🌟 Settling things - Fine, But on one Condition 🌟

The whole garden was dead silent; Mr. Clyde quietly excused himself as everyone just stood around. No one bothered to say anything as Leon gave off a feeling similar to when Riddle had his moods. Leon may seem childish when it comes to battles and games. But when it comes to the safety of his region or the people he cares about? Let's say he has quite a 'Serious side. However, while looking at him and Lia, everyone had the same thought: 'Sister? They don't even look related.'

"Um, sir? Please calm down," Trey said as he walked up to the male with a nervous smile. "There's a perfectly good---"

"It's okay, Trey," Lia interrupted him as she came forward. Leon's gaze didn't leave hers for a moment.

"If it's not too much trouble, could we use the dorm lounge?"

"Sure, I'll escort you both there."

"Thank you, Sonia, are you coming?"

"You two go on ahead. I'll stay here and keep an eye on those two." Sonia pointed to the twins (who were hiding under a table after seeing their cousin). Leon nodded as he and Lia followed Trey.

"How did she know we were down here?"

"It's Sonia, Maddie. At this point, she knows all our plans."

"You got that right." Sonia deadpanned as she knocked on the table, and they were under. Causing them to bump their heads.

"Come on out, you two. Might as well 'Face the Music."

The twins slowly crawled out and stood in front of Sonia, awkwardly fidgeting. "H-hey Sonia... got a. . new haircut?" Matt shook his head.

"Maddie? Of all the excuses you two say after getting caught in whatever trouble you're in, that's the best you can come up with?"

"Yeah, that was literally off of the top of my head."

"Before you think of a new one, let me start with. Do you know how worried I was?!" Sonia yelled. The twins winced and apologized, but Sonia didn't waver.

"The day you left with Lia. Your parents called me to say the two of you haven't answered your phones. I head over there, finding no one, and your Rotom phones fly up to me, looking as sick as a Slowpoke with a cold." Sonia held out the said phones, and she wasn't kidding.

Both Rotom phones were spammed with twenty-five missed calls, fifteen voice mails, and over forty text messages. From their parents, Sonia and grandmother.

"I tried calling Lia, but not only did it not go to voice mail, but her phone wasn't in service. Imagine my shock when Leon and I learned the reason for that was that the three of you were in a different world!"

"How did you even get here?" Maddie asked, looking confused about how she and Leon got there.

"And how did you guys know to look for us here?" Matt asked.

Sonia put her hands on her hips and then pointed behind her, and sure enough, both Hoopa and Rotom Dex floated up to them with sad and guilty looks. She looked down at the kids. "As Leon and I were looking for you, we came across these two showed up out of nowhere talking about some duel."

A little way away from them, two certain redheads cringe at that mention.

"After some questioning here and there, Leon followed his 'brother instincts,' went through Hoopa's rings, and ended up in some weird house. I'm surprised he was even right. But anyway, you kids are in big trouble!" Sonia yelled as she pointed at the kids. They gasped and grabbed each other in fear.

"But- but it's not our fault! Everything happened so fast, and we didn't know what to do. One thing kept leading to another as we were helping Lia and our friends."

Matt quickly butted in, "Don't worry, everything is ok now!"

"What do you mean everything is okay?! You're only kids! You shouldn't even be seeing these types of things, much less be a part of them!" the two children flinched. They didn't bother saying anything else, as no other excuse came to mind.

"I outta tell your parents," Sonia threatened as the twins quickly yelled, "No, don't!"

"Give me one good reason why?"

At that moment, the boys stepped in.

"Miss, it's our fault!"

Sonia turned around to see all three boys with their heads down. "We were having some trouble with our dorm leader, and we involved them and Lia in it."

"Trouble with your dorm leader? How did Lia and my cousins get involved in that?"

Everyone (excluding Riddle) started to explain their sides of the story (at the same time) to the point where Sonia snapped.

"Okay, Enough! Maddie Matt, you two start from the beginning, and everyone else can take turns from there."

No one argued, seeing it was reasonable enough. "Good. Maddie, Matt, you two go first."

