At the pokemon center, Zoah was growing worried about Hikari and her walk waiting for her when the front Center doors opened. Hikari walks in.
"Hikari, I was worried sick about you. Did you...clear your head?" Zoah asked
Hikari looks a bit calmer than before, but there's still a hint of uncertainty in her expression.
"Yeah... I did. I went for a walk and saw something interesting."
"Like what?" Zoah asked conceringly
She sits down next to him, taking a breath, "I saw Radiant Garden workers releasing Wailmers back into the ocean. They have a whole rehabilitation program for pokémon."
She pauses, then adds quietly. "And the director... Madam Eleanor Bishop... offered me a job as an agent."
Zoah raises an eyebrow, surprised by the job offer, "A job offer? As an agent? What did she say exactly?"
Hikari explains what Eleanor told her about the job, including the rehabilitation work and the compensation.
"She said I have potential and a heart for pokémon. That I could work with them and still travel with you." She looks at him, gauging his reaction.
"What about the group from the cavern mining the pink diamonds with that greedy leader? Did you tell her about that?" Zoah asked
She shakes her head, "No, I didn't mention that. I was focused on the Wailmers and the job offer. But... I should probably tell her about it. They might be corrupting the environment with their mining."
Zoah nods in agreement, "Yeah, you should. If they're damaging the ecosystem with their mining, Radiant Garden needs to know. And if they're connected to Eleanor's organization, she should be aware of any illegal activities."
He thinks for a moment, "Do you want me to come with you when you talk to her again?"
Hikari Gulps, "D-Do...you think...I should take this job offer?"
He looks at her seriously, considering her question.
"That's up to you to decide. If you think it's something you want to do, and it helps pokémon, then yes. But if you're still unsure about being a trainer, maybe it could be a temporary solution while you figure things out."
He places a hand on her shoulder, "Just don't rush into anything. Think carefully about the pros and cons."
She leans into his touch, feeling conflicted, "I don't want to leave you behind. But... I also don't want to keep dragging you down with my weakness."
She looks down at her hands, remembering Mizu's words again.
Zoah frowns at her self-deprecating comment, "You're not weak, Hikari. You had one loss. One. And that doesn't define you as a trainer or as a person."
He gently lifts her chin to make her look at him, "We've been over this. You're not holding me back. And if you take this job, we'll still be together. Just in different capacities."
Zoah smiles looking at her eyes, "I'll support you either way of your decision."
She meets his gaze, her eyes showing gratitude and a bit of hope, "Thank you... for always being so understanding. I just need to talk to Eleanor again and figure out what to do."
She takes a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts, "Maybe I should talk to Chimchar too. Get its opinion."
Zoah smirks, "You know...for the eight years of knowing you. You always dreamed of wanting to give back to the world. You do care for pokemon....maybe joining Radiant Garden is the way to go."
A small smile forms on her lips at his words. He's right - she has always had a big heart for pokémon. It's why she became a trainer in the first place.
"You remember that? Yeah... I did dream about giving back. And Eleanor seemed genuine about their mission."
She glances at her pokeball where Chimchar is resting.
"I'll ask Chimchar if it wants to stay with me or go with you for now. Just in case I decide to take the job."
"I will not take Chimchar from you. It's your first pokemon whether you are a trainer or not. Chimchar will always follow you." Zoah says
She nods, appreciating his reassurance about Chimchar. She reaches for the pokeball and releases her starter pokémon. Chimchar appears, looking up at her and Zoah curiously.
Hikari kneels down to Chimchar's level, speaking softly to it, "Hey, buddy. I need to talk to you about something important."
She looks at Zoah briefly before focusing back on Chimchar, who tilts its head in response. Chimchar chirps, sensing the seriousness in her tone. It seems attentive and ready to listen.
Hikari takes a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking again.
"I've been offered a job with Radiant Garden. They help pokémon get better and go back to the wild. But... it means I might not be able to battle as much as a trainer."
She watches Chimchar's reaction carefully, wondering how it will respond to this potential change.
Chimchar seems to think for a moment, processing what she said. It looks between her and Zoah, then back at her with understanding in its eyes. It gives a small nod, as if saying it's okay with the decision.
Zoah smiles at Chimchar's acceptance. The front doors of the center opened as Mizu walked in to get her pokémon. As she walked in, she spotted the two.
