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Chapter Text

A Promise is a Promise

It had been some time since Ash had traveled to a new Region. He often traveled between Regions he had already visited: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, and Galar. By now, he considered himself almost a citizen of each of them, after all, he could count on excellent friends who would gladly host him.

Years earlier, he had understood what one of the fundamental steps to becoming a Pokémon Master was. To become friends with as many Pokémon as possible and help them as much as he could.

It was an early March night. These were the last days of winter, but it seemed the cold did not want to leave the small town of Pallet Town. Under the covers, Ash couldn't fall asleep. Two weeks earlier, he had confirmed his title as the strongest Trainer of all; his opponent, like all the other times, had been Leon. The two were excellent friends, but despite this, they held nothing back in battles.

Pikachu noticed that his Trainer was not sleeping. To get his attention, he nudged his head gently against his chest.

«Yeah? Are you worried about me? Yes, I can’t sleep, but don’t worry. I’m fine. Sometimes certain thoughts keep you awake.» Another nudge.

«Alright. I’ll explain. I can't hide my secrets from you. You know that. I want to become a Pokémon Master and I want to do it with you and everyone else. Tonight, I was thinking exactly about that.» Pikachu let out a small, perplexed murmur. It seemed to ask him, "What do you mean?" Ash, understanding his friend’s perplexity, tried to explain himself better. «See. I was thinking about what I need to do to reach our goal. And I realized that, if I want to become a Pokémon Master, I also need to help others reach their goals. Think about May, Dawn, or even Serena…» Pikachu smiled upon hearing the names of each of his friends. He thought of May and Dawn and their dream of becoming Top Coordinators, and Serena and her dream of becoming Kalos Queen.

Pikachu thought about how, effectively, none of them had achieved their goal. Just like Ash, for that matter. He hadn't become Champion in Hoenn, nor in Sinnoh, nor certainly in Kalos.

«That's why I'd like to travel to a new Region, with you and some other friends. I have no idea where to go, there are many places we haven't visited yet.»

Ash got out of bed, turned on the bedside lamp, and took a globe from his display cabinet. «Look, these are the regions we’ve visited. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Kalos, Alola, and Galar. Look how many regions we haven't visited yet, who knows, maybe in one of these we'll manage to find someone who can help us.» The World Champion gave a huge yawn. Perhaps talking about his doubts with his friend had helped him fall asleep.

«Maybe we’ll talk about it with Professor Oak tomorrow. Who knows, maybe one of his colleagues knows some Trainer to help with their goal. Although I don’t think setting off on this journey alone is a good idea. Sure, maybe we’ll meet new friends, but no. I’m not sure I want to start from scratch.»

Pikachu, at least partially, understood what his friend was referring to. Perhaps now that his friend was getting older, were romantic interests starting to spark too?

The experienced Trainer fell asleep, and Pikachu with him. The following morning, Ash woke up at ten o'clock. Relatively late, but quite early compared to his standards.

After a hearty breakfast, prepared by his mother, an extraordinary cook, the Champion sprang up from his chair.

«Ash, where are you rushing off to?» his mother asked him. She was used to seeing him enthusiastic even about small things, but this reaction beat all of them.

«To Professor Oak’s. I’d like to ask him a small favor.» The woman was even more perplexed. What could he ask the Professor that was so exciting? Perhaps he wanted to leave for a new journey and wanted to ask the Professor for advice on which Region to visit? But what for? He was now the strongest Trainer of all. It was the other Trainers, Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Champions, above all, who wanted to challenge him.

The stream of thoughts distracted the woman long enough.

Ash had already gone out and headed towards the Professor’s lab. Ash and Pikachu started running. In a few moments, they reached the lab.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, the raven-haired boy was hit by the herd of Tauros caught in the Safari Zone. «Calm down, guys! I’m happy to see you too!» After getting back on his feet and dusting himself off, Ash reached his other Pokémon. He went to visit them often. He spent a lot of time with them and talked to them about his doubts and aspirations. «Hey, Bulbasaur! Could you do me a small favor?» The Seed Pokémon immediately understood. A jet of golden powder came out of the bulb on the Pokémon’s back, reaching a height of several dozen meters in the sky. That was the signal. All of the Champion's Pokémon reached Bulbasaur and their Trainer.

As soon as they reached Ash, they arranged themselves in a circle around their Trainer. The smallest ones in front, the largest ones in back. Having the attention of his Pokémon, Ash took out his Rotom Phone and contacted Professor Kukui. He wanted to ask a small favor of the person he considered his adoptive father as well. After a few rings, the Professor answered. After a brief chat with the Professor, Ash got to the point. He wanted to see the Pokémon he had caught in Alola: Lycanroc, Incineroar, Melmetal, and Rowlet. As soon as he saw them on his phone screen, and certain that he had their full attention, Ash finally began his speech. «As you know, if I wanted to have you here with me, it’s because I have something important to announce to you.» That sentence attracted even more attention from his Pokémon. They began exchanging doubts and questions, each in their own language. «If I am where I am now, I owe it only and exclusively to you. You know that. And you also know that I share everything with you. And I will do the same today. I have understood the next step I must take if I want to become a Pokémon Master. And to do that, I need your help.» The World Champion’s Pokémon were even more curious. «I would like to leave for a new journey. A different kind of journey than usual. And I want to include you. Obviously, traveling all together is impossible. A Trainer can only carry six Pokémon with them. But don't worry. You will all come with me in turns. I haven't decided where we are going yet, but I assure you it won’t take long. I will ask Professor Oak for advice. No matter where we go, I promise you that wherever we go, it will be a wonderful experience. And I promise you will also have new friends.» The experienced Trainer’s Pokémon were even more enthusiastic.

«And that’s all, guys.» The Rotom Phone returned to his hands. He greeted Professor Kukui, Professor Burnet, and little Lei.

Shortly after, Ash headed for the laboratory doors. He rang the bell. The Professor answered a few moments later. «Ah, it’s you, Ash! Come on in!» The Professor pressed a button and triggered the door-opening mechanism.

A click confirmed to the Champion that the door had opened.

Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder, reached the Professor, who was currently busy working at the computer. «Good morning, Professor.» He greeted him. «Hello Ash! Tell me everything.» Oak welcomed him. Tracey was not present at the moment. He was his friend, but he preferred to speak privately with Professor Oak.

«Certainly, right away. You know very well. I dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. It is a very difficult goal to achieve, and with every passing day, I learn a new aspect of this dream of mine.» The Professor turned towards his guest, interested. «Good. And how can I help you with this goal of yours?» The Professor was a very kind person and would do anything to help. But at that moment, he had no idea what to do to assist him.

«Well. I realized that to be a Pokémon Master, I also have to help others achieve their goals.» The Professor was starting to understand. «But you’ve already traveled with May, with Dawn, and with Serena. You traveled with them and supported them on their journeys. Don't you think that's enough?» Ash hurried to reply. «Unfortunately, no. May didn’t become a Top Coordinator. And the same goes for Dawn. Or Serena, who didn’t become Kalos Queen. So. That's why I don't feel I have fulfilled this task. That's why I asked you for help.» Finally, the Professor understood the experienced Trainer’s question. «So you would like me to put you in contact with a colleague of mine so that you can help a young Trainer on their journey?» Ash smiled. The Professor had fully understood. «I see I understood. Perhaps I know who can help you. I warn you, she lives quite far from here. It will be a long journey.»

Ash signaled that the distance, at least for him, was not a problem. «She is a Professor and lives in the Unova Region. Her name is Juniper. Aurea Juniper. It is ten o'clock at night in Unova right now. It's a bit late, but she might answer. Giving it a try shouldn't be a problem.»

The Professor contacted his colleague. After a few moments, the woman answered the call. The face of a woman about forty years old appeared on the computer screen. She had light brown hair, tied up in a strange hairstyle, and light green eyes. She was wearing square-shaped red earrings.

She was dressed in civilian clothes at the moment. A pink t-shirt covered by a sports jacket. As soon as she realized who her interlocutor was, the woman greeted him.

«Hi Samuel! What do I owe this call to? You know it's ten o'clock at night in Unova! It must be urgent.» The man replied immediately. «Well, it's because of this guy.» The Professor pulled Ash’s jacket, making him move closer to the camera. «Ash Ketchum? What an honor! The strongest Trainer of all! What do I owe this call to?» Ash hurried to answer. «I asked Professor Oak if he could help me achieve my goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. And I realized that, to do that, I have to help someone achieve their goal. I spoke about it with the Professor, and he put me in contact with you.» The Professor smiled. «I understand. In three weeks, I will be giving young Trainers their first Pokémon. And I already have in mind the person you could help. She is the daughter of a very dear friend of mine. She is a very shy girl, and perhaps having an energetic travel companion like you could help her change and open up to others.» «Yes. I accept the challenge. Goodbye Professor, and thank you for your cooperation.» «Thank you, Ash.»

The Professor sent Ash the Professor's contact information. He had done his part. Now the choice was in the Champion's hands.

Ash returned to his Pokémon, who had waited for him where they were. Still arranged in a circle. Some of them moved to let him pass.

First, he sent a voice message to Professor Kukui, asking him to play it for his Pokémon. «Guys. It’s practically done. We will soon leave for a new adventure. And I will share it with you. We’re going to a quite distant Region. Unova. Of course, it’s not official yet. We’ll have to iron out some details, but I can assure you that it’s almost certain now.» The Pokémon in the lab were enthusiastic about the idea. They wondered among themselves who would go with him. Of course, knowing him, in all probability, everyone would get their turn sooner or later, but the curiosity about who would be the first was hard to contain.

Ash said goodbye to his Pokémon and headed towards home. Very happy to be able to give the good news to his mother as well. Arriving at the front door, he put the keys in the lock and opened the bolt. Since the door wasn't locked, his mother was home. And, in fact, the woman was sitting on the sofa next to Mimey. They were watching television.

«So? How did it go?» the woman asked him. «Very well. I still can't promise anything, but I've found a person who could help me achieve my dream.» «I think that’s wonderful news. Where are you going?» the woman asked him. Ash answered almost without thinking. «To the Unova Region.» Delia was almost struck. «It's so far away! It's almost eleven thousand kilometers of travel! I'm not saying I'm worried. I'm sure you’ll manage, but as a mother, I worry about my son. You’ll have to get some new clothes. You have to make a good impression as the Champion that you are!» Ash did not reply. His concern was different. The raven-haired boy went up to his room and opened the address book on his Rotom Phone. He had a fixed thought in his head. At least for once, he didn't want to leave alone. Of course, one way or another, he had always met people he became friends with and then traveled with them, but this time he wanted to change. He didn't want to start from scratch. He knew that the person he would have to guide would be a girl, and a rather shy one at that. This made him think that the ideal candidate had to be a girl. But who? Ash thought about his friends and tried to figure out who the ideal candidate was. Starting with Misty. Immediately excluded because of her huge commitments with the Gym. Further increased by the lack of cooperation from her sisters.

He then thought about May. The last time he had heard from his friend was just a week earlier. On that occasion, Ash had discovered her intention to try again for the rank of Top Coordinator with the Kanto Contests. And Ash was not the type to trample on the dreams of others. A similar discussion applied to Dawn, who was trying with the Johto Contests.

That left Serena, Mallow, Lana, and Lillie. Excluding his friends from Alola, mainly due to logistical problems, since traveling to Unova required documents that his friends did not possess, the only remaining candidate was Serena. The relationship between the two was quite particular, with the Kalos native trying in every way to make Ash understand her interest, and the latter seeming to be the only one who didn't get it.

Could a journey together now that they had grown up finally make him understand?

Ash knew that it wasn't the right time to contact Serena, precisely because of the time difference. It was around noon in Kanto, while it was five in the morning in Kalos.

To contact his friend at a decent time, he would have to wait until at least three in the afternoon, when it was eight in the morning in Kalos. Ash had many questions. He wondered, for example, if Serena would want to go on such a journey, especially considering that they would have to travel to such a distant Region. And if she didn't accept the proposal, would she let him go alone, knowing that another girl would be involved?

He had understood that Serena was jealous. At least that much. So he wondered how she would react if that girl got too close to him?

And since he was the one who had that desire, he had to find something for her. Pikachu, noticing the Trainer’s concern, placed a paw on his shoulder.

«Thanks. You understand me. But it's not me you have to convince. You know that.» Pikachu understood very well what his Trainer meant. It was clear now that he wouldn't make a move on his own. And this was even truer, considering that a girl was involved. Who knows how Serena would take it if she found out Ash had a new female friend. Already when Ash had told her about Lillie, Mallow, and Lana, she had been very close to multiple murders, but when Ash reminded her of the presence of another boy, those instincts were significantly lessened. But a trip to a distant Region, in the company of one girl and without other boys…

He would figure out how to explain the situation to Serena after lunch.

Ash was one of those people who reasoned better on a full stomach. Unfortunately, the very abundant lunch did not help Ash.

In less than an hour and a half, the World Champion had to come up with something to convince his friend to travel with him. The only idea that came to mind was to do a quick search on the Region, hoping to find something that might also 

interest his friend. The search, fortunately, was fruitful. Unova held Pokémon Showcases, just like Kalos.:

Ash had discovered that, originally, Showcases were a side event to sporting or other events. Then, later, they had become independent events. In the worst-case scenario, he would leverage that. Unova Showcases were considered among the most prestigious and most difficult in the world. Ash knew that climbing the Unova throne would be a good challenge for his friend. At least she wouldn’t be traveling for nothing.

Serena had finished second in the professional category in Kalos, and, later, had tried her hand at Pokémon Contests in Hoenn, again without success. Perhaps this journey could be the right opportunity for Serena too.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon in Kanto. Ash contacted his friend. It was eight o'clock in the morning in Kalos at that moment. Maybe it was a little early, but he wanted to try anyway. The young man took out his Rotom Phone and contacted Serena. The latter, half-asleep, answered only after several rings.

«Oh, it’s you? Don't you know it’s early here. It’s eight in the morning!» she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. It was clear she had been woken up by the ringing of her Rotom Phone.

Ash had to admit that Serena, despite still having the pillow attached to her head, was still fascinating. «See. I’d like to leave for a new journey, and I would be very happy if you came with me.» Serena was perplexed. Where did Ash want to go? He had become World Champion by now. It wouldn't make any sense to embark on conquering some League or anything similar. «What exactly do you want to do?» she asked him.

«Last night I thought about what it means to become a Pokémon Master. And I understood what my next step to becoming a Pokémon Master will be.» «But that’s fantastic!» Serena was caught up in the enthusiasm. In the background, Ash could hear the voice of Grace, Serena's mother. She had asked her if everything was alright or something similar.

«And what is it?» she asked, recovering a minimum of composure. «I realized that I have to help someone achieve their goal. Their dream. I talked about it with Professor Oak, and he introduced me to a colleague of his from the Unova Region…» It didn't take long for the Kalos native to understand. «I didn't succeed. And I think I understood that the same can be said for your other friends. But that doesn't explain why you want to go to Unova. There are other Regions we haven't visited yet. And they are also closer. For example, Paldea, which is very close to Kalos. Can I know why Unova specifically?» Ash replied without hesitation. «As I told you before, Professor Oak suggested it to me. He put me in contact with a colleague of his, Professor Juniper, a colleague who is studying right in the Unova Region. She told me how, soon, she will be handing out the first Pokémon to new Trainers and how I could help one of them. And besides that, I also have some good news to give you…» «Interesting. You'll have fun! But what about me? I would like to go to Kanto and try the Contests there… they start soon, and we know very well that a journey across an entire region is quite long.»

Ash smiled. He knew very well how jealous Serena was. She would never allow him to travel alone. Let alone if she found out that the person he would have to look after would be a girl.

«In Unova there are Showcases. You could try the climb to Unova Queen. After all, you came so close in Kalos… and now you have much more experience…»

The Kalos native did not reply immediately. «I have to think about it. I imagine I have some time to decide. Am I wrong?»

«Three weeks. What do you say? Do you stop by home and we take the direct flight from Saffron City, or do we meet directly in Lumiose City?» Ash asked.

Serena had to think. Ash was always an enthusiastic type. He always expected immediate answers. «Give me a moment.» Serena asked her friend to be patient for a bit. Just enough time to grab her laptop and do a quick search. «Let's do one thing. For now, don't say anything to the Professor. In any case, I will leave for Kanto tomorrow. I found a flight at a great price. I would have liked to stay in Kalos a few more days, but you don't easily find a flight at that price.» Ash accepted the proposal. Serena ended the call and started packing her suitcase.

She released her Pokémon from their respective Poké Balls and told them the news. «I have some news to give you. Actually. More than one.» Delphox, Pancham, and Sylveon pricked up their ears.

«Ash has proposed that I leave for a new journey. It will be quite far from here. In the Unova Region. Honestly, I don't know what to do. He told me that there are Showcases in Unova. Well. We could try the climb to the Unova throne. But I’m not sure. He has always supported me in my dream, both when I tried the Showcases and the Contests. Whenever he could, he was always present in the audience to watch and cheer for us. But I'm not sure I want to try again. What do you all think?»

Sylveon wrapped one of her ribbons around her Trainer's arm. The meaning of that gesture was very clear. Whatever choice she made, they would support her.

Delphox and Pancham had a similar reaction. «Yes. Thank you. I’m very happy to be able to count on you. Whatever the choice, tomorrow we will go to Kanto. If we don’t leave for Unova, we will try the Kanto Contests. What do you think?»

Delphox, Pancham, and Sylveon simply approved her words.

Serena opened her room door and walked down the stairs, closely followed by her Pokémon.

«What happened? What is all this enthusiasm due to? It doesn't seem like you've had many reasons to celebrate lately. Or at least that's what you told me. Are you hiding something from me? Know that you can't hide anything from a mother. Whatever you try to hide from me, I will find it sooner or later.»

«No. It’s just that Ash made me a proposal, but I don’t know what to do. For the moment I was vague, I said neither yes nor no. He told me I have just under three weeks to decide. He told me that, should I decide to leave, I could participate in the Showcases. He told me they are very difficult, but he believes in me.»

«So what are you planning to do? Know that whatever choice you make, I will support you.»

«Thank you. Although I have already made one small decision. I will return to Kanto earlier than planned. Tomorrow.»

«Tomorrow? But didn't you promise me yesterday that you would stay for another ten days? Is it not that you and Ash…»

«No.» Serena blushed. «I would like to try participating in a Contest in Kanto. Then I will decide what to do. It’s not a choice you can make on the spur of the moment. Maybe participating in a Contest could help me.»

«If you don’t know yourself.»

After having breakfast, Serena finished packing her suitcase. She knew well how to face that type of journey. She didn't want to bring too many things. Just the necessary.

It took her a couple of hours to choose what to bring in her checked baggage and in her hand luggage. And she had to check over and over again to make sure she had everything.

Of course. If something was missing, she could buy it locally, but she preferred to avoid that kind of unforeseen event. Better to check one more time than to worry later.

The following day, the Kalos native woke up very early. She had to take the train to Lumiose City airport, and she didn't want to be late. Of course, the train was fast and punctual, but it was better not to take any risks.

The flight was at eleven in the morning, she should have been at the airport at nine. At the very least. The train journey lasted approximately an hour and a half and left from the Couriway Town station at seven in the morning.

Serena, fearing she would be late, had gotten up at five in the morning. She had put on her backpack, handbag, and the trolley that she would later check in.

Before leaving, she made sure she had purchased the correct ticket. It would have been a disaster otherwise. The umpteenth check confirmed that the ticket was a direct Couriway Town-Lumiose City Airport.

First class. The only one available on that type of train.

The Couriway Town station was quite small, just like the town itself. It was a simple brick building positioned in front of the tracks. Three tracks.

An underpass allowed access to the second and third tracks. To prevent people from risking sunstroke or heat stroke on hot summer days, a very high metal roof cast its shadow along all three tracks. Some benches allowed travelers to sit while waiting for the train to arrive.

Screens displayed the schedules of the various trains that would pass. They were updated in real-time. Her train would arrive at six fifty-eight. It would stop for two minutes and then depart.

From there it would stop at Aquacorde Town, Santalune City and, finally, Lumiose City.

To tell the truth, it would stop three times in the Region's largest city. Her stop would be the last. Right at the airport, which, among other things, was the terminus.

To pass the time, Serena started playing with her phone. «The suburban train "31655" directed to Lumiose City Airport is arriving on track 1. Please stand back from the yellow line!»

The voice of the announcement system brought her back to her senses. Getting distracted was not like her, and that distraction was about to cost her a flight.

The enormous and ultra-modern train slowed down until it stopped. The Kalos native was lucky enough to be a short distance from the door.

She just had to press a button to make it open with a puff. The train interiors reflected the exteriors in every way. Clean, well-kept, and elegant.

Since she was alone in that carriage, Serena didn't worry too much about putting the trolley on the luggage rack. She would risk forgetting it and it would be a disaster.

The two-minute stop passed, and the train quickly picked up speed. The girl had sat down and didn't worry too much about it. She was sitting facing forward, and that acceleration kept her glued to the seat.

From the screen, positioned on the wall of the carriage, slightly in front of her, she could read the name of the next stop. Aquacorde Town station. It was really a five-minute train ride.

Fortunately, few people got on at that station too. She could still keep the trolley where it was.

Now the destination had changed. Santalune City. The city where she and Ash had met after years. It hadn't gone well for him. He had lost the gym battle against Viola.

They had trained hard and, on the second attempt, he had been able to conquer the Bug Badge. Few people in this case too. There was still an hour of travel left.

There would be no stops for about forty minutes. This allowed the fast train to express its excellent speed performance. Over three hundred kilometers per hour.

At that speed, everything seen from the window appeared absolutely incomprehensible and confused.

The forty minutes quickly started and the train slowed down to enter the first station, on the western outskirts of the city.

A good number of people were waiting for the train.

Instinctively, the Kalos native moved her trolley to allow a person to sit down. But no one seemed interested. There were many free seats.

A quarter of an hour later the train stopped at the central station, where many of the people who had gotten on at the west station got off. To tell the truth, the total count of passengers didn't change much. Just as many people, heading to the airport, had gotten on. Only the last quarter of an hour of travel remained.

The airport station was directly connected to the arrivals area. This meant that, as soon as she arrived, she would have to walk quite a distance. The city's airport was huge and crowded.

Fortunately for her, the directions, hung on signs sticking out from the ceiling, were clear and numerous. First, she would have to weigh her checked baggage and collect her boarding tag. She scanned her boarding pass in the totem and the machine, in a few moments, printed the label.

The young woman placed it on the handle of the trolley and headed for baggage check-in. Here she handed the suitcase to an attendant, and the latter, after weighing it again, sent it sliding onto a conveyor belt.

Now that her checked baggage was secured in the hands of the airport staff, the Kalos native had to go through security checks.

Luckily the queue for long-haul flights was quite short. It took her little time to reach security, remove any possible metallic objects she had on her, and pass through the metal detector.

Everything was fine.

Serena collected her personal effects again and reached the long-haul departures area. The boarding of her flight had not yet begun. She still had ten minutes.

She didn't want to get distracted like with the train, so, after sending a message to Ash, in which she warned him of the imminent departure, she stored the device in her bag and promised herself not to use it until she was on board. Unless it was really necessary.

Serena was among the first in line to reach the boarding gate. She placed her digital boarding pass on the appropriate reader. A sound confirmed to the Performer that she could pass.

The girl almost forgot her Rotom Phone, with all her digital documents.

After going down the stairs, she got on a shuttle bus with other passengers, which would take them to the plane.

The plane she was supposed to take was easily recognizable. The fuselage had a beautiful metallic blue livery, while the wings were white.

She had been lucky enough to be able to book a window seat. At least she could sit down once and for all and wouldn't have to get up again to let other passengers in. The same would apply upon arrival. No one would push her to get out. She could take things a little calmer.

Of course, it was a little inconvenient when she had to go to the bathroom, but that was a small price to pay for all the other huge advantages. Furthermore, from that position, she would be able to take beautiful photos.

After about twenty minutes, boarding was complete and, while the plane was being towed to the take-off runway, the cabin crew explained the various safety regulations to the passengers.

Not new to the girl, a regular on that route and with that airline, but, in any case, she decided to listen.

Statistically, the airplane was the safest means of transport, so there was no reason to worry.

After two and a half hours of flight, the first meal was served. Serena wasn't particularly hungry, but she didn't want to risk being hungry later.

Finished with the meal and having handed in the tray, it was the Pokémon's turn to eat, and the Kalos native's Pokémon were no exception. At least they had an appetite.

After about two hours, the cabin crew, escorted by some Grass-type Pokémon, ordered them to use Sleep Powder. This allowed the passengers to fall asleep.

This trick allowed them to be perfectly aligned with the Kanto time zone. When the passengers were put to sleep, it was 10 p.m. in the Kanto Region.

After nine hours of flight, the passengers were woken up. Some were already awake earlier. Others were not. Including Serena. The plane would land in an hour. And that was breakfast time. Included, like the previous meal, in the ticket price. And it should be. After the Trainers, it was the Pokémon’s turn to have breakfast too.

Serena looked at the time on her Rotom Phone. There was still an hour of flight left. Serena took advantage of the fact that the bathroom was unoccupied to go there. Both out of necessity and because she hadn't gotten up from her seat for hours. She still had her seatbelt fastened from takeoff, so she had to unbuckle it. She had become so accustomed to its presence that she had tried to get up with it still on. Failing miserably.

On the second attempt, she unbuckled the belt and got up. She walked the aisle of the plane and reached the restrooms. Sitting all that time had made her legs numb.

Upon her return, the cabin crew gave an ultimatum. Anyone who needed to go to the restroom still had half an hour. Then the services would be closed.

While the plane was beginning its landing phase, Ash had reached the arrivals area of Saffron City International Airport. His friend would arrive shortly.

Ash had reached the area designated for people waiting for someone. He certainly didn't go unnoticed. After all, he was the strongest Trainer of all, and many admirers had asked him for photos and autographs.

The World Champion gladly accepted. He felt bad disappointing his fans.

After satisfying several dozen admirers, Ash could finally reach the area he wanted. Serena's plane was completing the final phases before landing. Ash still couldn't see the blue giant land, but he knew that, very soon, he would be able to spot the giant of the skies touching down, thanks to the enormous windows.

The plane was now a few dozen meters from the ground. The landing gear was out and perfectly locked. The blue giant landed. The pilot, using the controls, configured the vehicle for landing. The only way to stop that giant and avoid running off the runway.

Serena, unlike Ash, was a fairly patient person, so she would gladly accept letting a good part of the passengers disembark before getting off herself.

When a good part of the flow of passengers left the plane, Serena took her backpack from under the seat in front of her and headed down the aisle and out of the plane.

She then reached the baggage claim area and, after a short wait, collected her suitcase. Now, finally, she could reach Ash.

The Kalos native started pulling her trolley, cursing herself for how much she had loaded it. The maximum weight for checked baggage was thirty kilograms, and her mother had forced her to use every last gram.

At least she was aware that the great gentleman, Ash, would carry it for her for the rest of the journey. And she was not wrong.

Having done this, Pikachu greeted his friend by climbing onto her shoulder, with Serena greeting him in turn by gently stroking his head. Ash began pulling his friend's trolley, soon realizing how heavy it was. Fortunately, the station wasn't far.

To reach the station, the two had to cross the arrivals area, walk down a corridor, descend a flight of stairs, and walk through another corridor.

As with Lumiose City, in this case too, the airport was the terminus of the route they would have to take.

The next train would pass just two minutes after their arrival. In Kanto, trains were always punctual. Perhaps too much so. Engineers were penalized if they left late or early.

If possible, the trains were even more beautiful and, perhaps, faster than those in Kalos. They were certainly more crowded, but despite this, they were quieter. Despite the dozens of people present in the carriages, a deathly silence reigned.

In this case, Ash was forced to place Serena's trolley on one of the train's luggage racks. They had to remember to retrieve it at the end of the journey, or they would have to visit the lost and found office.

And, after a journey of so many hours, Serena really didn't feel like it. It was nine in the morning, and despite having slept for several hours, she wasn't very rested.

The train stopped at all stations. The first stop was Cerulean City, the city where Misty, the Water-type Pokémon Gym Leader, Ash's first historical travel companion, was originally from.

A portion of the passengers got off the train, allowing Ash, Serena, and Pikachu to be a little more comfortable. The second stop was Pewter City. The city where Brock was originally from. Of course, their friend was not present at the moment. His studies as a Pokémon Doctor had forced him to move to the Sinnoh Region.

And, finally, the station of Viridian City arrived for the two, the city closest to the small Pallet Town.

Pallet Town, in fact, was not served by train tracks, so Ash had to ask his mother for a ride. The woman had been waiting for the two for a good half hour. The woman was well aware of how much Serena needed to rest. As the loving mother she was, she treated Ash's friends as if they were her own daughters.

Ash placed the suitcase in the trunk of the car, then closed it. Having done this, he opened the door for Serena, waited for her to settle in, and then sat down next to her himself. Fortunately, his mother's car had three seats in the front and three seats in the back, a very unique configuration, but one that made it suitable for situations like this. Serena was sitting in the middle seat, and as soon as she was settled, she fastened her seatbelt. The journey was quite short, barely ten minutes. As soon as they arrived, Delia parked the car in the driveway of the house, a small villa, similar to all the other homes in the city. A white two-story house, surrounded by a garden and with a small veranda.

Every time she visited the town, Serena asked herself, somewhat ironically, how they could recognize their house, if all the houses in the small inhabited center were white. After all, the name of the town came from this.

«You've had a long trip, if you want you can rest, you know you can make yourself at home here!» the woman invited her. Despite the invitation, Serena declined the offer. She would have preferred to do something else, such as training for the Saffron City Contest. She hadn't talked about it with Ash, but the result of that Contest would determine what to do next.

If she won, she would dedicate herself to the Kanto Contests. And she would find a way to keep Ash away from the demands of the Unova fans.

The Contest in question would be a double performance, and the Performer still hadn't chosen who to employ. She only had three Pokémon, but it was a difficult choice, after all, her future depended on it.

The young woman sat down on the steps leading to the entrance of the Ketchum house. She sat down on the steps and took out her three Poké Balls from her bag. Delphox, Pancham, and Sylveon.

«Let's see… Delphox and Pancham work well together… but so do Pancham and Sylveon or Sylveon and Delphox… in short, it’s difficult. Then… I can’t ask Ash. No. I don’t know if he’s that involved. Then, even if I told him about the Contest, how would he take it if I entrust this decision to a single Contest? And then, now that I think about it, do I really want to entrust my next career choices to just one Contest? Maybe two or three… but one?»

Serena didn't notice, but about halfway through her speech, Delia, Ash's mother, had sat down a short distance from her. Serena had come to know her. A woman under forty, with brown hair and eyes of the same color. Serena knew that the woman had been through a lot, as she had become a mother very young, just nineteen years old, well. A thing that, well, put a certain psychological pressure on Serena, and that she had to raise Ash alone.

«If you don’t want to talk about it directly with Ash, you can talk about it with some of your friends. Maybe they can help you. Both to decide who to choose in the Contest, and to decide whether or not to travel to Unova. I don't know how much I can help you, and you know the reason well, I would be too biased, but maybe they can.»

Having said this, the woman walked away and returned to her chores. She would soon start preparing lunch. Serena did not move. She almost looked like a statue.

Yes. She had thought about asking her friends for advice, but who? Her two former rivals (also in love!) Shauna and Miette would tell her to travel with Ash without even thinking about the Contest. It would be a sort of ultimatum. They would tell her something like, “either you confess, or I will.” And besides, they were both aware of the presence of Showcases in Unova and their high prestige, so they would push her in that direction.

May, on the other hand… besides being a friend, was a rival. And spilling her strategy to a potential rival was not a good thing. And she too, not without interests, would advise her on the path of Showcases. They were friends, but as soon as they put their Poké Balls into the Capsules, they became rivals. This meant she had to decide alone.

«Perhaps talking about it with Ash is the best choice. I had the opportunity to observe you and you were still as a statue. Were you afraid to ask or something?» Delia asked her, startling her.

«No. Or rather. Not only. I reflected on what they would tell me. And none of them would be helpful. But no. I'm not sure I want to talk about it with him.»

«You know him by now, perhaps even better than me. You know that he is perfectly capable of putting aside his desire, just so you can try the climb. He has waited until now, he can wait further»

“Wait.” That word bounced around in Serena's mind. After all, if they were in that situation, it was partly her fault. After the defeat in Kalos, she had wanted, at least partially, a change of scenery.

She had tried the Contests in Hoenn, Johto, and Sinnoh. She had always been able to win the fateful five Ribbons and participate in the respective Grand Festivals, but she had never won one.

One way or another she had always lost in the final, almost as if it were a curse. And as such, it had to be broken.

«Maybe I should start where the curse started?»

Serena asked herself without getting an answer. After all, if Ash wanted to help someone achieve their goal, she could be fine too, right?

«Maybe I should talk to him. Maybe without saying anything about the fact that my choice depends on one Contest.»

Serena got up and massaged her back. She hadn't been sitting for long, but her back still hurt a bit.

Shortly after, the Kalos native entered the house. Delia was busy cooking, and hardly noticed Serena's presence.

«Ash and I are going for a walk, we'll be back soon!»

Ash was a little surprised by his friend's words. Not that he didn't want to go around with her, far from it, otherwise he would never have invited her to join him, but he didn't expect such a proposal. Pallet Town didn't offer who knows what attractions, so he imagined it was a simple excuse to be alone for a while. «Okay. Where would you like to go?»

Serena did not reply. It seemed that the important thing was not so much where to go, but rather the fact of talking to him. The two went out, complete with jackets and backpacks.

The two had no specific path to follow, with Serena dragging Ash from one side to the other. Remaining silent. She didn't know how to introduce the topic.

Telling him that if he wanted to lead someone to their goal, she would be the ideal candidate, seemed too direct and out of her character. And besides, had she really started with the desire to become a Top Coordinator? Was that her desire or was it just a backup plan? And then how would she be seen, as a foreigner, as the Super Coordinator of the year?

In Unova it was different. The large Region was famous for being a crossroads for people from everywhere, and despite the current Queen coming from Johto, no one had said anything. On the contrary.

Ash noticed how silent Serena had been all that time. As if she was trying to keep a secret and was afraid of revealing it as soon as she opened her mouth.

«Is everything okay?» Ash asked, in a worried tone. «You know, I was thinking of participating in the Saffron City Contest.»

Serena replied. From her tone, it seemed like she had been holding onto that news for a long time. «Well, I don't see where the problem is. It should be in two weeks, so we can calmly leave...»

Serena interrupted him. «I don't know. Lately, I've been wondering what my true desire is.»

«You said it yourself. You wanted to become the Kalos Queen. After everything that happened, you decided to dedicate yourself to Pokémon Contests, but you never said that would be your choice»

The Performer thought about it for a bit. Ash was actually right. She had never expressed her desire to become a Top Coordinator. Contests had been a sort of backup plan for her.

«I thought that my experience in Showcases would be helpful in Contests. But I was wrong. They are two totally different worlds. And when I realized it, it was too late. Yes. I won some Ribbons, well, you followed many of my Contests, you know how it went. I would like to try one last time.»

In the end, Serena had fallen where she didn't want to fall. She had openly declared her interest in participating in the Kanto Contests.

«I understand. You must not give up and you must try until the end. Whatever the cost.»

Serena was surprised by that reaction. She expected Ash to support her, but she feared that he had gotten tired of seeing her continually fail when she was one step away from succeeding.

«But. I mean. Lately you’ve always followed me, you were there practically at every one of my Contests…» «Believe me. Doing it didn't weigh on me at all. Otherwise, we wouldn't be where we are now.»

Perhaps Serena misinterpreted Ash's words, and for this, she blushed. They were alone at that moment. Alone together. «Is everything alright?» Ash asked her, worried.

«Oh, yes. Absolutely» The Kalos native tried to clear her mind of everything she had thought about up to that moment. She feared his reaction. Perhaps they would separate forever if she really told him what she was thinking.

«And what about the commitment you made? I don’t want you to have to give it up just for me.»

It was not easy for Ash to find the right words. «After all, becoming a Top Coordinator is also a goal. And I never specified that I have to help a male or female Trainer become a Champion.»

«If you say so. In any case, I was thinking about one thing. I will participate in this Contest, and based on how it goes, I will decide what to do. If it goes badly, I will try the climb to the Unova throne. Maybe returning to the origins could be good for me.»

Ash stopped abruptly. «You’re not going to give up on becoming a Top Coordinator just because of one Contest, are you?» Serena, who in the meantime had continued walking, only now noticed the distance separating her from Ash.

«It’s not just one Contest. I’ve been trying for almost thirty Contests and three Grand Festivals now. Maybe I should go back to my origins and try Showcases again. And besides, it’s my life. I want to be the one to decide.»

Serena was starting to get heated. And both Ash and Pikachu noticed it. «That’s not it. It’s right that you follow your own path. I can't decide for you, and I will always support you, whatever choice you decide to make.»

The blonde smiled. That was the Ash she loved.

«I think we can go back. I promise I will prepare for this Contest like all the others. I will try not to think about how important it is.» The two returned to base just in time for lunch. As soon as the two crossed the threshold of the door, without even having time to put their jackets and backpacks in the entryway, Delia immediately unleashed her curiosity. It was quite strange for her that Ash chose to start a journey with a former travel companion.

«So, how did it go?» The way the question was phrased, it could have been addressed to both of them, but Serena soon understood that the question was directed at her.

«I told him everything. In the end, he took it well. Just like you told me he would.» Both Ash and Pikachu scratched their heads. What were they referring to? What were his mother and his friend conspiring about?

The rumbling of Ash's and Pikachu's stomachs made it clear that, at that moment, the priorities were elsewhere. The World Champion helped his mother set the table.

Despite the short notice, the woman had prepared a first-rate lunch, complete with appetizer, first course, second course, side dish, and dessert.

After the hearty lunch, it was Serena who took the initiative again. «Can I ask you a question?» «Huh?» Ash was still finishing his third slice of ice cream cake. By now he had almost completely lost sensation in his mouth due to the low temperature of the dessert.

«You always told me you had caught other Pokémon, besides those from Kalos, but why have you never introduced them to me?»

Ash froze at his friend's words. It was true. Especially since, in the Kalos League, unlike previous leagues, he hadn't battled with Pokémon other than those caught there.

«We never had time. We were always in a bit of a hurry. Every time you came here, you stopped by for a quick hello and that was it. But since time is not short this time, we can stay as long as you want.»

The two left the house again, and headed towards Professor Oak's lab. Serena didn't know the way, so Ash had to guide her. The lab was located at the top of a small hill. It was a large building surmounted by a wind turbine that provided most of its energy needs.

Not far from it, there was a fence surrounding a large plot of land. «Here. This is where my Pokémon live!» Serena remained silent for a few moments. «But I don't see anyone. Are you kidding me?» Serena didn't have time to finish the sentence, when the ground immediately began to shake. «And what is that? An earthquake?» Serena was terribly scared. «I would advise you to move.» Ash warned her. «Why should I?» the Kalos native asked. Pikachu, understanding very well what was happening, jumped from his Trainer's shoulder and pushed Serena away with a powerful swipe of his tail, making her fall. «HEY! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! ARE YOU CRAZY?» Serena yelled. Pikachu did not reply, simply sitting next to his friend.

Soon the vibrations of the ground became even more intense, and, in the distance, it was possible to spot a gigantic cloud of dust approaching at great speed.

Soon the sound of hooves was added to the ground vibrations. A few more moments and Ash was projected into the air.

«Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!» Ash, having fallen back to the ground, got back on his feet, massaged his back, and brushed the dust off himself. «Here. They are my Tauros!» The herd of Tauros surrounded their Trainer and began to lick him affectionately.

«That's their way of showing affection. Let's just say it's a tad extreme, and I didn't want them to hurt you.»

Serena blushed. Ash had worried about her. She was wrong to take it out on Pikachu. «I'm sorry. I was wrong to lash out. You just wanted to prevent me from getting seriously hurt. I apologize again.» Pikachu jumped onto her, as if to make her understand that everything was sorted out. Serena, in response, stroked his head.

Serena and Pikachu, very slowly, reached the herd of Tauros. «Don’t worry, you can pet them, they won’t hurt you.» Serena, a little fearful, reached out her hand towards the nearest specimen.

She slowly brought her hand to the Pokémon's head and touched it. Tauros, in response, licked her arm. «Hey! But that tickles!» Serena couldn't help but laugh.

«Sorry if I'm indiscreet, but why did you catch... One, two... three...» The Performer continued counting mentally. «Thirty Tauros?» Ash smiled awkwardly. «To tell the truth, they decided to be caught. When we visited the Safari Zone, to catch some Pokémon, they did, well... what they did before and...»

Serena tried not to laugh. «I understand… I understand. But the others?» «They're coming, they're coming! Hey! Bulbasaur!?!» The Seed Pokémon, as soon as it heard its Trainer's voice, Bulbasaur started running towards Ash. It braked its run as soon as it saw what, to him, was a complete stranger.

«Oh, sorry. I didn’t introduce her to you. This is Serena. A very dear friend of mine.» Bulbasaur looked the girl up and down. She seemed like an okay person. He approached the girl further and sniffed her.

«It looks like he recognized that you have Pokémon with you. Maybe he wants to meet them before trusting you.» Ash tried to interpret his Pokémon's gesture. Serena, understanding that, at that moment, she was, in a sense, a guest, could only humor him. «Come on! Come out!» The girl took the three Poké Balls from her bag and let out her Pokémon. A Delphox, a Pancham, and a Sylveon emerged from the Poké Balls.

Bulbasaur sized up each of the Pokémon that had just materialized. Starting with Delphox. The Fire/Psychic fox seemed like a decent Pokémon to him. He then moved on to Sylveon. She also remained calm, also receiving Bulbasaur's approval.

Pancham was quite nervous, which was sniffed out by Bulbasaur. The Seed Pokémon moved away from Pancham, and began charging a Tackle. As soon as Bulbasaur started running, Pancham understood its intentions, and used a powerful Stone Edge. Huge sharp blue rocks sprouted from the ground. Bulbasaur seemed to notice in time and, using its powerful vines, destroyed the rocks, then grabbed its opponent.

«HEY! YOU TWO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!» Serena couldn't stand to see Pokémon fighting. She wasn't against battles, otherwise she wouldn't have even become a Trainer, a fundamental step for most careers in the Pokémon world, but, for her, as for many others, respect came before battles. «Let them let off some steam. Maybe they'll respect each other once the fight is over.» «Whatever you say.» Serena simply said.

In the meantime, Pancham had tried to attack with Ice Punch, hitting Bulbasaur's whips and forcing him to release his grip, causing Pancham to fall.

Now free, he attacked with Dark Pulse. A series of dark, purplish energy rings were generated from his upper limbs, which were easily avoided by the opponent. Bulbasaur simply rolled to the right. Simultaneously, a greenish-colored energy sphere began to generate from his mouth. It recalled, in some ways, a kind of eye.

Something, however, didn't add up, at least in the eyes of Pancham and Serena. Why was Bulbasaur launching his Energy Ball in a direction totally different from where Pancham was? Ash, on the contrary, had understood Bulbasaur's intentions.

Using a technique invented by his Torterra when he was still a Grotle. Swallowing his own attack and then hitting the opponent with an incredibly more powerful move.

Torterra was one of Ash's calmest and most peaceful Pokémon, so it was quite likely that he had taught Bulbasaur to master such a powerful technique.

Ash's intuition was not wrong. Bulbasaur leapt up and swallowed his own attack. Serena, Pancham, and Serena's other Pokémon were stunned. Never had they seen a Pokémon swallow its own attack.

And it wasn't over. A gigantic, orange-yellow beam of energy was generated from the Pokémon's bulb, hitting Pancham squarely. Sending him to the mat.

Serena rushed towards Pancham, helping him get back on his feet. Having done this, she disinfected his wounds with a potion which, fortunately, she had with her. Finally, she gave him some Poké Puffs to eat.

Bulbasaur also approached Pancham, now devoid of any warlike intent. Only at this point did he use his powerful Solar Beam to recall all of Ash's Pokémon. The latter, in their own time, reached the pair.

«Are there that many?» Serena asked. «Many more!» Ash replied, letting slip a smile.

In a short time, all of the World Champion's Pokémon came to the two. The first Pokémon to show its affection was Muk, who jumped onto its Trainer. His way of showing affection.

«Thanks! I'm happy to see you too!» Ash couldn't help but laugh. Serena a little less so. She knew that Muk was capable of secreting toxic substances and was quite worried about this. She calmed down when she saw Ash emerge from the formless, purplish mass that was Muk.

The Pokémon caught in Kalos and those who had participated in the World Tournament rushed towards Serena. The others remained more indifferent towards what they simply considered one of Ash's many friends.

«Come on, guys! A little enthusiasm, she will be our travel companion, I'd like you to welcome her with at least a little warmth!» «Hey! But you had accepted my proposal. You said we would only leave for Unova if my Contest didn't go well. You said that helping me become a Top Coordinator was also part of the goal of helping someone realize their dream!» Ash remembered it very well, and already had the answer ready for such an eventuality. «In any case, I will take everyone with me. Obviously, in turns. All at once is impossible.» Serena had to admit that Ash had an incredible ability to get himself out of difficult situations.

Slowly, all of Ash's other Pokémon approached Serena and her Pokémon, starting with Swellow and Staraptor, great friends of Talonflame. If he trusted this girl, then, perhaps they should trust her too.

Slowly, Serena and her Pokémon were surrounded by the Pokémon caught by Ash in Hoenn and Sinnoh, and shortly after also by those from Kanto and Johto. With the temperatures starting to drop and the Sun about to set, it was actually a nice feeling. The Kalos native hadn't noticed how Pancham and Ash's Buizel were glaring at each other. Fortunately, Bulbasaur stopped them before it was too late.

«So, now that I've met them, can you tell me why you waited so long to introduce them to me? They all seem quite calm and friendly.»

«We simply never had the time. No other reason.» Ash replied. This despite having clearly noticed that he was being given dirty looks by his Bayleef.

Bayleef couldn't explain it, but she just didn't like that girl. She had the feeling that she wanted to steal Ash from him. She seemed like a person totally different from all of Ash's other friends.

What should she do? Attack her? At that moment it wasn't a good idea, with all of Ash's Pokémon who would defend her. And one against all was not a good idea.

She would show her intentions when she was chosen as part of Ash's team. With fewer opponents, she could make her intentions clear.

In those same moments, after a lot of insistence from the girl, Dragonite finally let go of its grip. «Aren't they trying to bribe me?» Serena asked. «When I asked you to come here, you didn't resist because you knew your Pokémon would convince me to come with you to Unova!»

«Not at all.» Ash replied. «I simply talked about the fact that we would help someone achieve their goal. Yes, I admit I talked about Unova, but I never mentioned you. Can you confirm?»

Ash's Pokémon, each in their own way, confirmed his words.

«Well, if that's the case, you won't mind if I ask one of your Pokémon to participate in the Contest with me? Obviously only for the Contest… of course!»

Ash smiled at her. Then he scratched his head. «You know you don’t have to ask me.»

«Oh, right. Right!» Serena knelt down and approached Ash's Bulbasaur. «Would you like to participate in the next Contest with me? I saw how you battled with Pancham and it made me think of new combinations for the Contests. What do you think?» The Pokémon gently wrapped one of his vines around the blonde's arm, similar to the ribbons of her Sylveon. «So it’s a yes?» Bulbasaur replied with a slight nod of his head.

«Incredible. You managed to gain his trust immediately!» Ash complimented her. Meanwhile, the Seed Pokémon had approached its bulky Grass and Ground-type friend. He would entrust him with the responsibility of the lab Pokémon.

Torterra was a calm type, and, as far as he could remember, Bulbasaur had only seen him angry once. And that was enough for him. He knew well that he was the ideal candidate to maintain peace among the boy's various Pokémon in his absence.

«Well, since he agrees, I'd say all that's left is to retrieve his Poké Ball. The Professor should have it somewhere. All we have to do is go to him.»

Serena merely nodded. It was ironic that they were heading to the person who, in a sense, had made them meet, eleven years ago.

Ash had never told her that their meeting, however casual, was caused by his being a chronic latecomer. But, in a way, it was fine that way.

The Professor was a man of almost sixty, short gray hair, black eyes, with a square face. He was freshly shaven and exuded a strong scent of aftershave.

He was wearing a white lab coat, and a red polo shirt could be seen underneath. He was wearing light brown pants and dark brown work shoes.

«Ah, it’s you Ash… and I see you brought a guest too…» The Professor looked Serena up and down. «But you're Serena. How did I not notice!» The man called himself foolish. They had seen each other several times on video calls, but it took him a while to remember her.

«So… when will you leave for Unova?» he asked. He was quite impatient to inform his colleague about what was happening.

Ash and Serena looked into each other's eyes, then the Kalos native spoke.

«We haven't decided yet. Before leaving, we have a little thing to take care of.» Serena was quite vague, sparking the scholar's curiosity. «Excuse me for being indiscreet. But can I know what it is?» The Kalos native nodded. «Absolutely. A Pokémon Contest. It will be held in two weeks in Saffron City. Based on how the Contest goes, we will decide what to do.» The Professor understood what Serena meant by those words.

«And speaking of which, I'd like to ask you a favor.» Ash added. «Tell me.» the Professor replied. «Do you happen to know where Bulbasaur's Poké Ball is?» The Professor answered him without asking why: «Of course, I’ll get it for you right away. But don’t stay out there. Come in and I'll offer you something!»

Ash, Serena, and Pikachu settled into the Professor's lab, sitting on the sofa. The Professor started heating water in the kettle. While the water was boiling, he opened the refrigerator and took out a tray of sweets.

Having done this, he headed towards the area of the lab where he stored the Poké Balls. They were arranged in alphabetical order, so it didn't take him long to find what he was looking for.

He arrived, with the empty Poké Ball in his hand, just as the water had come to a boil. He pressed the switch and turned off the device. He poured the boiling liquid into three mugs.

In short, the color of the liquid went from transparent to amber. A little more, and the hot drink would be ready.

In turn, the three put sugar in the drink. Ash was the one who preferred it sweeter, the Professor the one who preferred it closer to its natural taste.

«Excuse me for being indiscreet, but why did you decide to recall Bulbasaur? He hasn't battled in a while, and you know he's in charge of order here at the ranch.» the Professor asked. «I was the one who asked.» Serena replied. «I saw him battle against Pancham, and it made me think of some combinations for the Contests.» The Professor took another sip of his hot drink. «I understand. But who will be in charge of order in his absence?» he asked, quite worried. «That's not a problem. Torterra will take care of maintaining order.»

The Professor, knowing the Continent Pokémon well, knew he didn't have to worry. «Here it is!» The Professor handed Bulbasaur's Poké Ball to the Performer.

After having a snack, the two, accompanied by the Professor, returned to the garden where Ash's Pokémon were located. Bulbasaur was giving Torterra final instructions on how to behave in his absence. He quickly finished when he saw his Trainer, his friend, and the Professor heading towards him.

The Seed Pokémon approached, almost instinctively, the one who would temporarily be his Trainer.

Serena had knelt towards him and held the Poké Ball in her hand, with her hand resting on the opening mechanism. Noticing this, Bulbasaur hit the sphere with one of his vines, making the sphere roll away from the Kalos native's hands. «It seems he doesn't want to go in. At least for now. Maybe he wants to get to know you better before going in.» the Professor commented. «Is that so?» Serena asked. Bulbasaur gave a small nod of approval. «You know, Bulbasaur is not one to trust easily. But it seems he likes you.» Ash explained to her. Serena smiled. «I'm happy about that.»

Serena picked up the Poké Ball from the ground and put it in her bag. «I hope I manage to convince him, at least for the Contest, to go in. The entrance is important in Pokémon Contests.» Ash knelt towards Bulbasaur. «Got it, buddy? Do you think you can do it? Then, obviously, it will only be for a few minutes, don't worry.» The Seed Pokémon signaled that he had understood. Despite his fear of what might happen around him, without him being able to intervene, he would agree to stay in the Poké Ball with that girl, provided it was for a short time.

Having done this, the two said goodbye to the Professor and headed towards a nearby battle field. Pikachu and Bulbasaur walked a short distance from the pair.

The electric rodent, in his language, was explaining the particular relationship between the two to his friend. He also told him about the kiss given by the girl when they separated.

Pikachu also told him how the Contest he would face alongside Serena would be fundamental in deciding what to do next. In case of victory, they would travel throughout Kanto. In case of defeat, to the distant Unova Region. Bulbasaur well understood his friend's words. In case of defeat, Serena and Ash would have a greater chance of getting closer, without someone forcing them too much.

He would do his best in that Contest, but he would be ready to sabotage it, if needed. Hearing those words, Pikachu rebuked him. That was not a good idea at all.

The days passed quickly, between training sessions, encounters with fans, and hordes of suitors glared at by Serena, and finally, the eve of the Contest had arrived.

To avoid any delays, Serena had proposed to Ash that they leave for Saffron City the day before, with Ash accepting the proposal without objection.

Delia accompanied the two to the station. Ash, like on the day of her arrival, had opened the door for Serena and had waited for her to settle in before sitting down next to her himself.

Delia was a little sad. She hadn't at all minded having a "daughter" to spoil, and now not only was she leaving, but Ash was also leaving. For now, they would only be away for a day, but then, perhaps the situation would last for a long time.

The woman was aware of the situation. On one hand, she understood that there was something more than just friendship between the two, and perhaps a new journey together could make it blossom, whatever it was.

Perhaps it would be better, for both of them, if the journey took place in the distant Unova Region, but the woman didn't feel like rooting against Serena.

She knew that no matter how things went, Ash would support her and accompany her in her dream. Whatever it was. And this, for her, meant a lot.

After accompanying the two to the station and saying goodbye to them, the woman returned home. Ash, Serena, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur, after looking at the time board, understood that they would have to wait half an hour.

The small station was not very crowded, so they easily found a bench to sit and wait. They would have to take the train to Saffron City airport, even if they would stop at the metropolis's central station, one stop before the terminus.

«The regional train 7845541 headed to Saffron City airport is arriving on platform 2. Please stand back from the yellow line!» The recorded voice startled the two. But at least they were on the correct platform. Fortunately.

The train, very similar to the one they had taken two weeks earlier, had just arrived. The few passengers on board had gotten off. They were the only ones getting on. This meant they had the opportunity to choose where to sit.

A few moments later, the train began to move, heading towards Saffron City.

The train, as per tradition, would stop at all stations. Pewter City, Cerulean City, Saffron City outskirts, and finally, their destination, Saffron City central.

The train had filled up with people during the journey. Many were travelers heading to the airport, but just as many were heading to the city center.

After climbing the river of people, accompanied by the Pokémon, they could finally breathe again. They were in the city's central square. A square dedicated to an important historical figure of the Kanto Region.

From the square, to reach the hotel they had booked, they would have to take a bus. Fortunately for them, that square was the terminus of numerous urban bus lines, including the one they would have to take. Line Q. That vehicle, after seven stops, would literally take them in front of the hotel where they would be staying.

The hotel also included a Pokémon Center, so Ash and Serena took advantage of it to have their Pokémon checked. Ash, at that moment, only had Pikachu with him, having entrusted Bulbasaur to Serena.

While the Nurse was taking the cart to the back room, the two headed to the counter to check in. It was a counter made of fine wood, perfectly matching the high class of the hotel.

The surface on which the various objects rested was made of fine marble, as were the floors. Plenty of light entered through the large windows, from which it was possible to see the outside, but not vice versa.

Spring was coming, after all.

The young employee immediately recognized Ash. «Good morning. How can I help you?» she asked, dangerously leaning towards Ash, visibly irritating Serena.

She was a girl more or less their age, with red hair and fair skin. Her face was covered in freckles, and she had blue eyes. She was wearing a simple white shirt with the hotel logo sewn onto it.

She was wearing small silver earrings with precious gems set in them. She wore a dark vest over her shirt.

«Good morning. The room we booked. The double.» the girl cut short. She couldn't stand the employee being so close to him. «Oh, yes. Here it is. Room 1208. It's on the twelfth floor, but don't worry. You can easily take the elevator. It’s right behind here. I just need your documents.» The two searched their respective Rotom Phones for their Trainer Card. The official identification document recognized everywhere.

The young employee scanned the QR codes. «Perfect. This is the key card. You will have to insert it into the appropriate slot to activate the electricity, once you are inside. Be sure. Always take it with you. Oh, by the way…» The receptionist smiled mischievously. «The room has a double bed.» Serena blushed. «Double bed?» she repeated. «What are you getting into, Ash?» Ash felt even more embarrassed. «To tell the truth, I only booked a double. I had no idea that…» Serena, in her heart, believed him. She was of the opinion that Ash still hadn't figured it out, so it was legitimate for him to expect a room with two single beds. In any case, Serena turned towards the receptionist, and saw her chuckle to herself.

This could only mean one thing. The attendant had done it on purpose.

After moving away from the counter, they arrived in front of the large elevator. Serena pressed the button to call it. A brief acoustic signal confirmed its arrival.

The metal door opened, allowing the two to enter. Ash pressed the button that allowed them to reach the twelfth floor. The elevator door closed and it began to ascend. It was interrupted on the fourth and ninth floors by people heading to the ground floor, but, due to how the device was structured, it prioritized the fastest trip. Thus, the first stop was the twelfth floor.

As soon as the elevator door opened, the two got out. The hallway floor was fine parquet. Ash searched for their room, the eighth on that floor.

To tell the truth, it was Serena who took the initiative and found the room. The room was on the opposite side of where Ash was looking.

Serena took him by the arm and pulled him in her direction and almost snatched the card from his hand. Arriving in front of the door, the Kalos native placed the card on the sensor and it triggered the lock.

Serena opened the door and rushed inside. She didn't even bother to insert the card into the system that activated the room's electricity. That was not her concern.

She turned towards the bed. And yes. It was indeed a double. Serena felt her blood boil. She wanted to murder the receptionist.

The room, like the hallway, had a fine parquet floor, next to the bed there were two bedside tables, made of fine wood. Resting on them were a phone, to contact the reception, and a bedside lamp.

Not too far from the bed, a small table with two chairs and a large flat-screen television. The walls, painted a delicate yellow, were decorated with numerous paintings, mainly representing Kanto Region Pokémon.

There wasn't a real chandelier, and this made Ash wonder how they would be able to see at night.

On the wall closest to the entrance and furthest from the bed was the door leading to the private bathroom.

Ash immediately noticed the Performer's embarrassment. It would only be one night, but Serena's discomfort was palpable. «It's a shame Pikachu is at the Nurse's, otherwise I could have asked him to divide the bed in two with Iron Tail.» Serena couldn't hold back her laughter. Humor was one of the things she appreciated most about Ash.

«Yes… of course, and then they ask us for damages!» Serena replied, trying to hide her blush. The two placed their backpacks against the front of the bed. Serena took the dress she had brought with her out of her backpack. It was all wrinkled, so she would have to take it to a dry cleaner.

Serena looked at her Rotom Phone. The place she was looking for was not far from the hotel. Ash glanced at it. It looked like a dark evening gown. He had never seen it, and he already imagined his friend wearing it.

Serena put the card in her purse and left the room, followed by Ash.

The two took the elevator and went down to the ground floor. «Well, how was the room?» the attendant asked, with the clear intention of teasing Serena. «Beautiful, beautiful.» the Performer replied, having understood that it was a provocation.

«Ah, it's you!» The two immediately recognized the Nurse's voice.

«Your Pokémon are now in perfect shape!» The two approached the Nurse's counter, who had placed Serena's Poké Balls on the counter. Pikachu and Bulbasaur, on the other hand, were on the cart, out of their Poké Balls. The electric rodent climbed onto his Trainer's shoulder, while Bulbasaur, using his vines, reached the floor.

Serena dragged Ash to the hotel exit, and from there to the bus stop. They would have to reach the dry cleaner, which was on the other side of the city.

Ash didn't understand all this haste on Serena's part. He only understood once they arrived in front of the building. It was a small sign, on a door.

Serena dragged Ash and the Pokémon inside the building. It was a rather small dry cleaner. Only two people worked there. Two girls, to be precise. Both had recognized Ash. And they had also noticed that he was accompanied by a beautiful girl.

«Hello.» Serena greeted politely, complete with a deep bow, as did Ash. «How can I help you?» one of the two asked. «Here» Serena placed the bag on the counter. «Could you take care of my dress?» The clerk smiled. «Normally I would tell you that you would have to wait at least a week, since we are fully booked, but since you are Ash’s girlfriend… we will make an exception and you will have it ready for tomorrow morning.» Serena blushed. As much as she wished it, Ash was not her boyfriend. At least for now. But if this allowed her to have the dress ready for the next day, she would agree to pretend he was.

«Good. We would need your Trainer Card, so tomorrow we can recognize you.» Serena, half paralyzed by being called Ash's girlfriend—was it possible that even complete strangers associated her with the boy—handed the requested document to the clerk. The attendant, after scanning it, returned it to the owner.

After leaving the store, Serena pulled Ash's ear.

«Why didn't you say anything when she said I was your girlfriend? Why didn't you object?» Ash didn't even think about how to answer. «Otherwise, they wouldn't have prepared your dress in time, right?» Serena pretended to look angry. But, inside, she was happy. Since Ash hadn't objected, then perhaps it meant he didn't mind being associated with her.

After entrusting the dress to the specialists, the two, along with the Pokémon, had the opportunity to walk around the city, with Ash acting as a guide for the girl, accompanying her to the arena where the Contest would take place. It was a building located in the middle of the park in the center of the city.

It resembled a kind of dome, supported by several arches. A large sign was displayed on the main door. «Registration for 

the Saffron City Pokémon Contest is open until 07:00 on the day of the Contest.» Serena read. «Since we're here, you might as well register now, what do you think?» Serena thought about it for a few moments. It was evident how much Ash cared about her participating in that Contest. The next day, there would most likely be more people, and they would risk not making it. «Yes. Good idea. Let’s go.»

Ash opened the door for his friend, and entered right after her. Closing the door, he noticed how, apart from the reception attendant, there was no one else. Serena rushed to the counter.

«Good morning!» Serena greeted. «Good morning to you!» the reception attendant greeted her. «I imagine you came here to sign up for the Contest, is that right?» Serena replied affirmatively, with a small nod of her head.

«Perfect, then let me register you.» Serena passed her Rotom Phone to the attendant, so she could scan the card.

«I see you have participated in several Contests. But this is your first time here in Kanto. I think you'll do well.» Serena smiled. «I hope so.»

Having done this, the two went to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. Ash's and Pikachu's stomachs had rumbled, making Serena understand clearly what the next plans would be.

After lunch, the two continued exploring the city. They visited the numerous points of interest until sunset. The temperature was getting too low to be endured with just a jacket.

Back at the hotel, something caught Ash's attention. A long line of male and female Trainers pressing towards a door. «Excuse me for being indiscreet, but why are there so many people?» Ash asked, addressing the Reception attendant.

«They found out you were staying here and thought they would find you on the battle field. The guards, just to make people understand that you weren't there, had to lock themselves inside. Well. Now that you're here, you could humor them.» Ash made eye contact with Serena. From that exchange of glances, the situation was easily understood. «Fine. Where should we go?» the Pallet Town native asked.

«Follow me.» The girl got up and motioned for the two to follow her.

They silently left the hotel and reached a secondary entrance. The latter was located on a poorly lit alleyway. A small neon light illuminated the secondary entrance.

It emitted an annoying buzzing sound, which caused some unease.

The receptionist pulled a bunch of keys from her bag, and finding the right one, inserted it into the lock, triggering the mechanism. The door was not opened often, so she had to use a bit of force. She seriously risked breaking the key, but fortunately everything went well. The lock clicked and the receptionist lowered the handle. With a significant push, the latter opened, allowing the three to enter. As soon as they entered, she operated a series of levers, similar to those of electricity meters.

Several spotlights, similar to those used in stadiums, turned on, illuminating the entire field as if it were day. Noticing the low temperature of the room, she also turned on the heating.

The field was quite large, surrounded on all sides by equally large stands. To reach the field, one had to pass through a corridor located under the stands. The two allowed the receptionist to guide them. Not that there was a risk of getting lost, in the worst case they would end up in the bathrooms, or the changing rooms, but simply because they wanted to reach the field as soon as possible.

As soon as they arrived in front of the protective net, the receptionist opened the padlock that closed the door allowing entry into the battle area.

The high fence allowed the audience to be protected from attacks and things like that. «Well, now I can let the audience in!»

The receptionist left the two and headed for the main door, opening it. She was overwhelmed by the enormous flow of people who were waiting for Ash.

They competed to grab the best seats, those that allowed for a better view of the battle field. Many of them were trainers, but they were aware that they would have no hope against him.

After several moments of silence, in which Ash and Serena looked into each other's eyes and could observe the enormous presence of the public. No seat was free.

At one point, a couple of elderly people entered through the entrance door, most likely the owners of the hotel.

The man had short, white hair. About six feet tall, and of sturdy build. As a young man, he must have had a physique to envy Bruno, the Elite Four specializing in Fighting-type Pokémon. He had a mustache shaped like an isosceles trapezoid. He also seemed to have a gold tooth.

He was wearing a green sweater, brown pants, and black shoes. He wore a solid gold chain. On the ring finger of his left hand, a gold ring. The woman also wore an identical one. Hence, they were married.

The woman, of slender build, slightly taller than Serena, had slightly gray hair, tied in a bun. She was also wearing a sweater, but light pink, and a long black skirt. When she moved her arm, Serena could notice the large number of bracelets the woman was wearing.

«And so the Champion and his little girlfriend have decided to visit us!» the elderly woman began. «Well… I… actually…» Serena tried to deny the woman. After all, she wasn't Ash's girlfriend. Or at least not yet. But she noticed how the numerous girls present looked at Ash with dreamy eyes.

If pretending to be his girlfriend was enough to keep them away, she would accept. But now was not the time to think about those things. It was clear that the two elderly trainers wanted to battle.

The Receptionist had positioned herself at the referee station. This meant that she would handle the management of the match.

«The double battle between World Champion Ash and the um… Performer? Coordinator? Trainer?» It seemed that the receptionist didn't have much sympathy for Serena. Or maybe she wanted to belittle her in the eyes of others to then take Ash, or maybe she wanted to annoy her to favor the hotel owners? Although, in that case, it would have made more sense to pick on Ash. Provocation or not, she didn't like that attitude at all.

«And the hotel owners, Mr. Renato and Mrs. Emiko, is about to begin. Each trainer can use only one Pokémon, the battle will conclude when both Pokémon of one pair are unable to continue! Trainers! Send out your Pokémon!» Ash and Serena looked into each other's eyes. Whatever choice their opponents made, they had clear ideas about who to send out.

«Buddy, are you up for it?» Pikachu answered affirmatively, going to take the field. «Sylveon! It's your turn!» Serena yelled, throwing her Sylveon’s Poké Ball. «I'm counting on you!» the two elderly people yelled simultaneously, sending out an Espeon and an Umbreon.

«Fantastic! An Espeon and an Umbreon!» Ash was, as usual, very enthusiastic. «They look really strong!» The two elderly people looked at the young pair. «It’s good that you don’t underestimate us!» the elderly man replied.

«Shall we hurry up? There’s an audience here that can’t wait!» the redhead urged them. «Yes, of course!» Ash replied to her.

«If you don't mind, we'll start! Pikachu go with Quick Attack on Espeon!» Ash yelled. «And you Sylveon use Swift!»

Pikachu started running at great speed towards his opponent, who initially seemed not to react. A similar story for Umbreon. He almost seemed to want to be hit.

«Dodge!» the two elderly people yelled, in unison. As if they were a single person. Pikachu froze, seeing his attack interrupted just moments before it was delivered.

And, perhaps, even worse, he was about to be hit by Serena's Sylveon's attack.

«Quickly! Destroy the Swift with Iron Tail!» Ash ordered. The structure of Pikachu's tail changed, becoming as hard as steel. The stars of energy launched by Sylveon were destroyed, turning into dust.

Serena sighed in relief. It certainly wasn't her intention to attack her ally.

«Quick Attack!» Second order. Again as if the two elderly people were a single entity. The two Eeveelutions started running at great speed towards Pikachu. They would reach him soon. And this could be a problem.

«Quickly! Iron Tail on the ground!» Pikachu well understood the technique his Trainer wanted to adopt. It was a classic. He made a big leap, helping himself with his hind limb muscles, then, upon landing, he hit the ground with a violent swipe of his tail, creating a large crack in the ground, and projecting both opponents into the air.

«Good, just what we needed! Sylveon, use Fairy Wind!» Serena's Sylveon generated a very strong current of air that violently launched both opponents towards the protective net.

Although the blow was hard, it was not enough to defeat them. After shaking off the pain, Espeon and Umbreon were ready to attack again.

«Shadow Ball!» Again the two elderly people ordered the attack in unison. Espeon and Umbreon generated a large sphere of dark energy from their mouths. Dark purple color, tending towards black. It was covered with numerous energy discharges, similar to lightning of a similar color.

«Quick Pikachu! Use Iron Tail to destroy their attack!» Pikachu leapt up and, with a violent swipe of his tail, exploded one of the two spheres of dark energy.

Pikachu tried to do the same with the second one, but, before he could even get close, he was blocked by an invisible force. It was Espeon and Umbreon's Psychic. The same could be said for Serena's Sylveon, who was hit squarely by the opponent's attack. A large explosion projected her against the nets.

«Are you okay, Sylveon?» Serena's Pokémon got back on her feet, confirming that everything was alright. Despite this gesture, Serena noticed how the impact with the nets had caused her some injuries.

«Go, use Swift!» Sylveon executed her Trainer's order, generating a fan of golden stars that she launched against the two opponents. The two Pokémon tried to defend themselves by launching Shadow Ball, but the two spheres of dark energy clashed with only some of them.

The rest hit Espeon and Umbreon and sent them crashing into each other.

«Very good, Pikachu! Let's finish with style! Use Thunderbolt!» The electric rodent generated a very powerful electric discharge that hit both opponents squarely and projected them into the air.

«Sylveon! Are you ready? Use Fairy Wind!» Serena's Sylveon generated a very powerful current of air that once again launched the two opponents against the net.

«Espeon and Umbreon can no longer continue! Pikachu and Sylveon win! Consequently, the winners of the match are Ash and Serena!» the referee declared.

The two young people and the elderly hotel owners met in the middle of the battle field and shook hands with each other.

«I have to admit that your bond is truly strong. Perhaps stronger than ours.» the elderly man congratulated. Serena blushed at that compliment. She knew she got along well with Ash, but…

Her thoughts were interrupted by the applause of the audience. It had truly been a good battle, and the many spectators had enjoyed themselves. And that was the important thing.

After such an intense battle, hunger set in. And, in fact, looking at the time, it was clear that it was time for dinner.

The hotel restaurant was on the twentieth floor, and the crowd of people, although impatient to have dinner, decided to prioritize those involved in the battle.

After the abundant dinner, at least for Ash, since Serena ate almost nothing, partly due to the tension, partly due to the bad joke from the receptionist.

Knowing that they would have to wake up early, the two, escorted by their Pokémon, reached their room, and, after watching some TV, went to bed.

Ash and Pikachu fell asleep immediately, unlike Serena. She had laid down, but couldn't fall asleep. She was dangerously close to Ash. Although Ash was sleeping peacefully and was on the outer edge of the bed, he was still DEFINITELY TOO CLOSE, and this made her feel quite uncomfortable. Furthermore, the enormous embarrassment of the situation was causing her a very strong feeling of heat, which further worsened the situation, making it impossible for her to sleep.

In the end, she didn't close her eyes that night.

Ash, as soon as he woke up, noticed it immediately. «Is everything alright? From your face, it looks like you didn't sleep much.» What she feared had happened. And she had to invent a plausible excuse. Fortunately for her, Ash was a simple guy; he would swallow any excuse. «Simply the tension for the Contest didn't let me sleep. Don't worry, everything's fine.» The answer was quick to come. «If you say so.» After tidying themselves up as best they could, and taking the elevator, they reached the breakfast room.

Ash, as usual, gorged himself on food, and Pikachu did the same. Serena, still tense, ate the bare minimum, just having a pastry and drinking a coffee, the first of a long series.

After breakfast, they immediately headed to the bus stop, to be able to pick up the dress and then reach the arena where the Contest would be held. As soon as they arrived, Serena showed her documents to the attendant and rushed to the changing rooms. She wanted to be impeccable, as much as possible.

As soon as Serena looked in the mirror, she was startled. She hadn't slept, and this had taken its toll. She had terrible dark circles under her eyes. This meant she would have to resort to makeup. Something she didn't particularly like doing, but, in this case, she had no choice.

While getting ready, she had drunk three more coffees. The fact of not having slept at all weighed on her more and more, but there wasn't much she could do about it. She only hoped that this wouldn't compromise the results of the Contest too much. In any case, by now she couldn't back out. Especially given the great importance of that Contest.

Her only luck was the absence of May, the one she considered her biggest rival. She had had a small mishap and would not be able to participate.

Of course, this did not mean that she would not have to commit herself, but the absence of such a high-level rival could overturn the fate of the Contest.

«All male and female Coordinators must report to the designated hall within five minutes!» Serena heard the loudspeaker crackle, and understood that she had to hurry. The Kalos native quickly finished applying her makeup, more to conceal the dark circles under her eyes than anything else, and finishing fixing her hair.

She was fast enough to even carve out time to drink her fifth coffee of the day. The caffeine was starting to make her nervous, but there wasn't much she could do about it. The other choice was to collapse asleep.

After getting ready, the Performer reached Ash. She was wearing a dress she had designed and made herself, given her known skill in sewing.

It was a black dress, consisting of a skirt with two different lengths, the longer part reaching almost the floor and the shorter part a little above the knee. The dress had only one strap. Around her waist, she wore a light green sash.

She also wore heels that were not too high, and green earrings.

«Well, how do I look?» Serena asked. Ash, who at that moment was surrounded by numerous fans, couldn't see her, and motioned for the various girls surrounding him to make some space.

Serena was about to explode with jealousy. She couldn't stand girls buzzing around her Ash. Her friend, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur looked at her. She was simply divine.

«You look fantastic!» Ash replied, never one to be stingy with compliments. The Pokémon, in their language, confirmed this. The other girls, looking at her, understood very well that they could not compete.

A few minutes later, Serena and all the other Coordinators moved away, to reach the area dedicated to those who were about to perform.

Serena would be the fifth to perform. This allowed her to get a taste of the level of her opponents, which proved to be quite high. An excellent motivation for Serena.

«Serena?... Serena?» A female voice startled Serena. «Yes?» she asked, still concentrating on the screen. «You're next. You better start getting ready.»

The Kalos native did not hesitate to answer. «Of course. I’ll be right there.»

Serena, who did not know the floor plan of the building, decided to follow the attendant. A choice that proved particularly successful, since the corridors were quite intricate. If she hadn't followed her, she would most likely have gotten lost.

She was a little nervous, but it was quite normal for her to be.

She was just a few steps from the exit and could already hear the cheers of encouragement. Serena took the last few steps separating her from the arena.

She was surrounded by the audience on every side. On the left was the small judge's table, composed, as is tradition, of Mr. Contesta, a man of about fifty, with black hair and a gray lock, dressed in an elegant red suit; Mr. Sukizo, a man of about forty, with short brown hair, dressed in a dark blue suit; and, last but not least, Nurse Joy.

As soon as she stood before the audience, she greeted everyone with a wave of her hand. Then, when she received the signal, she sent out the Pokémon that would participate in the performance segment. Pancham and Bulbasaur.

The first emerged from the Poké Ball surrounded by lightning bolts, due to the Spark Seals covering Pancham's Poké Ball. Bulbasaur's seals, on the other hand, were Flower Seals, which is why he was surrounded by numerous colorful petals. Bulbasaur, as previously agreed, repelled them with a powerful Vine Whip.

Now that the two Pokémon had landed, it was time to begin. «Communicate! Pancham! Use Stone Edge! You, Bulbasaur, swallow Energy Ball and then go with Solar Beam!» While Bulbasaur began to generate a sphere of deep green energy from his mouth, similar, in some ways, to an eye, Pancham threw a powerful punch at the ground, generating gigantic, sharp, blue-colored rocks. He didn't need to be told anything. The moment Bulbasaur was lunging at his own attack, Pancham was, acrobatically, climbing those rocks. One somersault after another, he reached the highest rock. Meanwhile, Bulbasaur had absorbed his own attack, accumulating enough energy to use Solar Beam.

«Now! Pancham! Use Dark Pulse on the Solar Beam! You, Bulbasaur! Launch an Energy Ball high, then hit the stones with Vine Whip!» Pancham launched a series of purplish rings from his upper limbs, which surrounded the yellow beam of energy launched from the bulb on Bulbasaur's back. The two attacks, in the way they intersected, resembled a kind of propeller. Its permanence was short, however, since it was hit by Bulbasaur's Energy Ball.

The clash between the two attacks generated an explosion of sparks of various colors.

Only the final blow was missing. A powerful Vine Whip destroyed the rocks. Pancham, as planned, jumped up, landing vertically, surrounded by the blue dust from the stones.

