When Diantha had talked about taking us to the pseudo-town outside the Pokemon League’s main facility, I had been too caught up in the fact that we were set to meet the Champion to think about it. When we returned to the table after letting the woman calm down a bit, the Gardevoir snapped once, banishing the entire tea party to… somewhere. When she snapped again, the Pokemon Village and Daciana were gone. We were on the edge of a bustling hub of activity, dozens if not hundreds of trainers and their Pokemon moving about a central plaza.

The buildings are decisively modern, clean and simple lines parallel with huge windows displaying the innards for all to see. Large holographic screens seem to be nearly everywhere you look, those that aren’t displaying huge ads are playing a battle between Viola and some kid. Above us, a small train car is lifted by several Magnemite, their upper magnets sparking golden flecks as the vehicle zooms down a metal line. Atop a large pillar in the middle of the plaza, a gigantic globe of water with groups of Lanturn and Chinchou floating around in them illuminates the swiftly darkening city.

However, in the end, looming above everything else, the grand palace of the Pokemon League dominates everything below it.

Suddenly feeling very small and very weak, I feel myself shrink a bit as I flip my hood. Sofie’s hand slips into mine, and she smiles down at me as we follow Diantha towards the east side of the city. We pass over a drawbridge extended over a canal by seemingly electrified webbing, Tadbulbs lining the edge of its road to keep it visible.

“So many electric types,” I mutter, looking closer at the webbing. I pale and squeeze Sofie’s hand when I notice Joltik and Galvantula scurrying within the thick coils.

“Yeah, Clemont’s really went wild with this place when he moved into his new position.” Diantha waves as we pass the crane operator’s box, where a single Flaffy sits. It happily returns the gesture, waving its hand wildly at us as a beep comes from its terminal.

The sheep smacks a button, and the bridge slowly raises after a few horns blare, the Tadbulbs shifting to illuminate the top of the bridge. Zipping across the ground beside us, a Bolthund with a vest on runs towards the south, a huge grin on its face and its tongue hanging out in the wind. A gigantic Kilowattrel lands beside a small business, and a man steps outside to retrieve a steaming hot box of food.

“Should be around here…” Diantha mutters, before her face lights up, “Ah, here we are.”

We approach a simple duplex, its plain exterior walls painted a navy blue and its large windows covered by a simple lace curtain. The ex-champion walks up a few steps to the leftmost door, then presses the doorbell once. A crash comes from inside, followed by a few seconds of banging until the door flies open to reveal a messily dressed blonde boy with a Treeko on his shoulder.

“Sorry, I was taking a… Nap…” He blinks twice, then wipes his eyes. “Wait, Diantha? What’re you doin’ here?”

Diantha chuckles, putting a hand on her hip. “I need the key to the other half of the duplex, Ben.”

The boy yawns in unison with the gecko on his shoulder, reaching up to grab a set of keys from behind the door. The former champion snatches them, then steps a few feet away to begin to open the other front door. The boy closes the door behind him as he comes outside, stepping down to reveal that he’s a bit shorter than Sofie.

“Something goin’ on?” His eyes blatantly scan us, and I shiver uncomfortably.

The door opens, and I basically rush inside as Diantha retorts, “Ask your boss. If you need to know, she’ll tell you.”

Immediately as you enter the building, its open floor plan reveals a living room connected to a small kitchen, a set of stairs tucked into the back leading up to a second floor. I plop down on a gigantic squishy leather couch, a sigh of contentment flowing from my lungs as I lay down and stretch my legs a bit.

“Bah, like she’d tell me anything,” Ben mutters from outside, “It’s a miracle she’s letting me sleep here while on the circuit as it is.”

“It’s shameful. You’re technically an Ace trainer,” Diantha states, before continuing in a distinctly mocking tone, “Even if you are a nepotism hire.”

Sofie snorts as she moves to sit beside me, patting me on the side of my head. The two other trainers move into the building as well, closing the door behind them.

“Oof, that’s harsh, even though it’s true.” Ben pauses for a moment, obviously a bit taken aback by the look all three of us were giving him. “What’s wrong? Meowth got your tongues?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I share a look with Sofie, then point at the door and ask, “Why did you follow us in?”

He blinks, then looks at Diantha. “I was… talking to her?”

Diantha sits on a small loveseat beside the couch, crossing her leg as she leans back with a small smirk on her face. “You were. Goodbye.”

Throwing his hands up in the air, the boy turns and begins to open the front door, but then stops. He thinks for a moment, then shuts it again, leaning back on it with a triumphant grin.

“Nah, now I’m curious,” He claims, then asks, “Who’re the girls?”

Sofie raises an eyebrow, tapping on the side of my head. “And we should tell you our identities, why exactly?”

The boy’s lips expand to show gleaming white teeth, “If you don’t, I’ll tattle to the champion about you abusing her privileges.”