"Still here huh?" A hint of annoyance was in Mizu's voice.
Zoah tenses slightly at her tone, but stays calm. Hikari looks up at Mizu with a neutral expression, trying not to show any sign of her previous defeat.
"Yes, we're still here." She replies simply.
Mizu walks over to the counter, ignoring Zoah and focusing on Hikari.
"Didn't expect to see you after that pathetic performance. Thought you'd run off crying." She smirks, clearly still thinking about the battle from yesterday.
Hikari clenches her fists slightly, but maintains her composure. Zoah steps closer to her, ready to intervene if needed.
"I'm not crying. I'm considering my options." She says firmly, not letting Mizu's words affect her too much this time.
Mizu raises an eyebrow, amused by her response, "Options? Like giving up on being a trainer completely? That's what it looks like to me."
She leans against the counter, crossing her arms, "You're just proving my point about being a princess."
Mizu scoffs at Zoah's defense, "Oh please. What other path is there? She can't even handle one water-type move. What use is she then?"
She looks at Hikari with a challenging gaze, waiting for her to respond to that statement.
Hikari meets her gaze with determination in her eyes, despite the harsh words.
"I can be useful in other ways. Like with Radiant Garden. They need people who care about pokémon welfare." She stands up straighter, not backing down from the confrontation.
Mizu laughs mockingly, "Radiant Garden? Those softies? They're not real trainers. They just play nurse with the pokémon. Not my style."
She shakes her head, clearly dismissing the organization as inferior to her own role as a tower leader.
"Softies huh?" The voice of Eleanor comes walking into the pokemon center as her Lilligant is beside her walking up to where Nurse Joy is.
"Hello Joy. Could you give my Lilligant a checkup please? Something seems wrong with her petals." Eleanor says
Nurse Joy nods and takes Lilligant to another room for examination. Mizu turns to look at Eleanor with a frown.
"And who are you? Another Radiant Garden agent?"
Eleanor has a soft smile on her face as she turned to face her. "Oh? Me? Why I'm Eleanor Bishop, founder and owner of the Radiant Garden."
Mizu's expression hardens at the confirmation. She recognizes the name now, "Bishop. So you're the one in charge. What are you doing here in my tower town?"
Eleanor keeps her smile, unbothered by Mizu's tone.
"Just checking on my Lilligant. And to see how things are going with the tower challenges. Heard there was a challenge yesterday."
She glances at Hikari briefly, then back at Mizu with a knowing look.
"And I was sending Wailmers back into the sea where they belong." Eleanor says
Mizu crosses her arms again, not impressed, "Wailmers? That's your priority? Not training the next generation of trainers properly?"
"Young lady, not everything is about training." Eleanor says
Mizu rolls her eyes, "It should be. Battles are what make trainers strong. Not playing with weak pokémon and releasing them back to the wild."
She gestures dismissively at Hikari and Zoah.
Eleanor chuckles softly, "Strength isn't just about winning battles. It's about understanding and compassion too. Something you seem to lack."
She steps closer to Mizu, her demeanor still calm but firm, "And those 'weak pokémon' have just as much value as any other pokémon. They deserve care and respect, not just to be used for battles."
"Ladies! That is enough." Nurse Joy intervenes before it could get out of hand.
Both women fall silent at Nurse Joy's interruption. Eleanor nods respectfully to her, while Mizu huffs in annoyance.
"Fine. But don't expect me to change my views on your methods, Bishop."
"Mizu, you should know better about pokemon bonds and such. Knock it off about being all superior. This isn't you so hold your tongue when you care deeply about your water pokemon and the sea." Nurse Joy says
Mizu bristles at being called out by Nurse Joy, but can't argue with her since she knows her well.
"I do care about my pokémon. Just not in the same way you all do."
She glances at her Seaking's pokeball, then back at Eleanor with a hint of defensiveness.
Eleanor notices the glance and smiles knowingly, "See? Even you have a bond with your Seaking. That's why you're a good tower leader. But don't let that bond cloud your judgment on others' ways."
She pats Lilligant's head as Nurse Joy returns with her, the pokémon looking healthier now.
Mizu grumbles and leaves the pokemon center altogether. A few of the trainers and such that had a held breath let it out.
"That...was intense." Hikari says
Eleanor watches Mizu leave, then turns to Hikari and Zoah, "She's always been passionate about her role. Sometimes too passionate."