________________________________________________________________________________

While that was happening, back in the Heartslabyul dorm lounge, Lia and Leon sat at a table in awkward silence. Trey offered some refreshments, but Leon politely declined. Leon would not stop glaring at Lia when it was just them.

"You know, giving me the 'Furious, look doesn't help here."

"Would you rather have Charizard do it instead?"

"Fair enough."

"To be quite frank with you, Lia, something like this: running off, living in an unknown location, not contacting anyone, getting involved in trouble is something I'd expect from the twins when they get older. Not from you," Leon began his 'Disappointed rant as he got up.

"No note, no phone call; I didn't know if you were hurt or worse!" Leon yelled as he walked back and forth, yelling at each word. It lasted a good twenty minutes, and as he kept going, Lia was starting to reach the end of her rope.

"I didn't know what was going on! Every time we tried to call you, it wouldn't come through. When you got home with the twins, you were supposed to call me and let me know you were alright. Instead, I discovered you've been in another world for over a week!"

"Leon, I know what it seems like, but please understand that I wasn't expecting this either! I really wanted to contact you. I did, but I couldn't reach out for obvious reasons." Lia defended and then explained everything to him, from what happened back at her house to the events of a few days ago. She made sure every detail was included.

To say that Leon was at a loss for words was an understatement. He never imagined that Aunt Kait would know of something like this—a magical world with no Pokémon, his sister being half magic, or, at the very least, a descendant of a powerful being. Once more, the Alpha Pokémon was a part of it, too.

"And Leon, I appreciate that you are looking out for me. I do, but for Arceus's sake, stop treating me like I'm six again! I can take care of myself now—I have—and have been since I turned fifteen. For once, can you at least have a bit more faith in me? Is that too much to ask?"

"Lia..." A sudden wave of guilt went through Leon as he sighed. She was correct; he had reached a point where he was becoming too protective. Looking back on everything, Sonia was right; he overreacted. From how Lia explained, it was all beyond her control.

Leon walked over to Lia and went on his knees. He grabbed hers and gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. But please understand, I promised your mother to always look out for your well-being. You've been like a 'sister to me since you were born. And Hop doesn't just look up to me; he also looks up to you. And there have been times when you've been taking too many risks, which is too much for me to take. So, I can't help but worry for you. At times like this, I want you to be safe and don't forget. You're my only baby sister! It's my job to worry much less about you going to an all-boys school, by the way! You can't put that blame on me for being concerned!"

Lia smiled at him. "Apology accepted. But you don't always have to look out for me. I'm not a child anymore. I'm a lot tougher than I look, and don't worry about the boys here. I'll teach them a thing or two".

"I know, but you're still a bit reckless. I seriously don't know where you get that from."

"And this is coming from the guy who literally 'free-climbed a mountain, just to find out where he was, to a tournament."

"At least I don't dive headfirst into a blizzard just to find herbs in Crown Tundra."

"Hey, those people and Pokémon needed help."

The two began to laugh as they both threw back specific actions they did.

But then Leon stopped as he brought up a particular subject. "This, seal over your magic. Will it cause you any harm?"

"No, as long as I don't try to force magic out of it. I can still use magic; I can't do any spells that require a lot of it. Madame Eva says that it's like a dame. If I use the magic that's leaking out, then I'm fine. If I try to force magic out to the point it'll burst, then I'm in trouble."

"So, to use more, you'll need the seal removed." Leon guessed.

"Yes, but Xavier, who's my uncle. Says that the only way to remove it is with the removal spell my dad made."

Leon's brow twitched. "Let me guess, they cannot find this certain spell. Because your father hid it somewhere in this world."

'Still mad at him, huh?' "Yeah, and that's the other thing. He's been missing for the past seven years."

"Of course he is. At the very moment he's needed, he's MIA. Why doesn't that surprise me?"

"You're seriously still mad at him since that day?"

"He didn't show up right when his wife was dying! And left you alone, not bothering to help you when you needed it! How can I not be mad at him!?" Leon shouted.

His distrust for Brandel ran deep since Lia's mother died. The last time he'd ever seen him was during those Birthdays and anniversary parties when Lia was six. When he up and left when she was eight, no one had seen him since. When he didn't show up for Lia's farewell on her tenth or for the funeral, that's when Leon drew the line.

