“Okay team, here's the plan!” Chloe announced, facing the group like a general giving a briefing.

  Sitting across from her in the War Room, all in varying stages of wakefulness were Fiona, Troy and Eleanor. Chloe had, as per usual, gotten up at the crack of dawn to get ready, and now with her troops arrayed before her, she was laying out the day’s schedule.

  “Phase one is to head over to the gym and register,” Chloe said, “With a bit of luck, we won't have to wait too long for our slots. Next… yes Troy?”

  Troy, who had raised his hand, chimed in.

  “Should Eleanor be awake for this?” He asked, gesturing towards the girl in question.

  “What?” Chloe looked at Eleanor. Sure enough, there she was. Head down on the table, fast asleep.

  “Eleanor!” Chloe chided, “Wake up!”

  “Hrmmgf”

  Eleanor didn't move.

  Fortunately, Chloe had a solution to hand.

  “Troy, poke her.”

  Troy complied, eliciting a yelp from Eleanor as she startled awake.

  “Hey!” she protested, glaring at Troy.

  Troy pointed at Chloe, who rapped the cafeteria table they were clustered around.

  “No sleeping!” Chloe commanded, “This is important!”

  “It really isn't…” Fiona muttered from where she was lounging back in her chair. Chloe rounded on her, glaring at her idiotic friend.

  “You be quiet,” Chloe snapped, “I’m still annoyed with you.”

  “I’m just saying…” Fiona began, only to be cut off.

  “Oh no!” Chloe said, “I have friends that want to celebrate my birthday because they like me! What horror!”

  Fiona blinked, opening her mouth, only for Chloe to interrupt her again.

  “It's called friendship Fi, now shut up and be loved.”

  Fi snapped her mouth shut, resorting instead to grumbling in her chair.

  “Now as I was saying,” Chloe continued, “Gym first, then we hit the mall.”

  “Remind me again why I’m spending my birthday buying outfits for everyone?” Fiona asked.

  “Three reasons,” Chloe replied. She held up a finger.

  “One. You promised. You owe me shoes, and I’m collecting.”

  “Two,” she continued, holding up a second finger, “It will be fun, everyone loves shopping!”

  Eleanor raised her own hand.

  “I don't.”

  “We’ll fix you, don’t worry,” Chloe reassured the girl before holding up a third finger.

  “Third, you’re a bitch with no personality so you may as well use your money as a substitute,” Chloe said, grinning as she looked Fiona right in the eye.

  “Well fuck you too,” Fiona replied.

  “See? My point exactly.”

  “After the mall, we party,” Chloe finished, “Any questions?”

  Fiona rolled her eyes, raising her arm.

  “Any questions from people whose opinions matter? No? Right! Finish breakfast and get ready, we have a birthday to bash!”

  Registration did not take long. Snowpoint Gym was right next door to the Pokecenter, and there was no line that early in the morning. The Gym itself was rather rustic, wooden walls and traditional North Sinnoh architecture contrasting with the sleek, modern Centre attached to it. Chloe found it rather charming as they quickly made their way to the desk and presented their IDs.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  They would not be battling on the same day this time. Instead Fiona would be first, followed by Chloe the next day, then Troy and Eleanor would get morning slots later during the week. Chloe and Fiona both had TV slots again this time, with their times being arranged to slip into the broadcast schedules.

  Fiona was also proven right about the number of Pokemon. Three vs three for the Aces, two vs two for the others. That made Chloe feel far more confident. If Fiona was also correct about how difficult the battle would be, then it would prove to be far more fun than it was stressful.

  Registration out of the way, they turned to the second, and most important, item on the agenda.

  Shopping.

  Snowpoint lacked the same levels of boutique heaven that places like Lumiose provided, but it was an up and coming hotspot for economic growth and a rapidly growing scenic destination.

  In other words, there were plenty of options to satisfy even Chloe’s need for fashion related retail therapy.

  The first order of business was practical. Troy and Eleanor were lacking gear after losing theirs in Coronet, so they stopped past the Trainer shops to resupply. Fiona and Chloe also took the chance to stock back up on items such as potions, as well as browse the selection of training items and TMs on sale.

  While the TM market had taken a hit thanks to the explosion in online training videos, professional grade instructions were still appreciated, especially because you didn't need reception to use them. That was extremely helpful if you were not in range of one of the towers or deep in a cave, which was a frequent occurrence if one was say, travelling the region on foot while on some kind of challenge.

  Chloe in particular was drawn towards the three Fang moves, Fire, Thunder and Ice as being useful for both Mimi and Mr Growly. She was considering if she should spend the money when Fiona spoke up.

  “I should probably say Chloe, I don't think you should use Mr Growly yet.”

  Chloe frowned. While it was true that he wasn't quite ready, she had some time to prepare, and had been considering letting him out for some practise against Candice.

  “Why not?” Chloe asked, looking at Fiona curiously.

  “It's never a great plan to show all your cards,” Fiona replied, “That's one reason. He will be one hell of a trump card. But that's not the main reason.”

  “Then what is?”

  Fiona sighed, “He’s a fossil Pokemon, you know that right?”

  Chloe nodded, she had seen the term when she scanned him the first time, and wasn't entirely sure what it meant.