«Truly remarkable!» commented, laconically, Mr. Sukizo. «You were truly fantastic, you expressed your abilities to the fullest» added Mr. Contesta. «Two small Pokémon truly full of energy, who delighted us with their great skill!» concluded Nurse Joy.

Despite the positive judgments from the entire jury, Serena was quite nervous. She was aware of the excellent work done, but she couldn't be sure of the result, at least until the announcement of it.

The Kalos native was sitting in the waiting room, observing the rivals' performances.

«And now, after Francesca's performance, we announce the eight Coordinators who will advance to the battle round!»

Slowly, the images of the finalists appeared on the screen.

And Serena was the sixth.

Now, the pairings were appearing on the screen. Her opponent was none other than Francesca, the last Coordinator to perform. She was a girl a couple of years younger than her. She had very light blonde hair, almost white, very pale skin, and blue eyes. She was wearing a dark dress, which made her look even more cadaverous.

It was highly probable that this was one of Francesca's first Contests, if not the first.

The girl, during the performance segment, had used a Lycanroc Midday Form and a Furfrou, with the La Reine trim. Her hairstyle resembled a kind of hat, and she had braids. Some parts of the body, such as the front of her chest, the lower part of her legs, and the yellow band on her hat, were yellow, and by regulation, she would have to do the same in the battle round.

In the same way, Serena sent out Pancham and Bulbasaur.

The two girls looked into each other's eyes, and smiled at each other. Francesca knew her opponent. She was a highly experienced Coordinator, as well as a Performer. She had come close to being Kalos Queen.

She knew she couldn't beat her, but she would use the battle round to gain experience. They were just waiting for the signal. Which arrived almost immediately.

«We'll start! Furfrou, use Sand Attack, Lycanroc use Leer!» The Poodle Pokémon generated a large wave of sand from the ground, which was hit by the energy released from the Wolf's face. The combination of the two moves created a sort of sand monster.

This made Serena lose several points. Despite this, the Kalos native was calm. She knew perfectly well how to respond. «Bulbasaur! Use Energy Ball on their Sand Attack! Pancham Stone Edge!» Bulbasaur generated a sphere of green energy from his mouth, similar to an eye, and hurled it against the opposing combination, making it explode, causing Francesca to lose points. Fewer points than she lost, but that was fine.

Pancham, in the meantime, threw a powerful punch against the ground, generating blue-colored rocks from the ground. «Lycanroc! Use Stone Edge too!» the opponent ordered. The Wolf hit the ground with his front limbs, in turn generating blue-colored rocks.

The two attacks met in the middle of the field, generating an explosion of blue sparks, causing the two to lose points in equal measure.

«Bulbasaur! Swallow Energy Ball! And then go with Solar Beam! Pancham! Use Stone Edge again!» Bulbasaur generated a green energy sphere, similar to an eye, and launched it upwards.

He jumped up in turn and swallowed it. His body was illuminated by a greenish light. This gave him sufficient energy to be able to charge his Solar Beam without having to absorb sunlight. The energy beam came out of the bulb on Bulbasaur's back, directing it towards Furfrou.

«Go! Defend with Thunderbolt!» Furfrou generated a beam of electrical energy from his fur that hit Bulbasaur's attack. The two attacks, colliding, exploded.

The two Coordinators lost the same number of points. For this reason, Francesca maintained her advantage. However small. «Lycanroc use Accelerock on the Stone Edge!» she ordered. Serena remained cautious. As if she expected it.

«Pancham! Wait for him to reach you and attack him with Foul Play! Then you, Bulbasaur attack with Energy Ball!» Lycanroc ran at great speed, shattering the opposing attack, and causing Serena to lose more points. The point counter didn't have time to update, as Lycanroc was hurled into the air by the powerful opposing attack. As if that wasn't enough, he was also hit by Bulbasaur's Energy Ball.

«Lycanroc can no longer continue. The winner of the match is Serena»

The judge announced. The two girls met mid-field. And they shook hands. «You were very good!» Francesca complimented her. «You too. It was a really good battle. I think you have a great future in Contests.» Francesca was extremely happy with the compliment received. She had great admiration for the Kalos native and hearing those words filled her with pride.

The two had cleared the battle field, to allow the others to perform. From eight, the participants became four. Serena studied her opponents one by one. They were one girl and two boys.

Her opponent would be one of the two boys in the next round. Ryo, a boy with short, black, bristly hair. Dressed in a suit and tie. More than a Coordinator, he looked like a sales agent.

It was not difficult for the young woman to snatch the victory and obtain a ticket for the final round. Where her opponent would be Elin, the winner of the match after hers.

After the necessary arrangements and after having healed the Pokémon, the two Coordinators found themselves face to face.

Elin was more or less her same age, and it was presumable that she had similar experience.

Elin had lavender-colored hair and eyes of the same color. Small nose and thin lips. She was elegantly and soberly dressed.

Her Pokémon were a Vaporeon and a Flareon. They had participated in the performance segment and the following rounds, as per regulation, after all.

She had had the opportunity to gauge her skills. She was very, very skilled indeed. The two studied each other for a seemingly infinite time.

The exchange of glances ended only when the two were given the signal to send out their Pokémon. Who they sent out was not at all a surprise, due to the strict regulations, but the challenge would be equally interesting.

«We can start! Vaporeon! Shadow Ball! Flareon, show what you can do! Quick Attack!» Ryo ordered, with strong conviction. Vaporeon generated a sphere of dark energy from her mouth, with a purplish color, surrounded by energy discharges, similar to lightning.

«Go, Bulbasaur! Defend with Energy Ball! Pancham Stone Edge!» The two energy spheres met in the air, exploding, creating an explosion of colored dust. The two Coordinators lost the same amount of points. Serena took the lead when the rocks generated by Pancham's powerful attack hurled Flareon back.

«Come on, let's try again! Flareon! Quick Attack on Bulbasaur! Vaporeon! Iron Tail on Pancham!» she ordered. She remained quite surprised when Serena did not react. She seemed to be waiting for the right moment and not wanting to reveal her strategy. Flareon was dangerously approaching Bulbasaur and the same could be said for Vaporeon with Pancham. «Now! Bulbasaur! Stop him with Vine Whip. You Pancham! Grab Vaporeon and launch her!» the two Pokémon executed. Two vines sprouted from Bulbasaur's body, grabbing and tightly wrapping Flareon. Simultaneously, Pancham grabbed Vaporeon's tail and hurled her towards the opposite end of the field.

Serena had a good lead, but there were still three minutes left. The opponent, assessing the situation, reacted immediately. «Flareon! Start heating up! Vaporeon you use Ice Beam!» Flareon's body began to turn red, and smoke began to be seen. Bulbasaur, without Serena telling him anything, did not let go. Quite the opposite. Flareon showed an expression of suffering, but did not give up. Rather. «Pancham! Use Stone Edge around you!» The panda executed the command, protecting himself from the opposing attack with the blanket of rocks. In this way the rocks were frozen, but Serena lost many fewer points than expected. Bulbasaur, for his part, had had to let go. The heat was excessive. Flareon fell to the ground, but the blow was well cushioned.

«Very good! Pancham, now launch the rocks with Foul Play!» The panda executed the command, launching the crumbled rocks and ice pieces against the opponent. This caused the opponent to lose more points. Serena was very close to victory. But there was still one minute left.

«Go, Vaporeon! Send his attack back with Iron Tail! You, Flareon attack Bulbasaur with Flare Blitz!» With a quick movement of her tail, the panda launched the same pieces of frozen rock that had been hurled at him previously against the opponent. Flareon, at the same time, started running and covered himself in flames.

«Bulbasaur! Quickly! Tackle!»

The two Pokémon collided mid-field. «NO!» the two yelled, at the same time. «Flareon and Bulbasaur are no longer able to continue. By regulation, the match will turn into a one-on-one and two extra minutes will be added.» Mr. Sukizo announced.

The timer went from thirty seconds to two and a half minutes.

The two Coordinators were both enthusiastic about this. «Pancham! Go with Foul Play!» The Rascally Pokémon started running against the opponent, who remained cautious.

«Go, Vaporeon! Aim Ice Beam at Pancham’s hands!» The Bubble Jet Pokémon executed the command, aiming the beam of freezing energy right at the opponent's limbs, making him unbalanced and causing him to fall to the ground.

In the fall, the ice covering Pancham's limbs broke. The Pokémon tried to get up, with enormous difficulty.

Now the two were tied on points. «Vaporeon! Let's end it here! Iron Tail!» the opponent ordered. Vaporeon quickly covered the short distance separating her from the opponent and hit him with a violent swipe of her tail. «NO! PANCHAM!»

Serena lost the last remaining points. For this reason, the winner of the Saffron City Ribbon was Elin.

Despite the stinging defeat, Serena approached her opponent and congratulated her on the results of the Contest. Tears began to stream down the Kalos native's face.

Not so much because of the defeat, or the promise she had made, but rather because she had disappointed expectations. The girl ran straight to the dressing room to take off the performance dress and, if possible, destroy it.

Still in tears, she finished changing. Having done this, she took Delphox’s Poké Ball from her bag and let her out. The Fox looked at her Trainer and couldn't help but notice the great sadness she carried.

«Yes. I lost. Now destroy it!» Serena held her dress on the hanger, far away from her. So that Delphox could destroy it without her getting hurt.

Delphox lit her stick like a torch, but didn't move. «Come on. Let’s go! I'm your Trainer… I know what…» Delphox didn't move.

That gesture reminded her so much of the day the Performer lost her first Showcase. On that occasion, Serena had decided to cut her hair short.

Now she wanted to do the same with that dress. But what results would it bring? Would it have the same effect, or was it a pretext to blame the defeat on something else?

«Do you think that if I lost, it's not the dress’s fault?» Delphox extinguished the flame on the stick and handed it to her Trainer. «You're right. We swore, with Pancham and Sylveon, that we would win the Professional Showcase. But we didn't succeed. And yet, you didn't want to abandon it. Perhaps that’s what you want to tell me?»

The Fire Fox nodded in approval. «You're right.» she said, without stopping crying. «I will become the Unova Queen and I will do it in this dress. If, of course, you and the others help me.»

Serena returned Delphox to her Poké Ball and rejoined Ash and Pikachu.

«Here, this is Bulbasaur’s Poké Ball.» She handed him Bulbasaur’s Poké Ball, who had since recovered. «He performed well, but, as you could see, it wasn't enough.» Ash, although quite disappointed himself, tried not to let the matter weigh too heavily on her.

«You were fantastic. It doesn't matter how the battle went. It's just one Contest after all, not…» Serena interrupted him with a wave of her hand. «Have you forgotten? What did we say about this Contest?» Ash and Pikachu scratched their heads, looking puzzled. «No?» Serena looked him in the eyes. «How no?» A look of mixed perplexity and disappointment spread across Serena's face.

«Aw come on… Give me a hint!» Ash encouraged her. «Fine! Then that means you'll travel to Unova alone! I'll continue with the Contests!» Ash felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.

What would he do, alone? How could he help that girl, alone? He was a direct and extroverted guy; he had no idea how to behave in a situation like that.

And, furthermore, Serena had walked away. She radiated nervousness and disappointment from every pore. Ash tried to follow her. But he certainly didn't want to look like a secret service agent, like Looker. Although that was the only way to convince her to come with him.

Serena looked around. «All clear!» she said, in a low voice. Serena let her Sylveon out of her Poké Ball. She could confide in her more than anyone else.

As soon as she came out of the Poké Ball, the latter wrapped one of her ribbons around her Trainer's arm. Thanks to her feelers, she had clearly understood the emotions the Performer was feeling.

She was disappointed and bitter. «See? I promised Ash I would go to Unova with him if I didn't win the Saffron City Contest, but it seems he forgot. As if he doesn't care about me!» Sylveon turned towards her Trainer.

Her look said more than a thousand words. «Yes. Maybe it's true. He's like that. He forgets things easily.» Sylveon tightened her ribbons a little more. «Yes. You really know how I feel. I can lie to people, but not to you Pokémon.»

Sylveon pulled her towards herself. «I really have to tell you. I realized. I never took this Contest seriously.» Ash, who had been following her, had to hold back from shouting when he heard her.

«But what does that mean? What do you mean she hadn't taken that Contest seriously?» he wondered. Hoping not to be heard by his friend.

The latter passed the alleyway where Ash was hiding, continuing to talk with Sylveon. «Or at least not since I met Francesca. I saw a lot of myself in her. When we tried the Kalos Showcases. I saw in her the same enthusiasm, the same desire to aim high. If you understand me. But this must remain between us girls. Okay?»

Sylveon gave a small nod of approval. She also released her grip with her ribbons. Now she had returned to being delicate, as she usually was.

«Good. Now all I have to do is let Ash know.» Serena took her Rotom Phone from her bag and dialed her friend's number. She heard the sound of ringing and… a ringtone.

Ash's.

Serena approached the source of the sound quickly. Ash didn't notice anything. He answered the phone. «Hey, hello! Everyth—» Ash was interrupted before he could finish.

«How dare you follow me like this?» The Kalos native seemed particularly angry. It didn't seem like she was pretending at all.

«Actually, well, I…» Serena touched his nose with her index finger. «Don't lie. I can tell.» she said, finally with a smile. «I was worried about you. I saw you run away after my words, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.» The Kalos native remained silent for a few moments. «Okay. You didn't lie. I did.» Ash tried to understand. Yes. He had overheard part of her confession to Sylveon, but he couldn't let it show.

«See. I would have gone to Unova with you even if I had won the Contest. I had the opportunity to compete against a girl who reminded me a lot of myself a few years ago. When I tried the Kalos Showcases and…» Ash and Pikachu looked at her stunned. «And?» The Performer, realizing she was the center of attention, tried to stall. But, in the end, she gave in. «And it reminded me how much I loved Showcases. And that's what I need to aim for.»

Ash managed to remain sufficiently surprised not to seem like he had been listening the whole time. A similar story for Pikachu. Serena dragged the two to the nearby bus stop, on the side that would take them to the station.

It was around six in the evening. If they went to the station and took the six-thirty train, they would arrive home by half-past seven. Including the car ride.

A trip for which he would have to contact his mother. Ash took his Rotom Phone from his pocket and started looking for his mother's number. Noticing this out of the corner of her eye, Serena stopped him.

«Viridian City and Pallet Town aren't that far apart. What do you say if we walked?» Ash and Pikachu looked into each other's eyes. «Yes. Okay. We'll arrive slightly later, but it's not a problem.»

The two waited for the bus for a good fifteen minutes. Fortunately for them, the vehicle was not crowded. Quite the opposite. They validated their respective passes and settled on board.

The journey, quite short, just ten stops, led them right in front of the train station. They had already bought the tickets in advance, so they wouldn't have to go to the ticket office.

Looking at the large screen, where the arrival times were reported, they understood that, if they wanted to catch the first available train, they would have to hurry. They would have to take a long underpass that would take them to the track opposite the one they were on.

They managed to arrive just in time. The train stopped a few moments after their arrival. The two got on board after waiting for the large number of passengers to disembark.

They managed to find two adjacent seats.

The journey, just like the outward journey, was quite short. The train quickly led them to the Viridian City station.

From there, a good walk home awaited them, but that was fine. They would be able to discuss the last details before departure. The starter Pokémon would only be handed out the following week, for logistical reasons, so it would be better to leave at least a couple of days beforehand. But they would talk about this with Professor Oak later.

They arrived at Ash's house just in time for dinner.

The two, quite tired, went to bed almost immediately. Especially considering that they would have to wake up early the next day. They had several errands to run, not least talking to Professor Oak.

«You really are sloppy, Ash!» Serena commented, realizing how criminally ill-dressed her friend was. Not that Ash had ever had great taste in clothing, but this time he had outdone himself. For the worse.

If she didn't know him so well, she would have thought he was dressed by a color-blind stylist.

«However, if you don't mind… I'll help you choose… color-blind stylist!» Hearing that phrase, Delia laughed. Ash really had never had good taste in clothes. When Ash left for his trips, she was the one who took care of the wardrobe factor.

«Yes, but don't we have to talk to the Professor?» Ash asked. «We can do it when we get back. Consider that there are many hours of time difference between here and Unova. One option could be to ask the Professor for a favor and make the video call at night, when it will be morning in Unova. The other option is to go now. If we arrive early, we can contact her and then have the whole day to ourselves.» Serena particularly emphasized the "to ourselves," but Ash didn't particularly notice it.

After having breakfast, the two, escorted by Pikachu and Bulbasaur, reached Professor Oak's lab. The Professor, an early riser, was already in his lab.

Before calling the Professor, they allowed Bulbasaur to return to his role of responsibility at the lab, but not before asking Torterra for a detailed report.

While Bulbasaur and Torterra conversed, the two reached the Professor. The man, as soon as he saw them from the window, opened the door, allowing them to enter.

The man welcomed them with a smile. «Hello, early birds today, huh!» At the same time, he motioned for the two to follow him. «Good morning Professor. We came to you to confirm our intention to leave for Unova.» Ash replied.

«I'm happy about that. And will Serena come with you?» the Professor asked. «Yes. I could never leave him alone.» Serena replied. «Bianca will be happy. Perhaps having a new friend could help her overcome her shyness.» Serena made a strange expression. Ash had never told her that they would be traveling with a girl, hence a potential rival. But, perhaps the fact that he decided to travel with her meant something. «However, now…» The Professor interrupted Serena's thoughts. «It would be better if I put you in contact with Professor Juniper, so you can tell her the good news.» The Professor was contacting his colleague. The video call started, and a few moments later, the Professor answered.

It was much earlier than the last time. So the woman didn't think of an emergency or anything like that.

«Good morning, Samuel!» The woman cordially greeted her colleague, who replied just as cordially. «I imagine if you called me, there's news.» The Professor nodded his head. «But I'd like them to tell you.» The two approached the monitor, with Pikachu making a small greeting gesture to the woman. «And so you are Serena. Nice to meet you.» Serena replied with a smile. «The pleasure is all mine.» the Performer replied. «Good. So, have you decided to come to Unova?» the woman asked. «Exactly!» Ash replied, with his usual enthusiasm. «Very well! Then I'll buy the tickets. You will leave in four days, so you will have time to get used to the time zone. Don't worry. I'll pick you up in Castelia City.» The two looked into each other's eyes. «Perfect. We will be happy to help you. Although there would be one small thing.» Ash added. «Tell me everything.» the woman asked. «I hope it's not a problem if I were to participate in the Showcases?» The woman smiled at her. «No problem. On the contrary. I will do everything possible to follow and support you. After all, becoming Unova Queen is also a goal.» A girl's voice, off-screen, surprised them. «Unova Queen?» The Professor turned around. «Bianca! Is this the way?» From the screen, the two young people, Pikachu, and the Professor saw a girl with blonde hair styled in a funny way, large green eyes, and a fair complexion appear. She had red glasses. She was wearing a lab coat, similar to the Professor's, which covered an orange t-shirt.

«Hey! But that’s a Pikachu! I’ve never seen one that wasn’t in a photograph! I can’t wait to smother him with cuddles!» the assistant yelled with dreamy eyes. Pikachu, in response, began to emit electric discharges from his cheeks. «Calm down, buddy! I know you don’t like overly pushy people.» Ash reassured him. «Hey! But I'm not pushy!» Bianca complained, ignoring Pikachu's sixth sense.

«Good. Now that I am sure of your presence, I will tell Bianca. I think she will be happy. Now, however, excuse me, but I have a small commitment and I have to leave you, see you soon.» the woman said goodbye. «Goodbye.» they greeted her in turn.

Shortly after, Ash and Serena also said goodbye to the Professor. They had errands to run, first and foremost renewing Ash's wardrobe.

After leaving the lab, they headed towards an area of the town that, before then, they had only seen in passing. A bus stop. Usually, they had always relied on trains, but in this case, they would rely on road transport. The bus, headed right to Celadon City, a city known for its colossal shopping center, the largest in the entire Region. They would only have to wait ten minutes. They would only return by eight in the evening, so they would have lunch there.

Ten minutes later, the bus arrived. It was brand new. It had a very dark blue livery. It had red on its sides and the company logo was in white.

The vehicle had tinted windows, so the interiors were invisible. The driver stopped the vehicle and opened the door, allowing the two to get on board. The bus smelled new. The seats were in faux leather and blue fabric. A yellow plastic handle was present on the aisle-side seats. Ash sat Serena in the window seat, then sat down next to her. Serena felt slightly embarrassed, even though there was nothing wrong. Ash was simply sitting next to her. It wasn't the first time it had happened.

Pikachu, sensing his friend's feelings, lowered the armrest between the two seats, with a small movement of his tail, without Ash noticing. Serena gave him a gentle stroke on the head.

The vehicle started moving and set off for Celadon City. The journey would last an hour and a half. They would pass through the cities of Viridian City, Pewter City, Cerulean City, Saffron City, and, finally, Celadon City, right in front of the shopping center. The shopping center was a huge and very modern building, made of steel and glass. Several automatic doors allowed entry and exit.

The first floor of the shopping center was dedicated to grocery stores, the second floor to technology stores, the third floor to Pokémon stores. On the fourth, they sold accessories for Contests, on the fifth, shoes and women's accessories, on the sixth, they specialized in women's clothing and accessories, on the seventh, men's shoes and accessories, on the eighth, men's clothing and accessories, and on the ninth and tenth, there were restaurants.

If it were up to Ash, they would rush directly to the top floors and stay there, but the reason for their trip was very different.

They entered and took the elevator, heading to the fifth floor. In Serena's head, Ash had to start redoing his look from bottom to top, so they would start with shoes.

Of course, Serena would also think of herself, after all, she also wanted to look her best. After dozens and dozens of attempts, in several stores, in the end, Ash had found two pairs of shoes that he liked and that also satisfied Serena. The first pair was blue and gray and had a slightly sporty cut. The second was in shades of black and were much more elegant, but not uncomfortable.

Serena also found shoes for herself. A pair of brown leather ankle boots, similar to the ones she already owned, a pair of pink and black sports shoes, a new pair of heels, lower and more sober than the ones she owned, and a pair of sandals, in case the stay in Unova lasted longer than expected.

Having done this, and with Ash already forced to carry the boxes of six pairs of shoes, the two reached the floors dedicated to men's clothing stores.

As soon as they entered the store, Serena had to stop Ash from rushing towards the area of the store dedicated to sportswear. Serena had to drag him towards the area dedicated to clothes a little more suitable for going out.

In the end, in addition to underwear, she forced him to buy some pairs of jeans, from more ripped pairs for more casual clothing, to cleaner pairs, more elegant pants, to match the darker shoes, numerous t-shirts, here too, making sure to choose plain ones, shirts, jackets, and, finally, a belt, as well as swimsuits, because you never know. Naturally, she also did not forget hats. From sports caps to more elegant hats. Of course, Ash was not entirely comfortable with the more elegant clothes, but by now he was eighteen years old. In fact, he was about to turn nineteen. He now had to dress like an adult and not like a boy.

Despite the large quantity of clothes purchased, the bill was not expensive at all. After taking care of Ash, Serena could finally think of herself, but before she could take the elevator again, to head to the lower floors, she was interrupted by the rumbling of her friend's stomach. Had they really spent so much time choosing that stuff? Was it really lunchtime already?

Her friend's stomach was more precise than any clock. Before resuming shopping, they would stop at one of the many restaurants. Among them all, they chose one typical of Alola.

Ash was used to the cuisine of that Region, so he would be a harsh judge, while for Serena it was her first experience with that type of cuisine.

After the abundant lunch, the two completed the shopping session. After spending the morning mainly taking care of Ash, now she could dedicate herself completely to herself.

She too, in addition to normal underwear, bought skirts of different lengths, jeans, and shorter pants. She had also bought t-shirts, tops, and shirts.

She did not neglect more elegant clothes either. Not so much for the Showcases, given the promise made to Delphox, but for other possible occasions that might arise. Serena also took the opportunity to buy a new bag, and forced Ash to buy a new backpack and a new shoulder bag.

Once Serena's shopping was also finished, it was practically time to return. They left the shopping center and, after a short wait, the bus arrived that took them home.

The day of departure arrived quickly. The day before departure, the two took care of packing their suitcases. Ash also worried about deciding which Pokémon to leave with. During the trip, he would allow everyone to participate, but deciding who would have the honor of starting was not easy.

After careful thought, he decided to bring with him, in addition to Pikachu of course, Gengar, Infernape, Noivern, and Lucario.

Delia personally took care of accompanying the two to the airport. Their flight was quite early, at eight in the morning, and being a long-haul flight, they would have to undergo extra checks.

This meant they would have to arrive at least three hours earlier. They would have to pass security checks, entrust their checked baggage to the loading service, and only then could they board.

They would have to face a thirteen-hour flight. Ironically, thirteen hours was also the same time difference separating the Kanto Region from Unova. This meant that they would land in Unova at eight in the morning, while it would be nine in the evening in Kanto. After a while, they could finally board.

The plane belonged to the same company as the one Serena took to reach Kanto, although it was a different model. Larger and more elegant.

The Professor had been generous. She had bought the two business class tickets. They were for the same row, but only one of the two was a window seat. Ash had been generous, allowing Serena to settle next to the window. She considered herself lucky. Between the two seats there was not a thin armrest, but a much wider divider. A sufficiently wide anti-embarrassment barrier. In theory.

The blue giant took off and soared into the sky. It quickly reached a cruising altitude of thirty-six thousand feet, about eleven thousand meters. During the ascent, the staff had informed the passengers about the safety regulations.

Once cruising altitude was reached, the signal that obliged passengers to wear seat belts was deactivated.

After approximately two hours of flight, the first meal was served. Wishing to respect the destination's time zone, it was dinner. It was nine in the evening in Unova, a very normal time for dinner.

After eating, although not fully enjoying the meal due to the high altitude that altered the perception of flavors, the two spent the following two hours fantasizing about what the Region would be like.

At one point, the airplane staff, equipped with some Grass-type Pokémon, put the various passengers to sleep. Perhaps out of habit, Pikachu held his breath, managing not to fall asleep.

He was sitting on Serena's lap and had been able to observe her as she slid to the left. Ash, on the other hand, was sliding to the right. Suddenly, the divider between the two was not so wide after all.

Contact between the two was inevitable, although not unpleasant. Pikachu, who, unlike his Trainer, had somewhat understood how things were, tried not to laugh.

He would enjoy them for a while. Then, perhaps he would separate them, as gently as possible. In the end, however, perhaps due to some dust raised by Serena during an involuntary sleep movement, he too gave in.

After a few hours of flight, the passengers were woken up.

All except Ash. The raven-haired boy was a heavy sleeper. This gave Serena the opportunity to recover from the embarrassment. Had she spent hours and hours so close to Ash? She didn't know what to think. Well, Ash hadn't moved, maybe he didn't mind his companion? Whatever the reason, she wouldn't talk about it. If something was meant to happen, it would just happen.

In any case, perhaps woken up by the sweet smell of breakfast, Ash also woke up. For him, the smell of food was more effective than any smelling salts.

After breakfast, only an hour and a half of flight would remain. The large jet landed gently, despite its colossal size.

Serena held out her arm in Ash's direction, to prevent him from making any bad impressions. She was aware of the World Champion's great enthusiasm, and she wanted to prevent him from making one of his usual gaffes.

When a portion of the passengers got off, Serena did the same, and Ash and Pikachu with her. As soon as they got off the plane, they were greeted by a mixed smell of kerosene and rubber. Far from pleasant.

They would have to reach the arrivals area. Reaching it was easy; it was enough to follow the indications on the floor. They found themselves in front of the building dedicated to arrivals.

It was a huge and modern building. Inside, several conveyor belts allowed passengers to retrieve their suitcases. After a short wait, the two were able to retrieve their suitcases. Ash, being the gentleman that he was, also pulled Serena's suitcase, which was much heavier and bulkier than his own.

Following further directions, they managed to reach the exit.

«And so you two are Ash and Serena?» asked a voice that the two had learned to recognize. «Professor Juniper?» the two asked, at the same time.

A woman with light brown hair and green eyes replied. «In person!» The two looked at her more closely. She was wearing a light green t-shirt and a black skirt. She was wearing winter shoes. «Now, however, follow me. I left my assistant alone in the car, and I'm a little scared. She's a very good girl, but she's a bit clumsy.»

The woman led the way for them, to the parking lot.

Arriving a short distance from the car, the woman took the keys out of her bag. the Professor's car was a long sedan with soft, elegant lines. Perhaps because of the dark gray color, the flat alloy wheels, or the tinted windows, Ash was mesmerized by that car. To his eyes, it looked like it had come out of a science fiction movie, or some video game. The car had a very long hood, rounded and at the same time rhomboid-shaped headlights. They were framed by chrome profiles, set into the bulbous fenders. The grille, whose shape resembled a shield, was also chromed. A shield that embellished the hood and accentuated its triangular shape, highlighting the fact that it was slightly raised. This created an effect similar to many vintage cars. The grille connected perfectly with the bumper, painted in the same color as the bodywork and embellished with chrome profiles that started from the point where it connected to the bodywork and that embellished the sides of the car.

It must have been a true flagship car.

By pressing a button on the key, the trunk opened, revealing the gigantic space. Ash loaded the two suitcases and the two backpacks, then closed the trunk.

Having done this, Ash opened the door for Serena, revealing the luxurious interiors of the car. They were truly classy, dominated by red leather and fine wood. They smelled new.

After Serena settled in, Ash sat down in turn, closing the door. The woman got into the driver's seat and started the engine. Ash was amazed at how quiet that car was. The journey from Castelia City to Nuvema Town would be quite long, mainly on the highway, where the great road-holding qualities of that flagship car were very noticeable. It was quiet and comfortable, very comfortable. The journey seemed to last just ten minutes.

The woman, having arrived in the small town of Nuvema Town, parked the car and motioned for the passengers to get out. the Professor's lab was on the main road of the small town. It was totally different from Professor Oak's. The Professor's lab was in the middle of the countryside, surrounded by a large garden, while Professor Juniper's was a not-too-large building, with a battle field next to it.

«I welcome you to my lab!»

She greeted them again.

Chapter Text

The Beginning of a New Adventure?

«No! No! And no again!» The girl complained, trying to hide under the covers, as if this would somehow protect her from the outside world.

«You are sixteen now. It is the age when all young people in Unova receive their first Pokémon. You know that very well. You can’t skip this appointment, you know!» Her mother rebuked her.

«So what? What if I don't become a Trainer? The world will keep spinning the same way.» The girl replied, still tucked away under the covers.

«Do you think I don't know that? I’ve always seen you watching battles on television. You watched them with dreamy eyes and seemed to put yourself in the Trainers' shoes. I saw you trying to predict their moves. And how you’d go into crisis every time Ash battled. You called him ‘the unpredictable Champion’ and then... after the battles, you would fantasize about what you would do if you were the Trainer of that Pokémon. And now that you can...»

A thick dark brown lock of hair emerged from the covers, then the face of a beautiful girl with blue eyes, a small nose, and thin lips.

«I knew mentioning him would change your mind. I know you too well, my dear Anita.» The woman commented.

Anita did not reply. Who knows what she was thinking. Without a doubt, she, like almost all young people, Trainers or not, held great esteem and respect for Ash who, having left Pallet Town in Kanto with his Pikachu, had managed to become the strongest Trainer in the world.

Of course, she didn't know his whole story, she only knew that he had traveled to various parts of the world to achieve his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master. Whatever that meant.

«Imagining something and actually wanting to do it are two different things. When you imagine, you don't risk getting hurt or even worse. You know that very well.» Anita countered.

«Did you plan to stay here for life?» The woman asked her.

«I just don't want to become a Trainer.»

At her daughter's words, the woman shook her head no, as if to say she had no choice.

«Yes, but you are not a Trainer. I don't see why I should become one.»

The woman made a strange gesture. «You don't know everything about me. I was a Trainer too. And many said I could have done great things, only...»

The girl finally looked at her mother. «Only what?» Anita asked.

«I made a decision I regret even today.»

The woman, noticing the curiosity in her daughter's eyes, who had meanwhile sat up in bed, decided to begin her story.

«I had only recently become a Trainer. I had chosen to start with Tepig, the Fire-type starter. I had also caught a Lillipup, which evolved into a Herdier. We had won two badges. Everything changed when I met a strange guy. He seemed like some kind of preacher, or something like that. He talked about how, in his opinion, humans and Pokémon should live separately. I don't precisely remember the name of the movement he preached for, but I think it had something to do with plasma. I, who was your age then, was taken in by his words, and I abandoned Tepig and Herdier. I never returned home after that. I met your father, and the rest is history.»

Anita's eyes lit up. As if she had made a great discovery.

«Is that why you care so much?» She asked.

«Exactly. And also. That's why you have never met your grandparents. Actually. They don't even know you were born. Or that I gave in to the words of that preacher. Or...»

Anita gestured that she understood. «So you want me to become a Trainer to make up for your mistakes? That’s not nice.»

The woman shook her head no. And squeezed her right hand between hers.

«I just don't want you to repeat my mistakes. Don't be swayed by bad advice. Choose wisely who to listen to and who not to. And going on a journey like this is perhaps the best way to do it. You could meet new people and...»

Anita sighed, impatient. «Fine. But I don't promise you anything.»

Anita got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Her mother left the room shortly after her. The woman took advantage of the fact that her daughter was showering to bring her a small gift.

A red shoulder bag, with metal eyelets. Given how long her daughter was taking, the woman also had time to contact her friend, Professor Juniper.

The woman answered after a few rings.

«Hello? Jessica? Is everything alright?» The Professor asked. «Why hasn't Anita arrived yet? Ash is starting to lose patience.»

The woman was stunned. «Ash?» She asked. She couldn't believe her ears.

«Yes. Ash Ketchum. In person. I wanted it to be a surprise for Anita. You told me how much she admired him, so, thanks to the help of a colleague of mine and...»

The woman on the other end of the phone smiled. «Anita is getting ready. She'll be with you in a bit. Since she doesn't know about his presence, could you ask him to hide and only come out at the appropriate moment?»

The Professor listened carefully. «Yes. Great idea. I'll ask him.»

While the two women were talking on the phone, Anita had had time to take a nice shower and treat her long hair with various products.

According to her estimates, she would be back home in less than a week, but even then, she wanted to look good. Of course, if anyone were to meet her.

She had entered her room, still in her bathrobe and with her hair wrapped in a towel. She was terribly undecided about what to wear. She had decided to start with pants. She had opened the dedicated door of her wardrobe and was searching through the dozens of pairs of pants she owned.

They were mostly jeans, of different colors, some high-waisted, others low-waisted, some ripped, others less so. In the end, she simply grabbed her favorite pair.

Then she moved on to the shirt. She took a white one with light blue sleeves. It had a pink Poké Ball design in the center. Finally, she focused on shoes. She chose a pair of black and dark pink sneakers. She had bought them recently and had not yet had a chance to wear them. A black jacket with numerous pockets completed the outfit.

Only at this point did Anita notice the bag, placed on the bed. On it was a handwritten note. Anita immediately recognized her mother's handwriting.

“With the hope that this gift accompanies you on your journey.”

Anita, examining the bag, noticed that all the zippers were open, except for one.

Almost instinctively, she opened it. Inside was a light pink smartphone.

«Thank you,» Anita whispered.

Having done this, she left her room, went down the stairs, and headed toward the entrance. Her mother was still on the phone with Juniper.

«Well then, I'm going.» Her daughter greeted her.

«Good, let's implement the plan.» The woman replied on the phone, drawing a curious look from her daughter. «See you! Good luck!» The woman wished her, trying to cover up what she had said.

Meanwhile, in the lab, Ash and Serena had helped the Professor tidy up the lab. Not that there was much to tidy up, the lab was already quite organized; they only had to move some tables, cluttered with delicate measuring instruments, to create a sort of corridor toward the central table, placed against the wall opposite the entrance, where the three starter Poké Balls were deposited.

«Thank you, kids.» The woman thanked them. «Now, however, I would like to ask you a small favor.»

The two turned in her direction. «Yes?»

The woman looked at them with a smile. «I haven't told Anita anything yet. I know for sure she will be happy, she has great admiration for you, but... I would like it to be a surprise. Follow me.»

The woman accompanied the two towards a door and handed them a sort of small tablet. «From here you can observe everything. When you deem it appropriate, make your entrance.» The woman explained to them.

«Alright.» The two replied.

The door led to the Professor's small apartment. Sometimes she happened to work late, and in that case, she spent the night there. It wasn't a very large apartment, in fact, to tell the truth, it was a studio. Inside the small apartment were a small kitchen, a wooden table with four chairs, a flat-screen television hung on one wall. On one wall was a bookshelf, filled with numerous scientific publications, and a small wardrobe. On the opposite wall was another door leading to the bathroom.

The two could observe everything from the tablet. A girl with long dark brown hair, wearing a black jacket, jeans, and sneakers.

«Ah. So she would be Anita? I thought she was...» Serena commented.

«Was?» Ash asked her.

«Smaller. I mean, you started your Trainer career at ten, me at twelve. She is at least fourteen, if not sixteen.» Serena explained to him.

«And?» Ash asked her. In his mind, he couldn't quite understand what the problem was.

«I wouldn't want her to get strange ideas in her head.» The blonde replied, trying not to blush.

Pikachu, contrary to his Trainer, had understood what his friend was referring to.

«Good morning.» The brunette greeted the Professor.

«Good morning to you! I imagine you are excited. Today is a big day. You will finally become a Trainer. I am a little sorry that Ivan hasn't arrived. In the meantime, however, you can choose your first Pokémon.» The woman explained to her, as she approached the table on which the Poké Balls were placed. Each of them rested on a sort of red silk cushion.

From the room, Ash and Serena were observing the scene. «And who would this Ivan be?» Ash wondered.

«I have no idea. He could be a friend of hers, or something similar. Who, in some ways, is like you. A chronic latecomer.» Serena teased him, not taking her eyes off the screen.

While the two were chatting, the Professor opened them one by one, allowing the future Trainer to choose her starter Pokémon.

«They are Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott,» she introduced them.

The brunette knelt down to observe them better. She started with Snivy, the Grass-type starter. Its appearance resembled a kind of snake. Its head was round with a pointed snout tilted upwards. Most of its body was green, while its belly was cream-colored. A yellow stripe ran along its entire back, up to its tail. Its large brown eyes were surrounded by yellow markings. Yellow protrusions extended backward from its shoulders. Although it looked like a snake, it possessed fully developed limbs. Short, thin arms the same color as its body, with three fingers and small cream-colored feet devoid of claws.

Perhaps annoyed at being watched for too long, Snivy turned its head in the opposite direction from the young girl. It also crossed its arms. «Vih!» It squeaked, in an annoyed tone.

It was clear that it didn't like her. She then moved on to Tepig. Choosing it meant making the same choice as her mother. Despite this, she still considered it.

Tepig's appearance resembled that of a small pig. Its body was primarily orange, while other parts of its body were black, pink, and yellow. It had large eyes, a reddish-pink nose, and a thick yellow stripe on its snout. Most of its face was black, as were its long, rectangular ears, positioned on the top of its head. Its legs were short, and the tips of its front paws were black. Another black band was present on its lower and rear back. From there extended a spiral tail, topped by a vermillion red ornament.

Contrary to Snivy, Tepig seemed quite happy with the attention received.

Finally, the future Trainer's gaze fell on Oshawott.

It was a bipedal Pokémon and resembled a sea otter. It had a white, round head, with small, dark blue triangular ears positioned on the sides of its head. Its eyes were dark, while its nose was dark orange and oval-shaped. Its cheeks were covered with several freckles. Its body was covered with light blue fur, which took a bubble-like shape around its neck. It had round, white arms, while its feet were dark blue and had three toes each. Its tail was dark blue, similar to a rudder. On its belly, it had a light yellow seashell.

The brunette looked at him intently, awaiting his reaction.

The Otter jumped onto her. He had made his choice. Anita would be his Trainer.

From the room, Serena and Ash had observed everything.

«Snivy is certainly quite a firecracker!» Serena commented.

«Yeah. I think her future Trainer will have a lot of work to do to earn her respect.» Ash replied to her. «Do you think we should introduce ourselves?» He added shortly after.

«Don't be rash!» Serena scolded him. «Let's at least wait for this Ivan to arrive. And Belle too.»

Ash, who was starting to get up, sat back down.

Meanwhile, the woman had taken a Poké Ball from another shelf. «Do you have a Smartphone?» She asked her guest.

The latter, after fumbling in her bag, pulled out the smartphone her mother had just given her.

«Perfect!» The Professor commented, as she opened the Poké Ball.

A sprite-like Pokémon emerged from it. A Rotom. The sprite's body was orange and made of plasma. It seemed to be smiling. Its appearance resembled a small lightning rod, surrounded by an aura of blue electrical energy, which gave it the appearance of a bolt of lightning.

«Good, raise your phone, so Rotom can enter it!»

Anita looked at the Professor with a perplexed expression. What did she mean by Rotom entering her phone? If she wanted to find out, she would have to follow the woman's instructions. She raised her right arm, being careful not to perform that gesture. Rotom quickly approached the neo-Trainer's phone, entering inside.

Because of this, the phone rebooted. A prerecorded message confirmed that Rotom was perfectly integrated into the phone.

A few moments later, someone opened the door, startling Anita and her Oshawott. Anita instinctively hugged him tightly, 

with the otter instinctively responding by attacking her with Water Gun.

Luckily the neo-Trainer hadn't put on makeup, otherwise it would have been an authentic disaster.

«Take this.» Said a voice, not very familiar to Anita. She instinctively grabbed the object that had been offered to her anyway. A towel. Anita dried her face and hair.

«So you chose Oshawott.... Good, then I choose you!» Ivan pointed to Snivy.

Snivy did not take it well at all. From one of the protrusions on its back, a long green vine shot out and violently struck the blonde's wrist. «Vih!» It squeaked in an annoyed tone.

«Ouch! Is that necessary? Someone wants to be your Trainer and you treat him like that?» He scolded it, angry.

Snivy, in response, turned in the opposite direction from the blonde.

She really didn't like that guy with the blonde hair. And no. It wasn't his simple, sporty clothes, a Canadian jacket, sneakers, and an orange jacket, that bothered her, but his way of presenting himself.

«You asked for it. Then I'll take Tepig.»

The Professor's concern was not so much handing the Tepig Poké Ball to the blonde, but rather the wound caused by Snivy. She cleaned it with disinfectant and bandaged it with sterile gauze. «You have to forgive her. She's a very particular little one. You are not the first Trainer she refuses and you won't be the last.»

From the room, Ash, Serena, and Pikachu had followed the scene.

«Don't you think Snivy reminds you a bit of Greninja when he was a Froakie?» Serena asked, catching Ash quite off guard.

«I don't know. Maybe it's just a coincidence.» Serena looked him in the eyes. 

«We’ll never know unless we go in.» Serena replied.

The two got up from the sofa and reached the Professor's laboratory. «Good morning!» The two greeted. Anita looked at the two. Yes. She knew who Serena was, the finalist in the professional category at the Kalos Showcase and a finalist in numerous Grand Festivals, but her real interest was the boy next to her.

Slightly taller than her, cap, rather disheveled raven hair, brown eyes... Even though he was dressed quite well, compared to his standards.

He was accompanied by a male Pikachu, perched on his shoulder. She had no doubts. That boy was Ash Ketchum. And he had come for her? Anita didn't want to believe it.

The two approached her. She was trembling as she moved her right arm to shake their hands.

«N-Nice to m-meet you I-I’m c-called Anita» The girl introduced herself, showing all her insecurity.

«I'm Serena, happy to meet you.» The native of Kalos introduced herself.

«The pleasure is all mine! I'm Ash and this is my friend Pikachu!» The native of Kanto introduced himself, pointing to Pikachu, perched on his shoulder.

«Pika-Pikachu» The electric rodent introduced himself, startling Anita.

Ivan had also witnessed that scene, albeit a bit off to the side. «It’s impossible that you’re afraid of a simple Pikachu! What will you do out there, where there are much bigger and more dangerous Pokémon? You'll be running back to mommy after two steps... pff!» He commented.

He succeeded in annoying Ash, Pikachu, and Anita in one move.

Serena and the Professor barely held them back. Anita couldn't stand being treated that way by a complete stranger, and, likewise, Ash and Pikachu had taken it quite personally.

Even Snivy, not yet recalled to her Poké Ball, had the opportunity to witness that scene. And she too, like Anita, had an idea of what kind of person Ivan was, and how her friend was not a simple Pikachu. She approached silently, until she reached the group consisting of the Professor and the three Trainers.

She then extended her vines from the protrusions on her back. With one of them, she gently touched Ash, with the other, Anita's Oshawott. It was her way of declaring her interest in battling.

She didn't want to face Pikachu. She knew very well that the risk of waking up elegant would be very, very high.

«Huh?!? You want to battle Oshawott?» Ash asked.

«Vii!» Snivy replied, with a short, sharp cry.

«Do you mind if...» The experienced Trainer asked the neo-Trainer.

«Go ahead. But I don't think this is the right place.» Not that saying it was strictly necessary, but adding details made her more comfortable.

The group, including a not very interested Ivan, left the laboratory, reaching the battle field. Ash analyzed Oshawott with his Smart Rotom.

«Oshawott, Sea Otter Pokémon. Water-type. Male specimen. It fights with the shell on its belly. It promptly counterattacks after parrying the opponent's attack. Known moves: Tackle, Water Gun, Aqua Jet, and Fury Cutter.»

He then moved on to Snivy. «Snivy, Grass Snake Pokémon, Grass-type. Female specimen. It is endowed with intelligence and coolness. When it receives plenty of sunlight, its movements become very agile. Known moves: Attract, Vine Whip,

Leaf Tornado, and Tackle.»

Ash remained silent for a few moments. «Very interesting. I’d say we can start!»

Serena, the Professor, and Anita were sitting on the only available bench, in exactly that order. Anita considered the Professor, her mother's great friend, almost like an aunt.

«You'll see, watching Ash battle live is a unique experience.» Serena explained to the two, while cuddling Pikachu.

Meanwhile, the battle was finally starting. Snivy made the first move. She winked at her opponent and hurled several pink hearts in his direction.

«Darn! It's Attract!» Ash commented. His tone, despite the words used, was quite calm. «Quick! Use Water Gun and spin around!» He ordered.

Oshawott obeyed without question. A powerful jet of water came out of its mouth and hit all the hearts launched by the opponent, preventing the insidious attack from doing its job.

Snivy emitted a grunt that was difficult to interpret. On one hand, she was frustrated because her attack hadn't hit the mark, but on the other, she was happy. Even though Ash was battling with that Oshawott for the first time, it seemed like he had known him forever.

Despite this, she wouldn't give up so easily. Two vines quickly came out of the protrusions on her back, rushing towards Oshawott at great speed. It was her Vine Whip attack. Snivy were famous for the skill with which they controlled their vines. This is why she felt so confident.

«Go! Use Aqua Jet to dodge!» Ash ordered.

Oshawott's body became covered in water, and it leaped.

«Excellent! Now move like I tell you!» The World Champion shouted. Despite the blanket of water, the otter was perfectly able to hear him. It moved first to the right, then, quickly downward, then to the left, then upward, then towards Snivy, then in the opposite direction, with Snivy finding it increasingly difficult to follow that loose cannon.

«Very good! Now reach her and use Fury Cutter!» The otter headed towards its opponent. It was wielding its Scalchop and rapidly swinging it.

«I didn't know you could use two moves at once!» Anita commented, engrossed in the battle.

«Ash is full of surprises. You haven't seen anything yet.»

Meanwhile, Oshawott had reached its opponent and thanks to the momentum given by Aqua Jet, it managed to hit Snivy with much greater power than a normal Fury Cutter.

Snivy was violently thrown upwards, then fell back to the ground.

She tried to get up, but failed. This meant that the victory of that battle belonged to Oshawott. To the great delight of the latter. He leaped in celebration, but soon collapsed too, from the fatigue of that battle.

The Professor took revitalizing salts from her lab coat pocket. Bipyramids of light yellow salts with the smell of lavender and ammonia.

Both Oshawott and Snivy quickly got up, stimulated by that smell. «Good, for the moment they can be fine like this. Then I'll take you to the Pokémon Center. The nearest one is in Striaton City.» The Professor explained.

Meanwhile, Snivy had gotten noticeably closer to Ash and, with one of her vines, gently squeezed Ash's wrist. «It looks like she wants to come with you.» Serena commented.

«You know, Snivy is a very particular case. Usually Snivy, as well as Tepig and Oshawott, are entrusted to young Trainers. As just happened with Anita and Ivan... who, in the meantime, decided to leave us. They usually easily forgive mistakes due to inexperience and, being Pokémon that evolve twice, they follow the growth of their Trainer. But, as I said, Snivy is a particular little one, she doesn't seem happy with her role as a starter Pokémon. Many Trainers have chosen her, but then, desperate, they brought her back to me.»

The interested party emitted a grunt that could be interpreted as a “So what? That’s just how I am!”

The Professor continued her story. «She attacked them, as she did with Ivan just now. She didn't consider them worthy. And so she started not even letting new Trainers choose her. Attacking them as soon as they showed any interest in her. And finally, she found you.» She concluded her explanation.

«Is that so?» Ash asked. Snivy replied with an unmistakable nod. Yes.

«Very good, then I'll go get her Poké Ball. If you'll excuse me.»

Since no one objected, the woman entered the laboratory.

Anita had remained slightly to the side, still not entirely at ease. She still wondered why the World Champion and a top-level Coordinator and Performer had wanted to witness such an ordinary moment. The

delivery of the first Pokémon to a Trainer.

The Professor, meanwhile, had returned from the laboratory with Snivy's Poké Ball. As soon as she arrived, she handed it to the experienced Trainer. Snivy, with one of her vines, activated the Poké Ball's opening mechanism, allowing herself to be absorbed inside.

«Alright!» Ash shouted, lifting the Poké Ball to the sky. «I have a new friend!»

Anita looked at Ash with a perplexed expression. «Ash is certainly a very, very enthusiastic boy!» Serena turned towards her. «You'll get used to it.» She replied.

“You'll get used to it.” Those few words bounced in her head.

What did she mean by she would get used to it? Did she perhaps mean that...

Meanwhile, Ash had released all the Pokémon he had brought with him from their Poké Balls. «I would like to introduce you to some of my friends.» He addressed the newcomer. «Here they are, they are Gengar, Infernape, Noivern, and Lucario.»

The World Champion's Pokémon began to get acquainted with the newcomer, who proved to be quite kind and polite to each of them.

«Perhaps I think we should say it.» Serena turned to Ash, further increasing Anita's confusion. What important thing did they have to say?

«Ah. Right. We haven't explained why we came here.» Ash addressed the neo-Trainer, who, a little to the side, was studying Ash's Pokémon. She focused particularly on Noivern and Infernape.

She had never seen them in her life. Before scanning them with her Smart Rotom, she tried to get an idea of their appearance. The first resembled a huge purple and black bat. Its head was black, while its jaw was purple. It had yellow eyes, with a light blue iris. A red, forked nose, large pointed black ears with a light green interior. Concentric black rings were also present inside the ears. Its neck was covered with a large amount of thick white fur. Its chest and limbs were black, contrary to its belly, which was purple. The front part of its wings was light green, with the rear part starting from black, ending with purple. The wings had two large black spikes on the lower part, while the three fingers protruding from the wings were red. The hind legs had two toes. The long black tail had two spikes just before the end.

Then she focused on Infernape. Its body resembles a chimpanzee. Predominantly brownish in color with red hues, sections of white fur on its chest, head, and legs, and a large flame burning on its head. Infernape wears two gold rings on its chest. It also had spiral-shaped markings, gold shoulder pads, knee pads, and wristbands. The markings on its forehead had an intense blood-red color. It had yellow sclera, and blue irises. Its hands, feet, and the inside of its ears were blue. She scanned it with the Smart Rotom. «Infernape, Flame Pokémon, Fire and Fighting-type. Male specimen. Final evolution of Chimchar, one of the starter Pokémon of the Sinnoh region. It uses a special type of martial art involving all its limbs. Its flame never goes out. Known moves, Flare Blitz, Dig, Fire Punch, and Close Combat.»

She then proceeded to scan Noivern.

«Noivern, Sound Wave Pokémon. Flying and Dragon-type. Male specimen. Native to the Kalos region. It flies in the darkness, injuring opponents with ultrasounds capable of shattering even boulders, and then finishing them off with its sharp teeth. Known moves, Dragon Claw, Boomburst, Air Slash, and X-Scissor.»

Serena and Ash approached the neo-Trainer, catching her by surprise. «We had to tell you something.» Serena began.

«The real reason why we came all the way here.» Ash continued his friend's sentence, making her slightly embarrassed.

«The reason?» Anita asked, increasingly confused.

«You know, my biggest dream is to become a Pokémon Master.» Ash started.

«And?» Anita asked, who was starting to feel a little more comfortable.

«I understood what one of the fundamental steps is to become a Pokémon Master. And, to do it, I would need your help.»

Anita mechanically turned her gaze towards him.

«And I, who have just become a Trainer, how could I help a Champion like you?»

Ash smiled at her. «You see, I understood what one of the steps to becoming a Pokémon Master is. And that would be to help someone achieve their goal.»

Anita still didn't understand. «I'm here because my mother forced me. If it had been up to me...»

Ash was disappointed. He couldn't stand the idea of someone being forced to do something.

«Then I'm not sure you are the right person. I don't like anyone being forced to do something. Even to become a Trainer. As much as I love battles, I don't like anyone being forced to do it.»

Anita made a small gesture, as if to say stop. «To tell the truth, that's what I thought before. Before I saw you battle with Oshawott. I've often seen you battle on television. But seeing you live... is a completely different thing. It seemed like you had known Oshawott forever. I realized that being a Trainer doesn't seem so bad after all.»

Ash smiled at her, as if to say “that's the right spirit.”

«I'm not sure I'm the right person. I'm afraid of failing.»

Serena looked her in the eyes. «I've always had that fear too. And I still have it, but it has never stopped me from believing. That's why I decided to come here with Ash. I want to become the Queen of Unova. I know the Showcases here are difficult, but I take that as motivation to do better. That's something I learned from Ash.»

A few minutes later, Ash recalled his Pokémon to their Poké Balls. «Now, if you don't mind, I'll take you to the Pokémon Center.» The Professor interrupted them.

The three followed her to her car.

She unlocked the doors with a button on the key. The unlocking was confirmed by the flashing of the turn signals. Ash, like a gentleman, opened the back door, allowing Serena and Anita to get in. Having done this, he closed the door, then sat in the front, next to the Professor.

The journey was short. Nuvema Town and Striaton City were very close. Just a few minutes of travel. The woman parked in front of the Pokémon Center. Ash got out and opened the door for the girls.

The Professor accompanied her passengers inside the building. On the outside, the building was a simple brick structure, not too different from the Pokémon Centers in other regions, but the differences were inside.

In addition to the Nurse's counter, the benches where people sat waiting to be served, or waiting to receive their Pokémon, there was also a minimarket. A novelty for Ash.

«Good morning!» They greeted.

«Good morning to you!» The Nurse returned. «How can I help you?» She asked.

Ash looked at the woman. Yes. She looked like all the other Nurses he had met, but her uniform was different. She wasn't wearing the classic pink top and apron, but a darker pink shirt. The cap, however, was identical to the other Nurses. Beside her was an Audino. A Pokémon that Ash and Serena had learned to know.

«Do you want me to take care of your Pokémon?» She asked, almost rhetorically.

The three Trainers handed her their respective Poké Balls, with Pikachu jumping onto the counter. «It won't take long.» She reassured them.

«Now excuse me, but I have to go.» The Professor said her farewell.

«Goodbye!» They greeted her.

After a while, the Nurse returned with the Poké Balls and with Pikachu. «Your Pokémon are in excellent health. It shows that you care about them very much.» She congratulated them.

The three greeted her and headed towards the exit.

Anita seemed very agitated; now that the comforting presence of the Professor was gone, Anita felt

uncomfortable. She would have liked to go home, but, for the moment, the thought of disappointing the Champion stopped her from doing so.

As soon as the three left, they noticed, not far from the Pokémon Center, about ten people gathered around a strange man, whose manner of dress resembled an ancient knight. He was dressed in gray, black, and white. He wore a wide hood that covered his hair, with a cross made of black laces on it. He wore a gray robe with large short sleeves, covered by a white surcoat, held by a black belt. The shirt under the gray robe and the pants were also black. He wore gray gloves and boots. The man was standing on a kind of counter. Behind him was this

manifesto, also present on his surcoat:

At the exact moment the three approached, he began to speak. «Pokémon are tired of being under the tyranny of Trainers! Are you tired of seeing them battle and suffer for the mere pleasure of their Trainers? Then join Team Plasma! For too long Trainers have forced Pokémon into slavery, to bend to their orders! As if they were inferior creatures! And even worse, they exploit them to gain unfair advantages against non-Trainers! Follow Ghetsis and together we will tear down all of this! Pokémon will be free from the yoke of Trainers!»

The three looked into each other's eyes.

«How dare he say such a thing! Being a Trainer is the greatest thing in the world! And none of us have ever forced Pokémon to follow us!» Ash's tone was terribly irritated. And, likewise, Pikachu was quite irritated too. Large electrical discharges were coming out of the electric pouches on his cheeks.

«What are you going to do? Let me guess? You'll ask your Pikachu to attack me and knock me down from here!» Trainer and Pokémon looked into each other's eyes.

«We were just thinking about it!» Ash replied.

«Pi-Pi-kachu» The electric mouse confirmed.

«That's what's wrong with this world!» He shouted! «Trainers like this boy exploit their Pokémon to fight anyone who doesn't think like them!» The people around him started shouting, encouraging him.

«What? We are not attacking anyone!» An increasingly agitated Ash replied to him.

Serena, who knew him well, understood that the situation would soon escalate.

Fortunately, Serena managed to drag Ash away before the situation degenerated.

«Wait a minute! Where did Anita go?» Serena was quite worried. It was Anita's first trip, and perhaps the first time she had been away from home alone.

While the two were desperately looking for her, the neo-Trainer had been approached by a strange guy. A tall, thin boy with long light green hair, wearing a black cap, a white shirt, light brown pants, and green shoes. Around his neck was a pendant resembling a planet. He also wore bracelets, and a sort of Rubik's Cube was attached to his pants.

«A-And w-who are you?» Anita asked, quite scared. «D-Don't t-tell me you're one of those Team Plasma guys!»

The light green-haired boy shook his head no. «What does it matter?» This was followed by a brief silence. «Yes. I believe that Trainers oppress Pokémon. I know you are a Trainer. Your Oshawott told me…»

Anita made a small gesture to interrupt him. What did he mean by Pokémon talking?

«I understand your amazement. Talking with Pokémon is something I’ve always been able to do.»

The boy quickly changed the subject.

«I see you have a Smart Rotom, I guess you'll exploit its Pokédex function. And, to do so, you will imprison dozens and dozens of Pokémon in Poké Balls. I am a Trainer too, but I can't help but wonder if it's true that Pokémon are really happy in this state. But I'm curious, let's hear what your Pokémon says!»

Anita was even more confused. Did that boy want to challenge her to a battle? She would indulge him. Or at least she would try.

«Go Purrloin!» The boy sent out a Pokémon very similar to a cat. With large green eyes with magenta spots that started from the eyelids and ended at the beginning of the ears. The rest of the body was predominantly purple, with some cream-white patches on the muzzle, forehead, chest, back, and two on the front and hind legs. The tail, completely purple, had crimped fur at the end.

Anita examined the feline with her Smart Rotom. «Purrloin, Devious Pokémon. Dark-type. Male specimen. It lets the enemy approach by distracting it with captivating poses, and then suddenly scratches it while laughing. Known moves: Quick Attack, Shadow Claw, and Scratch.»

Anita put her Smart Rotom back in her bag and took out her Oshawott's Poké Ball. «It’s your turn!» She exclaimed, sending him out onto the field.

«Let's start. Purrloin, use Quick Attack!» The boy ordered. The feline started running at great speed towards its opponent. It seemed to be covered by a white aura.

“Now what do I do?” Anita thought, as Purrloin approached. “Come on... what would Ash do?” Purrloin was now incredibly close.

«Go! Dodge!» She ordered. Oshawott moved at the last second, avoiding being hit.

«Let's try this. Use Water Gun!» A powerful jet of water was generated from the Otter's mouth, which, thanks to the close distance, hit the target squarely.

«Come on, let me hear your Oshawott's voice again! Purrloin, use Quick Attack again!» He ordered. Purrloin, thrown back by the previous attack, started running at great speed towards its opponent again. But this time, Anita was less caught by surprise.

«Let's try with Aqua Jet!» Oshawott's body was surrounded by a layer of water, which completely covered him.

The clash between Oshawott and Purrloin was inevitable. Both were thrown back by the great energy resulting from the impact.

Fortunately for their Trainers, both Oshawott and Purrloin got back up, shaking off the dust.

«I like what your Oshawott says!» The boy commented. «Purrloin! Shadow Claw!» He ordered. The feline's claws grew in size, and glowed purple, as the feline started running.

«Go on! Use Water Gun!» The young Trainer shouted. A very powerful jet of water was generated from the Otter's mouth, which hit the opponent squarely, projecting him into the air, preventing him from attacking and defeating him.

«I'm sorry to have disappointed you Purrloin, but remember that as long as Pokémon are imprisoned in Poké Balls, they will never become complete beings. It is for them, for the good of my Pokémon friends, that I, N, will revolutionize the world!»

Having said this, the boy headed to the Pokémon Center.

«There you are!» Anita immediately recognized that voice. «You made us worry.» She added.

Anita turned in the direction the voice came from. It was Serena, Ash, and Pikachu.

«We thought you had been kidnapped by one of those Team Plasma guys.» Ash rebuked her.

«Fortunately not. Both Oshawott and I are fine, but…» She replied.

«But what?» The two older kids asked, worried.

«I met a boy, a Trainer who, like that guy on the counter, claimed that Pokémon are oppressed by Trainers.»

Ash and Serena turned in her direction.

«What do you mean?» The two said at the same time, with slight embarrassment from Serena's side.

Pikachu also confirmed this, touching Ash's neck with one of his paws. Ash, in response, stroked him on the head. «Chaa!» Pikachu squeaked happily. He loved cuddles.

«Does it look like Pikachu is oppressed? I do everything I can to make sure he is at his best, and the same goes for all the others!» The World Champion replied.

«And the same goes for me!» Serena added.

«I hope I can say the same.» Anita joined in, while holding her Oshawott's Poké Ball.

«I believe you will.» Ash encouraged her, with his usual optimism. «Although now, I think we should deal with Team Plasma.» He added.

«What do you want to do? Expressing one's ideas is not forbidden. As extreme as they may be.» Ash tried to counter, but then realized that Serena was absolutely right.

«Have you decided what your goal will be?» Ash asked his new travel companion.

Anita remained silent for a few moments. «Forgive me, but I haven't decided yet. Of course, I saw you battle with Oshawott, and you were fantastic. I also had the opportunity to battle, with a boy who claimed to be able to talk to Pokémon and I have to say it. Battles are wonderful. But I'm not sure that's what I want to do.»

Ash smiled at her. «No problem.»

Serena joined the two. «You could try Gym battles and aim for the Champion title.»

Anita turned towards Serena. «Do you think I'm capable of doing it?»

Ash was disappointed. «If you start like that, you'll never succeed.» He chided her.

«Yes, but if we are going to leave for a trip like that, we will have to get supplies and also tents and sleeping bags. We won't always be able to spend the night in a Pokémon Center.» Serena explained to her. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

«What do you mean? We'll spend nights outdoors?» Anita complained.

«Certainly. That's the beauty of Pokémon journeys. You never know what might happen to you.» Ash added, further increasing the worry of their new travel companion.

Serena had taken her Smart Rotom, and had opened the dedicated maps application. «We can consider ourselves lucky, there is a store specializing in camping gear and also grocery stores here in the city.» She explained.

Serena started walking, with Ash following her without question. Anita, having no other choice, followed them.

Their first stop was the store dedicated to camping gear. It was located in one of the many narrow streets of the city. It occupied the ground floor of a residential building. It had large windows, in which various items were displayed, from stoves to canisters, camping cutlery and plates. On the other side of the window, however, there were sleeping bags displayed and there were photos of tents, with various indications.

On one of them there was a kind of sign, which, in form, imitated a sort of comic book. “Buy two two-person tents and the second one is half price”. It was written.

The three entered the store. «Good morning!» They greeted.

«Good morning to you!» The clerk greeted them. A man in his thirties. Orange hair and blue eyes. He wore the store uniform, brown overalls over a green shirt.

«How can I help you?» He asked. «I imagine that if you are here, you are looking for items for a Pokémon journey. Although I wonder why the World Champion wants to travel as if he were a beginner.» He let slip.

Ash was visibly getting upset. He couldn't stand anyone minding his business. Of course, he didn't mind talking about his goals, but he couldn't stand being judged.

«If you are leaving for a journey…» The man slightly changed his tone. «You'll need a bit of everything. But consider yourselves lucky, we have excellent offers. I think you saw the offer on camping tents, if you buy two, the second one is half price, but we also have other offers. For example, if you buy three sleeping bags, the fourth is free, and we also have quantity discounts on gas canisters and on plates and cutlery.» He explained.

In a short time, the three left the store with everything they needed and more. What the heck were they going to do with a fourth sleeping bag? Or two two-person tents if there were only three of them? That guy was certainly good at selling.

The three headed to the grocery store. It wasn't far from where they were, about fifty meters on foot.

Contrary to the camping gear store, it was located in a dedicated building and was quite large and well-stocked.

«I don't think we'll have to do big shopping here.» Anita commented.

«Maybe you don't know these two!» Serena replied, trying to hold back a laugh. «They are bottomless pits!»

«Hey! But you know very well! You need a lot, a lot of energy to perform.» Ash replied to her, with Pikachu confirming the Trainer's words in his own way.

After the purchases, a noise similar to thunder scared Anita.

«I think it's lunchtime.» Serena commented. «Their stomachs are more precise than any clock.»

The Performer, thanks again to her Smart Rotom, accompanied the group to a fast-food restaurant. It was one of the many restaurants of a famous Unova chain. Given the time, there were a lot of people, but the line moved rather quickly.

Soon it was their turn. When ordering, Ash and Pikachu demonstrated what Serena had said. And Ash's other Pokémon did not refrain from doing so either.

After lunch, the three left the restaurant, with all the Pokémon, with the exception of Pikachu, recalled to their respective Poké Balls.

«Excuse me if I'm indiscreet, but…» Anita asked.

«Tell me everything.» Ash replied to her.

«But why do you always keep Pikachu out of his Poké Ball?»

Ash turned to his friend and stroked him. «He can't stand being inside the Poké Ball. He made things clear right from our first meeting, didn't he?»

Pikachu confirmed his friend's words with a smile.

The neo-Trainer wondered if she had done the right thing by recalling her Oshawott to its Poké Ball, without asking him.

«Now that our stomachs are full, we can also set off. Where are we going?» Ash asked.

Serena had taken her Smart Rotom, and had opened the dedicated maps application.

«The first Gym is located in Striaton City. It is a city not very far from here. But I think if we leave now, we will have to spend the night in a tent. The alternative is to leave early tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I'll look for information about the Gym. What do you prefer to do?»

While Serena looked for more information about the Gym, Ash and Anita had clarified their plan.

«For me, we could leave directly tomorrow.» Ash replied.

«Me too.» Anita added.

«As you wish. In the meantime, I found some information about the Gym. It seems that it specializes in Grass-type, Fire-type, and Water-type.»

Ash scratched his head, perplexed. «What do you mean a Gym specializing in three different types? All the ones I've faced specialized in only one type.» He commented. «And besides, you just became a Trainer, maybe it's better to do some training before challenging a Gym. And I think you should try to catch new Pokémon…»

Serena gestured for Ash to calm down. «Yes, you're right, but don't rush, we have plenty of time. Perhaps it would be a good idea to go to the Pokémon Center and book rooms for the night.»

The three headed to the dedicated building, the same one where they had greeted Professor Juniper in the morning.

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by the Nurse. «Good afternoon, kids! How can I help you?» She asked.

«Good afternoon, we would like to book two rooms for tonight. If possible.»

The Nurse turned towards the key rack hung on the wall.

«You were lucky. There are just a double and a single left. Here are the keys. The one with the green keychain is the single. The one with the white keychain is the double.» The Nurse handed Serena a copy of the keys.

Serena handed the single one to Ash. «I have a question, can we use the battle field?» Ash asked.

«No problem.» The Nurse replied.

The three left the Pokémon Center and reached the battle field. It was a normal dirt battle field, on the right side of the Pokémon Center. On the long sides of the field there were benches,

to allow spectators to follow the battle. On the side opposite the Pokémon Center, there was the referee's station.

«You said you’ve already battled that boy, haven't you?» Ash asked her, rhetorically. For the experienced Trainer, this meant a lot. «You know, I don't like theory. I much prefer practice. If you want, we can start.»

Serena stopped him before he could pull Snivy's Poké Ball from his bag. «Don't you think it would be better for her to train with someone closer to her level, if you know what I mean?»

Ash understood the hint. After all, he would have all the time in the world to train with Anita. «Alright. But you, be sure to treat her well, okay?» The boy replied.

Anita wanted to object, but held back. Perhaps not training with the Champion right away wasn't such a bad idea. After all, she had seen him use some truly improbable techniques, and maybe she wasn't ready for that.

Serena and Anita lined up on opposite sides of the field. «Remember this is a training battle. There doesn't necessarily have to be a winner.» Serena explained to her. Anita nodded to show she understood.

«Alright, Pancham! It's your turn!» Serena sent out a Pokémon similar to a Giant Panda cub. It had ivory-colored head fur, with the exception of the fur on its ears, around its eyes, and on its torso, which was black. From the waist down, the fur took on a dark gray color, and its pom-pom tail was ivory. It also carried a bamboo leaf in its mouth.

Anita scanned him with her Smart Rotom. «Pancham. Playful Pokémon. Fighting-type. Male specimen. It tries to look menacing but is not taken seriously by opponents. Known moves: Ice Punch, Stone Edge, Arm Thrust, Dark Pulse.»

Anita, not that she had much choice, sent out her Oshawott.

«Pancham, remember they are not very experienced. Don't overdo it!» The panda nodded to show he understood.

«You start,» Serena invited her.

«Are you sure?» She asked. «When I battled that boy, he started first.» She added.

«Alright. For this time, we'll start, but in an official battle, these things can't happen!» Serena pointed out to her.

«Sure... I understand.» Anita replied, not very convinced.

«Good, Pancham! Start with Stone Edge!» The panda threw a powerful punch at the ground, making huge, sharp, light blue boulders shoot up.

«Come on, Oshawott! Dodge and then use Tackle!» The otter moved to the right, avoiding being hit, then began running towards its opponent. Serena remained observant. Oshawott moved even closer to Pancham. He was almost ready to strike.

«Pancham! Use Arm Thrust!» One of Pancham's hands glowed white, hitting the opponent, who had approached him in the meantime. The blow was quite violent, throwing him back.

«Pancham! What did I tell you!» Serena scolded him.

«Sorry, but if he doesn't battle at least a little seriously, how do you think she'll react?» Ash blurted out.

«Then why don't you battle?» Serena asked him.

«I just meant that we have to get her used to the fact that battles are a serious matter. That's all.» He explained.

«As you wish.» Serena replied to him.

«Oshawott, are you alright?» Anita asked, worried.

Oshawott, in response, stood up and shook the dust off himself.

«See?» Ash said. «Oshawott wants to be serious too.» He added. Oshawott confirmed this.

«Alright then!» Anita finally joined in. «Use Aqua Jet!»

Oshawott surrounded himself with water and leaped. He had become a sort of projectile.

«Hurry! Defend yourself with Ice Punch!» Serena ordered. One of Pancham's hands was covered in a thick layer of ice, ready to strike his opponent, who had now arrived at a very short distance.

«Quick! Dodge!» Anita ordered. Oshawott slightly changed his trajectory, moving upwards. Pancham failed to hit him directly, but hit the trail of water he was carrying, freezing it.

Oshawott was blocked by his own attack. «And now let's break the ice with Arm Thrust!» Serena ordered. Pancham hit the frozen trail in front of him with a violent strike of his hand.

Part of the ice broke, allowing Oshawott to move again.

«Continue with Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered. Oshawott's body was covered in water, which, due to the ice partially covering him, quickly froze. The little Pokémon had to strain quite a bit to manage the different resistance of the ice.

«Try telling him to attack!» Ash urged her.

«Ah... Yes... Of course... Let's try! Oshawott! Attack!» The otter, straining immensely, managed to control the attack, and hit Pancham squarely, sending him flying into the air.

Moments later, Pancham fell back to the ground. He was still able to continue, but it was clear that he had taken a hard hit. Oshawott also fell to the ground. All around him were shards of ice.

He too was at the end of his strength.

«I think that's enough for now.» Serena stopped the battle. «You were both fantastic, Pancham and Oshawott battled really well.» Ash commented. Anita couldn't believe it. Had the Champion complimented her? «Oshawott was able to perform a truly excellent Ice-Aqua Jet, for the first time!» He complimented, fueling the girls' confusion.

«Ice-Aqua Jet?» They asked, astonished.

«It's a technique that a friend of mine invented and that Buizel and I later perfected. Or rather. She invented it when Buizel was still her Pokémon, then she traded him for one of mine and we perfected the technique when he learned Ice Punch.» Ash explained. «If Oshawott ever learns an Ice-type move, I think he could teach him the technique and perfect it.» He added.

«Yes, but slowly.» Serena rebuked him. «Now we need to think about resting and letting our Pokémon rest.» Anita added, noting how Oshawott was staggering from fatigue.

The following day, the three woke up early in the morning, and, after a hearty breakfast, they tried to set off.

As soon as they left the Pokémon Center, the three saw a boy, about the age of Ash and Serena, who was quietly walking, escorted by a male Eevee. He wore a blue-toned jacket, black pants, a black and blue shoulder bag, and red shoes. He was wearing a hat. As soon as his eyes met the three, he started running at full speed.

«What's wrong with that boy?» Ash wondered.

A few moments later, Ash got the answer he was looking for. A man and a woman, dressed like the guy from the day before, were chasing him at full speed.

«You don't want to leave them at the mercy of those crazies!» Ash urged his travel companions, as he started walking.

The three moved slowly, without being discovered by the pair of recruits. They had no idea where they were going. They were exploring neighborhoods of the city they had never visited.

They were urban areas all the same, gray concrete, glass, and metal apartment blocks. There wasn't a single tree to be found for love or money.

«This place makes me infinitely sad.» Serena commented.

«Tell me about it.» Anita added.

«Use Swift!» A boy was heard shouting. The three could see stars coming out of a dead-end alley. In front of the alley, the two guys were battling against that boy and his Eevee.

«That's not fair! Two against one.» Ash complained.

Even before Ash could intervene, a smoke screen was added to the Swift attack. Evidently, one of the two guys' Pokémon had used Smokescreen. Ash and the girls approached the alley where the battle was taking place.

«Darn it! We arrived too late!» Ash complained, frustrated.

«Maybe we can still find him. They can't have gone very far.» Serena tried to console him. Anita was more doubtful. Why would they help a complete stranger anyway?

Having no other choice, Anita joined them. The three searched the area, initially finding nothing. Until...

«Wait, maybe I found something.» Anita bent down and picked up a hat. It was white, red, and black.

She immediately passed it to Serena.

«It might belong to that boy.» Serena commented as soon as she received it. «But it alone will never lead us to him.» She added.

«Maybe I know who can give us a hand.» Ash tried to remain at least a little cheerful. «Just give me a minute.»

Ash took his Smart Rotom and searched, in the dedicated application, for the nearest Pokémon Transfer System. After a brief search and after switching to the map application, he quickly reached the nearest machine. It was about three hundred meters away on foot from where they were.

Before making the exchange, however, he had to get in touch with the person concerned. Professor Kukui. In the World Champion's mind, Lycanroc's excellent sense of smell would help in the search.

Ash, while contacting him, thought he would find the Professor answering, and not his wife, Professor Burnet. When the woman answered, Ash was, initially, quite taken aback.

«Hello, Ash, is everything alright? Yes, I imagined you expected to find Kukui, right? But it's okay. You look well, and Pikachu seems to be too. By the way... this doesn't look like Kanto at all. Did you leave for Unova? Did you happen to bring any... friends with you?» She asked.

Ash gestured for her to slow down. «Can we talk about that another time? We have quite a serious problem.» The woman's expression suddenly changed. «What happened?» She asked, rather worried.

«We saw some guys who call themselves Team Plasma, people who claim that Trainers and Pokémon should live separately, kidnap a boy, a little while ago. That's why I was asking if it was possible to send me Lycanroc. His sense of smell will certainly help us.» The woman smiled at him. «No problem. Do you have any Pokémon with you, or can I send him directly to you?» She asked.

«I was planning to send one of mine, for the moment.» He replied. The two exchanged coordinates, and when everything was ready, they performed the transfer. Ash had sent Lucario.

After the exchange, and having greeted the Professor, Ash returned to Serena and Anita. «Sorry it took me so long, but I had a small unexpected event. In any case, I have a friend who can give us a hand. Come on out! Lycanroc!»

