Three months later...

"Isn't it nice to get out and about?" Caramia asked as she fanned herself off with a magazine.

"Sure is!" Raven agreed as she ate her ice cream sundae.

Stella, however, sighed and stirred her soda with a straw.

Three months had passed since the Sinnoh Grand Festival, and she was still depressed over her loss. The trio had returned to their hometown, Lilycove City of Hoenn, right after the Festival. However, Stella spent most of her time inside and avoided the media. She felt sick and furious every time she saw anything related to Savannah or the Grand Festival.

Her depression had also rubbed off onto her pokemon, especially Taika and Starry. Caramia, Raven, and her two other pokemon had tried lifting their spirits, but nothing had worked. Today Caramia had decided to treat everyone to Lilycove's ice cream parlour, which the girls had been going to since they were young.

Noticing Stella's moping, Caramia adjusted her sunglasses and huffed, "Really, Stella, the Grand Festival, was ages ago! It's summer! Try and at least enjoy the nice weather!"

"Vanilluxe Ice Cream Parlour use to be your favorite place to eat at!" Raven added. "You use to beg Mom and Dad to take us here!"

Stella merely grumbled, and Taika, who was sitting between Tarzan and Evian at the next table, gave a sigh like her trainer's. Starry was also sitting with the others, and he too looked miserable.

Caramia looked from Stella to each of her pokemon before finally telling her cousin, "Stella, seriously, this needs to stop! I know we can't force you to be happy, but we have been trying so hard to get you moving again! Yes, it was unfair that Savannah won the battle by the use of Mega Evolution, but that was three months ago, Stella, THREE MONTHS!"

"And there are more important things happening in the world now!" Raven added, taking up the newspaper from the center of the table and reading the front page aloud. "Team Plasma raids Driftveil City, Lavaridge Town Gym Leader quits-"

"Holy smokes, really?!" Caramia snapped, swiping the paper from Raven. "Awesome! I've been wanting to try out for Gym Leader! It's a Fire Type Gym too!"

Stella took a sip of her soda to hide her smile while her cousin rambled on about signing up for tryouts and wondering if her main rival, Flannery, would be there. It was Caramia's dream to be a Gym Leader. Raven also dreamed of being a Gym Leader because of her role model, Wallace.

Dreams...

The frown reappeared on Stella's face. Why did none of her goals work out? Why did everyone accomplish their goals but her? What did she do to deserve being left in the shadows? Would anyone see her as an inspiration or remember her name?

"Stella, what's wrong with Starry?" Raven's voice asked, making Stella return to reality.

Her Meowstic had suddenly leapt onto the table, one of his ears unfurled. Stella stared at him before she too heard singing.

I see this life
Like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line
In my face's flashing signs
Seek it out and ye shall find

"Starry!" Stella gasped as he mewed and leapt over the side of the parlour porch and down toward the street.

"Where's he going?!" Raven yelped, standing up and looking over the porch.

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said, no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars

"There!" Caramia shouted as she too ran to look over the porch and pointed at something on the street.

I feel the love and I feel it burn
Down this river, every turn
Hope is a four-letter word
Take that money, watch it burn

Stella and the remaining pokemon ran over to meet the other two. Starry was winding his way through a small crowd on the street. They were all watching...

I could lie, could lie, could lie
Everything that downs me makes me wanna fly

Was it really him? What was he doing in Hoenn? Why here?

Take that money and watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I learned

"Starry, wait!" Stella cried, leaping over the porch and landing on the ground. She heard her friends shouting at her as she pushed through the crowd.

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Lately I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
Baby I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars

"Starry, don't run off like that!" she scolded Starry as she picked him up, but her eyes landed on the boy doing the performance. He was playing the guitar and singing while his Pancham, Kirlia, and Meowstic danced.

Astro Gomez.

"Stella, don't do that!" Caramia scolded as she, Raven, and their pokemon caught up to Stella just as the performance ended and everyone applauded.

"Wait, do you know him?" Raven questioned after seeing the look on her sister's face as the crowd dispersed.

"We met at the Grand Festival," Stella answered. "He was my semifinal opponent."

"Oh, now I remember! Let's go say hi!"

"What?!"

"Great idea!" Caramia agreed, taking Stella by the arm and dragging her over to Astro. "Yoohoo, cute dude with the guitar!"

"Caramia!" Stella snapped, blushing greatly.

Astro, who was putting his guitar in its case, turned around to see the three girls.

"Howdy," he greeted the trio in a friendly manner. "I remember you from the Grand Festival. Stella, right?"

"Right..." Stella muttered grumpily.

"Forgive her attitude, she's always like this now," Caramia told the boy. "I'm her cousin, Caramia, and that's my partner, Tarzan."

"I'm Raven, and this is Pearly!" Raven introduced as Tarzan and Pearly gave their greetings.

"Pleasure to meet you, ladies! I'm Astro, and this is Poe, Nyx, and my partner, Kalliope!" He added as his pokemon gave small cries.

"So you've met my cousin?" Caramia asked, looking from Stella to Astro.

"Semifinal opponents, and we got to know each other afterwards."

"Then maybe you could help us," Raven started, exchanging looks with Caramia. "In case you didn't know, Stella lost the Grand Festival, and she's been really depressed ever since."

