The next few weeks roll on, my mind filled with everything I’ve learned, from Battle Studies with Ms. Dendra, Home Ec. With Mr. Saguaro, Pokémon Biology with Mr. Jacq, Art with Mr. Hassel… and of course many, many battles with Nemona.

  She’s strong, and I can definitely tell she’s holding back, but maybe one day, I’ll be able to make her go all-out against me and my team! My Fuecoco even evolves into Crocalor, a bigger version of itself, with a funny-looking hat or something, that seems to be a part of it.

  Finally, the day arrives. The school intercom chimes out, and then the director’s voice echoes throughout the whole building.

  “Attention, all students. Today marks the beginning of an important new assignment. Please assemble in the schoolyard, where I will expin in more detail.”

  I make my way towards my door, when Nemona bursts in. I yelp, and she squeals, “I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this! C’mon, let’s go out to the schoolyard!” she grabs my hand and hauls me outside.

  In the schoolyard, a stage has been assembled, with the Director standing atop it.

  “Excellent. It seems everyone is here. Well, then, it’s time I expined your independent study assignment. As usual, the theme will be ‘A Treasure Hunt’! I ask each of you to travel the world in search of your own treasure. You all have learned much within the walls of our fine academy… but now it is time to turn your eyes upon the wider world and deepen your understanding. Explore Paldea’s abundant nature, soak in its rich culture, discover the Pokémon that live there…and get to know the people, too. Where will you travel? Who will you meet? And what will you achieve? Of course, your Pokémon partners will be there to help you out. You will journey together… learn new things together… share each other’s thoughts and feelings… and find something you might always treasure! I look forward to welcoming you all back after your independent study, when you return to us as fine young Trainers! Let the Treasure Hunt begin! Onward!”

  A couple hours ter, I’m packed and standing at the doors leading to the main hall, the sunlight shining down. Where should I start? I could go after the Gyms, or start hunting for the Titan Pokémon and the legendary Herba Mystica they safeguard… or maybe I should find a way to get in touch with Cassiopeia? Team Star has been a pain in the arse, disrupting the library’s quiet, picking fights whenever they show up…

  Down the stairs into Mesagoza, I run into both Arven and Nemona. They seem to be having a bit of an argument… over me???

  “C’mon, Arven, you KNOW she’s gonna go for the Gyms! It’s the logical move! She won’t get stronger if she doesn’t!”

  “Seriously, is battling and getting strong ALL you think about? There’s more to life than just ‘being the strongest guy’! She can make her own choice!”

  “W-well, I never said she COULDN’T make her own choice! She’s the one who gets to pick! I just think that the Gyms would be the best option for her!”

  I step closer, and they both pause, turning towards me. “Oh, hey, Carmina! We were just trying to guess what your pns are for the Treasure Hunt!”

  I raise an eyebrow. “So, don’t I get a say? Everyone has their own interpretation of what ‘treasure’ means to them. Maybe I want to fight the Gym Leaders, maybe I wanna picnic with my Pokémon, and maybe I wanna catch ‘em all!”

  My Rotom Phone bursts into life, ringing loudly. When I answer, it’s… a number I don’t have, because there IS no number. Just like before, my phone answers itself!

  “Hey, Carmina. Cassiopeia here. It’s about Operation Starfall. Remember what I told you before? Team Star is made up of five individual squads. And each one’s got their own base. I need you to go to each base-all five of ‘em- and beat the squad boss there. Team Star’s grunts might try to get in your way, but I‘ll be helping you out… from a distance. And heads-up, the bosses each specialize in a different Pokémon type. Still, no need to worry. With your skills, I’m sure you’re up to the task. I’ll go ahead and add the bases’ locations to your map. Good luck. I’ll hook you up with some nice rewards every time you beat one.”

  Nemona stares. “Wait one second! Who are you supposed to be?! And Team Star-those punks are a serious hazard! They’re not Carmina’s problem!”

  Arven adds, “That’s right! Why should she put herself in danger to fight a gang of delinquents?!”

  Cassiopeia answers coolly, “I think it’s up to Carmina to decide whether she goes or not… wasn’t that what you said, Nemona? And Arven?”

  They both jolt back. Nemona gasps, “how do you know my-?”

  Cassiopeia ignores her. “I’m looking forward to seeing what you can pull off, Carmina. Bye.”

  She hangs up. I sign, as Arven blinks. “What was that all about?”

