I wrote a lot of this at like 12 am. Hope y'all enjoy it, or it makes sense or anything like that..

I used to be proud of this chapter, but then... well, I forgot how to write...

•••

Dawn light filtered through the curtains of the Pokémon Center, casting an amber hue to everything and everyone around. A Scorbunny and Grookey chattered quietly to each other, their anger from a week ago gone, to be replaced by a friendliness to one another.

Close by, their Trainers sat with Marnie, talking softly amongst themselves.

"So, you're both battling Nessa soon, huh. . ?" Gloria fidgeted with the cup of caramel coffee in her hands. As much as she hated to admit it, she was worried about battling the Water-Type Trainer. Milo has been hard enough, and that had been with a Type advantage. She didn't want to think about what might happen if she had the disadvantage. Maybe I'm just a horrible Trainer. . .

Hop nodded. "Yeah, I'm probably going to battle her today or tomorrow. Mar's is going to battle her in a few days, probably." A smile made its way onto his face as he spoke. "She should be no problem for us, with Nori and your Morpeko, right Mar?"

Marnie's head shot up, her attention shifting away from her Morpeko and towards her purple-haired friend. "Y-yes," she stuttered, her light blue eyes avoiding everyone's gaze.

Gloria frowned slightly, looking between the two of them. "Wait, how was your battle with Milo? You both are making it seem like it was no problem at all. . ."

Hop's smile widened into a grin. "Yeah! He was no match for Nori and Buddy; I didn't even need to bring out Kro against him." Buddy. . ? Gloria gave him a quizzical look, which he responded to by rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Buddy's the name I decided to go with for Wooloo. . . I felt kinda bad for having him for so long and not giving him a nickname. We've been through so much. . ."

Gloria nodded slowly, noticing Marnie looking back at her Morpeko. The electric rodent was sitting next to Gloria's incubated Egg, quietly munching on an Oran Berry.

"Say, Marnie?" Hop began, causing the raven-headed girl to look at him with wide eyes. "While we're on the topic of giving our Pokémon nicknames, have you ever given your Morpeko a name?"

Marnie blinked and looked down, hiding her embarrassed face behind her bangs as she fidgeted with her hands. "N-no, I haven't really given it much thought." She glanced back up at Hop again, a determined expression on her face. "But I'll think of what ta call her, if that's okay?"

Hop laughed. "You don't have to. I was just curious, that's all."

The group fell into a comfortable silence, before Gloria spoke up again.

"Guys, I don't think I'm very good of a Trainer."

The atmosphere grew heavy as both of her friends turned to stare at her in disbelief. The uncomfortableness made Gloria squirm slightly in her seat.

"You're kidding," Hop told her with a deadpan face. "Glo, you're the only one who's managed to beat me in a battle— and you did it twice!" He sighed. "I've battled several other Trainers, but none of them even compare to how easily you defeated me and my Team."

"Yes, maybe that's true, but you guys are just making it seem like Milo's battle was so easy, but for me, it was the hardest thing I've ever done; I barely managed to beat him." Gloria sat back, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the table in front of her. "And while it's true that I haven't technically lost a real battle, there have been a few times where I might as well have." She didn't need to see Hop to know that he was looking at her confused. "That time in the Budew Drop Inn? When I was battling Team Yell and that rude boy dressed in pink had to finish it for me. . ." An exasperated huff left her lips. "I saw him again in the Galar Mines, and he probably would've won the battle, except that his Pokémon started attacking him instead.

"And as for the battle with Milo, he and his Team were trying their absolute hardest to knock my Pokémon out. I hardly got a chance to attack. Then Tuff Dynamaxed, and she just started acting weird, and attacked everything in sight." Nearby, Tuff sunk lower to the ground, overhearing what was said about her.

No one said anything for several moments, each of them trying to process what Gloria had just told them.

"Ya think you're not a good Trainer?" Marnie asked. "First of all, I doubt that's actually true. An' second, if ya really believe that, then why not train with me or Hop to get stronger? I know for sure that I'm able ta battle ya today, an' I think that Morpeko could use with some more trainin', right Morpeko?" The three of them directed their attention back to the hamster, who had finished her Oran Berry and was already halfway through eating a cinnamon cookie. Where does she hide all of this food. . ?