From the World Champion's Poké Ball came out a wolf-like Pokémon, with a quadrupedal posture and orange fur, except for the lower part of its legs, which was white, and the tips of its triangular ears, which were dark. Around its neck, it had four dark-colored stones. It had a wide white mane and a thick tail, also white. Its eyes were a beautiful green color.

Anita, intrigued by Lycanroc, could not help but scan him with her Smart Rotom. «Lycanroc. Wolf Pokémon. Dusk Form. Rock-type. Male specimen. A mysterious evolution of Lycanroc that occurs only at twilight. He is a very rare specimen in Alola. Beneath his apparent calm, he hides an impetuous fighting spirit. Known moves: Stone Edge, Counter, Crunch, Accelerock.»

Meanwhile, Ash and Lycanroc had approached Serena. «Good. I think the hat has his scent.» Ash explained. Serena bent down to the wolf's height and let him smell the hat.

«Do you think you can find him?» She asked him. The wolf confirmed. After recognizing the scent, he began to follow the scent trail. The three followed Lycanroc, who, after a few false turns, led them right in front of the Pokémon Center where they had spent the night.

Arriving in the square in front of the Pokémon Center, they heard familiar words. «Citizens of Striaton City... Ghetsis Calls You to Action!» A Team Plasma follower, standing on a table, was campaigning against Trainers.

Lycanroc ran towards him, growling. The three rushed towards the guy. «And what do you want from me?» His tone was quite annoyed.

«You and one of your colleagues kidnapped a boy. Tell me where you took him!» Ash lashed out, quite angry.

«You won't be able to stop Our revolution, Champion!»

Ash didn't even think about how to respond. «Maybe not me, but…» At those words, Lycanroc lunged at the man, knocking him off the table, which flipped over, sending all the leaflets resting on it flying into the air. The wolf was on top of him, with bloodshot eyes and foam at its mouth. It seemed like it wanted to swallow him whole.

«Listen to me.» Ash began, trying to be as tough as possible. Not a characteristic that suited him much, but in this case, he had no choice. «A boy was kidnapped by you and one of your colleagues. Where did you take him?»

The man, crushed by the wolf, was at a disadvantage, and had to give at least part of the answer. «Yes. It's true. I was the one who kidnapped him. We took him to some other colleagues who loaded him onto a van, but I have no idea where they took him.» He replied.

Anita picked up one of those leaflets, which was falling back down in the meantime. «You will witness the Revelation, tonight, at ten o'clock sharp.» She read.

«Well, what is this revelation?» Ash asked, still trying to maintain the tough guy persona.

«Nothing that concerns people like you!» He replied.

Lycanroc's gaze, as much as possible, became even more menacing. Now he truly seemed on the verge of attacking.

«Alright...» The man replied. «No one knows what the Revelation is, and as I already told you, I have no idea where they took that boy, but if he's a Trainer, I can assure you he'll get what he deserves!» He concluded.

Meanwhile, Serena had collected several posters.

Ash, in the meantime, had recalled Lycanroc to his Poké Ball. Having done this, the three entered the Pokémon Center. They sat on one of the benches provided for Trainers.

«Now what do we do?» Ash asked in a worried tone. «We can't leave him in the hands of Team Plasma.» He added.

Meanwhile, Serena and Anita were looking at the posters they had collected. «Look!» The native of Kalos pointed out. «It looks like there's a kind of map on the back.» She pointed out.

«We just need to figure out where they are.» Ash added.

«There’s a map here.» Anita spoke extremely softly.

«Did you say something?» Serena asked her.

«I think there's a map here.» Anita pointed to a map of the city hanging not far from them.

«Thank you.» They thanked her. Shortly after, they got up and reached the map indicated by Anita.

The two put the pieces of the map they had together and overlapped them, looking for an area of the map that corresponded to the one indicated.

«Bingo!» Ash exclaimed triumphantly.

«We know where they will meet, but we can't go as we are.» Serena was more rational. «As we are right now, we are too recognizable. I mean... even if we changed our clothes... they could still recognize us.»

Ash thought about it for a moment. Serena was right. Not to mention Pikachu.

«We can get scarves and hats. I can take care of the contacts. As for Pikachu, he could stay with Anita. You don't mind, do you?» The electric mouse's answer was immediate. Anita seemed quite okay with it. Sooner or later, an opportunity like this would have happened. Better to get it over with as soon as possible.

The two returned to Anita, who hadn't heard much of their discussion. «We found out where their rally will be.» Serena explained. «Only it seems very dangerous. It would be better for you to stay here. In case of problems, Pikachu will be here to protect you.» Ash added.

Anita's expression changed. Did they really think she couldn't handle herself? Her great respect for them prevented her from arguing.

«If you have to go out and can't return by eleven, you'll need this.» The Nurse took a pen and a sticky note and wrote a series of numbers.

They would have to ask for the rooms for another night, postponing their departure for another day. They spent the rest of the day getting what they needed. Scarves, hats, and dark jackets.

Afterward, the girls took care of the makeup. The intention was to make them look older. Then they took care of the contact lenses. Ash wore blue ones, Serena wore brown ones.

The evening arrived quickly and, after a hearty dinner, Serena and Ash headed to the area of interest. Pikachu and Anita stayed at the Pokémon Center, as planned.

«We’re going. Be careful! We don't know how long we'll take, but don't worry. We'll manage.» Ash greeted her. The neo-Trainer, as if she wasn't worried enough already, became even more so.

The place where the revelation was to take place was in one of the oldest and most dilapidated areas of the city. Not too far from where that boy had been seized. At night, that place was truly chilling. Serena, to muster courage, clung to Ash. Being close to him made her feel better.

«Look how many people.» Ash commented in a low voice.

«I didn't imagine so many people thought this way.» Serena replied, also astonished. In the meantime, she had tightened her grip on Ash even more. The two were now walking arm in arm. «It makes us attract less suspicion.» She tried to justify herself.

The two had joined the line. On the surface, they were ordinary people. Men and women, boys and girls, even some elderly gentlemen and ladies.

The line moved quickly. It didn't take long before their turn came. In front of them stood a giant. A man over two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular body. He had long mustaches, while the rest of his face was clean-shaven.

«Do you have the invitation?» He asked, in a cavernous voice.

«The invitation?» Ash asked, with a worried tone.

«Does it say this?» Serena asked, handing him the leaflet collected that morning.

The man looked at it for a few moments, then replied. «The revelation will save humans and Pokémon. Please, Brother and Sister.» He invited them.

The two entered. They immediately decided to move to the side. «I didn't know there were so many.» Ash commented.

«Ghetsis! Ghetsis! Ghetsis! Ghetsis!» Everyone present chanted his name in a chorus; it sounded like a single voice. The two turned their gaze toward the stage. Several Team Plasma followers were lined up, like soldiers, facing the audience. Behind them were three large banners with the Team Plasma symbol.

At a certain point, several spotlights lit up, pointing to the center of the stage. Simultaneously, a voice off-stage captured the audience's attention.

«Let's give a warm welcome to the one who will bring a new balance to this world! Gheeeeeeeeeeeeeecccccicccccisssssssssssssssssss!» He shouted.

Meanwhile, a man about two meters tall and of robust build emerged from a trapdoor beneath the stage. He had long hair of an undefined color. Something between gray and green. He wore a white robe covered by a purple and yellow surcoat. The purple side was decorated with a stylized yellow eye, and the yellow side with a stylized purple eye. He wore a sort of decoration on his robe that resembled the battlements of a castle.

The time to observe him was, to tell the truth, quite short. Soon the man began to speak. «My name is Ghetsis. Ghetsis, leader of Team Plasma. Today I want to speak to all of you gathered here about the liberation of Pokémon! We humans have lived alongside Pokémon for a very long time. We seek each other out, we need each other. This seems to be a shared idea by many. But is that really the case? Or are we humans merely convinced that this is the truth? Have you ever stopped to think about it? The truth is something else! Trainers enslave Pokémon and bend them to their will!»

At those words, the audience, as if in chorus, shouted «Trainer SLAVERS! SLAVERS! SLAVERS!» It took a few moments before the man could resume speaking.

«They exploit them for all sorts of things. Does any of you dare to deny that this is so? Listen to me! Pokémon are creatures entirely different from human beings, and it is likely that they possess abilities still unknown. There are so many things we can learn from them. So, what is the only sensible thing that we human beings can do for them? Exactly! We must free them! And that is what I will do with these slavers! But, since I» The man particularly emphasized the word “I”. «I am a magnanimous man. Although they are all criminals, I will allow each of them to defend themselves. To keep their Pokémon.» The audience roared with disapproval.

During the speech, a portion of the followers had moved away, only to return after the speech was over. Each of them was holding a person firmly. Ash and Serena looked at them one by one. The boy they were looking for was the last in line. Before him, there were only three people.

«I'll start with you.» The man addressed the man furthest to the left. He was a man about forty years old, and he had a really bad face.

«Good.» Ghetsis invited him. «You will be the first. Send out Your Pokémon.» He invited him.

The man, who had been freed in the meantime, obeyed. «Toxicroak! It's your turn!» The man sent out a bipedal Pokémon with dark blue and light green colors, resembling a poisonous frog. Its head had a slightly curled upward point. It had bright yellow, very intimidating eyes, equipped with a small snake-like pupil. Its mouth looked like a mouthguard. The upper lip was red and curled upward. Under its chin there was a kind of red vocal sac. It had three fingers and, on the back of each hand, a large red claw. Its forearms were surrounded by two black rings. Its legs were muscular. Its feet had three toes. Under the pelvic area there were two white horizontal lines.

«Oh!» Ghetsis commented. «We can begin.»

The Trainer was taken aback, not ordering any attack. «Why don't you order an attack?» He asked him. «Do you think I am unable to defend myself just because I am a simple human being?» He added. «I am perfectly capable of attacking and defending myself!» He provoked him. «Do you want a demonstration?» The man's eyes lit up. He raised an arm. This was enough to throw the opponent's Toxicroak everywhere. Blows powerful enough to knock him out. Two followers immobilized him, while another searched him. His goal was to take all his Pokémon. The man owned three others.

«And now, free them!» Ghetsis ordered. The follower who had searched the man triggered the release mechanism from the Poké Balls, freeing a Watchog, a Tranquill, and a Liepard.

A similar fate befell the next two Trainers. «Now they will do the same to that boy.» Ash commented. Up until that moment, the boy had held back, albeit with difficulty. But he couldn't bear to see those things one single time more. Even though, up until now, the ones who had suffered that treatment were criminals. But now it was that boy's turn.

He had understood what was happening. «Eevee! This is the most important battle! We must win at all costs! Start with Quick Attack.» He ordered. As soon as he entered the field, Eevee started running towards that guy. It seemed almost as if he had understood something that no one, up until that moment, had comprehended.

He started running towards the man. He, as he had done with the previous Pokémon, stopped him. Eevee strained to withstand those enormous powers. Impossible for a normal human being. He gritted his teeth and tried to advance. Every step was an immense effort. His body glowed with a blue light. His ears lengthened, his body became more muscular and slender. His tail became pointier, and the same could be said for his muzzle. His eyes became scarlet and his fur black, decorated with yellow rings.

«He evolved into Umbreon!» Ash commented, under his breath.

«Do you think a simple evolution can mess up my plans?» Ghetsis tried to gloat. «This only means one thing.» The man disappeared into the trapdoor he had emerged from earlier, only to return, moments later, escorted by a Pokémon resembling a hydra. It had black wings on its back. On its neck was a pink, flower-like collar that opened from its head. The central head was dark blue and its eyes were brick red. The black hands housed a head each, also blue with black eyes. It possessed two pink lines on the lower part of its body. Its bifurcated feet had no claws. The tail also had a pink stripe with a black tuft at its end.

«A Hydreigon.» The boy commented, under his breath.

«You will have the honor of battling one of my freedom fighters!» The man pointed to him. «Hydreigon! Dragon Pulse!» The man ordered. Three beams of energy, tending towards purple, shot out from the hydra's three mouths. As they moved away from Hydreigon's body, they took on a draconic shape.

«Umbreon! Dodge and use Swift!» The Moonlight Pokémon moved quickly, darting to the right. He then wasted no time, leaping and launching a burst of energy, in the form of stars, against the opponent. Despite the great effort in his attack, however, the opposing hydra did not seem to suffer any particular consequences, despite appearances.

«I don't know how long this can last. I think we need to intervene.» Ash spoke softly into Serena's ear, making her feel a pleasant shiver.

«What do you intend to do?» She replied to him.

«We'll figure something out. You will have to distract him and then we'll save that boy... somehow.»

Serena was a little annoyed. It wasn't that she didn't trust Ash, but sometimes his lack of a plan didn't appeal to her very much.

«AND NOW THAT HE IS ALSO TAKEN CARE OF, DOES ANYONE ELSE DARE TO OPPOSE ME?» Ghetsis shouted, rhetorically, pointing to the boy's Umbreon. Lying on the ground, no longer able to battle.

«Of course. I do!» Serena shouted.

Ash had already moved away, carrying out a plan that, until that moment, was only in his mind. He had only asked her to hold off Hydreigon with her Sylveon.

Serena made her way through the crowded people with difficulty. Smiling at those present and asking for permission after permission, Serena reached the stage, standing in front of the giant and his Hydreigon.

«Since you were so brave...» He referred to his opponent. «Since I am a magnanimous man, I propose a pact to you. Should you win, that boy can keep his Pokémon. Should I win, you will have to release yours too.»

The Performer accepted with a small nod.

«Don't take too long.» She said under her breath. «Sylveon! It's your turn! Fairy Wind!»

Sylveon, as soon as she was out of her Poké Ball, attacked, generating a powerful, pinkish current of air that hit the opponent with immense force.

«Hydreigon! Reply with Dragon Pulse!» The man ordered. Three beams of energy, tending towards purple, shot out from Hydreigon's three mouths. As they moved away from Hydreigon, they took on a draconic shape. These beams approached Sylveon, but did not scratch her in any way.

«But how is this possible!» The man complained. «Try again!»

While the two were battling, Ash had reached the hallway they had entered from.

Ash looked around and, noticing no one around, decided to take action. He took some Koffing-shaped balls from his shoulder bag. An invention by Clemont. They were smoke bombs, non-toxic, of course. The inventor had been inspired by the techniques of Sanpei, their ninja friend. Up until that moment, he had always carried them with him, without ever finding a real use for them.

He threw a couple on the ground, with some force. They exploded, generating a large quantity of thick, black smoke, which was heading into the room.

«We need to get it in faster! Noivern, I need your help!» Ash threw Noivern's Poké Ball. «Good, Noivern, I need your help. You should direct the smoke through that door.» The World Champion pointed Noivern to the door he had emerged from. The large bat, having understood what he needed to do, began to violently beat its enormous wings, generating a very strong current of air that directed the large amount of smoke inside. Ash continued to throw smoke bombs as long as he had them, ensuring, thanks to Noivern's help, perfect cover.

The air in the room had become dark and difficult to breathe. It was almost impossible to see anything. It was part of the plan, at least in Ash's head.

Serena, her Sylveon, and that boy were still on the stage, along with Ghetsis and his followers. «I knew I should never trust you! You Trainers are all the same!» He shouted. «Get them!» He ordered.

«But sir...» one of the followers objected. «Technically the blonde won the battle…» Despite the smoke, the dissenter felt the weight of his boss's gaze. But, when he tried to intervene, it was too late.

Like his peers, he was thrown against the wall by a very strong current of air. The impact was so strong that it made him lose consciousness.

«Come on, let's go!» A familiar voice urged Serena. It was Ash. And he was on the stage, not far from her. He was escorted by his Noivern.

The two took a few steps, just enough to get off the stage. Ash immediately realized that that boy was not following them.

Having no other choice, he had to go back and pull the Umbreon Trainer by the arm. «Yes. I understand, I'm coming with you! But then you have to explain why you wanted to save me.»

Ash remained silent. All that mattered to him was reuniting with Serena and trying to blend in with the crowd.

Despite a few scares, everything went well. The three had run a great distance, soon separating from the group, and reaching a less peripheral and safer area.

«Thank you for saving me, but…» The boy asked, still out of breath. «Who are you? Why should you have saved me? I could have been a criminal like the guys before me, yet you had no problem coming to save me.»

Ash and Serena looked at each other.

«Maybe dressed like this we're not exactly recognizable.» Serena observed.

Ash understood the message. He took off his scarf and hat. Then he moved on to the contact lenses. Serena did the same.

The boy couldn't believe his eyes. «But you two are... the World Champion and the finalist of I don't know how many Grand Festivals? I don't want to believe it!» He looked at them, amazed.

«And who are you?» Ash asked him.

«N-Nice to meet you. My name is Carlos and I am the Nacrene City Gym Leader.» The boy introduced himself. «I still can't figure out why you saved me. I mean nothing to you.»

Ash turned in his direction. «So what? We saw a boy being chased by Team Plasma followers and, thanks to Lycanroc's help, we tracked down who kidnapped you and…»

Carlos gestured that he understood.

«I get it. But... tell me, why did you decide to come here to Unova?» He asked.

«To cut a long story short, I realized that if I really want to become a Pokémon Master, I have to help someone achieve their goal. I was put in touch with a girl who became a Trainer this morning and…» Ash explained.

«I think I understand.» Carlos replied. «This means I will meet her very soon.» He added.

«I suppose so.» Ash replied. «But now it's better to go back.» Carlos said his goodbyes. «I was supposed to spend the night at a friend's house and he will be very worried.» He explained.

«Goodbye!» They greeted him.

The two returned to the Pokémon Center. It was past midnight, so Serena had to enter the code to open the door. As soon as it opened, she signaled Ash to be silent, bringing a finger to her mouth.

Ash walked silently to his room. Serena did the same, trying not to wake Anita, who was sleeping soundly. Pikachu was lying on her bed, and this pleased her very much. She knew Pikachu liked her, after all, according to Ash, she was his only friend who had never been electrocuted.

The next day the three had to get up early. Ash and Serena were still tired from the night before. Tired and traumatized. Both Anita and Pikachu noticed the bad mood of their friends. They had gathered and had just sat down at the table for breakfast.

«I see you are worried. Did something happen?» Anita asked.

«Team Plasma…» Serena began. «It's worse than we could ever imagine.» She tried to explain.

«They forced Trainers to release their Pokémon. Of course, some of them were criminals, but... among them was also the Nacrene City Gym Leader.» Ash explained. «We managed to save at least him.» Serena added.

«Then I don't think you should get so discouraged. You managed to save someone.»

The two shook their heads. «The problem isn't that we only managed to save one person. Nor how many we will or won't be able to save. The problem is that these Team Plasma guys are very dangerous. Much more dangerous than Team Rocket.» Ash explained. «And, speaking of which, what happened to them?» Serena wondered.

Anita was quite confused. «And what would this Team Rocket be?» Anita asked. «They were... or rather they are, even if we haven't seen them around for a long time, criminals who steal Trainers' Pokémon to sell them on the black market and make money. And we know more than a little about them, don't we?» He asked, rhetorically, to both Serena and Pikachu.

«I don't see many differences between them.» Anita commented. «Both of them disrespect the bond between Trainers and Pokémon. And now that I, in my own small way, have recently become a Trainer, I can't imagine myself without Oshawott.» She explained.

After finishing breakfast, and in a more relaxed atmosphere, the three left the Pokémon Center and set off.

«Excuse m—... Erm... tell me. What is the Nacrene City Gym Leader like?» She asked.

«We'd like it to be a surprise.» Ash replied, without even thinking.

Meanwhile, the three had reached the city's outskirts; they would soon arrive in the open countryside.

«However... thinking about it, you've only recently become a Trainer, you only have Oshawott with you. Maybe you should catch some others.» He suggested to her.

«Do you think I'm capable of doing that?» Anita wondered, rather hesitant.

«If you don't try, you'll never know.» Ash took his Smart Rotom and searched, in the dedicated Pokédex section, for the Pokémon present in that area, then held it out to Anita. «Here. Here are the Pokémon you can catch here. There seems to be a good variety.» He observed.

On the Smart Rotom screen appeared images of several Pokémon, accompanied by their Pokédex number and their name.

«Let's see…» Anita commented. «Let's see... Mareep, Riolu, Lillipup, Patrat, Pidove, Azurill, Purrloin... I have no idea who to choose.»

Everywhere the three looked, they could observe Pokémon of all species.

However, as soon as they tried to approach, they scurried away wherever possible. «It's really hard to catch a Pokémon. Much harder than I imagined.» She tried to speak in a whisper.

«Many Pokémon get scared easily.» Ash explained to her.

«You have to be very careful.» Serena added.

«Thanks for the advice, but it seems that here as soon as we take a single step, they all disappear...»

Ash rebuked her again. «You have to be patient. Sometimes they want to be caught.»

The three continued along the road separating the two towns.

At a certain point, a Pokémon resembling a light brown puppy popped out of one of the many bushes. It had large, oval, brown eyes and a red nose. Its face was covered with thick, cream-colored fur. It also had large pointed ears and a tuft of fur at the bottom of them. Its fur looked puffed up on the upper part of its legs. On its back was dark blue fur that resembled a flame. Its tail was short and looked like a kind of tuft.

Anita scanned the puppy with the Pokédex function of her Smart Rotom. «Lillipup. Puppy Pokémon. Normal-type. Female specimen. It bravely faces even the strongest opponents, but its intelligence makes it avoid overly disadvantaged battles. Known moves: Tackle and Bite.» The puppy sat down and began to scratch itself.

«I don't know about you, but I'd like to try to catch it.» Anita spoke softly, trying not to scare it.

«Come on, you can do it!» Ash encouraged her.

«Alright! Poké Ball! Go!» Anita took a Poké Ball from her bag, but before she could press the activation mechanism, Serena stopped her. «Not like that. If you want to catch a Pokémon, you have to battle first. I know it's paradoxical, but you have to battle before you catch it.»

Anita put the Poké Ball back in her bag, to take out her Oshawott's. «Good, buddy. I'm counting on you.» Anita sent out her Oshawott from the Poké Ball. «Do you see that Lillipup?» She asked. «I'd like to catch it, but I'll need your help.»

«Sha?» The otter's tone was rather doubtful.

«I think you can do it easily. But we need to hurry. It could leave at any moment.» She instructed him.

«Alright, let's try. Use Tackle!» Oshawott started running towards the opponent, who was still calm.

When Oshawott was close enough, Lillipup finally got up, and decided to respond to the opposing attack, using Tackle in turn. Oshawott and Lillipup collided and, due to the violence of the impact, backed up a few meters. Due to the impact with the ground, both raised a cloud of dirt.

«Oshawott! Aqua Jet!» Oshawott's body was surrounded by a layer of water, which completely covered him. «Good, now try to move as unpredictably as you can!» She ordered.

Oshawott moved in various directions, trying to confuse the opponent. Although he was jumping in different directions, Lillipup couldn't follow him.

In the end, the impact was inevitable. Lillipup was hurled into the air.

He soon fell back to the ground, stunned.

«This is the moment!» Ash suggested to her.

Anita followed the advice, reaching into her bag and taking out the Poké Ball. She activated the enlargement mechanism and threw it at Lillipup.

He was immediately absorbed by it, turning into a beam of light. Having done this, the sphere began to vibrate, moving right and left.

The three watched it move, it was difficult to determine whether the capture was successful or not. Although it wasn't a novelty for Ash and Serena, the tension created by having to wait to find out whether a capture was successful or not was always present.

The feeling immediately disappeared when the Poké Ball confirmed the capture. «Now all you have to do is pick it up.» Ash reminded her.

«Oh... yes... of course... right.»

Anita bent down and picked up the Poké Ball. «I caught my first Pokémon!» She rejoiced, and Oshawott with her.

«Come on out, Lillipup!» Anita activated the Poké Ball's opening mechanism, letting the newly caught Lillipup out.

He immediately approached his new Trainer, clinging to her leg.

«It looks like he already adores you,» Ash congratulated her.

After lunch, the three set off, still heading towards Nacrene City. They were proceeding calmly, despite a few chills caused by the wind that occasionally picked up.

Their peaceful walk was interrupted when they crossed paths with a boy with blonde hair and dressed in sportswear. «Hi, Ivan!» They greeted him.

«Well... hi.» He replied, in an annoyed tone. His way of responding greatly annoyed Serena, who had no problem pointing it out.

«I didn't think you'd survive this long.» He addressed Anita harshly. «Is it maybe to give those two a minimum of satisfaction?»

Serena and Ash had to restrain her, to prevent her from laying hands on him.

«Maybe you should settle the matter with a battle.» Ash proposed.

«As you wish.» Ivan replied. «Three against three?» He asked.

«Actually, I only have two.» Anita replied.

«Pfft, fine... two against two.» He replied, rather annoyed.

Finding a clearing wide enough to serve as a Battle Field, the two Trainers positioned themselves on opposite sides of the makeshift field. «If you don't mind, I'll be the referee.» Ash offered.

«As you wish.» Ivan replied, increasingly annoyed.

«The battle between Anita and Ivan begins. It will be a two-on-two battle. The one who manages to defeat both opposing Pokémon wins.» After explaining the rules, the two Trainers sent out their respective Pokémon.

«Oshawott! It's your turn!» Anita sent out her first Pokémon, and Ivan did the same, with Tepig.

«We can begin!» Ivan started. «Use Flame Charge!» He ordered. Tepig's body became covered in flames and he started running towards Oshawott.

«Let's try it! Reach him with Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered. Oshawott's body was covered in water, and he leaped. He was a crazy projectile attached to a trail of water.

Oshawott and Tepig clashed in the middle of the field. The contact between the two was quite violent, with the two Pokémon being thrown backwards by the force of the impact.

Tepig had sustained the most damage, but still didn't want to give up. «Use Tackle!» Ivan ordered. Tepig started running towards his opponent. Anita remained observant. Tepig was approaching dangerously.

«Now dodge and use Water Gun up close!» Anita ordered. A powerful jet of water came out of the Otter's mouth, which hit the opposing Tepig squarely, hurling him into the air. Moments later he fell back to the ground, with a thud.

«Well! What are you doing! Come on! Move and attack! Flame Charge!» Tepig's body became covered in flames and he started running towards the opponent. Due to the injuries sustained, he was slower than normal.

«Oshawott! Aqua Jet!» The otter's body was covered in water and turned into a crazy projectile that hit the opponent squarely, sending him flying. When he fell back down, the result of the battle was evident. Tepig was on the ground with his paws outstretched.

«Tepig can no longer battle. Oshawott wins!» Ash declared.

«Try to suck less next time.» Ivan recalled his defeated Tepig. Ash barely restrained himself from punching him in the teeth or, at least, from smashing his face.

«Your Tepig battled to the best of its abilities. If you continue to behave like this, I refuse to referee the battle.»

Ivan turned to him. «It's not necessary for anyone to referee this battle. And besides, the Pokémon are mine. I treat them as I see fit.» He blurted out.

«In any case, let's end this quickly! Pidove go!» A Pokémon similar to a gray pigeon came out of Ivan's Poké Ball. It had wide, oval, golden eyes. Its head was round. On top of it was a kind of three-pointed crest. The beak, which was black, was topped by two small pink protrusions. Below it was its belly, which had a heart-shaped pattern, lighter in color than the rest of the body. On the back of the body, at the neck, was a black stripe. On the black wings was a gray stripe. The little bird had pink legs with three toes equipped with black claws.

Anita used the Pokédex function of her Smart Rotom. «Pidove Pigeon Pokémon. Normal and Flying-type. Male specimen. Pidove lives in cities. It easily becomes attached to people, so it's not strange to find it in parks or squares. Known moves: Gust, Quick Attack, Air Slash.»

Anita put her Smart Rotom back in her bag. «Good, Pidove! Go with Air Slash!» The pigeon generated blades made of air from its wings. He directed them with surgical precision against the opponent. Despite his attempt to dodge, the otter was hit squarely in the chest. Due to the blow sustained, he fell to the ground, exhausted.

«Oshawott is no longer able to continue.» Ash declared.

«Now you can rest, buddy, you were great!» Anita congratulated him.

«Congratulating a Pokémon that has just lost is a sign of weakness.» Ivan commented. Anita did not reply.

«Lillipup! It's your time!» Anita took the Poké Ball of her second Pokémon from her bag. She pressed the opening button and let Lillipup out of her Poké Ball.

«Pfft... A Lillipup! Boring!» Ivan commented, in an annoyed tone. Anita simply ignored him. She had only caught Lillipup a few hours ago, but she already cared a lot about him and couldn't stand anyone treating them that way.

«Lillipup! Use Tackle!» She ordered. Lillipup started running towards the opponent, attempting to hit him.

«Go on, dodge!» Ivan ordered. Pidove took flight, avoiding the opposing blow.

«And now use Air Slash!» Blades of air were generated from the bird's wings, which hit the opponent squarely.

«It's Pidove's Super Luck Ability. He has a great chance of scoring critical hits.» Ivan explained. «And I think I won too. Didn't I? What are you waiting for to declare my victory, referee?»

Ash glared at him. «Ivan wins.» He declared. The winner of the battle recalled Pidove to his Poké Ball. «Next time try to be a worthy opponent. Or, to have a bit of a challenge, should I challenge you, Ash?»

Ash simply refrained from answering. Not because he was squeamish, but because, like Snivy, he really didn't like that boy.

A few moments later, Ivan had taken his things and left. «I don't know about you, but I don't like that boy at all.» Ash observed.

«I agree. I didn't like how he treated his Pokémon at all. You who battled him, what do you say?» Serena asked.

Anita did not reply. «Is everything alright?» Serena asked her, in a worried tone. Still a deathly silence.

Serena took a few steps back and found her. She was sitting against a tree. Her face was in her hands. She seemed quite sad. As soon as she noticed the Performer's presence, she turned the other way.

«Don't think that doing that changes anything.» Serena rebuked her.

«You can't take a defeat so hard.» Ash added.

«Don't you get it? You are now the Champion of Champions! You don't know what it means to lose! I don't deserve to be a Trainer! I don't deserve their trust!» She vented.

Ash and Serena sat down in front of her. «No. You can't say that. If all Trainers didn't deserve Pokémon after a single defeat, then there would be no Trainers. Everyone has lost at least one battle. Even the greatest Champions. No exceptions, right?» Pikachu confirmed this.

«And the same goes for Contests and Showcases.» Serena added. «The only important thing is to always get back up and learn from your mistakes.» Ash tried to motivate her.

«Do I still deserve your trust?» Anita took Oshawott and Lillipup's Poké Balls in her hand. Shortly after, she stood up and rearranged her Poké Balls.

«Now, though, let's get back on the road or we'll have to spend the night here.» Serena reminded them.

The three set off, talking little or nothing. «I don't know about you, buddy...» Ash spoke to Pikachu, trying not to be heard by the girls.

«Pika?» The electric rodent asked.

«I'm saying that Ivan, in some ways, reminds me of Paul.» The boy explained.

«Excuse me if I'm indiscreet, but who would this Pol be?» Anita asked, who, even though she hadn't meant to, had overheard Ash's words.

«It's Paul, not Pol. He's not the motorcycle racer. Anyway... well, he was a rival when we traveled in Sinnoh. Yes, he was and, I believe he is undoubtedly strong, but I never liked the way he treated his Pokémon. But maybe I'll tell you about it another time. I don't like talking about people who aren't present.» Ash explained.

Meanwhile, the three had almost reached Nacrene City. Or rather, they managed to catch sight of the first buildings. They were the tips of the tallest skyscrapers. They were buildings made of glass and steel, with the most diverse shapes.

Continuing to walk, they began to reach the first residential buildings, the first terraced houses with gardens, the first children playing with domestic Pokémon, such as Growlithe, Lillipup, or Yamper.

Having passed these, they began to reach the most central part of the city. The first taller buildings and businesses began to be glimpsed. Among them was the modern Pokémon Center.

It was a modern building, two stories high and very spacious. The entrance overlooked the square, while on the right side there was the battle field. The building was surrounded by numerous trees.

It was almost time for dinner. And, although Ash's stomach was rumbling, the priority was to book a room for the night. And that Pokémon Center was the ideal choice.

Having booked the rooms, and after having their Pokémon checked, they reached one of the city's establishments. A pizzeria, which, from the numerous reviews received, seemed to be one of the best places in the city. After dinner, the three went to the Pokémon Center, where they spent the night. Anita did not yet feel up to challenging the Gym.

The following day, while Nurse Joy was relieving the medical guard who had worked the night shift, a boy was knocking on the door, insisting on entering.

The Nurse, noticing his presence, pressed the button to open the door. The boy, not expecting it, almost risked falling forward.

«Ah... it's you, Carlos...» The Nurse welcomed him. «Why are you here so early?» She asked him.

«I know the heroes who saved me from Team Plasma are here. And I didn't have time to thank them.» He replied.

«For the moment all the guests are sleeping. You can wait for them in the breakfast room, if you want. Feel free to eat whatever you like.» She suggested to him.

Carlos followed the advice, reaching the indicated room and sitting down at one of the tables. To find those he was looking for, he had to wait over an hour.

«As I was saying, if you still don't feel like battling at the Gym, we can have a training session here. Maybe with Snivy. After all, she's also a beginner and a little training will only do her good.» They were discussing the day's plans. Or rather, Ash was talking about them, with the girls trying to indulge him.

They were about to choose a table to sit at and then put their breakfast trays down. Carlos, having spotted their table, did the same. He stood in line behind them and took the food for breakfast. It wasn't exactly his style, but, to thank them, this and more. As soon as they sat down, Carlos did the same.

«Thank you again for saving me.» The boy began.

«Aaaand... who might you be?» Anita asked, turning towards the boy. Serena had correctly interpreted her gaze. But she simply kept silent.

«Well... You see. These two saved me from Team Plasma and I just wanted to thank them. Of course. We already met last night, but we separated quickly.» Anita tried to say something about it, but stopped.

«Excuse me. I didn't introduce myself.» The boy started again. «My name is Carlos, I am the Nacrene City Gym Leader. But if you want, you can call me Charlie or Chili, it's all the same.»

Ash looked at him strangely. «But why, if your name is Carlos, why do you go by so many names?» He asked.

«Well, your name is Satoshi, but everyone calls you Ash.» Serena replied to him.

Carlos, ignoring the question, continued the conversation. «I imagine you came here to challenge me.» He referred to Anita.

«Yes. She came here for that.» Ash interjected, stunning her.

«Perhaps she should have said that, don't you think?» Serena rebuked him.

«It doesn't matter. Ash spoke the truth. I, or rather we, are here for this. It's just that I'm not very sure about it. I'd like to try, but I'm afraid of failing. It was already difficult for them to make me accept one defeat. I don't know if they will be able to do it again.»

Ash and Serena turned in her direction. «We will always do everything possible.» Ash replied to her.

«Exactly. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes.» Serena added.

«Excuse me if I'm intrusive, but would you mind if I trained with you?» Carlos asked.

«Not at all.» Ash replied. «And, since you are the Gym Leader, it might just happen that some secret technique slips out...» Ash commented, in an ironic tone, unintentionally making Carlos flustered.

After breakfast, the four headed to the Pokémon Center Battle Field. «I was thinking about something.» Carlos began, sparking the curiosity of the other three. «Since Anita is still a beginner, maybe it would do her good to learn from a battle between... let's say, more experienced Trainers, right?» Carlos asked.

«Do as you wish. Yes. Maybe I can learn something, but, I repeat, do as you see fit.» Anita replied.

The two Trainers lined up on opposite sides of the field, ready to send out their Pokémon. «Umbreon, come out for some training!» Carlos exclaimed, as he sent out his Pokémon.

Anita took the opportunity to analyze him with her Smart Rotom. «Umbreon, Moonlight Pokémon, Dark-type, Male specimen. He is a nocturnal Pokémon. His large pupils allow him to see prey clearly even in the deepest darkness. Known

 moves: Swift, Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse.»

While Anita scanned Umbreon with her Smart Rotom, Ash had sent out Pikachu.

«If you're ready, we'll start.» Ash warned.

«Absolutely ready!» Carlos replied. Umbreon also confirmed that he was ready to battle. «It's an honor for us to battle you.» Carlos concluded.

«Enough talk! Pikachu, let's start with Quick Attack!» Pikachu started running at great speed towards the opponent, moving quickly left and right, disorienting him.

«Use Quick Attack too!» Umbreon started running in the direction of his opponent, trying to copy his every move. Pikachu and Umbreon clashed in the center of the field.

«Let's take advantage of the height! Use Iron Tail!» Ash ordered. Pikachu's tail changed its structure. Due to the great energy from his fall, he gained a lot of energy. Despite his attempt to dodge, Umbreon was hit squarely.

«I'd say that's enough for training.» Carlos called a time-out. It had been a short, but quite intense battle, at least for Umbreon.

«So that's how champions battle, huh! Imagine if I hadn't stopped the battle. We have a lot to do to be at your level.» Carlos commented. «I heard earlier that you wanted to train with Anita, sorry if I wasted your time.» He added.

«No— it doesn't matter.» Anita replied. «It— it was interesting to see you in action. I hope I don't make a bad impression.» She added.

«Don't say that. And I think I already explained it to you. And besides, this is a training battle, both for yours and for Snivy's sake.» Ash replied to her. Anita nodded to show she understood.

The two had positioned themselves on the sides of the battle field. «Even though it's training, I ask you to give it your all.» Ash encouraged her.

«We'll try!» Anita replied.

«Oshawott! It's your turn!» Anita sent out her Oshawott. Simultaneously, Ash sent out his Snivy.

«You start!» Ash invited her.

«As you wish! Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered.

Oshawott covered himself in water and, like a projectile, launched himself towards the opponent. It seemed like he could reach her at any moment.

«Quick, Snivy, dodge it and then block him with your vines!» Ash ordered.

The small Grass Snake leaped a few moments before the opponent reached her. Simultaneously, two vines shot out from the protrusions on her back, grabbing and squeezing Oshawott.

«And now throw him!» Ash ordered. Snivy obeyed, using her vines to launch the opponent.

Oshawott was thrown against the ground, where he hit his head against the dirt. Despite the hard blow, he managed to get back up.

«Do you feel like continuing?» She asked. Oshawott replied affirmatively.

«Good. Maybe he wants to teach us that we shouldn't only battle up close. Well... maybe? Let's try it. Use Water Gun!» A powerful jet of water came out of Oshawott's mouth, aimed at his opponent. Initially, he was unable to direct it correctly, hitting the ground and kicking up dust and mud.

«Snivy, use Leaf Tornado!» Ash ordered. Snivy leaped and generated a storm of blade-sharp leaves, which reached and struck the opponent's attack, destroying it.

«No. Nothing. We can't attack even battling from afar...» Anita commented in a frustrated tone. “What if we tried to use one of his techniques?” She thought. «But yes. Let's try! Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!»

Ash noticed the faint smile Anita gave, and returned it. He remained calm, as did Snivy.

Oshawott was about to reach Snivy, who was still standing still. «And now use Fury Cutter!» Anita ordered, drawing a smile from Ash.

«Defend yourself with your vines!» Ash ordered. With her vines, Snivy managed to slow down the opponent's attack, albeit with consequences. Oshawott and Snivy were on top of each other.

To avoid embarrassment, Snivy used her vines to move Oshawott and moved away.

«I'd say that's enough for training.» Ash concluded. «I see a lot of potential in you!» He congratulated Anita.

«Do you really mean it?» The neo-Trainer asked.

«I would never lie.» Ash replied.

Carlos had also witnessed the battle. “Ash, despite being a Champion, manages to work well with inexperienced Trainers too. I wonder if…” He thought.

His flow of thoughts was interrupted by Anita's presence. The girl was standing in front of him. Quite close.

«C-You know, C-Carlos. C-» Anita was visibly embarrassed.

«Tell me.» Carlos replied.

«I-I would l-like to c-challenge y-you to a G-Gym Battle. Tomorrow, if you like.» She asked him.

«I'd be delighted! I'm always ready to face new challengers!» He replied.

«See you tomorrow!» Carlos said his goodbyes.

Serena smiled. She had a feeling inside her. She couldn't help but think about her friends and what she felt for Ash. She didn't want to be intrusive. After all, she was the first person to know that certain things needed their own time.

Chapter Text

You’re not a person who gives up easily?

The day of Anita’s first Gym battle had finally arrived. The three had spent the night at the Striaton City Pokémon Center. Anita, despite the reassurances, hadn't slept a wink. She was too afraid of failing to be able to sleep.

Of course, Ash and Serena had reassured her until exhaustion: «It doesn't matter if you win on the first, second, or tenth try, we will always support you, and your Pokémon will do the same. Don't forget that.»

It was seven thirty, and the three had gotten up to have breakfast, and so had their Pokémon. They sat down at a table near the window, with the sunlight filtering through and starting to warm them pleasantly.

Anita, contrary to the day before, had only had a coffee for breakfast. «Are you sure you’re only having that?» Ash asked her, as he bit into a gigantic cream croissant. «Then you won't have enough energy for the battle,» he added. "It seems like this guy only has two brain cells. One thinks about battles and the other about eating," Anita thought, as she watched Ash devour the croissant in a couple of bites. «Don’t worry,» Serena reassured her. «Ash always worries about these things.» Serena tried not to laugh: «In some ways, he reminds me of my grandmother. Hey! You haven't eaten anything! You're pale, do you even eat meat? You look thinner than the last time...» Ash turned towards her. «Now let’s not exaggerate! I’m just saying you need energy to battle. We can talk about me behaving like that in seventy years. Assuming I’ll have grandchildren, of course,» Ash replied, leaving Serena speechless. «Fine. Whatever you want, but if I feel sick, it’s your fault.» Anita got up and went to get a croissant. The smallest one. It was filled with chocolate. It wasn't her favorite filling, but she would make do. To avoid problems, she would eat it in small bites.

After finishing their meal, the three handed their room keys to Nurse Joy, said goodbye, and left the Pokémon Center.

Serena, through the Maps app on her Rotom Phone, was ready to guide them towards the building.

They had to walk almost a kilometer before reaching it. They found themselves in front of a plaza, slightly smaller than the one the Pokémon Center faced, but similarly designed.

It was made with large slabs of white marble, which reflected the light in an almost annoying way. There were also flowerbeds in the plaza, made of the same material, rich in thick vegetation, a magnet for small Grass- and Bug-type Pokémon.

The Gym was a tall, semi-cylindrical building. It was made of concrete and glass. It was preceded by several concrete columns, designed to resemble ancient buildings.

The lower part of the building was decorated with bricks lighter than the concrete, and in the upper part, there were six arched windows.

The entrance was an extremely tall, dark wooden door. It seemed designed to instill fear in visitors. It was surmounted by a concrete balcony. On the upper part of the roof, there was a sculpture in the shape of a Poké Ball, typical of all Gyms. Ash tried to open the door by pushing it. The thing he found most natural, as there was no sign inviting them to pull. «Devil! It won't open!» He complained. «Let's try ringing the intercom,» Serena suggested. «Yes... right... I hadn't seen it,» Ash replied. Anita approached the two and Serena pressed the button.

«Well, it’s you!» A familiar voice replied. «I’ll open.» An electric noise confirmed the opening of the door. Ash pushed it, allowing his friends to enter.

«Is this a Gym or a restaurant?» The floor was made of faux wood, and there were numerous tables with chairs in the room. Each table was covered by a tablecloth that reached almost to the floor. The walls, of a warm color, were decorated with various fittings, giving the place a touch of class. On the ceiling, several glass and metal chandeliers, also very elegant and refined.

Before they could observe further, they were reached by Carlos. «Hi, Carlos!» They greeted him. «Hi guys. I imagine you came here for Anita’s challenge,» he asked. «Y-yes. At least I think so,» she replied.

«Good. Then follow me, and I’ll take you to the battle arena. Then, after the battle, regardless of the result, it is the Gym’s tradition to offer lunch or dinner to the challenger and those accompanying them,» he explained.

«That sounds interesting!» Ash replied. "Is it possible that this guy is always thinking about eating?" Anita thought. Meanwhile, the three had reached the battle arena.

As is traditional, on the long sides of the arena, there were bleachers to allow guests to watch the battle. On the left side, there was a device that caught Ash's attention.

It was a sort of box, with several cameras inside. Other cameras were present on the Gym ceiling and walls. «What is that box?» He asked.

«It’s the automatic electronic referee system. Thanks to several cameras positioned in strategic places in the Gym, it is able to monitor every single event of the battle, process it, and archive it. Finally, it determines the result of the battle itself. Before the battle, it must be set with the battle parameters,» Carlos explained. Seeing Ash's puzzled expression, he realized he had to explain it simply. «Simply put, this device replaces the human referee in battles. You just have to tell it if it’s a one-on-one battle, two-on-two, and so on…» Ash’s expression changed. «Got it,» he replied.

Carlos, meanwhile, had approached the device. He had opened a small door and extracted a wireless keyboard, completely similar to a computer's. «Tell me, Anita. Is this your first Gym battle?» He asked. «Yes,» the girl replied. «Do you have one or more Pokémon?» He continued. «T-two,» she replied. «Last question. What was your Starter?» He asked, as he finished filling out the form. «O-Oshawott,» she replied. «Excellent. The electronic referee is ready. We can start!» Carlos declared. «The Gym battle between Gym Leader Carlos and Challenger Anita is about to begin! It will be a two-on-two battle. The winner is the one who manages to make the opponent's Pokémon unable to battle! Furthermore, only the Challenger is allowed to switch their Pokémon. The first move goes to the challenger. Let the battle begin!» The referee declared.

«L-let’s try. Oshawott! Go!» Anita sent out her Oshawott, who was perfectly fit and ready to fight. As soon as it entered the arena, it made a proud gesture.

«Umbreon! It's your turn!» Carlos sent out Umbreon. "Hmm, Umbreon is a Dark-type, huh! Maybe a Bug-type attack might be effective. Let's try." She thought. «Oshawott, use Fury Cutter!» Oshawott started running towards the opponent, wielding its scalchop. Umbreon remained still, like a statue.

«Dodge and use Shadow Ball!» Carlos ordered. Umbreon obeyed, moving quickly and leaving the opponent stunned.

Simultaneously, a sphere of dark energy, purplish in color, generated from Umbreon's mouth. It seemed to be surrounded by energy discharges, similar to electricity. Umbreon quickly launched the sphere of energy towards the opponent. Anita didn't have much time to think. She had to do like Ash. Improvise. «Defend with Fury Cutter!» She ordered. Oshawott quickly moved its Scalchop, as if cutting the air, sparking the curiosity of those present.

The new Trainer's plan became apparent as soon as the attack reached Oshawott. The sphere of energy exploded anyway, with less energy than expected, but it still forced Oshawott back a few meters.

«Try Aqua Jet!» Oshawott covered itself in water and became a kind of loose cannon in the Gym. It was quite difficult to predict where it would go. «Try to counter it with Quick Attack!» Carlos ordered. Umbreon started running at great speed, managing to copy every one of Oshawott's movements.

Oshawott and Umbreon collided in the middle of the battle arena, and both were projected backward. Umbreon managed to land gracefully on all fours, while Oshawott landed face down.

Despite the hard impact, Oshawott managed to get up, albeit with difficulty. «Do you feel like continuing?» Anita asked. Oshawott answered affirmatively. Its body seemed to shine. «Very good! Then let’s try Water Gun!» Anita ordered. A powerful jet of water generated from Oshawott's mouth, reaching and hitting the opponent, violently projecting it into the air. "So this is Oshawott's true potential?" Anita and Carlos thought simultaneously. «Let’s end it here, Umbreon! Use Swift!» Stars of a warm yellow color generated from the back of Umbreon's body, which were soon launched against the opponent. «Oshawott, dodge!» Anita ordered. But it was too late. The powerful explosion that launched the Pokémon towards Anita’s side had already occurred, and Oshawott was lying on the ground, unconscious.

«Oshawott is no longer able to battle. Umbreon wins!» The electronic referee declared. «Come back, friend, you were great.» Anita returned Oshawott to its Poké Ball. «Now it’s your turn! Lillipup!» Anita threw the Poké Ball of her second Pokémon, the Lillipup she had caught a short time before. «I’m counting on you! Use Tackle!» Lillipup started running towards the opponent, who remained impassive, almost wanting to be hit. «We've waited long enough, Dark Pulse!» A series of rings of dark energy came out of Umbreon's mouth; their color was a dark purple, tending towards black. «Dodge, quickly!» Lillipup jumped, narrowly avoiding being hit.

«Lillipup, try Tackle again!» Lillipup started running again, now closer to the opponent. The ground quickly flowed under its paws. When it was close enough, it leaped and hit Umbreon on the head, making it slightly step back. «Launch it with your head!» With the powerful muscles of its neck, Umbreon launched the small Lillipup into the air, without the Puppy Pokémon being able to react in any way.

«And now jump and use Quick Attack!» Umbreon, exploiting the powerful muscles of its hind legs, took a powerful leap. It hit the small Lillipup squarely, making it fall.

«Lillipup is no longer able to battle, Umbreon wins. The match victory goes to the Gym Leader!» The electronic referee declared.

«Come back. You did your best. I didn't. I made a mistake in wanting to rush things so much,» Anita commented on her defeat.

«You did your best, you'll see that next time it will go better,» Ash encouraged her. «I think you just need a little more training. As strong as Umbreon seems, it certainly has weaknesses,» he added.

«You think so? Do you believe that…» Anita couldn't finish the sentence. Someone had opened the door, startling her. «So you pretended to be the Gym Leader again, Carlos?» A male voice said.

Three young men entered the door. They were dressed practically the same. They wore an outfit similar to a waiter's. They wore a white shirt, covered by a black vest with three golden buttons.

They had black pants and brown shoes. They had a sort of white apron. «And… who are you?» Ash asked.

The three introduced themselves, in the same order they had arrived. «I'm Cilan!» The boy with green hair introduced himself. «I'm the Gym Leader of Striaton City!» The boy with red hair then introduced himself. «I’m Chili, I’m the Gym Leader of Striaton City.» Finally, the boy with blue hair introduced himself. «I’m Cress…» Ash interrupted him. «Let me guess… the Gym Leader of Striaton City?» The boy with blue hair was disappointed. «Yes... But I would have preferred to say it myself...» Cilan interrupted his brother’s embarrassment. «It's not important. Anyway, Carlos will find a way to make it up to you.» The boy jumped up like a spring. «Y-yes. I’ll take care of it immediately!» He replied, walking away. Anita’s expression changed.

«I know you two,» Cilan introduced them. «You are Ash Ketchum, the World Champion, and Serena Gabena, the winner of numerous Pokémon Showcases and a finalist in the Kalos Showcase Professionals! What an honor!» At that moment, Anita felt insignificant. Her travel companions had an enviable resume; she was a novice Trainer. Out of the three battles she had fought, five, counting training sessions, she had won one and lost two. The training sessions, however, had been interrupted before there was a real winner, but she wasn't sure she would have emerged victorious.

«I imagine you came here to challenge the Gym, right?» The boy with green hair turned to Anita.

«Y-Yes,» she replied.

At that moment, Anita felt a sensation that was very difficult to explain. It was a mixture of nervousness and frustration. She could accept the idea of having lost against a Gym Leader, but not that of having lost against someone pretending to be one. Ash noticed his friend's change. «So, if he's not a Gym Leader, then what is he? What is he doing here?» Ash asked. «We could describe him as our assistant. He helps us in the kitchen, as a waiter, and, if needed, he's also the interim Gym Leader. So, if one of us can't have the battle, for whatever reason, we entrust him with our Pokémon, and he battles in place of the absent Gym Leader,» he explained. «I don't think I understood everything,» Ash stated. «Why are there three Gym Leaders? Wasn't one enough?» Ash asked. «Well, you see...» Cilan replied. «This Gym specializes in three types. I imagine you already know this. Well. Each of us specializes in a certain type. I specialize in the Grass-type,» he explained. «I specialize in the Fire-type,» Chili added. «And you… you specialize in the Water-type, right?» Cress snorted. «You really can’t hide anything from him!» He replied.

Serena put a hand in front of her mouth, trying to hide the laugh that was escaping her.

«Well… Carlos could make amends by offering you lunch, if that's okay with you. We'll worry about the battle later,» Cilan explained. Ash and his friends looked at each other. «It’s fine by me,» the World Champion replied.

«And what about Anita?» Serena asked. «Oshawott and Lillipup have just finished battling. They’ll have to rest before battling again. We can accompany her to the Pokémon Center,» Ash replied.

The three left the Gym, saying goodbye to the three Gym Leaders with a "see you later."

As soon as they left the Gym, Anita's expression changed completely. It became sad and gloomy. Serena immediately noticed her friend's distress. «Is everything alright?» She asked her. «No. Yes. I don't know. I don't know if we're ready to face the Gym Leaders. If we lost to an assistant…» She explained.

«Before giving up, you should try. Even if you lost, you definitely learned something. That's what matters,» Anita remained silent. "I wonder if things are really as she says. What would I have learned in that battle?" She thought.

The three arrived at the Pokémon Center to allow Anita's team to rest. There weren't many people at that hour, so it didn't take long before it was their turn.

After Anita's team was healed, the three returned to the Gym. As they re-entered, they saw a girl with dark brown hair, wearing a magenta dress and a grey jacket, leaving the Gym. She was wearing black shoes and black thigh-high socks. She had a dark backpack, similar to a school bag.

She was holding something tightly in her hands. «It seemed impossible, but we did it!» The girl said in a celebratory tone.

«She managed to win the badge. She must be a very skilled Trainer. Unlike me.» Serena placed a hand on her shoulder. «Don't say that. You'll succeed too. I feel it.» Anita simply smiled at her. "I wonder how she manages to be so positive all the time," Anita thought.

The three entered the Gym. They passed the restaurant area, where Chili and Cilan were setting up the tables for the impending lunch. «Good morning!» The three greeted the Gym Leaders. «Good morning to you!» They replied. «The battle arena is busy right now; Cress is facing a challenger. As soon as the field is free, it will be your turn.» Cilan explained.

«Speaking of which. Now that I think about it, you haven't introduced yourself. What is your name?» Chili asked her. «Right... My name is Anita White.» the challenger introduced herself.

Meanwhile, the three had reached the battle arena. The electronic referee had just finished announcing the rules. As they sat down in the stands, the three noticed that Cress's challenger was none other than Ivan.

The two had just sent out their Pokémon. Ivan had sent out his Pidove, while Cress sent out a Pokémon that Anita was starting to get to know, a Lillipup.

«The first move goes to the challenger!» The electronic referee decreed. «Alright! Pidove, Quick Attack!» Pidove moved quickly, hitting the opponent and launching it into the air. Cress did not lose his composure. «As soon as you can, use Take Down!» The Lillipup managed to land without any particular inconvenience, then started running as fast as possible, ready to charge the opponent with its whole body. «Fly as high as you can!» Ivan ordered. «Jump as high as you can!» The Gym Leader ordered. Seeing the Puppy Pokémon jump, Ivan smiled. "Terribly predictable," he thought. «Use Air Slash!» He ordered. Thick blades of air generated from Pidove's wings, hitting Lillipup, sending it to the opposite side of the battle arena, and making it violently hit one of the barriers.

«Lillipup can no longer continue. Pidove wins.» the electronic referee declared. «You did your best, but it's not over yet! With the last Pokémon, I'm betting everything!» He declared, as he recalled his Pokémon.

Ivan also recalled his Pidove. «You only did your job.» he commented, annoying the spectators. Pikachu in particular. Numerous electrical discharges came out of its cheeks. «Calm down, friend. I hope he changes his attitude one day. Or we’ll make him change it.» Ash reassured him.

«Panpour! Your turn!» Cress sent out a Pokémon similar to a little monkey. It had two large blue ears, a tuft resembling the jet of water from a fountain, a cream-colored snout with a tiny nose, and a wide mouth. Its arms were long and pale, widening from its shoulders to its hands. The hands had only one thumb, and its legs were stout. The body was predominantly cream-colored, with a small blue part on its chest. The rather long tail ended with a blue tuft formed by three dots.

Anita scanned it with her Pokédex. «Panpour. Sprinkling Pokémon. Water Type. Male specimen. It was a forest dweller and has adapted to living near water sources. It can store water in the tufts on its head. Known moves: Water Gun, Ice Beam, Work Up.»

Ivan also sent out his Pokémon. «Pansage! Go!» Ivan sent out a Pokémon similar to the one sent out by Cress. Its body was partially green, not blue or cream, but slightly darker. The tuft on its head resembled a kind of bush.

Anita scanned it with her Pokédex. «Pansage. Grass Monkey Pokémon. Male specimen. It offers the leaves on its head to Pokémon with low energy, relieving tension. Known moves: Bullet Seed and Scratch.»

«The battle may continue!» The electronic referee declared.

«Pansage, use Bullet Seed!» A series of small seeds, launched at high speed like bullets, came out of the grass-type monkey's mouth. «Dodge and then use Ice Beam!» The Gym Leader ordered. "Damn it! He's prepared to face Grass-type Pokémon!" Ivan thought. The ice-type attack froze the opponent, sending Ivan into a crisis.

«Let's take advantage of this! Panpour, use Work Up!» The little monkey closed its eyes, and its body lit up blue.

«And now, Panpour, use Water Gun!» The Gym Leader ordered. The attack, powered up by Work Up, launched the opposing Pokémon high into the air, making it fall to the ground and shattering the block of ice. «Pansage, come on, use Scratch!» The grass-type monkey stood up and started running. Sharp claws that reflected the light came out of one of Pansage's hands. «Panpour, defend yourself with Water Gun!» A powerful jet of water came out of the water-type Pokémon's mouth, hitting the opponent and sending it flying into the air. «Try to land decently!» Ivan ordered.

But it was too late. The little monkey was lying on the ground, defeated. «Pansage is no longer able to continue. Panpour wins!» The electronic referee declared. Ivan withdrew his defeated Pansage. «You were truly, terrible. I wonder if you deserve to be one of my Pokémon.» Hearing that phrase, Ash felt a strong desire to hit Ivan across the teeth with a crowbar, but, for the second time in a few days, he restrained himself.

«Pidove, you take care of it, at least you'll give some decency to this battle.» Ivan sent out his Pidove. «The battle can resume, the first move goes to the Gym Leader.» the electronic referee declared.

«Panpour, use Ice Beam!» A ray of icy energy, white tending to bluish, came out of the water-type monkey's mouth. «Pidove! Fly and defend with Air Slash!» Blades of air generated from Pidove's wings, hitting the opponent's attack. The attack was powerful enough to hit Panpour.

«And now let's finish with Aerial Ace!» Pidove flew upwards and then launched itself against the opponent, hitting it squarely and sending it flying into the air. «And now Air Slash!» He ordered. Blades of air generated from Pidove's wings, hitting the opponent and sending it against the barriers.

«Panpour is no longer able to battle. Pidove wins. The winner of the match is the challenger.» the electronic referee declared.

The two Trainers returned their respective Pokémon to their Poké Balls; then, they met in the center of the arena.

«As a prize for your victory, here is the Trio Badge!» The blue-haired Gym Leader declared solemnly, as he gave the challenger a badge shaped like a double triangle, with diamonds containing gems, one red, one green, and one blue. Ivan put it in his badge case.

«And now, if you wish, you can stay here for lunch. It's on the house.» The Trainer shook his head no. «I'm not interested in your offer. See you never!» Ivan walked away.

Ash followed him with his gaze as he entered the restaurant area. He saw him kneeling in front of a child, who could be at most eight years old.

He held a Poké Ball in his hand and seemed to be saying something to that child. Something not very clear. After handing it over to him, he left.

«Did you see? He gave his Pansage to that child!» Serena commented. «Better for him. Maybe for Team Plasma all Trainers are like him.» Ash replied.

Anita didn't comment. Nor did Cress, despite being extremely disappointed by the challenger's behavior. If it had been up to him, he would never have given him the badge.

A few moments later, the trio of Gym Leaders entered the area dedicated to the battle arena. «It will be lunchtime soon, what do you think about eating before the battle?» Cilan proposed. «Carlos is cooking.» he added.

«Sounds good to me!» Ash was quite enthusiastic. "Is it possible that this guy only thinks about eating?" Anita thought. But... in fact, she was starting to feel a bit hungry too, so...

«Speaking of Carlos…» Cilan asked Anita. «What Pokémon did he use against you?» The girl immediately replied, a little intimidated. «Umbreon.» she replied. «So his Eevee evolved. It's not very fair to face someone new with a fully evolved Pokémon.» the Gym Leader commented.

After the abundant lunch, consisting of land appetizers, two land first courses, two land second courses, a sorbet, two sea first courses, and two more sea second courses, the time for the battle had finally arrived.

The three, escorted by the Gym Leaders, entered the area dedicated to battles. «This Gym, unlike all the others, specializes in three types. Grass, Fire, and Water, but you already know that. The Gym Leader you challenge depends on the Starter Pokémon you chose.» he explained. "That's why Carlos asked me what my first Pokémon was." Things became much clearer for Anita. It didn't make any sense for him to ask what her Starter Pokémon was.

«The Gym Leader you challenge depends on your Starter Pokémon.» Chili explained. «I chose Oshawott.» the girl replied. «Excellent, then I will be your opponent. It will be an honor to battle with you!» Cilan replied. "That's why Carlos asked me what my first Pokémon was. Under normal circumstances, it made sense," she thought. She also hoped that her distant look hadn't been noticed.

«Very well, then we can begin. It is your first battle, so I will only use two Pokémon. If you had more badges, I could have even gone for a Full Battle.» he explained. «I’ll just finish setting up the referee and we can start.» the Gym Leader declared, as he fiddled with the keyboard.

«The battle between the challenger Anita and the Striaton City Gym Leader is about to begin. It will be a two-on-two battle. The battle will end when the Pokémon of one of the two Trainers are no longer able to battle. Only the Challenger will be allowed to switch their Pokémon.» the electronic referee declared. «The battle may begin!» Following that declaration, the two could send out their Pokémon. «Lillipup! Your turn!» Cilan sent out a Lillipup, a Pokémon completely identical to the one sent out by his brother. «Oshawott, let’s show what we can do!» Anita sent out her Oshawott.

«Let's start with Aqua Jet!» Oshawott coated itself in water and launched itself low to the ground, towards the opponent. «Try to dodge!» Cilan ordered. «Try to move as much as possible!» Anita ordered.

Oshawott obeyed, moving left and right, making it very difficult to understand where it would arrive. Poor Lillipup couldn't figure out where the opponent was coming from, and it was hit squarely and sent flying into the air. Despite this, Cilan did not panic. «Try to land and attack with Tackle!» The Gym Leader ordered. Meanwhile, Oshawott had landed and was catching its breath.

As soon as Anita saw Lillipup running at great speed toward Oshawott. «Try to defend yourself with the Scalchop!» Oshawott complied, holding its shell with its hands and using it as a shield. The Trainer’s plan worked. Oshawott backed up a few meters but didn't suffer any major consequences.

«Now use Water Gun!» A powerful jet of water came out of the Sea Otter Pokémon's mouth, hitting the opponent squarely, and launching it into the air. Even in this case, the Gym Leader did not lose his composure in the slightest. «Use Work Up!» Lillipup's body lit up light brown, and its eyes did the same.

«Oshawott! Hit with Aqua Jet!» Oshawott's body coated itself in water, becoming like a kind of runaway projectile. «Come on, Lillipup, use Tackle!» The Gym Leader ordered. Lillipup delivered a powerful attack, made even more powerful by gravity. Oshawott and Lillipup collided in the middle of the field, generating a powerful explosion. When the dust settled, the result of the battle was clear to everyone.

«Lillipup is no longer able to battle. Oshawott wins.» the electronic referee declared. «Return, Lillipup. You did a great job.» Cilan recalled his Lillipup. «If you want, you can switch yours too.» the Gym Leader reminded her. «Friend, do you want to continue, or would you prefer to rest a little?» She asked the Pokémon. «Sha! Sha!» It replied. «Good, then we can continue!» The Gym Leader declared. «Pansage! Your turn!» The Gym Leader sent out the Grass-type elemental monkey. «The first move goes to the challenger!» The electronic referee declared.

«Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» The Trainer ordered. Oshawott's body coated itself in water and launched itself against the opponent. «Defend with Vine Whip!» Thick vines sprouted from Pansage's head. It crossed them in front of itself to protect itself. "Hey! But that's the same technique Ash's Snivy used!" She thought. "But how can I counter a technique like that?"

«And now launch it!» The vines, compressed by the attack, were quickly released and, like springs, launched the opponent to the opposite side of the Gym. «Oshawott is no longer able to battle. Pansage wins!» The electronic referee declared.

Anita returned Oshawott to its Poké Ball. «You were great. You'll see that Lillipup will make sure your work wasn't in vain.»

Ash and Serena had watched the scene from the stands. «It seems like she took the defeat better this time.» Ash commented. «I saw. I think that's very positive. But Pansage seems strong. Let's see how she'll manage.» the girl replied. «I have faith in her.» While the two were discussing, Anita had sent out her Lillipup.

«The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» The electronic referee declared.

«Good, Pansage! Use Scratch!» The little monkey started running towards the opponent. It had a pointed hand, with claws that reflected the light. "And now what do I do?" Anita thought. Unlike when she was battling with Oshawott, she couldn't hide her nervousness.

«Try to defend with Bite!» Anita ordered. The puppy leaped and, with its jaws open, bit the opponent's hand.

From the Trainer's look, it was evident that this choice was not a pondered one, but rather a choice dictated by desperation. The Gym Leader noticed this.

«Pansage! Launch it and hit with Bullet Seed!» The little monkey, with a quick movement of its arm, launched the opponent into the air. Yellow-green seeds began to come out of its mouth, hitting the opponent squarely.

By now, Anita was completely panicked. She didn't know what to do. «Try to use Tackle!» She ordered. Lillipup had now landed. It had managed to do so in a somewhat decent manner, without any major consequences.

It started running in the opponent's direction. «Come on, Pansage, launch it with Vine Whip!» As the little Lillipup launched itself against the opponent, two vines appeared from its head, which quickly reached it.

It was a matter of moments before Lillipup was wrapped up and launched against the barrier. «Lillipup!» The Trainer was quite worried.

«Lillipup is no longer able to battle! Pansage wins. Consequently, the winner of the battle is the Gym Leader!» The electronic referee declared. Anita hurried to return it to its Poké Ball. «We failed. Do I deserve your trust?» She wondered.

Anita and the Gym Leader met in the center of the battle arena. «You'll see that next time it will go better.» the Gym Leader reassured her.

In a short time, Anita was also joined by Ash and Serena. They had approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

«Did I disappoint you?» Anita asked, in a sad tone. «Not at all!» The two replied at the same time. Serena quickly put a hand in front of her mouth.

She had said the same thing Ash had said again. Simultaneously. «And you're not one to give up so easily, are you?» Ash asked his friend. «I don't know.» she replied.

«Don't say that. You’ll see that with a bit of training, you’ll be able to defeat him.» Ash encouraged her. Cilan, who had heard everything, smiled. «Then it will be my duty, as a Gym Leader, to do the same!» He replied.

«I already know who can give you a hand.» Ash's tone was quite enthusiastic. Everything was clear, at least in his mind.

"I really wonder what he has in mind, but above all, what drives him to focus on me, despite the continuous disappointments I'm giving him... I wonder what he sees in me," Anita wondered to herself.

The three had left the Gym and headed towards the Pokémon Center, to ensure Anita’s team was healthy after the battle.

Anita had entrusted her team to Nurse Joy, and Ash took the opportunity to go to the video call station. Anita was looking at him distractedly: "Is he perhaps implementing his plan?" She wondered.

A few moments later, Ash started the call. He then motioned for his friends to come closer. Serena immediately approached, while Anita hesitated a little, almost hiding behind Serena. She seemed afraid to meet the person who would appear on the screen.

After a few moments, a man of about forty appeared on the screen. He had dark skin, black hair pulled back, and eyes of the same color. He was wearing a lab coat and shorts.

«Good morning Professor Kukui!» Ash greeted him. «Hello to you, kid! And the girl next to you is Serena, right?» The Kalos native was speechless. What had Ash told him about her? «You know, Ash told me a lot about you. In a good way, of course. He told me about your trips to Kalos, you know? You did some really incredible things!» He added. «Well... here... we did what we could. We couldn't leave all those people in trouble and...» Serena replied. «Don't say that. You truly saved the whole of Kalos!» The Professor emphasized. «And not only that. He also told me about your Showcases and how you decided to participate in Pokémon Contests. Believe me, he didn't miss a single one!» He added. Serena just smiled. She was thrilled that Ash was thinking of her even when he traveled to Alola. «You know, I’d like to organize a trip with Professor Burnet and Ash's former classmates, to go and see one of your performances. Documents permitting, of course.» Serena didn't know what to say. On one hand, she was pleased, but on the other... those girls could be potential rivals. She quickly realized that she couldn't refuse. «I would really love that!» She replied, with a smile that hid her worries.

Anita began to feel ignored. She didn't want to make it obvious. She was too afraid to do so. She feared a negative reaction from them.

She decided to move slightly away from where she was. Perhaps she did it on purpose, but she was almost completely hidden by Serena. «And who might you be?» The Professor addressed the girl, who had just emerged from behind Serena. «N-nice to m-meet you. M-my n-name is A-Anita.» the younger Trainer introduced herself. «So Ash chose you as the Trainer to help achieve your goal?» He asked, rhetorically. «Y-yes.» Anita replied. «And knowing his passion for battling, which burns like a Blast Burn, I imagine he will do everything to lead you to the title of Unova Champion, right?» Anita nodded. «I-I'm not s-sure I'm the right p-person. I've l-lost practically every battle I've been in. I-I wonder w-what he s-sees in m-me that's so s-special.» Anita was having one of her crises again. «I'm sure that if they agreed to travel with you, Ash definitely saw something that escapes many others. A Hidden Power that not everyone knows how to recognize.»

Anita managed a small smile. «I would like to ask you a question, if I may.» the Professor referred to Serena at that moment.

«Tell me everything.» she replied. «I imagine you came to Unova to participate in the Showcases, right?» Serena nodded. «Know that Burnet, the kids, and I are rooting for you!» He encouraged her. «Thank you.» she replied.

«Excuse me… but I have a small commitment. Why did you call me, Ash?» The Professor scratched his head, embarrassed. «Well, I called simply to make a team rotation. I would like to trade one of mine to get Incineroar.» Ash explained. «No problem.» the Professor replied. Ash, meanwhile, had taken one of his Poké Balls and inserted it into the transfer device. A few moments later, the Professor did the same.

A few seconds later, the exchange occurred, as agreed. The two Poké Balls disappeared and were exchanged. Having done this, the three said goodbye to the Professor.

«Can we use the battle arena?» Ash asked. «Of course. Go ahead.» the Nurse replied.

The three left the Pokémon Center and headed towards the Battle Arena. As soon as they reached the field, Ash smiled slightly. «I think it's time to train Lillipup a bit too.» he introduced. «And I think no master could be better than him! Come out, Incineroar!» Ash sent out his Pokémon. It resembled a large, bipedal feline. Its predominant colors were red, black, and gray. Its torso was gray and had a black symbol. The latter consisted of a vertical line and two horizontal lines, front and back. Tufts of black fur, consisting of bands, emerged from its shoulders. Its arms were made up of black and red stripes, while its hands were red and equipped with an orange pad and five clawed fingers. Its legs were red except for two black bands similar to those on its arms. Its feet were red and had three toes. Its tail was long and red with a black band and a tuft of black fur surrounding it. A belt of red and yellow flames was present at its waist. The lower part of its muzzle was red and had very thick fur, while the upper part was black. Its teeth were very sharp. Its nose was red and triangular, and its eyes had yellow sclera and blue irises. The fur at the top of its head turned black again. Its two ears, also black, had a red fur pattern reminiscent of the one on its torso.

Anita analyzed it with her Rotom Phone: «Incineroar, Heel Pokémon. Fire and Dark type and the final evolutionary stage of Litten. Male specimen. It is capable of shooting flames from its belly. A band of flames wraps around its waist like a belt of fire. Known moves: Fire Fang, Cross Chop, Blast Burn, and Revenge.» Having finished the check, Anita put the Smartphone back in her bag. "I don't know how an Incineroar like this can help Lillipup, but I believe Ash knows what he’s doing," she thought shortly after. «Alright... Lillipup! Come out!» The young Trainer took the Poké Ball from her bag and released her Lillipup. The latter, as soon as it saw Ash's Incineroar, got scared, hiding behind its Trainer's legs. «Don't worry! He just wants to help you!» Anita tried to reassure her Lillipup, although she herself wondered how such a Pokémon could be helpful.

Serena, in a way, had understood what Ash wanted to do, but she preferred Ash to explain everything.

«See?» Ash began. «A Pokémon can get stronger by battling, but it can also get stronger in other ways.» While the boy explained, the little one had slowly approached Ash's Incineroar.

It had started smelling him. He seemed quite calm and tried to put her at ease. «A Pokémon can also get stronger by learning new moves.» he explained. Exactly what Serena expected.

Meanwhile, Incineroar had collected several branches of different sizes.

Having done this, Incineroar bowed to the little Lillipup and offered her a hand, inviting her to climb up. After an initial hesitation, Lillipup climbed onto the hand of what appeared to her as a giant.

«Now I think it's fair that you know why I decided to have Incineroar teach Fire Fang to Lillipup and not another of my other Pokémon.» Ash introduced the topic.

Pikachu was perfectly aware of the story and knew how difficult it was for his friend to tell it. For this reason, he appreciated the fact that he had decided to tell it of his own accord.

Before Ash could begin to tell the story, the attention of the three was drawn by a boy who was panting. He could be approximately Anita's age, or a little older.

He had brown hair and eyes of the same color. He was wearing a long-sleeved green t-shirt, covered by a blue, yellow, and dark blue jacket, a hoodie, and athletic shoes.

He looked like he was about to faint at any moment. Ash and Serena rushed to help him before it was too late. They carried him to the Pokémon Center, holding him by the arms.

Once inside, they immediately made him lie down on one of the long bean bags. The Nurse, who had witnessed everything, rushed over to the three.

Meanwhile, Anita, who, seeing the two rush to save the stranger, had asked herself more than a few questions, was observing the training between Incineroar and Lillipup.

Incineroar had taken one of the branches he had procured. Its mouth coated itself in flames.

At that point, it put the branch in its mouth and bit it violently. The branch exploded into several dozen pieces, partially or totally charred.

"That's the Fire Fang move!" Anita thought. "It's a Fire-type move; it could be very useful against Pansage, who is a Grass-type." A second thought quickly added to the previous one.

«It seems truly incredible.» she commented quietly. «Ash hadn't asked him 'Teach him Fire Fang' or anything similar. And yet he...» She continued.

Meanwhile, inside the Pokémon Center, the boy was starting to recover. From lying down, he had moved to sitting. «Thank you for saving me. Without you, I would have risked getting hurt.» Ash and Serena simply smiled. «You're welcome.» the boy replied.

«Oh… how forgetful. I haven't introduced myself yet!» The boy slapped his forehead. «Nice to meet you... Ash and Serena, right?» The two nodded. «And you’re Pikachu, aren't you?» The boy pointed to Pikachu, on Ash's shoulder. «Pika-Pikachu.» the electric mouse introduced himself. «My name is Gilles.» the boy finally revealed his name. «And now excuse me, but I have to deal with that idiot brother of mine.» The boy got up and made to leave.

Ash held him back by the arm. «You don't want to get this bad again a second time. According to the Nurse, you were seriously risking checking out.» Ash reprimanded him. «Let us help you.» he added.

Gilles tried to move his arm abruptly, to make Ash let go. «It's none of your business!» Gilles snapped. Ash stood in front of Gilles, blocking him from leaving.

A few moments later, Anita entered the Pokémon Center. She had had plenty of time to understand what had happened, and to witness part of her Lillipup's training.

Anita nearly collided with Ash. She was afraid to ask him what he was doing in front of the door, but seeing that boy trying to leave, she got a small idea. He wanted to prevent him from leaving the Pokémon Center, but she hadn't understood the reason. «Alright. I'll tell you everything.» Gilles quickly realized he had no other choice.

In an apartment in one of the many apartment buildings in Striaton City lived a very normal family, consisting of a mother, father, and two twin brothers, Gilles and Didier.

The two brothers had a beautiful relationship. When they were little, they often shared their dreams, their desires, and what they would do when they became Trainers.

Which Pokémon they would catch, how they would challenge the Gyms, and everything else. They often pretended to be Challenger and Gym Leader, while learning to battle with their parents' Pokémon, naturally under their careful gaze.

Among all their parents' Pokémon, their favorites were a Scraggy and a Pancham.

The former was Didier's favorite, the latter Gilles's favorite.

The relationship between the brothers seemed perfect, nothing seemed to be able to strain it, at school they always sat next to each other, they shared their male and female friends, they encouraged each other when one of them wanted to try with a girl, and things like that.

There had never been jealousy between the two. For any reason. Of course, they argued sometimes, but it was quite normal between brothers. They always reconciled after every argument.

Yet you know. Good things don't last forever.

Everything had started a few days after the delivery of the first Pokémon to the two Trainers. That day, the two had been accompanied by their parents to Professor Juniper's lab.

The two had just turned sixteen, and it was time to choose their first Pokémon.

