For the rest of the day until three hours before sunset, I push my team to new heights, focussing on their stamina and speed. This is the final phase of Operation Starfall, and then I have the Champion Assessment… I MUST be ready… I can’t afford to fail now… I mean, I still… I still have to tell Nemona… how I feel about her. I don’t even know if she’s into girls, and there’s also the whole deal with me being trans. She seemed fine with me being a girl, but there’s a world of difference between ‘having a trans friend’ and ‘having a trans girlfriend’…
Finally, I get the feeling that I can’t put off my battle with the final Team Star boss any longer. After making sure my team is fully healed at the area’s Pokémon Centre, I approach the gates to the Caph squad’s base. If I’m not mistaken, I should be getting a call from Cassiopeia once I finish this…
At the front of the base, I see Clive, standing off against a buff-looking girl in full wrestling face-paint, wearing some kind of skimpy, wrestling-diva outfit. She’s talking to Clive in a husky, almost seductive one.
“You’re pretty skilled. Not many Trainers can shrug off my Pokémon’s attacks like that.”
Clive adjusts his pompadour.
“The same to you… Eri, was it? Your Pokémon have clearly spent a lot of time honing their moves. But I’m surprised to find the boss herself out here, defending the gates. Don’t you trust your grunts enough to put them on guard duty?”
She’s the boss?? Clive’s right, she’s acting strange!
I listen in, pausing in my approach. Eri shakes her head.
“Watch your mouth. I’m here because I don’t want to risk anyone else getting hurt, that’s all.”
Clive shrugs.
“What a benevolent boss. Now, if you want to get on with our battle, I’m all good and ready on my side!”
Now’s my chance! I might finally get to see what Clive’s capable of in battle! I creep a little closer, hoping to see something good. Ugh, Nemona’s rubbing off on me! XD
However, my attempt at stealth is a flop. The moment I move, Eri’s gaze shifts to me.
“Who are you?”
Clive sighs in relief.
“Carmina! There you are! I started talking to this girl since she looked like she was with Team Star… then she and her Pokémon came at me without warning! We were just battling it out.”
Another voice rises over the budding commotion.
“Riri! I knew you’d be out here!”
A dark-skinned girl in the Team Star uniform barrels out of the gates. Eri gasps, “Carmen!”
Carmen babbles, “Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?!” from the look in her eyes, I can tell this girl has a huge crush on the statuesque Eri.
“I’m fine, honestly! Now, get away from here- it’s not safe!”
Carmen shakes her head and puts herself between me and the Caph squad’s boss.
“I’ll take over guarding the base, Riri! You should get back inside!”
Eri tries to push past her teammate.
“No. I won’t back down… I can’t!”
“Oh, Riri! You need to stop this!”
“Until the Big Boss comes back, I HAVE to protect all of you in the Caph Squad! And everyone else in Team Star, too!”
Carmen turns to face the girl she likes.
“That’s WHY you should get back to the base and rest up-even just for a little bit!”
Eri shakes her head slowly.
“As boss of this squad, I… I just can’t…”
“Riri, PLEASE! I’m your… your friend! Listen to what I’m saying!”
I feel a little awkward watching, but Eri finally acquiesces. “Fine… I’ll go. I’m sorry, Carmen!”
Carmen looks relieved.
“Hey, that’s no way to sign off! Let me hear a “hasta vistar!” from you, nice and loud!”
Eri quickly capitutes, performing the star-themed emblem and yelling the catchphrase, before bolting inside. Carmen turns back to us.
“I’m your opponent now, you two! Come on-I’ll take you both down!”
I ready myself, palming one of my Pokéballs in my right hand. Clive clears his throat.
“Hey, Carmina… My Pokémon and I are actually running on empty after that st battle…sorry to spring this on you, but do you think you can handle this one alone?”
I nod. “Sure. It’s a shame I never got to see you battle, Clive, but I can take it from here. You and your team rest up.”
“Thanks. I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines!”
He steps away, and Carmen nods at me.
“I’ll protect Riri with everything I have! You ready to lose?”
I giggle softly.
“I’m ready, but not to lose. Come at me with all you’ve got! I’ll give you a taste of my team’s potential!”
“Then here I come!”
Carmen releases her Croagunk, a small, bulky, bipedal frog with both Poison and Fighting types.
I send out Gardevoir, hoping the training I’d put her and the rest of my team through will pay off…
“Psychic, Gardevoir!”