Nurse Joy sighs and shakes her head, "She needs to learn to be more tolerant of different approaches. Especially when it comes to pokémon care."
Hikari turns to Eleanor, "I thought about that offer and I'll take it...but I want to continue my journey and adventure with Zoah here."
Eleanor smiles warmly at her decision, "Of course. You can do both. As I said before, we have mobile agents. You can travel with Zoah and report back to us when needed."
She pulls out a small device from her pocket, "This is a communication device. It has a map of our locations and a direct line to me. You'll receive your first assignment soon."
Eleanor adds, "As for clothing requirement...you look good in that dress. Keep at it since as a field agent, you can dress accordingly however seemed fit to you."
Hikari looks down at her dress, then nods, "Got it. I'll wear whatever's comfortable for field work."
Zoah watches the exchange, feeling relieved that Hikari seems more certain now.
"Now, I gotta take my leave and head back to my headquarters. Visit and come by once in a while." Eleanor waves off walking away.
Hikari waves back, holding the communication device in her hand. Once Eleanor is gone, she looks at Zoah, "Well...that was eventful."
Zoah smiles at Hikari, "I'm happy for you Hikari."
She smiles back, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her expression, "Thanks. I'm a bit nervous about the first assignment though. What if I mess up?"
He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder again, "You won't mess up. You're smart and capable. Plus, you'll have me to help you through it."
He gives her a confident look, trying to boost her confidence too.
"Yeah! You're right Zoah!" Hikari smiles with gleaming confidence.
He chuckles at her renewed confidence, "That's the spirit. Now, what do you want to do next? We could explore more of Sapphire Town before we head out again."
"I want a wardrobe change." Hikari says looking at her dress.
He raises an eyebrow, curious about her sudden desire for a change, "A wardrobe change? What kind of change?"
She looks at her dress again, then at her pokeball, "I think...I need something more practical for field work. Maybe something that allows me to move easier. And something that shows I'm not just a 'princess' as Mizu said."
"Alright, let's go. While we do that. I'll find out which Tower I will take on next." Zoah says bringing his left arm up and brings up the map from the Poké-band map app.
Hikari nods and follows him, her eyes on the map too, "Which tower are you thinking about? There's the Fire Tower, right?"
"Funny how there is no cities, but towns." Zoah points out looking at each of the town names.
She looks at the map as well, noticing the lack of city names, "True. Just small towns scattered around the region. Makes it easier to travel between them though."
She spots the Fire Tower icon on the map, located near a volcanic area.
"Ruby Town is where the Fire Tower is in." Zoah looks at it as he thinks of how long it'll take to get there. "Probably estimate...Three four day walk."
Hikari calculates the distance, "Three to four days...and that's if we take breaks and don't encounter any obstacles. The terrain might be rough around the volcano area."
She sighs, thinking about the journey ahead, "And I need to find clothes that are suitable for that kind of travel too. This dress isn't exactly made for hiking through volcanic terrain."
"Alright, clothing store first, then we head out." Zoah says
She agrees and they head out of the pokemon center, looking for a clothing store in Sapphire Town. The town has a few shops, including a small clothing boutique near the main street.
While being in one, Hikari walks out of the changing room, "Okay, how about this?"
She's now wearing a black compression shirt, white vest jacket and black cargo shorts with white accents.
Zoah looks at her new outfit, nodding approvingly, "Looks good. Simple but functional. And the shorts will allow you to move easily."
Hikari smirks as she does a little posing, "Like what you see Zoah?" She teases slightly. He chuckles at her playful teasing, pretending to think for a moment.
"Hmm, I suppose it's acceptable." He smirks back, playing along with her teasing.
She laughs and rolls her eyes at his response, then looks at herself in the mirror.
"I'll take it. And these too." She points to a pair of black sneakers on the shelf nearby.
"And this too." Zoah grabs a white ball cap hat with a black pokeball emblem on it putting it onto her head.
She adjusts the hat on her head, looking at her reflection with the hat now.
"A hat? Really?" She touches the pokeball emblem, a small smile on her lips.
At the register where two employees chuckle in amusement, "Oh my God, they're so cute together." She mumbled to the other.
One of the employees whispers back, "They remind me of a couple."
Zoah overhears them and pretends not to notice, paying for the items while Hikari tries to ignore their comment.
The employee rings up the items and bags them, still smiling at the two, "Have a nice day, you two! And good luck on your journey!"