"I understand, Leon. I do, but ever since I came here, I've learned so much about him that I never imagined I'd find out. I mean, seriously, you think it's easy for him to guard all of the world's magic and everything?! If I had that responsibility, I would immediately give in to pressure."

"I. . . can't argue with that." Leon sweat-dropped.

"And if you think about it, kid, his position is a bit similar to yours." Persian walked in, along with Pikachu.

"What do you mean?"

" *sighs* Remember that last night with Kait when she said Brandel's job is like your job as the Champion? No offense to you or the other champions back home. But his case has a lot more responsibility than yours. Learning all the magic that exists in this world? I bet you a billion Poké dollars that some of that magic was also bad magic."

"Like magic you're forbidden to use?" Lia guessed.

"Exactly, and no doubt some other dark secrets he had to keep quiet too."

"That might explain the box," Leon muttered.

"What box?"

"Well, when Sonia and I were looking for you and the kids in the first few days. We came across your dad's study in the basement. By the way, this has to be the most eerie area I've ever seen in the house."

"I'm with you there, kid."

"Anyway, as we were looking for clues that could help us find you, there was one drawer at your dad's desk that looked like it hadn't been opened in years. When I checked it out, all that was in there was a little box with a strange combination lock on it."

"You didn't try to open it, did you?"

"Pika, pi," (I wouldn't be surprised.)

"Arceus! No! Not with that vibe it was giving off!" he immediately denied.

"Vibe/Pika?"

"No, the moment I saw it. Immediately, I felt something off about it. When I picked it up, I felt this terrifying chill go down my spine. I quickly put it back, closed the drawer, and didn't look back."

"Pikachu, pi, pi, Pika." (We should ask Xavier about it.)

"Good idea, buddy. And we should put some locks on the door. To stay on the safe side."

"I'm surprised that Gengar or any of the Ghost-Types didn't run around in there." Persian huffed.

"I didn't see any Pokémon in that place when Sonia and I looked around."

"Guess what mom said was true. Dad didn't want anyone involved with his work. But I still want to know why he sealed my magic away. Sure, I probably wouldn't have used it, but."

"You wanted to have some connection with your dad, at least. Right?" Persian guessed, hitting right at the nose.

"Am I that obvious?"

Leon huffed a laugh, "When it comes to family or those close to you? Yes, very much so."

"Just like how you 'fly off the handle before any explaining can be done?"

"Hey, I said I was sorry. Can you blame me for being worried?"

"Pikachu," (He's not wrong)

"Hey! You're supposed to be on my side!"

"Lia, you, of all people, should know that even Pokémon can tell what's best for their trainers."

" *sigh* You're right, so Am I okay to stay here?" Lia asked.

"Well. . . "

"Oh, come on, Leon. I'm learning a side of myself I never knew about; I have family here, and let's not forget that the Alpha Pokémon themselves need me here."

"And we all know you can't go against the Alpha's word," Persian added. Seeing Leon's uneasiness, he couldn't help but agree.

"No, no, you cannot."

"So, please? Will you let us stay here? Not just for the mission but to learn about this place? I mean, once we eventually get this seal off, I'm going to need to control my magic." Lia pleaded.

"Hmm, Alright,"

"YES!/PIKA!"

"However, on one condition."

________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, back at the maze garden, the twins and the boys of Heartslabyul explained everything to Sonia as promised. They all sat at a table as they did, and let's say she was almost lost for words.

"Okay, let me see if I got this right. When Lia picked you two up, she suddenly felt a strange energy in her father's study. The energy turned out to be a replica of this school's magic mirror. It suddenly goes off, transporting her and her Pokémon to this world called Twisted Wonderland, where it has magic instead of Pokémon. You two got caught in the mix cause the magic that brought Lia here caused Hoopa's rings to go haywire. While coming here, Lia finds out her father is actually from here, and she has magic too. But it's sealed, and because of that, she's partnered with Grim here to go to this school. And since you two are in this too, you agreed to be teacher assistants, so you'll stay out of trouble."

The twins looked at each other before going in unison, "You got it down to a 'T."

"Oh, then you two are off the hook," Sonia smiled at them.