My Pokémon unleashes a wave of mental energy, her speed and power easily overwhelming the stubby Croagunk. Carmen tsk’s, sending out her Primeape to take the field. Gardevoir’s elegant Psychic attacks prove equally devastating as she downs the second of Carmen’s team. The girl groans in frustration as I recall my Gardevoir.
“Urk, I lost… but my defeat’s not the one that matters.”
She recalls her unconscious Pokémon, and sighs.
“Even if all I did was buy Riri a bit of time, that’s fine. My job here is done, so I’ll head back inside! Hasta vistar!”
I sigh in a weird mix of disappointment and confusion. There’s a lot more than I’m being told, and I’m getting sick of people leaving me in the dark about shit they want to drop in my p! Ugh!
My Rotom Phone rings, and I answer.
“I take it you defeated the guard out front. That base is run by Team Star’s Fighting crew- the Caph Squad. Their boss, Eri, is a skilled wrestler and coaches the whole of Team Star in Pokémon battling. Of all the bosses, she’ll likely be the most alert to hostilities after our decration of war. She might try to stop this raid in its tracks by challenging you to battle before anyone else.”
I nod. “Yeah, she was waiting out front for me. Luckily, Clive and his Pokémon managed to stall her out and wear her down enough that she was forced into retreating by one of the Team Star grunts.”
“I knew it! But… retreating… we ARE talking about the same Eri, right? Well… it seems there’s nothing for it but a head-on assault on the base. Ring the bell on the gates once you’re ready, same as always. Time to wipe the Caph Squad off the map!”
Cassiopeia hangs up on me, and I square my shoulder. “I’m strong, I’m peppy, and I’m fuelled by oestrogen! I can’t lose!”
I step over and sm my fist on the bell button.
“DING DONG! I’M COMING IN TO KICK YOUR BUTTS!” I yell, pushing the gates open as Team Star grunts and their Pokémon flood the base, preparing to fend me off. I pull Gardevoir, Galde, and Garchomp from their balls, setting them loose and watching as they mop the floor with everything that gets within ten feet of them.
Thirty Pokémon knockouts ter, and the grunts are wailing for Eri to step in and save them. As expected, the final Team Star boss revs out, standing atop her Starmobile.
I wave.
“Hello, I’m here to beat you!”
Eri fixes her gaze on me.
“Okay… I’m ready. Doesn’t matter who you are. I’ll bury anyone who tries to take down Team Star! This time, I won’t run away…”
Then, Eri throws back her head and ROARS.
“RRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”
I send out Gardevoir as the Caph Squad boss deploys her Toxicroak.
She bellows, “This base is precious to us! I won’t let your raid go any further!”
I shrug and point at the boss’ first partner. “Psychic, Gardevoir!”
It falls, and Eri sends out an Annihipe. I grin. “Moonbst, now!”
Gardevoir’s speed and special attack training is paying off, as she outspeeds the Annihipe, nding a point-bnk Moonbst right in the face and sending the enraged revenant monkey flying. Next, Eri tries her Passimian.
“Psychic!”
Gardevoir obeys instantly, downing the third of Eri’s team, and we’re met with a Lucario for our troubles. Gardevoir pirouettes around its Vacuum Wave, nding a Psychic in retaliation, leaving the Steel/Fighting Pokémon insensate on the grass as Eri roars again, her Starmobile revving up to act as the st line of defence.
“Gardevoir, Moonbst! You can do this!”
The Starmobile shudders and rocks as the Fairy-type attack sms home, but it retaliates with Spin Out, causing significant damage to my Gardevoir. I grit my teeth.
“Draining Kiss!”
Gardevoir blows a kiss, damaging the Caph Starmobile and restoring her own energy as Eri crumples to her knees, the car listing to one side as it ceases to function.
“I’m sorry… everyone…”
I use a Super Potion to restore Gardevoir’s energy to full, hugging her briefly.
“Thank you, Gardi. You did so well, I’m proud of you. Get some rest, okay?” I return her to her ball, and wait for Eri to calm down.
About thirty minutes ter, Eri gets up and approaches me. I look up at her, only now realizing she’s almost a foot taller than me. Gulp…
“I gave it my all, but it wasn’t enough… I wasn’t enough…but, you showed amazing strength. Even if the code didn’t require me to give it to you, I’d want you to have this.”