  Nemona looks worried. “Carmina… I’m gd you’re making plenty of friends here, but try not to get dragged into anything dangerous.”

  She cps her hands. “Anyway! No more weird vibes-we’ve got a big adventure to start! I’m gonna battle every single Pokémon Trainer I meet! If I just keep trying to become the strongest, I bet that experience will be the thing I treasure! Guess I’ll start by heading to a Gym and training up some new Pokémon! See you ter!”

  Nemona begins jogging off to the West gate of Mesagoza, waving enthusiastically. “I know we’ve been kinda running our mouths, but it really is your call! Go where you want, and do what it is that YOU wanna do the most!”

  Arven heads off towards the opposite direction from Nemona, waving. “I’ll go ahead and make a start on locating the Titans! Come find me when you’re ready!” I head for the West gate, making my way towards the nearby town of Cortondo, catching a new Pokémon for my team.

  It’s a small, grumpy-looking dog, with a rge set of jaws, and I eagerly set my sights on adding this little pupper to my party. “Maschiff, huh? Aren’t you the cutest?”

  Before doing any kind of Gym Challenge, I set about training, trying to give myself the best chance at victory, as I send out Maschiff to give him a chance to show me what he can do. Lots of barking, biting and snarling. And, even better, a little cautious spelunking in a cave netted me a great prize. A wild Gible! With a healthy pinch of luck, I manage to wear it down and cim it as my own.

  “Wow! This is awesome! I can’t believe I got a freakin’ Gible! This region has such amazing wild Pokémon!”

  After resting at the Pokémon Centre, I head back to Cortondo’s Gym, ready to take on the Leader. Nemona’s at the counter as I walk in.

  “Oh, hey! Carmina! Came to see this Gym, huh? That can only mean one thing… You’re out to earn some Gym Badges and take on the League, aren’t you?!”

  I shrug. “Well, I figured it’d be good training, but I still don’t know if I’m going to go all the way to Champion. There are personal reasons that I don’t want to expin, but I really don’t want that kind of fame or attention…”

  Nemona’s eyes widen. “Ohhh, I see. Well, how about we battle? I’ll challenge you when I think you’re ready! If I win, you tell me what’s up. If YOU win, I’ll back off and let you tell me when/if you feel like it?”

  I nod, and Nemona beams. “Alright! Man, thinking about battling you has got me all fired up! I’m off to battle every Trainer I see, until I’m ready to challenge you!”

  She sprints off, and I approach the man behind the counter. “I’d like to take on the Gym Leader, please.

  “Certainly, miss. Your name?”

  “Carmina.”

  “Thank you very much. Now, Miss Carmina. Before you can battle the Gym Leader, you need to take on the Gym Challenge. Here in Cortondo, that means… The Olive Roll! Olive production is a big part of life here. We’ve held the Olive Harvest Festival here each year for generations to usher in bumper crops! To pass our Gym Challenge, you’ll need to roll an olive-shaped ball all the way to the goal. Your efforts should help ensure we get a great olive harvest next year, too! The staffer over at the olive-rolling field will expin the rules to you in further detail! Just head to the North of town!”

  I thank him, heading outside, buying a few more Potions in case I need to heal my team, before heading to the field. The rules are simple; just get the ball into the basket, past the obstacles. Alternatively, open shortcuts by beating the Trainers blocking off parts of the course.

  With everything expined, I prepare myself. Let’s go!”

  With the giant olive in front of me, I push it down the slope, before dashing past it to challenge the first Gym Trainer, Esmeralda. She sends out a Kricketune, a big nasty bug but my Crocalor is more than enough to handle it easily due to Fire’s advantage over Bug-types.

  I even go for the second shortcut, too. Beating some Trainers might as well be my warm-up!

  Gym Trainer Antonio fares no better than his predecessor, leaving me free to punt the giant olive into the basket, completing my first Gym Challenge. Now for the Gym Leader!

  According to the staff at the Gym, the Leader is Katy, AKA ‘The Sugarbug’. Evidently, she uses Bug-types, and I’m about to take her on. I make sure I’m ready with Crocalor as my ace, and I head up to the battle court.

  Katy, it turns out, is a woman with a chef’s uniform, and mint-green hair. She’s feeding a Vivillon, the huge butterfly’s wings beating as it carries its treat off.

  “Eat up, my cute little Vivillon!”

