A fated meeting?
Nemona practically skipped to the west entrance of Mesagoza. She could barely contain her excitement, having challenged every trainer she could get to give her their time. She’d won every time, obviously.
She was a little worried about the team she’d thrown together at such short notice. A midday form Lycanroc, a Pawmi, and the Quaxly Director Clavell had given her. Florian had picked Sprigatito, he was just starting out and Nemona was a champion ranked trainer, so she had pick the one at a type disadvantage.
Mesagoza’s western exit was now in clear view, Nemona breathed a happy sigh as she viewed it. Her phone rang a high, shrill whistle.
Nemona picked it up with a little laugh, “Hey Cass! What, can’t get enough of my voice?”
Cassiopeia awkwardly cleared their throat, “Well-I mean-No, I just wanted to make sure you were still up for this.”
“Of course!” Nemona exclaimed, “I made a promise, kinda. And I don’t break promises.”
There was a sort of definite finality in Nemona’s tone, it surprised both herself and Cassiopeia. They made a little noise of acknowledgement and hung up.
Nemona bounced on her heels, back and forth, and back and forth again. She was teetering on the edge of a completely new experience, yet she felt no fear, only bright brazen happiness. Cassiopeia had given her something worth her hard work, at least Nemona hoped so.
She gathered her thoughts, pushed the door open, and took the final steps toward her destiny.
“Hey,” a quiet voice behind Nemona sounded, “Can you hold that for me?”
Nemona smiled at her fellow student, “Of course! Anything for another classmate. Oh, what’s your name? I’m Nemona!”
“Penny,” They murmured, “I barely go to school, I don’t think we really count as classmates.”
“Are you traveling with anyone, Penny?” Nemona asked happily, maybe they could be her new second best-friend.
Penny shook their head lightly. They looked uncomfortable, which made Nemona feel bad. Was it something she’d said? They were really cool, much cooler than Florian and Arven combined. Who could need either of them when you had Penny?
“Well, I think you’re really pretty and I want to travel with you!” Nemona smiled brightly, a slight blush gracing her cheeks alongside her freckles.
Penny was more than really pretty, in Nemona’s opinion, they were the most lovely person at this school. Blue hair streaked with red, an oversized sweater and leggings that definitely didn’t follow the dress code, and the cutest Eevee backpack Nemona had ever seen. Penny was also the trainer from yesterday who was getting bullied by Team Star, all the more reason for them to have a big strong trainer like Nemona defending them.
Penny stood for a moment, “I guess, fine.”
Nemona bounced up and down happily, “What do you think your treasure’s going to be? I’ve got mine all figured out!”
“You do?” Penny blinked, confusion spiraling across their face.
“Absolutely,” Nemona smiled brightly, “My best friend asked me to take out the Team Star bosses!”
Penny looked even more surprised, “Your ‘best friend’ asked you to do this?”
Nemona nodded with a small giggle, Penny was such a jokester. She then realized that her and Penny were still in Mesagoza, judging by the sky it was around 12 P.M. Nemona blinked, had she really spent six hours of good treasure hunting time doing nothing?
“I think we’d better get going,” Nemona announced, “I have stuff to make lunch if you’re up for that.”
Penny’s head snapped up, seemingly broken from their thoughts, “Uh, sure. Thanks.”
Nemona gave one last look around Mesagoza and the academy. For some unexplainable reason she felt as though she’d never return. One look at Penny sent all those thoughts out the window, Nemona took the final step out to her promised treasure.