"More!" Morpeko squeaked, smiling and waving her cookie into the air before bringing it back to her mouth for another bite.

A tiny smile made its way onto Marnie's face as she admired her partner. "See?" She reached over to Morpeko, who narrowed her eyes at first before realizing that she wasn't going to take her cookie. Marnie lifted her and set her back down onto the table.

The corners of Hop's mouth lifted as he watched them. "Yeah, I think I can train with you both too, if that's okay."

Marnie's face lit up. "Yeah! Of course it's—!" She froze suddenly, her face now bright red. "S-sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean ta be so loud. . ."

Hop smiled, nodding. "Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong."

"Um, so should we go now—" Gloria started, but was interrupted as Marnie jumped up, grabbing her hand.

"Yes, good idea!" She dragged her out of the doors of the building before the brunette could figure out what was happening or what to think.

Once Gloria realized that the younger girl wasn't going to slow down any time soon seemingly, and started to worry. "M-Marnie, my Egg. . ?"

"Hop'll get it," Marnie said flatly. Finally she stopped and let go of Gloria, pacing back and forth slowly. "'M really sorry 'bout that. . ." She took a breath. "I. . . I just suddenly remembered somethin', an' wanted ta talk ta ya about it."

"Why couldn't you have said it with Hop?" Gloria asked her, tilting her head.

"'Cause it's 'bout—" Marnie paused. "'Cause I just need ta talk ta ya, and only ya." She took a breath and ran her fingers through her long black locks. "Listen, please don't judge me or nothin', but. . . I've just been feelin' really weird lately 'round someone. I've tried talkin' to my brother 'bout it, but he doesn't really offer good advice."

Gloria frowned. "Could you tell me what exactly is going on?"

Marnie sighed, talking a lot slower this time, as if piecing together her words carefully. "When I'm 'round a certain person, I just feel all weird and. . ." Her voice died out.

"Do you like them?" Gloria guessed, a tiny smile making its way to her lips.

The dark-haired girl's face blushed red, and she began shaking her head and arms frantically in front of herself. "N-no, I can't! We're just friends an' they already like someone else!" She covered her face with her hands. "Oh, this is so embarrassin'. . . I'm sorry for draggin' ya into this, Gloria." She took a breath and slowly peered back at Gloria from behind her fingers. "Besides, I already know that these two people will be happier together than if one of them was with me. . ."

Gloria wanted to respond, to tell her that she's got it all wrong and that she shouldn't be so hard on herself, but the words were lost as she noticed Hop running towards them, their three Pokémon following, and Gloria's Egg incubator in his hands. "Gloria! Marnie!"

Marnie whirled around, before turning back to Gloria. "Don't say anythin' about what I told ya, please." Gloria simply nodded slowly.

"Why'd the two of you run off?" Hop asked as he reached them. He passed the Egg back over to Gloria as Marnie answered.

"We just hadda talk, but it's all good now." She bent down and picked up her Morpeko, who was eating yet another cinnamon cookie. Marnie looked at the rodent and smiled softly. "Ya really like those cookies, don'tcha?" She rubbed her finger between Morpeko's ears, causing the Pokémon to chirp in comfort and contentment.

Hop blinked and nodded at her, while Gloria stood silently. Suddenly Marnie's eyes widened.

"That's it!"

"Huh? What? What's it?" Hop questioned, confused.

"Her name. I think I'm going to call her. . . Cinnamon." Marnie gazed at her partner, who seemed extremely proud of her new name.

Hop grinned. "That's a really cute and fitting name for her. I like it."

Marnie smiled shyly and glanced away. "Thanks."

Hop then turned back to Gloria, who had been watching them both silently. "Ready to train now?"

Gloria blinked and smiled. "Yeah!" She met Tuff's gaze from the corner of her eye. "Two on two seem ok? I need to train up Tuff and Val, maybe Penny. You both can use your Pokémon, like Nori and Cinnamon."

Marnie's eyes widened, and she looked like she was going to object, but Hop interrupted her.

