I start reaching for my Pokéball, but Nemona hands me a steaming cup. “Here, preciosa! Its Café con Leche, I got an extra for you while I was waiting!”

  I take the steaming drink and sip at it. “Mmh! This is so good! I like it, thank you so much!”

  As I warm up, Nemona regales me with tales of her most recent battles. I can’t help but enjoy myself. Nemona’s really pretty, and she kissed me… is this a date?!

  I lean up after finishing my drink, the memories of those miserable, freezing hours already fading, and kiss her on the cheek, just like she did to me st time. Nemona’s eyes widen, and she stares down at me, still with her arms encircling me. “Ch-chica?!”

  I smile up at her. “Thanks for the drink. This was a nice date.”

  As Nemona short-circuits, I slip out of her arms and head over to the counter to sign up. This time, the Gym test involves ‘warming the audience up’ for the main event. Apparently, I need to show off some fierce Pokémon battles. Heading outside, I giggle as Nemona tries to reboot her brain.

  At the front of the stage, I meet up with the event coordinator.

  “Yo, Trainer! You the one performin’ the opening act today? My name’s MC Sledge! This is the deal. We’re gonna have you do some Double Battles! That’s where you have two Pokémon fighting on each side at the same time. That’ll let you sledge up twice the opponents and get the crowd twice as excited! The venue’ll be so hot, it’ll melt the Montenevera snow! Once you get the audience worked up and ready to go, that’ll be the cue for our leader to take the stage! That’s how you pass our Gym test, yo! So, you good on the deets for the opening act and our Gym Test? Ready to Sledge ‘em up?!”

  “Yeah! Bring it on!”

  Sweet! Just py it by ear- you’ll do great! Head on up on to the stage!”

  I make my way up, standing to one side, as MC Sledge takes his own position. Raising his voice, he roars out to the assembled crowd.

  “What’s up, Monteneveraaa?! Today’s opening act will be three back-to-back Double Battles by our challenger here, Carrrrminaaaaa! And the first of her opponents will be a young performer who makes it look like a breeze!”

  A young boy runs up the steps on the other end of the stage. MC Sledge pumps his fist.

  “The one, the only… TAS!”

  The music booms as the kid sends out two Pokémon at once, a Greavard and a Shuppet. I send out my Houndoom and Mabosstiff, feeling the energy running wild through the crowd instilling me with a fiery determination.

  “Time for me to put on a show! Mabosstiff, use Crunch on the Greavard! Houndoom, go with Dark Pulse against that Shuppet!”

  In just a few moments, both of Tas’ Pokémon go down in a flurry of brutal attacks. He departs the stage, and MC Sledge whoops. The audience seems to be cheering louder than before, too!

  “Aaand our challenger’s next opponent will be a musician with a bit of a unique style… Iiit’s Lani!”

  A butch dy in denim and a cowboy hat saunters up to take Tas’ pce, and I ready myself. Her pair is a Haunter and a Misdreavous, both scary Ghost types. I use the same strategy, putting both of Lani’s partner Pokémon down and out.

  The cheering grows even louder, the excitement palpable as MC Sledge cps his hands. “Next is your st opponent. And it’s none other than…ME! MC Sledge!”

  I jolt in surprise. “What a twist! Bring it, MC Sledge! I’m more than ready to throw hands!”

  He runs over to take his spot, and I send out my buddies in battle, meeting MC Sledge’s Sableye and Drifblim on the field. However, despite my moves being the same again, it’s too much for MC Sledge’s Pokémon to avoid, and they end up meeting the same defeat as the previous two Trainers. I grin. Good thing I decided to keep most of my moves in reserve. It’s a lot harder to pn a defence if you have no idea what your opponent’s actually capable of!

  With the audience at fever pitch, MC Sledge raises his arms.

  “C’mon, everybody-say it with me! this is what you’ve all been waitin’ for… Give it up for the MC of R.I.P! Ryyyymmmeee!”

  The crowd starts chanting. “Ryme! Ryme! Ryme! Ryme! Ryme!”

  Then, a tough looking older dy with white dreadlocks pulled into a hairstyle resembling a skeletal arm storms out onto the stage.

  “What’s all this noise I’m hearing’?! This crowd’s so loud, it could wake the dead…”

  Raising a microphone to her mouth, Ryme bellows, “Lemme tell ya what I wanna hear- y’all feelin’ good?!”

  The chanting grows even louder, and Ryme turns her head.

  “Thanks for the killer opener, baby! Now I’ll get this started for real.”

  Then, she begins spitting bars. Hot, slick raps, the crowd eating up each and every word as Ryme starts dominating the mic.

