Ori tucked her Machoke in, and then the two of us sat in silence.

"Hello! Earth to Marnie? Are you there, Marnie?" Ori asked playfully, before shuffling closer to me. "So, I want to talk to you."

"Talk away," I responded, glancing into her brown eyes.

"So, how are things back in Spikemuth? I'm just wondering how it is back there since the last time I visited," she murmured, shuffling closer.

I checked to see if her Machoke was listening, before realising the Pokemon was fast asleep. I quickly composed myself before responding to Ori. "Not too good. E'er since I became the Gym Leader o' Spikemuth, boys won't stop goin' after me. It's bloody 'orrible, and they won't give me a break," I rambled.

"And how is Piers coping with all that stupidity?" Ori asked, with a light giggle accompanying her query.

"As well as you'd think the bloody well rockstar'd take i'," I repiled and folded my arms defiantly. "He's so damn protective, you know. He doesn' let nothin' stop 'im from proctectin' me."

Ori gave me a faint smile. "As he'd need to be. He protects you as he does because he bloody well loves ya, y'know," she murmured.

"An' wha' about you, eh? You know, with Lune celebratin' the two year anniversary of her journey a couple days ago," I teased, looking over at her concerned face.

"I'm kind o' concerned for Lune. Imagine the attention she's getting just because Leon pretended to be champion just for her. He even went through the whole 'a bright new future for Galar' essay with her. I don' know, it's hard. I just hope she's okay. Hop was her rival an' all..." She rested her chin in her hands, looking at me. "You understand, don' you?"

"Yeah, I guess I understand. Must be hard on a lass like her." I gave my best smile to Ori and stroked her arm. "It's all goin' ta be alright, okay?"

She smiled back, a warm blush creeping up her cheeks. "Thank you, Marnie."

"You're welcome, Champ," I replied, resting my head on her shoulder.

She flushed bright red, and panicked for a moment. Seeming flustered, Ori glanced up at me. A second later, Ori's head was on my shoulder and she fell asleep. She was definitely tired in the Flying Taxi on the way to the Hotel, and she was definitely tired now. When she was fast asleep on my shoulder, I attempted to lift her up like a small child. I held her legs with one hand and her spinal area with the other. I glanced down at her. She looked so serene, like nothing in the world could possibly hurt her. I placed her on the left hand side of the bed and tucked her in.

Ori was fast asleep as well as her Machoke, and all the rest of our Pokemon were relaxed. All of us able to sleep soundly. That was, except for me. I tossed and turned, unable to get to sleep no matter how hard I tried. I even forcibly shut my eyes, but to no avail — nothing seemed to work. This was hopeless. My heart was beating like a drum, and I lay awake. I stared at the fancy ceiling above me.

I couldn't sleep, no matter how hard I tried. I ended up scrolling through Rotogram like a hopeless wreck. I looked at Piers's latest post. It was something about a new concert. I smiled — a real smile— for the first time in what felt like an age. Piers seemed genuinely happy for the first time in ages, which made my eyes glisten with hope — maybe I could be happy like that one day. My phone buzzed for the first time in an age. It was a message from that pompous bampot, Bede.

I responded to it, and then I put my phone down. I was finally ready to get some real shut-eye, and nobody would stop me from achieving my dreams. If only that could be the truth. If it was, I might have a single bit of hope. My eyes fluttered shut, urging me to fall asleep. And I did, drool on the pillow and a faint blush on my cheeks.

At around five the next morning, my Rotom phone buzzed with intensity. Somebody was calling me. I tapped the 'call' button, and picked up the phone. Resting it on my shoulder, I stared wistfully out of the window.

I finished the conversation and pressed the 'end call' button, staring hopelessly up at the ceiling — as if it was to give me answers to all of my problems. I got up from the bed and walked around the gradually lightening hotel room, tripping on a stray Heal Ball that had fallen out of my bag.

"Bloody hell! I'm a bloody fookin' bampot, aren't I?!" I cursed, limping about the room. "Damn, damn, damn! Now, that really bloody well hurts to trip on!"

"Morning... Marnie..." Ori murmured slowly, rubbing her eyes.

"Sorry tha' I woke you up. Me bloody Rotom phone rang an' I tripped on a stray 'Eal Ball on the ground. I should 'ave packed up," I apologised, looking at her reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I'm used to 'ow damn loud you are when you trip in the middle of the night," Ori replied, smiling faintly. "I've 'ad enough sleepovers with you to expect it."

"How nice of ya to say tha'," I murmured under my breath. I looked up at her. "Anyway, anyway." I clapped loudly to draw attention to my suggestion. "I thought we coul' bring the boys o'er 'ere." I gave her a faint half smile. "We actually 'ave a buffet table in this 'ere hotel room."

"A buffet table... a REAL buffet table?!" Ori shouted in awe. "You know the one — the one in Pokegyver?"

I pointed towards the table nearest to the window, which had a bunch of plates, bowls and pots of food. Cooker hoods hung overhead, warming up the food below them. There was a Berry dispenser — Cherri Berries, Grepa Berries and Tamato Berries galore. My Morpeko would enjoy this table. The table also had all the cutlery you could possibly need on it, including teaspoons and dessert forks.

Ori was in awe at the very sight, and nodded.

"I don't see why not," she murmured, gazing at the table. "Okay, I need to know what are in those damned pots!" She ran up to the table excitedly. Just like a little kid.

I smiled as I looked at her. I'd tell her how I felt towards her... eventually. But today was Bede and Hop's day. Today, I would focus on them and how they're feeling. I hummed to myself, a blank expression crossing my features.

"Oi there, Marnie!" Ori shouted, already stuffing her face with Sweet Herb Medley Curry, smiling. "Why don't you actually start calling 'em? This tastes great!"

I smiled at the sight of her eating.

"Come on now, don't just stand there, CALL THEM!" She hollered.

"Alright, alright! Careful now, or there won't be any left for Hop, Bede an' Leon!" I shouted, and typed Hop's number into my Rotom phone's keypad.

Ori's Machoke woke up at the sight of Ori's cheeks filled to the brim with curry. She laughed and walked over to meet her Trainer, who was still trying to prevent herself from stuffing her face with food.

I hung up from the call and tapped my foot. I waited for them to arrive to the hotel room. Soon, I heard ringing. The doorbell.

The door burst open.

"What was tha' about a buffet?" Hop hollered.

"...Mff?" Ori tried to say, and then gulped down her mouthful. "Come the hell in, this food is bloody good."

"We brought our Pokemon with us for a reason," Bede muttered.

And then, they saw the food.

"Hey, wait! Don't start wi'out me!" A distinct voice shouted. Leon.