The two beamed, "Really?!"

"NO!!! YOU TWO ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE! YOU BOTH ARE BARELY TRAINER AGE, YET YOU GOT INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN A WILD POKEMON GOING ON A RAMPAGE! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN HURT! IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO YOU TWO, LIA WOULD BE IN TROUBLE WITH YOUR PARENTS!"

The boys, excluding Cater and Riddle, nearly jumped from their seats when she pulled a one-eighty. Even the Pokémon flinched from her shouting.

"Dude, how did you two not freak out when she went all 'Banshee on them?" Ace whispered.

"I have a few older and younger sisters at home. This is nothing compared to all the tantrums and one-eighties they pull."

"And her wrath is more reasonable than my mother's." Charlette nodded, totally agreeing.

"They, they weren't really involved, miss," Deuce replied, calming down his Piplup, who was a bit freaked out a bit at Sonia's yell as he patted his head.

"Even so, they're not old enough to be experiencing something like that. Considering their reputation back in Galar, Lia is solely responsible for whatever trouble they're in. Meaning whatever happens to them negatively impacts Lia."

"Their reputation?" the boys questioned.

"In our home region, Galar. The twins developed a reputation with the pranks they pulled on mine, Lia's admirers, or opponents. It's happened so often that they got the title, 'The Rascals of Galar. One of their pranks got so out of hand that Lia almost lost her mother's entire home property."

Cater sweat-dropped. "That bad?"

"Hey! That jerk-head deserved it!" Maddie protested.

"Yeah, he had it coming when he pulled that stunt on Lia." Matt agreed.

"Okay, I'm not going to argue there. Everyone back home thought the same way."

"Just what did this guy do?" Deuce asked.

"That's a story for another time; my point is, you two are way too young to be involved with things that are 'That dangerous. You may have gotten out of this one fine, but who's to say that if it happened again and you got hurt or worse?"

The twins held their heads down, "We're sorry,"

"As relieved as I am that both of you and Lia are alright, I can't ignore the fact that you shouldn't be here. If we go now and explain everything to your parents, they might be lenient with you regarding your punishment.

"Do you know what they'll do?" Matt nervously inquired.

"Best bet would be grounded to your bedrooms for a month with no games and treats. Plus, some. And grandma might add 'no Pokémon in the mix, too."

"No! Not our Pokémon!"

"Miss, if I may," Theo spoke up.

Sonia looked over to him, then narrowed her eyes. "You look familiar; remind me your name."

"Theodore Magus, at your service. But if it's all the same to you, I prefer Theo."

"Oh!" Sonia clapped her hands, "I remember now, you're Lia's cousin on her dad's side. You used to visit with a few others at dinner parties or reunions."

"That's me, and if I remember correctly, you're the granddaughter of Madame Magnolia, the current head professor in the Galar region."

"Got it right on the first try." Sonia smiled.

"Wait!" Everyone looked at Ace and his Chimpchar. Both look royally confused. "Are you saying you've been to Lia's world?! HOW?!"

"That's simple. You all are aware how me, Lia, and everyone else in our family are related to Yen Sid, right?" Everyone nodded as Theo continued. "Well, since he managed to master light, time, and Space. He was able to create something that our family alone can accomplish. Pathways to other worlds. It's a specialty that's been passed down to every single Magus in our history. However, when Brandl learned the technique, he had a bit of an encounter in the process."

Riddle looked at him oddly. "What do you mean by Encounter?"

"I mean, that he met someone, excuse me, something as he tried to travel to the Pokémon world."

"He ran into Palkia, didn't he? I'm not surprised, as one of the Creation Trio, not to mention the ruler of dimensions and space. It'd make sense if Lia's dad ran into them."

"Creation Trio?"

"Ruler of Dimensions and space?!"

Ace and Deuce's minds were all over the place. They were trying to make sense of what was being said. Even Riddle and Cater were having a hard time absorbing all of it.

"Um, Miss, If I may ask. Please fill us in on what you're talking about. We're not that educated on your world's culture. Other than you have Pokémon in place of magic."

