainer surrenders.

  Ms. Dendra cps her hands twice. “I see you’re getting tired, but you’ve gotta hang in there! Time for us to start the second half!”

  More mimicking, and I find myself facing down against another Trainer, his Grumpig meeting Houndoom’s Fmethrower head-on and returning the pain with a Power Gem. A second Fmethrower doesn’t help, but Beat Up brings the pig Pokémon down. The next one, a Medicham, eats a Dark Pulse and crumples like a sandwich wrapper. The st, an Indeedee, survives a Fmethrower, but takes a full-force Fire Fang and goes down in a heap. Houndoom barks, and I sag, catching my breath.

  “Well done! You’ve passed this test- no doubt about it! Congratutions! Sprint over to the League staffer, on the double! You have to report your passing grade to formally finish the Gym test!”

  I nod, trying to keep my head from falling off. Making my way back to the Gym, the League staffer nods sagely. “I can see from your face that you’ve succeeded. Are you ready to face Gym Leader Tulip, the Bewitching Beautician?”

  “Yes. Let me challenge her, please.”

  On the battle court, there’s a woman with immacute cosmetics, talking on one Rotom Phone while typing on another. As I approach, she hangs up and tucks both phones into her bag.

  “Hello there. I’m Tulip, the Gym Leader here. Though, I must tell you that being a makeup artist is my main line of work. Dendra had nothing but praise for you. She said you totally syed out there… Heheheh… I must say, you ARE a cute challenger, Carmina! I’m sure my ESP exercise made you all the more beautiful. Doesn’t that make you happy?”

  Tulip gestures elegantly. “You keep your Pokémon clean and beautiful as well. I see you have quite the aesthetic sense. Appearance is equally important for both people and Pokémon. Makeup is like magic. Anyone can use it to change their appearance. Allow me to put my skills to use… to make your cute little Pokémon even more beautiful!”

  The battle begins, with Tulip’s Farigiraf taking centre stage, facing down my Houndoom from across the arena. A Dark Pulse puts it on its back, forcing her to send out her Gardevoir.

  The same strategy goes off, but Gardevoir survives the Dark Pulse, forcing me to use Beat Up in order to bring her down. Finally, I’m forced to send out Garchomp, since Houndoom is too weak to hold out much longer in a pitched battle.

  Garchomp’s Dragon Cw gets put to use in a st round against Tulip’s Terastallized Florges, before I command it to Dig, the ndshark diving beneath the ground, avoiding a Moonbst from the floral Pokémon, before lunging up out of the ground and smming the Florges into the dirt by sinking its teeth into the Gym Leader’s st Pokémon and smashing it down onto the tiled battle court.

  Tulip admits defeat, and I cim my prize, my sixth Gym Badge. Pinning it beside the rest, I thank her and leave, heading down to exit the Gym. Mr. Hassel intercepts me.

  “Greetings once more, Carmina. I was watching your battle with the Gym Leader from the side-lines, I must say… I thought it was excellent! Full marks! Gold star! Extra credit, even! Hardly had you sent out Houndoom before you unched into your strategy! That unrelenting offensive that flurry of attacks! What an efficient way to corner the opponent! And what artfully trained Pokémon! Such a vibrant palette of moves!”

  He coughs awkwardly. “Ah! I do beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to let my emotions run amok like that. Ahem. In summary, I simply wanted to say that you seem to have gotten even stronger. I must admit, I’m eager for you to gather all the Gym Badges. As a member of the Elite Four, I await the day you come to face me with great anticipation!”

  He leaves, and I bite my lip. There are still two Gyms to deal with, the Montenevera and Gseado Gyms, as well as the two remaining Team Star bases. I feel like the smartest thing to do is go after the st of Team Star, before focussing on the Gyms. Preparing myself, I make my next catch, a Toxel, hoping that its Poison-typing will give me enough of an advantage over the Ruchbah Squad, the Fairy Crew of Team Star. I have Magnezone, too, so I might be able to hold my own against the Team Star Boss.

  I make sure to take a few days to train up Toxel, and the small, reptilian Pokémon evolves, becoming the bipedal Toxtricity, its dual Poison-Electric typing making it stronger and more specialized to handle Fairy types.

  The evening of the fifth day after I started to train Toxtricity, I arrive just outside the base of the Ruchbah Squad. Clive’s there, and he nods at me.

  “Carmina… Operation Starfall is going well, wouldn’t you say? Only two Bosses left now. This whole experience has been… eye-opening, to say the least. I’m gd I could take part. But, I’m curious, Carmina… what do you think of Cassiopeia?”