Eri removes her Star Badge and pces it gently in my palm. I smile at her and pin it next to the other Star Badges.
“Eri? You’re incredibly strong. I’d love to battle you again, without any bad feelings. And… I’d like to be friends with you, too, if you’re cool with that?”
She smiles, and nods. “I think I’d like that. It’s been a while since anyone ASKED me if I wanted to be friends…”
Then, she folds her arms. “Look, I know you’re part of Operation Starfall…. But I can tell from our battle that you’re not a bad person. The way your Gardevoir looks at you with such trust gives it away…. Do me a favour and look away for a moment? This is a bit much for me to take… I just r-really…”
I turn away as Eri starts to cry again. Carmen and Clive approach, both looking rather chummy.
The becoiffed boy sighs. “Looks like it’s all over.”
Carmen looks mournfully over at her friend’s back as the former Team Star boss makes for some distance, not wanting us to see her weeping.
“Oh, Riri…”
I smile, a little sadly. “Sorry about this… I wasn’t trying to upset her, I just…”
Clive gestures. “I’ve been having a talk with Carmen here. But yes, Carmen. You seem to be on much friendlier terms with Eri compared to the other grunts. Why is that?”
I frown. He’s right, actually. What gives?
Carmen puts a hand on her hip. “Oh, you spotted that? Well, alright. I don’t mind telling you. Truth is, I used to hate Riri. She’s an amazing Trainer and athlete- and she’s really pretty, too.”
I can see a faint blush there! Squee!
“It took her no time at all to become popur at the academy. I was queen of the css before she came along, but then everyone liked her more than me…”
Clive csps his hands behind his back.
“So let me guess… you started to pick on her?”
Carmen nods. “Pretty much. I got our cssmates to join in, too… we were all so stupid. But in the end, kids are always fickle- and once one thrill wears off, they look for something new. Before long, the css chose ME as their next target and started bullying me instead. I guess I deserved it. But then Riri… she chose to help me even though I’d been such a bitch to her. She told me that she understood how hard it is to have no-one on your side… and she invited me into Team Star.”
I smile. “She’s a really kind girl, huh? I think I’d like to be friends with her for sure. And you too, Carmen.”
“She is, isn’t she? And joining the team has worked out great for us. It’s been so much fun!”
Clive frowns. “Fun? There are rumours that Team Star itself likewise engages in bullying…”
Carmen’s eyebrow quirks.
“After hearing my story, do you really think that’s true?”
Clive colours. “Ah, no, I merely…”
Carmen raises her hands, palms up.
“Riri and the rest of Team Star made me who I am today. Please… don’t take away our greatest treasure.” She turns, waving goodbye, and heads after Eri. I look on, feeling strangely guilty.
“Why AM I doing this? None of these Team Star guys seem that bad… and they all have strong bonds with each other, too… nothing like the bullies I’ve been told about…”
Outside the base, I sit on a rock and wait for Cassiopeia to call me. It’s night-time now, and I can’t help feel a chill from the mountain air drifting down for the peaks of Gseado. The wind isn’t as cold as the gnawing suspicion that I’ve been doing the wrong thing, though.
Ro-to-to-to-to!
“Answer!”
“Carmina… it’s me. Did you do it? Did you cim Eri’s Star Badge?”
“I did…. Though I feel awful about it…”
“Without its boss, the Caph Squad should be a hair’s breadth from disbanding……. So… Eri was the st… all five squad bosses have been toppled from their pedestals. I imagine they’ll leave Team Star before long now that they’ve lost their special positions. After that, they’ll soon be back attending csses at the academy.”
Clive wander over, exiting the base via the front gates.
“Nice work out there, Carmina.”
“Is that Clive I hear?”
Cassiopeia! Well done to you, too.
“Thanks. Now, about your reward, Carmina. I’ll transfer some LP over to your account, as promised.”
My Rotom phone chimes, and I gasp as I see the 20,000LP that just got added to my bance.
“I also unlocked a few new TM recipes for you, as well.”
Clive starts. “Oh, that reminds me! I’M doing the whole supply-unit-rep thing this time, right?”
“Indeed. You can go ahead and give Carmina her bonus reward now.”
Clive hands over a small case packed with materials for TM-making.
“At long st, Operation Starfall has entered its final phase. There’s only one thing left on the agenda. You must defeat the Big Boss… and have Team Star disband for good!”
