Falkner recalled Pidgeotto. She spent a moment with the ball in her hand, quiet, respectful.

Then crossed the arena and Ravina straightened, suddenly very aware that she had just been hugging her Quilava on the floor.

Falkner stopped in front of her. “You listened.”

Ravina blinked. “To?”

“Your Pokémon.”

Falkner looked toward Cinder. “You didn't treat his evolution as an excuse to demand more from him.”

Then Owlbert. “You gave him room to make decisions.”

Finally back to Ravina. “And when my Pidgeotto forced you out of your plan, you adapted.”

Ravina swallowed and Falkner's expression softened. “Good.”

There it was again as Ravina's ears went warm.

Victor made a tiny delighted noise as Ravina did her best not look at him.

“Thank you.”

Falkner's gaze remained on her for one heartbeat longer than necessary, then she reached into her robe.

A small badge rested in her palm when she withdrew it.

Silver-blue, Wing-shaped. The Zephyr Badge.

Ravina stared. 

She had seen it once before from Ito, but this one felt heavier when Falkner placed it in her hand. 

“Ravina Shales.”

The formal voice returned. “You've demonstrated the control and adaptability expected of a Violet Gym challenger.”

Ravina closed her fingers around the badge. “Congratulations.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

One Gym, there it was, the entire agreement in her palm.

Finished.

So why didn't it feel finished?

- - - - -

“There is also this.” Falkner produced a slim blue-bound booklet.

Ravina stared at it and then laughed. “Another book.”

Falkner raised an eyebrow. “Problem?”

“No. Elder Li gave me Flash.”

“Ah.”

“None of my Pokémon can learn it.”

Something amused flickered in Falkner's eyes. “That sounds like him.”

Ravina accepted the booklet and saw stamped across the cover:

TECHNICAL MANUAL — ROOST
Restorative Landing and Controlled Recovery
Violet Gym Flight Curriculum

Ravina opened it. Diagrams, wing posture, breathing, safe landing positions, energy conservation, recovery under battle conditions and Several adaptations for different Flying-type anatomies.

Ravina looked at Owlbert, who was already looking at the book.

Hoot.

Ravina grinned. “Oh, this one we can actually use.”

Falkner nodded. “Owlbert is compatible.”

Ravina flipped another page. “You wrote it?”

“Parts.”

“Parts?”

“My father wrote the original curriculum.”

There it was, something subtle in Falkner's voice. Pride, and weight.

Ravina looked up as Falkner continued. “I revised the current edition.”

“Was he okay with that?”

A pause as Falkner's mouth curved faintly. “Eventually.”

Ravina smiled. “I think I like you.”

There was a silence as Ravina realized what she'd said.

Victor's eyes became enormous, Owlbert stared and Cinder looked between them.

Ravina's face heated. “I meant…”

“I know.” Falkner's tone was perfectly composed.

Which was somehow much worse as Ravina narrowed her eyes. “You're enjoying this.”

“A little.” 

There it was, private Falkner, just for a second… Ravina liked that version too… Another problem.

- - - - -

The referee left and the spectators in the upper perches gradually settled now the official match was over.

Falkner removed the formal outer layer of her Gym robes and folded it over one arm. 

The change was surprisingly dramatic, same woman, less ceremonial but still composed, if more at ease

Ravina watched her and Falkner noticed, again.

Ravina really needed her to stop noticing things.

“Something wrong?”

“No.”

“That was something.”

Ravina stared. “You stole that from me.”

“I learned quickly.”

Victor whispered: “I adore her.” 

Ravina pushed him backward with one hand and Falkner smiled.

Then looked toward the open western side of the Gym. “The view is better from the roof.”

Ravina followed her gaze. “Higher?”

“Yes.”

Ravina looked down over the arena, then back at Falkner. “You built a Gym in the sky and decided it needed more sky?”

“My father built most of it.”

“Of course.”

A pause as Falkner looked at her. “If you're free this evening, sunset is worth seeing from up there.”

Ravina blinked.