  She turns, and smiles. “Oh? What a lovely Trainer you are! Thank you very much for your skilful olive-rolling, it was quite impressive. I am Katy, and I am the owner here at Patisserie Soapberry. Oh, that’s right-I’m not in my shop, I’m on duty as Cortondo Gym Leader right now!”

  I smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gym leader. I’m Carmina, and I’m here to challenge you! I’m sure your pastry-crafting outstrips me, but I won’t hold back in battle!”

  Katy presses a hand to her cheek. “Oh my, such fire in your eyes! Very well, I look forward to seeing what you have in store for me! But don’t let your guard down unless you would like to be knocked off your feet!”

  Taking our pces, the battle begins, a crowd already present, as I face off against Katy’s first Pokémon, a grasshopper-like Nymble. Crocalor’s Incinerate brings it down in one turn, and she’s forced to send out a Tarountu, a spider wearing a shell of silk. The same result occurs, and, finally, Katy the Sugarbug sends out… a Teddiursa.

  What? Teddiursa’s a Normal type! Wait… she couldn’t be pnning to Terastallize it into a Bug-type?!

  My worst fears are confirmed as Katy produces a Tera Orb, buffing her final Pokémon and forcing me to do the same. Crocalor crystallizes, and I order it to unleash its fiercest fire. “Incinerate!”

  However, Katy’s Teddiursa survives, and barrages my poor Pokémon with a bst of energy that knocks it over. Crocalor recovers, and I smile. We have this in the bag! As the crowd chants, cheering us both on, I raise a hand. “Crocalor… INCINERAAAATE!”

  Inhaling, my precious partner belches forth a torrent of fme, the bzing tongues of heat scorching the court as Teddiursa crashes to the ground, unconscious.

  VICTORYYYY!

  I fall to my knees and embrace Crocalor. “Well done, friend. And thank you.”

  Returning it to its Pokéball, I hurry over to Katy. “Are your Pokémon alright? I didn’t go too overboard, did I?”

  She smiles, returning Teddiursa to its ball. “No, well done, dear. I’ll get these little ones all fixed up, and then we shall celebrate your first Gym Badge, yes?”

  I nod, sighing in relief. In nought but a few minutes, Katy’s team are all healed up by the Pokémon Centre, and I let my team out, including Koraidon, so we can all enjoy some of Katy’s delicious cupcakes. They’re the most amazing things I’ve ever tasted!! So moist and light, yet just sweet enough to be satisfying without being too rich!

  Finally, after a mouth-watering snack, I bid farewell to Gym Leader Katy, and answer my Rotom Phone as a call comes through from Nemona.

  “Hey, hey, Carmina! Just had to tell you-my Pokémon are learning some pretty cool new moves! Be ready! Oh, how’d it go at the Gym, by the way?”

  I smile, touching the small metal-and-gemstone Badge. “I won, thanks to my Crocalor.”

  “Yesss! Hah haaa! I mean, it was obvious you were gonna pass, but congrats! I’m so gd I encouraged you to take the Gym Challenge! Nice job, past me! I’m training hard, too! In fact- HEY! HEY YOU! BATTLE ME! Gotta go, speak to you soon!” she hangs up.

  I giggle. No change there. I’d best head back towards Mesagoza, but decide to take a rest at the Cortondo hotel, spending the night. I should make sure to be well-rested, before returning to the capital of Paldea the next morning.

  Instead of heading out the West gate, this time I head out the East, heading towards the town of Artazón, home of the Grass-type Gym. That’s also the direction Arven went in. I might bump into him, or find some information about his goal.

  As I pass a Pokémon Centre, my Rotom Phone chimes. “Hello? Carmina here, may I help you?”

  “Hey, Carmina! It’s Arven! So, from what I can gather, the Stony Cliff Titan likes to lurk somewhere in this rocky area. I had a look around, but I couldn’t find any trace of it! Maybe it’s way up high on a cliff, or something... Naaah, that’s impossible! I don’t think it’d be hiding somewhere that tricky, so don’t go falling off any cliffs or anything trying to search it out somewhere too strange. Anyway, good luck on your Gym Challenge! Nemona called me and said you’d beaten the Cortondo Gym, so congrats on that! Anyway, I’d better get moving, bye!”

  I blink. “Okay, bye?” I murmur, as Artazón’s Pokémon Centre comes into view. There are flowerbeds everywhere! And Sunflora sculptures, too, weirdly. I head up to the main pza and locate the Gym. Nemona’s already there, but that’s to be expected at this point.