  MC Sledge takes me to one side. “Congrats on the Gym Test! That was sick, yo. Thanks! Give us a min for some Ryme Time, ya feel me? Go an’ tell the lobby staffer you passed.”

  I nod, and head inside, out of the cold. The lobby staffer beams at me as I approach. “Amazing job, Carmina! You were a fantastic opening act. That’s the Gym Test cleared, well done! You’ve now earned the right to challenge the Gym Leader! Best of luck!”

  I smile. “Then I’d like to start my challenge as soon as possible, please.”

  “Very well. Allow me to show you to the battle court!”

  Back out into the cold, and I stand once more before the stage. Not as the warm-up act, but a full-on challenger! I can hear what sounds like a rap battle going on, too!

  “Yo, yo!” some guy in a checkered lime button-down shirt is chanting.

  “This is MY time, and this is MY day! You’re not gonna stand in my way! Listen up, Ryme- your reign ends here! You’re gonna get rung up by this pro cashier!”

  Ryme saunters towards the aspiring rapper.

  “Pro cashier? Well, I’m ‘bout to check out! Musta got your rhymes on DEEP discount! Please- you think you can step to MY game? Fool, I got ‘rhyme’ right there in my name! I’m a spectre from which there is no protector, and victory unto me you will render when the crowd sees you’re a mere pretender! You wanna end MY reign? Yeah-keep dreamin’. Buy a book of rhymes, kid, and start readin’!”

  The guy backs up as Ryme advances, throwing gangsta signs.

  “I’m done- you won! My rhymes totally whiffed! But I’ll be back- maybe after my next shift!”

  He bolts from the stage, and I get the feeling that this is a common occurrence here.

  Ryme stares after him in frustration.

  “Hold up! Where you goin’?! That’s all you got?! ‘After my next shift’? SERIOUSLY? Bars over jokes, come on!”

  I hear her grumbling.

  “That was over way too fast. It gets boring wearin’ the crown if no-one makes me fight to keep it…”

  I step onto the stage and approach. Ryme notices me and turns my way.

  “Hm? Hey, my opener’s back! You here for a rap battle, or a Gym battle?”

  I take a deep breath.

  “Yo, Whassup Ryme, I know you got skills! I might be young, but I still gotta pay bills! I’ve seen what you can do, and yeah, you’re straight fire! But lemme engage in a battle that’ll make you wanna retire!”

  Ryme tips her head back and cackles. “HAH! Man, I like you. You got jokes. We BOTH know why you’re really here. You got inspired by that show I put on, huh? I rap what’s in my soul, baby. Weavin’ words into a symphony of poetry.”

  Raising her mic, she begins ying down the w.

  “Don’t try it with me- you won’t st one round! I’m like Sableye- my Mean Look’ll lock you down!”

  I fire back. “C’mon, Ryme, please, you need to get serious! I’m ‘bout to show you a true battle that’ll leave you delirious! You ain’t seen a thing that I got in store! You think you’re bored now, then lemme make you hit the floor!”

  Ryme’s grin starts widening. “Heh. Well, let’s get to it. You’re a Pokémon Trainer. So battle me, and show me who you are!”

  Jabbing a thumb to her chest, Ryme boasts, “My music’s not ALL that tops the charts- my skill with Ghost types are the best around! Lest you forget it, the name is Ryme, and I’M the MC of R.I.P! Dead or alive, let’s make this a vibe!”

  As I draw two Pokéballs, Ryme sends out a Banette and a Mimikyu, both rather rare specimens. My Mabosstiff and Houndoom burst forth, and I start bobbing my head as MC Sledge works the DJ decks, giving us a real boss battle theme to really bring the heat to.

  “Mabosstiff, JAW LOCK! Keep that Banette pinned down! Houndoom, use Fmethrower on Mimikyu!”

  Banette goes down as Mabosstiff cmps its huge jaws around the Pokémon’s arm, smming it down and growling ferociously. Ryme’s forced to recall it and send out a Houndstone to repce her fallen teammate. Two Fmethrowers puts the Mimikyu out of the fight, and the Houndstone crumples as Mabosstiff Crunches it. Now Ryme’s down to her st Pokémon, a Toxtricity.

  I set up another Crunch, and a Dark Pulse from Houndoom, as Ryme busts out her Tera Orb.

  “Kick back, rex, and enjoy this st track. Turn it up for a grave-rattlin’ good time!”

  Houndstones burst out of the ground around the stage, drawn by the music. On one of the speakers, a small Greavard is bouncing around excitedly. Ryme gestures fondly at it.