  I pause. I don’t know much about them. They really are an enigma.

  “I don’t know. I have no clue what they want, or why they seem to be conflicted…”

  “Is that so… Personally, I don’t think Cassiopeia feels any hate or resentment towards Team Star. No, there must be some other some other reason behind Operation Starfall… but, what could it be?”

  Clive runs a hand through his pompadour. “Well, I’d best get back to keeping watch. Call for me if you decide to take on the base, okay?”

  I nod, waving him off, then turn my attention back to the base. A man in gsses, with short hair, dressed in comfortable scks and a leather jacket, is talking to the female grunt at the gate.

  “I will return ter when it is time for the young master’s piano lesson. Until then, please give him my regards.”

  The grunt responds, seemingly nervous, “Y-yes, Mr. Harrington!”

  He turns, noticing my approach.

  “Hm? And who might you be, young dy? A friend of the young master, perhaps?”

  I raise my eyebrows. “No, I don’t think so!”

  He looks somewhat confused. “Ah. I see… since you seem unaware, I must inform you that this is the base of Team Star’s Fairy Crew- The Ruchbah Squad, led by young Master Ortega.”

  I roll my eyes. “I know exactly where I am. I’m here to kick his butt!”

  Mr. Harrington purses his lips, before stepping between me and the grunt. “I see. Would you be so kind as to indulge me in a quick battle?”

  I shrug. “If you think you’re going to stop me, I respect your willpower. I won’t be stopped here, though. Prepare yourself!”

  He sends out a Morgrem, a nasty, imp-like Pokémon and has it use Nasty Plot. Magnezone puts it down with Fsh Cannon, forcing the older Trainer to deploying his Hattrem. Magnezone hits it with another Fsh Cannon, before a Discharge puts it down in turn.

  Mr. Harrington sighs, lifting his gsses and rubbing his eyes. “Well, well…”

  I fold my arms. “Are you done, now?”

  He nods. “An outstanding performance. However, be aware that young Master Ortega’s battle prowess far surpasses my paltry skills. You would do well to take care. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  He backs off and leaves. I blink. “O…kay? What a weirdo.”

  The grunt nods. “That gentlemanly guy used to be the director of the academy… I think? Least, that’s what I heard. Now he’s like… tutoring the Boss or something. He shows up here sometimes to take the Boss to his lessons.”

  She starts. “Wait- why am I expining this to you?! There’s no doubt you’re here to make trouble, so I’m gonna let everyone know! Hasta vistar!”

  I make to follow, but my Rotom Phone rings.

  Ro-to-to-to-to!

  Cassiopeia’s artificially-moduted voice comes through the speaker. “I see the guard has been dealt with. Good job. This base’s Boss, Ortega, is the mechanic of the team. He may be the youngest of the Bosses, but his battle skills are no joke. Underestimate him, and things’ll go south for you quickly. He’s also a real ‘lead from the back’ type-he gets his grunts to do all the dirty work for him. But, his weak point is his short fuse. Get him good and steamed, and he’ll march out to the front lines to deal with you himself. You know what to do. Good luck. Time to wipe the Ruchbah Squad off the map!”

  Entering the base, I’m joined by Clive. “I’ll help keep them from overwhelming you. Go right!”

  I nod, and dash off, sending out Garchomp, Gardevoir, and Magnezone out to deal with Team Star’s barrage of Pokémon. Ten minutes ter, with thirty of their number defeated, the grunts are left with no choice to call out the Boss.

  The Ruchbah Squad’s pink Starmobile rolls out of its garage, and I stare up at the young boy standing proud on the back. He sneers down at me.

  “Huh. So, you’re Carmina… Okaaay… Talk about underwhelming. I was expecting someone, I dunno, a little more beefed up. Well, whatever! I don’t care who you are. Not like I’m gonna lose to you anyway. If you think Fairy types are all about cuteness, you’re in for a nasty surprise!”

  The first of Ortega’s Pokémon, an Azumarill, eats a Thunderbolt going down as it twitches at the electricity coursing through its body. Letting out a ‘tch!’, Ortega sends out his Dachsbun.

  Magnezone gets a Mud-Sp, and shrugs it off, casually one-shotting the Dachsbun with Fsh Cannon. With a look of exasperated irritation on his face, Ortega releases his Wigglytuff, only for another Fsh Cannon to send the pink marshmallow flying.