It was a late winter day, and it wasn't particularly cold.

The snow was starting to melt and was forming, with the dirt and earth, a sort of dense and disgusting mud.

It was the worst phase of the year. Not so much for the arrival of spring, but rather for the inconveniences due to the melting snow.

Faced with the choice of the first Pokémon, the situation was rather chaotic. «You choose first!» Gilles invited his brother. «No! It's fair that you be the first to choose!» The second countered. «I insist!» The first pressed the point, pushing his brother towards the three Starter Pokémon. «Don't do that! You shouldn't raise your hands for something like that!» Didier growled.

«Will you two stop it? You're sixteen now! You shouldn't argue about these things! In other regions, children become Trainers at ten, but they are much more mature than you!» Their mother reprimanded them.

The two brothers looked into each other's eyes. It was clear that their mother was right. They couldn't always argue about this. «Choosing your first Pokémon is a serious matter. It will be your trusted companion throughout your career as Trainers. It's not a race to see who gets there first.» the Professor corrected them.

The two understood the hint and knelt in front of the three Pokémon. Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. The two looked into the

 eyes of each of the three Pokémon. Fortunately, Gilles and Didier had set their sights on different Pokémon.

«I think I've chosen!» Gilles seemed enthusiastic. «Me too!» His brother replied. The two looked into each other's eyes and smiled. «My first Pokémon will be Snivy!» Gilles’s choice was therefore Snivy. «I'll take Tepig instead!» His brother replied.

Of course, Didier was aware that, on paper, he would have an advantage over his brother's Snivy, but, not being able to know his brother's choice in advance, he couldn't say he did it on purpose.

«Now that you have your first Pokémon...» The tone of the boys' mother was rather strange. «It's time for the second.» their father concluded. The parents of the two took one Poké Ball each and handed them over to their sons.

The father handed his Poké Ball to Gilles and the mother to Didier. «I imagine you know which Pokémon is inside those Poké Balls, right?» Their mother asked. The brothers nodded.

Two days later, Gilles and his mother were back at Professor Juniper's lab. The woman had greeted them immediately, without asking questions. It often happened that novice male and female Trainers came back to her asking for advice.

«Good morning.» she greeted them. «Good morning to you.» they replied. «Why are you back so soon? Only two days have passed since I gave you your first Pokémon. Did something happen?» She asked.

Gilles merely took off his jacket, very carefully. He used equal caution in taking off his sweater. There were several wounds on his arms, all caused by the same source. Whips.

«So Snivy attacked you?» The Professor asked, rhetorically.

"Could it be her? After all, the Professor had told us how Snivy had refused several Trainers. Yet Gilles seems like a good kid," Ash thought.

In any case, the Pallet Town native decided not to interrupt the story. If he wanted to help him, he needed to know what had happened. Maybe he would ask him some questions later.

«Exactly. I tried to send her out to battle, but rather than attacking the opponent, she attacked me, for no reason. Yet here in the lab she seemed so gentle.» Gilles replied.

«So you would like to bring her back to the lab and choose another Pokémon?» The woman asked. «At the moment, I only have Oshawott left.» she added. Gilles nodded. «Perhaps it’s the best choice for both of us.» he replied.

The Professor did not insist further, allowing Gilles to return Snivy and take Oshawott with him.

When they arrived home, at least initially, Didier did not take the news well. «You only did that to have a Pokémon with an advantage against mine!» He accused him. «Sooner or later, you and Snivy would have gotten along. It would have just been a matter of time.» he pressed the point. "In a few days, things will settle down." Or at least that's what Gilles and his parents thought. The truth, however, was very different.

In the following days, the two brothers tended to ignore each other. Or rather, Didier tried in every way to reject his brother, sometimes quite violently.

When school resumed after the forced break for the delivery of the first Pokémon, the matter became known to everyone. The brothers usually competed to see who would arrive first, but not this time. In fact, it seemed that the two wanted to blend in with the group as much as possible, with Didier a little ahead of his brother.

The latter seemed to be talking to Andrew, one of their classmates. He was a classmate known mainly for not being exactly a good kid.

He had been suspended numerous times and had failed two grades. He was the type of repeat student few wanted to deal with. He was rude to teachers and often unreasonably aggressive with everyone, which is why it seemed rather strange to Gilles that his brother was talking to him. He had never done so before.

When Gilles arrived in class, he noticed that the desk he had always occupied, the one next to his brother's, had been taken, precisely by this Andrew.

Understanding the situation, Gilles could only give up and sit in Andrew's place, in the back rows. He couldn't believe that such a small thing had caused all this.

Gilles decided to ignore it. He didn't want to make a scene like that in front of the whole class. If they then discovered that the reason they were in that situation was the choice of the first Pokémon, they would be ridiculed for life.

From that distance, Gilles couldn't know what they were talking about. They could be making normal small talk, or they could be badmouthing him.

Didier tried and succeeded in avoiding talking to his brother both during recess and lunch, trying to sit as far away from his brother as possible. Gilles wanted to try to talk to him, but he was aware that it wouldn't solve anything.

The strangeness continued during the return home. Usually, the two boys always returned home together, but not this time. Gilles took the usual route home, the path he had always taken with his brother since they were little. His brother had decided to take another, longer road.

"Did he decide to walk that Andrew home?" Gilles wondered. Not that he cared too much; as much as he loved his brother, he was now old enough to manage on his own. He didn't want to worry about it.

Not even their parents seemed particularly worried about the matter. They were aware of what had happened between the two, but preferred not to intervene. They wanted them to sort things out themselves.

In the following days, the situation remained practically unchanged, with the two brothers continuing to ignore each other and mind their own business.

Every day that passed, it seemed like the two were drifting further and further apart, while, simultaneously, Didier was getting closer and closer to Andrew and further and further away from his brother.

He returned home later and later every day, and some days he didn't return at all. One thing that all his returns home had in common was the terrible condition of his clothes. Worn, torn, dirty. It made one wonder what he was doing to ruin his clothes like that.

Another anomaly was that when Didier woke up, he was often listless and looked tired, as if he hadn't slept.

Another strange thing was that there wasn't a day when Didier didn't ask his parents and grandparents for money as a loan, small amounts at first, and then increasingly larger amounts. The promise to return it was enough to get them to lend it.

One day, Gilles decided to follow his brother. That day Didier had returned home at a decent time. He had spent the afternoon playing video games and gorging on junk food, ignoring his Pokémon, leaving his parents to take care of them. Behavior that greatly annoyed his brother. Among a Trainer's most important duties was taking care of their Pokémon.

Despite the precarious situation, Gilles and Didier were forced to share a bedroom. During the night, they made sure to turn their backs on each other, even when sleeping.

The two brothers went to bed a few moments apart. Didier seemed to want to wait for his brother to fall asleep before fleeing. He waited about half an hour. That was the time it usually took his brother to fall asleep. After the half-hour mark, Didier got out of bed and left the room. He tried to be as quiet as possible. He certainly didn't want to be discovered. He walked down the apartment hallway and took his jacket from the coat rack. The door was not locked, so he just had to be careful not to make noise opening it.

He went out and started going down the stairs. Their apartment was on the fourth floor out of twenty, so he could have taken the elevator, but he didn't want to make noise.

He went down the stairs, trying to be fast but silent.

A few moments later, Gilles also got up and started following his brother. Since their condominium was on an alley, Gilles didn't have much choice about which direction to go.

Gilles followed his brother along the alley, then followed him onto the main street, always being careful not to be discovered. He tried to hide behind walls, poles, adopting such stratagems throughout the journey.

In those moments, he felt like a kind of secret agent or something similar. He imagined himself as one of the protagonists of those movies he loved to watch with his brother.

In this case, however, it wasn't a movie, but real life, and the situation was serious, very serious indeed.

Dismissing that thought, Gilles continued to follow his brother.

He crossed several streets, avenues, and squares of the large city of Striaton City. Gilles had to be extremely careful to avoid being discovered, always trying to maintain a certain distance from his brother.

He was curious, but also worried, even though he didn't show it. Didier was his brother, after all. He really wanted to understand what was happening to his brother and what he had to do with that Andrew.

The crossing of the city lasted an apparently infinite time; Gilles had no idea how far he had walked. In his haste, he hadn't brought his Rotom Phone with him. He was afraid he was lost.

In any case, Gilles soon noticed the fact that he was in an area of the city he didn't know well. A collection of neighborhoods he had only heard mentioned, known as the Great Shambles.

It was the most infamous area of the city, full of ruined buildings and dark alleys. Gilles had the shivers. He wouldn't have dreamed of visiting those areas during the day, let alone at night. He feared that some evildoer, or in the worst case an assassin, might emerge from one of those ruined buildings. Gilles wondered what could drive his brother to that dangerous place.

Didier stopped in front of an apparently abandoned building. The facade, once a beautiful pink, was ruined. It lacked plaster and was covered in mold. The windows were crooked.

Some had broken panes, others were completely missing. Didier looked around nervously. He had the feeling that someone was following him. Before stealthily entering the building. Gilles hid behind a wall, still without the slightest idea of what was happening.

After looking around, Didier entered the building. Perhaps his suspicions were unfounded. Inside the building were several not exactly recommendable people. If his parents found out he was hanging out with those people... Gilles approached one of the dilapidated windows. He couldn't quite hear what they were saying, but it was clear that an exchange was taking place. Didier handed some money to one of those people. As soon as that person received the money, they smiled slightly.

Having done this, Didier left the building. Gilles had to move quickly to avoid being discovered by his brother.

He tried to curb the instinct to go inside. He knew he would be taking a big risk.

He followed his brother home and waited for the latter to go to bed before doing the same. «That should be enough to repay my mistake.» Didier said. He thought he hadn't been heard.

"Repay which mistake?" Gilles wondered. Sure. He knew his brother was in with a bad crowd, but he wondered what all that money was for.

With that thought hammering in his head, Gilles returned home.

His plan was to tail his brother the next day too, after school. Before falling asleep, he had formulated a hypothesis and wanted to verify it.

If his brother and those guys had put money aside, it meant that, one way or another, they would spend it. A few hours later, it was time to get up and get ready for school. The breakfast mugs and the coffee maker had been prepared the day before, to make life easier in the morning.

Contrary to other days, this time, Didier did not show up for breakfast. He had already gotten up and gone who knows where. During breakfast, Gilles and his parents had spoken little. Very little.

«I might come home from school a little later.» Gilles began. His parents didn't say anything to him. They just hoped he wouldn't end up like his brother.

They couldn't know that his purpose was different, and much simpler. He just wanted to know what his brother was doing and why he had asked for all that money.

After getting ready, Gilles headed to school. Immediately, Gilles noticed his brother's presence.

He was with the usual group of people he hung out with. They were off to the side, near the exit, as if they had come there with the one and only purpose of leaving, setting sail.

And so it was. Didier and that group of boys left the school, with Gilles following them in turn. He tried, as before, to maintain a certain distance, so as not to be discovered.

After following them, and having reached the infamous areas of the city again. Gilles was finally able to understand why his brother had asked for all that money.

«You managed to make amends.» one of those boys said, giving him a vigorous pat on the back, which made him take several steps forward.

Gilles mentally connected the words spoken by his brother and those of that boy. From those words, evidently, Didier had broken or damaged something and had to pay for it.

They had walked a little further, and they met some other people.

Unlike those who made up the group, he had no idea who they were. They didn't seem like reliable people at all. If it were up to him, he would have run away immediately, but the desire to find out what was happening pushed him to stay.

One of the boys from the first group handed the envelope containing the money to one of the people they had just met. The latter put it in his satchel.

A few moments later, he walked away. None of those present seemed worried about it, as if it were part of their plan.

After about ten minutes, Didier returned, carrying a heavy-looking sack.

"I wonder what could be in there!" Gilles wondered.

Gilles’s doubts lasted only briefly. One of the boys who had come with his brother plunged headfirst into the sack, pulling out a crowbar. «Mmmh, yes. It seems solid enough.» he commented.

A few moments later, he put it back in the sack, and examined the second object. It was a small bag made of sturdy, dark material, closed by a large zipper.

The boy opened it and pulled out the objects inside. Gilles couldn't quite identify those objects. They looked like knives or screwdrivers.

«These lockpicks also seem to be of excellent quality. You sure know how to make our money count.» in making that compliment, the boy particularly emphasized the word "our." Even though, for all he knew, that money belonged to his parents and grandparents.

So his brother wanted to pay back the money by stealing? He could accept everything, but not being the brother of a thief.

It was a huge dishonor.

In those same moments, Gilles noticed a Pidove fluttering around. "He doesn't have these worries! He lives in this city and only has to worry about finding food. Maybe one day he’ll be caught by some Trainer and..." ...Sploff.

Gilles's thought was interrupted by a rather unseemly event.

That Pidove had pooped on his jacket. «Arceus Stoutland! You pooped on me! If I catch you...» He shouted. Blowing his

 cover.

If no one had noticed his presence until that moment, that curse had made him discoverable. He could hear the heavy footsteps of all those people heading in his direction.

Including his brother. He was at the head of the group and looked quite angry. He could try to run away, but he was alone against so many other people. Most likely one or more of them could catch up to him.

As athletic as he was, it was likely that someone was more so than him. Perhaps his overthinking had trapped him.

Two of the bigger boys had lifted him by the arms. He didn't know their names. They had been, for him, just two of the many multi-failed students who attended the school.

One of those boys reached a hand into his satchel, annoying him. He tried to wiggle free, but he was stuck. The boy, after taking the two Poké Balls from his satchel, stopped rummaging.

«Well… well… well… It seems like the boy has Pokémon…» A few moments later, he locked eyes with one of the older boys.

«I think taking one of his Pokémon might be enough.» commented one of the boys holding him. All the others looked at each other. They seemed to be reflecting on that proposal.

The silence was broken by Didier. «For me, that works… after all, he has a Pancham. And without a Dark-type Pokémon, he’s destined to remain a Pancham. With me… or rather… with us, he would become a very powerful Pangoro and could help us in our… work.» the boy motioned for his companion to hand him the two Poké Balls.

Didier knew exactly which Poké Ball was Pancham's. It was older and more worn than Oshawott's. Didier handed the Oshawott Poké Ball back to the boy, making him understand that he could return it without problems.

Having done this, Didier triggered the opening mechanism of the Poké Ball, allowing Pancham to come out. He also sent out his Scraggy from its Poké Ball. «Now you are my Pokémon. See… Scraggy is a Dark-type Pokémon. You should evolve into Pangoro.» Didier was quite disappointed that Pancham showed no sign of evolving, to the extreme disappointment of everyone present.

Gilles took advantage of the distraction of those present to try to escape. «Pancham! Use Stone Edge!» He ordered.

Pancham threw a powerful punch at the ground, causing huge blue rocks to emerge from it and surround him.

This made Didier and all the people around retreat, but it wasn't enough to make those boys let go. He had to invent something different. He felt his limbs going numb.

«Pancham! Jump and hit them with Iron Head!» He ordered. The panda leaped. While jumping, the molecular structure of his head changed, becoming harder than steel.

First Didier, then all the others in turn were hit by Pancham directly in the chest and fell to the ground on their backs.

Some of them hit their heads.

This caused most of the group to be out of commission, but not the two boys holding him. Who, in fact, had tightened their grip further.

«Come on, Pancham! Attack with Thunder Punch!» Gilles ordered.

«Cham?» Pancham seemed worried. He knew that if he attacked those two, he would also hurt his Trainer. And he wasn't intending to do that.

«Come on! What are you waiting for? It doesn't matter if you hurt me!» The boy shouted, making Pancham understand that he had no choice. He jumped towards one of the boys who were holding his Trainer blocked and threw a powerful electrified punch at him.

«AAAAAH!» Gilles and the two boys screamed. But, finally, Gilles was free.

The two boys were stunned and had released their grip. Gilles was also a little scorched, but essentially in good health. He recalled his Pancham to its Poké Ball and ran away. He managed to escape before his tormentors recovered.

Gilles was doubtful about what to do. After all, for the moment no one had committed a major crime. Even if he told someone that they had procured that material, as far as he knew, they were not committing any crime yet.

In any case, Gilles's intrusion into his brother's affairs caused two effects. The first was that his group of friends tried to make his life more complicated in every possible way.

The second effect was more obvious. Gilles had continued to tail the group his brother was part of, but every time, Didier was absent.

It seemed that Didier wanted to avoid being discovered. Perhaps he thought that his brother, after not finding him for so long, would give up.

And Didier's prediction did not turn out to be wrong. Gilles hadn't followed that group of people for several days.

Which is why Didier had started skipping school again and returning home battered. This set off an alarm bell in Gilles's head; it meant that his brother had resumed his activities.

It could be the ideal moment to catch him red-handed and…

«And that's how I ended up here with you.» Gilles explained.

Ash, Pikachu, and his friends looked at him as if he were an alien. He was truly a determined person if, despite everything, he still wanted to mend relations with his brother.

«Excuse me if I interrupt, but… while Gilles was telling his story, a police car passed by.» Anita interrupted them.

Everyone's expression changed, becoming much more worried.

«And what about Lillipup now?» Anita asked, visibly worried about her Lillipup.

«Don't worry.» Ash reassured her. «Incineroar is very strong. He will know how to protect her from any danger.» Anita felt calmer after the words of the expert Trainer.

Despite this, the situation they were experiencing was not the best.

A police car speeding through the city streets meant only one thing. Didier had been caught during one of those thefts and was about to face the consequences.

On one hand, he was fine with it; it was right for his brother to suffer the consequences of his actions and to reflect carefully on the reasons that led him to make that choice.

On the other hand, however, he still believed that his brother could turn back if someone, more convincing and disinterested than himself, spoke to him.

The four left the Pokémon Center and headed in the direction Gilles was previously heading.

Gilles's hope was that, at least his brother, had somehow hidden or something similar. Of course, it was quite unlikely that he had succeeded. Those things usually happened in movies and video games.

In real life, few would dream of hiding in dumpsters or similar places. Or even more so, hiding in some alley, risking being trapped.

Running made little sense; they would never make up the large advantage the police car had accumulated, so they might as well take it easy.

Not having many ideas about where Didier might have gone, Ash and his friends decided, willingly or unwillingly, to follow Gilles.

They wandered around the city far and wide, without results.

«At this point, I think they caught him. On one hand, I’m fine with it. But on the other… what kind of brother would I be?» Gilles wondered.

Ash put a hand on his shoulder.

«I don't think so. If he’s used to these situations, as you say, he’ll have hidden somewhere. Maybe he’s already out too… who knows.» Anita tried to reassure him, even though she was the one who believed it the least.

After several fruitless searches, as they passed through one of the many small streets in the city, they noticed something was wrong. One of the dumpsters seemed to move suspiciously, scaring everyone.

«Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on that dumpster!» Ash ordered.

The electric mouse generated a powerful electric discharge that hit the dumpster squarely, making it explode.

Those present had to protect themselves to avoid being hit by the torrent of garbage generated by that explosion. Trash bags of all kinds and rubbish of every sort were projected over a wide circular area.

In the middle of the rubbish, a boy, half-scorched and clearly unconscious.

«Did you kill him? Now they'll arrest you too!» Gilles was visibly worried. Fortunately for him, after a few moments, the boy recovered.

He tried to get up and run away but was immediately blocked by Ash and Gilles. As much as he struggled, dragging a heavy load was not easy at all, especially since the two had braced themselves.

«And what do you want from me? You know very well that you blew your chances.» Despite these words, neither of them showed any sign of letting go.

Didier should count himself lucky; unlike his companions, he hadn't been caught. Maybe dealing with them wasn't so bad after all.

«Look, I know exactly why all this happened.» Ash made sure to be heard.

Didier stopped trying to wriggle free. Was this boy pretending or did he really know something? Against his will, Didier decided to put Ash to the test.

«I know well that the cause of your argument is her.» Ash took the Poké Ball of his Snivy from his satchel. As soon as the Serperior Pokémon came out, she immediately recognized her former Trainer.

She locked eyes with the latter, before turning towards Ash and Pikachu. Gilles felt uneasy. Ash hadn't told him that he was now the Trainer of that Snivy.

Didier was even more upset. His brother had spilled everything to a perfect stranger.

But what could he do? Attack him with one of his Pokémon? That stranger was Ash Ketchum. With just one of his Pokémon, he would completely annihilate his team. He couldn't do anything but accept the confrontation.

«Now that I see that you are Snivy’s Trainer, I understand what she truly felt. I understand the reason why she had rejected me. She didn't consider me worthy.» Gilles’s disappointment was palpable.

«Don't say that. You weren't the first Trainer she refused. I myself saw her refuse one. Then… well… she asked me to battle and I understood everything.» Ash replied, leaving both brothers stunned.

«You understood what?» The two brothers asked.

«What she truly desired. She wants to become stronger. And I think she learned to recognize if she's dealing with people who desire that or if their goals are different. Am I wrong?» Ash asked.

«Vii! Vii!» Snivy confirmed her Trainer's words.

«And wasn't that your desire?» Didier addressed his brother in an accusatory tone. «In fact. That’s what we promised each other every day. So how did Snivy reject you?» He added.

His brother didn't know how to answer. It was clear that the question had devastated him.

«I'm a boy like many others. Like you. For that matter. In the world, there are millions of people like us. Just as there are millions of Pokémon like my Oshawott or your Tepig. Or even Pancham and Scraggy. They are Pokémon that chose... that accepted to live with us. Despite all our limitations. And then there are Pokémon like Snivy. Who aren't satisfied. Because my 'wanting to become stronger' isn't enough.» Gilles explained, leaving his brother speechless.

Or rather. Didier had something to say, but... he didn't want to agree with his brother. He also felt the same way.

They were both aware that, even if they and their Pokémon trained day and night for their entire lives, they would not achieve the same results as Ash and his team.

Ash had noticed that the situation between the two brothers, even though both were aware of the truth, showed no sign of improvement.

Ash, over time, had been able to mend numerous feuds. Even more complex ones than this. In all cases, he had adopted the same modus operandi, after bringing the people involved face-to-face with the facts.

And this case would be no exception.

«Now that you are here, face-to-face, how about a battle?» Ash proposed.

«A battle?!?» Neither Anita nor the two brothers fully understood Ash's proposal.

Serena, unlike the three, had already witnessed similar events, and she knew that Ash's method was very effective. She had also formulated a hypothesis as to why this happened.

«You don't have much to lose. At least try.» Serena encouraged them.

«Alright…» The brothers replied, not very convinced. Ash was already ready to referee the match. «Let's dispense with the pleasantries. It will be a one-on-one battle. The winner is the one who can defeat the opponent's Pokémon.»

Although a bit hesitant, the brothers lined up facing each other, in what had become an improvised battle arena.

«Very well! Pancham! Your turn!» Gilles sent out his Pokémon. «Scraggy, go!» His brother sent out his Pokémon. It seemed that Ash's plan was bearing fruit.

A Pokémon similar to a bipedal lizard came out of Didier's Poké Ball. Its body was predominantly yellow. Its head was darker than the rest of its body, except for the jaw. Its legs were amply covered in skin. Its tail was very wide and darker than the rest of its body. Its belly was red and had three thin black horizontal stripes, and its hands had three rounded fingers. Its large eyes were placed on the sides of its head. It had two small nostrils, an arched mouth. There was a small red crest on its head.

Gilles and Didier had both chosen the Pokémon that had been given to them by their parents.

«Let's begin! Pancham, go with Iron Head!» Gilles ordered. The structure of the panda's head changed, becoming hard as steel.

«Scraggy! Headbutt! Quick!» Didier ordered instead. Pancham and Scraggy started running towards each other, to the center of the improvised battle arena.

Contact between the two was inevitable, and due to the energy released from the impact, both Pancham and Scraggy recoiled several meters.

Despite this, neither Pokémon seemed willing to give up.

A few moments later, in fact, Pancham was charging again with a Thunder Punch. Pancham's arm, charged with electricity, was ready to lash out at the enemy.

«Scraggy! Bite the punch with Crunch!» Didier ordered. Scraggy complied, quickly reaching the target and biting the electrified punch.

Now the clash had turned into an endurance contest. Would Pancham or Scraggy give up first?

«Quick! Attack with Iron Head!» Pancham hit the opponent with a violent blow to the head, making him release his grip. He seemed immobilized.

He had also let go and now Pancham had his hands free.

«Let's end it here! Thunder Punch!» Gilles ordered.

«Come on! Try to defend yourself!» Didier ordered.

Scraggy, who had meanwhile recovered, had just enough time to pull up the rubbery skin that covered the lower part of his body.

Although the rubbery skin had softened the blow, the punch thrown by Pancham was truly powerful and had launched him to the opposite side of the road.

Despite the violence of the impact, Scraggy had still not given up. He still held the elastic skin taut.

«Scraggy, attack with High Jump Kick!» Didier was aware of the danger of that move. He knew well that if he didn't hit the target, Scraggy would get hurt, but he had no choice.

Scraggy took a leap and his knee lit up with an orange aura. Ready to hit the enemy.

Gilles remained on standby. He was perfectly aware of the secondary effect of that move.

«Now dodge!» He ordered shortly after.

Pancham moved about a meter to the right, not allowing the opponent's attack to land. Scraggy, planted on the ground, let out a cry of pain.

«Very good! Let's end it here! Pancham! Use Brick Break!» The panda obeyed. He attacked his opponent with a powerful blow of his arm, which sent him back again to the opposite side of the field.

Scraggy had ended up on the mat.

«It doesn't matter that you won. You gave it your all!» Didier returned his Scraggy to its Poké Ball.

«As for you…» Didier addressed his brother. «I have to apologize to you. I was terribly childish.» Gilles went to approach his brother and show him that he had accepted his apologies, when a familiar sound startled those present. It was the sirens of a police car.

«I knew it! They betrayed me!» Didier complained, even though, deep down, he knew he couldn't trust them.

The dark, long, and quite wedge-shaped sedan stopped right in front of the entrance to the alley, making any attempt to escape impossible.

A woman got out of the sedan. She was wearing a light brown uniform and carrying some badges. There was no doubt, although her clothing and hairstyle were very different from those Ash and Serena were used to, there was no doubt, she was an Officer Jenny.

«Good morning, Officer!» They greeted her.

«Good morning to you, boys.» the woman replied. Suddenly her expression changed, becoming more serious. «Didier. You are under arrest for theft.» the woman took handcuffs from her belt and handcuffed the boy.

He was a bit shaken but expected it. After all, he was guilty and couldn't say or do anything to defend himself. He offered no resistance even when the woman made him get into the back seat.

«Just now that we had made up…» Gilles commented in a heartbroken tone. On one hand, he knew it was right, but on the other…

Hearing those words and having understood the low danger of the subject, the Officer moved away from the car to talk to Gilles. From her expression, she seemed to want to give him some good news.

«They also told me the reason why he joined them and, I must admit, it's a very stupid reason. He doesn't need to know it, but he'll only be inside for a week. I think a week in the cooler is enough to teach him a lesson. Now though, I better go. Goodbye!» The woman said goodbye and returned to the car. The others greeted her in turn.

«Now excuse me, but I really have to go!» Gilles said goodbye to them. «I have to go home. My parents will be worried. The next time we see each other, I’d like to battle with you, Ash!» Gilles definitively took his leave from the group. «And we will be ready to accept it, won't we, Pikachu?» Ash asked the question rhetorically.

A few moments later, he joined his friends in saying goodbye to him.

Now the three were heading towards the Pokémon Center, where Incineroar and Lillipup were still training. Judging by Incineroar's expression, the little one had made progress.

Without anyone saying anything, the little one took one of the few remaining branches in her mouth. She squeezed it hard, and flames generated from her mouth, engulfing the entire surface of her mouth.

With a single bite, she managed to break and incinerate the branch.

«Wow, what power!» Anita was amazed. She couldn't believe her Lillipup was so strong. «Well… with a master like that…» Ash commented with a smile.

Shortly after, Ash's expression changed. He knew well that, one day, Lillipup would evolve into Stoutland and…

«I'd say you've trained enough for today. That's enough.» Ash commented.

«Yes, maybe it's better for them to rest. And the same can be said for us.» Serena added. Anita merely nodded. She was actually a bit tired. And if she wanted to challenge the Gym again the next day, she had to be at maximum concentration.

Anita couldn't sleep that night either. And, like the previous day, she managed to eat breakfast with difficulty, after being convinced by Ash.

The three reached the Gym bright and early. Despite this, Cilan seemed to have been waiting for the challenger for some time. «I knew you would be back soon.» he welcomed her. «I imagine you trained with Ash.» he commented.

Anita remained silent. She certainly didn't want to spill her strategy, or the Gym Leader would probably invent something to counter it.

«Follow me.» Cilan invited them. The three followed him to the battle arena. Everything was ready for the battle. Ash and Serena took their seats in the stands, and shortly after they were joined by Carlos, who sat next to Ash.

Meanwhile, Cilan was fiddling with the electronic referee.

«Let's see if I remember correctly… you're Anita, this is your first Gym battle, and your first Pokémon is Oshawott, right?» The Gym Leader asked. «Y-yes.» she replied.

«Then we can begin. As Gym Leader, I cannot refuse a challenge.» Anita didn't know how to respond. Before this one, she hadn't visited other Gyms.

«The battle between Gym Leader Cilan and Anita, the challenger, now begins. It will be a two-on-two battle; however, only the Challenger will be allowed to switch their Pokémon. The battle will end when both Pokémon of one of the two Trainers are no longer able to battle.» the electronic referee announced.

«Lillipup! Your turn!» The Gym Leader sent out his first Pokémon. Followed, a few moments later, by the challenger. «Oshawott! It's your moment!»

Chapter Text

A New Friend

«The first move goes to the challenger!» Declared the electronic referee. «Let's start with Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water and darted low to the ground toward its opponent. «Try to dodge!» Cilan ordered. «Try to move as much as possible!» Anita ordered.

The Water-type Pokémon obeyed, moving left and right, making it very difficult to predict where it would arrive. Poor Lillipup couldn't figure out where the opponent was coming from and was hit squarely and hurled into the air. Despite this, Cilan didn't panic. «Try to land and attack with Take Down!» The Gym Leader ordered. Meanwhile, Oshawott had landed and was catching its breath.

As soon as Anita saw the Puppy Pokémon running at high speed towards her Otter Pokémon. «Try to defend yourself with the Razor Shell!» The Pokémon complied, holding its shell with its hands and using it as a shield. The girl's plan worked. Oshawott retreated a few feet but didn't suffer any major consequences.

«Now use Water Gun!» A powerful jet of water shot out of the Otter's mouth, hitting the opponent squarely and launching it into the air. Even in this case, the Gym Leader did not lose his calm in the slightest. «Use Work Up!» The Puppy Pokémon’s body glowed light brown, and its eyes did the same.

«Oshawott! Hit with Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon's body covered itself in water, becoming like a kind of out-of-control projectile. «Go, Lillipup, use Take Down!» The Gym Leader ordered. The Puppy Pokémon launched a powerful attack, made even stronger by gravity. The two Pokémon clashed mid-field, generating a powerful explosion. When the dust settled, the result of the battle was clear to everyone.

«Lillipup is no longer able to battle. Oshawott wins.» Declared the electronic referee. «Return, Lillipup. You did a great job.» Cilan recalled his Pokémon. «You can also switch out yours if you want.» The Gym Leader reminded her. «Friend, do you want to continue or would you prefer to rest a bit?» He asked the Pokémon. «Sha! Sha!» It replied. «Good, then we can continue!» Declared the Gym Leader. «Pansage! It’s your turn!» The Gym Leader sent out the Grass-type elemental monkey. «The first move goes to the challenger!» Declared the electronic referee.

«Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» The Trainer ordered. The Otter Pokémon covered itself in water and launched itself against the opponent. «Defend yourself with Vine Whip!» Thick vines sprouted from the Pokémon’s head. It crossed them in front of itself for protection. “Hey! But that's the same technique Ash's Snivy used!” She thought. “But how can I counter a technique like that?”

«And now launch it!» The vines, compressed by the attack, were rapidly released and, like springs, hurled the opponent to the opposite side of the Gym. «Oshawott is no longer able to battle. Pansage wins!» Declared the electronic referee.

Anita hurried to recall it into the Poké Ball. «You were fantastic!» She said to the Poké Ball.

Cilan was quite perplexed. Why ask him to battle again if, until that moment, the battle had been identical to the previous one? What was that girl thinking?

«Very well! Lillipup! Let's show him what we've learned!» The girl seemed confident and enthusiastic, but despite this, the Gym Leader remained impassive.

«The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» Declared the electronic referee.

«Good, Pansage! Use Scratch!» The Grass Monkey Pokémon started running towards the opponent. It had a pointed hand shape, with claws that reflected the light.

For the moment the script was identical to the previous battle, further increasing the Gym Leader's doubts. Contrary to the previous time, Anita appeared quite calm.

It almost seemed like she was fine with it.

«Attack with Fire Fang!» The girl ordered, hinting at a smile. She had kept her secret weapon until the moment it was truly necessary.

The Pokémon started running toward the opponent, its mouth covered in fire and its sharp teeth clearly visible.

«Pansage! Dodge and slow it down with Bullet Seed!» The Gym Leader ordered, aware that an attack of that kind could cause great damage to his Pokémon.

The Grass-type monkey began firing a huge quantity of yellow and green colored seeds from its mouth, which struck the ground forcefully, generating a giant cloud of dust. It was impossible to see an inch in front of one's face. Lillipup was blocked, unable to react.

«Lillipup is not the only Pokémon that has learned new moves. Pansage has too, hasn't he?» The Gym Leader asked rhetorically, also hinting at a smile.

«Pansage! Use Rock Tomb!» The Grass Monkey Pokémon, still suspended in the air thanks to the previous Bullet Seed, generated a gigantic boulder from its arms, which it hurled towards the battleground.

Then another. And another one still.

Anita was aware that she had to react, or she would lose again. And she was afraid of what might happen. Would she still deserve the trust of Ash and Serena? But above all, would she again deserve the trust of her Pokémon?

Those thoughts blocked her. Again.

«Come on! You have to react! You can do it!» Carlos got up from his seat and encouraged the challenger.

It wasn't something he usually did, but in that case, he owed it to her, after what had happened. Cheering her on was his small way of repaying the debt.

“He's right! We can't stand still,” Anita thought.

«Lillipup! We must react! Try to move as fast as possible, let's confuse him!» The young Trainer ordered.

The dust had now cleared. The Pokémon was almost completely surrounded by rocks. It seemed trapped.

There was only one way out and, most likely, it was a trap.

«Go, Pansage! Finish the job!» The Gym Leader ordered. The Grass Monkey Pokémon generated yet another boulder with its upper limbs and hurled it.

«Lillipup!» Anita could only say, paralyzed. «Just the final touch!» The Gym Leader could only say, while his Pokémon

was preparing to launch a gigantic boulder against the opponent. It was clear to everyone what would happen if the attack landed.

Anita was desperate, and her Pokémon could sense it perfectly. It understood that, in those situations, it would have to fend for itself.

The gigantic boulder was now a very short distance away. It would be hit.

A huge roar made the entire Gym shake. The boulder had hit the center of that trap.

«No! Not again! I'm completely useless!» Anita despaired. She spread her arms and bent her knees, in the throes of despair. An unreal silence fell in the Gym.

«Wait, Ash, something's not right.» Serena commented, turning to the boy. «Did you notice that the outcome of the Battle hasn't been announced yet?» Serena pointed out. «Last time, however, they announced it immediately.» she added.

The boy quickly thought. Serena was indeed right.

According to the rules, the people assisting the battle could not intervene, but, due to a regulatory loophole, nothing prevented the Pokémon from doing so.

Ash turned towards Pikachu and whispered something in its ear. The Pokémon, hearing its Trainer's words, descended from the stands and reached Anita. It moved quickly and reached the girl in a few moments.

«Hey! Pikachu? What's going on?» The girl asked. The Pokémon, using its acting skills honed over the years, stood on its hind legs and threw a few punches in the air with its front limbs. «Pika?» It asked.

«Are you talking to me about the battle?» The girl asked. The Pokémon gave a small affirmative gesture with its head, then lay down on the ground with its legs spread apart.

«Do you want to tell me that the battle isn't over? But Lillipup…» Pikachu, back on all fours, merely touched the battleground with its tail. «Do you want to tell me it's underground? But Lillipup doesn't know…» The girl couldn't finish the sentence. The ground began to tremble. Not far from the rock trap, Lillipup emerged from the ground.

«You’re right! It learned Dig!» The girl complimented. And, apparently, the surprises weren't over. Lillipup's body was illuminating with a white light, tending towards blue.

«It's evolving!» All those present commented. The Pokémon’s body grew in size, the blue fur on its back became longer, transforming into a kind of cape, which now also covered its tail.

The fur on its face changed shape, transforming, in the lower part into a kind of mustache, while in the upper part into a kind of three-pointed crest.

Overall, the Pokémon's expression had become more serious and less playful. Anita didn't waste time and scanned the newly evolved Lillipup with her Smart Rotom. «Herdier, the Loyalty Pokémon, Normal type, female specimen, evolution of Lillipup. It is very intelligent and easily becomes attached. According to some theories, it was the first Pokémon to become a human companion. Known moves Tackle, Bite, Fire Fang, Dig. Ability Intimidate.» Anita remained silent for a few moments.

«What is the Intimidate ability?» She asked.

The Smart Rotom responded immediately. «Intimidate is a Pokémon Ability that allows the Pokémon entering the field to make the opponent's attacks less strong.» the device replied.

Strengthened by her Pokémon’s evolution, Anita hinted at a smile. Before resuming the battle, the girl knelt towards Pikachu and stroked its head.

«And thank you. Without your help, it would have ended like last time.» The Pokémon smiled at her.

«The battle can resume!» Declared the Gym Leader. «Now that Lillipup has evolved, we can finally put it to the test. Use Scratch!» The Grass Monkey Pokémon started running toward the opponent. It had a pointed hand shape, with claws that reflected the light.

Anita remained watchful. Now that Lillipup had evolved, it had become stronger, even physically.

The little monkey was now a step away from attacking Herdier. «Now! Attack with Fire Fang!» Anita ordered. The Pokémon spun around quickly and jumped onto the opponent, biting its shoulder with fiery fangs.

«And now launch him!» She ordered. The Pokémon, thanks to its powerful neck muscles, violently shook its head and hurled the opponent against the barriers. The noise was deafening, and the impact was so violent that it created a hole in the barrier itself.

«Pansage is no longer able to battle. Herdier wins. Consequently, the challenger wins the battle.» Declared the electronic referee. Anita didn't want to believe it.

«Did we… did we win?» She asked, still incredulous.

In the meantime, she was joined by Ash, Serena, and Carlos. «You finally did it. It wasn't easy, but you did an extraordinary job.» Ash complimented. «To be honest, it's thanks to you. If you hadn't done everything you did…» Serena smiled at her. «Don't say that. In the end, it was you and your Pokémon who fought. If you won, it's only thanks to you.»

Meanwhile, Cilan had retrieved the Gym Badge.

«This is the Trio Badge, it’s proof that you and your Pokémon defeated this Gym. You still have nine Gym Battles left before you can face the League. And, remember, every time you challenge a Gym, the subsequent battles will also be more difficult.» Having said this, the Gym Leader and the girl shook hands.

«What do you mean there are ten Gyms in Unova?» Ash asked. «I’ve always been used to eight.» he added. «Unova is a very large region, with many big cities. To avoid unnecessary rivalries, the League decided to allow two other cities to have their Gyms. Another city has also sent its application, but we don't know whether it will be accepted or not.» the Gym Leader explained.

Ash, albeit a little perplexed, accepted the matter. What really mattered to him was that Anita had been able to win her first badge.

Anita took the badge case out of her bag, a gift from Professor Juniper. It was made of metal and was painted black and pink. It was slightly larger than the ones Ash was used to, and that made sense, given that it had to hold ten badges.

Inside, it was lined with black foam rubber, shaped to hold the badges.

Anita didn't have time to put it in, as she was immediately called back by the Gym Leader.

«W-W-Wait, before you put it in the badge case we have to take the customary photo.» The girl was a bit disoriented. She certainly didn't expect the post-battle ceremonial to include this as well.

She slowly approached the Gym Leader, still holding the newly won Trio Badge.

«Carlos?» The assistant immediately understood. He moved away from the group to rush into a small nearby room. He opened the door and entered for a few moments.

He returned shortly after with a large camera hanging around his neck. It was made by a well-known Kanto company.

Cilan approached Anita and invited her to show the newly won badge to the camera.

Carlos took some photos from different perspectives, but at one point, he stopped.

«I think it would be right for the real protagonists of this battle to also be part of the photos, don't you think?» He proposed.

The two understood immediately, reaching for their Poké Balls.

«Come on out!» The girl and the Gym Leader released their Pokémon. Both the Gym Leader's Pokémon and Oshawott had regained consciousness, although they were still a bit bruised.

«Sha?» Oshawott looked at its teammate, she had changed… she had grown…

Anita immediately noticed her starter Pokémon’s perplexity. «It's still her, only… she evolved.» the Trainer explained to him. «One day it will be your turn too.» She explained with a smile. «Sha?» The little Pokémon was perplexed. He was fine as he was. At that moment, he didn't believe he had reasons to evolve.

Carlos took some more photos, in which the Pokémon were also present. «And now, if you don't mind, I would also like to capture you.» Ash, Serena, and Pikachu approached the pair.

After taking the last photos, the three were finally able to leave the Gym. It was still early for lunch; they would return there later.

«Hey, Ash! Since you guys don't have much to do, what do you think about a battle?» Carlos suggested to him. Sure. He remembered how it had gone last time, but the enthusiasm caused by that battle made him eager.

«That sounds fine to me. If you don't mind, of course.» The boy replied, looking for the girls' agreement. Judging by their expressions, there seemed to be no particular issues.

Of course, Serena would have preferred to train for the first Pokémon Showcase, which she was soon to compete in, but she knew very well how much Ash cared about battles.

Pikachu made to climb down from the boy's shoulder and get ready to battle, but Ash stopped him. «I’m sorry, buddy, but this time I’d like someone else to battle.» The boy explained. «Pika?» The Pokémon was quite disappointed, but still decided to accept the decision.

«Umbreon! It's your moment!» Carlos sent out his trusty Pokémon. On the other hand, he had no alternatives, although he didn't want to show it.

«Snivy! I choose you!» Ash sent out the newcomer, sparking perplexity among those present, Carlos most of all.

«But are you sure that…?» Carlos asked him.

Both the Trainer and, above all, the Pokémon looked at him with a perplexed expression. Snivy was happy to have been chosen; it meant that Ash trusted her.

«Shall we begin, or should we just stand here looking into each other's eyes?» Carlos was impatient to battle. He was already relishing his victory against an apparently simple opponent, despite her Trainer's experience.

«You can start first.» Carlos invited them.

Ash didn't need to be told twice. «Very good, let's start with Attract!» The Pokémon winked at the target and launched a large series of hearts towards it.

«Umbreon! Try to resist!» Carlos encouraged him, but it was too late. His Pokémon had already been hit by the opponent's Attract. «Let's try anyway! Use Quick Attack!» Umbreon remained still, immobile.

«That is one of the consequences of falling in love.» Cilan commented, having stayed to watch the battle. «When a Pokémon is in love, it cannot attack.» He explained.

«Good Snivy, attack with Leaf Tornado!» The Pokémon leaped and generated a gigantic tornado of sharp leaves from its tail, which it hurled at the target.

Umbreon was enveloped by a powerful current and lifted into the air. Snivy spun around, directing the air current downwards, making the opponent slam down.

Finally, the Pokémon landed softly.

Umbreon was a bit dazed, but still able to continue.

«Go with Shadow Ball!» He ordered. The Pokémon generated a sphere of dark, purplish, almost black energy from its mouth. It was traveling at great speed and would soon hit the target.

«Send it back to the sender with Vine Whip!» Two long vines emerged from the protuberances on the Pokémon's back, striking the energy sphere.

With a rapid movement, the energy sphere was now on a collision course with Umbreon, without either he or his Trainer being able to do anything.

The impact was inevitable. The explosion that occurred between the attack and the Pokémon was quite violent, but Umbreon still seemed capable of battling.

Carlos was starting to show the first signs of frustration. He hadn't managed to touch Snivy in any way yet.

«Maybe with a close-range move we can attack! Try Quick Attack!» Umbreon started running towards the opponent, becoming almost invisible.

«I wonder what she'll come up with now.» Serena wondered.

«Go, Snivy! Slow it down with Vine Whip!» Again, long whips emerged from the protuberances on the Pokémon's back, which quickly reached the opponent, causing him to fall on his face.

«Let's finish it with Leaf Tornado!» The Pokémon leaped and generated a gigantic tornado of sharp leaves from its tail, which it hurled at the target.

Umbreon was enveloped by a powerful current and lifted into the air. Snivy spun around, directing the air current downwards, making the opponent slam down.

Finally, the Pokémon landed softly, then, noticing the opponent lying unconscious on the ground, it jumped for joy. She had managed to defeat him. She had repaid the trust Ash had placed in her.

Umbreon fell to the ground, defeated.

The expression on Carlos's face changed, becoming quite disappointed, but with a hint of satisfaction. For the second time, Ash had shown what it meant to be a Champion.

«You are truly incredible! With a simple Snivy, you managed to defeat my Umbreon!» Carlos attempted to congratulate.

Ash and his Snivy made the same expression; they were both quite displeased.

«Oh… She’s not just a simple Snivy. She is a Snivy who, more than anyone, desires to become stronger. And she puts so much, so much effort into it. I simply try to accommodate her wish.» Ash explained, meeting with the approval of his Pokémon. Carlos didn't understand. Was merely desiring to become stronger really enough to achieve results like that?

«I also want to become stronger. Umbreon and I, even when he was still an Eevee, trained every day. To improve. We even managed to defeat some challengers… but you guys are just on another level!»

The boy knelt, almost in prayer.

The girls put a hand over their mouths to hide a giggle. It looked like he was about to propose marriage.

«Can I become your travel companion? I desire to become stronger more than anything, and I'm sure you will be the most suitable master.»

Ash’s expression changed. However hard he tried, though, he couldn't hide a smile.

«For me it would be fine… the more the merrier… but it doesn't just depend on me. You know that.» Ash turned towards the girls. Noticing how the two's expressions remained impassive, Carlos decided to bring out a few tricks.

«I promise I'll cook for you… you've seen that I manage quite well in the kitchen…» Nothing. The girls' expressions hadn't changed one bit.

«I apologize for pretending to be the Gym Leader. I just wanted to make life easier for Cilan and the others. And so…»

The two girls exchanged a knowing look.

«You're in.» Serena welcomed him. Carlos was enthusiastic. He knew they would have to work hard, but having the World Champion as his master would give him great motivation.

«Then I'll go prepare! We can leave after lunch, what do you say?» Carlos suggested. Having nothing else to do, Ash and the girls accepted.

«Before leaving, though, we'll have to stop by the Pokémon Center. It's always best to make sure everything is okay before setting off.» Serena had just finished consulting her Smart Rotom.

After lunch, the four reached the city's Pokémon Center. At that moment, the Center was practically empty.

Apart from them and Nurse Joy, there was only one woman.

She was wearing a lab coat and had long dark blue hair, held in place by a pink flowered hair clip. She wore a pair of glasses.

Next to her was a small, round-shaped quadruped Pokémon. It was primarily pink. On its body was a pattern of purple and dark pink flowers. It seemed to be floating and was surrounded by a kind of dark smoke.

The woman was speaking with Nurse Joy, probably about the Pokémon accompanying her.

Anita scanned the Pokémon accompanying the woman with her Smart Rotom.

«Munna, the Dream Eater Pokémon. Psychic type. Female specimen. When Munna eats someone's dreams, they forget what they dreamed. It constantly floats in the air. Known moves: Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Shadow Ball, Moonblast.»

The girl put the Smart Rotom back in her bag.

«Wait a moment.» Carlos stopped her. «But in the Pokédex photo, it looks different.» Anita retrieved her Smart Rotom and searched for more information on the Pokémon.

«It says here that if it emits dark smoke, it has devoured nightmares. Or if it is very worried.»

The four approached the Nurse’s counter to have their Pokémon checked. In doing so, they overheard part of the conversation between the woman and the Nurse.

«I would rule out the possibility that it ate nightmares; if, as you told me, this has been happening since this morning, then it's more likely that it's worried about something or someone.» The Nurse explained.

«Oh, I apologize if I wasted your time.» The woman apologized. «I was worried about my Pokémon and…» Ash smiled at her. «Don't worry. Actually, we'll help you. Can you tell us what happened?» Ash asked her.

«Oh, excuse me. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Zania. I am a scientist who worked at the Dreamyard. Before something happened that I currently don't remember. We were carrying out some experiments to obtain clean energy from Munna and Musharna's Dream Mist. While conducting some studies, there was a gigantic explosion. My colleagues and I were rescued by a guy who trained a Hypno. Aside from that, I don't remember anything else.» She explained.

«Now excuse me, but I have to go. Work calls me!» The woman, escorted by her Munna, left the Pokémon Center. The woman moved away and exited the building.

«Hello, everyone! I'm now at your disposal; would you like me to take a look at your Pokémon?» A strange creature peeked out from the door behind the counter.

It was a plump, bipedal Pokémon, pink and cream-colored, except for its light blue eyes. The upper part of its head and ears was pink, while the lower part was cream. Its ears hung down the sides of its head. On the lower part of its head were two appendages resembling a stethoscope. Its torso was pink on the sides and back, while its belly was cream-colored. Its arms, equipped with three fingers, were pink. Its legs were short and cream-colored, with two rather short toes.

Anita scanned the strange creature with her Smart Rotom.

«Audino, the Hearing Pokémon. Normal type. Male specimen. This kind-hearted Pokémon can perceive the physical and mental conditions of anyone it touches with its antennae. Known moves: Heal Pulse, Safeguard, Protect.»

Ash and the others placed their Poké Balls on the counter so the Nurse could collect them. A few moments later, Pikachu himself jumped onto the counter.

«I apologize if I'm being nosy, but… something doesn't quite add up to me.» The Nurse paused from arranging the Poké Balls on the trolley.

«Tell me everything… Serena, right?» The Nurse replied. «I don't understand one thing. If Professor Zania worked closely with Munna and Musharna, shouldn't she know why it's surrounded by dark smoke?» She asked.

The Nurse resumed her work. «I couldn't tell you. She's been showing up here for a couple of days. Always the same way. I try to reassure her. There was the incident at the Dreamyard a few months ago, but she's only been behaving like this for a few days.» The Nurse explained. «Since then, practically every day, Zania went to the Dreamyard to take care of a colony of Munna and Musharna that had moved into the ruins of the Yard. She had explained how, after the explosion, a strange energy had concentrated in those ruins, attracting several Pokémon. It was a safe and protected place for them. Among the various Pokémon that took refuge there are many Munna and Musharna specimens. She and other volunteers were taking care of them, at least until a few days ago.» She added. «What do you say? Could we visit it?» Ash asked. «Yes, of course. First, I'll take care of your Pokémon, then I'll get you what you need to visit the Yard. It's safe, but as a precaution, it's best to wear protective gear. You never know if some rubble might decide to fall!» The Nurse replied, as she took Pikachu and the various Poké Balls to the back of the station.

«By the way… if you're going there, could you take these berries?» The Nurse pointed to a heavy-looking bag positioned not far from the door.

The four reached the relaxation area and sat down on one of the sofas made available for Trainers.

In front of the sofa was a small table with several magazines and newspapers. Not far away were three vending machines: one for hot drinks, one for snacks and cold drinks, and one dedicated to Pokémon food.

Ash, seeing the vending machines,

«Do you want anything?» He asked. «Excuse me, but we just finished lunch! Is it possible that you're already hungry?» Carlos asked him. «No. There are times when I'm not hungry. When I sleep, for example.» Ash replied, in a joking tone.

Given the lack of success of his proposal, the boy limited himself to getting a package of cheese croissants for himself.

While Ash had opened the package, spreading a noticeable stench in the air, Serena had picked up one of the newspapers made available to guests.

It was a general information newspaper dedicated mainly to young trainers. It featured numerous sections and articles dedicated to the most varied interests.

They ranged from training tips to how best to care for one's Pokémon, such as which products to use to make their fur softer and shinier, to advice on what to feed them and similar things.

There were also interviews with current celebrities or Trainers who had particularly distinguished themselves.

But what the girl was most interested in was something else.

The date and time of the first Pokémon Showcase she would have to face in Unova.

«It should be here, though…» The girl nervously flipped through the newspaper. «Ah-ha! There it is!» The three looked at the girl with

curious looks. «What were you looking for?» Carlos asked her.

«I decided to travel with Ash and Anita also to participate in the Unova Showcases. And, apparently, the next Showcase will be

held in Striaton City. A small city located between Striaton City and Nacrene City. It seems a special feature will be dedicated to the winner of the Showcase!» The girl replied.

«That's fantastic! I can't wait to see you in action!» Ash replied, looking at her dreamily.

Carlos was of a different opinion. «What do you mean "the winner"? Do they already know a girl will win?» Everyone looked at him as if he were an alien. «You know, only girls can participate in Showcases.» Serena explained to him.

«Speaking of which… I would be very happy if you also participated in the Showcase, what do you think?» Anita remained silent.

«I don't know. I'm afraid it might go wrong. I'm afraid of being judged. And also… I wouldn't want this to prejudice the reason why you decided to travel with me.» She replied.

Ash, who in the meantime had finished eating and had thrown the bag in the trash, turned to the younger Trainer. «Sometimes distracting yourself and taking a break is the best choice. And besides, it's never wasted time when you're with your Pokémon. Even if there's no battling in Showcases.» Ash replied.

«Obviously I don't have direct experience with Showcases… but I participated in some Pokémon Contests and I can say they were enlightening. Maybe the same will happen for you with the Showcase.» Ash replied to her.

«You participated in Pokémon Contests? Why did you never tell me?» Serena asked him.

«Oh, well… it was a really long time ago… think about it, in Hoenn the champion was Wallace, not Steven. And, although they were important for refining battle techniques and creating new ones, I never particularly shone… apart from one tie.» Serena looked at him with a doubtful expression. «A tie? But usually if contests end in a tie, you go to overtime until there is a winner.» Ash made a small nod, confirming his words. «That was a semi-official contest. It wasn't directly managed by the Pokémon Activities Committee. So different rules applied.» The boy rummaged in his backpack until he found half a ribbon.

«Here it is. It's become a good luck charm. I wonder if May still keeps hers.» Serena looked at him strangely. «You never told me about battling against her.» Serena replied. «I thought she had told you.» Ash countered.

«Your Pokémon are back in full health.»

The Nurse's voice brought them back to the day's objective. The four approached the counter. As soon as they arrived, Pikachu immediately jumped onto Ash.

«You look really fit, huh!» The boy commented, petting his Pokémon.

«If you want to visit the Yard, you'll need these.» The Nurse took five construction helmets from a corner of the counter. Four regular size and one a little smaller.

«The Yard is not far from here. At most fifteen minutes on foot. As soon as you enter, please, put them on. Pass the buckles under your chin and close them. At least that way they won't risk falling off.»

After saying goodbye to the Nurse, the group set off for the Yard. Serena had set the coordinates on the maps app of her Smart Rotom and began leading the group toward the destination.

They walked for quite some time, following the girl's directions.

«Are we sure this is the right way? We've been walking for ages… you don't think she meant fifteen hours, do you?» Ash complained.

«Relax… we're practically there.» Serena reassured him.

After a little more road, the four finally reached the location indicated on the map. It was a huge complex of buildings.

It looked like they had been partially destroyed by a violent explosion.

The buildings, not too long ago proud and majestic, now stood as battered skeletons. The wind that had picked up in the meantime seemed to play a macabre melody, passing through what were once windows. Around the building there were large quantities of broken glass, which were most likely the panes that covered the building. The sunlight made them sparkle as if they were small jewels.

The structure, positioned on a hill, overlooked the city. From that perspective, the smog that enveloped the city was visible.

«Now that we've arrived, we can deliver the berries and start investigating, what do you say?» Carlos proposed. «Are you sure you want to go in? It doesn't look very safe to me.» While the others had advanced a few steps, Anita had remained a few steps behind. «Don't you think that if it were really dangerous, Nurse Joy would have simply told us not to go near it? I don't think she wants to take that responsibility, do you?» Carlos tried to reassure her.

The girl, albeit not very convinced, covered the short distance separating her from the three.

Reunited again, the four put on the helmets given to them by the Nurse. After adjusting his own, Ash also took care of Pikachu. Finally, the four were able to enter the first building.

«Wow. I thought it was in much worse shape.» Serena commented, giving a quick glance at the enormous room. A substantially empty room.

Only a few bookcases leaning against the walls testified to the building's origin. As soon as the four entered, the numerous Pokémon present inside looked at them suspiciously. They didn't seem intent on attacking, but they seemed ready to do so.

They were Pokémon of different species, quite different from each other. There were some specimens of Watchog, Patrat, some Lillipup, Mareep, some Zigzagoon, Rattata, some Purrloin, Lilligant, some Petilil, Minccino, and Cinccino.

Ash opened the bag and looked around for bowls. As soon as he found them, he began to fill them. A few moments later, Serena, Anita, and Carlos also began to help him.

Finished filling the bowls, the four slowly moved away. «Go ahead and eat, they're for you.» Ash invited them.

The Pokémon, as soon as the four moved away, began to eat.

The same happened in the other buildings. Only the central building remained. The largest and also the one in the worst condition. Ash positioned himself in front of everyone, wanting to ensure he was the first to enter.

His sense of responsibility compelled him to make sure everything was alright.

«Wait. I don't have a good feeling about this.» Ash motioned for the others to stop. «I don't like this place at all.»

He added. «I think you can relax. If it were dangerous, the Nurse would never have allowed us to come here, if it wasn't safe, do you think?» Carlos replied to him.

«Ash has traveled far and wide across the world, I think we should listen to him.» Anita countered. «But what do you think could happen!» The boy took a few steps forward, passing everyone.

«You see… everything is perfectly SAFEEEEEEEEEEE!» The boy was caught by a sturdy-looking net.

«Quick, Pikachu, free him, break the net with Iron Tail!» The Pokémon descended from the boy's shoulder and leaped. With a violent swipe of his tail, he quickly cut the net.

The boy fell face-first onto the ground. He got up and dusted himself off. «Maybe you were right. But… what is a trap doing here?» The boy picked up the net. «There must be poachers around. That's not good news.» Ash commented.

«Do you think it's Team Rocket?» Serena asked.

«I don't think so. They would have used more resistant nets… Pikachu-proof!» Ash replied to her, in an ironic tone. «We can't joke too much about this. Team Rocket or not, there are dangerous people around, and we can't let them harm the Pokémon.» He added.

«And so… what do you want to do?» Carlos asked him. «Should we go and warn Officer Jenny? We'll take her this net and tell her what we saw. That way we can finally leave.» He proposed.

«Don't you think that would be irresponsible? What if, while we are gone, they arrive and manage to capture some Pokémon?» Serena asked him. «That wouldn't be acceptable. You're right. But then what do you suggest we do?»

«Given your great talent for getting into trouble, you could trigger the other traps. Maybe that way, seeing that the traps

have been sprung…» Ash proposed.

«No. I don't want to hit the ground again. Once is enough for me.» He replied to him.

«Don't worry. Before, we had to free you quickly and we acted instinctively. This time we will be more prepared.» The boy took one of his Poké Balls from his backpack.

«But I ask you to be careful… his way of showing affection is quite… suffocating.» Serena tried not to laugh. She had experienced it firsthand and wasn't sure she wanted to repeat it.

«Dragonite! I need your help!» A bipedal, orange-colored draconic Pokémon materialized from the boy's Poké Ball. It was tall and massive.

As soon as it came out of the Poké Ball, Dragonite pounced on Anita and Carlos, hugging them tightly. «Hel—Help! I can't breathe!» Carlos complained.

Anita was of the same opinion. «You have to forgive her.» Ash apologized. «She's always enthusiastic about making new friends… but she doesn't always manage to gauge her strength.» Eventually, the Pokémon released its grip on the two unfortunate ones.

«Well… now I really feel safe. Between falling face-first to the ground and risking being crushed, I don't know which is worse!» The boy, feeling the pressure of those present, quickly changed his mind.

«Alright! But don't think I can really find the traps… that was just luccckkk!» After a few steps, the boy was caught by the second trap.

A few moments later, the boy was rescued by Dragonite. The Pokémon held the net with one of its arms, while, using its sharp claws, it managed to cut the rope holding the net.

It managed to safely land Carlos.

«Thank you.» The three couldn't help but laugh. Carlos truly had a natural talent for getting into trouble.

«Very good! It seems the traps have been sprung. We'll be able to get our hands on a rich haul!» A man in his early forties had just received several notifications on his device.

«Excuse me for saying this, brother, but don't you think it's a mistake? We know very well that these are nocturnal Pokémon! Don't you think it's a false alarm? Maybe some other Pokémon, maybe some careless kid…» Another man of roughly the same age replied to him. «If it's some kid, we'll teach him a lesson he won't forget easily… if it's a Pokémon, we don't make distinctions. Any Pokémon can fetch us some good money!» The other spurred him on.

«Then let's go, before he changes his mind. You know the boss wouldn't be happy at all.»

The two got out of the back of their van, and one of them sat in the driver's seat. The vehicle started after some insistence.

Meanwhile, at the Dreamyard, Carlos had apparently managed to spring all the traps. The four were about to leave when, suddenly, something caught Anita's attention.

«Did you hear that too?» A low, distant sound was beginning to spread. «I'm afraid it's the ones who set these traps… what do we do?» She asked, quite intimidated.

«We'll face them. We have no other choice.» Ash replied to her. «Are you sure? What if they're armed? What if they set an ambush for us?» The girl was increasingly worried.

«Don't worry, it's not the first time we've faced poachers. In fact, there hasn't been a region we've traveled to where we haven't had to deal with poachers… Unfortunately.» Ash replied.

«And you always faced them without worrying about the risks? That really takes a lot of courage!» Anita complimented.

«I've never done anything alone. Alone you do little or nothing.» The boy replied.

A few moments later, the noise stopped.

«Maybe they've arrived.» Carlos commented.

The two had gotten out of their van. One of them had opened the sliding door of the vehicle and handed his colleague a net launcher. «At least that way we don't return empty-handed.» He commented.

«And what do you want to catch? Lillipup? Then the boss will really laugh in our faces!» His colleague replied to him. «We'll see as we go. Do I have to remind you that if we're here, it's all your fault.» The other countered.

«What does it matter? We're here now, and we have to be careful, or they might discover us.» The other replied, making his colleague sigh. After adjusting their weapons, they began to head toward one of the buildings.

The first of the two kicked the door, which opened without protest. The Pokémon present there remained calm. «Well, well, well… how many nice Pokémon we have here!» One of the two commented, without sparking any reaction.

«I’d say we can proceed! Hypno! Use Cloud!» One of the two men opened one of his Poké Balls and threw it, sending out a beam of blue-white light.

In a few moments, the latter transformed into a yellow, humanoid-looking creature. Its neck was covered in thick white fur.

It had a large nose, large pointed ears, and small eyes. It held a pendulum tied with a string in one of its hands. As soon as it entered, it generated a large cloud of dark color from its mouth.

The two men put on masks to protect themselves from the gas.

In a few moments, the room filled with black smoke. The air became unbreathable. Several Pokémon began to cough and breathe with difficulty. Several whistles were heard in rapid succession.

«And now it's your turn!» The other shouted, throwing his Poké Ball. «Mandibuzz! Use Defog!» A raptor-like Pokémon came out of the man's Poké Ball. Its plumage was brown. Several bones were present on its body, such as on its crest or the lower part of its body. The bone on the lower part of the body resembled a kind of jaw. «Crah!» The Pokémon cried. Before repeatedly flapping its wings, rapidly making the cloud disappear.

The two men smiled when they saw the scene that appeared before their eyes.

The Pokémon they considered most valuable, namely the Lilligant, Minccino, and Cinccino, had been locked in thick nets, with the other Pokémon remaining impassive before the scene that had unfolded.

Too scared to be able to act.

«And now use Psychic!» Hypno's trainer ordered. Moving its pendulum, it created a wave that lifted all the imprisoned Pokémon in the nets. «And now take them to the van!» The Hypno followed the command, moving the Pokémon with its powers.

It led them and violently hurled them into the back of the vehicle.

Still using its powers, it made the lock click shut. Now, it was truly impossible for the Pokémon in the back to escape. Shortly after, the Pokémon returned to the two men. «Very well, now that we are sure we haven't made a wasted trip, we can think about why you brought us here.» The two abandoned the building and headed toward the central building.

The four had remained inside the building, in silence. They knew strangers had arrived, but they knew nothing about them. It was the best idea, so as not to endanger Carlos and Anita.

But now the plan seemed to have crumbled. Heavy footsteps were heading toward the building. «Here they come!» Serena commented.

«We'll take care of it!» Ash offered. «You two get to safety!» Anita and Carlos moved away, entering a small room that was originally used as a break room by those who worked there.

«I'm staying with you. I know you can handle yourself perfectly well, but I don't want you to take unnecessary risks.» Serena explained. «Alright, but be careful. We don't know what we're walking into.» The boy reminded her.

Serena merely nodded.

There was very little time left. The footsteps had become very close.

A powerful kick smashed the door open and, a few moments later, two men entered, followed by a Hypno and a Mandibuzz. The two men sized up Ash and Serena, and the two did the same.

«And what are you two doing here?» The boy asked. «We are…» One of the two began to speak, but stopped after a few words. «Maintenance workers…» The other replied, trying to sound credible.

«And we were just making sure everything was in order.» The other added.

«And to do that you need guns that shoot nets?!?» Ash asked, pretending to believe them. «What do you think?» One of the two men replied. «Hypno! Use Shadow Ball!» He ordered! «And you, Mandibuzz! Use Air Slash!» The second ordered.

«Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt! And you, Dragonite, go with Hurricane!» Ash ordered.

Serena didn't have time to grab one of her Poké Balls from her bag. The two trainers' Pokémon were lying on the ground, defeated.

Small sparks were still visible on Mandibuzz's body.

«Now all that's left for us is to…» One began. «Bolt!» The other continued. «Not so fast!» Ash's tone became serious. «Come on! We can't let them act undisturbed.» Ash invited Serena to follow him.

Meanwhile, the two men had moved away and reached their van. A few moments later, the vehicle drove off.

«What about Anita and Carlos?» Serena asked. «We'll follow them now. Then, once we arrive, we'll contact them to get Officer Jenny here.» the boy replied. «Alright. I just hope they don't worry too much.» The girl added.

«Come on, let's follow them!» The two climbed onto Dragonite's back and followed the vehicle. The latter, after a few turns on main roads, switched to a narrow country road.

At a certain point, the van stopped, on a slightly sloping road.

«Good, now we can get off.» Dragonite landed and Ash and Serena dismounted. The two men had gotten out of the van, and one of them had taken a bunch of keys.

As soon as the two got out of the vehicle, the van started to roll backward, producing an unsettling sound.

Slowly the vehicle began to move backward. Initially, no one seemed to notice.

«Dragonite! Go with Hurricane!» The boy ordered.

The Pokémon obeyed, launching a very powerful current of air against the two men, who were hurled against a tree.

The impact of the two bodies against the large tree was very violent. Several Sewaddle dropped from the tree branches, hanging by their sticky silk.

The Bug Pokémon didn't think twice about attacking them with their String Shot, tying them to the tree trunk, making their escape impossible.

«The Van!» One of the two men shouted. «Idiot! You forgot to pull the brake!» He scolded him. The van was moving faster and faster down the slope.

«What are you standing there for? If you really care about those Pokémon, try to save them!» One of the two men complained.

With a feline burst, the boy tried to reach the van, which, with every passing moment, gained more speed. Pikachu had to tighten his grip to avoid falling.

Reaching the vehicle with difficulty, the boy grabbed the window, which was luckily still rolled down, and managed to get inside. Pikachu had settled on the two-seater bench next to the driver's seat.

«And how do I stop this thing?» The boy scratched his head. He had located the main control organs, but not the handbrake.

To further complicate matters, the van had hit a large rock and changed trajectory, risking falling into a ravine.

This only worsened the situation. The boy didn't have the slightest idea where the brake might be, and now, there was very little time left.

Fortunately, the boy had a flash of inspiration. He thought of his mother's car. That one also had three seats in the front.

And the brake was between the driver's seat and the door.

The boy's intuition proved correct, and he managed to stop the vehicle before it was too late. The vehicle stopped with a jolt, but the greatest danger had been averted.

After a few moments, Ash and Pikachu got out of the van and were joined by Serena and Dragonite.

The boy tried in vain to open the sliding door. «Damn it! It's locked!» The boy complained.

He also tried the rear doors, without success. Serena, seeing him in difficulty, approached. «Is everything okay?» She asked.

«Not at all. Pokémon are locked in here, and this thing is locked.» The girl smiled at him.

«Well, I can give it a try.» The girl began frantically searching for something inside her bag until she found some of her hairpins.

«I hope this works.» She commented in a low voice, getting to work.

After several minutes, the girl finally succeeded in her intent, opening the two doors. The Pokémon inside the van remained still and silent. They seemed terribly scared.

Ash and Serena noticed how, despite the door being open, no Pokémon seemed willing to get out.

«Deep down, I understand them a little.» Ash commented. «They've just been kidnapped by villains, and now they're afraid of people.» Ash explained. «Maybe we should step away and let them do it themselves.» He proposed.

«What if those guys come back? Or their colleagues?» Serena was quite doubtful. «Don't worry. We'll move away, but we'll stay nearby. That way, if things go wrong…» The boy explained.

Serena did not reply, merely following him. To be more discreet, the boy recalled his Dragonite into the Poké Ball. «Thanks, you did a great job, now rest.»

Initially, the boy's intuition did not seem correct. No Pokémon seemed willing to leave the van.

For a good half hour, everything remained unchanged.

Serena took the opportunity to contact Anita and Carlos. Anita answered the call almost immediately.

«Hello? Is everything alright?» Anita asked, in a worried tone.

«More or less.» Serena replied. «Those people who arrived were poachers, and they kidnapped several Pokémon. We managed to stop them, but I don't know for how long…» She explained.

«That's terrible! What can I do?» She asked, trying not to get carried away by emotions. «Ask Officer Jenny. I'll send you our location.» The native of Kalos replied. After that, she ended the call to send the message.

More time passed, and finally there were the first, timid escape attempts by some Pokémon. Some Cinccino. They looked around and, noticing no dangers, got out.

Shortly after, they were joined by the Lilligant.

«See?» Ash commented. «We just had to be patient.» Serena simply nodded. The boy's intuition had proven correct.

Ash made to take a step forward when he noticed that the Pokémon, which had previously exited the van, were now going back inside, carrying several berries in their paws.

«Maybe they've decided this will be their new home.» Serena commented. «I don't know. Maybe they're just looking for a safe place to put their berries.» Ash replied. «Maybe we can help them by bringing some ourselves too.» He added.

«Good idea.» the girl replied.

The two set about searching for berry trees, not a difficult task in the open countryside. They still had the bags they had used to carry the berries to the Yard, so transporting them was not a problem.

It didn't take long before it was completely full. Having done this, the two waited for the Pokémon, who had also brought berries, to move away. As soon as the group of Pokémon moved away, the two approached the van with many tasty berries.

They quickly glanced inside the vehicle and noticed a strange creature leaning against the partition that separated the driver's cab from the cargo area.

It was barely illuminated, but even just by looking at it, it was clear that something was wrong. On the lower part of its body, there seemed to be a cut.

«It's injured.» Ash managed to comment before being hit squarely in the chest by a purplish ball. The blow was violent enough to make him step back.

«We just want to help you!» Serena tried to convince it, without success. Fortunately, Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder in time, neutralizing the second attack with a powerful Iron Tail.

«Trying to convince it that way is useless.» Serena commented. «It's injured and attacking instinctively. Maybe I know who can help us.» The girl reached for one of her Poké Balls.

«Sylveon! I need your help!» As soon as it came out of the Poké Ball, Sylveon immediately approached its Trainer.

«Inside that van is an injured Pokémon. It's scared and attacking. Maybe you could manage to calm it down.» She explained to it. «Veon!» the Pokémon replied, approaching the vehicle and climbing aboard.

It tried to appear as natural as possible. That Pokémon probably had never met a Sylveon in its life, so it knew it appeared as a stranger. Despite its fears, it approached the injured creature without being attacked.

It approached her delicately. As soon as it saw her wound, it shivered.

«Veon! Eon! Sy!» («You're injured! Come with me! My Trainer can help you!») «Gant? Li!» («Trainer? I'm afraid of people! They're mean!») «Eon! Eonnn!» («I thought so too, but she's a special girl!») «Lill! Li!» («Alright! But if it's not true, you'll regret it!»)

The Pokémon tried to stand up and take a step, but immediately fell. Exhausted, and right onto the wound. «GAAANT!» It cried out in pain. Sylveon tried, with its feelers, to wrap around her torso and lift her, but without success.

Without saying anything, it jumped off the vehicle and ran towards Serena, pulling her towards itself. «I understand!» The girl replied. «I'll be right there.» The girl jumped onto the van and saw the Pokémon lying on the ground, in pain.

Ash was not far away, partially hidden, so as not to further frighten the injured Pokémon.

Understanding the situation, the girl also tried to lift the Pokémon, without success. «I can't do it alone, I need help, but don't worry. He's kind too!» She said, exiting the vehicle. «Syll!» The Pokémon translated.

A few moments later, dodging the large pile of berries, Ash also entered. Lifting her together was definitely easier and less risky.

As soon as they carried her out of the vehicle, they helped her stand up.

It was not easy for her at all. The pain was enormous. But now she was in the sunlight. She gathered her last energies. The flower on her head lit up orange.

«Hey! But that's Synthesis!» Ash commented. «Synthesis?» Serena asked, having never heard of it. «Synthesis is a move that many Grass-type Pokémon know. They use it when they are tired or injured to recover energy.» He explained.

The girl did not reply, captivated by how the Pokémon's nasty wound had healed.

A few moments later, the Pokémon headed toward the van, taking some berries from inside it. Then, very timidly, she approached the native of Kalos and her Sylveon.

«Are these for us?» The girl asked, with a smile. «Gant!» The Pokémon replied. «You are really kind.» Serena complimented.

After a few moments, the Pokémon moved away from the two.

Not for long. Slowly, in front of the two, numerous specimens of Cinccino, some Minccino, Lilligant, and Petilil appeared. Many more than those that had been kidnapped.

The Pokémon seemed to be speaking with the group of Pokémon that had gathered.

After a few moments, the Pokémon moved away from the group and approached the native of Kalos. She gently touched her with one of her leaf-like arms.

«Do you want to come with me?» The girl asked. The Pokémon gave a small nod of yes with her head. Serena took an empty Poké Ball from her bag, still one of those Professor Sycamore had given her at the beginning of her journey, and offered it to the Pokémon.

The latter delicately touched the opening button, being absorbed in a beam of light.

The Poké Ball wobbled once, then twice, then three times. On the fourth, it made a small sound, confirming that the capture was successful. The girl knelt to pick up the Poké Ball. «Yay! Now I have a new friend!» She rejoiced. «And now come out! Lilligant!» The girl released her new friend from the Poké Ball.

There wasn't even time for formalities when, suddenly, a noise startled the Pokémon present, including Lilligant, who hid behind her Trainer.

A few moments later, four police cars passed. All identical, anonymous brown sedans. As soon as the dust cloud they raised cleared, Ash and Serena, followed by their Pokémon, retraced the stretch of road that had led them there. Whether it was due to having searched for those berries, or the fact that the road was now uphill, the effort was considerable.

As soon as the two reached their destination, they not only encountered the four police officers, who had just freed the two poachers from the String Shot, solely to arrest them, listing the various charges, but Anita and Carlos were also with them.

«I see you're doing well.» Carlos began. «Anita was very worried about you.» He added, making the brunette quite embarrassed. «You are the only people who believe in me, and I wouldn't want to lose you for any reason.» The girl explained.

Ash and Serena smiled, while the two poachers were locked in the back of the sedan, as another police officer filmed the arrest. «If you'd like, we can give you a ride to the Striaton City Pokémon Center.» one of the police officers invited them. «After what you did, you deserve it.» She added.

Ash and Serena did not need to be told twice. Upon reaching the Pokémon Center, they dropped the kids off and continued toward the police station.

Just enough time to have their Pokémon checked, when the news came on the television present there. Among news of greater or lesser relevance, a truly important one popped up.

«Two poachers, members of a well-known criminal gang specializing in the illegal trade of rare Pokémon, were arrested today thanks to the contribution of World Champion Ash Ketchum and the famous Kalos Performer Serena Gabena. At the moment they have not released statements regarding this; we hope to hear their declarations soon, the report, from the Nacrene City Police Station.» The screen showed a journalist in her forties, standing in front of the police station. «According to reconstructions, it seems that the two poachers had attempted to kidnap Pokémon at the Dreamyard, not far from Nacrene City. We have no idea of the numbers, since, upon the agents' arrival, the Pokémon had fled the vehicle. They were heading toward their hideout, but were interrupted and intercepted by Ash and Serena who, thanks to the help of their Pokémon, were able to stop them and allow the police forces to arrest them.» The woman explained.