I sigh. “How, though? All this time, and we have no idea who the Big Boss is, or where they are…”
“There’s no need to search them out…. The true identity of Team Star’s Big Boss… is none other than ME.”
Clive and I share a stunned look.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to keep it from you for so long, but the right moment never came. I’m the one who formed Team Star. Back then, the members of the team were my closest friends… and I treasured them more than anything. If they go on like this, Team Star won’t do any good for anyone. They’ve got to give it up. So I’m using the code we made together to force them to disband. Carmina… I’ll be waiting for you in the schoolyard after dark. You should come as well, Clive.”
Understood.”
“Then I’ll see you both there.”
Cassiopeia hangs up, and I swallow. Clive murmur in a pole-axed tone of voice,
“So Cassiopeia was the Big Boss of Team Star this whole time… I scarcely thought it possible… but with this revetion, I just might have an inkling as to their true identity…it seems we’ll find our answers after dark in the academy’s schoolyard. Let’s prepare as best we can before heading over.”
I nod. “This is… more than I bargained for. I need a minute, Clive. Can you go on ahead, please? I’ll join you once I’ve… processed this.”
“Of course. I’ll meet you at the academy.”
Clive leaves, and I watch him go. The fact tha the mastermind behind this entire operation was the self-same individual we’ve been looking for was not what I expected. But… why now? They could’ve simply said that the Big Boss was out of the picture. Why come clean NOW? This doesn’t add up…
By the time I’ve collected my thoughts, it’s just past midnight. Luckily, the taxi services are still running, and I pay for an express trip back to Naranja Academy, arriving at about 2 am. I don’t feel sleepy, though. How could I?
As I head for the main doors, I spot Clive standing there impatiently.
“Sup, Carmina.”
“Clive?”
“Yup! That’s my name. Actually… no. it’s time for me to bring this little performance to an end. Allow me to reveal my true identity! Ha-hah!”
In a puff of smoke and a fsh of light, Clive disappears. In his pce…
“Director Cvell?!”
“I do apologize for deceiving you with my disguise. In truth, the boy you knew as Clive was none other than the director of Naranja Academy… Mr. Cvell!”
I blink, stunned. What in the crispy, deep-fried fuck???
The director continues. “Regardless, there is still one more astonishing truth I must reveal to you. The true identity of Cassiopeia, the Big Boss of Team Star… was ME all along!”
I stare. “There’s no way… how on Earth… what the?”
“Honest to goodness! When you heard Cassiopeia over the phone, it was actually a pre-recorded voice. I pulled it off using, er… you know, one of those… high-tech gizmos! Oh yes, it was very clever! So Miss Carmina! Now you know I’M the Big Boss! That means there is just one more thing left to do! Face me in one final showdown to decide it all!”
I yelp in shock. Fight the Director?! Who’s also Cassiopeia?! This doesn’t make seeeeense!
“UGH, FINE! If no-one’s giving me a straight answer, then I’ll take you at your word! You’re going down, Cassiopeiaaaaaa!”
I throw a Pokéball, deploying my Gardevoir as Cassiopeia sends forth his Oranguru.
“Full-power! Give ‘em a Moonbst, Gardi!”
The Oranguru shrugs off the hit, going with Yawn, attempting to put my Gardi to sleep. I have her use Draining Kiss, but it fails. Quickly digging in my bag, I spritz Gardevoir with an Awakening, rousing her from sleep, and having her use Draining Kiss again to heal some of the damage that Oranguru’s Dark Pulse did to her.
Then, as Cassiopeia’s Houndoom takes the stage, I switch to Galde, unleashing as Close Combat and dropping the hellhound Pokémon in a heap. Galde remains on the field, and Director Cvell’s Polteageist comes forth.
“Disarming Voice, Galde! You’ve got this!”
“Will-o-wisp, Polteageist!”
Despite suffering a burn, I have Galde use Confusion, before an attack from Polteageist forces me to scramble, sending Mabosstiff to take the spooky teacup ghost on.
“Crunch!”
Mabosstiff gets burned, but his huge jaws snap down, bring the unruly Polteageist to the ground. Cassiopeia’s Abomasnow is next, and I have my Mabosstiff use Crunch, countered by Aurora Veil. Switching to Annihipe, I use Drain Punch, dragging the fight out a little more.
Why is this so tough?! Every one of the Director’s Pokémon hits like a truck!