  Ortega explodes, “what the HECK?! Why is MY team on the ropes?! That’s totally not fair!”

  His Starmobile revs up, and I make a series of quick orders. A couple of hits come my way, and a Confuse Ray makes my poor Magnezone miss one Fsh Cannon, but the second strikes true. The Starmobile reels, and I take the chance to use a Full Heal to remove the confusion effect. Now that its mind is clear, Magnezone finishes the Starmobile with a final Fsh Cannon.

  Ortega starts throwing a tantrum.

  “Ugh! How could I LOSE?! What the HECK!”

  I stand back as he stamps his foot and swings his cane. Eventually, he exhales, and calms himself.

  “This sucks! I hate myself for losing, but… I also can’t get over how awesome you were in that battle! If any of us squad Bosses are defeated, that means we have to step down. And going against our code would make me a traitor to the team… Gah, FINE! Not like I have a choice anyway, so take the badge already! You’d better treat it with the respect it deserves!” he thrusts his Star Badge into my hand, and I pin it next to the others. Number four.

  “And, just so you know? You are the WORST! Like the most annoying person EVER!”

  Mr. Harrington approaches. “Young Master Ortega…”

  “Oh, Mr. Harrington! I guess it’s time for my piano lesson, huh? As it happens, I just lost my Boss title, so I’m all good to head on home…”

  Mr. Harrington shakes his head. “Actually, a different matter brought me. There’s someone I would like you to meet. He’s… a distant acquaintance of mine.”

  “The name’s Clive.”

  I raise an eyebrow. Who IS this guy? How does Clive know Mr. Harrington?

  Ortega leans on his cane. “Okaaay…… what’s your business here?”

  Clive smiles, adjusting his gsses. “I want you to tell me something. You’re the son of a wealthy family and heir to a major apparel company. So why join a group like Team Star?”

  Ortega shrugs. “What a question to ask someone you’ve just met. Well, my answer’s the same as everyone in the team… it’s ‘cause I was being bullied.”

  Clive shakes his head sadly. “So the academy really did use to have an issue with bullying…”

  Ortega ughs, a little bitterly. “Who would guess, right? The school is all rainbows and butterflies these days. And the bullies from back then don’t even go to the academy anymore.”

  Clive tilts his head. “Why? What happened to them?”

  Mr. Harrington clears his throat. “As the former director of the academy, I believe I am best positioned to answer that question. About 18 months ago, the members of Team Star confronted the students who used to bully them, and an altercation broke out between the groups. Though it did not escate into a major incident, the altercation nonetheless caused a scandal of hitherto unknown proportions. As a result of that occurred that day, the students who had perpetrated the bullying dropped out of the academy, one after another.”

  Clive splutters, “But… but there aren’t any records of that anywhere in the academy!”

  Harrington sighs. “No, I should imagine not. My former deputy deleted all records of the incident, you see.”

  Clive staggers. “What?! Why would anyone do that?!”

  Harrington shakes his head sadly. “Just as I was puzzling over how best to deal with Team Star in the aftermath of the incident, a certain student came to see me. This student decred that they would take all responsibility for the team’s actions. In exchange, they requested that I exonerate the other students of Team Star from any bme.”

  Ortega starts hopping up and down in anxiety. “HUH?! No… no-one told me that!”

  Harrington continues, “I accepted the request and agreed not to take disciplinary action against Team Star. Then, I assigned 18 months of overseas study to the student who took responsibility for the team.”

  Clive frowns. “A year and a half of studying abroad…?”

  Harrington nods. “This was not intended as a punishment, you understand. Team Star were the victims, after all. I wanted this student to take some time to rest, so I had them return home to the Gar region under the pretext of ‘overseas study’. Around that time, however, the former deputy director took it upon himself to erase all traces of the incident from the academy’s servers. It appears that his intent was to shield himself from any bme.”

  Clive makes a fist. “So he tried to cover up the whole thing? That’s terrible!”

  Harrington nods. “After we discovered what he had done, I dealt with him appropriately, of course. But the inability of myself and the rest of the teaching staff to prevent this terrible act also represented a grave blunder on our part. I accepted the bme that y at my feet and resigned from my position as director. The rest of the teaching staff then joined me in handing in their notices.”

  Clive muses thoughtfully, “So that’s why the current teachers were all brought in a year and a half ago…”

  Harrington looks down. “I understand my actions have caused you a great deal of trouble. You have my sincere apologies.”

  Ortega shouts, “Hang on, Mr. Harrington! How come you suddenly decided to talk about this now?!”