  “When I’m on the mic, even the dead rise up! DJ G-Rave over there’s sure feelin’ it!”

  Terastallizing her Toxtricity reveals it’s a Ghost Tera type, which I’d counted on. The attacks I’d chosen sm home, and, despite all the fire Ryme had dispyed through our fight, it’s just… not… enough. I WIN.

  She sighs and throws me a thumbs-up.

  “Givin’ up the ghost’s not really my style. I’ll let you have this one, though, baby.”

  Approaching me, she smirks approvingly. “Heh! Great battle- chilling AND thrilling! You’ve got spirit, kid. You earned my Gym Badge, all right! And how about a VIP pass for my next show, too?”

  Smiling, I take the badge and attach it to my bag. “I appreciate it! Can I bring my…”

  I lean in. “Well, she’s not my girlfriend YET, but I hope that she’ll say yes when I ask.”

  Ryme’s smirk widens even more. “Fo’ sho’, baby. Good luck with the question, too!”

  With seven Gym Badges under my belt, I take my lead from Montenevera, one step closer to completing my journey. I’m stopped at the doors to the Gym by Rika, with a small child in tow.

  “Hey hey! Rika here, at your service! These Gyms really aren’t giving you much trouble, are they, Carmina?”

  The small girl tugs on Rika’s trouser leg.

  “Rika! Rika!”

  Rika looks down at her tiny companion. “Huh? Ohhh, right… you two haven’t met, have you?”

  Rika steps over next to me, throwing a casual arm around my shoulder.

  “This young dy is Carmina! She’s so good with Pokémon, even La Primera’s taken an interest in her!”

  The small girl leans in, studying me with more intensity than I’d expected from a little kid. “Oh wow… oh wow! B-but I think the Pokémon on team Poppy are really strong, too. Like, REALLY strong!”

  So, her name’s Poppy? Huh… she’s so young. What’s she doing with Rika? Is the older girl babysitting?

  Rika grins. “Which one of you is stronger, do you think?”

  Poppy bites her lip.

  “Well, uhmmmm… I’m one of the Elite Four! So I’m more amazing!”

  WHAAAAAAAAATTTTT?!?!?!?!?

  This little girl, a member of the ELITE FOUR?! Oh, crap, I might be in trouble!

  Rika starts ughing.

  “Ahahahahahahaha! Now aren’t you just adorable! I know it’s hard to believe, but this tiny little one is indeed one of the Elite Four.”

  I stare bnkly at the butch girl. Poppy hops up and down in excitement. “Yeah! I am! I hope I get to show you my Pokémon soon, miss! So hurry up and come to the Pokémon League! It’s where the, um… Pinnacle! It’s where the pinnacle of Pokémon battling happens!”

  Rika cackles at my expression as Poppy begins running for the door as fast as her tiny legs can go. “Hey, wait up!”

  Turning to me as she heads after the little girl, Rika grins. “You keep up the good work! You heard the kid- she’s waiting for you!”

  With the pair of them gone, I shake my head. If Poppy’s truly in the Elite Four, she has to be incredibly strong…

  I check my Rotom Phone as I leave, making a note of who’s left to deal with for Team Star. The st base is about… four days’ travel from here, but there’s another Gym close by. I’d rather go for that, so I don’t need to come back and freeze to death so soon after leaving the Gseado Mountains.

  Another day of freezing travel passes, and I keep warm by battling some wild Pokémon on the way. Paldea’s certainly colder than Gar…

  As soon as I make it to Gseado Gym, I rush into the Gym building, desperate for any sembnce of warmth. Heated air billows around me as the doors slide shut, and I let out several ragged, gasping breaths as I feel everything starting to ache. Luckily, I don’t think I’ve got frostbite, which is a miracle in itself. Nemona’s there, and as soon as she spots me, she’s pulling me into her arms. Ahhh, she’s so nice and warm….

  “Carmina! It’s finally time for your st Gym, right? I heard from Rika!”

  “Hweh? Oh, I guess you two would know each other, since you’re a Champion, after all…” I say, feeling my teeth chattering as my whole body starts to recover from the constant hours of cold.

  “Yeah, she was a member of the Elite Four before I won my Champion status st year! But as for you, I’m zero percent worried! I know you’ve got this, chica! Even La Primera seems like she wants to keep an eye on you… maybe I’ll go find her so we can cheer you on together when you battle the Gym Leader! So, once you’ve warmed up, go have a battle that’s fruitful for you AND the crowd!”