«According to our sources, they should now be at the Nacrene City Pokémon Center; we will be able to speak with them very soon, and hear their version of the facts.» The report ended and another one began.

«Apparently, it seems there's no way to leave Nacrene City!» Carlos commented, in an ironic tone. «We still haven't figured out what happened to Professor Zania. I…» Anita added.

«Let me think.» Serena stopped her. «She had said she was helped by a person who had a Hypno with them. One of the poachers who were arrested had a Hypno…» She explained.

«So you think their Pokémon hypnotized her and convinced her that things went differently…» Carlos replied. «Exactly.» The native of Kalos answered. «Then, they certainly didn't expect to find us and, instead of trying to hypnotize us, they attacked us.» She added.

«Yes…» Anita was scrolling through the entries in her Pokédex. «Hypno is known for its Psychic powers. I wonder if there is a way to make it stop.» she asked, quite worried.

«Excuse me for interrupting, but now it's all clear.» The Nurse interrupted them. «But if what you say is true, helping Zania is easier than it seems.» She hinted. «Now that I remember, her Munna was emitting black smoke. As if Zania was living a nightmare.» She explained. «Can you stay here tomorrow too?» She asked. «You can accompany her to the Dreamyard, and maybe that could bring her memory back.»

The four merely smiled. For them, it wasn't a problem to stay in the city for one more day. Especially with that interview…

And besides, it was almost dinner time anyway, so the departure would have been postponed regardless.

After dinner, someone rang the doorbell of the Pokémon Center. It was not an unusual thing. Pokémon Centers were open until 11 p.m. They reopened the next day at seven in the morning.

However, there remained the possibility of having Pokémon examined by the on-call doctor in case of an emergency.

The Nurse opened the door via a button, and a man and a woman entered through the door. The man, in his fifties, was quite stocky, holding a large camera, complete with a microphone. The woman was the same one who had led the news report.

«Good evening!» They greeted. «Here you are!» The woman exclaimed. «It wasn't difficult to find you…» She added. «Do I need to remind you what we're here for?» The cameraman urged her. The woman said something in a low voice, without anyone being able to hear it.

«If you like, I can accompany you to a quieter place.» The Nurse invited them.

«This is perfectly fine!» The man replied, in an annoyed tone. It was evident that he wanted to spend his time otherwise.

The man turned on the camera. And pointed it toward the woman, who, meanwhile, had sat down between Ash and Serena.

«And here we are, from the Nacrene City Pokémon Center, with the two heroes who enabled the arrest of the dangerous poachers, Ash from Pallet Town and Serena from Vaniville Town. The strongest Trainer in the world and one of the most famous Performers and Coordinators in the world.» The girl felt slightly embarrassed.

«Tell us how it went, how you managed to get them arrested?» The woman asked. «We arrived at the Nacrene City Pokémon Center, and the Nurse asked us if we could go to the Dreamyard to bring berries to the Pokémon that live there, because the person who usually took care of them wasn't available.» The boy began. «We don't know what happened to her, but, from the Nurse's words, it seemed she didn't know what had happened at the Yard.» Serena added. «We went to the Yard with some of our friends and brought the berries to the Pokémon. While we were there, our friend noticed something was wrong. And, in fact, shortly after, they arrived in the same building we were in and…» The woman made a small gesture with her hand to interrupt him. «So you weren't alone?» The woman asked. «Exactly.» Serena replied. «It was our friends, Anita and Carlos, who notified the authorities. We just chased them.» She added. «Then, I imagine there was a battle, and you defeated them and…» The woman cut in. «Actually, it was wild Pokémon that imprisoned them.» The boy replied.

The woman, not understanding his statement, decisively changed the subject.

«As soon as the news broke, there was a statement from Team Plasma. In short, on the one hand they congratulate you for your action, but on the other hand they accuse you of being inconsistent. After all, you are Trainers, and for them you are enslaving Pokémon.» The woman recounted.

«We didn't do it for that.» The boy replied. «We are Trainers and, as such, we care about the well-being of Pokémon more than anyone else. It matters little whether they are wild or ours. I also have something to say to Team Plasma. If you fought against those who truly exploit Pokémon for profit, like poachers, I would be the first to fight with you. But you are looking at the wrong side.»

With these words the interview concluded and, as they had arrived, the cameraman and the journalist left.

It was almost time to go to sleep. Tomorrow they would have to wake up early. They would probably meet Zania, and they had already promised they would try to help her.

The following day, the four woke up early, despite being quite tired from the day before. After breakfast, the four sat on the benches intended for Trainers, while waiting for Zania's arrival.

The prediction proved correct.

The woman with long dark blue hair arrived at the Pokémon Center, accompanied by her Munna, which, like the day before, was wrapped in dark smoke.

The woman approached the Nurse's counter to have her Pokémon checked. The Nurse decided to play along.

«I would rule out the possibility that it ate nightmares; if, as you told me, this has been happening since this morning, then it's more likely that it's worried about something or someone.» The Nurse explained.

«So you are the children who saved those Pokémon from the Poachers? I want to compliment you; Unova really needs people like you.» The woman congratulated.

«Oh, excuse me. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Zania. I am a scientist who worked at the Dreamyard. Before something happened that I currently don't remember. We were carrying out some experiments to obtain clean energy from Munna and Musharna's Dream Mist. While conducting some studies, there was a gigantic explosion. My colleagues and I were rescued by a guy who trained a Hypno. Aside from that, I don't remember anything else.» She explained.

«Now excuse me, but I have to go. Work calls me!» The woman, escorted by her Munna, tried to leave the Pokémon Center. «Excuse me… Zania… Would you mind letting the kids visit the Yard?» The Nurse asked. «But isn't it dangerous?» The woman asked. «Don't worry, I can lend them some helmets, so they'll be safe.» The Nurse handed the four the helmets borrowed the day before.

«If you want to follow me…» The woman invited them. The four followed her to the Yard, using the maps on the Smart Rotom. After a long walk, the group reached the Yard.

«I wonder why Joy wanted you to accompany me to the ruins of the Yard… I wonder why.» the woman asked herself, while observing the ruined buildings.

«They are really in bad shape, aren't they.» The woman commented, in a surprised tone. «The explosion was very violent, but I didn't think it had caused so much damage.» She added shortly after.

After exploring the different buildings, they finally reached the central building, where everything had begun.

The woman's Munna began to cry louder and louder. It almost seemed to be weeping.

«Don't worry, everything, everything is alright.» The woman tried to reassure the Pokémon. «You know, we became friends quite some time ago, right here, at the Dreamyard. That's why she is very attached to this place.» She explained. «I think she is very sorry for the condition it is in now.» She added.

The Pokémon continued its lament, a sad and desperate cry.

A few moments later, a strange, round-shaped shadow appeared from a secondary entrance. Pikachu instinctively jumped from Ash's shoulder to get into attack position, should it be necessary.

The strange figure had approached. «Don't worry!» The woman reassured them. «It's Musharna. Munna's evolution. Maybe hearing my little one, she got worried and wanted to know how she was.»

Anita took her Smart Rotom and searched for Musharna in the Pokédex application. «Musharna, the Drowsing Pokémon. Psychic type. Female specimen. It can materialize the dreams it has eaten. The smoke coming out of its forehead takes the form of what appears in the dream. Known moves: Psychic, Shadow Ball, Hypnosis, Dream Eater.»

The Pokémon's appearance was quite similar to Munna. It also resembled a kind of tapir, pink and purple in color. It had its eyes closed and assumed a pose curled up on itself.

It seemed to be levitating in the air. Without making any noise, it approached the woman. It lightly brushed her with its head. Suddenly, the smoke emitted by Musharna also turned dark.

The latter had to move away and fling the dark energy far away.

Now the woman was bent forward, in a strange pose, as if she had been stripped of all her energy. Fortunately, in a few moments, she recovered.

«And who… who are you? What are we doing here?» She asked. Ash and the others told her everything they knew, from their first visit to the Yard to the arrest of the poachers, with the woman listening attentively to every word.

«So the person I thought had saved me… actually asked his Pokémon to keep me away?» The four made a small affirmative gesture.

«I don't know how to thank you, I really mean it. Thank you too, Musharna! But I still need your help. Other people are also in this condition. We don't have time to lose.»

Chapter Text

The Infiltrator

On the road to Eolea, our heroes found themselves traversing one of the many forests in the Unova region, just beyond the outskirts of Nacrene City.

 It was an unusually quiet and peaceful place, despite the large number of Pokémon inhabiting it. Berries grew abundantly here, and there were no territorial or food fights among the Pokémon. 

Few people ventured into this forest. Most travelers preferred to drive or cycle, using entirely different routes. Those who entered the forest usually did so to catch Pokémon, and this was well-known both in the city and in the surrounding areas a fact even certain people, better left unaware, knew. 

Before setting out, they had also helped Zania’s colleagues, who had fallen victim to the powers of the poachers' Hypno. Because of this, they left later than expected. Suddenly, a sound like thunder broke the silence. «Don’t tell me it’s about to rain!» Carlos commented.

«Sorry... it’s me...» Ash felt slightly embarrassed. «It’s almost lunchtime...» he added. There was no need to check the time his stomach was more accurate than any clock. Carlos glanced at the time on his Rotom Phone. «Yeah... it’s about time... I guess I’d better get to work...» He removed his backpack and examined what he had with him. Among the various items purchased by Ash, Serena, and Anita: 

«With this camp stove, we don’t have to bother looking for firewood.» Serena remarked. «It’s much more practical, though a little less romantic.» she added with an ironic tone.

«If you want to train, go ahead. I’ll call you when it’s ready.» Carlos explained, earning the group’s approval.

Ash and the girls moved a little distance to another clearing. «Come out!» the three called, inviting their Pokémon to emerge from their Poké Balls. Snivy, Dragonite, Staraptor, Rowlet, and Gliscor appeared. Anita quietly wondered how many more Pokémon Ash had. Not that it was a problem it gave her the chance to meet Pokémon not native to Unova and ones she’d rarely encounter otherwise.

While Anita and Serena released their Pokémon from their Poké Balls, Snivy began to introduce herself to Ash’s other Pokémon. As soon as Lilligant emerged from her Poké Ball, she immediately sought the company of Sylveon. Serena quickly noticed the Pokémon's behavior. 

«You know, Sylveon used to be shy and afraid, and she would only get along with one Pokémon. Now, seeing her as the only one who gets along with you...» «Gant?» The Pokémon looked rather confused. 

«You see? I’m a Performer. We Performers don’t challenge Gyms; we participate in Showcases. We don’t battle; we perform in front of an audience.» This only increased Lilligant's confusion. «If you want, we can give you a demonstration.» Serena proposed. The Pokémon seemed to respond affirmatively.

«Alright! Delphox, Pancham!» Serena called two of her Pokémon to join her. «Are you ready?» The two nodded affirmatively. «Great! Then let's begin!»

Delphox used its Fire Blast attack, creating a gigantic star of fire, which was soon enveloped by Pancham’s Dark Pulse, turning it into a kind of web. Pancham then struck the ground with a punch, summoning jagged, light-blue stones. He leaped onto the stones, performing several backward flips until he reached the fire star and shattered it with his Ice Punch, freezing it from the outside. Pancham barely moved away before the creation was destroyed by Delphox’s Mystical Fire, exploding into countless colorful sparks.

All the while, Serena followed her Pokémon’s movements with various dance poses. «Ta-dah!» she concluded. 

The performance was relatively brief, but everyone seemed excited, Lilligant most of all. «These are the performances.» Serena explained. «What do you think?» she asked. The Pokémon appeared enthusiastic, even more so than Ash and Anita. 

«Would you like to try as well?» Anita invited her.

«I’m not sure... we also need to train for the Gym battle... and besides... I really don’t know... I mean... you and your Pokémon were perfect. You knew exactly what to do at every moment, just like Ash in battles. I wouldn’t know where to start. I’ve already given you my word, but... I’m terrible at dancing and...» the girl trailed off.

She watched her Pokémon trying to bond with Ash’s, or rather, trying to escape from his Dragonite, who was determined to show her affection. After a while, Ash finally managed to calm her down.

«If you don’t want to train for the Showcase, you can train with Ash. Then, when you feel more confident, we’ll practice

 together for your debut. Besides, here in Unova, dancing during the performance isn’t mandatory. The second phase is more like the acting presentation in Pokémon Contests.» Serena explained.

«You could join too.» Ash suggested. «Just to relieve some stress.» he added.

«Why not?» Anita responded without even thinking. «That way, I can learn more about double battles too.» She was quite happy with the idea. Serena and Anita sent out Pancham and Oshawott, while Ash sent out Snivy and Pikachu. 

«Give it your all!» Ash encouraged them. 

«Don’t hold back either!» Serena responded.

«You start.» Ash invited them. The girls exchanged a glance of understanding. 

Serena ordered Pancham to attack with Stone Edge, while Anita commanded Oshawott to use Tackle on Snivy. As Pancham struck the ground with a powerful punch, generating large, jagged blue stones, Oshawott rushed toward its opponent.

«Pikachu! Break the Stone Edge with Iron Tail and launch them! Snivy, trip it up with Vine Whip!» Ash ordered. Pikachu darted forward and struck the rocks with his tail. The stones shattered under the powerful blow. 

«Great! Now launch them at Pancham!» With a swift movement of his tail, Pikachu sent Pancham’s own attack flying back toward him.

«Pancham! Defend with Arm Thrust!» Serena commanded. As the mischievous Pokémon shattered the flying fragments, Oshawott was now closing in on his opponent.

The ideal moment to attack. From one of the protrusions on Snivy's back, a thin vine quickly extended, wrapping around the opponent Pokémon’s feet and making it fall face-first to the ground.  

«Oshawott! Are you okay?» asked Anita. The Pokémon got back up, proving it was still able to continue. Serena immediately noticed her partner’s struggles.  

«Pancham! Use Ice Punch!» The mischievous Pokémon ran toward Snivy, while its right arm became coated in ice.  

«Dodge and attack with Leaf Tornado!» she ordered. The Pokémon waited for her opponent to get close enough, then quickly moved, dodging the hit.  

Moments later, the Pokémon leapt into the air and generated a powerful whirlwind of sharp leaves from its tail, hitting Pancham and pushing him back. Meanwhile, Oshawott had gotten back on his feet, ready to attack.  

«Go, Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» Anita commanded. The Otter Pokémon became cloaked in water and launched himself low to the ground toward Pikachu.  

«Counter with Quick Attack!» ordered Ash. The Mouse Pokémon dashed at high speed, striking the opponent on the side and diverting its trajectory. The poor Otter Pokémon slammed into a tree, hitting his head and ending up with a nasty bump.  

«I’d say that’s enough for now.» Ash declared the match over. «I’m happy to see your progress. Oshawott managed to withstand Pikachu’s Quick Attack. That’s really impressive.» He complimented her. Pikachu, who had climbed back onto Ash’s shoulder, put a paw over his mouth. The meaning of that gesture was clear, at least to Ash. He had been holding back, no doubt.  

Anita smiled. «Really?» Meanwhile, Oshawott had rejoined his trainer, still a bit dazed from the bump. «Maybe you should rest.» She recalled him into his Poké Ball. «You too, you were fantastic!» In turn, Ash recalled Snivy into her Poké Ball.  

In the meantime, Carlos was busy preparing lunch. Before starting to cook, he had to set up the camping table, not an easy task. The table was new, and the unlocking mechanism was a bit stiff. After some persistence, he finally managed to open it. He then set up the chairs. Once those tasks were done, he could finally start cooking. He lit the gas stove and began preparing the sauce. He was going to make a simple pasta with tomato sauce. There wasn’t much time. They had to leave soon. After starting the sauce, he placed a pot of water on the second burner.  

As he covered the pot to speed up the boiling process, he caught a glimpse of a strange blue and white creature out of the corner of his eye.  

«What is that?» he muttered, startled. He tried to regain his composure while aiming his Smart Rotom at the strange creature.  

On the device’s screen appeared a quadruped that resembled a large dog. Its body, ranging from dark blue to gray, was covered in thick white fur, which was longer around its neck and chest. On its head, there was a tuft decorated with a dark oval. Its face resembled that of a feline, while its tail was scythe-shaped, similar to the horn on the right side of its head. Its legs were equipped with three claws each, and large spikes protruded from its heels.  

The boy listened to the description provided by the device.  

«Absol. The Disaster Pokémon. Dark type. Male specimen. Whenever Absol appears, disaster follows...» The boy nearly dropped his device in fright.  

«You don’t need to worry!» reassured a male voice. The boy, even more frightened, reached into his pocket for his Umbreon’s Poké Ball.  

«I don’t want to battle. I’m not a Trainer.» the voice stopped him.  

«Then who are you?» Carlos asked, trying to sound as threatening as possible. His main concern at the moment was not letting the sauce burn.  

«Relax. I’m here to help you.» The voice came closer.  

Carlos was seriously worried. He turned abruptly toward the voice. A tall, slim boy with long light-green hair appeared, wearing a black cap, a white shirt, light-brown pants, and green shoes. Around his neck hung a pendant that resembled a planet. He was also wearing bracelets, and attached to his pants was something like a Rubik’s cube.  

«And who are you?» Carlos asked again.  

«I’m a boy who travels the world to meet as many Pokémon as possible. I’m not interested in capturing them. I’m not a Trainer. I like to see them live in their natural environment and spend time with them. If you want to know my name… it’s N.» responded the boy with the light-green hair.  

«N? What a peculiar name!» Carlos commented.  

«And you, what’s your name?» N asked.  

«Carlos.» the boy simply replied with a smile.  

«I see. Can you tell me what happened earlier, why you were so scared when you saw Absol?»  

«You know, the Pokédex explained how it always appears before a disaster, and I panicked.» Carlos explained.  

«I understand. You know, he was more scared of you. In reality, Absol is a very kind Pokémon, and he tries to help people and other Pokémon by warning them of an impending disaster so they can stay safe. Unfortunately, he’s often 

misunderstood and blamed for causing the disasters.» Carlos simply nodded.  

«Now that I think about it, a boy named Carlos was kidnapped by Team Plasma...»  

«Yeah… that was me. It was really awful. If it weren’t for Ash and Serena, Team Plasma would have taken my Umbreon. I don’t know what I would have done if they had taken him.»  

«I imagine you care a lot about your Pokémon. That makes me happy.» the boy paused briefly. «Fewer and fewer people truly care for their Pokémon. I’ve often seen Trainers make their Pokémon battle until they’re completely worn out or put them through grueling training sessions…» Another pause. «Not a pretty sight.» Carlos remained silent throughout the speech. He didn’t recognize himself in that kind of person, but he understood his concerns.  

«Well… yeah… I get it… since you’re here, how about staying for lunch? I was just about to make some pasta...» N made a small gesture to interrupt him.  

«You’re kind, but I can’t stay. Not when there’s a risk that Pokémon might be in danger.» Another pause. «Maybe next time.» With those words, the boy walked away with long strides, followed by that same Absol.  

«But didn’t he say that wasn’t his Pokémon?» Carlos commented as he returned to cooking.  

While the Pokémon rested from training under the shade of a tree at the edge of the clearing, something caught both Ash’s and the girls’ attention.  

A Pokémon, resembling a large butterfly with long antennae and a slender body, its wings blue and light blue, was fluttering a few meters away from them.  

«Hey! That's Vivillon!» Serena remarked.  

«A Vivillon?» Ash responded. «But isn’t that a Pokémon from Kalos?» he wondered in surprise.  

Meanwhile, Anita scanned it with her Smart Rotom.  

«Vivillon. The Scale Pokémon. Marine Pattern. Bug and Flying type. Female specimen. Different varieties exist around the world, distinguished by the patterns on their wings. It appears that these depend on the climate of their habitat. Known moves:  Air Slash, Sleep Powder, Psychic, Energy Ball.»  

«It’s strange, but not impossible. Maybe it belonged to a Trainer who decided to release it...» Serena speculated.  

«Still… you have to be really cruel to abandon such a beautiful Pokémon.» Anita commented, puzzled.  

«Viooon!» The Pokémon hovered close to the girl for a few moments before flying off into the woods.  

«I think it’s a wild Pokémon.» Ash remarked. «It seemed quite curious about Anita. If it had had a Trainer, I’m not sure it would have done that.» the boy tried to explain.  

Moments later, many more of the Pokémon hurriedly flew through the clearing.

«Wow! That's a lot of them!» commented Anita.  

«They seem really scared.» Ash added.  

«Maybe they're not used to our presence.» Serena responded.

At that exact moment, Carlos' Umbreon joined them. The Moonlight Pokémon motioned for the three and their Pokémon to follow him.  

«Ready already?» Ash, evidently unaware of how much time had passed, didn't think twice before following their new travel companion's Pokémon.

They reached the table just as Carlos was draining the pasta. He was careful to let all the water out before pouring it into the salad bowl.  

Meanwhile, Ash and the girls were preparing food for the Pokémon, pouring small brown kibble into bowls.  

After taking care of the Pokémon, it was their turn to eat. Having heard of Ash's reputation as a big eater, Carlos had prepared rather large portions.

Once the massive lunch was finished, it was time for Carlos to do the dishes. After all, he had promised.  

«Oshawott... could you give me a hand?» he asked.  

«Sha?» The Pokémon was a bit puzzled but agreed. With the help of the Pokémon, the boy quickly managed to wash the dishes.

After packing everything up and recalling the Pokémon to their respective Poké Balls, the four were ready to head off.  

Serena checked the map app on her Smart Rotom.  

«Eolea isn't far. If we hurry, we can reach it before dark.» she encouraged.  

«Then let's get moving!» Ash echoed her.

The four of them walked for a few hundred meters, delving into the forest, which became denser as they went. The thicker the forest became, the more the number of wild Pokémon increased.  

«Look!» Carlos pointed to a large moss-covered rock not far from them. It was surrounded by several Eevee.  

«That's a Moss Rock.» a male voice startled them.  

«Those Eevee will evolve into Leafeon. It's a rare event to witness. We're lucky to see it.»  

Anita watched in fascination as the small, soft-furred brown Eevee began to glow with a bluish light and change form. Their bodies became taller and more graceful, with feline and fox-like features. Their beige bodies darkened around the legs, eyes, and ears, and sprouted several plant-like growths. The largest of these was on their foreheads, resembling a tuft of hair, while their ears and tail took on the appearance of leaves. Anita decided to scan one of the Pokémon with her Smart Rotom.

«Leafeon. Verdant Pokémon. Grass type. This is one of Eevee's evolutions. Male specimen. It doesn't like to fight but won't hesitate to defend its companions, turning its tail leaf into a sharp blade. Known moves: Leaf Blade, Quick Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes.»

Only after scanning the Pokémon did she notice the presence of a stranger. A young man, around twenty-five years old, stepped in front of them. He wore an orange vest over a short-sleeved blue jumpsuit, with black fingerless gloves, an orange and blue cap, and orange hiking boots.  

«Sorry if I scared you... I'm a Pokémon Ranger. My name is...» the young man paused.  

«Kyler.» Another pause.  

«You should know you're about to enter a protected area. It's forbidden to harm anything here Pokémon, plants, even the rocks and ground.» The four nodded in understanding. They had no intention of causing harm, even if they hadn't been warned.

«However... I must confess, we have a bit of a problem...»  

«An invasive species has taken over this untouched paradise. The Scatterdust Pokémon, Vivillon.» added a female voice.  

Moments later, a woman about the same age as the ranger joined the group. Her outfit was similar, with the same dominant colors of blue and orange. Her gloves, however, covered her fingers completely, and unlike her colleague, she wore shorts.  

Both of them wore golden pins resembling trees.  

«Ah... right.» the ranger corrected himself.  

«This is Eliza, my colleague.» He introduced her.  

«Nice to meet you!» The woman greeted them warmly.  

«I'm Ash, and this is my friend Pikachu!» Ash introduced himself, followed by Serena, Carlos, and finally Anita.  

«What are you doing in a protected area?» The ranger asked with a slightly scolding tone.  

«We were just trying to get to Eolea. We saw that this way was shorter, and we didn’t know it was a protected area.» Ash explained.

«No problem.» the ranger replied.  

«If you help us deal with these invaders, we won't report your violation. Deal?» the ranger proposed.  

The four remained silent.  

«Seems strange for a ranger to talk like that.» Serena whispered in Anita's ear. The girl didn't respond, but her expression subtly changed.  

Ash wasn’t sure what to do. It was a big responsibility. On his travels, he had witnessed many examples of sharing and coexisting, and in this case, it seemed to him that the forest had enough resources for everyone.  

He didn’t know what to do. On one hand, these rangers seemed trustworthy enough, so he thought he could rely on them.  

He and his friends had fallen into traps many times before and risked getting hurt, or even hurting their Pokémon. But this time didn’t seem like one of those situations.  

«Can we help you?» Ash proposed.  

Serena placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered, «Are you sure? They seem suspicious.» Ash turned to her.  

«If it turns out that way... we’ll do the right thing.»

Serena understood his words well.  

«You two! What are you whispering about?» the ranger scolded. His reprimand only served to annoy Ash.  

«I'll go get what we need. This is a delicate operation... you know, Vivillon’s wings are very fragile. Even though it's an invasive species here, as rangers, we can’t afford to injure them.» The female ranger walked away from the group.

«While she’s fetching the equipment, I’ll show you where to place the traps.» Ash’s expression changed, becoming worried.  

«Traps?» he asked.  

«We can’t catch them all with Poké Balls.» the ranger responded.  

«We’d risk hurting them, having to battle before catching them. But with traps, the risk is minimal. And... traps... well, they’re really more like transport cages.» He explained. His words reassured the group, though only slightly.  

«Yeah... but how do we make sure no other unrelated Pokémon get caught?» Carlos asked.  

«Good question. But don’t worry. We’ve thought of that too. Thanks to an AI system, we can avoid catching any Pokémon other than Vivillon. The system is practically foolproof.» the ranger reassured him.

Meanwhile, the female ranger had returned, carrying a large sack. Judging by its shape, it seemed to contain many small

 objects.  

The girl reached into the sack and pulled out a tiny metal cage.  

«But how is a Vivillon supposed to fit in there?» Carlos asked.  

The ranger pointed to a small black plastic button next to a tiny camera.  

«You just press this button and...» the girl pressed the button, and the cage expanded several times in size.  

«See? It’s big enough to keep Vivillon from injuring itself.» she pointed out.  

A few moments later, the ranger took out his Smart Rotom. He opened the gallery and showed a map of the forest they were in. Some areas were marked with crosses. «As soon as the traps are triggered, we'll retrieve them and bring them here.»  

«We’ve identified strategic points where the Vivillon usually gather. We’ll set our traps here. We'll use honey to lure them in. Vivillon love it.» he said, sending the map to everyone.  

«To speed up the work, it’s better if we split up.» the ranger suggested. No one objected. «Once we've set the traps, we'll meet back here. They probably won’t be enough, but as soon as they are…»  

Each of them took some cages and honey. In moments, the group split, each heading in the direction assigned. Everyone separated except the two rangers, which went unnoticed. After all, the only thing that truly mattered was getting the job done, right?  

«See?» the man commented. «They’ve fallen for it completely.» The woman allowed a faint smile. «I just hope they keep cooperating. Remember, if they find out, we’ll be facing the World Champion.» the man warned.  

«Don’t worry. As soon as we’ve gathered enough, we’ll disappear without a trace, you’ll see.» the woman replied, sounding convincing. «But let’s get to work. We don’t want them to catch on too soon.» she concluded.  

Once the group split up, they followed the instructions, heading to the spots marked on the map. They seemed like ordinary parts of the forest. Each of them placed the cages and honey.  

Once the cages were set, the group gathered at the same spot where they had first met.  

«Now all we have to do is wait.» the ranger commented. «It shouldn’t take long.» he added.  

«The cages have a system that activates as soon as they're full. My Smart Rotom will alert me as soon as the first cages are filled. We have to make sure they stay in the cages for as little time as possible.» the woman explained.  

To pass the time, the group decided to have some coffee. The two rangers had brought some pastries, while Carlos took care of preparing the coffee. He had a battery-powered coffee machine that ground the beans instantly, along with some disposable cups. Just after their break, a notification popped up on the woman’s Smart Rotom, indicating that the first cages had been activated.  

«Alright, let’s go collect the cages. We’ll bring them back here. Don’t worry about the rest. We’ll take care of sending them to the sorting center.» the woman said.  

«Sorting center?» Anita was taken aback by the woman’s words. These were Pokémon, not postal packages.  

«Maybe ‘sorting center’ sounds a bit scary, but it’s actually a safe and suitable place for Pokémon. We’ll make sure they’re treated with care. They’ll be in a protected area near one of the ports in Unova. This will help prevent them from spreading diseases when they return to Kalos.» the ranger explained.  

The four nodded. The man's explanation seemed convincing enough. «Excuse me if I’m being nosy, but…»  

«Go ahead… Serena, right?» the ranger prompted.  

«Why do we have to leave the cages here? I imagine you got here using some sort of transport…» the girl inquired.  

«Don’t worry about that. We’ll handle it.» the ranger reassured her.  

Since the triggered traps were concentrated in just three areas, the group split into pairs: Ash with Serena, Anita with Carlos, and the two rangers together.  

«Doesn’t this all seem a bit strange to you?» Serena whispered, wary of being overheard.  

«What do you mean?» Ash asked.  

«They asked us to leave the cages where we met and said they'd take care of delivering them… don’t you think that’s odd?» She explained. Ash scratched his head, Pikachu copying his motion.  

«Now that you mention it, you’re right. But that’s just one thing. Think about it. They’ve been nice to us, and if they wanted to attack us, they could’ve done it at any moment.» he reasoned.  

«Sure, but remember, you’re the World Champion. They know that in a Pokémon battle, they wouldn’t stand a chance.» she pointed out. Ash wasn’t sure what to do. Serena had a point.  

«Well… if they’ve got nothing to hide, I don’t see why they’d stop us from helping. But we’ll have to be careful not to get caught.» he replied.  

After collecting the cages with the Pokémon, the group gathered at the designated spot.  

«Thanks, everyone. You’ve done great work. We can handle it from here.» the man thanked them.  

«Are you sure?» Ash asked. «You know what they say… since we’ve come this far…» He tried once again to convince them, thinking that insisting might change their minds. But the two rangers were firm, only deepening the group’s suspicions.  

«Alright then… as you wish.» Ash said. He and Serena exchanged a brief, knowing glance. «I guess we’ll be on our way.» he added a moment later.  

As soon as the two rangers left with some of the cages, the group was finally able to talk with a bit of privacy.  

«It seems odd that they don’t want our help.» Serena commented.  

«Do you think they’re hiding something?» Anita asked.  

«I’m not sure. But we need to find out. Let’s follow them. They went that way.» Ash pointed in the direction the pair had headed. «We’ve got to be careful. We can’t let them see us.» he added.  

After a few steps, behind the trees, they began to make out the shape of a van.  

«Do you think that’s theirs?» Carlos asked.  

«I don’t know. But we need to keep quiet.» Ash warned.  

A little further along, a gray pickup truck appeared. Next to it, two people were loading items into the bed.  

«Yeah. Those are definitely cages.» Ash remarked.  

«We need to stop them!» Serena placed a hand on his shoulder. «We can’t act without a plan.» she reminded him.  

«And we don’t know if more people are involved.» she reasoned.  

«The more there are, the worse it is.» Ash commented.  

Serena knew Ash well. She knew that once he set his mind on something, it was nearly impossible to stop him.  

Soon, they reached the van without being noticed. The two had moved away from the vehicle and returned to the forest. It was the perfect moment to act.  

The four approached the van cautiously. It was military green, with a logo on the side identical to the badges the two rangers were wearing.  

«I think this is their van.» Serena observed.  

«Then why did they load the Vivillon into the pickup?» Carlos asked.  

«Maybe their accomplices or…» Serena moved closer to the van, sliding open the door on the side opposite the pickup. «Their victims.»  

Inside the van, there was a man with olive skin and dark hair, and a woman with fair skin and blonde hair. They were dressed in simple civilian clothes. Scattered inside the van were the uniforms of Team Plasma recruits.  

«Pikachu, free them with Iron Tail!» Ash ordered.  

The Mouse Pokémon leaped from his shoulder and cut through the rope binding the two. The man and woman were finally able to remove their gags.  

«Thank you, guys!» they said gratefully. «If it weren’t for you, I wonder if anyone would have ever rescued us.» the woman added.

«It’s a bit embarrassing for a ranger to be in trouble, but... they were really too strong.» The four were shocked.

«So if you’re Pokémon Rangers... and here are Team Plasma uniforms, then...» deduced Anita. «Those two are from Team Plasma.» they all responded in unison.

After the usual round of introductions, they started asking questions. «Those two told us that the Vivillon here are an invasive species and need to be relocated.» Ash began.

«Invasive species?» The two rangers were stunned. «Vivillon have lived here as long as humans can remember. They’re perfectly integrated into the ecosystem. They’re part of the food chain.» explained the woman.

«Scatterbug are prey to many Pokémon that live here. And the Vivillon also help pollinate the berry trees. Without them, the entire ecosystem would collapse in a short time.» added the man.

«We came here because this is a very special time of year. For two weeks each year, the wild Eevee living in this area evolve into Leafeon. During this period, we have to ensure they don’t mix with trainers’ Pokémon. There can be risks of attacks or infections.» the woman continued.

«So the Vivillon have nothing to do with it?» asked Serena.

«Exactly. To avoid damaging the ecosystem, whenever someone catches one, they must report it. By law, no more than a hundred specimens can be caught per year.» None of them realized they were being watched at that moment, though not by humans yet.

«I wonder what they want with the Vivillon...» Anita pondered. «Such beautiful Pokémon... and so important to the ecosystem...» she added.

«Yet you have a Pokédex...» came a distant female voice, one that sounded familiar. «You should know what Vivillon are capable of.» Shortly after, the man’s voice joined in. «We’ve been discovered. Now that we have our loot, we can return to base.» he remarked.

«You’re right. We can’t risk a direct confrontation. Let’s not forget who we’re dealing with. We’ve gathered enough material. Getting more would be too risky.»

The two got into their vehicle and slammed the doors shut, causing a noise that alerted everyone. «They’re trying to escape!» Anita snapped everyone back to reality.

«We can’t let them get away!» Ash was more determined than ever. «Go, Staraptor! Follow them!» He threw the Poké Ball of his powerful bird Pokémon. Staraptor immediately took to the sky and began pursuing the pickup truck.

This wasn’t new to him. He was often used for aerial reconnaissance, like all the other flying-type Pokémon Ash had befriended over time.

«They’re surely heading to their base.» Ash deduced. «I don’t know what they want to do with those Pokémon, but it’s definitely nothing good. We need to free them as soon as possible!» he added.

«And what do you plan to do? Infiltrate their base?» Carlos sounded rather doubtful.

«Actually, that’s not a bad idea.» Serena replied. «There’s a Team Plasma uniform here... with a little stitching and adjustments...»

In no time, Serena managed to tailor the uniform to fit Ash. «Look, I even made a small hidden pocket for a Poké Ball. It’s completely concealed.» she showed Ash, pointing to a small opening on the belt.

«Thank you. You’re amazing!» Ash thanked her, making her blush.

«I must admit... you really look like one of them.» Anita complimented.

Meanwhile, Staraptor returned, landing right in front of its trainer. «Raptorrr!» it cried. «You found them? You’re incredible!» Ash petted its head.

Moments later, Ash took the Poké Ball of his Dragonite from his backpack. Pikachu leaped onto his shoulder, eager to accompany his trainer wherever he went.

«Sorry, buddy, but we’d be too recognizable. And I know you don’t like going into the Poké Ball.» Ash explained. «Pika...» Pikachu looked disappointed but understood his reasoning.

«Can you lead us to their base?» Ash asked as he mounted his Dragonite.

Staraptor soared into the sky, beckoning Dragonite to follow. They flew over a large part of the forest, crossing paths with other flying-type Pokémon.

Staraptor began a rapid dive, followed by Dragonite, which made a gentler descent. Ash recalled Dragonite into its Poké Ball and placed it back on his belt.

«Wait for me here.» he said to his Pokémon. «If things go south, alert the others.» Ash explained. Staraptor took off and perched in the branches of a nearby tree.

Ash only had to turn slightly to the right to spot the large building. It was a massive concrete prefab, partially clad in red bricks. 

Next to the main building was a covered parking area, full of pickup trucks and ATVs. Several Grunts were coming and going, some transporting cages with Vivillon inside. «There they are.» Ash whispered. «I need to find a way to blend in.» he added shortly after.

«Hey, you! Don’t just stand there!» a Grunt called out. Ash approached her. She was wearing an almost identical uniform to his, with orange hair barely peeking out from under her hood. She looked him up and down. «You seem new around here... looks like recruitment is going well.» she commented. «How did you learn about Team Plasma?» she asked.

Ash thought for a moment. «Fourtwenty.»

«I see. And... why are you here and not at our base in «I see. And... why are you here and not at our base in Castelia

City?» Another question.

«My superiors ordered me to join you here in the Eterna Forest.» Ash responded, showing no hesitation.

«One more question.» the Grunt said. «Do you already have your Pokémon?» she asked.

Ash hesitated for a moment. If he said yes, he would be recognized. His Dragonite was far too famous it was one of the Pokémon that had made him World Champion. Even switching to Charizard wouldn’t help. Charizard was one of the most famous Pokémon in the Kanto region

«No.» he answered firmly.

«Good... then you’ll need one. Let me show you.» the Grunt grabbed his hand and led him to the back of the building.

«Sorry to ask, but...» Ash tried to stay in character.

«Go ahead.» Grunt replied.

«If we’re supposed to free Pokémon from Trainers, isn’t it a contradiction for us to own them ourselves?» he asked.

The Grunt smiled. «I thought you were smart. You see, many Trainers are hostile and fiercely defend their Pokémon. So we need to have our own.» she explained.

Ash simply nodded.

«You know?» the Grunt pressed him. «You look a lot like Ash Ketchum... one of the world’s strongest Trainers... one of Team Plasma’s most dangerous enemies.» Ash just smiled. «You’re not the first to tell me that, you know?» 

The Grunt led him to the back of the building. She pulled a set of keys from her belt and unlocked the door. She entered the small room and motioned for Ash to follow.

«Like Trainers, when we become Grunts, we’re given a Pokémon.» she explained. She then turned to Ash. «We’re indoors here... you can take off your hood if you want.» she invited him.

«I’m fine like this. Besides, you’re wearing a hood too.» Ash replied.

The Grunt didn’t respond but kept her hood on. «Back to the topic.» she continued, changing the subject. She pointed to a table with three Poké Balls on it. «As Grunts, we can choose from Sandile, Scraggy, or Purrloin.»

Ash absentmindedly picked up one of the three Poké Balls. «I’ll take this one.» 

The Grunt remained silent for a moment.

«Now that you've made your choice, it's time to see how you handle battles. Remember, we'll be facing hostile Trainers. In the meantime, I'll take you to the battle field.» The Grunt took out her Smart Rotom to answer a message.

Ash noticed it was an ordinary Smart Rotom, identical to his. After responding to the message, she motioned for him to follow her again. They reached the battle field, which wasn’t far from the small room. It made sense to him: receive your Pokémon and train. If only this weren’t one of an evil team’s hideouts.

Once they reached the battle field, which was identical to those next to Pokémon Centers, Ash declared, «I'm ready.»

«So am I!» replied the Grunt.

«Go ahead!» The two sent out their Pokémon. Only then did Ash discover what Pokémon he had chosen. It was a beige, quadrupedal Pokémon whose body and snout resembled a crocodile. A large black stripe ran down the middle of its snout. Its eyes were round and sepia-colored, surrounded by black circles that looked like sunglasses. There were two thick black stripes on its back. Its limbs were beige with three claws, and its tail ended in a sharp black tip.

Ash analyzed it with his Smart Rotom’s Pokédex function. «Sandile. Desert Croc Pokémon. Ground and Dark types. Male. It hides in the hot desert sand to keep its body temperature from dropping. Known moves: Bite, Dig, Shadow Claw.» He put the device back into his uniform pocket.

«I imagine you’re familiar with Liepard.» In front of the Grunt was a feline-looking Pokémon with a slender body and purple fur. Its face was adorned with pink fur in the shape of a mask. Its nose and eyebrows were tiny, and it had two long yellow whiskers. The same yellow color covered its abdomen and the lower parts of its legs. Its body was speckled with small yellow spots, and its tail curved in a question mark shape.

«You can start!» the Grunt invited. Ash didn’t need to be told twice.

«Sandile! Shadow Claw!» Ash ordered. The Desert Croc Pokémon's claws extended and glowed with a violet hue.

«Liepard, use Shadow Claw too!» commanded the Grunt.

The long claws of both Pokémon clashed, and the impact was fierce. The energy from the collision pushed both Pokémon back, but they used their claws to steady themselves on the ground.

«Liepard, use Dark Pulse!» the Grunt ordered.

From the feline Pokémon’s mouth, rings of purple energy shot out, slicing through the ground as if it were butter.

«Sandile, dodge with Dig!» Ash commanded. The Pokémon dug a large hole in the ground, disappearing from his opponent’s view.

«Not bad for a beginner!» the Grunt commented.

Ash smiled. «Sandile is a Ground type, so using a Ground-type move makes sense.» The Pokémon was now closing in on its target.

Sandile emerged from the ground, hitting Liepard squarely from below and sending it flying into the air. «Now, use Shadow Claw again!» Ash ordered.

The Desert Croc Pokémon's long claws struck the opponent, knocking it violently to the ground.

«That’s enough.» the Grunt said as she recalled her Pokémon.

«You're really good. You almost beat my powerful Liepard with just a simple Sandile.» Ash just smiled. «It was just luck.»

The Grunt shrugged. «Come with me.» She invited him to follow her again, this time heading toward the parking lot. It was full of gray pickup trucks, all identical and bearing the Team Plasma emblem on the hoods and doors.

«Get in!» she urged.

Ash got in, and so did his guide. The Grunt drove off without taking any specific direction, almost as if her goal was simply to get away from the base.

«You’re really good in battles... almost too good for it to be your first time.» the woman remarked again. Ash ignored it.

The truck had traveled a few kilometers, putting distance between them and the base. Neither of them spoke during the trip, as if it didn’t matter.

«There aren’t any bugs or spies in here, but I think it’s better if we step outside.» the Grunt said, stopping the vehicle in the middle of the forest. She got out of the pickup and motioned for Ash to do the same.

«I knew you weren’t just an ordinary Grunt from the very beginning. You should consider yourself lucky that I was the one who found you and not someone else.» Ash felt cornered. His cover was practically blown. He needed to find another way to free the Vivillon. He didn’t care why they had been captured, but his instinct told him it wasn’t for anything good.

«When I saw that Staraptor, I immediately suspected it wasn’t a wild Pokémon. It’s not a native species of Unova. It had to belong to a Trainer, one who had been either in Sinnoh, Kalos, Paldea, or Nordivia.» Ash didn’t respond. Staraptor wasn’t exactly a rare Pokémon. He couldn’t understand how it could be traced back to him. «And, in case you didn’t know, the Staraptor from Sinnoh are a bit larger than average. This one seemed almost a meter and a half tall.» she explained. Still, Ash didn’t know what to say. They were all circumstantial clues, none of which directly led to him.

«You’ve really taken on your role, maybe even better than I have.» she continued, still trying to provoke a confession. «You know, I’m an agent with the International Police. Just by revealing my identity to you, I could get fired on the spot. I’m originally from the Sinnoh region. I was sent here to investigate Team Plasma. For obvious reasons, I can’t tell you my real name. You can call me Velaurora.» Still no reaction.

«The first time I saw you was in Squallville. Quite a few years ago, actually. I was in the audience. Without going into too much detail, I had to investigate Team Rocket... I assume you know who they are. It seemed like they were investigating Team Galactic in turn.» Even these words didn’t seem to elicit any reaction.

«Well, they usually leave when things get... electrifying.» she said with an ironic tone.

«I knew you’d confess eventually... but anyway...» She changed the subject. «I assume you’re here to free the Vivillon.» She tried to predict his intentions. "How could she know?" he thought.

«I can take you to where they’re being held. But remember, I can’t compromise my cover in any way. I won’t be able to give you much time. I’ll have to alert the others.» Ash gave a small nod of approval, followed by a slight hand gesture that seemed to signal for her to stop.

«So, you know Looker? I had the chance to work with him in the past.» Ash asked.

«Of course, I know him. He’s with the International Police as well! For obvious reasons, I can’t disclose my relationship with him.» she explained before abruptly changing the subject again.

«But now, we have to go.» The agent urged Ash to get back into the truck, heading back toward the base. The return trip was just as silent.

Ash still wasn’t entirely sure of the woman’s sincerity. He had fallen into similar traps before, but one way or another, he had always managed to get out of them.

He had to stay calm and not seem too trusting of the agent, or he’d be too suspicious. As if their absence wasn’t suspicious enough already.

Back at the base, the agent walked away from Ash to speak with some other Grunts. The boy had no idea what they were talking about.

A couple of minutes later, the woman returned to him. «All set.» She tried to stay in character. «You know, the boss is happy to welcome new members. And those who offer to guide the newcomers get some extra bonuses in their paychecks.» She explained with a smile. Ash smiled back.

«There are other areas I need to show you. Starting with the residential zone. Follow me.» Once again, the recruit led Ash somewhere.

This time it was to another part of that massive building. This time, they arrived in front of a double swinging door, similar to those usually used for emergency exits.

«Here we have the dormitories. They're separated into male and female dorms. It's not hard to get it wrong.» She pointed to the door closest to the entrance. It had the silhouette of a man: «This is the male dormitory. The other one, at the end, is the female dormitory... obviously.» Ash responded with a simple "Okay." 

«If you want to go in, feel free.» The Grunt glanced at one of the surveillance cameras. She wanted to make sure that if someone was watching, they wouldn’t notice anything suspicious. She slipped a hand into her pocket and then gently tugged Ash's hand to nudge him forward.

The boy got the message and headed towards the male dormitory door. He opened it and went inside.

The room was filled with numerous metal bunk beds. Each bed was perfectly neat and clean, as if none had ever been used. 

Above the head of the lower bed and on the side of the upper one, there was a small plaque with a number. Even without guidance, the boy deduced that the number was the identifier for each Grunt.

It wasn’t a minor detail. Although he wanted to stay in that place for as little time as possible, he still had to be ready for any situation.

The boy took the ticket his guide had given him moments before. Written on it in pen was a five-digit number preceded by the letter M. 

Ash guessed that was his identification number. He tried to memorize it, knowing it would come in handy later.

For the same reason, he began searching for the bed assigned to his identification number. It turned out to be quite a challenge. It seemed that the bed numbers didn’t follow any particular order, which disoriented the boy quite a bit.

After a longer search than expected, he finally found the corresponding bed. It was the one on the upper level.

Opposite the entrance wall were metal lockers. Instinctively, Ash approached them. Like the beds, these small lockers also had numbers.

Ash searched for his. Unlike with the bed, he found it without much trouble. Of course, it was empty. He still had to activate the code lock.

To his left was also the door leading to the bathrooms. He decided to enter. They were ordinary bathrooms. There was a section with several sinks and, in front of them, doors that led to the toilets. A separate door led to the showers.

Taking advantage of the privacy provided by the bathrooms, Ash pulled out his Smart Rotom to write a message to Serena.

“ Hi. I managed to get in. But I still haven’t been able to free the Pokémon. I should be able to do it tomorrow. I hope everything’s okay. ” The girl immediately replied to the message. She was a little worried, but she trusted Ash more than anyone else. “ I’m glad to see everything’s going well. We’re fine. We’ve returned to Striaton City. The Rangers gave us a ride. Tomorrow they’ll take us to Eolea. We’ll meet at the same spot as yesterday. ”

The girl tried to hide the immense worry that tormented her. Knowing that Ash would have to spend an entire night in the lion's den kept her in a constant state of anxiety.

Ash left the bathroom and the dormitory, then rejoined his guide. The Grunt checked the time on her smartphone. «Mmmmh... We should make it before dinner.» She commented. This time she led him down the corridor. She pushed open another door and guided him into a further hallway.

«Here it is. This is the meeting room. It’s closed for now.» She explained. «Don’t get your hopes up. You’ll get to know it starting tomorrow. Every day at eight, we have a work meeting. Usually, we discuss the day’s work plans. Don’t ask questions, just listen. You’ll see, it’ll go by quickly.» The tour continued.

Now they stood before a large door. It was made of fine dark wood and featured intricate decorations. The handle, gilded, was also finely detailed.

Noticing the camera, the Grunt decided to stay even more in character. 

«This is the Chief's office. I’ve never met him personally. But those who have describe him as a wise and balanced man. From what I understand, he doesn’t come here often.» She explained.

«Further ahead, there are some administrative offices. They’re not very interesting. Just documents and more documents. The most insubordinate Grunts are the ones assigned to handle them. That’s how boring it is.» The guide didn’t hide a smile.

The visit continued along the same hallway. The two walked until they reached a door that appeared similar to all the others. «This is the recreation room. We usually come here after dinner, before going to bed... we watch movies, play video games. There’s also a small library. Some borrow books to read during downtime.»

A voice, partially distorted, came through the speakers on the wall. «All Grunts are requested to head to the dining hall for dinner.» Ash and the Grunt made their way to the dining hall, with the boy trailing a few steps behind. «You’ll see... the food here is good. They take care of us.» That was good news for Ash, the only good news of the day.

Even though he had only been there for a few hours, he was already starting to miss Pikachu, Serena, and all the others.

With these thoughts swirling in his head, the boy struggled to keep up with his guide. «You coming?» She scolded him. The scolding was followed by a smile. It was clear that she had to stay in character.

The dining hall wasn’t far, or at least it didn’t seem to be, as the smell of dinner was already in the air. A few steps later, they encountered some other Grunts, exchanging quick greetings with them.

Shortly after, they arrived at the dining hall. «This is a self-service dining hall.» she explained. «Grab a tray, utensils, a bottle of water, and then take what you want from the containers on the counter. If you’re still hungry, you can go for seconds, but remember to wait in line. Especially now that you’re the new guy.» She teased him.

The line moved quickly and efficiently, and it was finally the boy's turn. He took a rigid, white plastic tray from a dispenser. He also grabbed a small plastic package containing a fork, knife, spoon, and a paper napkin. He took a 750ml bottle of water.

He reached the counter where he could serve himself. His guide was right. There was a wide variety of food, and it all looked incredibly appetizing. «Hurry up, rookie!» urged someone behind him.

Ash didn’t let it bother him at all. He calmly took one of the large spoons and filled part of his tray with a generous portion of rice with mushrooms.

He then moved on to the main courses, where he helped himself to beef stew and roasted potatoes, again serving large portions. He also took a cup of fruit salad.

He headed to a table where only his guide was seated at the moment. He had to be very careful not to spill the contents of the tray, which was precariously balanced.  

He sat down and started eating. Although he was used to devouring his food, he decided to maintain some composure and eat calmly. And yes, the food was really good.  

After finishing his meal, the boy decided to join his guide and a small group of Grunts and head to the recreation room. The room perfectly matched Ash’s expectations.  

A large TV was mounted on the wall, connected to a console with several gamepads, and a bookshelf full of video games of various genres. Nearby was a ping pong table, a foosball table, and a pool table.  

Against one wall stood a large bookshelf overflowing with books. "The Liberation of Pokémon," "Humans and Pokémon: Two Worlds, Two Destinies," "One Hundred Reasons to Free Pokémon," and other similar titles.  

«What do you think about a foosball game? You know, just to help you get settled.» suggested the guide.  

«Alright, but I warn you, I'm not very good.» replied Ash.  

«Doesn't matter. Leave the defense to me, and everything will be fine.» Ash simply smiled. It didn’t take long to find two opponents interested in the challenge.  

«So, you're the newbie, huh…» one of the Grunts positioned himself in front of Ash.  

«It's a tradition for me to challenge the newcomers. So far, no one has ever beaten me, you know? And something tells me I’ll remain undefeated.» These words lit a spark of challenge in Ash. A few moments later, a second Grunt joined in.  

«I’d say the match can begin.» declared the Grunt as he pulled the lever to drop the balls.  

He took one and bounced it against the side.  

«Come on! It’s a ball, not an egg!» the first one scolded. Finally, he decided to throw it into the center of the field.  

The ball rolled across the field, stopping just short of the first row of players controlled by Ash. The boy moved quickly, shifting his row of players and sending the ball straight toward the opponent’s goal.  

«So much for not being good!» his guide complimented him. Ash didn’t respond. Meanwhile, the second ball had entered the field. Same technique as before. Again, the two opponents failed to stop him.  

«Will you get it together? We’re already two points down!» one of the Grunts complained.  

The match was quite tense, a back-and-forth of passes and goals. With the final ball, both pairs were tied.  

«This ball will decide the outcome of the entire game.» commented one of the Grunts.  

«Make sure to pay attention!» his partner scolded. Ash and his guide exchanged a quick glance.  

«We're ready!» declared the boy. The ball was thrown as usual.  

It seemed like the game would never end. The passes felt endless. At times, it seemed like Ash and his ally would win, and other times their two rivals appeared on the verge of victory. In the end, it was Ash and his guide who triumphed.  

«Bah!» one of the opponents grumbled.  

«It’s just beginner’s luck!» he added.  

«Anyway, we weren’t playing for anything.» the other one simply concluded.  

«You’ll have your rematch. Maybe tomorrow. Today it’s late.» The guide pulled Ash by the arm, trying to lead him out of the room.  

«I told you not to draw attention to yourself. You were lucky you had me when we fought. Remember to keep a low profile. Or you'll attract attention. Tomorrow will be our first day working together. Remember what we discussed earlier.»  

Ash gave a small nod.  

It was time to sleep. He had no idea what time he’d need to wake up, so he preferred to go to bed. He headed toward the male dormitory and then to the bathroom.  

As he had done a few hours earlier, the boy took out his Smart Rotom to send a brief message to Serena. "Everything's going well. I plan to get out of here before noon."  

Meanwhile, at the Pokémon Center in Levantopoli, Serena just couldn’t fall asleep. She nervously paced back and forth in the room.  

She had read Ash's message, but despite that, she couldn’t calm down. «I knew it, we shouldn’t have trusted them! And now…» she complained.  

«And now Ash is fixing it.» Anita replied in a low voice.  

«Exactly. He's all alone. In the enemy's lair. I know he's definitely capable of handling himself, but I don’t feel secure. I really wish I could be by his side, to truly know how he’s doing…» she added, still pacing back and forth.  

«I know you care about him a lot. We've been traveling together for a short time, but I’ve noticed that from the very beginning...» Anita responded, making Serena blush.  

«No… it's not what you think…» Serena replied, a bit flustered.  

«No... no... I mean... I care about him too. If I started traveling, if we managed to win our first badge, it's thanks to him. I wouldn’t want to lose my reference point either...» Anita said.  

«And I think he cares about you too. That’s why he decided to go alone. Not knowing what kind of place it is, he preferred to go alone and not put you in danger.» she added.  

This did nothing to reassure Serena. In fact, it made things worse. "So maybe he lied to me? Is everything really not okay? Have they discovered him, and someone else is writing in his place?" Those thoughts kept echoing in her mind, preventing her from sleeping.  

Meanwhile, back at the base, Ash had reached the bed assigned to him. He sat on the bed to take off his boots and socks, then lifted the blankets and lay down.  

«Aren't you going to put on your pajamas?» one of the Grunts asked him.  

«And why are you still wearing your hood? Don’t tell me you’re going to sleep with it on too! Come on!» he added.  

«That’s none of your business.» Ash retorted, trying to sound tougher than he really was.  

He feared that someone might search him and discover his identity. He had to make sure no one found out, at any cost. Sure, with Dragonite and Staraptor, he could handle himself, but at that moment, he wanted to avoid any confrontations at all costs.  

His guide hadn’t mentioned it, so the possibility of nighttime searches was completely out of the question. Fearing one, the boy tried to stay awake, just in case he needed to defend himself, but he didn’t last long. In less than half an hour, he fell into a deep sleep.  

«Will you stop it? You sound like a tractor when you snore!» A Grunt woke him up.  

«Seriously?» Ash responded in an annoyed tone.  

«I just want to sleep. Like everyone, I imagine. Especially since I just arrived, and I’m pretty tired.»  

The boy turned over and quickly fell asleep again.  

«To all Grunts! You have ten minutes to get ready and head to the dining hall!» a robotic voice echoed through the dormitory, waking everyone.  

The Grunts quickly headed to the bathroom to use the toilet and wash up. Ash managed to slip in among the first.  

He couldn’t contact Serena, given the little time he had. He had promised her he’d get out of there before noon, and he would. After going to the bathroom and quickly washing up, he left the dormitory.  

He joined the stream of Grunts heading to the dining hall. He quickly reached the dining hall, now set up for breakfast. Ash took a tray, just like before. He approached one of the machines to make himself a cup of cappuccino, grabbed a glass of juice, some chocolate chip cookies, and two cream croissants.  

Realizing he didn’t have much time to eat, he tried to eat as quickly as possible, even at the risk of burning himself with the hot cappuccino.  

His guess turned out to be correct. He had barely finished eating when a metallic voice, similar to the one that had woken him up, announced that the Grunts needed to leave the room.

«All  Grunts are requested to head to the meeting room as soon as possible!» Ash joined the group of  Grunts, looking for his guide. He remembered her words. The meetings had to be really boring.  

Maybe, in this meeting, they would talk about those Vivillon. And what they planned to do with them. Ash seemed rather tense, though he tried not to show it.  

He managed to take a seat in one of the front rows, on the outer side. Next to him was his guide, and on the other side, the wall. In front of him, beyond a few rows of chairs, was a small stage. Even further back, a screen was partially illuminated by the blue light of a projector. It seemed like someone was still missing.  

A murmur spread throughout the room, first light, then growing stronger. It seemed they were discussing what they should do during the day.  

After about five minutes, a woman peeked through a small side door. She wore slightly different clothes compared to the other  Grunts. Her outer garment was not white, but black, probably to distinguish her from the lower-ranked  Grunts.  

«As you know…» she began without even greeting. «Yesterday, we carried out a very important operation, managing to obtain a good number of Vivillon.» The  Grunts exchanged several glances. They knew what had happened the day before, so they wondered why they were talking about something that had just occurred.  

«Also, thanks to the cooperation of someone we never expected, who fell into our trap.» Ash tried to remain as neutral as possible. He couldn’t afford to be discovered.  

«Anyway…» she resumed her speech as an image of a Vivillon appeared on the screen. «We are not poachers. We are not interested in selling them or making money.» She explained. “Then why did they capture them?” Ash wondered. «Trainers know very well, always roaming around with their Pokédex. Vivillon, like all Pokémon, have incredible powers. They, for instance, are capable of producing scales that can calm anyone who comes into contact with them. Their calming effect is incredibly powerful.» She explained.  

“So, they want to exploit them for their scales? And then what will they do with them? But most of all, how will they make them release them? I’m afraid it won’t be pleasant at all,” Ash thought.  

«Your task will be to force them to release the scales. At any cost.» She explained. “I knew it,” Ash thought. “I knew they didn’t want to do anything good.”  

«We need their scales to calm Trainers, making it easier for us to force them to release their Pokémon. Even just a few scales can have a huge effect.» She added.  

«And that’s all. The two volunteers come with me. The rest, well… get back to work.» The room began to empty. It seemed no one wanted to carry out that unpleasant task.  

In the end, only Ash and his guide were left in the room. «I’m pleased that the newbie is taking on the most unpleasant tasks. As for you…» she addressed Ash's guide. «My sincere congratulations. Not only did you take responsibility for the newcomer, but you’re also accepting this mission. I’ll remember it well. But now go! You know where the Pokémon are.» She urged them.  

“So, they’re still where they were taken before? Still in those cages? So much for being for the liberation of Pokémon!” Ash thought as he followed his guide.  

The two walked for a long time until they reached the outside of the building, not too far from where the two had first met.  

«Ohhh! Here you are! I expected more people, but… you two will do just fine.» A  Grunt greeted them, dressed the same way as the woman who had explained the day's plans. «Follow me, and I’ll show you your task.» He invited them with a hand gesture. They followed him to an area not too far from the main building.  

From the outside, it resembled some kind of garage. «Until the other day, we used this building for vehicle maintenance, but our needs have changed, and we had to adapt.» The man explained.  

«This must be new for you too.» He turned to Ash's guide. «I imagine you’ve never been inside the second room.» She replied, «Second room?» in a low voice.  

The man inserted a key into the electronic lock, raising the electric shutter, which opened with a loud metallic noise, revealing the interior of the room.  

“That’s where they’ve put the Vivillon!” Ash thought, observing the cages. He could recognize every single Pokémon inside the cages. He could only imagine their suffering.  

The  Grunt pressed a switch, and several neon lights illuminated the room with a cold, sad light, highlighting the oil stains on the floor.  

«Take them to the other room, then I’ll give you further instructions.» He ordered. «Two at a time will suffice.» He added as he approached the door separating the room they were in from the adjacent one.  

The two obeyed, taking a cage each and entering the room.  

Inside, the first thing that caught both Ash’s and his guide’s attention was a strange device. It was a sort of square cabin, about two meters tall and three meters wide.  

At the top, two ventilation tubes were noticeable, one for intake and the other for exhaust. “Maybe I should reveal my true identity and free them before it’s too late,” Ash thought. “Or maybe I should wait just a moment longer?” he asked himself shortly after, without finding an answer.  

«Well, now enter that cabin and release the Pokémon.» He ordered. The two obeyed, entering the cabin and opening the cages. The Vivillon inside came out without resistance.  

They seemed extremely frightened and disoriented. Ash could fully understand how they felt because he felt like them far from his friends and in a hostile place.  

«Don’t worry…» Ash tried to reassure them. «Everything will be fine… or at least I hope so.» He corrected himself as he exited the cabin.  

«Perfect!» the superior praised. «Now we just need to make sure the door is securely closed.» The guide checked that Ash had properly closed the door. «It’s closed.» she confirmed.  

«Good… then we can start with the gas.» The man pressed a button on the wall. «Gas?!?» Ash asked, sounding concerned. «Normal. You’re the newcomer.» The superior chided him. «In our labs in Austropoli, we synthesized a gas. It’s exactly what we need to make the Vivillon release their scales… I can’t go into too much detail… but it was synthesized by a colleague from the Kalos region.» He explained.  

Ash quickly made a mental connection. Could it be a former member of Team Flare?  

The boy didn’t have much time to think. From the inspection window, he could see the two Vivillon flying in a desperate dance, while small fragments reflecting light detached from their wings.  

Moments later, a sound began, like that of a large fan.  

«Very good!» The superior commented. «We’re collecting really good quantities of...» He didn’t finish the sentence, as a great force threw him against one side of the cabin.  

«Hey! What are you doing?!?» The superior protested, trying to turn around but failing. «Traitor!» He yelled at Ash.  

Dragonite grabbed the man by the back and hurled him against the opposite wall. «What are you doing?» his guide scolded him. «Do you think this is the right time?» she asked, changing her tone after realizing the superior was unconscious.

«Now let’s free them!» ordered Ash. Dragonite slammed its shoulder into the door, breaking it down. The two Vivillon inside looked at Ash with a strange expression, then darted through the open door. 

Moments later, a recorded voice sounded: «Alarm protocol activated!» This was followed by the blaring of an alarm.  

«Quick, we don’t have much time!» urged his guide.  

«Dragonite! Destroy that thing with Hyper Beam!» ordered Ash. From the Pokémon’s mouth, a massive white beam of energy was unleashed, hitting the chamber. The powerful attack completely shattered the chamber, which started emitting black smoke.  

«That thing could explode any second, we’d better get out of here!» Ash noted. 

The two ran out of the room, with Ash’s Pokémon escorting them.  

«I’d say we can lock this up!» Ash said as he locked the door.  

«This should buy us some time.» he commented.  

«I don’t have much time. I need to alert the others soon, or they’ll start suspecting me.» the guide said, beginning to open several cages. Ash opened some as well. In just a few moments, all the Vivillon were free.  

«I have to go now! Goodbye!» Ash shook hands with his guide. Moments later, Dragonite wrapped both of them in a tight hug.  

«Ow! I can’t breathe!» the guide exclaimed, laughing. 

A short while later, Ash, his Pokémon, and the former guide, now an undercover agent, left the building.  

«Before you go... I have one last small favor to ask.» said the guide.  

“What could she want?” Ash wondered.  

«Tell me.» he asked.  

«I’d like Dragonite to attack Liepard. That way, I can say I tried to defend myself. Sure, it’s against the code, but at least I’ll have an excuse.» 

Ash looked puzzled. He’d rather fight properly than have his Pokémon attack an opponent who wasn’t defending themselves. He was about to protest, but the agent’s Liepard was already standing in front of him.  

«Fine! Dragonite! Use Twister!» The Pokémon turned around and violently flapped its wings, generating a huge whirlwind that quickly reached the opposing Pokémon, slamming it into the building’s wall and leaving a large hole in it. Liepard was quite battered from the impact.  

«Good, now I can say I at least tried to fight.» said the agent.  

Finally free to leave, Ash climbed onto Dragonite’s back. The Pokémon quickly took off, flying away from the base, giving Ash just enough time to wave goodbye to the woman.  

The agent moved away from the building, pulling out a small device from her uniform, shaped like a Poké Ball. She brought it to her mouth.  

“I hope they receive this. It’s an experimental device.”  

«Agent Velaurora reporting in. The sabotage was successful; we managed to prevent Team Plasma from getting their hands on the Vivillon scales.  

The plan succeeded thanks to an ally whose identity I cannot disclose, who sabotaged their machinery. He told me he had 

worked with Looker. I admire his methods. He blended in with the followers perfectly and didn’t interfere with my plans. I’m ending this transmission before they get suspicious.» With that, the agent returned to the base.

She barely made it back to the building where the Vivillon had been held when she was immediately confronted by her superior.  

«Why didn’t you attack him? Why did you let him and his Pokémon destroy our equipment?» he demanded, clearly angry.  

«You’re not his accomplice, are you? I could have the others monitor your every move! You know what happens to impostors!» he accused.  

«I tried to stop him. I challenged him to a battle, but he overwhelmed me in no time.» she tried to justify herself.  

«You still violated protocol. You knew you should’ve called for backup.» he continued to reprimand her.  

«Would you rather have let him destroy the entire base?» she retorted.  

«Fair point. But you still broke protocol! If Team Plasma succeeds, it’s because of this. Other organizations fail at simpler tasks because of this!»  

The woman bowed slightly.  

«I’m sorry. I acted on my own and I was wrong.» Her superior looked her in the eye.  

«You’ll stay for now, but I’ll have to find the right punishment. This can never happen again.»  

The woman looked at him sadly.  

«It won’t happen again.»  

Meanwhile, Ash, having flown far enough away, removed the hood of his uniform and took out his Smart Rotom. He knew it wasn’t the best idea to use it while flying, but he had to inform the others that everything had gone well. He didn’t like using the phone in dangerous situations, but he had no choice.  

Luckily, Staraptor was leading Dragonite, clearing the path of any obstacles. With that thought, Ash started a call to Serena, hoping for a quick response. Luckily, she answered immediately.  

«Hey! I finally made it out of that horrible place! I’m on my way to you!» Ash hoped Serena could understand him over the wind.  

«Fantastic!» Serena replied. «Did you manage to free the Vivillon?» she asked.  

«Absolutely! It wasn’t easy. I have to thank Dragonite for her great help. But now I have to go.» Ash explained quickly.  

«Alright. We’re waiting for you. Hurry up!» Serena responded before hanging up.  

«Raptorr!» Staraptor called out to its Trainer, signaling that the group was just below them. The Pokémon dived quickly, followed by Dragonite’s gentler descent.  

Ash landed right in front of the group, still wearing his Team Plasma uniform. Serena and Pikachu ran toward him, with the Mouse Pokémon leaping onto his shoulder, and Serena embracing him, making him slightly embarrassed.  

«I’m so happy to see you’re okay. I thought someone had taken your phone and was texting instead of you...» she said, as though she hadn’t seen him in ages.  

Ash turned to his Pokémon.  

«I’d like to introduce you to a new friend.» He pulled a Poké Ball from his uniform and tossed it. Out came a Sandile.  

«As you know, I had to infiltrate Team Plasma’s ranks...» Ash explained. «I had to pretend to be a new follower. And for that, they gave me a Pokémon, and I chose him.»  

The Pokémon began to get to know Ash’s other Pokémon.  

«Don’t worry...» Ash reassured Sandile. «I’m not really a Team Plasma follower. I had to pretend, but rest assured, I won’t betray you by releasing you.»  

«We should get going.» one of the two rangers called out. «Our shift is starting soon, and we won’t be able to take you to Eolea otherwise.» they explained.  

«I’d say we have no reason to stay here! And honestly, I can’t wait to get out of this uniform and take a hot shower.» Ash added.  

Suddenly, a huge energy blade struck just near Anita’s feet. It seemed to come from behind some nearby trees.  

«HEY! WHAT’S GOING ON!» the girl shouted in fright, stepping back a few paces.  

«Someone just tried to hit you.» Carlos commented, pointing out the obvious.  

Before Anita could regain her composure, a second attack came from the same spot. Once again, the girl narrowly avoided being hit.

«You’re the one with courage, come out!» Ash called out. «No one can attack a friend of mine and get away with it!» he shouted.  

«Attack me if you dare!» Ash stood in front of his friend. Another Air Slash hit the ground for the third time, just in front of the boy. «Do you want to hit me or... are you just trying to provoke me?» Ash was even angrier now. No response.  

«Maybe... it wants to fight me.» Anita pointed out. Ash stepped aside from in front of his friend.  

Moments later, yet another Air Slash struck the ground.  

Anita took Oshawott's Poké Ball from her bag and sent him into battle. «You want a fight? Fine! You’ll get one!» Another Air Slash sliced through the air in front of the girl.  

«Break it with Razor Shell!» Oshawott brandished his scalchop, which transformed into a sort of small sword. With a quick swing of his arm, he destroyed the incoming attack.  

Another attack soon followed, aimed at the Sea Otter Pokémon and his Trainer. A golden-colored powder filled the air around them. «What do I do now?» Anita was starting to panic again. «Tell Oshawott to use Water Gun on the powder! Before it’s too late!» Ash suggested. «Yes... Let’s try! Oshawott! Use Water Gun! Aim at the powder!» the girl ordered, 

though not very confident.  

The jet of water from Oshawott’s mouth hit the entire cloud of powder, weighing it down and causing it to fall to the ground. The attacks stopped for a few moments. «It must be tired.» Ash commented.  

«I think we can leave now.» Ash added soon after.  

The four of them barely had time to get close to the van and reach the two rangers, who were already on board, when another light green energy sphere, resembling an eye, was hurled from behind the trees.  

«Quick! Destroy it with Razor Shell! Like you did before!» Anita ordered. The Pokémon leapt up and, with a sharp slash of his scalchop, shattered the sphere, which disintegrated into a cloud of sparkling particles.  

Once again, the attacks stopped for a few moments. «It must be tired.» Ash remarked.  

But once again, reality contradicted Ash’s words. From the same trees where the attacks had come from, a faint rustling sound was heard. Without needing a command from his Trainer, Oshawott jumped up. His body was cloaked in water as he charged toward the sound.  

A few moments later, there was a loud, hard thud as something hit a solid surface. «That’s who was attacking you. A Vivillon!» Serena remarked.  

Anita looked at the Pokémon, unconscious and now lying on the ground. «But that’s the same one that was watching us the other day!» she pointed out. «I wonder why it decided to attack us.» she added.  

«Remember, we kidnapped its kin... well... we thought we were doing something good...» Carlos replied.  

«Now that you’ve battled it, what are you going to do? Aren’t you going to catch it?» he teased.  

Anita had thought of a sassy reply, like, “If I were you, I’d focus on catching a Pokémon yourself before giving advice to others.” But behaving like that wasn’t her style. She chose silence.  

«Catching a Pokémon isn’t just your choice. Some Pokémon choose to follow you on their own, others after a battle. And some... we capture them and become friends with them over time. This is one of those times where it’s up to you to decide.» Ash explained to her.  

«I don’t know. Vivillon is a beautiful Pokémon... but I’m not sure if I deserve to be its Trainer.» the girl admitted.  

«Don’t say that!» Serena placed a hand on her shoulder. «You’re a Trainer. That means you deserve to train any Pokémon you want.» she reassured her. «And besides...» the Kalos native moved closer to whisper something in her friend’s ear. «Didn’t you say you didn’t know what to do for the Showcase? Vivillon could be the solution. It’s a very popular Pokémon among Performers and Coordinators, you know?»  

«The way you say it, it sounds like you want to catch it yourself!» Anita replied, with a hint of irony.  

«I’d never... you and Oshawott were the ones who battled it, so it’s only right for you to catch it. Besides... just because it’s a popular Pokémon for Performers and Coordinators doesn’t mean it can’t be strong in battles too.» she added.  

«Alright. You’ve convinced me.» Anita took a Poké Ball from her bag and threw it at the still-unconscious Pokémon. The Poké Ball opened, enveloping the Pokémon in a white light and absorbing it.  

The red-and-white sphere wobbled left and right. Once, twice, then three times, and finally, four. A brief “click” confirmed the successful capture. Anita walked over and picked up the Poké Ball. «Yes! I caught a Vivillon!»  

Chapter Text

A Precious Experience

Beep! The Ranger honked the van's horn. «We have to go now! Or we'll leave you halfway!» She urged them to get on board. «Don't worry! We're getting in!» Ash reassured her, approaching the van and opening the door.

He invited Serena to sit in the middle seat of the front bench.

Carlos and Anita sat in the back seat. As soon as all six buckled up, the Ranger set off. «I remind you that, as soon as you arrive in Eolea, Anita will have to report the capture of her Vivillon.» The Ranger reminded them. «Unfortunately, we don't have our computers and we can't do it.» Anita nodded. «I understand. What exactly do I have to do to report the capture?» She asked. «Nothing special. You can do it at the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy will ask you a few questions about your Pokémon and will register your capture. Nothing more.» The woman replied. «The registration is also valid if the Pokémon is traded or given away.» She added.

The journey proceeded peacefully until they reached the town of Eolea. The Ranger parked the van in the central square of the city. «Here we are! The Pokémon Center is right here in front of us!» The Ranger turned off the van and the four made to get out. «Aren't you forgetting something?» The Ranger turned to Ash. «Your stuff. It's in the back.» Ash opened the sliding door and climbed into the van, retrieving his backpack and his clothes. They were a little dusty, but intact. Ash tapped his backpack a few times to shake off the dust, took off the uniform and put on his pants. He quickly tucked the uniform into his backpack then jumped out. «Just in case it might be needed again.» He commented.

«Thanks for the ride!» They thanked them. The van drove off, leaving the four alone. Ash finished getting dressed, putting on his shirt, jacket, and shoes. «Sorry, but I certainly couldn't stay in those clothes.» He said, while tying his shoes. No one said anything to him. They were all aware that showing up dressed like that was not a good idea at all.

Finally, the four reached the Pokémon Center. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by Nurse Joy.

«Good morning, everyone! How can I help you?» She welcomed them. «Good morning!» They greeted her. Ash approached the counter. «We would like to book two rooms for the night, if possible.» The Nurse took a quick look at her computer. «No problem. If you want, you can check in now. You look a little tired.» None of them felt like objecting. «If you want, I can take care of your Pokémon while you rest.» She proposed. The four handed over their Poké Balls, with Pikachu, as usual, jumping onto the counter. Shortly after, Ash and Serena took the keys to the rooms where they would be staying. «Just follow the arrows.» The Nurse explained to them.

Ash ran at the speed of light, risking colliding with the cleaning lady, who had just emerged from one of the rooms.

«I apologize.» Ash apologized with a small bow. «It's nothing!» The woman replied.

Ash could, finally, enter the room he had booked. He took clothes and underwear from his backpack and tossed them onto one of the beds, then rushed toward the bathroom. Finally, Ash was able to take his long-awaited shower. Boom! Boom! Boom! Carlos pounded on the door. «How much longer are you going to take?» Carlos complained. «You've been in there for forty-five minutes!» He reiterated. «Hey! I'm done! Just let me finish drying my hair!» Ash seemed quite annoyed. He couldn't even relax a little.

Ash finished getting ready and came out of the bathroom. Carlos quickly reached the bathroom. Dodging Ash by a hair's breadth.

Ash sat on the bed and finished getting dressed. He put on a pair of black jeans, ripped at the knees, a pair of sports shoes of the same color, a simple t-shirt with a logo, and a blue jacket. On his head, a red cap.

As soon as everyone was ready, the four presented themselves at the Nurse's counter. «Oh…! Here you are. Your Pokémon are in perfect shape. Ah… by the way… who is the Trainer of Vivillon?» The Nurse asked. «I-it's me.» Anita replied, a little scared. «Do you have the capture report?» The Nurse asked, kindly. «N-no. I haven't taken care of it yet. I captured her this morning. The Rangers told me I could report the capture at a Pokémon Center.» Anita replied. «They told you right. Give me thirty seconds to open the website.» The Nurse quickly typed some keys on her computer, opening the DPPR site, the Department of Rare Pokémon Protection. «So… I need your Trainer Card.» Anita handed her Smart Rotom to the Nurse, allowing her to scan the QR code. «Perfect. Your name is Anita White. And you come from Nuvema Town… right?» The Nurse asked. «Exactly.» The Trainer confirmed. «Now I'll ask you a couple of questions about your Vivillon. Nothing major, don't worry.» The Nurse reassured her.