  Harrington turns. “Young Master Ortega… Team Star cannot carry on in its current fashion. I merely wish to give you a chance to chart a better course.”

  Ortega huffs. “Well, there’s no way I’m abandoning my friends and going to school without them! Not after we’ve come this far!”

  Clive nods slowly. “Your friends in Team Star must mean a great deal to you.”

  Ortega nods haughtily. “Isn’t that obvious? It’s ‘cause, you know… they’re my greatest treasure in the whole world.”

  As I turn to leave, I only get as far as the main gate.

  Ro-to-to-to-to-to!

  I answer.

  “Carmina… It’s me. I take it that Ortega handed over his Star Badge to you, then. With its Boss no longer around, the Ruchbah Squad is as good as finished…………. Even Ortega…I’m sorry… we’re almost there now. Just one Boss left. The operation’s been a huge success thanks to you, Carmina. And Clive has also performed admirably as your support. I remember him saying that you’re acquaintances. Have you… known each other long?”

  I shrug. “Yeah, for a while now. I met him soon after I moved to Paldea.”

  “Well, he’s clearly a reliable friend. He almost reminds me of the gang back in the day…”

  I pause. “Which gang?”

  “… As you know, Team Star was formed by a group of students who were being bullied at school. Shortly after forming the team these students-none other than the squad bosses themselves- confronted their bullies head on. The outcome was a resounding victory for Team Star… though you could hardly call it a contest. The bullies didn’t even put up a fight. They all bolted from battle the first chance they got. Scared spitless of Team Star, the bullies dropped out of school, one after another. And Team Star ended up the vilins of the story… but that’s neither here nor there. Forget I mentioned it. Now, about your reward. I’ll transfer over some LP to your account, as promised.”

  My account grows, a hefty 10,000 League Points added to the bance. Some more TM recipes get added, and I smile.

  “Make good use of those TMs. They should help you take down the st remaining Boss.my supply unit rep should be along shortly to give you your bonus reward.”

  About forty minutes ter, Penny arrives, and Ii smile at her. “Hi, Penny.”

  “Um… Here I am…”

  Koraidon pops free of its Pokéball. “Agias!”

  Penny flinches. “Gwah! Stay in your Pokéball for once, will you!”

  Koraidon begins licking the girl’s face and hair as she lets out a despairing wail.

  “Aaaaaaaaarrrgghhh!!!!”

  Once Rairai’s tired itself out with licking and has curled up, I fill Penny in on everything I’d learned.

  “Wow… Team Star went through all that, huh. They just wanted the bullies to go away, but then they became the bad guys in everyone’s eyes… what a joke. The students, the teachers- they’re all so messed up… if even one of them had been paying attention when everyone was getting bullied… They’d have been able to tell right away that Team Star wasn’t the one in the wrong.” She hands me the usual case full of materials to make TMs.

  I nod. “Yeah… it reminds me of back when I lived in Gar… I got mercilessly bullied because of… who I was, and it took my mom to bring me back from the dark pce I found myself. We moved here, and I enrolled at Naranja…”

  I see Penny’s eyes widen. For a moment, I think she’s about to say something, but then she coughs awkwardly. “The next Boss is the very st one. We’re counting on you, Carmina…”

  She turns and leaves, and I pause. I’m still getting that ‘egg’ vibe off her. Maybe… I shake my head. Nah. Even if she IS, I can’t exactly go up to a retive stranger and just blurt out questions about what their gender is!

  Checking my map, I gulp. The remaining two Gyms are… up on Gseado Mountain. It’s gonna be SO cold up there…

  Three days of freezing misery ensue, as I make my way up, riding on Koraidon’s back, the Pokémon bounding up the snowy slopes, heading for Montenevera, the cold growing more intense. By the time I get there, I feel like ‘being warm’ is a concept I’ve only heard of once upon a time. Stumbling through the snow lined streets, I lurch into the interior of the Gym building. Nemona bounds over, pulling me into a hug as I shiver.

  “Ho, chica! You look nearly frozen through! Congrats on Gym Badge number six! Not even a tenth of the Trainers who take on the Gyms even get this far, y’know? But I’m not surprised, amiga! I knew there was something special about you!”

  I blush, not just because a pretty girl is hugging me. “I don’t know, I’m nothing special…”

  Nemona pokes my cheek. “Trust me- I could tell from our very first battle that you were gonna grow seriously strong! Aaaaanyway… I bet you could use a little warming up before you take on the Gym, huh?”