"Taika and Denver, Leaf Storm and Dazzling Gleam!" Stella cried desperately as her pokemon dodged another attack from Astro's team.

Her pokemon panted and followed her orders. Kalliope was twice as strong now that she had evolved. The first part of the battle had been spent with Kalliope testing her strength. She had Denver hanging by a thread after a Psychic attack, but he was saved by Synthesis. Taika had a rivalry going on with Kalliope, but she had been busy with Blaze, who was trying to take out Denver.

"Disarming Voice and Brick Break!" Astro shouted as his pokemon became surrounded in razor fragments.

Blaze charged at Stella's Torterra before smashing his fist into Denver's shell. Denver roared and was pushed aside from the impact. At the same time, Kalliope gave another shriek and caused damage to Taika. The Delphox howled and covered her ears.

"Try Mythical Fire and Earthquake!" Stella told her pokemon.

She saw her pokemon nod before leaping into action. The ground shook as Taika jumped on top of Denver. She pulled out her staff and shot another inferno toward their opponents. Kalliope and Blaze weren't as quick this time and both got hit by the inferno. Then the ground shook so hard that rocks were thrown everywhere. The Gardevoir and Blaziken gave loud cries as they weakly ducked around the boulders.

"Psychic and Fire Blast!" Astro instructed his pokemon while Poe and Nyx encouraged them.

Kalliope gave a shrieky cry as her eyes glowed. A pale blue aura surrounded the Delphox and Torterra as they were lifted above the ground. The Blaziken roared and shot a star shaped fire attack at the struggling pokemon, hitting both of them. They were then thrown across the field and landed in front of Stella.

"Denver, Taika!" Stella gasped, dropping to her knees to check on her pokemon. Taika and Denver both shakely straightened up. Both of them were covered with dirt and looked very weak.

Stella bit her lip and hugged them. She then whispered, "I'm so sorry for putting you through this, it's my fault, I wasn't expecting Kalliope to evolve-"

She stopped. That was the same thing she had told Taika and Starry after her loss at the Grand Festival. She kept blaming herself for their losses, how she was unprepared for the battle. But wasn't that what battling was about? Facing the unknown?

A million memories ran through Stella's mind.

Everything that downs me makes me wanna fly...

"It wasn't you guys' fault, no one was expecting the Mega Evolution..."

Take that money, watch it burn...

"...I wasn't prepared for that. I'm sorry for failing you both..."

Sink in the river of the lessons I've learned...

"I know we can't force you to be happy, but we have been trying so hard to get you moving again!"

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.

Stella let go of her pokemon and told them, her voice stronger, "Let's finish this battle."

Her pokemon beamed weakly at the sound of Stella's strong voice returning. Taika and Denver stood up and went back onto the field as Starry, Evian, and the rest began cheering for them.

Stella then stood up proudly and faced Astro. She would no longer run and hide from losing. She would face it like every other loser. After all, everything that killed her made her feel alive.

"Leech Seed on Blaze!" Stella ordered Denver, who roared and obeyed.

The Torterra began shooting seeds out into the rocky field. The seeds sprouted and traveled through the ground before suddenly tearing up from the ground and binding the Blaziken down.

"Now, Taika, use Fire Blade!"

Taika howled and shot a great stream of fire from her mouth. Then with her psychic powers, the Delphox formed the flames into a long sword. Taika put her wand in her tail before taking the sword and charging at Kalliope.

"Kalliope, make your own blade using your aura!" Astro ordered his Gardevoir.

Kalliope concentrated and a second later she was holding a long, pale blue blade. It was like a large fang and needle into one. Kalliope shrieked and ran to meet Taika. The two blades clashed and clanged loudly. The two pokemon growled at each other as they tried to push the other off.

"Denver, Leaf Storm one last time!"

Stella heard the pokemon yell with surprise as a great storm of razor sharp leaves zoomed out from behind Taika. Kalliope shrieked and her blade vanished as she and Blaze were consumed by the storm. Taika huffed and fell on one knee, the blade disappearing from her paw as the storm subsided.

"Blaziken and Gardevoir are unable to battle!" Raven shouted as the two opponents had fainted. "The winner is Stella!"

