This morning we left Doctor Fennel’s home, Brant seemed fine and he’s staying out with me alongside Percy. They slept in the same hammock last night so I assume he’s the one Brant’s decided to trust the most right now. She said we can come back any time, and I’ll take her up on that. That bed was lush. She made Apicot Berry pancakes for all of us and it terrifies me knowing how expensive those things are!

Now we’re relaxing at the Striaton Café. I’m starting to think I’m cursed to always end up in a café somewhere, sometime. I’m just surfing social media while all the Pokémon enjoy their drinks and talk.

“Hey, Orla. Do you want to see how Hannah’s doing?”

“Osha!” She sits on my lap, reading alongside me.

***

“Have you ever noticed how Orla and Alec look kinda alike?” Ruff. Be careful with what you say.

“You’re only saying that because of his jacket and hair colour, young Lucifer- uh, Ruff.” Percy, your attempts will earn you a berry down the line, I assure that.

“I don’t know...I think Ruff’s right.” Brant mumbles.

“Just because I’m over here now doesn’t mean I can’t hear you guys!?” Collectively they apologise.

“Sorry ma’am…” Ruff dejectedly continues eating his lunch.

“He does look quite dashing, though, you have to admit it, ma’am.” Percy says while he tries styling Brant’s hair to resemble Alec’s. It doesn’t look half bad.

***

“Looks like she’s posting more pictures of Prim than usual. I should probably call her soon.” I look up from my laptop to see Percy playing hairdresser with Brant.

“Is...that my hairstyle?” They all freeze. I don’t quite know how to take this, but I snap a pic out of awe. Orla grabs my phone swiftly, I try and grab it back but.

Sent.

Oh you cheeky little- it went straight to Hannah. Orla laughs meekly while the rest of the group fails to restrain their own laughter. Even Brant.

“Well, as long as you’re all happy.” A ding on my phone, a reply from Hannah.

‘Looking great, hope you’re all well x’

“I suppose it could’ve been worse.”

A waiter approaches us. His hair is as green as the Pansage assisting him.

“Good morning, sir. Would you like a refill?”

“Oh, no thanks, this is fine, I think they’ll want some more though if that’s okay.”

“Of course, more juice for the Pokémon, on the house.” His Pansage begins pouring into their cups, halting as they reach Brant. They return to the waiter’s side.

“What’s that? Oh, this Pansear...I recognise it.”

“His name’s Brant.”

“It is? Well, nice to see you again.” Peculiar but not noteworthy. I get back to my laptop. Orla hops off my lap and returns to the Pokémon, when I look up though...Brant is shaking again.

I quickly shut my laptop and sit by them, hugging Brant.

“Shh...it’s okay.” I can’t think of what to do otherwise. The other Pokémon look worried...Ruff’s trying to dance, Percy’s waving his tail, and Orla’s trying to give him her shell. Who’s that waiter?

I stand up, leaving Brant with the team. I’m going to find him.

The café isn’t that busy, and I weave through the curtains they have set up. There’s a group of waitresses gossiping by the drinks bar.

“Excuse me, have you seen the green-haired waiter?”

“Him, huh? Aren’t you a little old to-”

“Sarah, shut up. Business.”

“Right, he’s at the back of the café.”

“Thank you.” I rush towards the back to find...a battleground.

The green haired butler is battling a child, both of them using Lillipup. Then I realise.

“We’re in Striaton City...and...this is their gym.”

The battle is intense. The waiter commands with a stern, gentle voice, while the child is unwavering in his temperament. The Lillipup are both strong, you’d think they were Stoutland already. Tackle after Tackle, Growl after Growl, Work Up after Work Up. I’m left staring in awe. These Gym Battles are so...private, but have the same intensity, if not more, than the ones back in Galar.

I feel a tug on my jean leg: it’s Orla with the rest of my Pokémon, Brant in tow. Another tap on my shoulder, I turn to see a red haired waiter, he's wearing the same dapper uniform as the green haired one.

“Do you have an appointment? If not, you can’t be here I’m afraid, sir.”

“Sorry. I needed to speak to him - the waiter battling.” I fumble my words. I don’t know what’s happening.

“I’m afraid you’ll need to schedule a gym battle in order to speak to Cilan. My name is Chili and- I’m sorry, uh.” He tries to not get distracted...Brant is hugging my leg. “...I’m sorry but you have the cutest Pansear!”

What?

“Can I pet ‘em? Can I please pet ‘em!?”

“Oh, sure.” The waiter crouches down to gawk at Brant, who is still hugging my leg.

“Oh! Their hair looks just like yours! Very classy, sir! This is a very...wait.” He stands up, reassessing the situation.“This isn’t your Pansear, sir. We had a trainer named Kyle fight my brother, Cress, here several times. This is the Pansear he fought with. Why is he here?”