Sonia sighed, "Alright, might as well since our world is starting to get involved with yours, but pay close attention because I'm not repeating it. It all dates back to when it first started; the story is almost identical in every region. During the spatial explosion that created our universe, the very first Pokémon was also created. The Alpha, the Pokémon of creation, the one who changed the world, Arceus."

To say the boys were loss for words was an understatement; they all figured that Pokémon were important to their world, but they didn't think they were that important. Pokémon practically made up their world, just like magic made up theirs.

"Then, the Pokémon of Myth, the Creation Trio. Who came to be soon after, Dialga the Pokémon of Time, Palkia the Pokémon of Space and Dimensions, And finally, Giratina, The Pokémon of Chaos. These three became the first legendary Pokémon. Now, Legendary Pokémon are Pokémon that have made such an impact on our world that they're considered our deities. The rarest Pokémon species, by far. Next to them are Mythical Pokémon. They're Pokémon that are still somewhat rare and have been said to be myths, though there have been people who have seen them; despite our current information about them, we still don't know their full potential; we mostly know them from the stories and folklore we've heard. However, we never disregard them as they are, not only as rare as Legendary Pokémon, but they're also just as powerful. Take Arceus, for example; they're the very first mythical Pokémon, and there are endless possibilities of what they're capable of. So, if you underestimate them because of the little information you have? You're as good as screwed."

"No joke, I'm guessing Brandel had to have what? Permission to go to your world?" Ace guessed.

"Correct, he had to have Arceus's approval to pass. In any case, this is reasonable; he technically was an outsider from another universe. For all Arceus knew, he could have been a great threat to the Pokémon world and its inhabitants." Theo confirmed.

"How did he get the deities' good graces then?" Riddle asked.

"This may come as a shock to you all. He didn't do anything."

"Huh?! What do you mean 'didn't do anything?! He must done something to get past them! I mean, who in their right mind does not do anything to get on another world's God's good side!?"

"Because Ace. Arceus and the others saw in his heart he was no threat after he spoke his peace. As proud as the Magus family is, we never saw ourselves as superior beings. Nor do we take advantage of the magic we have and learned. The one thing we can never get enough of is knowledge. We're constantly curious about what's out there in our world and beyond. That includes magic; there are so many kinds and forms of magic that the possibilities are endless. However, this question made our family want to travel to other worlds. 'Is magic the only miraculous thing with such possibilities?"

"That explains a lot now," everyone turned to Sonia. "From what my grandmother told me about Lia's dad, he was always asking questions, left and right, whenever something caught his eye. And after getting his answers, he'd act like a kid getting the toy they've always wanted."

"That's Brandel for you. As curious as a child, after telling the Alpha that he was a man of curiosity and discovery, you can imagine how thrilled he was when he received passage to the Pokémon world."

Deuce eagerly nodded, "Who can blame him?! A world filled with creatures that are as amazing as magic, who wouldn't want to see that?!"

"As much as I agree with you on that, Deuce. You have to understand that there are still beings out there who'd love nothing more than to exploit such incredible oddities. There's already a vast number of humans in the Pokémon world that see Pokémon as nothing more than weapons or creatures to possess, like objects."

"I get it," Riddle spoke up, "If outlawed mages and magical hunters were to learn of Pokémon, it would spell disaster for both sides."

"Exactly, so before the Alpha and the other deities gave Brandel permission to pass, they made him vow never to reveal their world to anyone with ill intent before telling some of our family members and a few close friends. Brandel spent about a month or two in the Pokémon world. At least, it was supposed to be that long."

Cater's eyes lit up as he figured out what his classmate was getting at, "Oh! I get it! He met Lia's mom around that time and totally hooked up."

Theo couldn't help but chuckle, "That's one way to put it. After dating Kait and getting married, Brandel introduced her to our family here. And had us go to the Pokémon world to meet her family. Eventually, some of us, more specifically me, my dad, and some close friends of Brandel's, received Pokémon of our own."

"So, you're saying you knew about the Pokémon long before we did. And didn't bother telling us until Lia and the crew arrived."

"No need for that tone, Ace. We couldn't tell anyone as we were sworn to secrecy. Not just for our safety, but for the Pokémon too."

"Well, at least someone from this world knows about them. That'll help Lia a lot since she'll have her hands full while she's here."