Not a Gym instruction

Not a Leader speaking to a challenger.

An invitation.

Victor drifted closer and Ravina put one finger against his face. It went partly through.

“Don't.”

Victor became semi-solid just long enough to accept the finger with dignity. 

Falkner's mouth twitched and Ravina looked back at her. “I have to check on the boys.”

“Of course.”

“And probably shower.”

“Recommended.”

Ravina stared as Falkner's expression remained perfectly calm.

Then Ravina laughed. “Okay.”

Falkner waited and Ravina realized she hadn't actually answered. “Oh. Yes.”

A small smile. “Good.”

Again, Ravina's stomach betrayed her. This was getting ridiculous. 

“I'll come back.”

“Seven?”

“Seven.”

Falkner nodded. “Roof entrance. East side.”

Ravina answered immediately. “Got it.”

Falkner paused with that look again.

Ravina caught it. “What?”

Falkner stepped slightly closer, not enough to crowd her, but enough that Ravina became very aware of the difference in their height.

“You really do become attentive when I use that tone.”

Ravina stopped breathing for approximately one second as Victor made a strangled sound behind her.

Ravina's ears burned as Falkner stepped away. Perfectly composed as Ravina stared.

“You could have kept that observation to yourself.” Ravina whispered.

“I could have.”

“You didn't.”

“No.”

Ravina narrowed her eyes.

Falkner smiled. “Only enjoying this a little,” she repeated.

Ravina pointed at her. “This is retaliation for the battle.”

“Seven o'clock, Ravina.”

There was that tone again and Ravina's spine straightened before she could stop it.

“Yes.”

Falkner's eyebrow rose as Ravina closed her eyes.

“Oh, go away.”

Falkner laughed.

Actually laughed.

Quietly.

Ravina opened her eyes.

That might have been worse than everything else.

- - - - -

Outside the Gym, Violet looked exactly the same and Ravina found this unreasonable.

She stood on the front steps with the Zephyr Badge in one hand, Cinder beside her.

Owlbert perched on her shoulder and Victor floating overhead.

One Gym. Done.

She looked at the badge again and Cinder nudged her hip.

Ravina smiled. “Yeah.”

She crouched and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You were amazing, my Fireball.”

Cinder leaned against her.

Owlbert hooted and Ravina stood and offered him her arm.

“And you.” He stepped down. “You were perfect.”

Hoot.

“Close enough.”

Victor lowered himself. “And I?”

Ravina looked at him. “You behaved.”

Victor recoiled. “Damning praise.”

“You behaved well.”

He considered it for a moment. “I accept.”

Ravina laughed, then looked toward Sprout Tower.

The road beyond Violet, the routes south, and Azalea somewhere past all of that.

One Gym had been the agreement, she had one, she could stop. Nobody had said otherwise and her mother would probably even accept it.

Ravina looked at Cinder, at Owlbert then Victor.

And thought of all she experienced the last couple of weeks as the badge felt warm in her palm.

Ravina slipped it carefully into her badge case. “Okay.”

Victor looked at her. “Okay?”

“We won.”

“We did.”

Ravina started walking, Cinder fell into step,  Owlbert took the air, and Victor drifted backward in front of her. “And now?”

Ravina looked toward the Pokémon Center. “Now we get checked over.”

Victor sighed. “Medicine immediately after triumph.”

“Yes.”

“A recurring tragedy.”

“Then food.” Cinder's ears lifted.

“Then I apparently have somewhere to be at seven.” Victor's grin became monstrous that Ravina pointed at him. “You are not coming.”

His face collapsed. “My muse?”

“No.”

“I could provide atmosphere.”

“No.”

“Privacy.”

Ravina paused and Victor noticed. “No.”

“Cruel.”

Owlbert hooted.

Ravina smiled. “Yeah.”

The Zephyr Badge sat inside her bag. One Gym, just one.

Ravina looked toward the road south again, then smiled, maybe she'd decide what that meant tomorrow.

Tonight… She had a rooftop to visit. And, apparently, a Gym Leader who had noticed far too much.