  Nemona lets go, and I spend about an hour warming up with several mugs of Café con Leche. I think I’ll make this my signature drink. After all, Nemona gave me this stuff, so it’s kinda important to me. Finishing my st mug, I approach the desk.

  “Hi, I’m Carmina. I’m finally warmed up and ready to challenge the Gseado Gym Leader!”

  “Ah, welcome! Carmina… yes, your profile’s on here… okay, you just need to complete the Gym Test, and then we can make your challenge official! Are you ready to begin?”

  I nod.

  “Very well, then! In order to face Gym Leader Grusha, you’ll be taking on the Gym Test! Here at the Gseado Gym, that means… doing the Snow Slope Run! All you have to do is ride a Pokémon down the designated course and reach the goal within the time limit!”

  I nod and head outside, making my way up to the left and meeting another Gym staffer at the summit of the slope. He grins at me. “Hey there! I’ve been waiting for you! This is where the Snow Slope Run starts. Are you ready to make your attempt?”

  “Yep, I’m ready to go!”

  “Alright then! Get into positon!”

  I mount up on Rairai’s back, and the staffer calls, “Three! Two! One… GO!”

  In less than a minute, Rairai and I have taken the Gym Test to the cleaner’s, skating and swerving down the trail, passing through the fgs set up along the route, making for the end of the Snow Slope Run.

  Back at the summit, I meet up with the staffer again.

  “That was some of the best sliding I’ve ever seen! Almost like seeing Grusha in his prime again… Oh, you obviously passed the Gym Test with flying colours. Go let the receptionist know!”

  I nod and make my way back inside. The receptionist nods. “Okay, looks like you’re ready to take on Grusha, the Sub-Zero Shredder!”

  I nod. “I’m ready! Lemme at him!”

  “Very well. Let me show you to the battle court!”

  Outside once again, I stand on a cold, snow-dusted white and blue hockey pitch, face-to-face with a Pokémon that wobbles around excitedly.

  “Bwaaah!”

  I blink. “you’re not the Gym Leader, are you?”

  A sharp voice cuts through the chill air. “There you are! Brrr….. I’m freezing…”

  A boy around my age approaches the Pokémon, wrapped in a warm-looking parka and thick leggings, snow boots kicking up powder as he stomps onto the court. His hair is a light, icy blue.

  “… I take it you’re a challenger? My name’s Grusha. I’m a snowboarder. Used to be pro, actually. Now I’m a Gym Leader. I saw you on the slopes. Your skills… yeah, they were pretty cool. But don’t let that go to your head. Winter mountains are dangerous. They can throw your life right off course, easy as that. Same thing with Pokémon battles, really… it’s always the most dangerous when you’re just starting to get the hang of things. Today’s not a great day to face me, you know… you’re better off giving up. You sure you want to battle me?”

  I nod. “You bet. I didn’t come all this way and freeze half to death just to leave empty-handed. We’re doing this!”

  Grusha shakes his head, pressing a gloved hand to his face.

  “Still tryin’ to act cool, huh? That’s too bad. Well, this IS my job now… so don’t take what I’m about to do personally. Get ready to feel the icy bite of reality.”

  I take a few steps back as Gym Leader Grusha picks out one of his Pokémon to send into battle. A Frosmoth, an eerily beautiful, insect-like creature that gives off a chill aura. I toss one of my own Pokémon into the field.

  “Go, Annihipe! Start us off with Close Combat!”

  My Pokémon charges, unleashing a barrage of fists, battering the Frosmoth into submission. The next of Grusha’s team, a Beartic, meets the same fate, its ice-encrusted fur no shield against Annihipe’s strength.

  This time, I take the opportunity to recall Annihipe, sending Lucario out to take on the next Pokémon, Grusha’s Cetitan. It looks like a white, bipedal Wailord! Lucario’s Vacuum Wave hits home, but the Cetitan shrugs it off, retaliating with a Liquidation. Aura Sphere proves more effective, and the Cetitan goes down. One left.

  I send out Annihipe again, banking on its partial Ghost typing to reduce the damage suffered against Grusha’s final Pokémon, an Altaria.

  “Annihipe, go with Rage Fist!”

  Grusha forestalls my attack briefly, Terastallizing his Altaria and making its typing Ice, allowing it to survive a Rage Fist, the Gym Leader countering with a Hurricane, causing major damage! I finish off with a Close Combat, sending the Altaria into a downward spiral as it crashes to the ground, leaving no doubt as to the victor of this match.

  “You melted straight through my ice…”

  Grusha shrugs. “That burning passion you have… you strive for the future, no matter what challenges you face. Just like how I used to be… ugh, never mind. Ii should give you your Gym Badge.”