I will explain what’s happened over the past two days.

“I see. Well, it’s nice to see you again, Brant! We never got to speak much but would you like to meet my Pansear?” Brant frees himself from my leg, curiously staring at Chili’s hair. Percy watches attentively from behind.

“Oh you like my hair huh? It looks like your natural look, doesn’t it! I love Pansear very much, so I thought it’d be cool to copy their hairstyle! See, it even moves like a flame too. Woosh! Woosh!” He starts dancing weirdly for Brant, but he’s smiling again.

“Look, I know this is sudden. But I think you’re right in saying you shouldn’t take him far. He’s been through a lot and needs time to feel good again, right? We just got an opening for a chef in the kitchen: would you be alright leaving Brant here with us?” Such a generous offer from such an enigmatic man, but he’s got charisma, and Brant seems to trust him.

“We’ll have to talk to him before anything, you know that right?”

“Of course, sir! Oh, uh, I never asked your name did I.”

“It’s Alec.”

“Sure, Alec! Have a little pow wow.” He retreats behind the curtain, returning to the normal café while me and my Pokémon are left to discuss Brant’s future. Just casual things on a casual day where I was meant to be having a freaking day off.

“So, what’re we thinking guys?”

***

“Well first things first, how are you holdin’ up Brant?” Nice job, Ruff, gotta take that initiative.

“I’m okay, I really liked the red man’s hair.”

“I for one will not be okay with leaving Sir Brant on his own here. We must think of something.

“Sure Percy, but what do you suggest exactly, we can’t just bring Brant with us, as much as we want to. It wouldn’t be good for him, like Alec and Chili said.”

Everyone’s a little tense, not even Ruff could lighten the mood. All of a sudden, Percy tugs on Alec.

***

“Hm? Got an idea Percy?” After some deliberation, I think I get it. Chili returns from the café.

“So what’s the plan guys?”

***

Heading onto Route 3 is tough. Orla and Ruff are by my side. Everything will be okay, everything will be fine. Orla holds Ruff’s paw as we all take our first steps.

“This feels wrong. But he made his decision, we need to respect that.” The other two nod. The afternoon haze of sunlight is harsher than usual.

Percy decided to stay with Brant at the Striaton Gym. My heart sank when I realised what he was saying, but I couldn’t tell him not to, you know? Percy had taken it upon himself to help Brant, be his guide: and let’s be frank, he needed Percy more than we did. I just feel a little empty.

Orla and Ruff try to cheer me up, but I can’t help but feel down.

Route 3’s beautiful though, the trees smell fresh, the countryside feels nice to come back to. The caves in the distance look a little terrifying but it’s nothing to worry about, that’s not where we need to go.

When we left the Striaton Gym, a local at the café told us about the Nacrene City Museum, run by the city Gym Leader, Lenora. As a change of pace and direction I thought talking to Lenora would be a good idea to get me back on track with all of this Reshiram business. Not even a week in and I’ve already had to cut some ties, even leaving Brant behind left a little scar.

Orla and Ruff run ahead, a quaint wooden bridge where fishers are lined up, reeling in the likes of blue and red striped Basculin alongside the sparse Alomomola.

“Let’s take a little pit stop here, take in the pretty stuff while we eat.” They nod as I take out our lunches we got to-go from the café.

Then I feel something heavy on my head.

“Orla, what is it.”

“S-s-shasha.” She hands me my phone, with the front facing camera on. It’s a Pidove. A particularly plump Pidove is on my head. I grab it and bring it to my eye-level.

“Okay, buddy. What do you want?” It cheekily points behind it, where another creature, more gravelly in disposition mimes for us. A Roggenrola, also rounder than the average kind. Without arms I can’t tell what it wants, though.

“Do you...want to eat with us?” The two Pokémon furiously nod. “I guess you guys do look a little hungry, are you two friends?” They nod again: they’re so in sync. And suddenly I have an idea…

“Do you two wanna come with us to Nacrene City?” I have already started writing nicknames in my notebook. Several options for each. The two of them deliberate...and furiously nod again. Ruff hops around in excitement! Orla, however, looks on at me, troubled.

“I don’t know what’s up with you Orla but we can’t just leave these two to starve! We’ll catch them and feed them!” She sighs, handing me my Poké Balls. “Thank you, miss!” The two Pokémon have already picked out their nicknames by the looks of it.

I present the Poké Balls to them, and they both gently headbutt them. 3...2...1...caught. They release themselves once they’ve registered on my phone.

“Nice, nice, very nice! Well, it’s nice to meet you: Quinn the Pidove, and Cola the Roggenrola. Let’s eat up!.”

All of the Pokémon cheer, while Orla resigns herself a bit.