Chloe bounced up the stairs to the gym. It was really happening, their first gym battle. She couldn't wait.

  “Easy Princess,” Fiona said from behind her, “We’re just registering today.”

  Chloe stopped on the top step and twirled.

  “Don't pretend like you aren't just as hyped,” she countered, “You were practically trembling during breakfast.”

  “Nah, that was Eleanor,” Fiona replied, jerking a thumb the girl in question. Eleanor was fidgeting, playing with her camera on its lanyard around her neck.

  “I’m fine,” Eleanor protested. “I’m just… preparing myself… Troy, what are you doing?”

  Troy was next to her, stretching like he was about to start a sprint. He paused, one leg raised, and looked at Eleanor with a puzzled expression.

  “I’m preparing,” he declared, “Just like you.”

  Eleanor rolled her eyes, and muttered something about “Stupid meat heads” that Chloe didn't quite catch. Still, she couldn't help but notice that Eleanor had stopped fidgeting. Another piece of Troy magic.

  “Come on!” She said, turning to enter the gym.

  The lobby was, in a word, verdant. Even if Chloe had no idea who the leader was, she would have been immediately able to tell what type they specialised in. Pots, planters and pictures of greenery filled the space.

  There were quite a few trainers in the room, but nowhere near as many as had been in Jubilife. This early into the Challenge, the only people challenging Gardenia would be locals, and the oddball groups like theirs.

  Chloe bounced her way to the counter, the others trailing behind her. The woman there looked up as they approached, taking in the obvious trainer garb.

  “Here to register?” The receptionist asked, and Chloe nodded.

  “Yep! All four. Priority slots if you’ve got them!”

  The woman nodded. “I’ll see what we have open. Can I see your IDs please?”

  They all reached into their bags to find their IDs. Well, three of them did. Troy pulled his out of his hat. For some reason.

  Chloe placed her ID on the counter, alongside her ACE badge, and Eleanor’s eyes widened.

  “Wait,” the other girl said, “Chloe, you're an Ace?”

  Chloe frowned.

  “Yeah? You didn't know?” she asked.

  Eleanor shook her head. “No! It makes sense though, I knew you were too good.”

  Then she paused, and looked at Fiona, who was smugly placing her own Ace badge on the counter.

  “Wait, you too?” Eleanor asked, “Wait. No, of course you are.”

  Eleanor and Troy slid their own IDs onto the counter, where the receptionist examined them each in turn, before nodding. She typed away for a bit.

  “Well, plenty of good news” the woman said. “You two are the first Aces to challenge Gardenia this season. That means you get prime time slots tomorrow evening.”

  Chloe pumped her fist. Tomorrow! She couldn't wait.

  “In addition,” the receptionist continued, “You two can both expect to your matches to be broadcast.”

  Chloe froze.

  “Broadcast? Like, TV?”

  “Yes, cameras will be present…”

  “Which network? What time? I need to call my Mum!” Chloe gushed, and Fiona patted her on the shoulder.

  “Easy girl,” Fiona said, “Do that after.”

  She turned to the receptionist.

  “What time are we on?” Fiona asked.

  “You are 5pm. Miss Bellamy is scheduled for 5:45,” she replied.

  “As for Miss Sandhurst and Mr Troy, let me see what I can do.”

  “Mr Troy?” Chloe asked, looking at the Troy in question.

  “Yep!” He replied, “First name Troy, last name Troy. So nice they named me twice!”

  Chloe turned to Eleanor, who was shaking her head.

  “He’s not lying,” the girl confirmed, “That's his name.”

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  Chloe and Fiona stared. Hard.

  They were interrupted by the Receptionist.

  “Looks like I can get you both in tomorrow as well. Troy first, then Miss Sandhurst. 1 and 1:30,” she said.

  She slid their IDs back, and they all collected them.

  “Are these times acceptable?”

  The group nodded, thanked the woman, and left the gym, Chloe practically vibrating with excitement.

  “Hi Mum!”

  Chloe was sitting on her bed in her room, Mimi in her lap, phone in hand.

  “Chloe, sweet heart!” Her Mum replied, “How are you? Everything going well?”

  “Yep, smooth as silk!” Chloe said, “We’re in Eterna City.”

  “Eterna? Didn't I hear something about the Forest on the news?” Mum asked.

  “Yeah, something about the wild Pokemon being stirred up,” Chloe said, “But we were through before then.”

  Chloe had decided that she wouldn't be telling her Mum about almost dying, she had a feeling Mum would react badly to that, and she didn't want her to worry.