  “Vaya! Carmina?! It’s so wild that we ended up randomly visiting the same Gym at the same time-again! What a weird coincidence…”

  I raise an eyebrow, and she blushes. “I swear I’m not just sneaking ahead of you so I can lie in wait and go, “Oh wow, weird, might as well battle now that you’re here!” No, seriously! Look, to prove it, I won’t even challenge you to a battle this time! Much as I’d like to…”

  Nemona sighs wistfully. “But look at you and your Pokémon! They’ve definitely gotten stronger since st time! I’ll be cheering for ya! I’ll go train, like, maybe 20 Pokémon or so while you tackle the Gym!” She dashes out of the Gym, and I blink.

  Anyway, time to get on with the reason I came here. I approach the counter. The woman manning the reception smiles. “Welcome to the Artazón Gym! Let me register you as a challenger. Your name is… Carmina, yes? We received word that you’d beaten the Cortondo Gym, so we added your profile to our system. Anyway, in order to face Gym Leader Brassius, you’ll need to pass the Gym Challenge. Here at the Artazón Gym, that means completing a game of Sunflora Hide-and-Seek! Your task is to find 10 Sunflora hidden throughout the city. Bring them to the Sunflora Lawn, and you pass the test!”

  I nod. “Alright, I’d like to start now!”

  “Certainly! Please head outside and begin when you’re ready!”

  Heading outside, I check the location of the Sunflora Lawn, confirm my challenge status with the staffer there, and turn my mind to finding 10 of the Sunflora scattered through the town. About 45 minutes pass as I hunt for the Sunflora, finding them hidden all over the pce! In flower pots, behind signboards, even one in the battle court, which I had to fight in order to make it follow me like the others. Luckily, it’s not a difficult task, just a time-consuming one. Heading back inside the Gym, I report my success.

  Finally, I’ve earned the right to challenge the Gym Leader. Heading back to the battle court, I prepare myself for my match with Brassius, the Verdant Virtuoso!

  When I arrive, a few people are waiting to watch the match. There’s no sign of the Gym Leader, but…

  “Greetings, challenger!”

  A voice from above! Looking up, I see a man dressed in dark purple and bck, with tousled, dark green hair. He’s standing on one of the vanes of a windmill built right next to the court!

  “Hmph!”

  He leaps! Landing in a crouch in front of me, he straightens.

  “You did well to come this far! I am Brassius- and artist specializing in Grass-type Pokémon. I am also the Gym Leader here at the Artazón Gym. I was observing your Gym Challenge from atop the windmill, you know. The perception you dispyed in finding Sunflora was truly… oh, how shall I describe it? Yes! It was truly avant-garde! I can only pray that you might demonstrate that eye for beauty during our battle, as well. Enough talk! We must begin creating our colborative work of art!”

  I ready myself, taking up position at the far end of the battle court, opposite Brassius.

  The first matchup is my Crocalor vs. Brassius’ Petilil. As expected, the round goes to me, with Petilil knocked out in a single blow. Brassius’ Smoliv meets the same fate, smoking as the fmes form Crocalor’s Incinerate puts it out of the fight. Brassius seems pleased.

  “Good! Yes, this has promise! Let us lead this artistic endeavour to its conclusion at once!”

  He sends out a Sudowoodo, the rock-type ‘false tree’ Pokémon. I wait for his next move. He shouts, “Allow me to touch this work up slightly! I will call it… Truleewoodo!”

  His Tera Orb comes out, and he Terastallizes his Pokémon. I grin. “I’m NOT going to Terastallize! Incinerate, Crocalor!”

  Brassius’ eyes widen, and I smile. He didn’t expect that! As Truleewoodo attacks, the second Incinerate I commanded, bzing bright, strikes true, sending Brassius’ final Pokémon crashing to the ground, scorched and out cold.

  Brassius approaches, recalling his Sudowoodo. “Oh! What artistic tactics you employ! The patterns of your movements, the minute details of your Pokémon’s performance, everything you did was honed to perfection! Our battle was, in a word, ART! Indeed, if we could not call that a work of artistry, then nothing else in this world could be belled as such! As proof of your artistic prowess, you may have my Gym Badge! Well done!”