Stella yelped as she was pushed over by the weight of all her pokemon. Taika, Evian, and Starry had leapt onto her for a hug while Denver tried licking her face. She laughed and gave each of her pokemon a hug. She even heard Caramia and Raven chant happily, "Stella's back!"

"Good battle!"

Stella looked up to see Astro holding out his hand. She took it and he pulled her up. He was grinning widely like all his pokemon, even exhausted Blaze and Kalliope.

"Same to you," Stella replied with a grin. "Thank you so much, I wish I could repay you."

Astro smiled sheepishly and answered, "Actually, there is one thing."

~✨*⭐️*✨~

"Lawdy, eating too slow, princess?" Astro teased as he watched Stella shovel down her sundae.

"What?" Stella asked defensively with her mouth full. "Battling makes me hungry."

"Heh, no criticism there."

Stella and Astro were on a "date". He had taken her back to Vanilluxe Ice Cream Parlour, but only if Raven and Caramia were able to keep an eye on them. At that moment, the two troublemakers were inside the parlour with their pokemon in a booth near a window. There was never a moment where someone wasn't watching the two of them. Taika, Starry, Evian, Nyx, Kalliope, and Poe were out of their pokeballs as well, and were sitting at the next table.

"So," Astro started and giving Stella his full attention. "Would ya mind telling me your story?"

"My what?"

"Your pokemon journey. I'd like ta hear it."

"If you tell me yours, then ok," Stella agreed, thinking back to her journey. "I started my journey in Kalos three years ago with my cousins, and I started off with Fennekin. I eventually caught Starry as an Espurr and started training to be Kalos Queen. I got three keys, but I still lost.

"I then came back home to try the League, and I caught Evian as a Meditite. I got all the badges but didn't pass the Elite Four. Then I came to Sinnoh and started out with Denver as a Turtwig. I trained hard to be Top Coordinator, and you know how that ended."

"I started my journey in Kalos too," Astro told her. "Blaze was my starter, and I caught Nyx shortly afterward. I soon found a clan of Ralts and its evolution forms. I became friends with one of them, and she joined my team. After that I met Poe, who joined before I left for Johto. It was there that I decided to do contests. I got five ribbons, but I lost in the appeals. Kalliope had accidentally tripped up."

Astro glanced at his Gardevoir before continuing, "It was hard seeing everyone move on without us. But I saw things that helped me grow."

"Like what?"

"Well, I watched as the coordinators moving up bragged in front of the people who lost in the appeals and put them down. I also witnessed those who lost near the final round complain about how they didn't win or didn't get enough 'screen time'. They taught me if I ever made it past the appeals, be grateful for the rank you place."

The two of them fell silent. After an awkward silence, Stella told him, "I'm sorry for the way I acted after the semifinals."

"What?"

"When you told me I should smell the roses, or enjoy the small moments, I lashed out. You're right, I'm very driven, and I apologize."

"No, I should apologize," Astro insisted. "I see lots of trainers spending so much time training that they don't enjoy the smaller moments. I didn't want to see that happen to you."

"Well I guess I have to make up for lost time," Stella sighed, looking sadly at her pokemon. "I don't know what to do right now..."

Astro tilted his head thoughtfully. He then told her, "Come with me."

"Huh?" Stella said uncertainly.

"I'm going to Kalos next week, you could come. You can bring your friends too if ya want."

Stella was taken aback by this. She had no plans or ideas on where to go, so she was tempted by the offer. Besides, the experience could be enjoyable, but she'd feel better if either Raven or Caramia came along too.

"If Caramia or Raven come, then I accept." She finally answered.

Astro beamed and told her happily, "That's great, I could use the company! Now we can smell the roses and count the stars together."

Stella grinned as well. She felt extremely pleased that she would have a new journey to go on and 'count the stars'. It was time to start over. She had a feeling that great adventures now lay ahead of her and her friends.

~✨*⭐️*✨~

~✨*⭐️*✨~

In Memory of Christina Grimmie
March 12, 1994, to June 11, 2016

This story, "We'll Be Counting Stars," is dedicated to the woman who inspired me to sing and reach for the stars. You will be greatly missed.