  “Well that's good,” Mum said, “This means you’ll have a Gym Battle soon, yes?”

  Chloe nodded.

  “Yep! Me and the girls are ready for it, or, we hope we are. Oh wait, you haven't met Reinette yet!”

  Chloe shifted the camera so that Reinette, perched on the side of the bed, came into view.

  “Oh, she's gorgeous!” Mum cooed, and Reinette pretended not to be pleased.

  “Yeah, she's tough too. She’s our Ace for this battle.”

  “I wish I could be there,” Mum said, “This is so exciting.”

  Chloe paused, then smacked herself.

  “Oh, right. You can!” She said excitedly,

  “My match is going to be on TV!”

  Mum’s eyes widened.

  “Really what channel? I need to call your Grandmother, we can all watch it together. What are you wearing? Something nice I hope?” Her Mum gushed.

  Chloe was halfway through laughing at her reaction when she froze.

  “Chloe? What's wrong?”

  “I haven't picked my outfit,” Chloe muttered, horror filling her as the realisation dawned.

  “What was that sweetie?” Mum asked.

  “I HAVEN'T PICKED MY OUTFIT!” Chloe shouted, standing, forgetting that Mimi was in her lap and spilling the sleepy Mawile onto the bed.

  “Gotta go, love you Mum, bye!” She blurted, hitting the end call button and racing to her bag.

  This. Was. A. Disaster.

  Fiona sat on her own bed, going through her preparations. She had Thistle’s Pokeball in hand, and was carefully polishing it until it shined.

  The balls belonging to Star and Tank were already spotless, sitting on the bed in front of her. She had her Pokedex and Poketch next to them, likewise immaculately clean. Her outfit for tomorrow was laid out on the floor, everything crisp, clean and ready to go.

  It was her ritual. Every time, before a test or important challenge, she would do this same routine. It calmed her, made her feel in control. Tomorrow was her first official battle as a Trainer, and she intended to make a statement.

  Her door crashed open.

  “Fiona, I don't have anything to wear!” Chloe shouted, tumbling through the doorway, arms filled with clothes.

  Fiona raised an eyebrow at the blonde, who failed to wither under her piercing gaze.

  “I am pretty sure you have plenty to wear,” Fiona remarked dryly, watching as Chloe dropped a whole pile of outfits on the floor.

  “You know what I mean!” Chloe replied, fishing through the pile of clothing, “We’re going to be on TV Fiona, and nothing here is right!”

  Fiona sighed, placing the Pokeball carefully on the bed. Looks like she was doing this now.

  “First of all,” Fiona said, “That jacket is a hard no. Mustard is not your colour.”

  Chloe examined the jacket that she was holding, before tossing it to one side.

  “Second,” Fiona continued, “What message are you trying to send?”

  Chloe frowned, “Uhh, I’m adorable and pretty and an awesome trainer? But like, approachable and nice and perfectly normal, but not too normal, you know? It needs to say…”

  “Okay, I get it,” Fiona said, holding up her hands to ward off the Chloe babble, “let's see what we can do.”

  Fiona examined Chloe, assessing. The blonde had a thing for skirts, lots of layers, and accessories. Oh so many accessories.

  She needed something cheerful, practical and adorable, yet still mature and classy…

  “That dress, those shoes, that jacket,” Fiona ordered, standing to head to her own bag of clothing. Chloe dug the items in question out of the pile while Fiona searched.

  Where was it… there.

  “And my belt,” she finished throwing a belt to Chloe. Fiona looked up and immediately turned away, blushing. Chloe was already stripping down to change. Really, she had no shame, Fiona couldn't help peeking though, seeing Chloe’s smooth shoulders…

  “Hair up or down?” Chloe asked, looking back at Fiona.

  Fiona started, doing her best to pretend she wasn't staring.

  “Uhh, up,” she replied, “definitely up.”

  Chloe finished shrugging into the dress, slipped on the jacket, turning to Fiona.

  “Well?” she demanded, and Fiona eyed her critically, assessing her work.

  “That’ll do,” she said, satisfied.

  “That'll do?” Chloe replied, “I don't need good enough, I need perfect!”

  Fiona rolled her eyes.

  “Sweetheart, you’d look perfect in a potato sack. This outfit is the one. Trust me.”

  Chloe moved over to the mirror, umming and ahhing, examining herself as she posed.

  Finally, she nodded.

  “You’re right.”

  Then she turned, launching herself to glomp Fiona.

  “Thanks Fi, you’re the best!” Fiona tried to ignore the flutter she felt at Chloe's embrace, instead just patting the other girl on the back.