Thankfully, Annihipe brings the Abomasnow down, and unleashes a Close Combat on the following Amoonguss. A second Close Combat hits, before the Amoonguss knocks out my Annihipe. Mabosstiff is brought out again since I need to save my ace for a real pinch. A series of Crunches manages to end the Amoonguss threat, before Cassiopeia sends forth Quaquaval, the final evolution of Quaxly!
The only option I have it to inflict as much damage as I can before Mabosstiff goes down. However, Cassiopeia produces a Tera Orb and uses it, removing Quaquaval’s Fighting subtype, leaving it pure Water!
Mabosstiff falls, and I let my Gardevoir back out. Thankfully, Mabosstiff had managed to inflict a Crunch on the dancing bird, and I use Draining Kiss. The Quaquaval is getting faster each time it uses Aqua Step, which forces me onto the defensive with another Draining Kiss.
I have no choice, however, as Gardevoir is id low with another damned Aqua Step.
“Ngh, FINE! You want my Ace, you’ll GET my Ace! Garchomp, come on and finish this!”
Tanking an Ice Spinner, Garchomp roars and returns the damage threefold with a Dragon Cw, sending the Director’s final Pokémon crashing to the dirt.
I pant. “There! Now stop this crap! I’m done!”
“Miss Carmina… it seems you have grown quite splendidly over the course of your Treasure Hunt. And here, once again, I must apologize- I am NOT actually Cassiopeia. Though Clive and myself being the same person was no lie, mind you… Cassiopeia’s true identity remains hidden. But I believe I can hazard a guess as to who it is. That is why I sought to spare you from having to confront them in battle. Their sorrows… should not be yours to bear.”
I bristle.
“So you just… decided what was best for me, without taking my feelings into account?! You’re turning into those teachers from Gar, Director. They’re the reason I moved to Paldea. They would rather decide that I was in the wrong for not putting up with bullying, and that I should hide my real self… don’t make the same mistakes they did, Mr. Cvell… I thought the Treasure Hunt was supposed to help us become better people? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and meet Cassiopeia…”
I step past him, healing up my team and preparing for another battle, this time against the REAL Cassiopeia.
As I make my way out through the entrance and into the schoolyard, I look around. The field’s deserted, but I get the feeling it won’t be for long. Sure enough, quiet footsteps come from behind me, and I turn. Then my eyes widen. “You?!”
“Carmina…” a voice responds. Facing me… is PENNY! The two-tone red and blue hair, the leggings under a floaty skirt…, the huge Gigantamax Eevee backpack…
She smiles sadly at me.
“This… must be quite a shock to you.”
I shake my head. “You’ve got that right… first the Director, now you… why won’t ANYONE just be straight with me?!”
As Penny opens her mouth to speak, I hold up a hand. “You know what? NO. It’s MY turn to talk. I get it, the Big Boss is you, but why the whole farce?! You could have simply ASKED me! Am I really that untrustworthy?! Arven hid his true reasons, Professor Sada’s doing it too, and you did… the only one who’s been nothing but sincere and open about what they want from me is Nemona! Everyone… You’ve all USED ME. Your reasons, your goals, your whole freakin’ deal… I don’t CARE anymore! And now… I think it’s time I give you what you want… the thrashing of your life! Now, bring out your Pokémon!”
I send out Gardevoir, making it clear that I’m done. Penny squeaks, before Clive runs out. She yells at him, “Record this battle! Then send it to Team Star! They need to see the outcome for themselves!”
“Got it!”
Her first Pokémon is an Umbreon, and I growl, and Moonbst hits home. A Draining Kiss finishes the Umbreon off, and I switch to Garchomp, making quick work of Penny’s Freon. Her Vaporeon gets off an Aurora Beam, but Garchomp powers through, nding a brutal series of Dragon cws. Leafeon gets the same treatment, before her Jolteon tries its luck. An Earth Power catapults it across the field, leaving only Penny’s Sylveon in my way.
“ANNIHILAPE! COME OUT AND USE RAGE FIST!”
Penny Terastallizes her Sylveon, and I respond in kind, but Annihipe goes down. Garchomp returns to the battle, and I use Stone Edge to inflict major damage before Garchomp takes a Moonbst and goes down. Gardevoir sets herself free, her ball spinning as I catch it. She raises her arm and fires off a Moonbst, all on her own.
As I calm her down, Penny’s final Eeveelution falls, leaving Team Star… defeated.