"Yeah! That sounds fine!"

Gloria nodded, before remembering the Egg she was holding in her hands. She was afraid that it could be ruined were she to hold onto it for their battle. And she also feared placing it onto the ground, in case a wild Pokémon grabbed it and took off. Should I just ask someone to hold onto it while—

"Ugh. You."

The trio whirled around, noticing a certain platinum-blonde Trainer. His arms were crossed over his magenta coat, and his unmistakable violet eyes caused a shiver of intimidation to run through Gloria.

"What are you three doing here in Hulbury, and how in the world did you manage to defeat Gym Leader Milo?" He took a few steps closer to them. Gloria noticed that his gaze quickly averted away when he glanced at her. Probably still embarrassed from the Hatenna attack, isn't he?

Hop frowned, his eyes narrowing. "We're here for the same reason you are. Or at least, that's what I'm assuming; you're here to challenge Nessa." Nori climbed into his shoulder and squealed angrily at Bede, whether it was because he was agreeing with Hop, or just because he felt like it, no one knew.

Bede scoffed. "You two? Battle Nessa? What a joke. With half a Team like you have, you'll both be destroyed in seconds, even with Type advantages." He looked between Hop and Marnie, the latter hugging Cinnamon tighter against her chest, obviously uncomfortable with the way things were going.

"Hey," Gloria told him suddenly. "I'm here too, so just leave them alone. They have done absolutely nothing wrong to you."

Bede raised an eyebrow as he turned his head towards her. "Oh, it's you, from before. You're so small and pathetic I almost didn't even realize you were there." His smug smile grew as he noticed Gloria's eyes narrow in anger.

"Oi, I managed to battle and win against Milo, just like Hop and Marnie. I have every right to be here with them." She stood up taller and held his gaze.

"Gloria, I don't think—" Hop began.

"Send out your Pokémon; I want to battle you," Gloria said, already thinking of a plan in her head. "I was already planning on training, so this won't make much difference."

Bede rolled his eyes. "And waste time battling you? No, thanks. I'd rather keep my sanity." He looked between the three of them for a few seconds. "Although if you said you were going to train, I suppose I could watch."

"No one wants you to watch," Hop grumbled.

"What? Of course you would say something like that. It's just like someone of your poor skill to be worried about someone of my skills to see your horrible battling style."

"No, I don't think that's it. . ." Marnie began, only to cut off as Bede's cold glare met her.

"Fine." Gloria sighed. "You want to watch us battle? Then hold this." She handed him her Egg. "And watch; our training battle here will make you regret being rude to us." She took a breath and pulled out a Poké Ball and nodded to Tuff. "Tuff, Val— let's go!"

💧💧💧

Extra because I'm a lazy author:

Nessa stepped outside of her Gym, taking a deep breath of the coastal air. She had been battling Trainers nonstop today, and was finally allowed to have a break.

"Miss Vanessa, how does it feel to have lost forty percent of your battles with young Trainers today?" A reporter jumped in front of her, shoving a microphone into her face. Behind him, a woman stood, holding a camera at the Water Gym Leader.

Nessa blinked. "Uh, I have nothing to say to that. I battled my best, and I'm glad that the victory went to those who deserved it."

"Do you ever feel stressed with managing a Gym and your life as a model?"

"I don't think. . ." She knew she couldn't say it, but the most stressful part of her career so far was trying to dodge nosy reporters like these two. Luckily there was only the two of them, so it wasn't as bad as it was in years past.

"Nessa!" The three turned to the Gym doors, which had opened to reveal a young man, with sandy blonde hair and gray eyes. He had slightly tanned skin and had a scar on his left arm, mostly hidden beneath his Gym Trainer uniform. Behind him, a large blue amphibian stood, dark blue in color. All along its head, back, and arms were black and aqua bumps. It had red eyes that it used to glare at the two reporters.

Nessa sighed in relief as she saw her friend, grateful that he had come out to save her. "Thanks, Dylan."

Dylan nodded and turned to the two reporters. "Why don't you both go? Nessa is busy, and doesn't need to be bombarded with questions right now."