  After shaking hands and ciming my prize, I pin the small circur badge to my blouse, next to the Cortondo Gym Badge. Two down! Now, let’s go and poke around to see if I have any luck with finding Arven’s mysterious Titan Pokémon!

  As I head back towards the trail I’d followed from Mesagoza to get here, someone stops me.

  “Pardon me. Would you be the Carmina I’ve been hearing so much about? Nemona’s been talking about a Trainer with great potential.”

  I turn to see a man with long blonde hair, wearing teacherly clothing. It’s Mr Hassel, the art professor at Naranja!

  He doesn’t seem to recognize me, though. To be fair, I stayed quiet in his css.

  “My name is Hassel. I’m one of the Elite Four of the Pokémon League. So, tell me, young Carmina: What compels you to collect these Gym Badges and strive to be a Champion?”

  I pause. Why does everyone keep asking me that??

  “Well… I want to find my ‘treasure’, I guess. I’m not sure what that might be. I’m just… going to try anything.”

  “Asked and answered. Thank you. Naturally, there is no single correct answer. All paths lead to the Great Crater of Paldea, as they say. You know, your friend Nemona is the youngest to achieve Champion Rank in all Paldean history… it is entirely possible that such potential lies within you as well.”

  He turns and starts heading into Artazón. Pausing, he turns his head. “Should you continue striving to reach Champion Rank, you will one day have to battle me. You would be wise to train hard starting now. It will save you from experiencing the bitter regret of defeat. Good luck, Miss Carmina…”

  He leaves. I gulp. That’s… ominous. One of the four most powerful Trainers in the whole region… just warned me to get stronger. I’d be smart not to ignore his advice… maybe the Titan Pokémon will be good for that, if they even exist…

  Following the markers that Arven had sent me, I head back down the path in earnest, pausing and checking out some of the side paths, working on finding some evidence or proof of the Titan. Carefully, I explore the mountainous paths and ledges, the sun starting to set as I pause, leaning against a massive boulder. Suddenly, it starts moving!

  Stumbling, I run back a few paces as the boulder rotate, revealing it to be an utterly gigantic Kwf, a crablike Pokémon. I send out my Crocalor, worried for our safety. The battle begins, and I end up using half a dozen Potions just to keep Crocalor in fighting shape.

  After a fierce battle, the Kwf retreats, scuttling over the edge of the cliff. I follow, Koraidon allowing me to ride on its back. The Kwf’s shattered a boulder at the bottom, revealing a cavernous space behind it, and begun to eat… some kind of glowing pnt. Arven sprints into view, having been attracted by the sound.

  “Carmina! You… you found it?! And THAT thing’s the Stony Cliff Titan?! No Kwf has any business being THAT big! Is it gonna be even stronger now, after eating those herbs…?”

  I look him dead in the face. “Help me, Arven. This thing was powerful enough already; I don’t think I can beat it alone if I have to fight it a second time…”

  “Right!”

  Arven steps up, sending out a Shellder, my Crocalor snapping its jaws as we prepare for round 2. Fight!

  Arven fistpumps. “This is looking a little rough. Shellder, let’s serve up a helping of defeat-on the half shell!”

  I groan, unable to stop myself from grinning at the awful joke. With Arven’s help, the battle is a lot less one-sided. Having some help means I can focus on letting loose and really beating on the Titan. Despite its powered-up state, the mega Kwf eventually reels back, crashing onto its back.

  I sigh, as Arven whoops. “Alright! Look at my little buddy, coming through like a champ! But these Titan Pokémon are… yeesh. I sure don’t like having something so tough out to get me!”

  I nod, and we proceed into the cave, as Arven sniffs the air. “I bet somewhere in here there’s more of that Herba Mystica the Titan was eating. Quick, let’s have a look around before it wakes up!”

  Deeper in the cave, we hunt around, before Arven shouts in excitement. “No way! There!” I join him in a dead sprint towards a small clump of the glowing pnt the Kwf was snacking on.

  “This is one of the Herba Mystica, alright! It’s exactly how it looked in the book!”

  Arven plucks a few sprigs, and, upon tasting it, he grins. “It’s… sweet! We actually found one! And it’s all thanks to you, Carmina! Now, then… let’s see what the book has to say… it says…. The Sweet Herba Mystica is good for gut health and helps aid digestion. Says it’s great for stomach aches, too, or when you want to stimute the ol’ appetite!”

  He tucks the book away, murmuring, “Now, if I can just get him to eat some…”

  What? Get who to eat?