«First of all, you captured the forty-seventh specimen for this year. You are perfectly regular. Do you confirm that it is a Marine Pattern Vivillon?» She asked. «Exactly. Marine Pattern and she is a female.» Anita replied. «Very good. You have also shown a good knowledge of this species of Pokémon. Very good. Yours is the fifth Marine Pattern specimen captured this year. The third female with Marine Pattern and the twenty-fourth overall.» She explained. «Do you prefer to have the certificate printed or would you prefer me to send it to you via email?» She asked. «I prefer the email. I might lose the paper.» She replied. «[email protected]» The Nurse jotted down the data on her computer and sent the document to its rightful owner. «It arrived.» Anita confirmed.

«By the way…» Serena changed the subject. «My friend and I would like to participate in the Showcase…» «I see…» The Nurse replied. «It's not too far from here. Cross the alleyway behind here and you'll reach the theater. I advise you to hurry… the Showcase will be the day after tomorrow afternoon, but registration closes in a few hours.» She replied. «Thank you!» Serena replied. «Then we better get going.» The native of Kalos invited the group to follow her. The four walked, with Serena in front of everyone. They crossed the alley next to the Pokémon Center and reached a second, smaller square. In the center of the square was a fountain, with Pokémon statues.

In front of them stood an old-looking building, covered in precious materials. The door, quite tall and made of dark wood and metal, had a sign affixed to it that read:

“Eolea Showcase Theater: registration is open: We are waiting for many of you!"

«We're still in time, then.» Serena commented, inviting Anita to follow her. Ash and Carlos remained a few steps behind. The native of Pallet Town was observing the interior of the building. It was as well-kept and elegant as the exterior. Elaborate chandeliers, made of precious metal and crystal, hung from the ceiling, and several paintings by famous artists were hung on the walls. Not that Ash knew anything about art, but he could appreciate them.

Large marble statues were placed on the floor. They did not represent Pokémon, but something abstract that Ash could not identify.

After waiting a few moments, it was finally time for Serena and Anita to register. A young woman greeted the two girls from behind the counter. «Good morning, girls! How can I help you?» She welcomed them.

«Good morning!» Serena and Anita greeted in turn. «We came here to participate in the Showcase.» Serena added, shortly after. «I imagined so.» The woman replied. «You are lucky. Registration closes soon.» Serena smiled, while Anita was a little worried. If it were up to her… «To register I need your Trainer Cards.» The two friends placed

their Smart Rotoms on the counter. The woman took them one at a time. She scanned the QR codes on the device. «Done. Now give me a few moments, and I'll give you your passes.» A strange noise came from the booth where the woman was.

After about thirty seconds, the woman returned the devices to Serena and Anita and handed them some cards.

«Here are your passes. They will allow you to participate in all the Showcases in the Unova region.» Anita forced a smile. The woman looked at Serena more closely. «It won't be easy here even for you.» Serena smiled. «That's not a problem. I like challenges.» The native of Kalos replied. «No… you didn't understand me.» The woman replied. «You'll have to consider yourselves lucky if you manage to get the votes of your boyfriends!» The woman replied. «Then you'll understand why.» She added.

Serena and Anita exchanged a quick look. "What does she mean? If she means the level of the Performers is high, that's not a problem. But… judging by her tone…" Serena thought.

«If she means that the Performers are very strong, then we will have to train more. It's not a problem. Right?» Serena asked. «Yes… it's not a problem… it's not a problem…» The younger Trainer replied.

The four left the building to head to a nearby fast food restaurant. It was practically lunchtime, but the place was almost deserted.

After lunch, and after Ash sent some of his Pokémon to Professor Oak's lab, and then retrieved others, the group headed back to the Pokémon Center. They could use the Pokémon Center's battlefields to train. «Since Anita has been kidnapped by Serena… what do you think about training with me?» Carlos proposed to Ash.

«Alright. But this time I want you and Umbreon to really put in the effort.» Ash replied. "What, excuse me?" Carlos thought. "I understand that he is the Champion and expects a lot from others, but isn't he overdoing it?" Carlos wondered. "Yet with Anita he doesn't behave like this," he thought shortly after. «Is everything alright?» Ash asked.

“Maybe he noticed how still I was” Carlos thought. «Yes… everything is fine. We can start.» He replied.

«I wonder which Pokémon you will battle with this time!» Carlos seemed quite enthusiastic.

«None.» Ash replied.

Carlos was thrown off by the Champion's words. «What do you mean, none?» Carlos asked, quite perplexed.

«See… sometimes, to become strong you have to start from the basics.» Ash replied. Carlos still didn't understand. In what sense would he have to start over from the basics? For the second time in a few moments, Ash had completely caught him off guard.

«If I remember correctly…» Ash resumed: «Your Umbreon knows Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Swift, and Dark Pulse.» Carlos gave a small affirmative nod.

«Today we will train to perfect them. I had the opportunity to see you battle and also to battle against you. And I understood that if you want to become strong, you have to start from the basics.» Ash explained. «But Anita…» Carlos tried to counter. «I also have a training plan for her, but now let's focus on us.» Ash replied. Carlos was a little disappointed. He certainly didn't expect such an answer.

«Alright…» Carlos replied, as he took Umbreon's Poké Ball from his satchel. «Come on out!» Carlos threw his Umbreon's Poké Ball. «Come on out! We have some training to do!» Umbreon came out of the Poké Ball and materialized in front of its Trainer. «You look fit!» He commented.

Umbreon looked around, then turned toward its Trainer. Something seemed strange. He had said that he would have to train, but… his opponent was missing.

«See…» Carlos tried to explain. «Ash wants us to do a very particular training. You won't need an opponent for now.» Umbreon seemed satisfied with the explanation.

«Very good.» Ash began. «Let's start by perfecting Quick Attack. Pikachu, do you want to give an example?» The electric mouse descended from Ash's shoulder and started running at great speed, jumping right and left.

It was so fast that it was almost invisible. «Now that's a Quick Attack!» Carlos commented. «Umbreon… do you think you can do it?» Umbreon tried to keep up with Pikachu, but couldn't.

It seemed to struggle enormously, even just to keep up. Ash shook his head. «I think you can do better. I feel it.» Ash encouraged him. Umbreon tried again. This time too, it struggled to keep up with Pikachu. In less than a second, the Mouse Pokémon was half a dozen jumps ahead of Carlos's Umbreon.

«Look!» Ash commented. «He's already improved from before.» Carlos looked at Ash as if he were an alien. The improvement had been practically imperceptible. Why celebrate it so much?

Third attempt. Another imperceptible improvement. Two seconds later, Umbreon was eleven jumps behind its opponent. «Still not there.» Carlos commented. Quite disappointed.

«Don't say that!» Ash tried to reassure him. «Lumiose City wasn't built in a single day.» “Now he’s even turned into a philosopher” Carlos thought. «What do you mean?» He asked.

«Simply put, you can't expect one training session to be enough to become strong, just as one day isn't enough to build a metropolis. Umbreon lacks nothing to become strong. He just needs to train.» Ash replied.

Carlos did not reply. Ash had no reason to lie to him. «Now we can continue.»

The training resumed, with Umbreon showing other, small improvements.

«That's good enough for now.» Ash stopped him. «But how so?» Carlos replied. «Always training on the same thing doesn't always bring results. We can also focus on the other moves. Although to do that we will need some material. Do you know if there is a hardware store and a sporting goods store nearby?» Ash asked, leaving Carlos stunned for the umpteenth time. “What on earth does he want to do?” He thought, while looking up the destinations on his Smart Rotom.

«Here they are! They're not very far from here.» Carlos recalled his Umbreon into the Poké Ball. «Now rest a little. Then we'll continue training.» While Ash and Carlos went to buy the material, Serena and Anita were at work. «Now that I've registered… can you explain properly what the Showcase consists of? I've seen them on television and I've seen you perform, but I still have some doubts.» Anita explained. «Tell me everything.» Serena replied. «I really don't know where to start… For example… you Performers have beautiful clothes… but I haven't brought anything with me except travel clothes… I don't even have a pair of heels and besides… if I had them I would walk like a Slaking… and then… you only told me about the second phase of the Showcases? What does the first one consist of? Every time it seemed so different to me…» Serena motioned for her friend to calm down. «For the outfit, that's not a problem. Modestly, I'm good with a needle and thread. I took lessons from Valerie…» Anita couldn't believe it. «You mean Valerie… the Gym Leader of Laverre City?» «In person.» The native of Kalos replied. «As for the shoes… I think you just need a little practice there. But, for now let's focus on the performance. The first phase changes at every Showcase, it's a surprise. It could be a hairdressing challenge, a Pokémon quiz, you might have to prepare Poké Puffs, or who knows what else. While the second phase is the same everywhere. And, as I told you, it is very similar to the acting recital of Pokémon Contests. Personally, I have never worked with a Flying-type Pokémon, but it shouldn't be too difficult.» She explained.

“That’s not very reassuring” Anita thought. «Come on out, Vivillon!» Anita took the Scale Powder Pokémon's Poké Ball and threw it, allowing Vivillon to come out.

«I'd say we can start. Let's remember that this will be your first themed performance, so it's better to avoid overly elaborate performances. We have to do something beautiful, but we mustn't bite off more than we can chew.» Serena scanned her 

friend's Vivillon with her Smart Rotom. «Very good… I already have some ideas…»

Anita turned toward Serena. «Already?» Anita didn't realize she had spoken out loud. «Let's see how it goes. Vivillon! Create some Energy Balls!» Serena ordered. Vivillon, after a brief hesitation due to the fact that it was not Anita giving the command, followed the native of Kalos's directive. It generated a series of green energy spheres from the upper part of its body, resembling a kind of eye. They were as if suspended in the air.

«And now hit them with Air Slash!» Thin blades of air generated from Vivillon's wings, striking the energy spheres and making them explode into many small greenish sparks. «Very good! Now use Sleep Powder!»

A thin, golden colored dust generated from Vivillon's wings, joining the sparks from before. «And now control them with Psychic!» Vivillon’s body lit up with a faint pink light, which soon enveloped all the fragments present in the air.

«Now let's have fun! Create what you wish!» Vivillon gathered the fragments around its wings, creating the illusion of possessing gigantic wings.

Shortly after, it gathered everything into a kind of large spiral, which, in the way it reflected the light, resembled a kind of galaxy.

«Oh! Forgive me!» Serena tried to apologize. «I got a little carried away and…» The Performer tried to justify herself. «No, not at all! You were incredible! It looked like Vivillon had been your Pokémon forever! I wonder what your secret is.» Anita replied to her. «No secret. I just think about what could make the people watching you happy, how to make them smile. It's a lesson I only learned after a long time.» She replied.

Meanwhile, Ash and Carlos had returned from their shopping. At the hardware store, they had bought square-shaped boards, about a meter high and equally wide.

They also bought smaller boards and nails to create supports, and a hammer to assemble the structure. At the sporting goods store, however, they had bought several cloths with targets, like those used in archery. «I wonder what you have in mind.» Carlos commented, quite curious.

«You'll see, you'll see. You just have to help me assemble them.» Ash replied to him.

As soon as they arrived at the battlefield, the two put down the material they had brought. «And now let's get to work!» He invited him.

The two began to set up the board structures they had bought. They didn't have instructions to follow. It was all in Ash's head.

In a short time, the project came to life. Carlos risked stepping on his fingers a couple of times, but for the rest, everything went well. In about half an hour, all six targets were built.

Serena and Anita had witnessed part of the work, and both were curious about what Ash would do. Serena was already used to Ash's extravagant training methods, but for Anita, it was still a novelty.

As soon as the targets were ready, the training could resume. «I still don't understand what you want to do with these things, but alright… you're the master.» Carlos commented.

«The reason we built them is very simple.» Ash replied. «Besides Quick Attack, Umbreon also knows Dark Pulse, Swift, and Shadow Ball.» He explained. «Exactly. But I still don't understand.» Carlos replied. Ash was a little taken aback. Usually, he was the one who didn't grasp things. «Attacks like Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, and Swift allow you to battle even from a distance, only, to do so, you need to work a lot on precision. The targets are for exactly that.» Finally, Carlos also understood Ash's intentions.

«For now, we won't focus on power, but on precision. It's useless to have great power but not know how to control it.» He explained. Carlos merely nodded.

«Now we'll give you a small example.» Ash took his Gengar's Poké Ball from his pocket. «Let's give them a little demonstration! Try to hit one of those targets with Shadow Ball. From as far as you can!» The Shadow Pokémon moved several meters away from the targets. «But isn't that a little too far?» Carlos commented. «Just watch.» Ash replied to him. «Go with Shadow Ball!» The ghost generated a large sphere of dark, purplish energy from one of its arms.

It was surrounded by lighter-colored energy discharges, which almost resembled electric shocks. Gengar launched the sphere with immense force and hit the center of the target perfectly, making it explode.

«What power!» Carlos commented, amused. «Geghahahaha!» Gengar couldn't hold back a laugh.

«What are you waiting for? Now it's your turn!» Ash invited them. «Alright! Come on out!» Carlos sent his Umbreon back into the field. «Let's try!» He invited him. «It's not a good idea to start too far away.» Ash guided them. «Where you are now is fine.» He added shortly after. «Alright!» Carlos replied. «Do you feel ready?» He asked his Umbreon. «Eon!» It replied. Yes. It felt ready.

«Then use Shadow Ball! Try to aim at the Target!» A sphere of purplish energy generated from Umbreon's mouth, entirely similar to the one generated by Gengar.

It tried to launch it against one of the targets. The energy sphere barely hit the edge of the target. «Come on, don't give up! Try again!» Ash encouraged them.

«Alright! Let's try again! Use Shadow Ball! But this time take careful aim!» Umbreon tried to concentrate, but even this time it couldn't achieve great results. «You mustn't get discouraged! I'm sure you can do it!» Ash encouraged them again.

Meanwhile, Serena and Anita had taken a short break, and were observing the two during the peculiar training. They were sitting on a bench. Serena was brushing her Delphox. Meanwhile, not far from their Trainer, Oshawott and Herdier were playing. Vivillon, on the other hand, kept to herself, fluttering around the two.

The peaceful scene was interrupted when a gigantic black SUV stopped just in front of the Pokémon Center. Completely black. Not even a hint of chrome or anything that could streamline the heavy line of that behemoth.

The left door of the behemoth opened and a gentleman in his sixties got out of the vehicle. White hair, glasses. He wore a dark blue uniform, with some decorations, which also included a hat of the same color, and brown shoes. The man walked around the vehicle and opened the rear right door. A small step came out from the lower part of the vehicle, to facilitate the descent of whoever was aboard.

«What are you waiting for?» A high-pitched, annoying voice came from the back of that SUV. «Give me a hand to get down!» The man moved aside slightly. «Right away, Miss Mildred!» The man escorted a young girl, not very tall and of average build. She had dark brown hair with light blue tips. She was wearing a pink blouse and a brown skirt.

She had green shoes, with a small heel. «Hey! Not like that! You're pulling too hard! I risk falling!» She complained. «I apologize, Miss!» The man replied, in a patient tone.

The three steps were finished, and now the two were heading towards the Pokémon Center. «Did you do what you needed to do with the Showcase?» She asked. «Yes. Miss. The audience will only have eyes for you, believe me.» The girl simply nodded.

Serena and Anita had identified the type of person they would be dealing with, and deliberately ignored her. Ash and Carlos, initially, didn't even notice her presence, continuing the training they had previously started.

The girl and the driver had almost reached the entrance of the Pokémon Center. In doing so, they passed near the battlefield where the two boys were training. Initially, Mildred ignored Ash, to concentrate on Carlos and his Umbreon. «If I were you, I'd take Umbreon to an eye doctor!» Carlos was grabbed by Ash by the shoulder. «Raising your hands is immature. Challenge her to a battle, instead.» He proposed. «As you wish! If that's the case, then you won't have any reason to refuse a battle.» Carlos proposed. «Bah… first of all, how dare you address me informally. No one authorized you to do so.» She replied. «And besides… I don't think

you're a Champion like Ash Ketchum.» She replied, annoyed. «Here I am. In person!» Ash introduced himself.

«Let's do this, Ash. Let's battle. If you win, I will challenge your friend and his blind Umbreon. For now, he can be the referee… assuming he's up to the task.» Mildred threw down the gauntlet to Ash. Ash, despite having understood the type of person he was about to deal with, decided to teach her a good lesson.

«Pikachu, do you feel like battling?» The Trainer asked. Pikachu jumped from the World Champion's shoulder and lined up in the field. «So you chose your Pikachu? Huh! Then I choose you! Hattrem!» From the Chic Ball, a special Poké Ball, mainly black and decorated with orange bands, came out a Pokémon, with a round face, with a very narrow neck that widened downwards. She seemed to be wearing a kind of lumpy skirt that hid small, slender, light blue feet. The whole body, with the exception of the white "chest," was pig-pink. Her arms, slender and pink, supported the enormous light blue hat. The Pokémon's hat was so disproportionate compared to the "hat" that it made the Pokémon wobble, preventing its feet from touching the ground. The large headpiece, which resembled that of a witch, was decorated with white polka dots of various sizes. It rested on the ground thanks to light blue locks, which were in turn connected to the hat by round pink constrictions. At the tip, there was an almost lightning-bolt shape, white in color, which resembled that of a witch's hat. Part of the light blue hat faded from dark pink to candy pink. She had black eyes with white pupils with a pink reflection.

Carlos scanned that creature with his Smart Rotom. «Hattrem. The Serene Pokémon. Psychic type. It silences opponents by striking them with the tassels on the sides of its head. It is so strong that it can knock out even a professional boxer with one blow. Known moves: Psybeam, Mystical Power, Magical Leaf, Swift.» Carlos put his Smart Rotom back in his satchel.

«Let's start! Hattrem. Use Mystical Power!» The Pokémon began to spin around. The locks lit up red, and rotated at great speed. «Quick, Pikachu! Go with Iron Tail!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon started running, with its tail lighting up white, becoming hard as steel and sharp as a sword.

The Pokémon's rotation suddenly stopped. «Oh no!» Mildred commented. «Use Psybeam!» She ordered. A pink-colored energy beam began to generate from the front of the Pokémon's body.

«Counter it with Electro Web!» Ash ordered. A small web of electricity generated from the Pokémon's tail, which it launched against its opponent's attack. The web expanded and engulfed the opposing attack and subsequently the Pokémon.

«Break free!» Mildred ordered. The Pokémon generated green, purplish-tinged leaves from under her braids. They attempted to break the electrified web. Without success. «Now let's get serious! Use Quick Attack!» Ash ordered. Pikachu began running at great speed, jumping from side to side, until he reached his opponent, sending her flying into the air. «And now go with Thunderbolt!» Small electric discharges generated from the Pokémon's cheeks, which became increasingly larger until they enveloped the Pokémon's body. The discharge, in a fraction of a second, engulfed the opponent, making her fall to the ground. «Hattrem is no longer able to battle, the winner is Pikachu, consequently the winner of the battle is Ash!» Carlos pointed to the Pokémon, lying on the ground, no longer able to battle. «But do you think this is the way? You are a Champion, and I am a simple Performer! Does this seem like the way to behave?» She tried to scold him. «I don't disrespect anyone. And battling seriously is our way of respecting the opponent.» Mildred seemed to ignore his words. «If that's the case, I won't battle your friend.» She replied, annoyed, before entering the Pokémon Center.

«It's a good thing not all you Performers are like that!» Anita commented. «She's an exception. I've had many rivals, but none of them have ever been so haughty or so arrogant.» Serena replied. «Now, however, let's resume our training!»

The girls' training resumed, while the boys decided to allow themselves a little more rest.

After about fifteen minutes, Mildred, accompanied by her driver, left the Pokémon Center. She still seemed not to have digested the defeat. From her expression, however, it seemed that she was not finished having her say.

«So you're a Performer, huh!» She addressed Anita. «Dressed so sloppily… and then? Don't you think you can do it alone? Do you really need a teacher like her? The finalist of the Kalos Professional category?» She indicated Serena. «She deserves it. She constantly puts in effort and tries to improve at every moment. That's not a small thing.» Serena replied.

«And then, out of all the Pokémon, one so sloppy and sad as Vivillon! Is this perhaps the best you can aim for?» She commented. «Following that logic, the best you can aim for is Rellor.» Carlos silenced her.

Mildred stomped her feet on the ground and walked away, escorted by her driver. «I will ruin your careers! All of you!» She turned toward them.

«Finally we got rid of her.» Carlos sighed. «Don't celebrate yet.» Serena corrected him. «She will participate in the Showcase. And, apparently, I'm afraid this might not be an honest competition.» She added.

The following day, Serena and Anita woke up early, to finally take care of Anita's outfit. The two girls had gone to the fabric store. It had just opened, and they were therefore the first customers.

Serena already had in mind the type of dress she would sew for her friend. After buying the necessary fabrics, the two headed to the shoe store. In this case too, the native of Kalos knew what shoes to pair with the dress. She only hoped they were available in that small shop, which, unlike the fabric store, was not well stocked.

There were several shelves filled with shoes, but most of them were athletic shoes. The more elegant shoes were very few. And the pair she had in mind was not present. Fortunately, there was a very similar pair.

Having found the right size, the two went to pay at the register.

They then went to a jewelry store, where they bought earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. According to Serena, they were perfect for her friend and perfectly complemented the dress she had in mind.

Anita also had to endure the torture of getting her ears pierced. She let out a scream so powerful that it frightened a colony of Pidove that lived nearby.

Serena and Anita, with their purchases, did not return to the Pokémon Center but headed to a self-service tailor shop. It was a place where all the materials and equipment for working on clothes were present. There was also staff present, to assist anyone who set to work. The service was offered at a very convenient cost, and the place was quite popular in the city. For this reason, it was quite strange to find it empty, especially during a period like the Showcase.

As soon as they entered, Serena and Anita were immediately greeted by a young woman. She wore a light brown uniform. «Welcome!» She greeted them. «Let me accompany you to a station.» She invited them to follow her. Past the entrance, they entered the actual workshop. Several tables were leaning against the walls. On each of them were all the necessary tools. From the tape measure to the pattern paper, to the chalks for transferring the pattern onto the fabric, to a professional sewing machine. «Do you need a hand?» She asked. «Not for now, but we'll call you as soon as we need assistance. My name is Rossa.» She said to Serena.

The friends took off their jackets and bags and placed the shopping bags with what they had bought on the floor. «I'd better get to work right away.» Serena took the tape measure from the workbench and began taking measurements and jotting them down.

Height, circumference, shoulders, arm, legs… she took every possible and imaginable measurement, over and over again.

She wanted to be sure of the result. She then moved on to the paper patterns and then to the fabric. Several hours later, the

 temporary model was ready. Serena had only allowed herself a short break to eat something. Although, even during the brief lunch break, she had found something to do. «The temporary dress is almost ready. Just a few more small stitches and you can try it on.» Anita merely smiled. «You are fantastic!» She complimented. «Surely the dress will fit well, but I'm not so sure about the heels. I told you before. When I walk in heels, I look like a Slaking.» Silence fell in the room for a few moments. «I designed this dress to go with shoes similar to the ones we

bought. Not wearing them would be a real shame.» Serena replied. «At least let's try.» Anita, although not very convinced,

took off her shoes and put on the heels they had just bought. «They're not that bad!» She commented.

«Now try to walk!» Serena invited her. Anita began to take her first steps, not without effort. She swayed right and left. She walked with an uncertain pace. «Do you understand what I mean when I say I look like a Slaking?» The girl, to avoid losing her balance, had to lean on one of the tables.

«You have to stay calm. If you panic, it's even worse!» Serena suggested, as she resumed her work. «I also had difficulties at the beginning. I just tried and tried again. There are no other solutions.» Anita didn't seem very convinced. She tried to stand up and take a few more steps, still without much success. «Come on! Keep going!» Serena invited her, without even looking up from her work. «Just a few more minutes and you can try it on.» Anita attempted to smile. «Good.»

Ten minutes later, the dress, with the temporary stitching, was ready. «If you want, you can start trying it on.» Serena called her friend, who had walked several steps away. «I'm coming!» With small, slow steps, but already with a less limping gait, Anita reached the native of Kalos. «Good, now go to the dressing room, so you can put on the dress, the way you'll wear it tomorrow.» Anita was taken aback. «But we're alone now. And besides, if you just don't look, I can change right here.» Serena's reply was immediate. «In the dressing room, you will be alone. So it's better if you do everything by yourself.» Anita did not feel like arguing and headed toward the dressing room.

She took off her shoes, for which her feet were already screaming mercy, her jeans, the shirt she was wearing, and her undershirt. «I'm ready!» Serena warned. The native of Kalos quickly reached her, holding the dress with the temporary stitching still in place.

«Here it is!» She passed it to her through an opening in the dressing room curtain. «Be careful how you put it on! It's not final yet.» She reminded her again. After a few minutes, Anita had put on the dress. «Done!» She replied. «Then you can come out, so I can see if there are any adjustments to be made. And then a couple of details are missing.» No response. «Is everything alright?» Serena insisted. «Yes. It's just that I'm afraid it's a little too short and a little too low-cut!» Anita seemed quite embarrassed. «You won't be ashamed to let me see you!» Serena tried to encourage her. «Alright!» Anita came out of the dressing room wearing the dress. Serena handed her friend the gloves and waited for her to put them on. «I admit that I didn't sew the gloves myself, I just decorated them.» Serena put a hand over her mouth. Then she helped her friend put on the last accessory of the dress. A large bow to tie at the waist. «Now look at yourself!» Serena invited her. «Wow! You are really good! It's stunning!» Anita complimented her. «It’s just that I'm afraid it's short and low-cut. And I'm embarrassed. I'm afraid they might judge me and…» Anita began to become paranoid. «What are you talking about!» Serena reprimanded her. «You're beautiful.» She complimented.

Anita blushed at the compliment. «Now, however, I have to finish sewing.» Serena reminded her.

Anita went into the dressing room and changed again, handing the dress back to Serena who, without hesitation, went back to work, making the final stitches.

Valerie had taught her how to create easily removable definitive seams, in order to make adjustments later if necessary. Once this phase was also concluded, the dress was finally ready, in record time.

«Ta-da! The dress is ready!» Serena was delighted with her work. «Just to be sure, it's better if you try it on again.» Serena invited her friend. Anita did not resist at all. «It's perfect!» Anita complimented. «Now, however, try it on with the shoes we bought. Then we'll think about the jewelry.» Anita obeyed. After once again putting on those accursed shoes, she proceeded to put on the necklace and earrings. Once ready, she came out of the dressing room. «You are fantastic!» Serena complimented her again. «You're just saying that to not make me feel uncomfortable.» She replied. «I would never dare!» Serena replied to her. «If you really don't trust me, we can ask Rossa.» Anita remained silent. Perhaps the opinion of a complete stranger would help her feel more at ease?

In any case, Serena had called Rossa, so that she too could express a judgment. After a few minutes, the woman joined the customers. Noticing Anita with the perfectly fitted dress and jewelry, she expressed her perplexity. «How can I help you? It seems to me that your friend is wearing a beautiful dress. It looks divine on her… I wonder what the problem is…» She asked. «No problem. We just wanted an outside opinion.» Serena replied. «I understand. Ah… by the way… given the excellent work you've done… I'd like to propose that you collaborate with us. We could expand our services to tailor-made clothing production.» She proposed to her. «I'm sorry, but I can't accept right now. For now, I prefer to dedicate myself to the Showcases.» Serena replied without hesitation. «Alright. As you wish.» She replied.

Anita changed again, returning to her normal clothes. In doing so, she felt a sensation. It was as if a switch had been flipped. Was this what Serena felt every time she went on stage? Had she just made herself self-conscious?

In any case, Serena and Anita returned to the counter and paid.

The two made to leave, but were stopped by Rossa. «You didn't take the box!» The woman knelt down and took a white box from one of the compartments on the desk. The tailor shop's logo was imprinted on it. «You can put the dress in here.» She recommended.

Serena and Anita followed the advice. Once the dress was placed in the box, Serena and Anita left. It was almost sunset, that's how long they had stayed in there.

As they left the shop, the friends began chatting.

«I wonder what the boys did in our absence.» Anita wondered.

«What do you think?» Serena replied to her.

Anita remained silent. She really had no idea.

«I imagine they are training.» Serena replied to her. «What do you say, should we show the dress to the boys?» Anita asked, trying to change the subject. «I'd like it to be a surprise. The Showcase is tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning we will train again.» Serena replied to her. Anita merely nodded. «A question…» Anita started. «Tell me everything, don't worry about it.» Serena replied to her. «I'm already in it, I can't go back now, but can you tell me why you asked me so much to participate in the Showcase?» Anita asked her. «It might seem strange to you, but I never debuted alone in either the Showcases or the Contests. I always had someone I knew next to me. It was reassuring. Of course. I didn't win the first Showcase I participated in, nor the first Contest I participated in. But they were still valuable experiences. Perhaps more so than the victories.» Anita was perplexed. She didn't know how to answer. «If you win. You won. In the case of Showcases, the audience evaluated your and your Pokémon's performance. In the case of Contests, the jury evaluated your and your Pokémon's work. You know you won. If you lose, however, you ask yourself "why did we lose?" or even "What did we do wrong?" or "What did my opponent do better than me?"» Anita thought about it for a few moments. «It's not that different from Gym battles. From what I've experienced.» «Exactly!» Serena replied to her.

Meanwhile, Serena and Anita had arrived in front of the Pokémon Center. And, as expected, Ash and Carlos were in the middle of a training session. The progress of Carlos's Umbreon was tangible.

The following day, the two continued with their training. Anita appeared quite nervous. Perhaps even more so than before. While Serena was working with Delphox, Sylveon, and Pancham, and her Lilligant watched, nervously. «I feel a little like you.» Anita addressed her friend's Pokémon. «Without someone I trust, I feel lost.» «Gant?» The Pokémon was quite perplexed. «With the help of our friends we can get out of it, and overcome our fears. But alone we will never succeed.»

The four had lunch very early and headed to the theater where the Showcase would take place. «I would like Lilligant to attend the

Showcase.» Serena handed her Pokémon's Poké Ball to Ash. «I know what happened to Sylveon when she was still an Eevee. I don't want to repeat the same mistake. If she were to panic…» Serena explained to him. «I understand.» Ash replied.

«Here you are, girls.» They were greeted by the same woman who had registered them for the Showcase a few days earlier. «Follow me.» She invited them.

«As for you two boys, well. The directions on where to find the stands are posted on the walls. You can't go wrong.» She explained to them. Ash and Carlos followed the directions, and, although they were confusing and often contradictory, the two managed to arrive at the stands. They were the first to arrive. «This theater reminds me a bit of the house that drives you crazy, I don't know if you know it.» Carlos tried to make a joke. «Sure, sure. I think the other spectators got lost trying to get here.» Ash replied to him.

Ash and Carlos settled into the stands, in one of the central rows, halfway up. These seats guaranteed an excellent view of the stage. «OW!» Carlos tried to sit down, but something hit his backside. «Who the hell puts spikes on the chairs?» Carlos complained. Ash, noticing his friend's mistake, checked his seat before sitting down.

It was a kind of transparent plastic marker. Inside there was a piece of paper, with a QR code and some writing. "Scan the code and follow the instructions to vote for the best Performer." Ash scanned the QR code with his Smart Rotom. A website opened on the device's screen. «That thing you're sitting on is used to vote for the Performers.» Ash explained to him. «Let me do it too!» Carlos replied to him. The boy scanned the QR code in turn.

As with Ash, a web page opened.

“To vote for the best Performer, starting this year, in the Unova region, the Poké Link application will be used. Every spectator will be able to register their profile on the application and confirm their identity with their Trainer Card, in order to avoid voting from fake profiles. You can download the application at this link.”

Ash read, in a low voice. For the moment he decided not to download the application, continuing to read.

“To perform document registration, simply go to the profile settings, then to the identity verification section. In this way you will be able to log in to the site dedicated to voting. The site is in the bio of the @varietaunimaoffical account, which you can access from the second link. Only those with a profile linked to an identity document will be able to access and therefore vote” He concluded.

While Ash and Carlos were downloading the application and performing document verification, the stands began to fill up.

Both were quite surprised by the speed with which the operation had taken place.

Meanwhile, Serena and Anita, in their respective dressing rooms, were beginning to get ready and prepare their Pokémon. They still had no idea what they would have to do in the first phase. For Serena it was quite strange. Performers were usually informed several hours in advance, so they could prepare.

“Things must work differently in Unova,” she thought. Not dwelling on the matter. After all, there were still two hours until the start. It was a tolerable delay.

Having no idea what the first phase would consist of, she decided to decorate her Sylveon with several colored bows, the Pokémon she considered almost a Wild Card.

She had demonstrated, on several occasions, that she was very skilled at adapting to different situations, so Serena decided to reward her. «And there we go!» The native of Kalos finished adjusting the last bow on her Sylveon.

There were only three-quarters of an hour left, and still no one knew what the themed performance would consist of, when, finally, something moved. Someone knocked on the door of Serena's dressing room. «Can I come in?» She asked. «Yes, one moment!» She replied. She took Sylveon's Poké Ball and had her re-enter inside. It could be a rival, and she didn't want to reveal her plans. The native of Kalos opened the door and realized she had taken an excessive precaution. The person who had knocked was the same woman who had handled the registration and who had accompanied her and Anita to the dressing rooms.

She held a good number of paper envelopes in her hand. She handed one to Serena. «You'll need it for the themed performance.» Having said this, she slipped away, going to deliver the envelopes to the remaining Performers.

Serena hoped, not so much for herself, but rather for her friend, that the contents of the envelope would reveal what the themed performance would consist of.

She opened the envelope and took out the contents. In addition to the usual pin-key, to be slipped into the dress for the second phase, necessary to determine the winner, there was also a red overcoat and a hat. In addition to that, there was a pink-colored pin-key.

«Good! So it will be a Pokémon quiz.» She commented. «If they are like in Kalos…» She said, while putting on the overcoat and the hat. She proceeded down the hallway, until she reached the room where the Performers were supposed to meet before performing. Only at that moment would the Performers be able to find out when they would be performing.

«Hey! Blondie!» A voice made her stop suddenly.

«Don't call me blondie!» Serena spun around abruptly. She met the gaze of a girl wearing a black dress. Elegant and covering. She had not yet put on the overcoat, nor the hat. In fact. She wore one of her own. Black too.

The girl in black took off her hat, revealing her black hair, styled in an elaborate hairdo. She positioned her hat in front of her waist. «I beg your pardon. I didn't recognize you.» She apologized, bowing deeply.

«Pleased to meet you. My name is Abigail. But please. Call me Abby.» She introduced herself. «Pleased to meet you, Serena.» Serena extended her hand to her. Abby did the same. «I certainly didn't expect to find you here.» She tried to strike up a conversation. «I mean… a Performer and Coordinator of your level, here among us… who are debutantes or… almost.» She added. «I wanted to pick up where I left off.» The native of Kalos replied. «I… on the other hand… am here to keep a promise.» Abby replied.

«You are used to these places by now. For me it's the first time. I wonder how many Contests or Showcases you participated in before this one...» She added shortly after.

«Every time is like the first.» The experienced Performer replied. «For me it really is the first time.» Abby put her hand into her dress. «My mother gave me this.» Abby showed Serena an old Princess Key. «It's like a good luck charm.» She explained. «It's her first Princess Key.» Serena motioned for Abby to continue. «I promised my mother that I would succeed where she failed. She wanted so much to see me here. But she passed away before. She wanted at least her Pokémon to be

 able to perform with me.» Abby's eyes began to fill with tears.

Abby was a girl like any other. A few months earlier she had just graduated from the Trainer School. She was a little jealous of her classmates. All of them had decided what they would do after graduation.

Some of her female classmates would become Performers. Others would take the path of Gym battles, like most of her male classmates. Few of them would leave Unova to embark on a trip abroad. Her best friend, Elena, would embark on an exchange program to continue her studies in the distant Sinnoh region.

She would have liked to follow her, and she could have, but she couldn't do otherwise, even with the knowledge that more

 months would pass.

The last few years of her life had not been easy at all. Her father had been brutally murdered in a terrorist attack a few years earlier. Due to a mistake. He had had the misfortune of having the same car as a well-known politician in the Unova region. Even the license plate number was very similar. The man, a completely normal employee, died instantly. The newspapers talked about it for some time.

Her mother had always done everything to ensure the girl lacked nothing. She had set aside all the compensation money she had been given upon her husband's death. «This way you'll have a solid foundation for your future» her mother had told her.

The girl's mother had had to find a job. Several years earlier, she had attempted the climb to the throne of Queen of Unima, but, following her pregnancy, she had been forced to retire from the scene.

Without her father's affection, for Abby, everyday life had become extremely more difficult. Not just at home, where she had to help her mother even more with chores and errands, or because she had to prepare meals, but rather at school.

She was often accused of how being fatherless gave her advantages in evaluations or similar things, or worse still, she was accused of bribing the professors. Few did not accuse her and, in fact, defended her.

Abby did not have time to process her father's grief before a new tragedy struck her loved ones. Initially, in a very mild way.

Her mother was not home on the days she usually spent with her. «We have a lot of work these days. So they asked us to come to work even though we should normally be at home» she justified.

Abby, in the beginning, had no trouble believing her. Her mother justified the days she returned late in the evening in the same way.

She had associated the woman's weakness and tiredness with the fact that she worked so much, and she had said nothing to deny it. Abby only began to get suspicious after several months.

Her mother always used the excuse of having lots of work. However, with each passing day, she returned later and later. Some days she barely had time to get home before she had to leave again.

Suspicious, on one of the last days of school, Abby decided to skip. She knew perfectly well where the office her mother worked at was located. It was an anonymous building, not too far from the Pokémon Contest Hall.

The Trainer School was in a completely different area.

Lately, her mother no longer walked to work, but rather drove. Another thing that made her quite suspicious. She had always been a fanatic of walking and of «Use the car as little as possible».

Abby, despite knowing the risks, reached the office. She was very careful not to get caught. She looked carefully at all the parked cars, but did not recognize her mother's.

Despite her great care, she was recognized by one of her mother's colleagues. «Hi, Abby!» she said. «But shouldn't you be at school?» she asked. Abby didn't answer, merely running away.

Abby returned home, but her mother didn't arrive until several hours later. It was almost sunset. Abby was sitting on the couch, watching television. Her mother sat down next to her.

She was dressed as if she had just left work, in a dark blue pantsuit and her usual low-heeled shoes. It was clear the suit was loose on her.

Lately the woman, already quite thin, had lost even more weight. «I found out what you did.» the woman began. Abby seemed a little scared. «I understand you were worried. You had every reason in the world to be. You're grown up, you're almost sixteen. In a few months, you'll become a Trainer and leave on your journey. And I promise you I'll be there with you.» Abby was taken aback. She didn't know what to say. «How?» she asked.

«I tried to keep it hidden from you. I thought it was the right choice. But you managed to find out everything. For some time now, I've been suffering from an incurable disease. One day I felt sick at work and left to go to the emergency room.

I had some tests done and the doctors noticed something was wrong. They prescribed several tests, to make sure it was a false alarm. Unfortunately, it wasn't.» Since then, they put me under observation and I had to go to the hospital almost every day. The situation worsened over time. I don't know for how many more days they'll allow me to drive or spend time at home.» she recounted.

Abby didn't know what to do. She squeezed her mother's hand as hard as she could. Not only had she lost her father, but now she was about to lose her too.

Time passed and Abby's mother's health condition worsened further. Now the woman was confined to a hospital bed. School was over, and Abby, instead of enjoying her summer holidays before starting her Pokémon journey, spent all the time she could with her mother. All the time she hadn't been able to spend in the previous months.

Abby still had two months until she turned sixteen. Like every day, she had gone to visit her mother.

She entered the woman's room, like every day. The room was in perfect order. The television was off. On the bedside table, there were some books. On the tall dresser, an elegant box. It was the first time Abby had seen it.

«Abby!» the woman began, with a choked, almost imperceptible voice, as soon as she saw her daughter. «The doctors confirmed it. I won't be here the day you become a Trainer.» It seemed a chill had descended upon the room. «I can't keep that promise. They've given me a week to live.» It seemed she made an immense effort to pronounce every word. «That's why I asked my sister to bring that box.» Abby didn't understand. What did that box have to do with anything? «The request was approved.» she said. Abby still didn't understand. Was it one of the effects of the painkillers? «Professor Juniper has agreed to let you receive your first Pokémon early, with the B65.» Abby remained in devout silence.

«I have two things to ask you.» she added shortly after. Her daughter gave a small nod. «Tell me.» she replied. «I want you to succeed where I failed. In the past, I was a Pokémon Performer, but I never managed to become the Queen of Unima. I know I'm asking a lot. But I'm sure you will succeed.» «Me... Queen of Unima?» she just thought. She didn't feel at all suited for that role. «I also ask you to take care of my Pokémon. Please. Perform with them.

I know I'm asking a lot of you. But please. I know you are the only person who can do it.» She squeezed one of her daughter's hands with both of hers. «In that box, you will find everything. Including my first Princess Key. It's a sort of good luck charm.» «But I...» BEEEEEEPPPPP a very loud acoustic signal filled the room. «NURSE!!!!»

Abby's eyes were filled with tears. Even Serena couldn't hold back. «I'm sure she will be proud of you.» Serena tried to reassure her. «But remember that the audience here is ruthless.» she warned her, as she headed towards the room where the Performers would find out their turn during the performance.

«And you, with that little story, do you really think you can make your rivals pity you.» a shrill and annoying voice was heard. «Ignore her.» Serena replied. «Wait!» she said in a low voice. «Where is Anita?» She made to go near her friend's dressing room, when Abby stopped her. «Who is Anita?» she asked. «She's a friend of mine. It's her first time too.» Serena replied.

The Kalos native knocked on her friend's dressing room door. «I'm ready!» she replied. «Are we performing already?» she asked. «Not yet, but they have to tell us the pairings.» she replied. Anita came out of the dressing room, and immediately noticed the presence of a stranger. «So... you're Anita, right?» Abby asked. «Yes. Nice to meet you.» Timidly, the young trainer extended her hand to the girl in black. «My name is Abigail, but, please, call me Abby.» she introduced herself.

Before the two girls could get to know each other further, a voice over the loudspeakers advised the performers that they had to report to the main room. The three girls reached the room where the draw would take place. It was a fairly large room, although rather bare; there were several sofas to sit on. In front of them was a small stage with a lottery tumbler. Next to the small device was the same woman who had registered the girls and then accompanied them to the dressing rooms. «Here you all are.» she welcomed them. «Draw a number.» she invited.

She went around the room with a hat, like an offering, to allow the Performers to draw a slip of paper containing a number. Now that every performer had her number, the woman went to the tumbler.

«Now I will draw the first number. The performer who has this number will be the first to be part of group A. The second number will be the first performer of group B, and so on.» she explained.

The Performers gave a quick glance at the number they had drawn.

The Performers limited themselves to nodding. Those were the rules; they could do nothing but accept them.

The woman began to spin the tumbler. Then, without looking, she drew a numbered ball. «Very good! The first performer of Group A is number 7!» A girl in the middle of the group stepped forward. The draw continued.

Serena had been drawn as the second in Group A, Anita third in Group B, Abby fourth in Group C, and Mildred third in Group D. «As you may have guessed, the theme performance will be a Pokémon quiz.» the woman explained. «The structure of the first phase is very simple. We have already divided you into four groups of four. Each of you will be able to use a single Pokémon. This Pokémon, to allow you to answer, must overcome an obstacle course. As soon as the Pokémon has passed the course, the corresponding performer can answer. The first performer to correctly answer three questions will pass to the Free Performance phase. If, within 30 seconds, she does not give the answer, or gives the wrong answer, the turn will pass to the second. Flying-type Pokémon are not allowed. If a Performer's Pokémon attacks another, the performer will be disqualified. ALL CLEAR??» she asked, almost yelling. «Crystal clear!» the Performers replied.

Meanwhile, on the stage, the floor had sunk into the ground. «What's happening?» Carlos asked, rather intrigued. «You'll see.» Ash replied. The stage floor had re-emerged, completely different.

On the dark wood floor, previously empty, there were now four stations. One for each performer. A little beyond was an obstacle course, divided into three parts. A small slalom course, with cones, a course with jumps, and a wall to climb. Shortly after, all the lights went out and some spotlights turned on. Several spotlights emitted colored smoke. A tall, thin man, dressed in a suit and tie, appeared. He wore a large black top hat. He carried a large wooden and metal staff. On top of it, a Klefki.

«Dear audience, dearest private viewer! My name is Peter, and I will accompany you in this spectacular Showcase in the fantastic setting of Eolea Town. In a few minutes, we will meet the performers who will be performing today.

As you may have noticed from the stage, the theme performance will cover a Pokémon quiz. The performers who correctly answer three questions before the others will move on to the next phase. But... let's get to know our contestants better!» The smoke on the stage became much denser. «What's happening now?» Carlos asked. «They're coming.» Ash replied. «Lilligant! Come on out! Serena is about to perform!» he invited it out of the Poké Ball. Lilligant looked around, terrified. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Dozens of indistinct voices. She felt small. Small and alone. She was trembling hard. «It's okay. Serena will be here soon.» Ash tried to reassure her. Meanwhile, on the stage, the first four Performers had appeared, including Serena. Lilligant seemed happy to see her Trainer, even though she was far away.

«And here are our beautiful contestants!» he introduced them. «Our first contestant is Erina!» He pointed with the tip of his staff to a girl with light brown hair, with round glasses that hid splendid blue eyes.

«Directly from the distant Kalos region, Serena!» He pointed to the Kalos native with his staff. «Third Performer Misha!» He pointed to a red-haired girl with a bob cut, slightly longer than Serena's. «Today's fourth contestant is Christie!» He pointed to a girl with violet hair and brown eyes.

«Girls, if you're ready, send out your Pokémon!» Peter invited them. The four Performers sent out their Pokémon from their respective Poké Balls. For Erina an Axew, for Serena her Sylveon, for Mischa a Purrloin, and for Christie a Deerling.

«Then we can begin! Now I will ask you the question. I remind you that, per the rules, your Pokémon can only start after I have finished the question.» The Performers and their Pokémon gave a small affirmative nod.

«The question is as follows. The ability Fluffy makes Pokémon that possess it more resistant to contact attacks, like Bite or Tackle, but makes them more vulnerable to moves of what type?» On the screen behind the Performers, an image of a Bewear and a Wooloo appeared.

The four Pokémon started running, getting through the course without too many problems. Axew seemed slightly behind.

In the second phase, Sylveon had built up a slight lead, which it would then use in the next phase.

In the end, Serena's Sylveon was the first to arrive.

«Very good! Serena, the floor is yours!» Peter invited her. «The answer is Fire.» the Kalos native answered quite confidently.

«And the answer is...» Peter paused briefly. «Correct!» Another very brief pause. «And Performer Serena earns one point!» The audience erupted in thunderous applause, terribly frightening Lilligant.

«Hey! Where are you going!» A boy's voice was heard, seeming to be chasing something or someone. It wasn't clearly definable. «Stop! Or I'll return you to your Poké Ball!» The voice had gotten closer.

A few moments later, a small feline-like Pokémon appeared in front of Ash and Carlos. Its body was covered in light and dark green fur. Its ears were green on the outside, while the inner part was a paler green color. On its chest was a tuft of fur. Around its eyes was a green patch resembling a leaf. It had two pointed teeth in its upper jaw, a fluffy tail, and small paws without visible toes.

«And what Pokémon is this?» Carlos wondered, as he framed it with his Rotom Smart. «Sprigatito, the Grass Cat Pokémon. Grass-type. Male specimen. The sweet scent it emits from its body enchants anyone nearby and intensifies when Sprigatito is exposed to the sun. Known moves: Scratch, Quick Attack, Leafage. It is one of the starter Pokémon given to young trainers in the Paldea region.» Carlos put his device back in his pocket. «There you are!» A young man of about twenty, a little taller than Ash, approached Ash and Carlos, knelt down, and picked up the Grass Cat Pokémon.

«I hope this little one didn't cause you any trouble!» Sprigatito extended one of its claws and scratched the young man holding it. «What do you want?» the young man asked. The cat pointed with one of its paws toward Serena's Lilligant. «Meow!»

«And so you came here for her?» asked the young man, who in the meantime had loosened his grip on the kitten. As soon as it got close to Serena's Lilligant, it began to play with its paws, emitting a sweet scent.

«Sorry! I haven't even introduced myself!» The young man gave a small bow. «My name is Oscar. A pleasure to meet you!» Once the round of introductions was over, Oscar sat down next to Ash and Carlos, then began to watch the two Grass-type Pokémon. «I'm happy to see that my sister's Sprigatito has found a friend.» he commented.

«Huh?» To Carlos, all this seemed rather strange.

«You see...» Oscar began. «My sister did a student exchange year at a prestigious school in the Paldea region. A nice place, although it's quite out of the way. She was given a Sprigatito as her first Pokémon. Although it gets along well with both me and her, we've never been able to get it to make friends with other Pokémon.» he explained. «Well, seeing as you're the World Champion...» He turned to Ash. «Maybe you could give me some advice.» Ash didn't know what to answer. «Off the top of my head, I don't know how to help you. Friendship between Pokémon works just like it does between us humans.

There are people who make friends quickly and people who take a long, long time. The same goes for Pokémon» Ash petted Pikachu on the head. «The only advice I can give is not to force it. You'll see that with time everything will work out for the best.» Oscar looked at him strangely. «Is that all?» he asked. Ash scratched his head. «I'm not a Pokémon psychologist, but during my career as a Trainer, I've learned that rushing things is never a good choice.» he explained.

While the two were talking, the performers had been given other questions. The first had been “Which Pokémon evolve with the Metal Coat?” A question to which Serena had answered correctly, indicating Scyther and its evolution Scizor, and Onix and its evolution Steelix.

The second question, which Serena did not answer, but rather Christie, had been “Shelmet evolves in a very particular way, which one?” To which the performer had answered correctly, explaining how Shelmet evolves into Accelgor when traded with a Karrablast. And that, at the same time, Karrablast evolves into Escavalier.

«And now the fifth question...» After the chat with Oscar, Ash and Carlos resumed watching the Showcase. «Not counting the Gigantamax form and the shiny coloration, how many varieties of Alcremie exist?» Peter asked. In this case, too, Serena didn't answer, but one of

her rivals, Mischa. «Sixty-three.» the rival answered correctly. «Very good!» Peter commented. «We are at two correct questions for Serena, one for Christie, and one for Misha. Will the next question be the decisive one?» he asked. «We can proceed with the next question. What is the only Pokémon to have more than one regional form?» The challenge among the Pokémon was more open than ever. In the end, it was Serena's Sylveon that came out on top. «Good! Serena... do you know the answer?» Peter asked. The Kalos native didn't think for a second. «Meowth!» she replied.

«And the answer is Correct!» The audience burst into thunderous applause again. «This means that the first performer to move on to the Free Performance phase is Performer Serena!» Peter announced. Yet another round of applause from the audience, joined by her opponents as well.

Time to clear the stage and allow the television broadcaster airing the event to run commercials, and then the four Performers who would perform next arrived, including Anita. The young Trainer seemed rather frightened. That place and all those people made her terribly uncomfortable.

«And now let's give a warm welcome to four more wonderful Performers!» The audience exploded in thunderous applause. «But let's get to know the contestants better!» The man pointed his staff at the first contestant. A girl with red hair and unusually violet-colored eyes. «I present to you Wakaba, a debut Performer who comes from the distant Johto region! Like the current Queen of Unima, by the way... could this be a sign of good luck?» He then moved on to the second contestant. A girl with light purple hair and eyes of the same color. «And now please meet Heidi!» Another round of applause from the audience. «And now another debut performer! Directly from little Aspertia City... Anita!» Another round of applause from the audience. A few moments later, he introduced the fourth contestant. A girl with orange hair and amber-colored eyes. «And here is the fourth contestant! Tara!» Following yet another round of applause from the audience, Peter invited the Performers to deploy their Pokémon. To not violate the regulations, Anita found herself forced to deploy another Pokémon. Specifically, her Oshawott.

As soon as it came out of the Poké Ball, Oshawott looked at its Trainer with a perplexed expression. «Sha?» The otter felt exactly like its Trainer. Catapulted into an unknown place that made it rather uncomfortable. «Maybe I should have warned you...» she tried to apologize. «But I had no other choice.» she tried to explain. «Sha!» Oshawott replied, proudly.

Wakaba sent out a Marill, Heidi a Strawberry Sweet Alcremie, and Tara, instead, a Litten.

«Very well! Then we can start.» Peter announced. «As always, before you can answer, your Pokémon must overcome the obstacle course.» he explained.

«But now let's start with the questions! Not counting mega evolutions and alternative forms, how many are the final evolutionary forms of all starter Pokémon that have two types?» As soon as the question was finished, the girls' Pokémon set off, trying to overcome the course. All except Anita's Oshawott, which remained stationary at the starting blocks. «Come on, Oshawott! I believe in you!» she tried to encourage him. He could no longer win, but he didn't want to disappoint his Trainer. Tara's Litten won the first round. «Good! Litten won the challenge! Tara, do you know the answer?» The girl didn't hesitate for a single moment. «There are seventeen!» she replied. «And the answer is... Correct!» Peter, after waiting for the Pokémon to return to the starting blocks, formulated the second question. «Let's continue with the second question. How many Pokémon Fossils have been discovered to date?» The various Pokémon set off. This time Oshawott started with the other Pokémon, but couldn't manage to arrive first. After finishing the course, Oshawott turned towards its Trainer, with a disappointed look. He certainly didn't expect the girl to smile at him.

This time, Marill came out on top. «So, this time Wakaba will be the one to answer. The question is as follows: How many and which are the Legendary Golems?» The girl put her hand to her mouth for a few moments before answering. «There are five. Registeel, Regice, Regirock, Regidrago, Regieleki» she replied.

From the stands, Carlos's reaction was increasingly worried. Anita hadn't answered any of the questions yet.

«Do you think she can manage to pass?» Carlos asked. «I think so. After all, he's only asked two questions! Calm down!» Ash replied, trying not to make him worry. Almost prophetically, in the third round, Oshawott managed to arrive first. «For the third question, Anita will be the first to answer. The question is as follows. Which Pokémon can have the Ability Poison Heal? I remind you that the ability Poison Heal allows a Pokémon not to suffer from poisoning. But, I recommend! If your Pokémon is poisoned, take it to the Pokémon Center anyway!» he tried to make a joke.

«They are Shroomish, Breloom, and Gliscor» the girl replied. «And the answer is correct!» he announced.

After waiting for the Pokémon to return to their positions, the challenge resumed.

Not even this time did Anita's Oshawott manage to win. The Pokémon that arrived first was Tara's Litten. «Very, very good, Tara! Here is your question. How many evolutionary stones are known, to date?» Tara answered immediately. «There are ten.» Peter smiled. «The answer is correct! And now Tara is at two correct answers! One more correct answer and you can access the next phase. But now let's continue!» It was already time for the next question. «How many and what are the forms of Lycanroc?» A question to which Anita answered correctly. She indicated that there were three forms. The Midday Form, the Midnight Form, and the Dusk Form. As soon as the Pokémon returned to their positions, Peter formulated yet another question, not before pointing out to the audience how the contenders for victory were now two. Finally, the man formulated the question.

«What is the only Pokémon evolutionary line to have the Poison and Flying type?» Litten and Oshawott dashed off first and were neck and neck.

In the end, it was the latter that came out on top. «They are Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat.» Anita replied. «And the answer is correct!» Peter announced. «This means that Anita moves on to the Free Performance round!» Abby and Mildred passed in the following rounds.

As per tradition, there was a break between the two phases, to allow the staff to set up the stage and allow the remaining performers to prepare the final details.

In this case, too, to avoid favoritism, the four Performers would perform in random order. Serena would perform second, while Anita would be fourth. The first to perform was Abby.

The Performer wore an elegant black dress, rather long and covering. She wore black, elegant gloves and a hat, also black.

«Let's welcome back performer Abby!» Peter introduced her again. The audience welcomed her with warm applause. Everyone was applauding except Oscar. Ash and Carlos deduced that the performer in black and her Houndoom had eliminated Oscar's sister.

As soon as she received the okay, Abby sent out her Pokémon, a Gothitelle and an Houndoom.

Abby ordered the infernal dog to use Flamethrower and her Gothitelle to use Psybeam.

The two attacks merged into a sort of purplish column, enveloped in flames. A few moments later, she ordered Houndoom to use Dark Pulse and Gothitelle to use Shadow Ball, ordering both to hit the previously created column.

Then, to conclude the performance, she ordered Houndoom to hit the creation with a powerful Fire Blast, which destroyed the column in numerous colored sparks. The young woman gave a deep bow, addressing the audience, indicating that her performance was over.

«And that was the fantastic performance by Performer Abby!» Peter announced. «I remind you that, before voting, you must wait for all the Performers to perform.» the man reminded. After Abby, it was Serena's turn, undoubtedly the most experienced Performer in the group. The Kalos native wore a white shirt with long sleeves, decorated with ruffles around the wrists. It was covered by a sort of light brown overdress, with the lower part of the skirt, which reached just above the knee, decorated with darker brown lace. The lower part of the skirt was decorated with a sort of red musical score that wrapped around the lower part of the skirt. The dress finally featured two bows, one on the chest, red, and one around the waist, brown, like the lace. The Kalos native also had to wait for the signal before she could perform. As soon as she got the okay, the Kalos native began her performance.

Serena sent out Pancham and Sylveon. Both Pokémon wore some accessories; Sylveon had several ribbons that embellished its appearance, while Pancham wore its classic red sunglasses with spikes.

Pancham began the performance by hitting the ground with a powerful punch and generating huge pointed boulders from the ground, on which the panda began to jump with acrobatic evolutions.

Simultaneously, Sylveon had risen into the air, propelled by its Fairy Wind. A few moments later, Sylveon generated a sort of pinkish stars which it hurled, remaining suspended in the air. At the same time, Pancham generated a sort of beam of purplish-colored energy rings from its upper limbs, which hit the stars, generating an explosion of colored sparks. A few moments later, Pancham again hit the boulders it had generated, making them explode into a bluish powder.

Sylveon again generated star-shaped energy beams, launching them in Pancham's direction, who hit them repeatedly, making them explode into colored sparks. The Kalos native, as per tradition, ended her performance with a deep bow.

After Mildred's performance, which was not particularly noteworthy, despite her attempt to disguise it by trying to smile at the audience. It almost seemed as if she had high expectations of the audience.

After Mildred's disappointing performance, it was Anita's turn.

Anita, for the occasion, wore a mostly dark blue, strapless dress. The skirt, rather short, had several pleats, and the lower part was decorated with lace fabric of the same color. At the waist, the dress featured a large, lighter-colored bow. She then had gloves, the same color as the dress. On her feet, dark blue heels.

Although she clearly remembered Serena's encouragement, Anita was still afraid to perform. She feared the judgment of others, or even making a fool of herself in front of who knows how many people. She too, as per the regulations, had to wait for the signal before performing.

«Let's try it, Vivillon! Create some Energy Balls!» Anita ordered. The butterfly generated a series of green energy spheres from the upper part of its body, resembling a sort of eye. They were as if suspended in the air.

«And now hit them with Air Slash!» Thin blades of air were generated from Vivillon's wings, hitting the energy spheres, making them explode into many small greenish sparks. «Very good! Now use Sleep Powder!»

Star-shaped energy beams were generated from Vivillon's wings, leaving both Anita and the audience stunned. Anita seemed rather bewildered. “Didn't I tell it to use Sleep Powder?” she thought. Despite the unexpected event, the girl decided to continue with her performance.

«And now use Energy Ball!» Vivillon generated a series of green energy spheres from the upper part of its body, resembling a sort of eye, which joined the star-shaped beams.

«Now destroy them with Air Slash!» Thin blades of air were generated from Vivillon's wings, hitting the energy spheres, making them explode into many small sparks of different colors. «Now let's have fun! Use Psychic to create what you desire!» Vivillon gathered the fragments around its wings, creating the illusion of possessing gigantic wings.

Like Serena, the young Trainer concluded the performance with a deep bow.

«And now that all the Performers have performed...» Peter popped up seemingly out of nowhere. «The audience and... the home viewers can vote!» The performers gathered before the audience.

Behind the Performers, images identical to the keys were projected, keys that were hanging from the Performers' clothes.

Each key filled up more and more as the votes for this or that Performer increased, until Peter declared the televoting closed. «And the winner is... Performer Serena!» Peter declared. The audience in the theater applauded thunderously. The Kalos native had won her first Showcase.

The man handed the Kalos native the Princess Key. A golden key, decorated on the handle with precious stones. It was quite heavy. «And as promised... you will be interviewed by the prestigious Trainers magazine.» he explained.

For the record, Anita placed second, Abby third, and Mildred in fourth and last place. Not hiding a certain disappointment.

A few hours later, Peter accompanied the group to the same hotel where he was staying. It wasn't too far from the theater where the Showcase had taken place. «The magazine staff chose to interview you here. They got a room especially.» he explained.

The man entered the hotel and invited the four to enter. «The room they got is right next to mine.» he explained. The five, after passing the reception desk, reached the elevator to go up to the fifth floor. «The room they got is 505. It's that one.» He pointed to it. The group separated from the host, heading towards the room where the journalists were staying. Serena, who was slightly ahead of the others, prepared to knock on the door. After a few moments, a young man opened the door. He was about the same height as Ash, with very short hair and large glasses. He wore a sports jacket and a pair of jeans. «Come on in!» he invited them. «My name is Lewis. You'll soon meet my colleague, Angela. She's getting ready right now.»

After the usual round of introductions, the group was able to enter the room. A room that was quite large and finished. Paintings hanging on the walls, mirrors. There was no shortage of fine wooden furniture and equally refined ornaments.

After settling in and even ordering something from room service, they could finally proceed with the interview. An interview not held by Lewis, but by a young woman, slightly shorter than him. She too, like her colleague, was dressed quite informally.

Angela took a camera from a bag nearby. It was made of black plastic and had a large lens, also black. From another bag, 

she pulled out a tripod.

«Are you going to video it too?» the Kalos native asked, in a worried tone. «In that case, I'd better tidy myself up. I'm a mess right now!» she added. «Not at all! You look great just like that!» Ash tried to reassure her, making her blush. «But... by any chance... are you two dating?» Angela asked. She received no answer. However, she could notice how a chill had fallen in the room.

«I was just... saying...» she tried to justify herself. «Just think what a scoop that would have been! The World Champion and one of the most famous Performers and Coordinators and...» No reaction.

It took several minutes before the situation thawed and returned to a minimum of normality. Only then did Lewis turn on the camera, pointing it at the two, sitting on the sofa next to each other.

«If you feel ready, we can begin.» Angela invited her. Serena simply nodded. «Very well then. We can start. And where to start but from the beginning? How did you start your career as a Performer?» she asked. «Well... it's actually very simple. When I left on my Pokémon journey, I had no idea which path to choose. Until I met a girl who is now one of my best friends, Shauna. She was the one who gave me the inspiration to become a Performer.» she recounted. «Interesting. You're an expert now, but I imagine it might have been strange at the beginning... so, could you tell us what it was like to debut at the Showcase?» «The first time was a complete disaster. I was totally inexperienced and I didn't even manage to pass the theme performance phase. We had to dress a Pokémon, with the various accessories we were given. Except that, exaggerating with the ribbons, during the parade, Fennekin tripped over its own ribbons and...» Angela nodded. The rest of the story was clear. «Let's move on. After all the events of the war in Kalos, against Team Flare, you switched to Pokémon Contests, starting in Hoenn... and you quickly became a famous coordinator, thanks also to Lisia and Wallace... but why did you decide to return to Showcases?» «Yes, we achieved good results with the contests and participated in several Grand Festivals, but... it was clear that that wasn't our real goal.» «And so you returned to Showcases, right here in Unima. But... with all the experience of years of contests... don't you think this is an unfair advantage over your opponents?» «I don't think it's unfair. We can't hide our experience. And besides, my opponents have also shown what they can do.» «I understand. Another question. Compared to many other Performers and Coordinators, from Unima and beyond, who have six or more Pokémon, why do you only have three?» «I don't catch Pokémon just to make up numbers. All the Pokémon I've caught, I caught because they chose to come with me.» «Another question. Have you ever felt like a “chosen one,” forgive the term...» Serena tried to hold back a laugh. «As much as it would be nice to hear “The Chosen One wins the Eolea Showcase!” Or something similar... no. I don't feel like a chosen one. Probably without Shauna I would have chosen a different career... who knows, maybe at this point I would have become a Trainer challenging Gyms or who knows what else.» «But then you would have had to battle against Ash and... well, he's the strongest Trainer in the world...» «If I had decided on that path, I would have been honored to battle against him.» «Why do you talk like that, when it's clear you know each other?» Angela asked, in a strange tone. «Maybe if I had taken that path, we would have become rivals and who knows how it would have gone...» «Well... who can say... maybe somewhere, in another universe...» Serena just smiled at the interviewer's statement. She seemed to know things she didn't want to be discovered.

«Returning to us... what is your goal here? To win the title of Queen of Unima?» «That comes later. I think my first goal is to bring smiles to people, to give them moments of happiness. When I started as a Performer, I was only aiming to win the title. I wasn't thinking about the most important thing of all. The audience.»

«Still speaking of the Showcases here in Unima... have you already identified any potential rivals?» «Too early. The level, as I said before, seems very high, but I don't feel ready to say “she will be my biggest rival” or “I don't have to worry about her.” Besides, as I said before, the most important thing is the audience.» «Very interesting. You speak of the audience as your main focus... well, I imagine you know that here in Unima the audience at home is also very important. Don't you think that in this regard your fame might favor you?» «I want to hope not. I don't want people to tell me “I voted for Serena because she's famous” but to say “I voted for Serena because she and her Pokémon did a great job” unfortunately we'll never know.» «Last question. If you were to take something from Pokémon Contests and transfer it to Showcases, what would you choose?» The Kalos native had to think about it for a few moments. «Two things. The first is an independent judging panel. In some showcases in Kalos it was present, in others not. Here in Eolea it wasn't, but maybe it will be in other Showcases. If I could choose, I would put it everywhere. To avoid cheating. And, as a second thing, even though I know I'm going against the grain, I would like there to be a battle round in the theme round. Not that I'm that good at battles, but if it's true that the first phase of the Showcases evaluates the Performers' talent, then battling is also a talent.»

«And with that, that's all, we thank you for being here with us.» Angela thanked her.

Chapter Text

An Eventful Tournament

Leaving Eolea behind them, the group set off for Nacrene City, where Anita would challenge the second Gym on her journey as a Trainer. Eolea and Nacrene City were not too far apart, just a day's walk.

«It seems the Nacrene City Gym specializes in Normal-type Pokémon. The Gym Leader is named Lenora.» Serena explained. «Interesting.» Anita replied. «If I'm not mistaken, Normal-type Pokémon are only weak to Fighting-type Pokémon, while their type attacks can't hit Ghost Pokémon and vice versa…» she reasoned aloud. «Exactly.» Ash replied, without even thinking. «But always remember that, in a battle, the type advantage isn't everything.» he added shortly after. «But… the battle against Cilan, we won because Incineroar had taught Fire Fang to Lillipup...» the young woman replied. «True, but Lillipup also learned Dig. Only that way did it avoid Pansage's attack.» Ash replied. «Well… you're the champion!» Carlos interjected. «Since we've known each other, I don't think any of your Pokémon have ever used a super-effective attack… is this perhaps the strategy of you champions to confuse your opponents?» Ash shook his head. «It doesn't really work like that…» he replied. «You can't win a battle just by using super-effective attacks.» he added. «You're a Champion, so you can afford to use certain strategies. I, well… I have… well… I've only won one badge… I prefer to do things simply.» the girl replied. «I understand, but that's not enough to win. Even if you battle with Oshawott against a Fire-type Pokémon, it's not a given that you'll win, just because Oshawott knows Water-type attacks. You learned it right away, Pokémon battles aren't just about answering an opponent's attacks with other attacks, but also dodging… hiding from opponents and… improvising» Anita simply nodded. «And besides, you've already shown you know how to improvise.» Anita seemed not to understand. «Really?» she asked «Think about the Showcase… you and Serena trained with Vivillon, but in the first part of the Showcase, you used Oshawott…» «I couldn't do otherwise.» the girl replied. «On the obstacle course, Flying-type Pokémon weren't allowed, so I thought Oshawott was the best choice and…» Ash stopped her. «You don't have to justify yourself. You just did it. And that's fine. Or even when you asked Vivillon to use Sleep Powder, but it used Swift instead… you still did a great job.» the boy congratulated her. «Do you really mean it?» she asked. «Ash has always been a sincere guy. He has no reason to lie to you.» Serena added, having been silent for a while.

«Well… that's… very kind of you» she replied.

The four continued walking, discussing their next plans, until Carlos heard a strange sound.

«Do you guys hear that too?» the boy asked. «What?» Ash and the girls asked. «I thought I heard a sort of whimper… I can't explain…» «Maybe it's the wind.» Ash replied, trying to be rational. «I don't think so… not a leaf is moving.» Carlos replied.

They tried to stay silent for a few seconds. And yes. Something could indeed be heard, although it wasn't very loud. It sounded like a sort of whimper. Very weak. «Yes… you can actually hear something.» Serena replied. «Pikachu, do you think you can figure out where it's coming from?» The Mouse Pokémon jumped down from the boy's shoulder and began to search for the source of those sounds.

The Pokémon moved its ears to try and understand where the whimpers were coming from. Thanks to its extremely developed hearing, the Mouse Pokémon didn't take long.

With one of its paws, the Mouse Pokémon invited the group to follow it, as it began to head into a nearby thicket. «Where are you going?» Ash asked, as he chased his Pokémon. Serena and the others tried to keep up, with great difficulty.

After a good run, the Mouse Pokémon stopped, being caught up by the group, turning in their direction and making a small gesture with one of its paws. «Is it nearby?» Ash asked.

«Pika pi!» the Pokémon replied. «If you prefer to continue on your own, go ahead.» Ash invited it. The Mouse Pokémon didn't need to be told twice. Knowing it wasn't being followed, it could quicken its pace. It reached the source of those whimpers in a few moments. Whimpers, which in the meantime, had become increasingly desperate.

The electric-type Pokémon didn't take long to reach the source of those whimpers. It was, as it imagined, a Pokémon. An Houndour, to be precise. As soon as the two Pokémon's gazes met, the Dark Pokémon ran off, hiding in a bush, scared.

The electric Pokémon was rather perplexed; it wondered why Houndour had run away. It didn't intend to attack or anything like that.

Pikachu wasn't the type to give up so easily. It had noticed that the fugitive didn't look well. It climbed a nearby tree and reached one of the branches.

It looked carefully at the berries growing there and sniffed a few. They were fragrant and seemed perfectly ripe.

They were a beautiful yellow, with orange dots. It hit several with its tail, making them fall to the ground. It formed a nice pile. As soon as it got down from the tree, the Pokémon rolled some berries in the direction of the bush where the canine Pokémon had hidden. The Pokémon, scared, came out into the open and began to eat one of the berries. It tried, while eating, to stay vigilant; it didn't want to be attacked again.

Pikachu tried to get closer to the Pokémon, hoping to be able to approach. It hoped not to see it flee again.

«Pika-Pikachu» It tried to introduce itself, seeing the Dark Pokémon flee before its eyes again. The Mouse Pokémon decided to change its approach. It tried to move a berry towards the bush where the Pokémon had hidden. To show its good intentions, the Mouse Pokémon, after moving another berry towards the bush, began to eat a berry itself.

The Dark Pokémon slowly peeked out from the bush and saw the Mouse Pokémon eating its berry peacefully. That Pokémon wasn't like the other Pokémon it had encountered since it had been there.

It seemed kind and helpful. It had offered it berries. The other Pokémon, in the best-case scenario, had snatched the little food it managed to scrape together from its mouth.

As soon as the Dark Pokémon tried to come out of its hiding place and eat one of those berries, a flying Pokémon, with gray plumage, rushed towards the pile of berries.

Houndour's fears were coming true. A wild Pokémon trying to steal its food. It would try to defend itself, but it would gain nothing, apart from injuries.

This time, however, the story had an unexpectedly different ending. The flying Pokémon was hit by a powerful electric shock, which made it collapse to the ground, completely unconscious.

«Wohf» The Dark Pokémon was astonished. For the first time since it had been there, another Pokémon, rather than attacking it, had defended it and, rather than stealing its food, had procured it.

«Pika Pi» the Mouse Pokémon invited the newly met Pokémon to follow it. It tried to convince it that, with it by its side, it had nothing to fear.

While the Mouse Pokémon was trying to convince Houndour to follow it, the group had stopped not far from where they had left Pikachu, to take a break.

It was practically lunchtime, and like the last time, Carlos was taking care of lunch. This time, the boy was going to cook some meat on the electric grill and prepare a side salad.

Contrary to the first time, he didn't have to struggle much with the camping table, which proved to be more cooperative. This time he was assisted by Ash in setting the table, while the girls took care of preparing the chairs and slicing the bread. «I wonder how much longer Pikachu will be... he's not the type to skip meals.» Ash commented, rather perplexed. «You don't seem very worried...» Carlos replied, as he unwrapped the meat before putting it on to cook. «He's not the type to get into trouble. He's probably made friends with some Pokémon... and so, maybe he'll come back with a full stomach, who 

knows.» Ash replied.

«Meanwhile... how do you prefer your steak?» Carlos asked. «Rare.» Ash replied. «A little more cooked.» Serena replied. «I like it well done!» Anita replied.

Carlos's expression became desperate. Was it possible he had to cook four steaks in three different ways? At least he and Ash had the same tastes. And on top of that, besides manning the grill, he also had to prepare the salad.

At least, Ash and the girls were taking care of the Pokémon food. Luckily, they had enough bowls with them to satisfy all the Pokémon at once.

While they were serving the various Pokémon, Pikachu finally returned to Ash. «Oh! There you are!» the boy welcomed him. «You were certainly gone for a while» the boy spoke to him. «What were those whimpers?» he asked shortly after. The Pokémon, which had climbed onto the boy's shoulder, as usual. As soon as it climbed up, it touched his head with one of its paws, to make him turn around.

«And so it was that Houndour whimpering?» Ash asked. The Mouse Pokémon confirmed, with a small nod of its head.

«An Houndour?» Anita turned her gaze towards the Pokémon. Its appearance resembled that of a dog. It had short, black fur. Its belly and snout were red, its ears were pointed, and it had a small tail. It also had two protruding fangs. Around its ankles and on its back, there were white bands that resembled ribs. On its forehead, an excrescence resembled a skull.

Anita then scanned the Pokémon with her Rotom Smart. «Houndour. Dark Pokémon. Fire and Dark type. Male specimen. Houndour hunt in organized teams. They communicate with each other using various cries to trap their prey. This incredible teamwork is one of a kind. Known moves: Ember, Bite, Fire Fang.» The girl, without even putting her smartphone in her pocket, bent down towards the Pokémon, offering it a bowl of food. She had barely had time to put it on the ground before the Pokémon began to devour the kibble. «Here's someone who rivals you in terms of appetite.» Carlos commented, ironically. «More than its appetite, I'd be worried about its health. It looks injured.» Anita looked at the Pokémon more closely. «It was probably abandoned by the pack.» she hypothesized. «I don't think so.» Serena replied. She too had scanned the small canine Pokémon. «It says here that Houndour packs don't abandon one of their members even if it's injured. And that the pack notices immediately if a member is missing.» Serena's words further increased Carlos's perplexity.

«I think the best thing is to take it to the Pokémon center. Maybe it and its Trainer got separated, and now they're looking for it. And besides, it's injured. It's walking and eating, but we don't really know how it is.» Ash added, trying to take the initiative. «For now, we can disinfect the wounds. I should have something in my bag.» Serena rummaged in her bag until she found what she was looking for. A red plastic spray bottle. Inside it, a seemingly transparent liquid.

The girl approached the Pokémon, spray bottle in hand. She aimed it towards its wounds and sprayed. The Pokémon let out a growl of pain, but then calmed down.

The four, while eating, could observe Pikachu trying to push the Dark Pokémon to make friends with the other Pokémon. «I'd really like to know what they're saying to each other.» Carlos seemed rather intrigued by those Pokémon. «We actually know someone who can do that... but who knows where he is now!» Serena replied. Ash immediately understood who Serena was talking about. «You know someone who can interpret the language of Pokémon?» Anita asked, intrigued. «Well, yes. A Pokémon.» «A talking Pokémon?» Anita and Carlos seemed incredulous. «I didn't even think it was possible for a Pokémon to talk, until I heard it with my own ears.» Serena replied.