  “What of it?”

  “It means Chloe, that Tyrunt have been extinct for millions of years, and that restoring one from a fossil is still extremely expensive, even by my standards.”

  Chloe blinked. Extinct? Her Growly?

  “Well, I think I proved that they aren't extinct,” Chloe replied after a moment.

  “I mean, you're not wrong,” Fiona admitted, “I still want to know where in the flying Arceus-damned fuck you found that egg, but my point is that it will draw a lot of attention. I think you shouldn't use him until later.”

  Chloe frowned again, “But don’t I want to stand out?” she asked, not quite understanding.

  “You do,” Fiona agreed, “But if you flash a Tyrunt at the second badge, people are going to scream Nepo baby at you. And you don't want that, trust me.”

  “But I’m a nobody,” Chloe protested, “If I wasn't Ace I couldn't even afford to come here.”

  Fiona shook her head, “No, you’re a gorgeous blonde with an eye for fashion and a single mother who is sweeping Gym Leaders with a Jigglypuff of all things. People are probably already wondering whose secret love child you are, and adding a Tyrunt into the mix will be attention you don't want.”

  Chloe shuddered. She understood now. The image of curious people with cameras digging into her past, or even harassing her Mum? No, she didn't want that.

  “I see your point,” she considered, “So what, you think I should sand bag?”

  Fiona snorted, “Fuck no. Kick as much ass as you possibly can. Just save the dinosaur for later. It's not like you need him.”

  Chloe nodded, she could work with that. Mr Growly would probably be disappointed. She thought. She wasn't sure how much he actually understood her. She had been starting to think that he might be a little slow, but the new information made sense. Of course he wasn't quite like the others, he was a fossil!”

  Chloe froze, the implications of something Fiona said earlier suddenly sinking in.

  “Fi?” Chloe asked.

  “Yeah?”

  “Did you say millions of years?”

  Fiona nodded.

  “Millions,” she confirmed.

  Chloe reached down to remove Growly’s Pokeball from her belt. She stared at it.

  “Hey Fi?”

  “Yes Chloe?”

  “Where the hell did I find that egg?”

  All thoughts of existential dread were soon driven out of Chloe's mind as they approached their next destination. It loomed up ahead, the sight of it filling Chloe with excitement and reverence in equal measure. Snowpoint was a lovely city, and Sinnoh itself was an absolutely beautiful region. Floaroma Meadow, the soft rolling hills of the Valley Windworks, even the unnatural, ethereal perfection of Lake Acuity, every sight had filled Chloe with joy and love for travel.

  But this? What lay before her was the greatest thing in existence. It was more than just a location. It was home.

  Chloe stepped across the threshold and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply, absorbing the atmosphere. The sheer, unrivalled perfection of her surroundings.

  “Eleanor,” Chloe whispered once she dared to speak, unwilling to disrupt the sacred energy through her unworthy voice, “Make sure you get photos.”

  Fiona sighed beside her.

  “Chloe,” Fiona said, voice full of exhaustion.

  “Hush Fiona, you’ll ruin it.”

  “Chloe. It's just a shoe store.”

  Chloe gasped, eyes flying open, hands pressed to her heart.

  “Fi! How could you!”

  Chloe looked to the sales lady that was standing nearby, watching them with an amused expression.

  “She doesn't mean that,” Chloe reassured the woman, before turning her gaze to the rows upon rows of shoes that lined the walls of the boutique.

  “Troy and I will meet you guys back here,” Eleanor said, “We still have some things to get, and well, I have a feeling you will be here a while.”

  She said that last part with a pointed look at Chloe whose eyes sparkled as she tremored with excitement.

  “Good luck Fi!” Troy agreed, “Try not to let her spend all your money.”

  Fiona snorted, “I agreed to one pair.”

  Troy laughed, “Like I said, good luck.”

  Eleanor and Troy left, leaving the Ace girls alone. Fiona rolled her eyes, and turned back to Chloe.

  Who was gone.

  A quick scan of the store revealed her at one of the shelves, three different pairs of boots already tucked under arm.

  Fiona smiled.

  “Small things to amuse small minds, I guess,” she muttered. Then she saw the price tags on the wall.

  “Holy…”

  Her eyes widened. Even her Dad would notice these prices. Fiona had steered them towards the nearest store without thinking. Now she realised it may have been a mistake. One pair wouldn't be an issue, but Chloe now held six pairs of boots, the sales lady helpfully holding another two.

  Fiona was going to be in for a battle here if she didn't want an angry call from her Dad when he got a call from his accountant.

  That said, Fiona could use a new pair herself, and she could see one or two that rather appealed.

  “Fuck it,” Fiona said, “It's my birthday, why not?”

  She stepped to the shelf to snag the pairs she had been eyeing and moved over to join Chloe, who was now trying on her haul.

  “Ooh, nice choice!” Chloe said as Fiona approached, noticing the black leather, block heeled pair that Fiona had picked out.

  “You do know that I said one right?” Fiona queried, beginning what she knew were about to be some tough negotiations.

  “Do you have any wedges?” Chloe asked, ignoring the statement entirely.

  Fiona sighed.

  Troy was right. They were going to be here a long time.