Hikari takes the bags, slightly flustered now.
Zoah thanks the employee and leads Hikari out of the store, chuckling softly at her flustered state, "Looks like we're getting the 'couple' treatment again."
She huffs and pouts slightly, giving him a light shove, "Shut up. It's not our fault they think that." She adjusts the hat again, trying to act nonchalant about it.*
Zoah chuckles and wraps an arm around her and pulls her close, "You always cuddle next to me in bed so why not say we are?"
Her pout deepens at his arm around her, but she doesn't pull away. Her cheeks turn a bit pink.
"That's different. We're just... comfortable with each other. It doesn't mean we're a couple." She mutters, clearly embarrassed now.
"Awwww, I got the newest Radiant Garden Agent all flushed up....how cute." Zoah teases with a chuckle.
She swats his arm lightly, her face now fully red.
"Stop it! I'm not flushed. And I'm not cute." She tries to sound annoyed, but her voice betrays her embarrassment.
He laughs at her attempt to deny it, enjoying how easily flustered she gets.
"You're adorable when you're embarrassed, Agent Hikari." He ruffles her hair playfully under the hat.
She swats his hand away from her hair, fixing it back into place with a glare.
"I'm not adorable! I'm serious about this job. And stop calling me Agent Hikari. It sounds weird." She crosses her arms, trying to regain her composure.
"You know, we should stop at the Sapphire guild hall. See if Kai is there." Zoah says changing the topic.
She nods, grateful for the topic change, "Right. The guild hall. Let's go there then."
She starts walking in the direction of the guild hall, still adjusting to her new clothes and trying to calm down from the teasing.
They arrive at the Sapphire Guild Hall, a large building with various trainers and pokemon going in and out. Inside, there's a reception desk and bulletin boards with missions posted on them.
"Zoah! Hikari! Over here!" Yelled Kai from off to the side.
Zoah looks over and spots Kai waving at them. They make their way over to where he is standing.
"Hey Kai. Found a mission yet?"
"Not yet, but guess what?" Kai says
"What is it?" Zoah asked
"Akari got suspended for his attitude for a month." Kai says
Hikari raises an eyebrow, surprised by the news,"Suspended? For a month? What did he do this time?"
"Remember his attitude when him and I lost against you the other day?" Kai reminded them.
Zoah nods, recalling Akira's dramatic exit after the battle,"Yeah, he was throwing a tantrum like a child."
"Exactly. The guild master wasn't happy about it. Said he needs to learn respect and teamwork." Kai shakes his head, looking a bit relieved that he's not dealing with Akira anymore.
"Which brings me to say this...my guild master would like to see you both. Nothing bad. He wants to ask if you want to join the Pokemon-Guild." Kai says
Zoah and Hikari exchange glances, curious about this request.
"Join the guild? As in, become official trainers here?" Zoah asks, intrigued.
The guild master, who has a neat trimmed beard looks at Zoah. The guild master has a black shirt and a dark green short sleeve over coat and jeans walks in. "I will give you remote access to all guilds so you don't have to report here all the time...how does making you a Ranger feel?" He asked
Zoah considers the offer, thinking about the benefits of being a ranger.
"Remote access to all guilds...that could be useful. And being a ranger means we can take on missions from different areas."
He looks at Hikari, silently asking her opinion on this as well.
"Zoah....do what you think is right." Hikari smiles using his words against him when he supported Hikari's decision on becoming a Radiant Garden Agent.
He chuckles at her use of his own words, realizing she's getting back at him.
"Alright, alright. I'll take it. We'll be Rangers."
He turns back to the guild master, nodding in agreement.
"Alright....My name is Jusei Mikawa. I and the Sapphire guild master. Glad to have you aboard as a Guild Ranger." Jusei brings up his arm and scans Zoah's Poké-band with his and puts his credentials in registering him. "May Hōseki bring the future."
With that Zoah and Hikari left. Zoah looks at his Poké-band, seeing the new Ranger credentials added. He feels a sense of accomplishment and excitement about this new chapter.
"A Ranger and an Agent....things are looking up for us Zoah." Hikari smiles as they walk out together heading out of Sapphire Town.
He smiles back, returning her smile.
"Yeah, they are. We're making progress. And who knows what else we'll find on our journey."
He checks the map on his band, seeing their route to Ruby Town marked.