  “I know,” she said.

  Chloe kissed her on the cheek, scooped up her loose clothes then left in a swirl of glittery energy.

  Fiona stood, hand raised to her cheek, feeling the softness of Chloe’s lips.

  “...shit,” she said.

  Chloe's bedroom was filled with an air of determination and nervous excitement. It was the morning of their big day, and the girls were readying themselves for war.

  Fiona was hogging the mirror, carefully applying eye liner in an immaculately messy way. It took skill and patience to achieve the level of casual dishevelment Fiona strived for, and the girl was a master of her art.

  Meanwhile Chloe was sitting on the bed, attaching matching ribbons to her girls. Powder blue was the theme of the day. Reinette already wore hers with the suffering look of someone who wanted you to know that she wasn't secretly delighted, while Chloe was attempting to get Mochi to hold still long enough to receive her ribbon.

  Both girls were already dressed for battle. Chloe in a sparkly white belted dress, waist length brown jacket, tights and a pair of cute little heels with blue ribbons on them. Naturally, she was also covered in ribbons, pins and bracelets, she wasn't Chloe without her accessories.

  Fiona meanwhile, had exchanged her ever present ripped jeans for a pair of ripped tights under a rhinestone covered skirt. Paired with a black studded leather jacket and a pair of her signature ass kicking boots, Fiona meant business. Of course, Chloe had insisted on adding some colour, so Fiona reluctantly wore a pink ribbon on her waist, and another on the black beret she had borrowed from Chloe for the occasion.

  All in all, both girls were ready for their debut.

  Chloe successfully applied the ribbon to Mochi, and moved over to join Fiona in the mirror. She began applying lip gloss, sparkly, of course, when a knock came at the door.

  “Come in!” she shouted, and the tentative steps of Eleanor announced the arrival of their group’s third girl.

  “You guys almost ready?” Eleanor asked, and Chloe turned to look at her.

  She froze.

  “No,” Chloe said.

  “No?” Eleanor asked, and Fiona turned to examine Eleanor as well.

  “No,” she agreed.

  “How long do you think you’ll be?” Eleanor asked, and Chloe shook her head.

  “Not us. You,” she replied.

  “Me?” Eleanor asked.

  “You,” Fiona confirmed. “You are not wearing that.”

  Eleanor looked down at her outfit. Her favourite cardigan and a long skirt. “What's wrong with it?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” Fiona replied, “If you planned to look like a recently divorced librarian.”

  “Fiona!” Chloe scolded, “Don't be mean.”

  Then she paused, “She's right though. You look like a middle aged music teacher on laundry day.”

  “That's okay,” Chloe continued, “We can save you.”

  Fiona nodded seriously, “We got you babe, don't worry.

  Ten minutes later Fiona was applying eye shadow to Eleanor while Chloe braided her hair. Gone was the frumpy cardigan, and in its was a simple dress, a pair of plain flats and some sparkly tights borrowed from Fiona. A handful of carefully curated accessories from Chloe’s vast collection completed the look.

  Another knock announced the arrival of Troy.

  “Woah!” he said, stepping into the room, “You girls look great.”

  “Thanks,” Eleanor said, blushing under the compliment.

  “I was looking for Eleanor so I could save her from her bad choices, but you two beat me to it,” he said seriously.

  “Now we just have to do you…” Chloe began, turning to look at Troy.

  “Or not,” she admitted, looking him over.

  Troy was clad in his usual cargo pants and formal tank top combo, but even Chloe had to admit, it worked on him.

  “That is unfair,” Eleanor muttered, and Troy shrugged.

  “With abs like mine, I play on easy mode,” he said, flexing, causing Eleanor to redden further.

  “Go be hunky somewhere else,” Fiona ordered him, “I can't colour match when she's this red.”

  Troy laughed, but didn't leave, instead he walked over, picking up a brush.

  “You handle her, I’ll take care of you,” he told Chloe, taking position behind her.

  A few minutes later, they pronounced themselves ready and prepared to head out.

  Eleanor was shaking with nerves, but set her shoulders and lifted her chin, determined to prove herself.

  Troy trudged along without a care in the world, cracking jokes and snacking as he walked.

  Fiona burned with quiet determination, her stride filled with purpose. She gripped Tank’s pokeball in one hand. It was almost time to show the world who Fiona Abernathy was.

  Chloe? Chloe skipped. She looked great, she felt great. She was so excited.

  “I hope Mum is watching,” she thought.

  Everything so far, the terror of Eterna, the hard work in training, had been building to this. It was time to get that badge.