"That is if Leon lets her stay here." Matt corrected his cousin.

"That's true."

"Anyway, that's beside the point. You two are coming home," Sonia crossed her arms, looking at the kids. The twins were taken aback at Sonia's words as they tried to convince her.

"No, Sonia! I like it here!" Maddie quickly denied.

"Yeah! There are all kinds of cool stuff to learn here," Matt added.

"I understand this place is amazing, and you want to learn more about it, but I don't feel right leaving you two with Lia to take care of you both. It's too much of a responsibility for her. With the situation like this, it's best if you two come home."

"I don't know if that's possible, miss," Deuce replied.

"And how's that?"

Soon, Ace and Deuce tell Sonia about the whole dimension loop in which the twins and Lia are stuck. And how it was created by the said Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. Before Sonia could ask about that, the twins mentioned that it was Arceus's order to stay in Twisted Wonderland for a mission. And they were in it all as support.

Sonia was speechless, then groaned as she dropped her head on the table. So essentially, she and Leon came all this way for nothing. As everyone knows, you cannot go against the Alpha's word. And they know better than to actually do so like certain people do back in their world. What the heck is she supposed to tell her aunt/uncle and grandmother?

"How is it you two manage to get into such situations? You realize it's not up to me to decide to let you two stay, right?"

The twins sighed with a sad nod. "Yeah, we know."

Suddenly, Riddle came up with an idea. "Miss, if I may suggest something. What if our school proved to your relatives that we can ensure the children's safety? As well as Miss Lia's and her Pokémon."

"Like an inspection?"

"Precisely."

"Hmm, it's not a bad idea. However, my aunt and uncle are currently on a business trip in another region. And it's pretty important that they see through the whole thing."

"When will their folks be back then?" Cater asked.

"That's the thing, it's a year-long trip." Sonia noticed the boys' shocked faces, "You guys have to understand that Maddie and Matt's parents own and work in high-class tech and fashion companies. So, they didn't take long to branch off to other regions."

"I guess that's understandable." Deuce sweat-dropped.

"Wait, didn't you say you have a grandmother too? Why not have her inspect the school?" Ace suggested.

"Hmm, that could work. Though, I'd have to be with her. She is in her late seventies, after all. And with her being a former professor, she'll be asking a lot of questions. Myself included considering." Sonia trailed off a bit, seeing some of the dorm students had. . . unique appearances.

"N, A, P! No worries, Missy! Lia's brother can even hop in. No doubt he'd want to make sure his precious sister is safe."

Sonia gave Cater a skeptical look while the twins made expressions that said, 'You just had to say it.

". . . . . Are you sure you'd want to involve Leon?"

"Why not? Wouldn't it be easier to convince him, too? I mean, with Lia having magic and all, wouldn't it be better for her to stay?"

"As you've just said, Lia is Leon's precious sister. It was one thing to have Lia be in a completely different world. Do you honestly think it'll be that easy to convince him to let her stay in a school? Specifically. For. Boy's?"

". . . . oh."

"Yeah, he's not only going to want to inspect the school -"

________________________________________________________________________________

"YOU WANT TO INSPECT THE SCHOOL DORMS?!!/PIKACHUUU?!!"

"Yes, I'm sure the school has everything you need to learn magic and all, but. I want to ensure that " No man in this place gets any funny ideas." Leon's voice went dark. Making Lia and Pikachu shiver.

"Kid, Hatterene and I already keep a close eye on her. Do you honestly think any student here will try anything to her with us or any of her Pokémon around?"

"One can't be too careful, Persian. Even you should know that."

"Still, do you seriously need to check out all of the other dorms? I'm not defenseless, nor am I so naive to believe in obvious lies that are told to my face."

"No, but you are oblivious when it comes to boys that 'admire' you and act like they were hit with 'attract. Do I need to bring up that incident again?"

"Pikachu" (he's got you there)

"Please don't."

"Then I'm going through with this inspection. Like it or not, I want to make sure you're safe. Also, I want Aunt Kait's Pokémon to live with you. That way, you don't have to worry about the kids so much while you're busy with studies and things."

"I can deal with that. When do you want to do this?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

". . . . WHAT?!/PIKA?!"

