Chapter Text
Skyla hesitantly adjusted her hat, pulling the bill further over her face as she toyed with Magikarp’s Pokéball at her side. This was it- Galar’s gym challenge. Every other person in this hotel right now, excluding the staff, was a future rival. Someone who’d been planning and preparing for this for years, quivering with anticipation now their goal was in sight. Literally none of them were willing to pick a fight with Piers’ friend’s harassing the lobby staff. Not that she could talk. Still, unlike all the other Champion hopefuls, she had a semi-decent excuse. Even with- no, especially with the measures she’d taken to hide her identity, they’d recognise her in an instant and, as sweet as they all were, they were not subtle- as this incident was proving. They literally just rotated the gym sign… the fact that no one had made the connection yet was a testament to Piers’ reclusive nature more than anything. And a comment on their musical taste, it was a sin that he was so underrated.
“Um. Can I get to the desk, please?” Oh, seems she spoke too soo- that was a child. A whole ass child. Looked around Marnie’s age. Why was a 10-year-old even on the challenge? Marnie was an exception, her brother had basically sent her usual babysitters for the on-season after her anyway.
“Oh, isn’t that one of the trainers endorsed by the champ!?”
“Yeah! Uh, Glory-something!”
“I thought the Champion had a little brother?”
“Yeah, he endorsed his best friend to! They’re like, rivals?”
…well, that explained it. Leon may struggle with directions, but Skyla couldn’t think of anyone in Galar who wouldn’t trust him to keep an eye on two kids for a few weeks, even if they were wandering the region- and the kids could handle themselves, the ‘Glory’ girl had been joined by a boy who had to be the Champions little brother, and together they were making quick work of ‘Team Yell’. They might actually be serious challenges in this Galar Tournament, which did absolutely nothing for her nerves- two, no, three if you counted Marnie, three literal children would be showing her up. Hadn’t the Chairman endorsed a kid too? Four children. All of them already better than her.
This was a mistake. She shouldn’t be here. Or- she should’ve waited another year at least, actually put some planning into it, given her managers more than a week’s notice. There was still time to chicken out, the opening ceremony wasn’t till tomorrow, she could just wander out of the hotel, call up her manager and get back to work- knowing him, he’d still have her pencilled in for her normal workload, he’d have seen this coming. She… could just give Nessa Magikarp back, apologise for wasting her time and leave. Something about that thought stuck harshly. She gently pressed the button in the centre of the Pokéball, catching the Fish Pokémon that fell out in a loose embrace. He raised his whiskers to tickle her face and snuggled deeper into her.
…It wasn’t exactly like leaving meant she needed to give Magikarp back. He was cute enough she could get away with taking him to work. Probably.
Oh, who was she kidding, she couldn’t back out now. Everyone knew she was doing this. If she chickened out, the whole region would know she’s a coward. Like it or not, she’d locked herself into this the second she accepted Nessa’s challenge.
“How do you do it?” The question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it, laden with all the fear and stress and exhaustion she wasn’t allowed to show right now- oh Dialga this was live! There was no way to edit that out in post!
“Hm?” Nessa tilted her head curiously, turning away from the talk show host to face her and fuck, this wasn’t gonna get glossed over. “Do what?”
Ok Skyla, be their Star- this is almost over, you can keep it up. “Just, the way you seem completely different in stuff like this verses the Gym Challenge! It’s super cool! I’m kinda envious to be honest!”
…Ok, that seemed to do it. Play it off as admiration- add the cute giggle, that’s the part they’ll focus on- might start a ship too, perfect distraction! And it wasn’t exactly a lie- although fascinating was more the word than cool. The way she could be so strong and temperamental one day and slip seamlessly into a cool, untouchable air the next. Skyla wished it was that easy.
“Oh! Well… in the Gym the energy is completely different to a shoot or something like this…” she paused, mulling over her words, “It’s kinda hard to explain, when you haven’t been down on that pitch, battling with all you’ve got…”
“Oh, yeah, I guess there really would be nothing like it! Even just opening the show for you guys, it was nothing like anything I’ve ever done!” That was an unabashed truth- there was something special, even singing the same songs, about that concert she’d never forget. And that was before the champion made his dramatic entrance, hopping off of Charizard’s back and trusting his partner to catch him before he hit the ground. That was when the real spectacle got underway- and Skyla had never been happier to be utterly upstaged.