  And, with that, the final step on my Gym Challenge is over. I didn’t see Nemona or Ms. Geeta in the crowd, but they must’ve been watching. Just after I confirm my win with the Gym receptionist, the two women ambush me!

  “Carmina! You did it! Aaah, I’m so happy for you! This is the best! I know, I said I wasn’t worried, but my heart was still pounding the whole time!”

  Nemona’s practically throttling me with a hug, as La Primera watches in amusement. She adds, “Most impressive, Carmina. A shining dispy of talent, I must admit.”

  Nemona shakes me lightly. “Seriously. Pat yourself on the back! You beat EVERY. SINGLE. GYM! Which means…”

  Ms Geeta nods, exchanging a look with the Champion-ranked Trainer.

  “Indeed. Now that you’ve gathered eight Gym Badges… all that’s left to do is take on the Pokémon League! If you hope to stand alongside Nemona as a fellow Champion… head to the Pokémon League. That is where you can take on the Champion Assessment.”

  Nemona squeezes me again. “Yeah! Hurry up and get to my rank! I’m itching for a battle of equals! I’ve gotta take the time while you’re facing the Elite Four to fine-tune my team’s moves and revamp all my tactics!”

  She releases me, practically vibrating with excitement. “Well, good luck, Carmina! And wish me luck, too!”

  I grab her wrist lightly as she prepares to bolt. “Um, Nemona, wait a second… I have something I want to ask you. Something important…. But, I’m not ready yet. Once I’m a Champion Trainer, I’ll say what I wanted to ask. Please give me a little more time, okay?”

  “Huh? Oh, sure! Take as much time as you need, chica! Not TOO much, or I might just explode from anticipation!”

  Nemona grins, before I release her arm, letting her dart out of the Gym building at top speed. La Primera watches with clear amusement. She can probably guess what I was trying to ask. And I need words with HER, too. But that can wait till I’m face-to-face at the Pokémon League…

  The Top Champion lets out a dry, calm chuckle. “It’s unusual for me to see her so excited…. Though perhaps not for you. She must be really happy that she finally has a friend who can keep pace with her own talents. There’s a special kind of strength that can only be reached by competing with a good rival. Count me among those eager to see how far you two can go! In any case, I’ll be waiting for you at the League, northwest of Mesagoza. Goodbye.”

  Ms. Geeta bids me farewell and leaves, and I stumble over to a bench and drop into a seat, feeling my heart racing and gasping for breath. Luckily, I still have one more Team Star base to take on. I’ll be calm by the time I get there… right?

  It takes the better part of two days’ travel to make my way to the st Team Star base, and, as before, the moment I get close, my Rotom Phone rings from a number that doesn’t exist.

  “I see that you’re almost at the fifth base… holed up inside there is Team Star’s st remaining squad. You’ve fought well to make it this far. Thank you, Carmina.”

  “Cassiopeia. It’s almost over. I think I can manage to bring this base to heel, too.” I respond, as Clive jogs up, having apparently been in the area, calling a greeting to both me and the mysterious voice.

  “So you made it as well, Clive.”

  “Of course-It’s the st base! I wouldn’t want to miss out on the action!”

  “I see. Clive, I owe you m thanks. your help has been invaluable to the operation. I’m sorry I was so wary of you at first…”

  “Well, that’s all water under the bridge.” The pompadoured boy adjusts his hair a little. “Anyway, when we’re finished with this base, will that be the end of Operation Starfall?”

  “Not quite.” Cassiopeia responds. “We’ll still need to handle Team Star’s secret mastermind st of all.”

  “Do we have any leads on how to find them?” Clive thoughtfully rubs his goateed chin.

  “I’m hoping they’ll come out into the open once all the squad bosses have stepped down.”

  “I see…”

  “We’ve come so far. Only a few steps left… don’t let me down, either of you.”

  Cassiopeia disconnects, and my Rotom Phone slides itself back into my skirt pocket. I take my pills with about half a bottle of water as Clive waits patiently.

  “Cassiopeia’s hung up? Alright. Thanks to you, Carmina, I’ve slowly but surely come to understand Team Star. I know what I need to do… and I know what my final decision will be… for that, I can’t thank you enough. Take care in that base, Ms. Carmina! Ah… sorry for getting all polite there. Don’t know what came over me.”

  I watch as Clive strolls away. “Weird guy. And I could swear I’ve seen him before…”

  Ah well. While I’m near the base, there appear to be a lot of strong Pokémon around. Time for a little more training! If I’m going to go for broke, I want to put my all into it!