«And what Pokémon would that be? An ancient legendary Pokémon or…» Carlos replied, still incredulous. «A Meowth» the Kalos native replied. Carlos looked up the Pokémon on his Rotom Smart. «Of all Pokémon, such a common one?» The boy seemed rather disappointed. «But don't expect us to make him come here… not after all the trouble he's caused us.» Serena's tone changed, hinting at a note of severity in her voice. «And what did he do that was so bad?» Carlos asked. «He's part of Team Rocket. A criminal organization that steals Pokémon to resell them at a high price. Well, besides that, they also perform cruel experiments on Pokémon…» Ash replied, who, in the meantime, had already finished eating. «Not that he, Jessie, and James have had much success, but… we've been away from them for a while, and we're so well off…» he added shortly after.

Meanwhile, Pikachu had managed to convince Houndour to get to know the other Pokémon, trying to make it understand that they weren't a danger to it either.

And it had seemed quite convincing, since the Dark Pokémon was beginning to get to know all the other Pokémon, especially Carlos's Umbreon.

«Did you see?» Ash pointed to the group of Pokémon, which had now finished eating. «It seems it particularly likes Umbreon.» he added shortly after. «They are both Dark-type Pokémon. They probably have a certain affinity.» Carlos observed.

After finishing eating, clearing the table, and tidying everything up, the four set off again for Nacrene City, with Houndour in tow. The dark Pokémon walked alongside Pikachu and Carlos's Umbreon.

Both Pokémon had been able to convince it to follow them. They would go to the Pokémon Center, where they would treat its wounds. After that, the Pokémon would be free to choose its own destiny.

Everything proceeded calmly, and the four reached Nacrene City before sunset. Following the maps application, they reached the city's Pokémon center without any particular difficulty.

The building was much larger than the one in Eolea, which made sense. Nacrene City was a much larger city. On the outside, the building looked like a sort of large warehouse covered with marble slabs, with an automatic glass door. Several large windows ensured illumination inside.

Upon entering the building, they were, as usual, greeted by Nurse Joy. «Hello kids!» she welcomed them. «Good evening!» the four greeted her in turn.

The Nurse looked at them better. «What an honor! The World Champion coming to visit us!» she welcomed Ash. «And also the winner of the last Showcase!» she noticed Serena.

The four approached the counter. «I imagine you want to rest your Pokémon.» The Nurse tried to regain her professionalism. «Just place the Poké Balls here on the counter. In the meantime, I'll get the keys for the rooms.» The woman turned and took two keys from a sort of board where they were hanging. «Here are the keys. You're lucky, they are two rooms next to each other. Enjoy your stay.» The Nurse handed one key to Ash and one to Anita.

«Excuse me…» Anita's tone of voice was barely audible. «Did you say something?» the Nurse asked, turning to the young Trainer. «Oh… I'm sorry. While coming here we… well… found an Houndour… it seemed injured and we brought it here with us…» The girl knelt and picked up the Dark Pokémon, then placed it gently on the counter. «Strange… it's not a Pokémon from this area…» The Nurse covered her mouth with her hand, taking on a doubtful expression. «It probably belonged to a Trainer who abandoned it. Or it simply got lost. You did the right thing bringing it here.» The woman did a quick superficial examination of the Pokémon. «It seems to have battling wounds. Apparently, they don't look very serious. It probably got into a scuffle with some wild Pokémon.» she explained. «Did you perform first aid or anything like that?» she asked. «We disinfected its wounds.» Serena replied. «You did exactly the right thing. Tomorrow, or the day after at the latest, it should be back in perfect shape.» the Nurse explained. «As soon as it's back in shape, we'll spread the word. If its Trainer doesn't show up, we'll put it up for adoption.» she added shortly after.

After taking custody of all the kids' Pokémon and Houndour, she headed into the back room.

The four, not having much to do, sat on the sofas provided for Trainers and dedicated themselves to reading the newspapers and magazines available.

«Look at this!» Carlos turned the newspaper he had picked up towards the others. «It seems there was an attempted theft at the city museum, but it was thwarted by the Gym Leader. Of all the things they could try to steal, they tried to steal a Pokémon skull on display. I wonder what they could do with it.» «They probably want to perform some esoteric ritual.» Ash replied, in an ironic tone.

Ash, up to that point, hadn't found anything that particularly interested him, so he just commented on the news proposed by the others and flipped through the magazine he had taken without particular interest.

At least until his attention was caught by an article headline “Nacrene City Tag Battle Tournament. Team Plasma's threats won't stop it”

«This looks interesting. The day after tomorrow, there will be a tag battle tournament here… It would be a good chance to train… what do you say?» Ash proposed. «I'm not sure. We've never had a tag battle, except when we trained with you and Serena. I don't feel ready for a tournament.» Anita replied.

«It's a tag battle tournament. You're not alone. You'll always have someone by your side ready to cover you. And besides, the most important thing of all is getting experience, it's not just about winning. We can train together all we want, but it will never be like facing a real opponent.» Ash replied. «We can train, but we have little time. I'm afraid one day won't be enough. I'm afraid something might go wrong and I'll embarrass myself in front of everyone.» Anita seemed rather worried. «We didn't train much for the Showcase either, and yet you all did a beautiful job.» Serena added. «Although I'm not very good at battles, I can give you a hand.» she added shortly after.

«And I'll help too. I'd really like to see how much Umbreon and I have improved.» Carlos seemed rather enthusiastic about participating. «Very well. Then tomorrow morning we'll start training.» Ash proposed.

«What an honor! Even the World Champion will participate in our humble tournament!» commented a boy who, in the meantime, had entered the Pokémon Center. «Battling against you would be a great honor.» The boy, hearing no response from Ash, approached the group.

«Hey! I'm here!» The boy planted himself in front of Ash, who, after talking with the others, was reading the tournament regulations. The boy, just to get Ash's attention, lowered his newspaper.

Before Ash's eyes, a not-very-tall and rather thin boy appeared, with short blue hair and purple eyes. He had rectangular glasses with a thin frame.

For a Trainer on a journey, he was dressed almost too elegantly, with a red jacket and a bow tie. He wore trousers of the same color and elegant shoes.

«And… who might you be?» Ash seemed slightly annoyed. «Forgive my manners.» The boy gave a small bow. «But before it seemed you had ignored me and…» he tried to apologize. «My name is Raoul. A pleasure to meet you.» The boy extended his hand, first to Ash, then to the others. «And so you are traveling all over Unima? Fascinating!» the boy commented. «I just wonder why even you, the World Champion, decided to travel like a Trainer just starting out?» Raoul asked, rather intrigued. «It's very simple. I dream of becoming a Pokémon Master. Every now and then I discover what else I need to become one. Some time ago I discovered that to become one, I have to help someone reach their goal. And that's why we set out here for Unima.» Raoul simply nodded. «So you're helping Anita on her path to become Champion and Serena to become Queen of Unima?» he asked. «Exactly.» the two girls confirmed. «And Carlos?» he asked. «For now, I'm just interested in becoming stronger. And I believe the Champion of Champions is the best possible teacher.» he replied. In this case, too, Raoul simply nodded.

«I heard you'll be training tomorrow, can I watch your training?» he asked shortly after. «Of course. The Pokémon Center is open to everyone. Its battle fields are too.» Ash replied.

The next day, with all the Pokémon in shape, the four were able to begin their training on one of the Pokémon Center's battle fields. Raoul, despite having promised he would watch their training, had not yet arrived. Ash, with his hasty manner, didn't want to wait. «I'd say we can start our training.» Ash began, still holding the previous day's newspaper. «The rules allow each Trainer to register two Pokémon, plus a third as a reserve, although, during the battles, each Trainer can only use one Pokémon.» he explained. «Have you already decided who you'll participate with? With all the Pokémon you have, you're literally spoiled for choice.» Carlos asked.

«None of them. I'd like to be as equal as possible with the others.» Ash's reply triggered no particular reaction from Serena; she knew his approach to battles. Carlos and Anita were of a different opinion.

«I don't understand. You could defeat everyone else with just Pikachu and yet…» Carlos expressed his perplexity. «You're right, but that way you don't allow the other Pokémon to improve.» Carlos didn't reply. He, after all, only had one Pokémon with him, his trusty Umbreon.

«In the regulations, it says that the pairs are drawn randomly. So… who knows. We might even end up as opponents.» Ash set forth. «So how do we organize the teams?» Carlos asked, still doubtful.

«Well… uh…» Ash didn't know what to answer. «Let's do me and Serena against you two… after all, you two are both from Unima…» he replied, trying to justify his choice.

«True, but you're from Kanto and Serena is from Kalos… so… you should be against each other too…» Ash scratched his head, perplexed. Carlos was right. «But both region names start with K.» he tried as a justification.

«Anyway… I'd say we can start.» For Ash, they were starting to waste too much time. Carlos and the girls simply nodded, taking one of their Poké Balls. Ash did the same.

«It's your turn!» The four sent out their Pokémon simultaneously. Anita sent out her Oshawott, Serena her Sylveon, Carlos his Umbreon, and Ash his Snivy.

Pikachu was a bit disappointed; he would have liked to take part in the battle, but he also understood his Trainer's motivations. The rules prescribed that the pair of Trainers who would make the first move would be drawn randomly. To meet this need, several applications existed to simulate a coin toss, and Ash had one installed on his Rotom Smart. «What do you choose… Heads or tails?» Ash asked.

«Tails!» Carlos replied. «Then we're heads.» the boy replied, as he initiated the virtual coin toss. «It came up tails, you start.» Ash invited them.

The two didn't need to be told twice. «Oshawott! Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered. The Otter Pokémon leaped, and its body was surrounded by a layer of water. «Come on, Umbreon! Let's lend a hand!» Carlos encouraged his Pokémon. «Use Shadow Ball!» he ordered. From the mouth of the Moonlight Pokémon, a large dark purple, bordering on black, sphere of dark energy was generated. It was coated in numerous discharges of energy, resembling lightning, also purplish in color. "It seems the training with Ash has paid off," Carlos thought. "Its Shadow Ball looks bigger and more powerful than other times." His distraction lasted a fraction of a second, but it was still enough to allow Serena's Sylveon to defend itself. It generated golden-colored, star-shaped energy beams, which struck the dark energy sphere, making it explode into 

thousands of colored sparks.

Simultaneously, Oshawott had almost reached Snivy. It was almost about to hit it. Ash had remained silent, without moving

 a muscle. And so did the Pokémon, who had total trust in her Trainer.

«Not yet… not yet…» The expert Trainer seemed to want to buy time. «Now jump and dodge!» he ordered. The Pokémon leaped and spun around.

Its tail lit up with a light green. The Pokémon hit the opponent with its tail, knocking it to the ground and making its attack end with nothing to show for it.

The Otter Pokémon hit the ground, digging into it with its head. «Hey! But that attack was…» Ash paused for a few moments. Meanwhile, Oshawott was trying to get up. «Leaf Blade! That's fantastic!» the boy complimented. «Vii!» The Pokémon responded to the compliment. Meanwhile, Carlos's Umbreon tried to attack Sylveon with Quick Attack, starting to run at high speed towards the Kalos native's Pokémon.

«Go, Sylveon! Try to counter it with Fairy Wind!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon generated a very strong pink-colored current, which hit the Moonlight Pokémon, slowing its run considerably.

«Come on, Umbreon! I'm sure you can do it!» Carlos encouraged his Pokémon, which in response gritted its teeth and tried to fight the current that was pushing it towards its Trainer.

«Eon!» The Moonlight Pokémon proudly opposed the opponent's attack, overcoming the force of the wind and managing to hit Serena's Pokémon, pushing it back.

Meanwhile, Oshawott had gotten back to its feet, ready to receive orders from its Trainer. «Go Oshawott! Use Water Gun on Sylveon!» she ordered.

From the Otter Pokémon's mouth, a powerful jet of water was generated, projected towards Serena's Pokémon, which was trying to recover from Umbreon's attack.

Ash ordered Snivy to attack with Vine Whip. From one of the protrusions on the Pokémon's back, a thin vine emerged. The Pokémon guided it with precision, until it hit Oshawott right in the stomach, knocking it to the ground again.

Meanwhile, Sylveon was ready to battle again.

«Hey! Is this Houndour yours?» Someone interrupted the battle. «Time out!» Ash called a stop to the fight. «Ah… it's you!» Ash turned in the direction of the voice.

It was Raoul. «Sorry I'm late. I promised I would watch your training, but I was late. Forgive me.» The boy gave a deep bow.

«It's nothing, don't worry about it!» Ash replied. Almost forgetting the question about the Dark Pokémon. A question which Carlos answered. «It's not ours. We heard whimpers in a thicket not far away, so Ash asked Pikachu to investigate and… well, the cause of those whimpers was him. He was injured and we brought him here to the Pokémon Center.» he explained.

The boy nodded that he understood. «Sorry again for interrupting you.» Yet another bow.

«We can resume!» Ash urged them. «Up until now you've done a really great job.» he congratulated. The three just nodded.

«But now let's get serious! Snivy! Use Grass Mixer!» the boy ordered. «And you Sylveon! Use Swift!» Serena ordered. A storm formed by sharp leaves and star-shaped energy beams descended upon Anita's and Carlos's Pokémon.

«Come on, dodge!» Carlos and Anita ordered at the same time.

Unfortunately, the two Pokémon couldn't manage to avoid the hit, falling victim to the explosion generated by the clash of the two attacks. Both Pokémon, after the explosion, appeared rather battered.

«I'd say that's enough.» Ash interrupted the battle again.

«You really did a great job!» Ash congratulated them again. «I know you can do even better, but for now that's enough.» he added shortly after. «Now that was a great battle!» Raoul complimented.

«This is just training.» Ash replied. «Oh!» he limited himself to responding. «I'd like to train with you… if you don't mind.» the blue-haired boy proposed. «Sure, of course!» the Kanto native replied. «What do you say, Pikachu, up for a battle?» Ash asked. «Pika-Pi!» the Pokémon replied. «And so you're sending out your legendary Pikachu?» Raoul asked, rhetorically. «Then I choose you!» The boy took one of his Poké Balls from his pocket. «Crustle! It's your time!» From the boy's Poké Ball emerged a Pokémon resembling a large hermit crab. Its eyes were large, its pincers big and powerful. It had six legs. Its body was mostly orange, except for some parts, which were brown instead. Its body was entirely protected by a large gray rock, with yellow and brown stripes. «Ooh! Crustle! Interesting!» Ash commented, as he took his Rotom Smart to scan the Pokémon with the device's Pokédex function. «Crustle, the Stone Home Pokémon. Bug and Rock type. Male specimen. It prefers arid places and on rainy days does not come out of its rock. It is very territorial. Known moves Rock Slide, Rock Wrecker, X-Scissor» Ash seemed rather intrigued by that Pokémon. «It looks really strong!» he commented. «If you're ready, we can start the battle!» «More than ready!» Raoul replied. «Go Crustle! Use Rock Slide!» The crustacean Pokémon generated huge sharp boulders, which it launched towards its opponent. «Go! Pikachu, send them right back! Iron Tail!» The mouse Pokémon made a powerful leap. Its tail lit up white, changing its structure and becoming rock hard. The Mouse Pokémon hit every single boulder with its tail and launched it back at the opponent.

«Destroy them with X-Scissor» the Trainer ordered. The crustacean Pokémon's pincers lit up orange, ready to receive the boulders. As predicted by its Trainer, every single boulder was crumbled.

«Clever on your part.» Raoul commented. «But I expected nothing less from you.» he added shortly after. «Crustle! Let's try again! Use Rock Wrecker!» The Trainer was aware of the risk he was taking. After the attack, it would have to remain still, immobile to catch its breath. From the Pokémon's pincers, a large boulder began to generate.

«Go, Pikachu! Before it's too late! Attack with Thunderbolt!» Ash ordered. From the electric sacs on the Pokémon's cheeks, small sparks were generated, which in tiny fractions of a second became immensely powerful discharges.

The Crustacean Pokémon was hit head-on by the powerful attack from the electric rodent. The large boulder it was generating in front of itself pulverized into thousands of fragments.

The Stone Home Pokémon staggered, hit by the powerful enemy attack, but it didn't give up. «Try again!» its Trainer invited it. «Rock Wrecker!» he ordered. The Pokémon didn't move. "Damn! It's the effect of Rock Wrecker!" he thought. Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu wanted to take advantage of the situation to end the battle.

«Go! Get close with Quick Attack!» the Champion ordered. "But how? You know that Normal-type attacks aren't very effective against Rock-type Pokémon!" he thought. «And now… Iron Tail!» The Pokémon, using the momentum from its run, made a big leap and hit the opponent's shell with its tail, which had become hard as steel and sharp as a sword. The Pokémon's shell split into two halves.

The pieces of the shell fell to the ground, causing a loud thud and raising a cloud of dust, which made Raoul cough. «Are you okay, Crustle?» the boy asked. «Well, at least he's more worried about his Pokémon than his clothes.» Carlos commented, ironically. The young man's joke barely drew a smile from Ash.

The Stone Home Pokémon, in the meantime, had already set to work repairing the extensive damage its shell had sustained. With enormous effort, it had managed to set the pieces upright and bring them together.

It was beginning to spray its sticky slime on the pieces, to rebuild its home. «You know? No one, before now, had ever managed to even scratch its shell.» the boy recounted. «At least until now.» he added shortly after.

Several hours later, the Stone Home Pokémon had managed to repair its rock, and it seemed extremely satisfied with its work. At last, Raoul could finally return his Pokémon to its Poké Ball. «You'll see, next time will be better.» he tried to reassure it.

Meanwhile, Ash and Anita had continued their training, while Houndour was playing with Carlos's Umbreon. The Nurse, taking advantage of the quiet moment, had come out of the building and was watching both their training and Houndour and Umbreon playing.

«It seems Houndour has completely recovered.» the Nurse commented. «I've printed some posters for Houndour. This way, maybe its Trainer will recognize it and come to pick it up.» she explained. «Of course!» the four replied together. The Nurse made to go inside the Pokémon Center. «I'll go get them, give me a moment.» Two minutes later, the Nurse returned to the group, holding several sheets of paper, tape, and scissors.

On the sheets, all identical and printed in color, there was a large inscription "Found." In the center of the sheet was a photo of the Dark Pokémon, and below it a brief description. "Male Houndour specimen found in the thicket just outside the city. Its Trainer can find it at the Pokémon Center on Bottega Way"

To simplify their work, the four decided to split up, so as to cover as many areas of the city as possible. They hung dozens and dozens of posters on bulletin boards, utility poles... lampposts. They hoped this would help the owner find their lost Pokémon.

While the four were hanging the posters, someone behind them was tearing them down and throwing them into the trash bins. «They don't know. And it's better this way. He will never go back.» a boy commented, as he tore yet another poster from a pole and threw it in a bin.

Ash, after putting up yet another poster, decided to head back. On the way back, Ash noticed a boy, intently reading one of the posters.

He was wearing a light green jacket, with the hood covering his hair, black pants, and athletic shoes. After looking around, the boy tore down the poster and crumpled it up.

«Hey! What are you doing?» Ash called out to the boy. «It's none of your business.» the boy replied, annoyed. «I saw you tearing down the poster.» Ash pressed. «Why don't you want a Trainer to find their Pokémon?» The boy remained silent. «Maybe you're not a Trainer. You can't know how much a Trainer cares about their Pokémon.» The Kanto native was starting to get agitated. Pikachu tried to calm him down.

«It's you, Trainer, who doesn't understand.» the boy replied. «You Trainers exploit your Pokémon like slaves. You make them battle… you make them compete for your entertainment. You don't care if they get hurt. The Nurse is always ready to heal them and give them back to you anyway. And so on, endlessly.» The boy clenched a fist. «And you think I can allow that?» he asked, rhetorically. «That Pokémon has won. It's free now.» Another pause. «What happened to its Trainer? I don't care. And even if I knew, I certainly wouldn't tell you.» The boy seemed to be hiding a smile.

«Do you from Team Plasma really care about Pokémon?» Ash asked. The boy felt cornered. «Otherwise, why would we free them from the yoke of Trainers?» he asked. Ash was getting tired of receiving questions like that.

«But do you really care about Pokémon?» Ash tried to provoke him in turn. «Of course… otherwise why would we free them?» the Grunt replied. «Then if you really care about Pokémon, you shouldn't have freed it here.» The Grunt was losing his patience. «What do you mean?» he asked. «Houndour is a Pokémon that lives in a pack. Alone, it can't survive long.» The grunt spun around. «What can you, a Trainer, know about what it means to do good for Pokémon?» Ash took a breath. «I definitely know more than you. Because a Trainer always tries to do the best for their Pokémon. Even if that means releasing them. As painful as it is to do. Every time I've released a Pokémon, a small part of me died.» Ash recounted. «If you want to capture that Pokémon, go ahead. Its Trainer won't come looking for it. For every Pokémon that gets recaptured, we free dozens more anyway.» the grunt replied, before leaving.

After finishing their rounds, the four met back at the Pokémon Center. Everyone looked rather tired and had disappointed expressions. «Did they tear down the posters in your areas too?» Ash asked. His friends confirmed with a small nod. «I wonder who would want to stop a Trainer from finding their Pokémon.» Carlos seemed doubtful. «Team Plasma.» Ash replied, visibly agitated. «I spoke with one of them. I saw him while he was tearing one down. It seems they're only interested in freeing Pokémon. They don't even think about releasing them into their proper environment.» the boy recounted. Still hopeful that the Trainer and Pokémon could be reunited, he omitted the fact that the Trainer and Pokémon were forced to separate.

«And so Team Plasma had all the posters torn down?» the Nurse asked. «I figured. Maybe the posters aren't the best idea. I'll try with a post on PokéLink. And well… you can share the post. I imagine the World Champion and one of the most famous idols have a large following.» the Nurse explained.

The Nurse took her Rotom Smart. It had a pink-colored cover and, on the back, a print resembling the face of Audino, her Pokémon. She quickly typed a text message, very similar to the one written on the poster. Once finished, she sent the message online. «At least they can't delete it here.» she commented.

As soon as the post appeared on Ash's and Serena's homepage, the two hurried to share the post with their followers, hoping this would make it possible to track down its Trainer.

The next day, the four woke up early, in order to get to the building where the tournament would take place.

Like every morning, the four were having breakfast, the usual sweet breakfast with cappuccino and a croissant. Ash couldn't help but notice that, compared to the day of her first Gym battle, Anita appeared much calmer. Ash pointed it out to her, with a slight smile. «I'm happy to see you're calmer, compared to even just a few days ago.» he explained. «You think?» the girl asked, certainly not expecting such a statement. «The day you had to face the first Gym, you seemed very tense. I remember we almost had to force you to eat breakfast.» the boy explained. «I don't know. Maybe it's because here everything doesn't depend on me.» the girl replied. «Or maybe you're learning that…» Ash tried to say something, before being interrupted by a notification on his Rotom Smart.

«We have to hurry. At least we'll have some time to prepare.» Ash finished devouring his croissant and drinking his cappuccino. Then, together with Pikachu, he began to head towards the battle building. The others felt almost forced to follow him.

The four walked for a good half hour, until they reached the building where the tournament would take place. It was a building with architecture similar to the Pokémon Center. Only bigger. In front of the building, there was already a long line of people, all interested in participating in the tournament. «I told you we should have arrived earlier!» Ash complained, as he and his friends got in line.

«Serena? Anita?» A familiar voice made the girls turn. «Abby?» A girl with straight black hair. It was mid-back length. She had very fair skin. She was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt that left her navel exposed, a black jacket, black pants, and black shoes. «I don't believe it!» The girl spoke in a low voice, so as not to be heard by the person in question, who was in line not far away, behind Anita. «But that's… Ash Ketchum! In person!» The girl turned to Serena. She kept the "I wonder what a Trainer of his level is doing here" to herself. Serena didn't let herself be completely overcome by jealousy. «I can introduce you. You know, the two of us are pretty close » The Kalos native particularly emphasized the last few words. Abby just nodded. «Maybe it's better if I get through the line first.» the girl in black replied. Serena simply answered her with a simple "okay".

The line, fortunately, was moving with some speed, and finally, it was Ash's turn to submit his registration for the tournament. The Kanto native found himself in front of a woman of about fifty, sitting behind a counter. She had rather short blonde hair and green eyes. She wore thick red plastic glasses and earrings. She had a black shirt with strange round plastic decorations of the same color.

The woman practically snatched the registration form and the Rotom Smart from his hand. «I wonder what a Champion of your level is doing here.» she commented, annoyed. «Are you going to win the tournament by sheer superiority or what.» Ash shook his head. «The tournament is open to everyone.» he retorted. «As you wish.» the woman huffed, as she filled out the registration form. «The Champion of Champions and he registers with Snivy and Sandile! Don't you think you're ridiculous? With all the Pokémon you have…» Ash was about to reply rudely, but before he could, the situation was taken in hand by the woman's colleague. «The World Champion honors us with his presence and you treat him this way? You know the protocol when one of the Master Class Eight comes to visit us.» The woman appeared even more annoyed after the telling-off from her colleague. «Are you with people? If so, how many of you?» she asked, annoyed. «Four.» Ash replied. The woman pulled four magnetic cards from a drawer and gave them to the boy. «Over there, hallway to the right. You'll have private rooms. You can also bring in guests if you want. But you take responsibility if they cause damage.» Ash didn't answer. He just had to wait for Carlos to finish his registration as well.

As soon as the group reunited, Ash handed the cards to his friends. «And what's this?» Carlos asked. «One of the few advantages of being Champion, right pal?» The boy turned to Pikachu. The Mouse Pokémon started to laugh. If only he knew about that clerk… «At least we won't have to share the locker rooms with others.» Ash added, shortly after.

«I'd like to introduce you… to a friend of mine.» Serena took Abby by the hand and invited her to approach Ash. «A pleasure to meet you. My name is Abby!» The girl extended her hand to Ash, who shook it. «The pleasure is all mine. I'm Ash, and this is my friend Pikachu!» he introduced himself! «Pika-Pikachu!» the Pokémon introduced himself. «I feel like I've seen you before… I don't remember where…» Ash put a hand to his mouth, thoughtful. «She was one of the Performers at the Eolea Showcase.» Serena replied. «She had a Gothitelle and an Houndoom. If I remember correctly.» Serena reminded him. «Yes… I know I didn't do a good job.» Abby took on a disappointed look. «Not at all! You did a great job.» Serena replied. «You know… I read your interview…» Abby tried to change the subject. «And that's why I came here. I heard you'd like there to be battles in the Showcases. So…» «You don't have to justify yourself.» Serena replied. «I know about the promise you made. But remember that there's nothing wrong with participating in a tournament.» she added shortly after. «Besides, from battles, you can learn something you can use in your Showcase performances.» Ash added. Serena had noticed the change in Abby's expression. She had noticed how she was looking at Ash. «But let's go now. We have to prepare.» Serena dragged Ash towards her, leaving Abby quite perplexed as she watched Ash being forcefully dragged away by his friend.

Once the four entered their rooms, each of them decided to spend that time differently. Thanks to the cards Ash gave them, they had their own private room available to prepare and possibly pass the time between battles. The rooms weren't very large, but they were still quite comfortable. There was a brown leather sofa, probably convertible into a bed, a desk with a chair, a television mounted on a wall, a small refrigerator with drinks inside, a wardrobe, in faux wood, to store their clothes, in case they wanted to change. The room also had a private bathroom.

The room's ventilation was guaranteed by a window, while its air conditioning by a conditioner, mounted on a wall. At that moment it was set to 75F degrees.

Everyone, except Anita, already knew which Pokémon they would participate with. The rules prescribed that, although Trainers could only use one Pokémon during battles, they could register two, plus a third as a reserve. Carlos, for obvious reasons, could only count on his Umbreon. Serena had decided from the start who would battle. The first Pokémon she had obtained, her Delphox, and the last Pokémon she had captured. Lilligant. The girl decided to let them both out of their respective Poké Balls. Thanks to Sylveon, the two Pokémon had begun to get acquainted, but they weren't very close yet. «You know?» the Kalos native turned to Lilligant, while in the meantime, she was taking some photos of her Pokémon to put some on her PokéLink profile. «Ash told me that during the Showcase you were calm the whole time. And he also told me you made friends with another Pokémon. I'm very proud of you!» the girl congratulated her. «Lill! Lill!» The Pokémon seemed very happy about the compliment. «Would you like to battle later? There will be people, but believe me, no one will hurt you.» the girl explained to her. The Pokémon, initially, didn't react. «Maybe it's still too soon.» the girl commented. The Pokémon, in response, rested a leaf-arm on the girl's hand. It was her way of saying she would at least try. «I'm happy to see that at least you want to try.»

Anita, on the other hand, had decided to put her Vivillon to the test, but she wasn't very sure about the Pokémon that would accompany it. Choosing between Oshawott and Herdier was not easy at all. This time, however, she didn't want to ask anyone for advice. She wanted to choose on her own. After all, there was no right or wrong choice, right?

Ash, like Serena, was about to let the two Pokémon he had chosen out of their Poké Balls, when someone knocked on the door. «Ash Ketchum! Let me in! Or I'll be forced to arrest you!» The boy, though with strong doubts, hurried to open the door. In front of the boy and his Pikachu, a woman with short-cut green hair appeared. She had brown eyes and light red lipstick on her lips. She wore a uniform consisting of a yellow-brown shirt, a black tie, a skirt and a cap of the same color as the shirt. Several decorations on the jacket. Finally, she wore white gloves. «Hello Officer…» Ash greeted her cordially. «Ash… you're under arrest!» The boy was scared to death. «For what?» he tried to ask. «For not recognizing me!» Ash was even more perplexed. «Huh?» he asked. «Then it means the disguise works… At least as well as the Team Plasma Grunt one.» Ash quickly connected the dots. «Officer Velaurora!» The young woman simply nodded. «Please sit down.» Ash invited her, moving to one side of the sofa.

«Don't worry, I'll sit here.» The young woman took the chair and sat facing Ash, straddling the chair. «The chief ordered me to handle the security for this event. I found out you'll be participating too. Looker practically ordered me to come talk to you. You know, this tournament was at risk of not happening.» she explained «Really?» Ash seemed genuinely surprised. Why would the tournament not happen?

Castelia City, Capital of Unima.

The largest and most important city in the region was a continuous hustle and bustle of people, vehicles, and Pokémon. Hundreds of thousands of people moving through the enormous arteries of one of the largest and most important cities, not only in Unima, but in the entire Pokémon world.

A major financial and industrial center, it was a city where it was not at all strange to meet people from all over the world.

As it was the capital of the region, it was also the headquarters of its main governing bodies. The two Chambers, the Black Chamber and the White Chamber, which were based, respectively, in the Reshiram Palace and the Zekrom Palace, the Kyurem Palace, which instead housed the Government and where the two chambers operated in joint session, and the Palace of the Solemn Swordsmen, which housed the main judicial body of the region.

At that moment, the two Chambers were in a joint session to discuss important, albeit boring, items on the agenda. Among them all, however, one envelope stood out. It was made of fine paper and sealed with dark blue sealing wax. The seal imprinted on it was the emblem of Team Plasma. A shield with a P and other decorations.

The Chamber was full. The enormous room was elegant and well-kept. The benches were made of fine wood, the seats were red leather, the walls decorated with precious tapestries and paintings. In the center of the ceiling, a gigantic chandelier made of metal, crystal, and precious stones.

All the parliamentarians had gathered that day. Men in suits and ties and women in elegant dresses. Before the session began, they were exchanging final small talk.

Everything, until one of the many attendants rang the customary bell, which, as tradition dictated, started the proceedings. Silence suddenly fell. The Prime Minister, a man in his forties, dressed in a suit and tie like his colleagues, with short brown hair, eyes of the same color, a freshly shaven beard, stood up and took the floor. «Good morning. As you know, today we are in a joint session to discuss some important agenda items. Or, at least that was the intention, before the arrival of this.» The man picked up an envelope from the pile of documents. He made sure to show it to everyone present. «This letter was sent to this address by Team Plasma.» Suddenly, in the room, until that moment silent.

Everyone seemed to be wondering who Team Plasma was and what they wanted. It didn't take long before the same attendant found herself forced to call for order with the customary bell. «I would like to remind you why you are here!» the Prime Minister's words sounded like a reprimand. Having regained the full attention of those present, the man opened the envelope, breaking the seal, then removed the letter from the envelope. It too was made of fine paper.

The Prime Minister put on his glasses and read the letter aloud.

«To the attention of the Government of the Republic of Unima,

We are Team Plasma.

We want you to know that we do not intend to take power. Our goal is not to govern, but to change the world for the good of Pokémon.

We believe that Pokémon battles and Showcases are cruel and inhumane. These practices cause suffering to Pokémon and can no longer be tolerated.

Therefore, we urge you to immediately stop all events involving Pokémon battles and performances. This is the first step towards our final goal: to declare the possession of Pokémon illegal.

If you do not follow our directives, we will be forced to take drastic measures. Do not underestimate our determination. We have the means and the will to carry out our cause.

We invite you to reflect on your actions and make the right choice for the good of Pokémon and the entire Unima region.

Sincerely,

Team Plasma»

After the reading, no one in the hall dared to utter a word. Not that they weren't informed on the matter; the newspapers had reported the news of the explosion at the Team Plasma base between Striaton City and Eolea.

No one had been able to identify who had caused it, and the person who had made the news public preferred to remain anonymous. On that occasion, the news was quickly dismissed as just another group of fanatics singing their own praises and fighting amongst themselves. However, no such group had ever gone so far as to send threatening letters directly to the government.

«This is not a threat we can ignore.» one of the deputies from the Black Chamber spoke up. «Team Plasma poses a serious risk to the very foundations of our society.» he added. «Unima has an ancient tradition. Since its origins, Humans and Pokémon have lived side by side. We cannot submit to their threats.» a colleague, also from the Black Chamber, added. Voice after voice, everyone showed their agreement. It was one of the few times all representatives were in agreement. They certainly couldn't indulge their bullying. Someone ventured to propose limiting movement and searching non-Trainers. A proposal rejected for being unconstitutional.

At the end of the session, it was established that events with an audience involving Pokémon would receive increased checks at the entrance, to prevent the entry of Team Plasma Grunts.

Ash seemed particularly surprised. He didn't think Team Plasma would go that far. «After our encounter, I had to deal with one of them.» Ash told her. «Tell me.» she urged him. Ash recounted Houndour and how he and his friends put up posters to find it and how the Grunt tore down all the posters and how the two had a quick exchange of words. «I know you just want to participate in the tournament.» she started. «But as I told you before, the situation is very delicate and that's why I'm asking you to cooperate. We've run extensive checks on the spectators, who arrived well in advance, and none of them belong to Team Plasma. But we can't be completely certain.» At those words, Ash simply nodded. It wasn't in his plans, but, being the world champion, he couldn't refuse. Certain of Ash's cooperation, the officer stood up from the chair. «Now excuse me, but I really

must go.» she bid him farewell. «See you!» Ash said goodbye in turn. «Good luck with the tournament. I don't know who your

partner will be, but they will surely be a very lucky person.» A few seconds later, the Officer re-entered Ash's room.

«I forgot something.» Ash seemed perplexed. What had she forgotten? «I'll be handling the award ceremony. Provided there are no problems before then, of course.» Ash had no idea what could go wrong. «Could you pass me your Rotom Smart?» she asked. Ash passed it to her without hesitation, after unlocking it. «I'm going to send you an application that might be useful.» The young woman activated the Bluetooth on both devices, in order to send files without going through the data network. «What kind?» Ash wondered what it could be. «It's an experimental application for making absolutely encrypted communications. For now, it's experimental. You and the other Master Class Eight will use it. You will be notified via this application when your intervention or that of your Pokémon is required.

When the application is fully operational, it will connect all the Champions, Elite Four, and Gym Leaders.» she explained. Ash was fascinated by the officer's words. «Technology is truly incredible!» he commented. «You can say that again.»

the young woman replied, before leaving. «But now, excuse me, I really have to go.»

Not too long after, all the Trainers were called for the pre-tournament briefing. Everyone present was in a fairly large room with several chairs. All the Trainers sat down, waiting for instructions.

After a few minutes, a man of about forty, dressed in sportswear, appeared in front of the group of Trainers.

«A warm greeting to all, Trainers!» He welcomed them. «I am happy to see so many of you, despite everything that has happened lately.» The various Trainers exchanged puzzled glances. Few knew the real reason. «As you well know, the pairs of Trainers are drawn randomly, and the same goes for the matches. You can use only one Pokémon each per match, but I imagine you already know that.» he explained. «We can now proceed with the draw. Each of you will receive a slip with a number. Once you all have your slip, we can continue.» At these words, seemingly out of nowhere, a colleague of his appeared, distributing

a slip to each participant.

The drawing of the pairs, done using a lottery tumbler, lasted about ten minutes. «Very, very good!» the man commented. «The two Trainers who make up a pair are asked to sit next to each other and to distance themselves slightly from the other pairs.» The man hoped he had been clear enough.

His words triggered a gigantic back-and-forth of Trainers, male and female, getting up and moving from one side to another, shouting aloud the number they had received.

After the coming and going of Trainers, all the pairs were finally formed. There were sixteen pairs. Ash had been drawn with Anita, Carlos with Ivan, Anita's rival, Serena with Raoul, and Abby with an unknown boy.

He was quite tall and thin. He had short blond hair and barely visible stubble. He wore a T-shirt of a well-known music band and a pair of jeans. He wore work boots from a famous brand.

«So you're Abby? Nice to meet you! My name is Oliver.» He held out his hand. A worker's hand. Full of cuts and scars. «Pleasure.» The girl, with her small, smooth, manicured hands, with long nails painted with black polish, felt almost uncomfortable. She tried to muster a smile.

Ash and Anita could now consider themselves excellent friends, so the girl simply commented, addressing her mentor, that she had been very lucky to have him by her side.

Ash, for his part, had numerous flashbacks of his previous Double Battles. From those fought with friends to those with rivals, against them, or with one of them by their side.

Serena and Raoul, however, were barely acquaintances, and the dapper man seemed rather uncomfortable. "Of all people, did the most beautiful girl in the tournament have to end up with me?" he thought. «Are you okay?» the girl asked him, noticing his embarrassed expression. «Ye-yes. All good… it's just that I certainly wasn't expecting… well… uh…» «So many people?» The girl tried to anticipate him. «Yes… so many people. It makes me uncomfortable.» He tried to play that part.

The situation between Ivan and Carlos was different. The two boys had their backs to each other. They didn't seem interested in collaborating in any way. A terrible choice in a double battle tournament.

As much as Umbreon's Trainer tried to make proposals to the blond boy, the latter, in the best-case scenario, responded with grunts. He certainly wasn't making a good impression. «Try not to get in my way.» he huffed. «I can very well win the tournament on my own. You just pretend to be helpful.» he added.

In those same moments, a computer had decided what the matchups would be. The first to battle would be Ash and Anita. The two already knew who they would face. On the screen, their photos had been paired with those of their challengers. The same went for all the pairs in the first round.

They would face a pair of young female Trainers. A girl with very long blue hair, who couldn't have been more than twenty. She wore a matching jacket and skirt. Both were primarily yellow and orange. She also wore legging-type pants and athletic shoes. At her side, a girl, a few years younger than her. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She seemed to be wearing a sort of school uniform. The top part was a sweater, which covered a shirt and tie. She wore a miniskirt and dress shoes.

Ash, Anita, and their challengers arrived at the battlefield, after crossing under the stands.

It was the classic clay battlefield, just a bit larger than usual. It was surrounded by stands on all sides.

The stands were simple wooden structures, with plastic seats. Several spotlights ensured the illumination of the field, if necessary. On the lower part of the stands, there were several banners with the logos of the various sponsors funding the tournament.

Four strategically placed maxi-screens allowed even those in the upper area of the stands to see the battle perfectly. Speakers handled the sound.

What was shown on the screens was, in turn, broadcast on television and streamed throughout the Unima region. Or, even outside, thanks to the channel's website.

On beautiful days like this one, the Sun took care of illuminating the field, thanks to a large glass window in the ceiling.

«Dearest audience!» The same person who had conducted the briefing was now in the center of the battlefield, holding a wireless microphone. Only at those words, a roar rose from the stands. «BATTLE! BATTLE! BATTLE!» they shouted.

«I am happy to see that you have come in large numbers. Very numerous. Today is a great day. The seventy-fifth edition of the Nacrene City Tag Battle Tournament will be held. Sponsored, as it has been for eighteen years now, by Amon, one of the jewels of the Unima region's transport industry. From the motorcycle to the cargo ship, from the city car to the Giant of the Skies, if it's a means of transport, Amon has the perfect solution for your needs.» The man didn't forget to introduce the event's generous sponsor. «I am extremely proud to announce that, among the participants in the tournament, we also have the World Champion, Ash Ketchum! Will he and his partner win the coveted prize made available by Amon? Four all-inclusive tickets to attend the one hundred and first edition of the Spiraria Twenty-Four Hours, the most prestigious car race in history. Whoever wins the tickets will be able to follow the race directly from the pits, and can eat and drink at will in the exclusive Fan Club. They will share the joys and sorrows with the team, as only an endurance race can do. Another prize, also reserved for the top finishers, is a tour of the Amon factory. For the second and third place finishers, the prize is an exclusive one-week vacation for four people at an exclusive resort on Ember Island.» The man noticed the audience was getting impatient. «But let's get to the Trainers who will face each other in the first round…» The man turned to his right.

«On my right, we have the World Champion, Ash, and his partner Anita. Their opponents…» The man turned to his left. «Are the Trainers Shannon and Sibyl! Trainers… Send out your Pokémon!» the man ordered. Ash sent out Sandile, while Anita sent out her Vivillon. Shannon sent out a Golett and Sibyl a Minccino.

Certamente. Ecco la continuazione della traduzione, eseguita con la massima fedeltà e rispettando le tue richieste di formattazione.

The older girl's Pokémon resembled a stone golem. It was about a meter tall. Its body was light blue and bluish. The head, like part of the body, was light blue. A blue stripe partially separated the yellowish eyes. The eyes were not the same shape: the right one was L-shaped while the left one was rectangular. On its chest was a light blue square tied to its torso with brown rectangular ropes. A yellow spiral was engraved on the square. The forearms and hands were blue. The arm featured a rectangular protrusion. The legs, light blue, were footless and decorated with triangular protrusions.

Anita, who had never seen that Pokémon, decided to scan it with her Rotom Smart. «Golett. Automaton Pokémon. Ground and Ghost types. Gender unknown specimen. An ancient people created it by modeling clay to make a servant. The source of the energy that animates it is unknown. Known moves: Shadow Punch, Shadow Ball, Ice Punch, and Thunder Punch»

The younger girl, instead, sent out a Minccino. A Pokémon resembling a rodent, with a furry body, mainly white. It had tufts of fur on its head, inside its ear, and on its neck. Its ears were rather large and positioned on the sides of its head. Their insides were red and partially covered by tufts of fur. Its eyes were rather large and brown. Its limbs were rounded in shape and quite small. On the other hand, its tail was long and rather furry. The girl again took advantage of her Rotom Smart's functions to scan the Pokémon. «Minccino. Chinchilla Pokémon. Female specimen. It's a clean freak and can't stand even the smallest trace of dirt. It uses its tail like a broom to clean every surface. Known moves: Swift, Thunderbolt, Protect, and Bullet Seed.» Being able to at least know the opponents' moves, the girl felt slightly more at ease.

Meanwhile, the man had moved away from the center of the field. He had gone up towards the stands and entered a small room, most likely the commentary booth.

From that small room, it was possible to have an excellent view of the battlefield, allowing for optimal commentary on the actions of the Pokémon on the field.

At the same instant, a green-blue energy barrier rose around the battlefield. «This way, the audience doesn't risk being hit by any attacks.» Ash explained to his friend. Meanwhile, the referee, a young man of about twenty-five, dressed in the usual battle referee outfit, a green shirt and shorts with Poké Ball-shaped prints, and athletic shoes, started the match. «Let the battle begin! The first move goes to the challengers!» the referee announced. A man in his thirties.

«Golett! Use Thunder Punch on Vivillon!» Shannon ordered. «And you Minccino use Bullet Seed on Sandile!» Sibyl ordered. The Golem Pokémon started running, while its right arm charged with powerful electrical energy, as the Chinchilla Pokémon began to spit numerous seeds from its mouth, resembling projectiles. For the moment, they were only hitting the ground, raising dust.

Ash and Anita exchanged a quick glance. «Do it like in the Showcase.» the boy suggested. Anita simply nodded.

«Vivillon… use Air Slash!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon generated several blades of air from its wings, which reached and struck the seeds launched by the Chinchilla Pokémon, making them explode into a large amount of colored dust.

«Sandile! Stop Golett with Bite!» Ash ordered shortly after. The Desert Croc Pokémon started running towards its opponent. When it was close enough, it leaped and opened its mouth, clamping down on the Automaton Pokémon's electrified fist with a tight grip. «Golett! Try to break free!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon moved its arm as quickly as possible, trying to shake the crocodile off.

In response, the Desert Croc Pokémon tightened its grip further. Unpleasant sounds were also beginning to be heard. They almost sounded like creaks. «This is impossible! Golett! Get it off you!» The Pokémon, with a quicker movement than before, finally managed to shrug off the opposing Pokémon.

«Sandile! Try to break your fall with Shadow Claw!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon's paw claws extended greatly and turned purple. By scraping the ground, it managed to slow down quite a bit.

Thanks to this, the Pokémon managed to limit the damage. The same could not be said for its opponent. The bite marks from the sand crocodile were clearly visible on the Automaton Pokémon's right arm. «Vivillon! Use Swift against Minccino!» Anita ordered. «Minccino! You use Swift too!» the girl in the uniform countered. The two attacks collided in the middle of the field, raising a huge cloud of dust. «Great, Sandile! Go! Attack Golett with Shadow Claw!» Ash ordered. The Desert Croc Pokémon, taking advantage of the dust, managed to reach its opponent.

Thanks to special membranes protecting its eyes, the Pokémon could see clearly even in the strongest sandstorm.

Like the previous time, the Pokémon's claws extended greatly, glowing with a purplish light. «Golett! Defend yourself with Shadow Ball!» the blue-haired girl ordered.

The Pokémon generated a sphere of dark purplish energy from its hands, which almost acted as a shield against the powerful opposing attack. Initially, it seemed the shield was holding, but then, the side effects of Sandile's bite became evident. The Pokémon's right arm, which had previously started to creak, was now about to give way.

The Desert Croc Pokémon just had to hold on a little longer. «Sandile! Get out of there!» Ash ordered, noticing their opponent's Minccino, intent on preparing a powerful Swift attack.

Those star-shaped energy beams wouldn't bother Golett in any way, being immune to Normal-type attacks, but they would definitely hit Sandile.

The Pokémon obeyed, making a small jump, just in time to see the star-shaped energy beams pass through the opponent's body without causing damage.

«Golett! Use Ice Punch!» its Trainer ordered. She still hadn't noticed the fracture on her Pokémon's arm. «Sandile! Use Dig!» Ash ordered. While the Ground/Dark Pokémon began to dig a hole, Ash turned to his friend. «It's your moment.» he told her, in a very low voice. Anita wasn't very good at lip-reading, but she more or less understood what her friend meant. «Vivillon! Use Energy Ball!» she ordered! The Pokémon generated a gigantic sphere of greenish energy and hurled it at the opponent, which had punched the ground with a powerful fist and frozen part of the surrounding ground. The gigantic energy sphere, resembling an eye, hit the girl's Pokémon head-on, generating a massive explosion. Due to the ice and the damage sustained previously, the Pokémon's right arm gave way.

Simultaneously, Sandile, which had hidden underground, had reached the opposing Minccino. «And now Bite!» The Desert Croc Pokémon, taking advantage of the dust cloud it had raised, attacked the opponent from behind with a powerful bite. «Golett and Minccino are no longer able to battle! Sandile and Vivillon win. Consequently, Ash and Anita advance to the next round!» the referee announced.

As per tradition, after the battle ended, the opponents met in the middle of the field and shook hands. «You were excellent opponents.» Ash congratulated them. «Battling with you was an honor.» the older girl complimented. Ash noticed his friend had been left out a bit. «If it hadn't been for you and Vivillon, I don't know how it would have ended.» he complimented his friend, leaving her stunned.

«They were fantastic! Come on! They're going to make it and beat all their rivals!» the officer rejoiced, only to regain her composure. «No! No! I can't blow my cover.» she composed herself. She hoped she had been mistaken for just a simple Officer Jenny who was a big admirer of Ash.

After a few rounds, it was Serena and Raoul's turn. The Kalos native sent out her Delphox, while the dapper man had sent out his Crustle. Serena was amazed that the Pokémon had managed to rebuild its shell, despite the extensive damage sustained during the battle against Pikachu, only to realize that, at that moment, there were other priorities.

They had to battle and, possibly, win.

Their opponents were a woman in her thirties with long purplish hair. She wore glasses with a violet frame, a white lab coat with pens in one pocket, and a big guy with a shaved head and a long, unkempt beard. He wore a half-unbuttoned shirt. He also wore shorts and work shoes.

The woman sent out a Klink, a Pokémon that resembled a pair of gears, with six teeth each, interlocked with each other. The gear teeth were light gray, while the central regions were much darker. Their left eyes were "X" shaped, contrary to their right eyes, which were very wide with a black pupil and a white cornea. They had round green noses and small mouths that they kept constantly open.

Her ally, instead, sent out an Inkay, a Pokémon Serena knew well. The same couldn't be said for her ally. It was the first time he had seen that Pokémon. It resembled a blue squid. It had a pink, triangle-shaped dome with white edges and yellow spots on its head. Attached to it were white filaments. The squid-shaped body was blue and ended with five tentacles. The eyes were white, with large pupils. The mouth was rather small and pink in color.

The boy scanned it with his Rotom Smart. «Inkay. Revolving Pokémon. Psychic and Dark type. Male specimen. It exchanges information with its kind by flashing the patterns on its body in complex sequences. Known moves: Psybeam, Dark Pulse, Flamethrower.» The boy put his device back in his pocket.

«Let the battle begin! The first move goes to Serena and Raoul!» the referee declared.

The two didn't need to be told twice.

«Crustle! Use Rock Slide!» Raoul ordered. The Stone Home Pokémon generated boulders and hurled them at the opponents. «Klink! Use Gear Grind to crumble the boulders!» the scientist ordered. The Steel-type Pokémon placed itself in front of the Revolving Pokémon, beginning to rotate its gears, shattering every single boulder. Serena simply smiled. She seemed to be thinking "Exactly what I wanted." The girl's expression turned more serious. «Delphox! Fire Blast!» The Fox Pokémon generated a gigantic star of fire from its branch, which it then launched at the two opponents, who were hit head-on by the blaze, being defeated in a single blow. «Klink and Inkay are no longer able to battle.» the referee announced. «Consequently, Serena and Raoul win.» The four, as always, met in the center of the battlefield to shake hands.

Carlos and Ivan were among the last to battle. No one had noticed, but in the audience, just moments before the start of the battle, the little Houndour peeked out from the stands. Its instinct had been right. At that moment, Umbreon was about to battle.

Ivan, instead, sent out a male Frillish. A Pokémon extremely similar to a jellyfish. Ivan's specimen was a male. Its body color leaned towards light blue. Its head was spherical. On its head was a white protrusion similar to a crown. Around its neck was a sort of white collar, similar to those used by nobles in ancient times. It had five flat tentacles. The three smaller ones had a white, diamond-shaped spot, while the longer ones had a wider, irregularly shaped tip. Its face had an apathetic expression. Its mouth and eyes were blue, with a red pupil. An eyelash was clearly visible on its eyes.

Their opponents were an elderly gentleman with rather short white hair; he wore an elegant suit, a dark blue jacket, which looked black under the room's lighting, pants of the same color, black shoes. He also wore a dark blue hat. His partner was a young woman with black, fairly short hair. She wore an orange beanie, a green shirt, and an orange skirt. On her feet were brown leather boots decorated with bows of a similar color and long black socks.

The two sent out, respectively, a Lampent, a Fire and Ghost-type Pokémon resembling a lamp. It had a spherical head with oval yellow eyes and a bluish-purple flame inside. On top of its head, it had a black cover with a pointed tip, resembling a lampshade. Below its head was its body, rather small and black. At the bottom was a spike. Two long, wavy arms extended from its body, lacking fingers, and an Alolan Raichu. Like the normal form, its appearance was that of a rodent, brown-orange in color. Its belly was white. Its cheeks were round and yellow. It was about eighty centimeters tall. It had long, rounded ears; its paws and arms were rather stubby. On its back were two light, horizontal stripes. The Pokémon levitated in the air, suspended on its tail.

«Listen…» Ivan turned to Carlos. «They are both weak to my Pokémon's attacks. You and your Umbreon just try not to get in our way.» Houndour had observed the scene from the stands. That boy scared him. He tried to hide between the spectators' legs, with little success.

That boy unsettled him. He was the exact opposite… "Oh no… I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore!" the Pokémon thought.

«The battle between the pair of Trainers Ivan and Carlos and the pair of Trainers Toto and Susie begins!» The referee introduced the challengers. The audience watched with great curiosity.

«The first move goes to Ivan and Carlos.» the referee declared a few moments later. The blond boy shot a threatening glance at his ally. «Leave this to us! Frillish! Use Surf!» he ordered. The Jellyfish Pokémon raised a gigantic wave and began to ride it. Umbreon had to move aside to avoid being hit.

«Raichu! Volt Tackle!» the woman ordered. «Lampent! Night Shade!» her ally ordered. The Mouse Pokémon began to run at high speed, despite its rather chubby body, coating itself in a huge amount of electricity.

«Umbreon! Stop it with Quick Attack! Like Ash taught us!» The Moonlight Pokémon began to run at high speed, heading straight for the Mouse Pokémon.

The two Pokémon collided just before the middle of the field, being thrown back from the energy of the impact. Raichu, moreover, ended up being hit by a violent wave of purplish energy generated by its ally, and shortly after, both it and Lampent and Raichu.

«And yet you should know that water conducts electricity!» The woman seemed to be smiling. «Raichu! Use Thunderbolt!» she ordered. «Lampent! You attack Umbreon with Flamethrower!» Toto ordered.

The Lamp Pokémon obeyed. The flame inside its body became much larger and more powerful, until it burst out from its body. «Umbreon! I know you can do it! Dark Pulse!» Carlos ordered, in turn. From the Moonlight Pokémon's mouth, rings of purplish energy burst forth, intercepting and hitting the opponent's attack, and then hitting the Lamp Pokémon. «Lampent is no longer able to battle!» the referee declared. «The pair that will advance to the next round will depend on the result of the one-on-one battle between one of the Pokémon from the pair in the lead and the Pokémon still able to battle from the other.» he added shortly after.

Carlos was incredulous. He thought that due to Raichu's Thunderbolt, Frillish had also been defeated. Evidently, he was too caught up in the battle to notice what had happened.

«Frillish! Protect!» Ivan ordered. The jellyfish enveloped itself in a blue-green energy shield and submerged itself within the wave. The energy discharge was incredibly powerful and was further amplified by the water. Susie smiled. She thought her Pokémon had defeated the dangerous opponent.

Her smile gave way to a look filled with disappointment when the wave dissipated. The opposing Pokémon, still enveloped in the energy shield, was in perfect health.

«Damn it! I told you not to get in my way!» Ivan complained. «And now, thanks to you, I risk not advancing to the next round!» He took a step in Carlos's direction.

«Aggressing your own partner leads to disqualification, remember that.» the referee warned him. Ivan huffed. «Be thankful this is an official tournament, or you would have met a nasty end.» he threatened.

«The elimination battle between Ivan and Susie now begins.» The referee indicated the two Trainers, who in the meantime had been illuminated by spotlights. «They will battle with the Pokémon they have battled with so far. The winner will advance their pair to the next round.» the referee explained. «Let the battle begin!» he announced shortly after.

The two Trainers found themselves face to face, ready to battle. They were just waiting for the Referee to decide who would make the first move. «The first move goes to Susie.» the referee decreed.

«Excellent!» The trainer smiled. «Very well! Raichu! Use Electroweb!» the woman ordered. The Mouse Pokémon generated a sort of electrified spiderweb and launched it in the jellyfish's direction.

«Frillish! Dodge and then hit it with Ice Beam!» the boy ordered. From the front of the Pokémon's body, a thin beam of icy, light-blue energy was generated, which quickly froze the battlefield around the electric rodent.

«Come on! Let's melt the ice! Raichu! Volt Tackle!» Susie ordered. It was clear the battle was reaching its final stages. The Mouse Pokémon gathered its last strength and began to run at high speed, despite its rather chubby body, coating itself in a huge amount of electricity.

«Let's end this here!» Ivan seemed angrier than ever. «Frillish! Shadow Ball!» The Jellyfish Pokémon generated a sphere of dark purplish energy, coated in a sort of discharge, similar to electricity, then hurled it at the opponent, hitting it head-on. The impact was extremely violent, so much so that it generated an explosion.

«Raichu is no longer able to battle!» the referee declared. «Consequently, Carlos and Ivan advance to the next round.» he concluded. «Be thankful we passed.» Ivan threatened him again. «Otherwise…»

Of the other contestants, Abby and her partner also passed the round. The pairs that advanced to the semi-finals were Serena and Raoul, Ash and Anita, Carlos and Ivan, and Abby and Oliver.

To decide who would go to the final, Ash and Anita would face Abby and Oliver, while Serena and Raoul would have to face Ivan and Carlos. The Kalos native and the dapper man would be the first to battle.

To allow her Delphox, responsible for two excellent performances, to rest. This meant making Lilligant battle. The girl wasn't entirely sure about the choice, but her Pokémon had promised her she would at least try.

Raoul, too, would use a different Pokémon than Crustle for this battle. A Yamask. A Pokémon resembling a small black spirit. Its rather thin body had arms connected to it and, at the bottom, a golden mask. The body had three protrusions that gave it an irregular shape. It had two tiny eyes, lined with a red circumference with a dot in the bottom right corner, vaguely reminiscent of a teardrop about to fall.

The Kalos native scanned the Pokémon with her Rotom Smart's Pokédex function. «Yamask. Spirit Pokémon. Ghost type. Female specimen. The mask it wears is the face it had when it was human. Sometimes it cries while looking at it. Known moves: Curse, Will-O-Wisp, Hex»

Carlos, obviously, sent out his Umbreon, while Ivan, probably to save Frillish's energy in anticipation of the final, sent out a Liepard.

Serena was the last to send out a Pokémon, sending out her Lilligant. The Pokémon looked around. The stands were packed with people.

The Pokémon turned to her Trainer with a worried look. «Maybe I shouldn't have had you participate.» Serena met her Pokémon's gaze. «But you seemed happy about it earlier.» she added shortly after. «Know that I don't care about the result. I'll still be happy to see that you tried.» she tried to reassure her.

«A Trainer who doesn't think about winning can't call herself one!» Ivan huffed. Eager for the match to begin as soon as possible. «If you don't participate to win, then what do you participate for?» he pressed Serena. «That's none of your business.» the girl replied. Ivan was becoming far too unbearable.

«The battle between the pair of Trainers Ivan and Carlos and the pair of Trainers Serena and Raoul begins!» The referee introduced the challengers. «The pair that wins this battle will secure a place in the final.» he added shortly after. Meanwhile, Ivan was beginning to lose his patience. «Let the battle begin! The first move goes to Serena and Raoul.» the referee declared.

«Lilligant! Let's try! Attack with Pollen Puff!» the girl ordered. «Yamask, you attack them with Will-O-Wisp!» the boy ordered. The Flowering Pokémon generated a mass of purplish pollen, which it then hurled at Liepard. «Shadow Claw!» Ivan ordered. The Cruel Pokémon made a big leap, as its claws extended and lit up with a purplish light. Thanks to the powerful leap, the Pokémon managed to destroy that mass without taking any damage. Simultaneously, Yamask generated bluish flames, which quickly reached the two Dark-type Pokémon. Both were enveloped in flames. «Very clever of you.» Ivan commented. «Now I guess you'll tell your Yamask to use Hex. Won't you?» Ivan provoked him. «You're too predictable.» Ivan criticized him. «Liepard! Use Rest!» he ordered. The Leopard Pokémon closed its eyes and recovered its energy. Carlos felt betrayed. "But wasn't Ivan the one who wanted to do everything himself?" he wondered. «Umbreon! Quick Attack!» he ordered. The Moonlight Pokémon began to run at high speed, heading straight for Serena's Lilligant. «Defend yourself, Lilligant! Petal Blizzard!» the Kalos native ordered.

The Pokémon generated a tornado composed of green and orange leaves and petals, hurling them at its opponent. The Pokémon, due to the great power of the attack, was thrown right against its ally. The impact between the two Pokémon was such that it woke the sleeping Liepard. This event, totally unexpected, made the entire audience jump to their feet, erupting in a loud roar, frightening Lilligant. The Pokémon seemed paralyzed. «Are you okay?» Serena asked. The Pokémon didn't respond. «Liepard! Shadow Claw again!» Ivan ordered. «And you, Umbreon, Dark Pulse!» Carlos ordered. The Cruel Pokémon started running, as its long claws extended and lit up with a purplish light. It quickly approached the Kalos native's Pokémon. «Lilligant! Dodge!» Serena ordered. No use. The Pokémon was paralyzed.

Meanwhile, the flames from Yamask's Will-O-Wisp clashed against the dark energy rings generated by Umbreon. The clash between the two attacks generated a powerful explosion. Both Pokémon emerged without any particular damage.

The same could not be said for Lilligant, injured and now no longer able to battle, as was pointed out by the referee.

«Maybe it was too soon, but I can assure you that you did a great job.» The girl returned her Pokémon to its Poké Ball.

«As per the rules, the battle to decide the finalist will become a one-on-one.» the referee declared. «It will be Liepard and Yamask facing each other.» he added shortly after. Ivan huffed. He would have preferred to end it quickly.

«Let's get this over with quickly.» Ivan was determined to end the battle soon. «Liepard! Night Slash!» The Cruel Pokémon quickly reached the opposing Pokémon, hitting it with a violent blow from its tail, which was glowing purple.

«Yamask is no longer able to battle. Liepard wins.» the referee declared. «This means that Ivan and Carlos are qualified for the final. Now we just have to find out who they will face.» he added shortly after.

Shortly before the final, Serena had managed to spend some time with her Pokémon. The two were in the small room that had been made available to them.

The girl was sitting on the sofa, with the Pokémon right in front of her. Lilligant had a sad expression. She seemed disappointed and bitter. Her feelings were so evident that the girl didn't even need Sylveon's mediation. «Don't worry.» The girl spoke to the Pokémon in a gentle tone. «You did your best.» «Gan?» The Pokémon, instead, seemed disappointed. «I'm the one who made the mistake. I should never have made you battle.» The girl took on a sad expression. The Pokémon approached her Trainer. Like a few hours earlier, it gently touched her with one of its leaf-arms.

«Maybe you're right. We mustn't give up. We can only overcome this obstacle together.» «Gant!» The Pokémon seemed enthusiastic. It was finally certain of Sylveon's sincerity.

After half an hour, it was finally time for the second semi-final.

Ash and Anita would have to face Abby and Oliver. The girl's ally was a boy roughly Ash's age, rather tall and very thin. He had brown hair and light-colored eyes. He wore a simple red t-shirt and jeans, as well as black sneakers. Due to a small technical problem, the four had a few minutes to talk. Both Abby and Oliver were quite excited to face the World Champion. Neither of them seemed to be holding back the emotion that stemmed from having to face him. «Have you already decided who you'll battle with?» Oliver asked. «For now, you've only battled with Sandile and it did a really good job.» he added shortly after. «Are you going to get serious now and battle with one of

your historic Pokémon, maybe even Pikachu?» he asked. Ash petted his Pokémon on the head. «No. That wouldn't be fun or fair.» The two opponents were a bit bewildered by that statement. Anita, on the contrary, hadn't reacted. She was getting to know him and understood perfectly what her friend meant. «You know, we train together often, and like me, he has always battled with Sandile and with another Pokémon he caught recently.» Anita explained. «As if he wants to put himself on the same level as his opponent.» Oliver elaborated. «It's not exactly like that. I just think that every Pokémon of mine can become stronger, and to do that, it needs to train and battle. That's why I chose not to have any of the Pokémon you call "historic" participate. I prefer to give others the opportunity to improve.» Ash replied.

Finally, the small technical issue, a problem with a power cable for one of the maxi-screens, was resolved, and the tournament could resume. The audience seemed truly impatient. The four barely had time to get in position before the audience began to demand, with not-so-veiled insistence, that the battle begin.

«The battle between Ash and Anita and their opponents Abby and Oliver now begins. Trainers! Send out your Pokémon!» The four Trainers sent out their respective Pokémon. Ash sent out his Snivy, Anita her Oshawott.

Abby sent out her Mismagius, a Pokémon Ash knew well. Anita was encountering a specimen for the first time. That Pokémon resembled a sorcerer. Its body was purple. It looked almost like a flowing robe; it was decorated on the front with three brown frontal gems; its neck was a sort of ball about half the size of its head. The head was semi-spherical, with a sort of hairdo in the shape of a wizard's or witch's hat. The eyes had yellow sclerae and red irises. The zig-zag mouth was red.

The girl scanned the Pokémon with her Rotom Smart's Pokédex function. «Mismagius, Magical Pokémon. Ghost type. Female specimen. It inflicts torments on the enemy by reciting hexes that cause terrible migraines or provoke frightening visions. Known moves: Shadow Ball, Magical Leaf, Power Gem, Mystical Fire.»

Oliver, instead, had sent out a Cubchoo. A small Pokémon, whose appearance resembled a polar bear cub. The upper part of its body was light blue, except for its muzzle, which was a darker blue. Its eyes and nose were black. A drop of blue mucus hung from its nose. The rest of its body was white, except for the part under its paws where there was a circle of black skin. In this case, it was Ash who scanned the Pokémon with his Rotom Smart. Anita, unlike her friend, knew this Pokémon very well. She had a Cubchoo-shaped plush toy. It was one of her favorite plush toys when she was little. «Cubchoo. Chill Pokémon. Ice type. Male specimen. If it is in good health, the viscosity of the drop hanging from its nose increases. If it doesn't like someone, it smears them with its mucus. Known moves: Slash, Ice Shard, Ice Beam.»

«Let the battle begin!» the referee declared. «The first move goes to Ash and Anita.» he added shortly after.

«Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet on Cubchoo!» Anita ordered. The Otter Pokémon leaped, as its body was enveloped in water. In a few moments, it would reach the Ice-type Pokémon. «Quick, hit it with Ice Beam!» Oliver ordered. From the cub's mouth, a powerful beam of icy energy shot out, hitting and reaching the opposing Pokémon. Oliver hinted at a smile. He seemed not to have realized what he had just done.

«Mismagius! Let's not stand still! Use Shadow Ball!» Abby ordered. From the front of the witch, a sphere of dark purplish energy was generated, coated in a sort of lightning, slightly lighter in color.

«Go, Snivy! Jump and hit Shadow Ball with Leaf Blade!» The Pokémon made a powerful leap. Its tail lit up light green. The Pokémon hit the sphere and launched it back at its opponent, hitting it with its own attack. This generated an explosion, and one of certain violence.

Simultaneously, Oshawott had transformed into an icy projectile. The Pokémon was not yet able to perfectly control its attack, with that extra weight, but it was trying.

The Pokémon, fortunately, managed to hit the opponent, launching it into the air and then against the energy barrier. Due to the impact, the layer of ice covering the Otter Pokémon broke, allowing it to move normally again.

«Snivy! Use Attract on Cubchoo!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon winked at the opponent, then launched pink hearts at it. «Cubchoo! Attack Snivy with Slash!» Oliver ordered. The Chill Pokémon, infatuated with its opponent.

«Clever of you.» Oliver congratulated. «You're the Champion for a reason.» he added. «Mismagius! Attack with Shadow Ball!» Abby ordered. The Pokémon generated yet another sphere of dark energy, which it launched towards Anita's Oshawott.

"No! Not again!" the girl thought. "Stay calm!" she thought. "Do you remember what Ash told you?" The girl had to think for another quick fraction of a second. «But of course! Like in the Showcase! Oshawott! Destroy its attack with Razor Shell!» the girl ordered. The Otter Pokémon grabbed its scalchop from its chest and brandished it, then swung it like a sword, slicing the enemy attack.

«Snivy! Use Vine Whip!» Ash ordered instead. From the protrusions on the Pokémon's back, two thin vines emerged, which were launched with great speed and vehemence at Cubchoo. The Pokémon was quickly wrapped by Snivy's vines.

«Go, Cubchoo! Try to counter with Ice Beam!» Oliver ordered. Ash smiled. It was almost as if he expected that move. «Launch it at Mismagius!» he ordered. The Pokémon followed her Trainer's order, hurling the opponent at its ally. The Chill Pokémon, meanwhile, had already begun to launch its powerful beam of icy energy. Ash's plan had worked as expected. Cubchoo had hit its ally. It wasn't enough to win yet.Certamente. Ecco la continuazione della traduzione, eseguita con la massima fedeltà e rispettando le tue richieste specifiche per la formattazione dei dialoghi.

«Mismagius! Use Magical Leaf!» Abby ordered. The Ghost-type Pokémon generated a storm of purplish leaves, which it hurled at the two starter Pokémon. «Snivy! I know you can do it! Use Grass Mixer!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon generated a gigantic tornado of leaves, which it hurled at the two opposing Pokémon. The attack was so powerful that it enveloped the previous attack and launched it back at its own user.

«Mismagius and Cubchoo are no longer able to battle!» the referee declared. «This means that Ash and Anita will advance to the final phase of the tournament, where they will face Ivan and Carlos.» he added shortly after.

As per tradition, after the battle ended, the opponents met in the middle of the field and shook hands. And the customary compliments, after the battle.

The time for the final had finally arrived. The audience seemed to be waiting for nothing else, especially considering that the World Champion was among the finalists.

Ash was calm. He had full confidence in his Snivy. The same could not be said for Anita. She would battle with Vivillon, a Pokémon that neither Carlos nor Ivan had ever battled against, but this didn't reassure her at all.

Ivan, as usual, was sure of himself. Perhaps too sure. Even when Carlos tried to warn him about the level of his opponent, he simply ignored him. Plus, Ash would be battling with Snivy, the Pokémon that had rejected him, one more reason to get revenge.

After a wait that seemed endless to the audience, the four Trainers finally lined up, ready to begin the battle. They were just waiting for the referee to give the signal.

«After numerous and very interesting battles, as every year, the moment for the highly anticipated final has finally arrived!» a voice was heard from the speakers. It was the man who, not too long ago, had started the tournament. After once again, as he had done before every battle, thanking the sponsor, he allowed the referee to do his job.

«The final battle of the Seventy-fifth Nacrene City Tag Battle Tournament begins. Competing for the victory and the fabulous prize, offered by Amon, will be the pair of Trainers composed of the World Champion Ash Ketchum and Anita White, and the pair of Trainers Ivan Hollenback and Carlos Martin.» he began. «Trainers! Send out your Pokémon!» he ordered a few moments later. The four Trainers followed the instructions, sending their Pokémon onto the field.

Ash sent out Snivy, Anita sent out Vivillon, Ivan his Frillish, and Carlos his Umbreon. «The first move goes to Carlos and Ivan! Let the battle begin!» the referee declared.

«Umbreon! Quick Attack on Snivy!» Carlos ordered. The Moonlight Pokémon began to run at high speed towards its opponent, jumping from side to side. Ash followed the rapid movements of the opposing Pokémon with his eyes, which was approaching very quickly. The Pokémon was now very close to its opponent. «Now! Jump and use Leaf Blade!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon leaped; its tail lengthened and lit up with a light green.

It hit the opponent on the head, making it slam its snout onto the ground with some violence. «Frillish! Use Shadow Ball! Maximum power!» Ivan ordered. The floating Pokémon obeyed, launching a large sphere of dark energy at its opponent. «Vivillon! Destroy Shadow Ball with Air Slash!» Anita ordered.

The Pokémon generated a thin blade of air from its wings, which got very close to the opposing attack, but without hitting it. The air blade, instead, hit Frillish.

Snivy, which in the meantime was landing after hitting Umbreon, was hit head-on by the powerful Shadow Ball.

The attack hurled it against the energy barrier, and then it fell to the ground.

«Snivy! Are you okay?» Ash seemed rather worried about his Pokémon. «VII!» the Pokémon shouted. Its body lit up with a white, slightly bluish light. «What?» Ivan seemed rather perplexed. He thought that blow had been more than enough to defeat that Snivy… but instead… it was evolving?

The Pokémon's body grew in size. It remained primarily green, while the shoulder area remained a cream color. A sort of yellow collar started from its chest, continuing behind its shoulders. Three palmate leaves grew from its tail, reaching part of its back. A small crest protruded from the back of its head. Its eyes turned red and took on a rather narrow shape.

Ash wasted no time and analyzed the newly evolved Pokémon with his Rotom Smart's Pokédex function. «Servine, the Grass Snake Pokémon. Female specimen. It runs almost as if sliding on surfaces. It confuses the enemy with its rapid movements, then attacks it with a vine whip. Known moves: Attract, Vine Whip, Grass Mixer, Leaf Blade.» Meanwhile, Umbreon was trying to get up.

«Servine! Are you ready? Use Grass Mixer!» Ash ordered. The Pokémon generated a gigantic tornado of leaves, which quickly lifted Umbreon and hurled it against the energy barriers. The leaves, sharp as razors, hit the Floating Pokémon, defeating it.

Umbreon tried to get up, but due to the injuries sustained, it couldn't. «The battle is over. Neither Umbreon nor Frillish can continue, consequently Ash and Anita win.» the referee declared.

«The top three finishers and their Pokémon are asked to proceed to the podium for the award ceremony.» the presenter announced.

From the upper part of the stands, an electronic mechanism extended a platform with three wide steps. A few moments later, safety railings popped up.

The top three pairs of Trainers, Ash and Anita, Carlos and Ivan, and Serena and Raoul, escorted by their Pokémon, reached the podium.

A few moments later, a young woman, dressed in an elegant gown, handed out the trophies to the top three finishers, starting with the third-place finishers, to whom she gave a beautiful bronze trophy. Inside it were four reservation forms to fill out and vouchers for plane tickets with Unima's flag carrier airline.

The trophy for the second-place finishers was similar, larger and more elegant, but made of silver. The contents were also similar. A different story for the first-place trophy. Made of gold and decorated with precious stones.

Inside it were four tickets for the twenty-four-hour race, to which only a passport photo needed to be added, and four tickets for the factory tour.

As soon as the top three finishers received their trophies, several people from the audience began to take dozens and dozens of photographs. Although the tournament was repeated every year, the audience never seemed to lose interest.

It seemed everything had gone for the best, despite Team Plasma's threats. The atmosphere was almost relaxed, except for the sparks flying between Ash and Servine, and Ivan. The expert Trainer and his Pokémon seemed to be acting as a shield for Anita. «Remember that he won't be there forever to defend you. You'll have to learn to manage on your own.» Ivan tried to ignore Ash's presence.

«Although for someone who's afraid of her own shadow, being able to have a bodyguard who protects you from everything… what if something ever happened to him and you had to be the one to defend them? »

Before the girl could even utter a single word, a loud roar startled everyone. The glass roof of the building had been smashed.

«Servine! Quick! Grass Mixer!» Ash ordered. Thanks to the very strong current of air and leaves, the trajectory of the glass and metal fragments was diverted, causing them to fall to the ground without injuring anyone.

A few moments later, a large number of people descended from the opening in the roof, standing on circular metal platforms supported by thick cables. They were all followers of Team Plasma, all dressed identically.

One of them held a large gray megaphone, with the evil team's emblem printed on it. «You dared to disobey our words. Now you will pay the consequences!» he shouted.

«Go! Run!» Officer Velaurora urged them. Ash would have wanted to and could have faced all those grunts, but he decided to obey the Officer's words anyway. The battle could have injured people who had nothing to do with Team Plasma, and that was certainly not ideal.

One of the Grunts got off the platform and reached the podium. «Clever of you.» The grunt addressed the officer. «Making Ash and his friends escape.» The man passed a hand under the officer's chin, lifting her head. «Would he do the same for you?» he asked her, as he lifted her up by her dress. «Of course he would. He might not understand much about us, but at least he knows how to treat a girl.» the girl replied. «Get them! They'll learn not to listen to Team Plasma!» the man with the megaphone shouted. The Grunts jumped from their platforms and began to block the exits. Ash and his friends were walking down one of the corridors, trying to get out of the building.

At the same time, numerous Grunts began to run through the stands, pushing several attendees. Some of them, seemingly chosen at random, were hit violently.

«And what are you doing here?» A grunt addressed the Houndour that had watched the entire tournament from the stands. Hearing the grunt's voice, the Pokémon started running, scared. «Where are you going?» the grunt asked, trying to grab it. «We only did what was best for you!» the grunt shouted.

The Pokémon ran even faster, quickly reaching one of the many public entrances, preyed upon by the grunt. By a strange twist of fate, the Pokémon ended up behind another pair of grunts, who, in the meantime, were chasing Ash and the others. «Now you're trapped!» The Grunt seemed very happy with his words. «Why would you ever want to go back to being a Trainer's slave?» he asked. «You Pokémon were born to live free from any slavery, and you want me to believe you're better off imprisoned in a Poké Ball?» he added shortly after.

