Lorenz woke up earlier than usual.

Being a gym leader in the major circuit means he needs to wake up early to get ready for the morning challenges, and he still needs to balance time to train his own Pokemon and deal with the league officials breathing down his neck, all the while juggling being a loving husband and father.

It was that last reason he took a day off to get some things ready, things he can't let his wife and daughter find out about.

The large tanned man quietly sneaked out of his room, making sure to make as minimal noise as he could as he made his way to the kitchens.

He has a long day ahead of him, and he won't be having time to eat for the next few hours.

It was when he was eating a sandwich and a protein shake that he remembered that his employees have the weekends off, meaning that the two of them should be able to help him.

He sent a quick message on his phone to the two employees, before sending another to his wife telling her he won't be home till the afternoon.

And then he waited.

And he continued to wait.

"Bossman! What is the super secret mission you called me for?!" His first employee yelled as she entered the lobby of the Battle Hotel, her loud voice echoing in the building.

"Dendra dear, not so loud, Orchid and Tulip are still sleeping," He chastised her, his hand twirling his mustache as he started tapping his foot waiting for the second employee.

"Oh! Sorry..." Dendra apologized sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head, "But why did you call me here?"

"Just a moment dear," Lorenz turned to look at the hallway he came from, his second employee walking quickly towards them, his Salandit wrapped around his waist and his hands rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Good Morning Lorenz," Dishon told him, yawning immediately after, "What is it that you needed to call us here so early," Dishon paused and looked at his phone, "It's five in the morning,"

"Good morning Dishon!" Dendra greeted him loudly, causing him to flinch and rub his head.

Lorenz paused as he looked at his two employees, A loud and energetic girl who grew up as his daughter's best friend, and a homeless kid his wife practically adopted in all but name.

An Elite level trainer who specializes in fighting types, and a novice who hasn't had a Pokemon battle in his life, content with simply doing his job and catching any "Shiny" Pokemon he spots.

Something that obviously won't be happening much considering he only goes outside of the gym on weekends and early mornings.

Sighing to himself, Lorenz looked at the two teens, "They're almost eighteen, they're already considered adults in many regions," He reminded himself before opening his mouth.

"The reason I called you all here is super important, no matter what, Orchid and Tulip must not find out about it," He told the two, looking them all in the eyes.

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Dishon gulped nervously while he and Dendra straightened their backs, the tired and playful energy the two had was replaced with the serious demeanor of an employee speaking to their boss.

"Tomorrow," He began to say as the tension in the lobby rose, "Is going to be-" "Indeedee!" He was interrupted.

Looking towards the corridor where the call was coming from, he saw the door open and out walked the male Indeedee of the family.

"Twiddle what are you doing here?" He asked the psychic-type, who answered by looking at Dendra and Dishon.

"Right, you're an Empath," The gym leader whispered to himself as he took on the disapproving stare of the short Pokemon.

"Indeedee Dee," He said, waving his arms around and gesturing at him and the corridor.

Lorenz sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his forehead.

"Twiddle, It's my twenty-nine year anniversary tomorrow, I need to get everything ready in advance," He told the Indeedee, ignoring the gasp of surprise from Dendra behind him.

"If you could, just keep Orchid and Tulip off my case for today?" Lorenz tilted his head.

Twiddle tapped his feet on the floor, moving his head to and fro as if in thought.

"I'll buy you a pack of Katy's Muffins," "Indeedee!" "Fine, I'll buy you two," The Gym leader grumbled

Nodding his head triumphantly, the Empath Pokemon turned back to the corridor he came from and walked back into the Battle Hotel.

Lorenz turned back to look at his employees, One of them was vibrating in excitement while the other was still struggling to stay awake, the Salandit on his waist rubbing her tail along his back in an effort to keep him from falling back to sleep.

After taking a moment to readjust his purple suit and magician's top hat, Lorenz opened his mouth.

"As you heard, tomorrow is my anniversary, I have a list of stuff I need to get ready before the end of the day, you two will help me. Any questions?"

Dendra immediatly raised her hand in the air, standing on the tips of her toes to look higher.

"Yes, Will we also need to work tomorrow? I had plans and I'd feel bad if I had to cancel." Instead of letting Dendra ask, Dishon asked his own question.

When the fighting type specialist turned to look at him in shock, the computers expert merely said "This isn't a school, just ask your questions next time,"

Lorenz hid a smirk at that small exchange, "No, tomorrow will still be free for the two of you, in fact, I'll be paying you overtime for today seeing as this should also be a day off for the both of you,"

Lorenz finished talking and Dendra asked her own question, "How was the wedding like? How did you and the Boss Lady meet? Was it before or after you became a gym leader? Who was the champion at the time?" She continued to blast him with a rapid stream of questions, And he smiled.

"I'll tell you on the way there, first we need to get to the flying taxi," Lorenz smiled wider when he spotted Dishon pause for a moment.

"Flying taxi?" He asked rigidly, the sleep gone from his face.

"You never used the flying taxi before? Did you live outside of Paldea or something?! Everybody uses the flying taxi," Dendra told him.

"I'm from outside of Paldea, yes, and I never used a flying taxi before," Dishon said.

"Welp, There's a first time for everything," Lorenz told him, and Dendra pumped her fist in the air.

"Yosh! Let's go Dishon!" She grabbed his arm and started running out of the Battle Hotel, dragging her poor coworker behind her.

Lorenz sighed reminiscently as he watched the two of them run to the Flying Taxi.

"Ah, to be young again," He said before throwing out one of his Pokeballs, In a flash of light his starter appeared next to him, the heavy clang of metal that came out of the heavy 'mon was muted after years of training.

"C'mon Bronzong, let's get to the taxi before those two kids beat us to there, eh?" He said as he put his hand on his partner's metallic arms, and with an ethereal glow in its eyes and a gentle ringing sound, the Steel-Psychic type disappeared behind a bubble of blue energy before levitating swiftly out of the Battle Hotel, the gym leader riding his pokemon as it floated quickly down the streets of Alfronda.

"What?!" He heard Dendra yell when she spotted him passing by and overtaking her.

"Ah, To be young again," He said once more, leaning into his starter as it picked up speed, Floating in the direction of the Flying Taxi landing pad.