“Oh yeah! That year we went pretty nuts- Leon must’ve been stuck in Olena’s office for hours for that stunt he pulled!” Nessa laughed lightly, beaming at the memory. “But yeah, battling in that arena… it’s really something special! Your heart, beating as one with your Pokémon, acting in complete sync with them, the whole world fades away to just the opponent before you… it’s definitely easy to get swept away!”
“Sure sounds it!” Sky giggled, “The way you describe it is amazing…”
“Wanna give it a shot?”
…She still wasn’t sure why she’d agreed- she literally had a concert booked the next day. She was even less sure why Nessa had even offered. But still, she had, and here she was, about to be shown up by a bunch of literal children to the entire world.
“Heya! Are you ok?” A high-pitched voice said from above her, where she’d slid down the wall to sit on the floor. It came from a girl with short, curly white hair and an impish grin, who was leaning over Skyla’s spot on the floor. “Cause, you kinda don’t look ok. Not in a rude way! Just in a stress way!”
“I’m… fine.” Skyla lied, holding Magikarp a little tighter, “just… it’s a little overwhelming to be here, that’s all.”
“Oh yeah, I get that!” Mystery-White-Haired-Girl said, dropping down beside her, “This is like, the most people I’ve seen in my life, and I know a few trainers from around here are staying at home tonight!”
Magikarp gently prodded her and seemed to gesture to the white-haired girl, as though prompting her to try and talk to her. “Uh… where are you from then?”
“Isle of Armour- well, actually, I’m from Alola originally, but I got adopted pretty young.” White haired girl explained, “I was in a pretty isolated part of Alola though, and the Isle is mostly trainers there for Master Mustard’s Dojo, so it’s only like, ten people in the off season for the business. What about you?”
“Uh… I’m from Wyndon. It’s not really… the crowds that are kinda… yeah. Just the… everything.” Oh sweet Arceus what was she even saying?
“Oh, yeah, I get that- I’ve wanted to do this for ages, but it only became an actual possibility recently…” the girl nodded, “It’s been pretty frantic just to get her in time!”
“Oh, I’m… kinda the same.” Skyla muttered, scuffing the tiles with her toe, “But I wasn’t even really considering it, ‘till I got the opportunity to go for it.”
“Oh, that’s super brave of you!” The girl whisper-shouted, “Taking the opportunities you’re given and just rolling with them- that’s awesome!”
Skyla didn’t really know how to respond to that, just gently toying with Magikarp’s whiskers in the way that never failed to make him happy. Really? This girl starting a conversation with a random stranger lurking in the corner of a hotel lobby was calling her brave? For just taking an opportunity literally handed to her? Seriously?
“Oh, right! I totally forgot to introduce myself!” the girl said, tapping her own forehead in exasperation, “I’m Lancel- a gym challenger, like you!”
“S-Skyla, Skyla Starr. It’s very nice to meet you,” she said, gently getting up from the floor and, carefully shifting Magikarp to one arm, offered a hand to shake. Lancel hesitantly took it, as though not used to the gesture and of course she isn’t Sky, most people your age don’t sign deals regularly- and she certainly looked around Skyla’s own age, maybe a year or two younger.
“It’s great to meet you too!” Lancel beamed, before being nudged towards the main desk by a small fox-like Pokémon Skyla had never seen before, “Zark, be patient! We can go check in in a minute!”
“He’s right you know.” Came another unfamiliar voice, this time from someone who’d been similarly lurking near the walls and oh sweet Mew had she been there the entire time?!!? “We have a big day tomorrow. We should all be getting some rest, now those hooligans have been dealt with.”
“Pfft, you sound like my mum.” Lancel snickered, with a roll of her eyes. “Sleep’s for the weak.”
“Uh. That… really sounds like a bad mentality.”
“Oh no. The mum is spreading.” Lancel muttered, with mock horror layed thick in her voice. “Zarky, save me.”
The small Pokémon beside her, presumably ‘Zarky’, barked sharply and started tugging her trouser leg, trying to drag her towards the desk. Clearly, Lancel was outnumbered, and she seemed to realise it with a sigh.
Mystery Girl Number Two kneeled down beside ‘Zarky’, gently petting his head. “Zorua aren’t native to Galar, are they? Where did you meet this little guy?”
“Good to know you weren’t tab-hanging I guess- I’m from the Isle Of Armour. They’re still pretty rare over there, but I’ve always been a bit of a lucky sod.” Lancel said, finishing with a smirk. “Grew up surrounded by a bunch, this one joined me for my journey.”