"Raven!"

"We've tried absolutely everything to cheer her up, so we're kinda at a loss," Caramia continued, ignoring Stella. "So we were wondering if a cute dude like you would be able to help us with some ideas."

Stella's face was burning with embarrassment. Why did they have to ask him of all people for advice? It was undoubtedly one of their plans to get her a boyfriend.

However, Astro took it in his stride and said while scratching his chin, "Well I can try, but I don't how helpful I'll be."

"We're desperate, so anything will work," Raven insisted. "What'd you got?"

Astro looked from Stella, Starry, Evian, and to Taika. He then suggested, "Well when's the last time you've had a battle?"

"A battle?" Stella echoed.

"Sure, a battle helps vent off some of that steam. How 'bout a tag battle like the ones at the Grand Festival?"

Stella stared at him. She had not had a battle in weeks. She looked at Evian, Starry, and Taika. They all looked eager about the idea of the battle. How could she say no?

"Alright," Stella answered Astro, a very small smile appearing on her face. "Challenge accepted."

~✨*⭐️*✨~

"Are both sides ready?" Caramia called from the side of Lilycove's local battlefield in the park, standing next to Raven, Pearly, Evian, Starry, Nyx, Poe, and Tarzan.

"Yeah," Stella called from her side while Astro answered, "Yes, ma'am!"

"Then let the battle begin!" Raven cheered, making Caramia scowl.

"Blaze, Kalliope!" Astro shouted, throwing two pokeballs into the air.

Astro's Kirlia landed gracefully next to a huge Blaziken, which was twice her size.

"Taika, Denver, come out!" Stella yelled, throwing out her own pokeballs.

Her Delphox gave a loud cry as she landed on the battlefield. Next to her appeared a humongous turtle-like pokemon, which gave a loud roar. Denver had evolved into Torterra since the Grand Festival.

"Kalliope, start out with Psychic on Torterra!" Astro told his Kirlia after he was given permission to go first. "Blaze, Shadow Claw on Delphox!"

"Intercept with Dazzling Gleam, Taika!" Stella told her pokemon as Astro's took action. "Denver, Withdraw!"

Her pokemon gave loud cries and followed her orders. Denver retreated into his large shell as the Kirlia's aura surrounded him and tossed him across the field. Taika pulled out her staff as it glowed pink and stopped the Blaziken's Shadow Claw. Sparks flew off the attacks as the Fire Types wrestled against each other until Taika finally threw Blaze backwards.

"Leaf Storm and Dazzling Gleam!"

"Dodge it!"

Denver reappeared out of his shell and shed the leaves off the trees on his back. They swirled together and charged the opponents while Taika sent another Dazzling Gleam at Blaze and Kalliope. The two pokemon tried to avoid the sharp leaves and shards, but it was like a large storm. The Kirlia and Blaziken gave loud cries as they were swept around the field.

"Now Mythical Fire!" Stella shouted to her Delphox.

Taika howled and another mystic inferno sprouted from the tip of her staff. She then sent it spinning toward Kalliope and Blaze. Blaze wasn't effected much, but the Kirlia gave a pained cry before being thrown across the field once more.

"Kalliope, Disarming Voice! Blaze, Fire Blast!" Astro yelled.

Kalliope shakely stood up with determination and gave an ear piercing shriek. Stella winced and covered her ears as her pokemon did the same. The Blaziken took advantage of their weakness and sent a star shaped fire attack toward Denver. He roared as the flames ate away at him.

"Quick, use Earthquake!" Stella commanded.

The Torterra growled as the earth under them began to shake and rumble. Blaziken roared as the ground opened up from under it and sent him flying. The Kirlia, who had been hiding from behind a barrier, gasped as her shield shattered, leaving her defenseless. She shrieked as a rock hit her and flung her toward her trainer and landed at his feet.

Is it over already? Stella wondered as Astro ran to his pokemons' sides with his Pancham and Meowstic. I do feel a little better, I don't feel as frustrated...

"Kalliope, you alright?!" Astro asked his Kirlia as Blaze stood up while his partner didn't.

"Pancham!" Poe said to the whimpering Kirlia as Nyx meowed fretfully.

As she watched Kalliope try to stand, Stella felt guilty. Maybe she had battled too hard. She might have been pressuring her pokemon, what if-

A flash of teal light flashed from where Astro was. The Kirlia leapt up as she became wrapped with the light. Kalliope's hair shortened while she grew taller. Her skirt turned into a gown and her two pink horns disappeared.

As the light subsided, a taller version of Kirlia stood over Astro. Stella gaped at the pokemon on the field.

Kalliope had evolved into Gardevoir.

She could see Caramia and Raven freaking out on the sidelines about another evolution. At the same time, Astro and his pokemon looked at the Gardevoir with stunned disbelief. He reached out and put his hand on Kalliope's cheek. She didn't move, she merely watched her trainer patiently.

Astro then beamed and said proudly, "You're all grown up, Kalliope."

"Gar," Kalliope replied, bowing her head.

Astro, Poe, and Nyx stepped back as Kalliope and Blaze returned to the field. Astro's team was now on the same ground as Denver and Taika.

"Well, let the battle continue!" Caramia called and round two began.