A moment of just pure silence passes.

Diantha stands up, her face having shifted into one of deep, quiet rage. She walks over to the boy slowly, drawing out her steps with a deep power in each one, then tilts her head back a bit as she glares down at him without saying a word. Ben begins to sweat, mumbling a few words as the tension grows thick enough you could cut it with a knife. She repositions her bag on her shoulder, breathing in while narrowing her eyes. Nervously, the boy slowly reaches for his belt.

“Pff.” Stepping back, Diantha’s demeanor shifts entirely, returning to the rather casual nature she had been displaying before. “AHAHAHA!”

The floodgates apparently opened, Diantha and Ben both nearly keel over as they crack up.

“Oh, that’s rich,” Wiping a tear, the woman turns to us, a huge smile on her face, as she mockingly imitates Ben’s voice, “I’ll tattle to the champion, he says, girls.”

I blink, then start giggling at the situation myself, which gets Sofie going too. She did the exact same thing Eve does when using her Pressure! Shaking her head at the very confused boy as she calms down a bit, Diantha moves back to the loveseat.

“For future reference Ben,” She says, her voice still jovial, “I knew you were not entirely serious about the threat, but if you were…”

“Hmm…” Tapping her chin, Diantha looks out the window in contemplation. “I think Johto is nice this time of year.”

Sucking a breath in through his teeth, the boy runs a hand through his hair. “Duly noted. But in all seriousness, I do need to go make a report sooner or later, so it’d be nice to know what’s goin’ on.”

Diantha raises an eyebrow. “You seriously don’t recognize them? Do you even read the files they give you?”

The boy blinks, then blushes.

“I uh, I’ve been busy with the gyms.” He mutters, pulling out his phone and rapidly tapping until his eyes go wide. He stares down at his screen, then up at us, then back down. “Well, I’ll be damned. I’m assuming you want them to talk to her?”

Diantha nods, then waves her hand in the air. “You have the jist of it. Go file that appointment for me, servant.”

I snort, and the boy rolls his eyes as he gives a playful bow.

“As you command, Duchess. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sofie, Morgan.” Opening the door once again, he takes a half step outside before pursing his lips and turning back towards us and winking. “Oh, and if you find yourself in want of company, just bang on the wall or something. I’m usually here.”

Sofie tosses a pillow at him, which hits the back of the door as he ducks away snickering. Diantha chuckles, then leans back in the love seat with a deep sigh of contentment. “Sorry about that, he’s too fun to do that kinda thing with.”

I shake my head, a smile appearing on my lips.

“It was entertaining, at least.” I glance around the well decorated room, noting the several Pokedolls upon a corner shelf. “Uh, whose house is this exactly anyway?”

Diantha blinks, then points at us, “Yours.”

“Uhh.” I sit up, doing my best to process that. “Pardon?”

Diantha grins, tossing the key at Sofie, who catches it with a bewildered look.

“You both are the new owners,” The woman repeats, “I own this row of buildings, so I’m giving it to you.”

“I- Why?” I ask, wringing my hands as I stare down at the keys in Sofie’s hands. “We barely know you.”

Diantha stands up, then walks to the door herself.

“Because, Morgan,” She says, taking a step outside as she grins back at us.

“I trust you two.”

With a click the door is closed, leaving Sofie and I alone in, well, I guess our new house. We take a moment, sitting there in mute solidarity as the fact we had suddenly gained somewhere to call our own sinks in. Sofie eventually huffs a laugh, releasing all our pokemon out into our new home.

“Well, Clumsy,” She says, offering me a hand, “I guess we’re roomies now. Wanna go check the place out?”

I don’t hesitate, taking her hand as we begin our small tour of the place. Well, even that is saying a lot, there really isn’t much to see. On the first floor, beyond the large open space, there is a single small empty room and half-bath. Up the stairs, two large furnished bedrooms are present, as well as thankfully, a bathroom with a shower. We both claim one of the upstairs rooms for ourselves, our friends rushing in to examine what is essentially, also their new personal spaces.

After I reluctantly split off from Sofie, to spend a bit of time alone, Eve immediately jumps on the bed, mrrring in delight at the squishy mattress. Tinder floats herself up to the very tippy top of the single, almost empty bookshelf in the room, squeezing into the top shelf, then barking down at me to declare it hers. Smiling, I flop down on the bed beside my partner, spreading my comfort out for her to feel.

As I lay there on the bed, it begins to sink in that I haven’t really had a space like this truly for myself… Ever. It was strange, to say the least, an unfamiliar comfort from the building’s air conditioning enveloping me as I laid there unmoving.

I feel, well, safe.

My eyelids begin to flutter, but I try to protest by forcing them to stay open. Tinder, noticing my state, floats down and plops onto my chest, the sudden warmth on my chest a fatal blow for my efforts. The last thing I see before I crash entirely is the light of my room flicking off.