Seeing Lancel was distracted, Skyla hesitantly tried to slip away- Mystery Girl The Second had a point, and more to the point, looked terrifying- she had six Pokéballs- no, Luxury Balls even- neatly lined up along her belt, and a recent-looking scar along her cheek which could only have come from some kind of Pokémon- she was clearly a veteran trainer, and that alone was enough to scare Skyla off. She got to the desk without incident, MG2 keeping Lancel’s attention in a way Skyla would be sure to thank her for if she could work up the courage to talk to the older girl.
“H-hi. I’m… one of the gym challengers? They said I was already booked in?”
The receptionist smiled kindly, thankfully not commenting on her obvious nerves, “What’s your name then sweetie?”
“Uh, Skyla. Skyla Starr.”
The receptionist nodded and typed something into her computer, only to frown and type it again. And again. And again. Oh no.
A thought drifted across Skyla’s mind- Rose wouldn’t, right? He could be a bit of a hardass in private if the rumours were true, but he wouldn’t do that right? He knew damn well what kind of scene it would make. She fiddled with her glasses again. Who was she kidding, he absolutely would- anyone would in his position, the publicity would be tripled.
“Ah, I’m so sorry about the delay sweetie, how do you spell that?”
“Um. S-k-y-l-a, s-t-a-r-r.” Maybe the second ‘r’ had tripped her up? From the receptionist’s frustrated scowl, it hadn’t. Rose absolutely had, fuck. Nervously, Skyla scanned the room- it was mostly empty, most trainers having gone to bed already, but there were plenty of people to let a rumour start. She fiddled with her glasses, big and bulky over her face and easily drawing attention away from her distinctive eyes. The glass almost entirely distorted the odd star-like shapes, in a way that was strange, but helpful.
“I’m so sorry about this- there seems to have been some kind of mix-up in the booking- can you think of any other way you might have been entered? Maybe a nickname got mixed up?”
“Um.” Yes. Stella Skies. Her stage name. Which Rose absolutely would use. Because she was famous and the paparazzi she was so desperate to avoid would bring countless new viewers to the gym challenge- far more than the announcement she’d be taking the challenge would pull in alone. She gently tugged at her glasses, really there was nothing else for it- it was hardly like the press wouldn’t have found her real name eventually, especially not when they were looking so closely for her…
“She can take my room, if you’re having problems with the system.” Another mystery voice chipped in and seriously can the ‘benevolent strangers society’ stop sneaking up on her tonight!?
“Oh- thank you so much for offering Vicky bu-” before the receptionist could even finish, ‘Vicky’ had tossed a door key into Skyla’s hands, which she luckily was fast enough to catch.
“I don’t have much for her to nick anyway, so it’s not much of a risk- it’s room 171, I’m barely using the wardrobe if you wanna dump your bag there.” Vicky smirked, “I’m gonna be out all night anyway, so I’d just be taking the space. I’ve got some errands to finish up before I leave here tomorrow.”
“Honestly Vicky, you don’t need to help out everyone,” The receptionist said with a fond exasperation, “And how are you planning to get your things if you hand your key off?”
“…Yo, Skyla right? Mind waiting for me in the morning before you set off? I promise I won’t be late.”
“Bu- wha- Sleep is important!” Skyla stammered for an answer and oh, wow, that was dumb even for her, “You need some sleep too!”
“Eh, I barely sleep up there anyway.” Vicky shrugged, “Too comfy. I spend most my time camping so it’s kinda weird to actually use my bed again.”
That… was fair? “o-okay? I’ll… meet you in the lobby? Thank you so much for this?”
“No problem- thank me with a good battle at the Champion cup, if you really gotta.” Vicky replied with a smirk, and wow Skyla wished she could steal that confidence. Bottle it maybe. Down it before public appearances, instead of just acting. Before she could say anything else, Vicky was walking out of the hotel doors. The receptionist just sighed and gestured to the elevator.
The room was, true to Vicky’s claim, pretty minimalist. There was a large camping bag leaning against the draws, and a smaller, Pokémon-sized bag on top of them. Other than that, the room looked untouched- which, made sense for most the rooms, the Gym challengers would only be here for one night, but the familiarity with the receptionist had indicated she’d been here a while…
Letting Magikarp out of his Pokéball, Skyla resolved to ignore it- it really wasn’t her business. Gently getting into the bed, she closed her eyes and let sleep consume her.