________________________________________________________________________________

"That shouldn't be too much trouble. With how prestigious Night Raven is and how the Great Seven inspire the dorms. Lia's brother shouldn't find any fault, right?"

"I'm sure the other dorms are just as dignified and courteous as your dorm here,"

'Well, most of them.' Riddle and Cater sweat-dropped.

"But Leon is the kind of guy who doesn't want to take any chances when it comes to the safety of his family and friends. So, you guys need to bring your 'A game to make a good impression on him."

"You make him sound like he's a really important person or something," Ace replied.

"With the position he has in our region? You better believe he is. Though, he doesn't act like it most of the time." Sonia sighed.

"What do you mean?" Deuce asked.

"Well, he likes to act like he's still a kid. And because of that, he has the sense of direction of a Spinda. Hmm, now that I mention that, I'm probably going to have to look after him too."

"I can handle myself just fine, Sonia. So, there's no need to do that."

Everyone turned to see both Lia and Leon standing near their table. Leon still looked a bit as stern as he got there but looked a bit calmer this time. Lia, however, looked pale for some reason.

"So, how did your guy's talk go?"

"It went pretty well. We decided to have my grandma inspect the school so the kids can stay here."

"What do you know? I was thinking the same thing for Lia."

"Figured you would, so I guess it's time for us to go?"

"Yes." Leon turned to the boys and politely bowed with his hat over his chest. "I'm very sorry to have disturbed your event like this. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."

The boys couldn't help but look amazed at how refined Leon looked. Ace and Deuce felt slightly jealous; Cater was tempted to take a few pics from his phone, and Riddle was impressed and satisfied. Maybe asking him to teach his dorm students a thing or two.

"Alright, you two behave when we come back with grandma."

"We will! Promise!" The twins shook their heads happily.

And with that, the two walked out. Almost everyone mentally let out a sigh of relief as it felt like the tension was finally swept off. However, Lia started to get all shaky legs and then gave out. Pikachu, Charlette, Artty, Chimpchar, and Slurpuff rush a chair to her beforehand.

"Whoa! Are you okay, Lia?" Cater asked as he handed her a glass of water.

"Honestly, I'm not sure anymore. I mean, I've handled being under pressure before, but now,"

"Did the talk with your brother not go well?" Deuce asked.

"Sort of; he's agreed to let me stay, only if I let my mom's Pokémon stay with me and. . . If he inspects the school and the dorms."

"What do ya know, it's exactly what ponytail said."

"You better be glad she isn't here to hear you say that, Ace." Matt sweat-dropped.

"Just what's the problem anyway? We need to impress him and show that there's nothing to worry about."

"It's not that simple kid."

"How so?" Riddle asked.

"Leon is someone you have to impress, or else your reputation is caput."

"Sonia said something about the position he's in. It can't be that big of a deal."

"Uh, yes, it is." Lia and the Pokémon hissed.

"Why?"

"Because Leon isn't your typical, 'everyday Pokémon trainer; he's the high champion of not just all of Galar. But of the entire Pokémon world currently!"

.

.

.

"WHAT?!!?!?!"

"And that's not even the worst part; he wants to do the inspection thing tomorrow afternoon."

"WHAAAAAT!!!!?!!"

(A/N - Hi everyone. I don't know if any of you have seen this on my account, so I'm putting it here. This is just something I want to get off my chest so that there are no misunderstandings in the future.

I have a mental/behavioral disorder called Asperger syndrome. If you're wondering what that is, it's a kind of autism that makes it difficult for people to socialize—making them awkward to talk to or having an all-absorbing interest in specific topics. It's different for everyone who has it, but the results are still the same.

Part of the reason I'm not updating as much is that I'm constantly distracted or sidetracked. I tend to message others too often than I should, making them feel annoyed or offended. I also tend to be overly sensitive to things, so I ask people to be careful when talking to me.

I hope you all understand that I'm not purposely putting things off or trying to be a nuisance when I reach out to some of you. This disorder makes things difficult for me. There's also stuff I deal with in real life outside of writing. I hope you all can continue to be patient with me, and if I somehow annoyed or offended some of you, I sincerely apologize.)