The two reporters looked between him and Nessa, before glancing at Dylan's Seismitoad, which was eyeing them suspiciously. They sighed before muttering their apologies and leaving.

"You know," Nessa began after they were gone, "I could've handled them myself. And also, I'm not busy, so I don't know why you told them that."

Dylan looked at her for a second as he returned his Seismitoad back into its Dive Ball. "Maybe you did have them under control, but that's not what I saw." Nessa opened her mouth to reply, but he continued speaking. "And besides, they don't need to know that you are free now; they'll keep on coming back to ask questions if you do. It's best to make them believe you're busy, so that way they will leave you alone."

"Hm." Nessa nodded her head a tiny bit, understanding. Wordlessly, they both began walking away from the Gym and towards the Hulbury coast. "I suppose you're right. And I'm guessing you know that from experience?"

Dylan laughed softly. "Yes, back when my sister and I were returning home from our trip to Kanto years ago. Being as she had only just been named a Gym Leader, people crowded around her everywhere, trying to get the best details." He sighed and looked around at the small town around them. "Two years later, and she still gets asked about it."

The Water Leader's eyes clouded for a second as she bit her lip. "That's right. . . You and Bea got hit by a tsun—" She froze, fearing that the word was a sensitive topic for Dylan. However, he simply shrugged and nodded.

"Yeah, the tsunami came and all. But we're both good now." They has reached the water, and the two of them leaned against the railing separating them from the sea's waves below. The blonde glanced at his friend from the corner of his eyes, noticing that she seemed a little upset still. "Hey, no need to look to sad. It's not your fault, and we're fine now."

Nessa took a breath and nodded. "Right." She continued staring into the dark depths of the water below, until Dylan nudged her arm. She turned her gaze back to him. "Hm?"

Dylan have her a gentle smile. "C'mon, why don't we go and check out the market while we're here. How does that sound?"

"Sure." Nessa pushed herself off of the railing and led the way down the path, before finally reaching a small clearing, where a few shops stood. The things sold varied from cloth to fishing rods to fish Pokémon and other foods. Suddenly Nessa let out a quiet gasp and ran ahead, stopping at a stand with a young boy.

The boy had orange-red hair and green eyes. A beige baseball cap was on his head. He wore a white shirt and green overalls over it. He sat in his seat, swinging his legs back and forth and messing with the dark green scarf he had tied around his neck. He looked up as they approached him, only to grin as he saw who it was.

"Miss Nessa!" The boy cheered, jumping up and running around to hug the Gym Leader. She laughed and patted his head.

"Hi, Miles," Nessa greeted, smiling at the young boy. "I'm super sorry, I forgot what day it was. Did you wait long?"

"Yeah, but it's fine!"

Dylan stood a few feet away, watching them both in silence. Miles seemed to only be around eleven or twelve years old, but yet he still looked oddly familiar. . .

Miles finally stepped back and noticed Dylan there. He blinked and looked between the two water Trainers, confusion, worry, and a little bit of curiosity on his young face. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Nessa and Dylan looked at each other for a second, before laughing a little. "No, not anymore," Nessa answered.

Miles tilted his head to the side. "Then why is he. . ?"

The woman put her hand on his head. "You'll understand when you're older; we're just friends. In the meantime. . ." She moved towards the stand Miles had had. "Do you have your family's herbs and spices?"

Miles sighed and nodded. "Aye." He ran around to the back of the stand and lifted up a woven basket of plants, all neatly tied up into groups. Basil, mint, and parsley were the ones that she recognized at first glance as she took the basket from him.

"Thank you Miles." She smiled. "I'm sure the restaurant will be grateful for these." Nessa turned around to Dylan and called his name. "Go and get a basket of Arrokuda from that stand over there. Tell them that I sent you, and that I'll pay them as soon as I can." She motioned to another stand a few meters away.

"Aye-aye, Captain," Dylan said, giving a small salute before leaving to gather the fish.

Nessa sighed, rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry again for forgetting about this. We were just passing by when I remembered what day it was."

"It's okay!" Miles grinned at her, his smile contagious. Soon Nessa found the corner of her lips lifting upwards.

"Oh, by the way, how's your brother? I haven't heard from him in a while." She readjusted the basket of spices in her arms.

"He's fine! He says it's sometimes hard keeping track of our Wooloo and farms, but I help so it's all good." He tilted his head and looked up at her for a second, a confused expression on his face. "He told me to tell you to watch out for a Trainer named Gloria. . ?" He was quiet for a few seconds before his face lit up again. "Oh, I almost forgot this!" He raced back behind the stand and reached down. When he stood back up straight, he was holding a small white flower in between his fingers. It had six petals; three in a group on top and three on the bottom. Dark purple spots decorated the centers of the petals.

"Milo told me to give this to you. It's a lily!" He beamed, proud, and reached up towards Nessa. She bent down to his height and let him place the lily in her hair.

Nessa smiled softly. "Tell your brother I said thank you. For everything."

"I will!" He looked at her. "Do you like your lily? Milo told me about some lilies that grow on the water, called water lilies. But we didn't have any of those on the farm. . ."

"I do like it, thank you." Nessa nodded. "Although, is this way of apologizing for saying that I'm not his true rival?" Miles didn't answer. "It's fine if it is. I'm content just being his friend, as long as he's alright with it."

Miles sighed quietly in relief. "Phew. I'll make sure to tell him that."

"I've got the fish," Dylan announced, walking to them with a basket in his arms, filled with Arrokuda and a even few Wishiwashi. He carried them to Miles and placed them into the younger boy's hands.

"Thank you," Miles told him. "You two should probably get going back to your Gym. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."

Nessa and Dylan nodded. "Thank you again, Miles. Tell Milo I said hi, okay?" Miles nodded, and the Water Trainers both turned and left after saying bye one last time.

"What was that all about?" The blonde glanced at his friend.

"He comes by every Saturday with herbs and spices for the restaurant here. I usually give him some fresh fish in return for them." She smiled.

"Hmm. . . That's a pretty flower you've got there," Dylan commented suddenly as they left the marketplace. They had to go back to the Gym; Nessa would bring the plants over to the restaurant later that day.

"It's a lily. Miles said it was from Milo. . ." Nessa could feel her face heat up slightly, knowing that Dylan was taking it the wrong way.

"Ooh, do you think he—"

"Not in a million years. We're just friends, and this lily is just an apology for something he said a while ago. And besides," she looked at him. "You have no room to talk. Not with the way Heather's been looking at you lately."

Dylan blinked. "Heather? Aw, come on, Nessa. You know I don't like her like that."

Nessa raised an eyebrow at him. "Keep telling yourself that. You may not like her, but she likes you. And whether you realize it or not, I've seen the smiles you give her when you think no one's looking. You liiiike her," she teased. 

"What? No I don't." He sighed. "You act like a little kid sometimes with your crazy ideas like this." Nessa held his gaze, not saying anything. "Okay, what's that supposed to mean? Please tell me."

"Not until you admit you like her!" And with that, Nessa sped up, reaching her Gym.

Dylan groaned. "You sound so much like Bea. . ." And then he followed her inside the Gym.

Did I seriously have half of this chapter be a non-essential bonus scene that makes zero sense? Yes, yes I did.

I'm sorry..

Anyway though, Nessa's pretty cool. I mean, I liked her in the Twilight Wings episode..

Honestly, I wrote a good portion of this chapter at midnight, since that's the only time lately that I've been getting any motivation to write. (But then the problem is I make mistakes and it makes zero sense)

Oh well. I didn't feel like holding this chapter out any longer.

I apologize if this chapter made no sense. Again, I wrote nearly all of it at midnight. Also, I was really planning on having the battle between Nori and Cinnamon vs Tuff and Val, but my brain just gave out. That, and I also just wanted to publish this.

And as for Marnie, there are several instances in the games that show that she likes Hop. I'm not saying I ship them, I'm just simply putting it in here.

I can't think of any question, so... what are some questions I should ask in future chapters?

•••

Also, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be. It could be a week, or it could be a month. I'm not sure.

All I do know is that school is extremely stressing, and finding the time/energy/motivation/ideas to write is difficult as well.

I apologize again. This story is falling apart.....