The Dark Pokémon stopped its run abruptly, and the Grunt took the opportunity to block its path. The Pokémon, in response, opened its mouth wide and generated a gigantic blast of fire, which engulfed the grunt. «Someone tries to help you and you treat them this way?» he complained.

Ash and his friends, meanwhile, had been pushed against a wall. Until that moment, they had limited themselves to fleeing, without having their Pokémon intervene. Just like their opponents, for that matter, but now, forced against the wall, they had no choice. «Pikachu! Hit them with Thunderbolt!» Ash ordered.

The electric Pokémon jumped from the boy's shoulder and quickly generated a powerful electric shock from its cheeks, hitting the two grunts who were chasing them. They both fell to the ground, rather stunned by the powerful shock.

«Let's be careful, more could arrive.» Ash urged his friends.

He barely had time to utter the sentence when a third Grunt appeared, accompanied by a strong smell of burning. «Now you're really trapped!» He went after Houndour one last time, before falling on top of his colleagues.

The four, escorted by their Pokémon and Houndour, managed to get out of the building.

Houndour walked next to Umbreon. By now, the Dark Pokémon considered Umbreon a friend. «I think it's become friends with Umbreon now» Ash commented. «It would be a shame to make it lose a friend again.» he let slip. «What do you mean, "again"?» Serena asked. «What? I thought I told you.» Ash took a very brief pause. «It was freed by Team Plasma.» he replied. «I have no idea what happened to its Trainer. I spoke with a Grunt while I was coming back from my round, when we were distributing the posters.» Ash told his friends about the encounter with the grunt and why the Dark Pokémon was so familiar with people. «So you think it wants to come with us?» Carlos asked. «I don't know.» Ash replied. «You should try asking it.» he proposed.

Carlos knelt in the Dark Pokémon's direction, with a Poké Ball in hand. «Do you want to come with us?» The Dark Pokémon hit the Poké Ball's opening mechanism with its muzzle, being absorbed inside. «I finally caught a Pokémon!» Carlos cheered. «Come on out, Houndour!» He let it out of the Poké Ball.

With a new friend, the four headed towards the Pokémon Center. Despite the nice victory at the tournament, they had nothing to celebrate; Team Plasma was more aggressive than ever, and the kidnapping of Officer Velaurora was proof of that.

They barely had time to arrive before Ash's Rotom Smart began to ring, with a different ringtone than usual. A ringtone the boy hadn't set.

The screen showing the call was also different. Below the photo of the person calling him, which in this case was a default image, there was a sort of stylized lock.

The boy had to think for a few moments. He recalled the meeting with Officer Velaurora. This was an encrypted call. The boy hurried to answer.

«This call is encrypted. Confirm identity.» That pre-recorded voice almost scared Ash. On the lower part of the device's screen, the fingerprint sensor lit up. The boy placed his thumb on the sensor to perform the recognition. «Identification successful.»

Finally, the boy could find out who was calling him. It was Looker. «Ash. Finally! Now all Master Class Eight are in encrypted and protected communication. Unfortunately, we don't have time for pleasantries. Officer Velaurora has been taken hostage by Team Plasma. We cannot send in one of our agents because it would risk blowing the cover of some infiltrators we have within Team Plasma. She will have other duties, given her great skill in disguises. Don't worry about how to do it; if you accept, you will receive instructions soon.» Ash listened patiently. «I don't have much choice. I owe her.» he replied. «Perfect. You will receive everything at the Pokémon Center soon.»

Ash barely had time to explain the situation to his friends before being notified of a delivery in his name, at least according to the Nurse, given that the package was completely anonymous.

Ash took the package and went into his room, where he opened it. No box cutters or scissors were needed. The package had an easy-open feature. The boy just had to pull a tab. Inside the package were some papers and a small box.

Ash took one of the papers. They were instructions for the mission he was supposed to carry out. The letter seemed halfway between a preset message and a message written specifically for this situation.

«I am extremely grateful that you have accepted to carry out this very delicate operation, the recovery of an Agent in an emergency situation.

Should you follow these instructions to the letter, the mission will succeed without consequences for anyone. As you well know, one of our Agents has fallen into the hands of Team Plasma. We have no idea where they have taken her.

We have infiltrators within their ranks, but we cannot blow their cover. To prevent this from happening, we have developed simple and precise instructions.

Inside the small box, you will find a GPS tracker and a small microphone. The small microphone is contained in a gold 

chain, while the tracker is in a capsule to be swallowed.

The tracker resists the most powerful acids for a time ranging from seventy-two to ninety-six hours. When you have concluded, we will proceed to phase two.»

When you arrive near Floccesy Street. When you get near that street, our accomplices will lead you to Team Plasma.

When you think the situation is suitable to initiate the recovery operation, speak often of the move "Iron Head" .

Ash finished reading the letter. He hadn't noticed that Serena was behind him, and that she herself had also read the letter. Without saying a word, he put on the chain and swallowed the capsule. «I have no choice but to accept. I know it will be dangerous, but I owe her.» Ash took on a serious tone. «Don't worry. I'll manage.» Those words didn't please anyone, but Pikachu in particular. He would have to be separated from his friend.

Serena, on the other hand, was a little jealous. She knew that one of the duties of Champions was to put themselves at the service of others and help in emergency situations, but…

Ash, without bringing any Pokémon with him, headed to the pre-arranged meeting point, one of the many streets in the city. To avoid getting lost, the boy had to use the Maps application on his Rotom Smart.

The boy started scrolling through social media on his Rotom Smart, while he waited for the arrival of those who were supposed to kidnap him.

It was a strange feeling. He knew he had to be kidnapped and that he would end up in the lion's den, but he knew he had no choice.

After three-quarters of an hour, his kidnappers finally arrived. They were two grunts, apparently like all the others Ash had met, with their gray robes and appearance similar to ancient knights.

«And so you decided to turn yourself in, huh!» one of the grunts commented. «Don't worry. We won't harm a hair on you or your friend. We need you whole.» The two accompanied Ash to their pick-up truck. It was exactly identical to the one the fake rangers had used to kidnap the Vivillon some time before. Identical to the dozens of vehicles parked at the base near Eolea.

They made him get in the back, to prevent him from escaping during the journey. It wasn't part of the plan, but part of the Team's protocols. As soon as they got on board, the driver initiated a call, via voice commands.

The person the call was intended for answered immediately, in a rather annoyed tone. «If you're calling me, it's because you have good news.» The man at the wheel was not discouraged by that tone. «We got him. He'll keep his little friend company. That'll teach them to play secret agents!» the driver replied. «And besides, on the top floor of such a tall building… they can't escape in any way. Also because we need them alive.» he replied, before ending the call.

Although Ash was aware that the two grunts were accomplices, he hoped the information about the location was correct.

For the rest of the journey, none of the three spoke. Ash because he feared being spied on, the two accomplices so as not to break team protocol.

The journey, fortunately, was not too long; it ended in Castelia City, in an anonymous and sad neighborhood, consisting of several skyscrapers, all identical. There were no flowerbeds or green areas. Only steel, glass, and concrete.

The two lifted Ash by his weight and led him to the entrance of the building. Guarding the entrance was a large array of grunts. No one could enter or leave without their permission.

«Have you searched him already?» one of the grunts at the entrance asked. «Of course.» replied one of the grunts, who was still holding Ash. «Then take him upstairs!» the same person ordered. «I'm warning you. The Boss wants him alive and well.» he added shortly after.

The two, without letting go, escorted Ash to the elevator, heading to the second-to-last floor, the last one served by the elevators. The only way to access the top floor was via a flight of stairs that led outside.

A trapdoor allowed access to and from the top floor to be blocked.

The top floor was extremely smaller than the others. Besides the room dedicated to the elevator motor, it only had a small apartment. Watched over from the outside by two guards.

A kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. It was the apartment for the elevator maintenance worker.

The bathroom was accessible from both the bedroom and the small hallway that separated it from the kitchen-living room. The bedroom door had been replaced with an iron door, like those in prisons, to prevent any escapes.

One of the two grunts opened the door and pushed Ash inside the prison. «You have company!» he addressed the Agent.

The Agent, putting her training into practice, didn't say a word. She didn't know if the two Grunts were undercover Agents or if they were real Grunts.

Of course, Ash's presence could be a significant clue, but she couldn't know if the boy had turned himself in willingly or if they had actually kidnapped him. She decided, before speaking a word to Ash, to wait for the two Grunts to leave. «Did they get you or…?» she asked, as soon as they left.

«I was ordered to let myself be captured. They said they couldn't let me remain in Team Plasma's clutches.» Ash tried to summarize as much as possible. «Got it. You can tell they miss me.» she commented ironically.

A couple of hours later, someone entered the small apartment. A man about two meters tall and with a robust build. He had long hair of an indefinable color. Something between gray and green. He wore a white robe covered by a purple and yellow outer robe. On the purple side, it was decorated with a stylized yellow eye, on the yellow side with a stylized purple eye. He wore a sort of decoration on his robe, reminiscent of a castle's battlements.

Ash, although he had only seen him once, recognized him.

«Ghetsis.» The boy said his name in a low voice. The man managed to hear him anyway. «Ash Ketchum.» the man replied. «How does it feel to be imprisoned, like your Pokémon?» he asked shortly after.

«Captivity here isn't so bad. I have a comfortable bed, a television… a computer… they bring me three meals a day… I have someone next to me to talk to and share my time with… it's not so bad.» Ash replied. Ghetsis raised an eyebrow: «And you don't miss your little friends?» he asked. «Of course I miss them, but I'll get used to it.» Ash tried to unleash some acting skills he had already shown he possessed. «Don't you think it's the same for Pokémon?» he asked. «No. You force Pokémon to battle against their will.» the man replied. «And you? Do you think I haven't realized you want to use me as a trophy?» Ash provoked him. «Then I'll have to find a way to make you understand how much Pokémon suffer during battles.» the villain replied. «No one forces them to do it. If a Pokémon doesn't want to battle, it doesn't. Just as no one forces an athlete to participate in a competition if they don't feel up to it.» Ash replied.

The man left, muttering something incomprehensible.

Several hours later, late at night, it was finally time to act. The Agent was half asleep, unlike Ash, who, before leaving for the mission, had drunk a good couple of coffees.

«I'd like to ask you a question.» Ash asked her. «Awwmm» The young woman yawned. «Go ahead.» she asked. «Besides Liepard, do you have any other Pokémon?» Ash asked. «Not right now. But on my team, besides Liepard, I also have an Excadrill.» Ash smiled, looking rather interested. «Interesting… out of curiosity… does it know the move Iron Head?» Ash asked.

«No… but why are you interested in whether my Pokémon knows Iron Head?» «Because Iron Head is a very powerful move. Alain's Bisharp knows it, Cynthia's Milotic also knows Iron Head, or even Leon's Cinderace, knows Iron Head.» The Agent seemed even more perplexed. «If a Pokémon used Iron Head now, it could open a breach for us and let us escape, don't you think? Everyone is sleeping now.» Ash replied. A small smile escaped the agent.

What did Ash have in mind?

Three-quarters of an hour later, the sound of helicopter blades was heard in the distance. It wasn't at all strange for aircraft to fly over the Capital. It happened several times a day.

For this reason, the Grunts assigned to surveillance didn't pay much attention to the aircraft's presence, not even when it began to approach the building.

They only activated the emergency protocol when they realized the aircraft was hovering over the building for a surprisingly longer time than necessary.

The alarm sounded inside the building. The dozens of Grunts who were by now sleeping were awakened with a start. They had to be ready to act immediately.

While the numerous grunts noisily climbed the stairs, the helicopter lowered a very heavy metal plate onto the opening that allowed access to the top floor.

This way, it would be very difficult for those on the lower floors to access the top one. As soon as the heavy plate was lowered, half a dozen agents descended from the gigantic helicopter. They were all dressed the same. Black jacket, black tie, black shirt, black pants, black shoes, black hat; they even wore sunglasses, despite it being the dead of night.

As soon as they descended, they were immediately attacked by the two grunts who were guarding the top floor. Due to their numerical inferiority and the high degree of training of the agents, the two grunts were quickly neutralized. One of them also held the keys to the small apartment and the cell where Ash and Officer Velaurora were locked up.

The Agent was still wearing the elegant dress she had on during the award ceremony, not ideal for running or boarding a helicopter in flight, but she knew she had no alternatives.

The two, escorted by a small group of agents, quickly exited the apartment. On the building's rooftop, Ash and the agent had to be extremely careful to avoid the powerful air currents generated by the helicopter's blades, which was still hovering above the building.

Rather unpleasant noises were clearly audible. It seemed the grunts were trying to get rid of that heavy plate, with grinders or something similar.

«Come on! Don't stand there dumbfounded! Grab a harness and put it on! We don't have time to waste!» one of the agents urged them. Ash and the girl didn't need to be told twice.

They quickly put on the harness, made of an extremely durable fabric, similar to that used for seatbelts, and were quickly hoisted aboard, along with the rest of the other Agents a few moments later.

Just moments before the heavy iron plate gave way, allowing the Grunts from the lower floors to get out.

As soon as a small number of them reached the rooftop, they could only watch the helicopter fly away. He took a smartphone from a pocket of his uniform. «I hope the Boss answers.» he commented. His hopes were met. «Boss. I'm sorry to inform you that our hostages have escaped.» he informed him. He heard the sound of a fist slamming against a wooden object. «It doesn't matter! At least they've understood who they're dealing with!» He immediately ended the call.

While the helicopter transported Ash and the Agent to a safe place, at the city's Pokémon Center, the situation was not the calmest. Not so much for Carlos, lost in the world of dreams, but rather for the girls, albeit for different reasons. Serena was extremely worried about Ash. It was already the second time he was in the enemy's den, but this time not as an infiltrator, but as a prisoner.

«You awake too?» Anita addressed her friend, who was sitting on her bed, petting Pikachu, who was also worried about Ash.

«I could ask you the same.» Serena replied. «I'm just worried about Ash. I know he's done these things before and it's always turned out fine, but…» she tried to explain. «I understand. But I'm sure he'll manage.» The Unima native tried to reassure her. «It's not like last time. He's a prisoner here. I don't know what they want to do to him.» Serena seemed extremely worried. «And besides, he doesn't have any Pokémon with him. He preferred not to risk them.» Anita immediately understood what her friend meant. «And what's worrying you?» Serena asked her.

«I was thinking about Ivan's words. I mean… we haven't been apart since we started. Do you really think he's right and that I have to separate from you guys to truly improve?» Serena was petrified by those words. «Like you, for instance. You left for Hoenn and…» «It didn't work. Yes, I admit I learned something from the Contests, but no. I don't think being separated from my friends influenced that. On the contrary. I made friends there too.» Anita's expression changed, almost turning into an "and?" «Someone like Ivan doesn't seem like a very friendly guy.» Serena replied. «Traveling with other people, you learn from them and they learn from you. When you're alone, instead…» Anita just smiled. Having friends to travel with was a more precious gift than she could imagine.

Several hours later, after spending part of the night recounting what he had seen in the Team Plasma building, Ash had reunited with his friends. He had already had his usual (and hearty) breakfast. He was just a little sleepy.

As soon as he arrived, Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder and Serena hugged him tightly, leaving the (fortunately few) people inside the Pokémon Center rather perplexed. «I'm so happy to see you're okay. I was afraid they had done something to you, as a prisoner or…» Ash tried to reassure her. «They treated me well, for a prisoner. I would have become their trophy if they hadn't let me escape.» Ash explained. Afterward, the boy recounted his, albeit brief, captivity in the Team Plasma building. After the story and the related questions, the situation among the four was much lighter. Serena, like the last time, had worried for nothing.

Anita, for a while, had taken on a strange expression, as if she were trying to ask a question, or something similar. «Are you okay?» Ash asked her. «Yes… more or less.» the girl replied. «Go ahead, tell me.» Ash urged her. «I have so many questions torturing me. I'd like to be alone for a bit. Maybe I'll take the opportunity to go buy some Poké Balls or something else… what do you say?» Ash smiled at her. «But of course! Go ahead! You're sixteen and you seem like a very responsible girl. But, please. Be careful, Team Plasma is very dangerous.» he advised.

Chapter Text

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m one of the writers. For readers and gamers, I’m known as Reshiram Lego, and for followers, ASEK… I wanted to help Mr. Carlos with this chapter, which I created myself. I'm fourteen years old, writing as a passion whenever the situation allows. But we’re not here for a full introduction of me.

Family Reunion

Anita was on her way back from the store, where she’d bought some Poké Balls, potions, and revitalizing salts. She’d also given in to the temptation to buy a cap mainly white, with a pink visor and a Poké Ball-like pattern in pink on the front. A cool breeze swept through her hair, trying to snatch the Quagsire-shaped balloon from a child sitting on a bench nearby. 

At that moment, she was alone with her Pokémon. Ash had advised her to be cautious of Team Plasma, so she had decided to be escorted by Oshawott and Herdier. The two Pokémon were accustomed to only coming out of their Poké Balls to battle, train, or eat. Both understood this might be one of the rare times they could have a little fun. A single exchange of looks was enough to make them realize this was one of those opportunities.

Soon, Oshawott and Herdier’s attention was captured by a Pidove feather floating in the air. The two Pokémon, in their attempt to chase it, weaved a long slalom between passersby’s legs, nearly causing some of them to fall. Suddenly, they noticed a Swablu watching them. The Cotton Bird Pokémon seemed ready to join in their wild chase, only to take flight and soar away.

«Guys, please don’t cause any trouble!» Anita scolded, looking at them with a smile. She was happy. The tournament victory alongside Ash had given her a good dose of confidence. She thought about her friend’s words. Sensing her worry before letting her go, he had said: “You’re making great progress. Your battling style has improved a lot. You seem more confident when commanding your Pokémon to attack. They notice it, and their moves become stronger.” He’d also told her, “If you want to become a Champion, there’s a long road ahead, but I’m sure you can do it.”

Those words of encouragement sounded strange to her. Sure, she’d noticed Ash’s tendency to congratulate her on her progress, but for her, this was new. Until then, she hadn’t found anyone who truly appreciated her. This sudden rush of joy was dulled by lingering thoughts that troubled her. She couldn’t stop thinking about Ivan, who tried to belittle her at every opportunity. Was he right? Should she travel alone and learn on her own? Did she really deserve Ash as a mentor?

She turned to check on Oshawott and Herdier, who were hopping across tiles on the opposite sidewalk, careful not to touch the edges to avoid being “eaten” by the imaginary Krookodile. «What are those two doing now?» she wondered, feeling slightly embarrassed. Their antics managed to pull her away from her worries.

She looked carefully left and right before crossing the short stretch of crosswalk to reach the other side, where her Pokémon were busy pretending to evade the Threat Pokémon. «What do you think you’re doing?» Her tone was somewhere between a reprimand and amusement. 

The two Pokémon put on an almost theatrical performance: Oshawott, displaying mimicry skills second only to Ash’s Pikachu, mimicked the Threat Pokémon’s crocodilian face and gave Herdier a decisive bite when it stepped on the space between tiles. 

The Loyalty Pokémon held back a cry of pain. What would have been one of the most powerful Hyper Voices in history turned into a mad dash, ending in a collision with an elderly gentleman, sending him to the ground. The Pokémon, likely unaware of the potential harm it had caused, began licking the old man’s face. «You devilish dog! Get out of my…» Anita hurried to the man in distress. After giving her Pokémon a piercing look, she rushed to help the gentleman, a man of medium height in his mid-seventies, dressed in an elegant brown suit with white hair and mustache and dark brown eyes.

Anita helped him to his feet. «I’m very sorry, sir…» She made a deep bow. «Young lady! Watch your Pokémon! I could have broken a bone! I’m an old man!» Anita turned again to her Pokémon. «Did you hear that? You could have hurt him badly!» She tried to be stern with her Pokémon, although her main concern was another: «Do you need me to accompany you to the hospital?» she asked, concerned. «No, no! I’m…» The old man stopped, grimacing in pain. «Maybe it’s better to visit the hospital.» she said, trying not to panic. She took out her Rotom Phone and dialed for an ambulance. Luckily, an operator answered after just a few rings.

«Hello?»  

«Quick! It’s an emergency! There’s been an accident; an elderly man has fallen and is in a lot of pain.» the girl tried to explain.  

«I understand.» the operator replied, trying to be as kind as possible. «Where are you?»  

«Near the Mistralton market… not far from a small park…» she explained somewhat vaguely.  

«Yes… I know where you are. Try to keep him still. An ambulance will be there within ten minutes.»  

«Perfect.» She replied. «Did you hear that? An ambulance is on the way.» The old man shook his head.

«Miss, I’m fine on my own. Just keep that mangy mutt away from me!» Embarrassed, she reluctantly returned her Pokémon to its Poké Ball.

The ambulance arrived punctually, exactly within the time frame the operator had mentioned. From the vehicle emerged a young man, no older than twenty-five, wearing a high-visibility vest with symbols identifying the association he volunteered for.

«You could have told us he was your grandfather! We wouldn’t have treated him any differently!» he chided them.

«Listen, young man, I have no grandchildren!» the elder said, taken aback by the pain. «The shock must have given him memory loss.» the young man commented, beginning to assist the man. «Are you sure he didn’t hit his head?» he asked.  

«I’m quite sure.» the man replied. «As sure as I am that I…» He looked more closely at the girl, who was tapping her foot, making a loose tile on the sidewalk tremble. «Now that I look at you…» the man began. «You look a lot like my daughter Jessica, you know?»

«What a coincidence...» Anita looked embarrassed.

«What a coincidence! My mom's name is also Jessica.» she replied, scratching her head.

«It really is a coincidence...» the old man replied. «But that doesn't prove anything. Like I told you, I don’t have any 

grandchildren!» He seemed less and less convinced by his own words.

«And besides, how could you prove to me that you’re actually my granddaughter? It could be a coincidence, a strange coincidence... I’ve had plenty in my life, especially when I was young...» He looked at her again. «Now that I take a closer look… you really do look a lot like my daughter... when she was a young girl… too much like her for it to just be a coincidence.» Anita’s expression grew perplexed as the man’s defenses began to melt away. Running his hands through his hair, he explained: «Since I’ve now realized you really are my granddaughter, first and foremost, I’d like to know your name.»

The girl spoke it clearly for her grandfather: «My name is ANITA.»

The old man smiled. «Anita… what a beautiful name, it means blessing. We’ve been fortunate… do you have any brothers or sisters?»

Anita, somewhat worried, replied, «No. I’m an only child.» She thought, but didn’t say aloud, “luckily.” «As is my mom, for that matter.»

The old man sighed with relief. «That means you’re my one and only granddaughter…» he murmured a moment later. 

Silence fell over them, and the old man continued to wait for the check-up results. The young volunteer, who had inadvertently witnessed this family reunion, stood nearby. «Can we continue this conversation at my house? What I need to tell you is for our ears only yours, your grandma’s, and your Pokémon’s… by the way, what were they up to just now?»

Anita felt a little embarrassed explaining. «I think they were playing.»

Oshawott launched into another impersonation of Krookodile, though the absence of Herdier diminished the dramatic effect. «Maybe you should come out too, Herdier… you can apologize, at least.» Anita let her Pokémon out of its Poké Ball, allowing the two to perform their skit once more.

Herdier hopped from one tile to another, and whenever it touched the edge, the Sea Otter Pokémon pretended to pounce, though without biting for real this time.

«Your Pokémon are very intelligent and lively; they clearly care about you.» her grandfather complimented. Anita blushed, thanking him for the unexpected praise. «Well, you know... Mom always used to tell me about the family tradition...» While she talked about her Pokémon’s skills, they noticed that Pidove had retrieved its precious feather, taking advantage of their distraction.

Ignoring the volunteer’s advice to visit the hospital for a more thorough check-up, the four of them began walking toward the old man’s house, fortunately nearby.

Suddenly, loud music startled both Anita and her grandfather; it was the latest single from Roxie, a Gym Leader specializing in Poison-types and a famous singer. Her Smart Rotom floated in front of them. It was Ash. Anita put her hands over her face, as if to say, "What could he want now?"

She had no choice but to accept the call. On the device’s screen, she saw Ash in the middle of training his Pokémon, as usual. «Hi, Anita! Servine… use Vine Whip to reach the tree, Sandile, move in and use Bite to intercept the attacks!» Anita was shocked by the perfect timing he had to call her right in this important moment?

«Ash, calm down... I’m fine. Everything’s alright. It must be urgent… you usually never interrupt a training session…»

Sensing her concern, Ash explained the situation. «I’ll admit it, I was a little worried. You said you were going to get some Poké Balls, and since you’re taking a while, I thought something might’ve happened to you, especially after the Team Plasma incident. So, seeing that you’re alright, I just wanted to ask what you were up to, if you’d gotten the Poké Balls, and… when you’d be back with us, so we could train a little and…»

«Relax… everything’s fine. I’m safe.»

«Okay, good. Maybe I’m getting a little too overprotective… but aside from that, when do you think you’ll be back?»

Anita sighed. «I’m not sure, I should be there by dinner... I wouldn’t miss a meal cooked by him for anything in the world…» She couldn’t suppress a smile. «But… getting serious again, I have some good news for you. Look who I’m with!»

Ash turned around after instructing Servine to use another Vine Whip. «I bet my sandwich that man is your grandpa!» he joked, making his friend smile again.

«Ash, you really went all-in, betting on your burger, made by …Carlos… no less. For someone with an appetite second only to Snorlax, that’s risky!»

Anita thought about teasing him on how he could eat so much yet stay so lean maybe with a line like, "You’re still as thin as a rail, though."

Ash responded philosophically: «In life, just like in battles, you have to take risks to win.»

The old man complimented Ash on his wisdom. «Your friend seems to be quite skilled in battles to say such a thing. Well done, young man! I’m sure you’re already a great battler!»

Anita looked puzzled. Was it possible her grandfather didn’t recognize him?

«You know… Ash is a very, very skilled Trainer.»

«I noticed from the confidence with which he commands his Pokémon.» her grandfather replied. «He reminds me of the Champion… what’s his name… Nando… Nardo…»

Anita shook her head. «He’s not the Champion anymore. Now it’s Iris, and she’s a Champion.»

Her grandfather seemed a little taken aback. «Oh… it’s not him… huh? He was beaten by a girl?» He looked incredulous.

«Yes! And she’s a friend and rival of Ash’s.» Anita explained.

«But if she’s the Champion and Ash is her rival… that means he’s not that strong.» the old man slipped.

«Well… it’s not quite like that.» she replied.

«What do you mean? If she’s the Champion…»

Her grandfather’s confusion had reached an all-time high. «Ash is one of the Eight Professionals… the eight strongest Trainers in the world. Iris and Ash are both part of it. Iris is eighth… Ash is first.»

The man smiled. «You must really be a very skilled Trainer.»

Ash was genuinely happy with the compliment. «It’s no wonder he’s my mentor.» Anita announced proudly.

«And I imagine my Anita is quite a talented student, yes?» Ash agreed, answering, «You’re not wrong, sir.»

«That makes me very happy.» her grandfather replied.

Anita, the old man, and the Pokémon started walking again. Grandpa Alessandro remarked, «Your friends seem very kind. I’m glad you’ve found a nice group… you almost remind me of myself at your age.»

Anita, rather surprised, asked for clarification. «What do you mean, at my age?»

The old man took a deep breath and began to recount: «You see… fifty or sixty years have passed since then… and back then, we didn’t have today’s technology. The Pokédex was on paper it was a little booklet with an instant camera attached. Those were the days! My friends and I would travel from region to region to observe all kinds of Pokémon, to study them, and to battle.

And a few even became my companions. Unfortunately, now all I have left is my dear Azumarill, who helps your grandmother with housework and volunteers at the hospital every Wednesday.

Coming back to my age, we were four friends with our Pokémon… until I met your grandmother and had to choose between continuing my journey or staying with her. To be honest, when we started dating, there were only three of us. One of my friends had made the same choice, choosing love over adventure. Even as parents, your grandmother and I never lost our passion or our love for Pokémon. We battled each other often, but it always ended in a draw.»

«In search of those emotions I once lost, I decided to start with Gym battles. With my Pokémon by my side, I managed to win the badges and challenge the Unova League. I even defeated the Elite Four, though I lost to the Champion. I managed to defeat five of his Pokémon before I fell. Ah, those were the days of youth!» 

Anita listened attentively to his story. Determined not to let herself get lost in a cascade of thoughts, she decided to ask him some questions. «You miss your friends, don’t you?» 

«Honestly, the thing I miss most is being able to battle with my Pokémon. It was amazing traveling with my friends, but what I loved most were the battles.» 

Anita was quite surprised by his answer. As much as she tried to think of another question, nothing came to mind.

«And here we are!» Grandpa, who had introduced himself as Alessandro, pointed to a large house built from cherry wood. It was surrounded by cherry trees sprouting from the backyard. Oshawott was stunned by the house's grandeur, while Anita’s Herdier looked unimpressed, finding it impractical for a house pet.

«So… Anita, welcome to my humble abode.» The elderly man welcomed her.

«It’s… it’s truly grand… wonderful!» Anita remarked. Grandpa smiled and rang the doorbell.

«Alessandro is at the door, and we have guests!» There was a buzzing sound as the gate opened. He entered and waved for Anita and her Pokémon to follow. «Are you planning to stay outside?» he teased. Oshawott sped off to one of the flowers, with Herdier close behind.

Anita stepped through the gate and looked around, marveling at how well-kept the garden was. It was so perfect it almost looked artificial. Overcoming her initial shyness, she decided to ask him a question. «Forgive me if I’m being nosy, but how do you keep the plants so healthy? Do you use special fertilizer, Miracle Water, or maybe Leaf Stones?»

Grandpa chuckled and answered, «Ah, you’ll have to ask Picernese about that.» 

“Who’s Picernese?” Anita wondered. Still thinking about this mystery, she continued looking around, curious about this gardener with such an unusual name. He had to be some kind of master in herbology, gardening, or whatever his field was.

«My wife and I love Pokémon. Now, they’re all we have.» Alessandro explained.

Meanwhile, the two Pokémon continued their game, hopping to avoid the spaces between the paving stones. At one point, Herdier’s whiskers brushed against some poisonous thorns. She looked up and spotted what appeared to be two simple roses  one red, the other blue  right in the center of a flowerbed. Herdier immediately alerted Oshawott, but he was skeptical and thought she was imagining it. However, when they returned to investigate, the thorn was gone.

A second later, another thorn pricked Herdier, and Oshawott’s scalchop fell to the ground. That’s when Oshawott realized it was real, and Herdier hadn’t been mistaken. The two Pokémon turned and noticed that the roses had moved  now they were on the stone path leading from the gate to the entrance.

Only then did the roses reveal their true nature. They weren’t ordinary flowers. They were a Pokémon  Roselia. This Pokémon had likely lived in the garden for a long time and clearly didn’t appreciate the presence of the two.

«This is Picernese, a Roselia.» Alessandro introduced the Pokémon to his granddaughter. «It seems she’s already made friends with your Pokémon.» Anita, having never met a Roselia before, scanned the Pokémon with her Smart Rotom.

«Roselia. Thorn Pokémon. Grass and Poison type. Female specimen. The beautiful flowers on its arms contain poisonous thorns. Don’t try to pick them! Known moves: Giga Drain, Petal Blizzard, Sludge Bomb.» 

With the information from her Pokédex, Anita suddenly understood a lot. “I should have realized that!” she thought, reprimanding herself. «How could I not think of it? Roselia is a Pokémon that knows exactly what a flower needs because she is one!»

Grandpa added, «Thanks to Roselia’s help, not only does the garden look amazing, but the cherry trees produce great cherries. We use them to make jam that we sell at the city market.» Anita was shocked by Roselia’s tireless work ethic. She never stopped tending to the flowers and plants, trimming weeds with remarkable precision and moving at lightning speed throughout the garden.

«And this is the inside of the house.» As Grandpa opened the door, Anita saw a TV playing a show she didn’t recognize, probably a soap opera beloved by viewers of that genre. To her right were the kitchen and an eco-friendly washing machine, and a door that led to the bathroom.

To her left were some poufs with blankets and names on the cherry wood floor: “Minnie” and “Picernese.” Anita immediately understood that these were the beds of Roselia and Azumarill, whom Grandpa had mentioned.

There was a large couch facing the TV, with a small table for snacks or tea. A little farther on each side of the couch were two armchairs. Upstairs was accessible by a staircase covering the wall behind the TV.

Suddenly, there was a static noise from the television, like a black-and-white snow effect. The television, installed the day it was launched, was a very reliable model. The static was only caused by flying or floating Pokémon who interrupted the satellite signal by getting between the dish and the satellite.

Immediately, they heard a woman’s irritated voice: «Why is that Gliscor still around? Someone needs to teach it a lesson! Really, its Trainer should handle this, but that show-off thinks it’s not a problem! Let’s see how he’d feel if it happened to him! What are we supposed to do now?»

Anita’s heart raced with excitement; she was about to meet her grandmother. She didn’t have high expectations. All she hoped for was acceptance.

The elderly woman, around seventy, was of short stature, with gray hair, small brown eyes, a large nose, and a mole on the right side of her forehead. She wore a blue apron over a simple red shirt and blue jeans.

She got up from the couch and turned to see who was at the door. Her husband wasn’t alone; he was with a young girl wearing a visor cap and a Trainer’s bag, accompanied by a lively Oshawott and Herdier. With a disapproving tone, she asked her husband, «Alessandro! I mean… who is this young girl who’s come to visit us today?» Grandpa shook his head slightly. «She’s not a little girl anymore; she’s grown and mature! Not like her mother. She’s already… er…» 

Anita coughed, «Cough… sixteen.» 

Grandpa continued, «…Sixteen. Her name is Anita, and she’s your granddaughter.»

The elderly woman was overcome with a swirl of emotions. «Oh, my! My beautiful granddaughter, come here and give me a hug! We didn’t even know you existed, and it’s all your mother’s fault! She left when she was your age, and we haven’t seen her since. She had just begun her journey as a Trainer, but after winning her second badge, she never contacted us again. And yet, even back then, Pokémon Centers had phones! Ah… but I know you’re not like her! If my beloved Alessandro says so, then it must be true!»

Anita seized the moment: «It’s so wonderful to meet you too, Grandma… but could you maybe ease up on the hug a little? You’re squeezing me tighter than Ash’s Servine!» Her grandmother, amused by the joke, let go. «Oh… I’m sorry, dear. We never expected to have a grandchild. You look like you’re eating well and staying healthy. You’re in great shape!» Anita gave Carlos the credit. «Everything I eat is actually prepared by my friend Carlos, not me. But really, Ash is the one who decides our meals.»

Her grandfather chimed in: «See, us men know how to keep in shape and even cook well.» Her grandmother rolled her eyes.

«Oh, please, Alessa… if it weren’t for me, you’d starve, thirst, and maybe even forget to sleep!» 

Anita tried to calm the two down. «Come on, please…» She raised her hands in surrender. «Or at least… how about we finish the introductions?» Her grandmother nodded, a bit embarrassed. «Yes… you’re right… forgive your grandfather, dear; age has made him a bit absent-minded… sometimes he even forgets to take his medicine…» Anita nodded, indicating she understood. «Anyway…» Her grandmother returned to the main subject. «I’m Grandma Noemi! If you’d like, I can give you a tour of the house… or maybe offer you a little something to eat? You seem a bit low on energy. And it’s nearly time for a snack! How about some fresh panettone? I baked it just yesterday! Or would you prefer some cookies? Wait, maybe you’d like some orange juice!» Politely, Anita declined the kind offers. «No, no, thank you! I’m good. Though maybe my Pokémon could use a little treat, if that’s alright?»

The elderly woman approached Anita’s two companions with a smile. «Oh, I’m sure these little darlings must be starving!» She knelt down to pet them, giving them lots of attention, even gently pulling their cheeks. «Your Pokémon are absolutely beautiful! But tell me… do you have any more to introduce us to?» Anita nodded and took out a Poké Ball with a proud smile. «This one’s the latest addition, caught just a few days ago. COME OUT, VIVILLON!»

From the Poké Ball emerged a stunning marine-pattern Vivillon, a Pokémon that gave her grandmother a feeling of safety. Her grandfather, however, had a different reaction. It reminded him of an event from his youth, specifically the day he encountered his first shiny Pokémon. The butterfly appeared a bit wary of the two elders. Sensing Vivillon’s unease, the grandmother grabbed a metal container decorated with Pokémon. Inside were Pokémon snacks. A moment later, she called her helpers. «MINNIE! PICERNESE! WE HAVE GUESTS, BRING SNACKS!» Picernese appeared immediately, while Minnie took a bit longer, needing to come down the stairs. «Though she’s getting on in years, she’s still spry, as lively as when she was twenty.» the grandmother noted. «And still very skilled in battles, though not as much as before… now she can’t even chase away that pesky Gliscor that always interrupts our TV signal…»

Minnie, revealed to be the grandfather’s Azumarill, arrived downstairs, having been dusting the bedroom earlier. Once on the ground floor, the Pokémon greeted and got acquainted with the guests. «When Azumarill was younger, she could take on powerful, healthy Pokémon like yours, but now she helps your grandmother with the housework.» her grandfather remarked. Minnie approached Anita, offering her ear as a handshake. «Nice to meet you; I’m Anita.» the girl introduced herself. «And these are my three young champions: Oshawott, Herdier, and Vivillon.»

Azumarill went over to Herdier first, engaging in Pokémon talk with the Loyal Dog. «Az-zu-ma-ma» (You look strong and healthy!) «Zu-zu-zu-ma» (You still have a long way to go, and you’ll grow even bigger and stronger.) «Rill-Rill» (This will help you in your toughest battles.) After encouraging Herdier, Azumarill turned to Vivillon. «Ma-ma-Rill-Rill» (You have a lot of potential. I’m sure you’re a perfect partner for your trainer.) «Zu-Zu-Zu» (I believe you’ll make a big leap in your abilities soon.) Finally, she addressed Oshawott, choosing to pat his head rather than shake his paw. «Azu-ma-Azu!» (You have a bright future; just listen to your trainer’s guidance. She’s a very kind girl.) The little otter seemed thrilled by Azumarill’s words.

«She doesn’t act this way often.» explained the grandfather. Anita looked puzzled. Azumarill seemed so natural. «What?» she asked, curious. Her grandfather clarified. «In all these years, she’s only behaved like this with newcomers three or four times. It’s rare. I believe she sees tremendous potential in Oshawott.» Oshawott blushed at the compliment. Anita gazed at her Pokémon thoughtfully.

Her grandmother reappeared, holding a large cherry wood tray. She placed it on the table, allowing the Pokémon to eat. Herdier and Oshawott dove in first, while the others exchanged amused glances before joining at a calmer pace. Soon after, Anita’s grandmother reappeared with an inviting panettone. It was golden, fluffy, with chocolate chips and white cream, and topped with whipped cream and cherries. 

Anita couldn’t help but think of Ash, who’d probably inhale this dessert in seconds. The mental image made her smile. She and her newly reunited grandparents watched the Pokémon enjoy their snacks, looking almost like they’d join them in the feast.

The moment was broken by her grandfather’s musings. «Ah, Pokémon, such mysterious creatures… and yet we know so much about them! Their behaviors, habits, and even habitats change over time… just look at those Alolan Ninetales compared to the regular ones...» Grandma Noemi chuckled. «Alessandro, don’t get too technical or the girl might not follow.» He laughed heartily. «Come on now, I told you she’s responsible, clever, brave, polite, intelligent, and humble.» Anita blushed, waving it off. «No… I’m not all that…» 

Disagreeing, he added something that made her wish they were alone. «Don’t deny it! I’m sure that there are plenty of boys out there who’d fall at your feet for just a smile!» Mortified, Anita thought, “Thank goodness this stays between us! But wow… embarrassing!”

Not content, he pressed further: «I’m certain your ‘friends,’ as you call them, are already boyfriends... You just need to choose who’ll be your husband! But don’t worry; you have plenty of time.» At that, Anita wanted to disappear. Her face turned as red as a Darmanitan, and she even began to sweat. 

“Oh no, what if my friends had been here? I never want to find out,” she thought, her mind unable to shake those awkward images.

The grandmother fortunately noticed the girl's discomfort. «Um, dear, I'm not sure this topic is appropriate… it’s a bit embarrassing. My poor granddaughter is completely shocked, don’t you see? Don’t you realize you’ve gone a bit overboard?» she gently chided her husband, who, rather than responding, tried to change the subject.  

«Now, I really need to use the bathroom. Excuse me.» The old man got up and pointed to the bathroom door, showing the young guest where it was.  

«Honey, are you sure you’re okay?» The elderly woman’s tone grew even more compassionate. Anita was still shaken by what had been said, but she tried to reassure her. «Yes, Grandma, everything’s fine, don’t worry… I’m okay… I just didn’t expect that topic to come up… that’s all.» Sensing the situation, the grandmother took responsibility for what had happened. «If I don’t remind him to take his medication, he forgets, and when he does, he sometimes says silly things.» she explained. The girl gave a sympathetic look.  

«ALESSÀ, REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE WHEN YOU’RE DONE!» The grandfather replied from the bathroom, «THEY’RE UPSTAIRS!» The grandmother sighed. «Why does he always leave things everywhere? Anita, dear, could you go get them from upstairs? They should be on the nightstand.» Anita couldn’t refuse. «Sure… I’ll go right now.» She got up from the couch and headed upstairs, but as soon as her foot hit the first step, she tripped. She was about to hit her face on the stairs.  

A soft pink veil appeared to Anita's right, and at the same time, a strange figure lifted her onto the pink material. It felt like a soft mattress, cushioning her completely. Anita looked down and saw a blue, egg-shaped creature with two large ears. It was her Azumarill, Ara. She had just saved Anita’s face from a terrible fall.  

«Anita… goodness! You scared me! Thank goodness Minnie noticed you falling… maybe I should go instead.» The grandfather came out of the bathroom and apologized to his granddaughter: «Sorry for earlier… maybe I shouldn’t have brought that up… it’s just that since your mother...» He hesitated for a few moments. «Right… we need to continue this conversation with Grandma...» As if on cue, the grandmother joined them at that moment, holding a container and a glass of water. «Now you have no excuses.» She practically forced her husband to take his medication. «Come on, let’s get this over with, or we’ll be here all night!» she complained, noticing his hesitation.  

After he finally finished or pretended to finish taking his medicine, the grandfather continued, «So, as I was saying, we haven’t had contact with your mother since she was about your age. She was such a promising Trainer back then. She had defeated the first two Gyms without much difficulty, thanks to her Pokémon, a Tepig and an Herdier… though, in the last few times we spoke, she seemed less certain. She started talking about a preacher and his ideals. Though I didn’t agree, I decided to let it go. After all, it was her life.» The elderly man shook his head. «I've been on this medication ever since. You know, not hearing from your daughter… it takes a toll on a father.» He explained. «These medications keep me sane. Probably, without them, I wouldn’t be here. When I skip them, the first thing that happens is that I start saying strange things… anyway, has she told you anything about her past?» the grandfather asked. The girl nodded and replied, «Yes… don’t worry, she told me just a little while ago. The day I became a Trainer, she told me how she didn’t want me to make her same mistakes.»  

The grandmother relaxed, overjoyed, «Thank Arceus! At least our daughter came to her senses!» The grandfather’s expression turned thoughtful and reflective, «It’s a relief that your mother didn’t influence you with those strange ideas, but rather told you not to repeat her mistakes.» Anita, tired of hearing the same stories, changed the subject. «Grandma… Grandpa was telling me some childhood stories earlier…» The grandmother nodded in understanding.  

«Would you like me to tell you some of my own?» The girl gave a small nod. The grandmother took off her glasses and placed the slice of cake she was chewing onto the saucer on her lap.  

«It’s been so many years… I was a young girl like you…» The grandfather interrupted her immediately. «Young woman…» he coughed lightly. Annoyed by the interruption, the lady resumed her story. «I was your age, alright? It doesn’t matter much. Times were different. The world has changed so much since then. Imagine, back then, Pokédexes were paper-based. Today, the Pokédex is just one of the many functions on your phones…» The lady began to ramble a bit. «Anyway, my calling wasn’t to complete the Pokédex. I mostly focused on taking care of those in need, something I still try to do today in my own small way. You may know of the hospital on Laven Street…» Noticing the girl’s confused look, she added, «It’s okay if you don’t. Anyway, I used to go there every Wednesday, and I still go there now. From my first visits to today, many things have changed… like the entrance. The main hall used to be so narrow that the cleaning cart could barely pass through. Today, we’re lucky. Progress has made a lot of things better; for example, now there are cures for diseases that used to be untreatable. Sure, the process is still long and sometimes painful… but there are so many more doctors now compared to my time. Back then, everyone wanted to be lawyers or businessmen. Today, there are many doctors… though there may be fewer in the future. You young people today unfortunately spend so much time on those Smart Rotoms. We didn’t have such advanced technology. Everything is easier now, and it will only get easier in the future. I still remember the day I started volunteering…»  

It was a winter morning. A short, slender girl with brown hair and eyes, wearing a simple shirt, jacket, and dark skirt, and black leather shoes, noticed an old man warming himself by a small fire burning inside a yellow barrel. He was using the fire to cook some sausages. «Sir, do you need a hand?» she asked instinctively.  

Only then did the girl notice the man had a bad leg wound.  

She stepped closer and asked him again, even more gently this time, «Sir, do you need a hand?» The man looked at her, startled, and replied, «Actually, yes, young lady, you see, I’m just a poor homeless man. You seem very kind, but I don’t think you can do much.» The girl looked at him with sympathy. “He’s right. I can’t do much.” She thought. “I’m only sixteen. Maybe my parents or another older relative could help more… but still, it wouldn’t make much difference.” Another thought soon followed.  

Driven by a sudden impulse of generosity, mixed with a hint of recklessness, she decided to spend the whole night with the old man.  

The next morning, she asked her father, «Dad, yesterday I met a homeless man, how can I help him?» Her father, rather surprised, replied, «Honey, I may be one of the best-known people in town, but I’m not sure what we can do. We could make small donations. Maybe, for now, we could buy something for him. But if you really want to help, you might reach out to an organization, perhaps a care center, or you could ask the hospital on Laven Street. It’s not too far by bike.» Her mother added, «If you’re truly interested, dear, you could go after school and see if there’s any way you can help.»

The elderly woman paused her story. «Back in my day, school was compulsory until eighteen, and only after finishing school could you start traveling. Nothing stopped you from having Pokémon already, but education was the priority. Over time, laws changed. Even back when your mother was in school… Some regions let Trainers start their journey at ten. Here, the limit was lowered to sixteen. But those who wanted could still continue their studies.» With that side note, she resumed her tale. 

The young girl arrived at school, where exams were scheduled all day. Still, she had some time to reflect. After school, her friend Miriam dragged her onto the bus, quickly noticing how deep in thought Noemi was. «What’s up with you today? You seem so distracted. Are you still debating who’s more attractive between Pascal and Franz?»

At this point, it was the old man who interrupted, looking confused. «What?» The grandmother replied without missing a beat. «I didn’t realize back then they were dirt poor. And anyway… you don’t know them, though at this point, they’re probably many feet underground.» The old man sighed with relief. «Good thing… though I think I know who they were.» She continued her story.

Young Noemi replied to her friend, «It’s about something else, and it’s way more important. I’m not sure you’d understand.» Miriam looked curious. «If I don’t know what it’s about, how could I understand? Go on, tell me!» Noemi sighed. «Starting today, I want to help those in need, whether they’re injured people, homeless people, or anyone in trouble. It just… it hurts me to see them like that.» Miriam smiled. «And that was so hard for you to understand? It’s really generous of you. I wish you good luck.»

Anita then timidly interrupted the woman, «Maybe it’s too forward, and I apologize if it is, but… did your friend ever want to join you?» The grandmother looked at Picernese, sighing. «Sadly, Miriam didn’t have the time. Every afternoon, except Sundays, she had piano lessons. And the one day she didn’t have lessons, she’d go out with friends from school. You know, back in those days, they didn’t assign homework.» She returned to her story.

That same afternoon, the girl took her bicycle to reach Via Laven, bringing Picernese along. At the time, her Pokémon was still a Budew and hadn’t been given its nickname. Being a small Budew, it could only serve as a companion; its body was too fragile to carry anything heavy, only able to lift light objects with its tiny limbs. For real help, it would need to evolve into at 

least a Roselia. Although she couldn’t have known, the time was near. 

Arriving at the hospital, the girl entered, noticing how narrow the lobby and corridors were. She was greeted by a kind receptionist. «Hello, miss. How can I help you?» The woman seemed quite friendly. «Hello, I found a homeless person on the street. Could you help him?» The receptionist nodded. «Of course! Could you give me the person’s name?» Noemi looked a little embarrassed. «Actually, I don’t know his name or last name.» The nurse explained, «Miss, we do need his name. If you can’t manage, maybe you could bring him here? If that’s not possible, we could send someone to fetch him.» The young girl was slightly frustrated. «Can’t you just send someone? I know where he’s staying, assuming he’s not wandering.»

The woman agreed, «That’s actually a great idea.» Noemi gave directions, and soon a large, strong man his broad muscles quite visible came over, ready to assist. He seemed eager from his tone, «Let’s go pick up this gentleman, shall we… but first, may I have your name?» The girl blushed. «My name… my name is Noemi.» The nurse, overhearing, joined in, «What a coincidence! My sister’s name is Noemi too! And isn’t that your mom’s name, Matt?» she asked the big man. He grinned, replying, «Yes, indeed, Antonella, my mother is also named Noemi. Alright, let’s get going, shall we?» Noemi just nodded. 

The large man led her to the entrance, signaling her to wait. She was left wondering what he was doing as he brought over an inconspicuous rescue vehicle. To an untrained eye, it looked like a standard car with a few added stickers. Noemi didn’t have time to focus on the details, though, as they were off to find the homeless man. She guided them to Sentret Alley.

The elderly lady took a moment for a digression. «You know, that alley has seen it all over the years. Today, it’s known for the “Dependence Pasta” rotisserie.» More digressions followed, as she added, «We only had one daughter, Jessica, but if we’d had a son, we would’ve named him Matt.» Her husband nodded in agreement. «Yes, I always liked that name.» The grandmother then continued her story.

The trip to Sentret Alley didn’t take long. The man stayed quiet on the ride, only asking Noemi her age. She replied she was sixteen. Once there, they found the homeless man eating leftover sausages from the day before. Both exited the vehicle, and the girl explained, «Sir, I can’t do much alone, but they can help you.» The man smiled, «Thank you, young lady! Good thing I didn’t move!» They helped him into the vehicle. Matt greeted him, «Good morning, sir, Matt Romaniello.» The man introduced himself, «Pleasure to meet you! I’m Jean Balvano.» Matt replied, «Great! We have your name now, whether it’s real or not. Either way, let’s head to the hospital; you don’t look well.» The elderly man stayed quiet, so Matt wasted no time, starting the car and heading off. During the drive, he thanked Noemi. «Thank you, Noemi; now we can help this person. And it’s all thanks to you! You’ll receive a nice reward, I’m sure. In fact, you seem like a bright young girl, so what do you say? Would you come back and help us run the hospital?»

The grandmother paused her story. «And that’s how I’ve been going to the hospital every Wednesday since.» A moment later, she glanced at the large pendulum clock on the wall.

«Incredible! It’s already five o’clock! Time flies when you're with your grandkids!» said the elderly woman, winking at the young girl, who looked amazed by the story.

The grandfather interjected, «Anyone want some of that blueberry jelly?» The grandmother, caught off guard, exclaimed, «Oh no! Please, not again! Not in front of your granddaughter at least!»

The grandfather, seemingly unaffected by his medicine, insisted, «Oh, I’m doing it! And it’s very fun! Want to try, Anita?» A bit worried and somewhat scared, Anita asked, «What exactly am I supposed to… try?»

The grandfather got up and reached for the drawer. Not finding what he was looking for, he sighed, «Minnie! Could you get me a spoon?» Azumarill stood up, brought the now-empty bowl to the sink, and, using her large ears, opened the lowest drawer and handed the spoon to the grandfather.

Grandpa Alessandro couldn't contain his laughter, knowing what he was about to do. He took the spoon and slowly approached the blueberry jelly, gently touching its surface. The jelly began to wobble like a tower of luggage, shaking as if haunted by a Gengar. Meanwhile, the grandfather shouted something that made Azumarill and Oshawott burst into laughter: «WHEEEEE, blueberry jelly!» The grandmother put her hands over her face, while the two Water Pokémon laughed uncontrollably. Vivillon blushed; Herdier ignored the scene, and Roselia looked at the old man with resignation. Anita, on the other hand, gave a little smirk that seemed to say, "Really, Grandpa? Aren't you a bit old for this?"

The grandfather didn’t care what anyone thought. The grandmother intervened, «Ale! Just go take your medicine again! It seems like it’s worn off.» The husband retorted, «Oh, come on! I bet you’d love to do it too! And I think Anita would as well!» Minnie and Oshawott started cheering Anita on to try the jelly game. A little unsure, Anita picked up the spoon and slowly brought its tip to the jelly, inch by inch, closer and closer. Just as it was about to touch, the grandfather interrupted her, «WAIT, ANITA!» She almost dropped the spoon, but Oshawott caught it mid-air and handed it back to her. The grandfather added, «Don’t forget to say, "WHEEEEE, blueberry jelly!"» So, Anita touched the top of the jelly and said, not very convincingly, «WHEEEEE, blueberry jelly…»

The old man teared up with pride while laughing; he found the whole thing hilarious, and the same went for the Water Pokémon. Anita felt slightly embarrassed by the whole scene. Noticing her discomfort, the grandmother sighed, went to get his medicine, and made sure her husband took it, scolding him all the while. The grandfather, not at all happy about the reprimand, grumbled, «Fine, Noemi, I’ll take them, but really, that was so much fun.»

Just as before, he drank some water, took his pill, and swallowed it loudly. «Much better! Now, can we actually eat the jelly?» Roselia handed out napkins and plates with the jelly to everyone.

Anita had never tried blueberries before, though she had jelly fairly often back when she was at home. She carefully scooped some jelly, slicing into it as it wobbled like before. She thought to herself, “Calm down, Anita. It’s like all the other jellies. It might even be tastier. You don’t have to worry just because it’s different.” Finally, she decided to put the spoon in her mouth, pulled the jelly with her tongue, and let it sit on her pearly white teeth teeth her grandparents wished they still had… and suddenly, she recognized a flavor she liked. And then? That was it. She simply enjoyed the jelly as she always did.

When everyone finished, Roselia gathered the plates and washed them gently one by one. The grandmother explained, «Picernese is so hardworking; she’s really tireless. She always wants to keep busy. She’s been like that since she evolved. I remember it like it was yesterday.»

Herdier, who had mostly stayed to herself, closed her eyes and pictured the scene as the story continued.

It was a sunny spring Wednesday, and, like most Wednesdays, Noemi had gone to the hospital. When she arrived, she was surprised to see Franz and Pascal there in the lobby. According to them, they weren’t there for any health reasons, but to help out. This made Noemi quite suspicious, and she couldn’t help but ask, «What brings you here? You look as fresh as Roselia!» Then she turned to Budew and said, «One day you’ll evolve and become a beautiful Roselia.»

What the girl didn’t know was that today was that day. The two boys looked at her and seemed quite amused. «We’re not here because we got hurt; we’re here to volunteer. We’re good people, so we’re here to show our kindness.» She pressed them, «But Franz, weren’t you just talking about punching Eugenius after he hit you with that ball in the gym? And Pascal, didn’t you almost start a fight with Andrea for reminding the teacher about the quiz?» They both answered together, «Oh, please! That was ages ago two or three years ago, maybe!»

The girl felt embarrassed, remembering it had only happened a week ago. «It was just last week, in 48 hours no less. Hardly ancient history.» The two turned as red as Darmanitan and tried to wriggle out of the situation: «Well, we might be a bit vengeful, but other than that, we’re good-hearted. All our pranks were just… justified.» Though Noemi didn’t entirely agree, she chose to believe them at least partially. She spoke with Antonella, «Hi, these are my classmates who want to help out. I’ll give them a quick tour, okay?»

Antonella wasn’t impressed, «You’ll have to prove that kindness you mentioned.» Just then, one of the boys emerged from the supply closet, holding a mop over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and asking, «Someone call me?» Noemi replied, «No, no… we were just talking about when I earned your recognition.» The boy ducked back into the closet. «Okay, all done here. Now Marvin can put it back. Audino, let’s go clean the bathroom!»

The grandmother explained how Audino was Matt’s helper at the hospital, along with his Pyroar though she wasn’t entirely sure what a Pokémon like that could do. She described how the rest of the hospital tour wasn’t particularly interesting, with the boys mostly "taking notes," though their notes seemed more like a map of the building.

Just then, they heard a familiar noise from inside the hospital. The sound meant only one thing: the ambulance had arrived. Following protocol, Noemi and the others moved aside to allow the stretcher to be wheeled down to the operating room. They sat on some newly installed benches along the hallway, which were surprisingly comfortable. The two boys sat so that Noemi was seated in the middle, their arms positioned as if to trap her, giving her an almost caged-in feeling.

After the stretcher passed, carrying a Nosepass shiny, no less the girl stood up and briefly introduced what she did. The two responded right away: «Look, we’ll come to help you, but you’ll need to show us how to do it.»

The girl seemed somewhat annoyed: «Carrying and moving things doesn’t seem that hard; I think four extra arms will make a big difference... Another thing...» The girl explained to the two boys what happened when there wasn’t any work to do: «It’s very important to keep the place clean and entertain the patients, maybe with some books or activities. The activities are chosen by a healthcare staff member, with authorization from the veterans.»

The two looked at each other, and one of them said: «Entertaining the patients could be really interesting; it could even be therapeutic for certain illnesses. It’s our field, so it might be our chance.»

The two accepted the task, looking at the girl as if she were a goddess.

They got to work right away. The girl took them to the back, specifically to the area where medicine deliveries and other supplies arrived. It wasn’t a large room, but it was spacious enough to fit a van loaded with boxes.

The driver was a man around forty-five. He was locally famous for participating in a contest where competitors tried to catch the smallest Cutiefly. He ranked 165th out of 500 participants. After parking, he got out of his van and approached the three to have them sign the delivery receipt. The man knew the names of everyone who worked there. As always, he addressed the girl: «Hi, Noemi, the load of medicinal leeks has arrived. Could you sign here?» The man pointed out where the girl needed to sign, and moments later, where to write the date. A moment later, he added: «I’d like the signature of another staff member.»

He looked up and greeted the two boys in a friendly tone: «Well, hello there, boys. Are you new? By regulation, you’ll only be able to sign after fifteen days of being here.» The man managed everything on his own. Pascal scratched his head and went to call another employee to sign. Matt was already about to sign the document, but before he could, he bumped into Pascal. The boy, apparently, hadn’t noticed them: «Oh, sorry, kid.»

Moments later, the boy turned to Noemi: «Do you know that guy, by chance?» He didn’t even give her time to respond. «Good morning, Bob, and other guy I’ve never seen before.»

Finally, the girl explained: «They’re my classmates (interested in me, in some way) who want to volunteer because they say they want to prove their kindness to others.»

Matt whispered something in the girl’s ear: «I did the same thing; watch out for anything they do or say.» Then he stood up and took Bob’s signature sheet. «So, Matt… today’s April 21st… perfect, now you need to sign here, Noemi…» The girl signed, as usual, putting a little heart above the “i.”

Bob announced: «Be careful, I’m opening the doors!» The three moved aside. Meanwhile, Franz turned to Pascal: «Why did they step away?» Shortly after, he said: «I don’t know, but we’d better follow them.»

Bob opened the doors, and from the van’s cargo area emerged four Nosepass. These Compass Pokémon assisted the driver, helping him prevent the boxes from falling. The two Pokémon collided with the two poor boys, who barely managed to drag themselves out.

The elderly woman explained how those Pokémon enjoyed being petted and how useful they were, for example by sorting boxes by category, color, and quantity. She detailed how especially skilled they were at this. She explained that with so many boxes, their help was invaluable.

The story resumed.

The two boys started to feel a mischievous urge. They began whispering to each other, seemingly plotting something related to the Nosepass. It seemed the two were planning a prank.

They pretended to go to the bathroom, snickering under their breaths. The girl sent her Budew to keep an eye on them, while she continued moving boxes. Matt was rather concerned about the situation. He gestured for the girl to stop and warned her: «Noemi, wait!» He told her, with a worried look: «It worries me that those guys are not exactly playing fair; I already know where this is going… don’t be swayed by their charms. Find yourself a nice guy who isn’t so selfish.»

Grandpa Alessandro boasted and confirmed the elderly woman’s words: «That Matt seemed quite wise; I regret meeting him only a few times, as he set you on the right path… You know, I was Grandma’s choice, but it could have been someone else. It’s a shame you can’t see him; we don’t even have a photo.»

Anita felt much more engaged in the story, and the same could be said of her Pokémon. At the same time, Roselia winked at Grandma, while Azumarill gently patted Oshawott. 

«I remember when Azumarill evolved… but I’ll tell you that later; let’s let Grandma continue.» Anita’s eyes sparkled with interest in the story. The elderly woman resumed her tale.

Noemi and Matt continued to work, while the two boys schemed their plan. When they noticed Budew’s presence, they taped it to the wall. Once done, they left the bathroom and rejoined Noemi and Matt. «We have a little gift for the Nosepass.» they said with a smug look. Franz opened his bag while his accomplice pulled something from his backpack. At that moment, young Noemi thought, *“Please let it be some nice flowers and not the usual prank stuff. Please, Arceus!”* But Arceus, at that moment, had other things to do. 

The two pulled out a roll of toilet paper, saying in unison, «Use this to wipe your noses. Ahahaha… cough… cough…» The Nosepass, because of the boys’ behavior, lost their patience. The Pokémon began attacking everyone indiscriminately.

«What are you doing? Are you crazy? Audino, use Pound!» The Pokémon tried to charge one of the Nosepass, but it tackled it and, holding it with its small arms, generated a large rock just behind Audino. Another Nosepass attacked with Rock Smash, hitting Audino with considerable force. The blow was enough to knock it out. «Noemi, run! We’ll handle it here!» Matt urged her as he threw a Poké Ball. Out of it came a male Pyroar, a Pokémon similar to a lion. His body was mostly dark brown, as was the area around his eyes. His eyes were blue. His legs, the tip of his tail, head, and the outside of his ears, were hazel. Being male, he had a thick red and yellow mane.

In no time, the Pokémon found itself surrounded by the Nosepass. «Use Fire Fang to deflect the rocks!» Matt ordered. The plan seemed to be working; the Pokémon was turning quickly, but despite managing to deflect most of the attacks, it was still taking hits. Meanwhile, the two pranksters had run off, saying unkind things.

Noemi quickly realized she had to do something, anything. Her only two choices were to leave or stay. At that moment, she couldn’t even rely on Budew, who had been taped up by the boys. To make matters worse, Bob was paralyzed, as if he had turned into a Sunflora statue in the center of Las Brasas.

At that point, one Nosepass lunged and clung to the lion’s mane. The Pyroar tried to shake it off, unsuccessfully. He then attempted to get rid of it with Headbutt, using the powerful muscles of his neck, while his teammates bombarded Matt’s Pokémon with rocks. «PYROAAAAAR! No, no wait!» 

In desperation, Bob sent out his Tentacruel, a large, marine Pokémon that resembled both a jellyfish and a squid. The top of its body looked like a large, sky-blue hat decorated with three red gems. The two on the sides were larger, while the third, set in the center, was much smaller. The three gems formed a sort of “Y.” Its head was hemispherical and black, with two large white eyes and a giant blue beak; it had a number of gray-brown tentacles. «I can’t return them to the Poké Balls until they calm down. Tentacruel, use Water Pulse!» ordered Matt.

The Jellyfish Pokémon tried its hardest to put as much force as possible into the water jet, but it couldn’t repel the enraged Nosepass, who quickly reached its back, bombarding it with rocks and repeated blows.

At that point, the Pokémon looked at Noemi as if to make her understand she was next. The girl tried to run, but, choosing the wrong path, she ended up in a dead end. Terrified, she screamed, «SOMEBODY HELP ME! HELP!»

Suddenly, a powerful white light, tinged with blue, shone from the bathroom next door, accompanied by the sound of tape ripping. It was the bathroom where Franz and Pascal had taped Budew to the wall. Only now, it wasn’t Budew anymore. This was a different Pokémon, with a more delicate, spiny appearance, taller, greener, with two flowers for hands. Budew had evolved into Roselia.

Immediately, the Pokémon blocked the Nosepass that were charging forward. She looked at Noemi as if waiting for instructions. The evolution had changed her character; she seemed colder, more confident, like she had found new strength. She was finally ready to fight.

Before giving any commands, Noemi took a moment to admire her newly evolved Pokémon. «Roselia! Use Mega Drain!» As the large amount of energy was drained from the Nosepass, visible as a green current, they began to slow down. With all that energy pulled from their bodies, the Nosepass appeared increasingly exhausted. Then, without a single command from her Trainer, Roselia unleashed a new move. She started spinning quickly, creating a whirl of petals, looking like a tornado. Moments later, she rose and scattered the Nosepass with petals, sending them back into the delivery truck.

Noemi was overwhelmed with emotion at her Pokémon's sudden evolution and could only say, «Roselia… you’re… beautiful!» At that, she burst into tears. The Pokémon then hinted to her what had happened: she had been tied up by Franz and Pascal.

The next day, at school during lunch, Noemi slapped both Franz and Pascal hard.

«And that’s how Picernese evolved. That’s also how she got her nickname.» the old woman concluded. Anita was left speechless for a moment. It was truly an incredible story. Still in shock, she gazed into the distance and thought, “I would have liked to meet this Matt, he seemed so wise. Maybe he could be one of those trustworthy people Mom was talking about.”

Then she asked, «I’m sorry if I’m prying, but why hasn’t Roselia evolved into Roserade?» The old woman replied, «Roselia is quite small, which helps her clean the most hidden corners. I even bought a Shiny Stone.» The elderly woman pointed to a drawer in the cabinet. «But she made it clear she just doesn’t want to evolve.» Anita understood what the old woman meant. Pokémon shouldn’t be forced to evolve. It wasn’t news to her, as she already knew a Pokémon that didn’t want to evolve and felt just fine in its current form.

The girl took her Smart Rotom from her bag and checked the time. It was only a quarter past five much earlier than she had expected. Suddenly, cheerful music played. She didn’t even have time to put her Smart Rotom back in her bag before it began to ring. Serena was calling.

The girl tried to grab the phone, but, by an unlucky coincidence, it slipped from her hands and landed in Azumarill’s small arms. Whether intentionally or not, the water bunny answered the call.

«Hello? It’s Serena! Is everything okay? Did you find the Poké Balls? And the potions?» she asked, without even looking at the screen. She, along with Ash and Carlos, had done the shopping, helping replenish the group’s supplies.

A silence fell over the house, so quiet you could hear a Fletchling chirping sweetly on a cherry tree nearby. Azumarill replied with a gentle «Zumaa!» leaving the girl from Kalos a bit confused and prompting her to check the screen. Noticing the unusual blue Pokémon with large ears, she greeted it, «Hi Azumarill! You’re so cute! Are you one of Anita’s Pokémon?» The Pokémon shook her head gently. «Oh! Sorry! No problem!» she apologized, instantly forgiven by Azumarill. «I imagine there’s a girl named Anita near you. Dark brown hair… very long… dark jacket… black pants…» The girl from Kalos tried describing her friend. The Pokémon seemed to understand the Performer’s words. «Could you please hand her the phone? I need to ask her something important.» Azumarill passed the phone to the young Trainer, who heard the Kalos girl’s thank you. Anita felt quite embarrassed by the situation and blushed. As she took the phone from Azumarill, she tried to explain the situation to the older girl.

«Hi, don’t worry! Everything’s fine! But no… it’s not what you think…» Serena, partially understanding, still listened to her friend. «See… Azumarill isn’t my Pokémon…» «Don’t worry about it. I thought it was yours… you know. Azumarill is such a friendly and adorable Pokémon. And, according to Ash, it can also become very strong. That’s why I thought it was yours…» she explained, trying to reassure her that a small misunderstanding like this shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment. «By the way… will you be joining us for dinner?» she asked. The young girl paused for a few moments. «I think I will. I should be able to make it by seven-thirty, or at the latest eight. Don’t worry, I’m safe here.»

«Is that a friend of yours?» the old woman asked. «Can I meet her?» she inquired. Anita didn’t say a word, simply handing her phone to the older woman.

While the girl from Kalos was bombarded with questions from the elder, Vivillon flew over to her Trainer, smiling with her eyes. The Pokémon had also noticed how much the elder couldn’t stop talking.

The old man sat beside the girl. «Anita… dear Anita, I didn’t expect my granddaughter to be so shaken by so little. As difficult as it is, you must try to be more confident in yourself. You went out alone and split from your friends because you wanted to prove you could handle it alone. Isn’t that right?» he asked. Not noticing any reaction from her, he pressed on, «If that’s the case… this isn’t the right way to handle it. I don’t know what drove you to do it, but it’s not the way to face difficulties.» Still no reaction. «Staying silent won’t change anything. This is reality, as harsh as it may seem. I was like you at the beginning of my journey.»

Anita stared at the carpet for a moment, looking lost. «I understand.» the old man said, almost startling her. «Do you want to know how I went from being a shy, insecure kid to a Trainer who defeated the Elite Four and faced the Champion?»

She remained silent.

«It was all thanks to Minnie. Her evolution showed me what I lacked to become stronger. I had to become more confident. I had to roll up my sleeves and start acting like a leader.»

«Even though it was difficult, it helped me strengthen my bond with my Pokémon. They finally saw me as a mentor, not just someone who told them, “Use Water Gun!” or “Use Bite!” Though, now I’m only left with Minnie. Don’t get me wrong. I can see you care for your Pokémon and want what’s best for them, but believe me, it won’t always be this way. Oshawott is a Pokémon often given to young Trainers; it forgives inexperience. Herdier easily bonds with Trainers, and Vivillon is a Bug-type Pokémon, which are generally easy to train.» He explained.

Anita’s expression shifted. Maybe she’d misjudged the old man. At first, he’d complimented her on how well-trained her Pokémon were, but now…

Anyway, the old man cleared his throat and said, «Picernese evolved out of both strength and her love for your grandmother. It was the same for Minnie. You still have two Pokémon who can evolve, and it will certainly benefit their strength.» His words made Anita consider just how different her grandfather’s approach was from Ash’s. For Ash, evolution was never a replacement for proper training.

Azumarill offered Anita, the elderly Trainer, and his wife a glass of fruit juice. Anita thanked her, took a sip without thinking, while her grandfather, after downing his in one gulp, began his story.

It was a sunny summer day, so hot even the Taillow refused to chirp. In one of the many houses in town, a young Trainer got up and went to the kitchen. The room was small, mostly taken up by the kitchen itself along one wall, the only one covered with tiles rather than wood. 

The furniture was crafted from fine wood, and the countertops were dark granite. At the center stood a large table with several chairs, two of which were occupied by his friends. Fred, a sixteen-year-old boy with short-cropped hair and small eyes of the same color, wore a plain T-shirt and shorts. Jessie, also sixteen, had red hair, big brown eyes, a small nose, and thin lips. She wore a pale pink blouse with a skirt and matching shoes.

«Alessandro, you finally graced us with your presence! We’ve been waiting forever!» Fred greeted him, petting his Togedemaru. Togedemaru had a spherical, rodent-like shape, black eyes, a small black nose, yellow cheeks, and a mainly gray body with a white front. Its little forepaws and round back paws complemented its almost fully gray tail, tipped with a yellow, lightning-bolt shape.

Jessie was preparing breakfast, helped by Clefairy and Alcremie. «Hi, guys! Let me go to the bathroom, and I’ll be right back.» Alessandro left the kitchen and made his way down the narrow, cluttered hallway. Nearly tripping over a side table, he looked up at a painting of Dialga and Palkia fighting Groudon and Kyogre.

He felt a surge of excitement; today would be a memorable day. “Today’s the big day! Finally, I get to face the fourth Gym!” he thought. “It’s Electric-type, and the Gym Leader is known for being really strong. Hardly anyone manages to win that badge, so I can’t afford any slip-ups…right, team?” He released his Pokémon, and from flashes of light emerged a Sandile, Pignite, Woobat, and Staravia, traded with a Trainer from Sinnoh for a Roggenrola, Goodra, and Marill.

The grandfather made a subtle comment about a possible connection between Anita and Ash, noting how Ash also had a Sandile, and explained that Marill was his own first Pokémon. Anita tried to clarify that she wasn’t interested in Ash like that, saying it might only spark jealousy in another girl genuinely interested in him. Her grandfather brushed it off and continued his tale.

As he got ready, Alessandro thought about which strategy to use, so lost in thought that his friend Jessie asked, «You seem so preoccupied…are you worried about facing Lionel?» Alessandro snapped out of his thoughts, «Yes…let’s just say I’m a little nervous.» Fred tried to reassure him: «Relax, man! You’ve got a great team; today, you can win! There’ll be a big crowd watching, and you know he’s an acclaimed designer whose battles reflect his style.» Alessandro smiled, «Thanks for the 

boost, Fred! I feel more ready than ever!»

Jessie chimed in, «Excuse me, Fred, but why not help him somehow?» Fred, still petting Togedemaru, replied, «I don’t understand much about battling! All I know is calling out moves, and I can’t even catch wild Pokémon properly. I just sneak up on them and try to catch them like that.» Jessie sighed, «Forget him; he’s hopeless! I’d like to see him try that with a Legendary! Calm down, and make sure your Pokémon don’t get hurt.» Alessandro thanked Jessie.

His grandmother interjected, «And who is this Jessie? The one from Twinleaf Alley?» Her husband didn’t waste time with excuses, «She’s my second cousin don’t you remember? The Jessie you’re thinking of is Jessie Minsk, who worked at Pinuccio’s on Fiordoropoli Street.» Anita kept to herself, only glancing at her Pokémon and smiling.

The old man resumed his story.

Alessandro wasn’t particularly impressed with Jessie’s advice. It was common back then to teach all Pokémon Protect, often using unorthodox methods. Trainers would make one Pokémon repeatedly attack a newly caught one until it learned Protect, a similar approach for moves like Detect. Alessandro, though, was against this method, finding it too predictable. After all, Gym battles were as demanding then as they are now.

The three of them left for the train station, conveniently close to their home. At the ticket counter, they bought tickets to Nimbasa City. They took the third train of the day to the region’s second-largest city, arriving around lunchtime. 

The journey, slow due to the train’s limited speed, took nearly two hours a long time, made worse by the lack of air conditioning and the high temperatures. The train seats, dark blue with a colorful pattern, were arranged in pairs. 

Exiting the train soaked in sweat, their first priority wasn’t finding somewhere to eat but getting cool drinks to replace the fluids they’d lost. Once rehydrated, they could focus on finding a spot for lunch.

Without much effort, the three found a deli called “Toast for the Stoat.” It was a simple place. Most of the tables were set up outside, shaded by a red-and-blue-striped canopy that kept the sun at bay. 

As soon as they approached the restaurant, a delightful blend of various scents hit them, all incredibly tempting. Where before the hunger was merely dormant, now it began knocking in earnest.

The three sat down at an empty table outside. They had hardly taken their seats when they were approached by a waitress. She was about five-foot-three, athletic in build, with a sharp-featured face. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her brown eyes, glinting in the sunlight, looked almost as if filled with honey. «Welcome to Toast for the Stoat!» she greeted them. That’s when they learned her name: Charlie.

«Hello, what would you like to order, folks?» she asked. «By the way… do you have any Pokémon with you?» she added a moment later.

The three listed the Pokémon they’d brought along.

«Alright, so three of you with eight Pokémon? Five small and three medium-sized.» She jotted this down in her notebook. «Oh! Silly me! I haven’t even given you the menus.» She handed each of them a menu, with the dishes and prices neatly printed. The prices, considering the restaurant’s location, were fairly affordable.

While they ate, they had to keep a close eye on their Pokémon to make sure they didn’t cause any trouble. While they waited to be served, Fred’s attention was drawn to a small Pokémon with white, cloud-like wings, a pointed white beak, and two thick, yellow tufts… even its tiny body, which was only half the size of its wings, was yellow. The wings spread, revealing two tiny black eyes with pure white pupils. There was no doubt. It was a rare shiny Swablu.

Fred didn’t miss his chance and threw a Poké Ball at the unsuspecting Pokémon. Incredibly, he caught it on the first try, much to everyone’s surprise. Immediately after picking up the Poké Ball, he let the Pokémon back out and proudly showed it off. The waitress had to amend the order, adjusting the number of small Pokémon from five to six.

Alessandro and Jessie pretended not to know Fred, who couldn’t stop boasting about his beautiful new Pokémon.

The elderly woman interrupted her husband with a comment: «You know, Swablu is a very rare Pokémon to find in those areas.» The man contradicted her: «Nowadays, sure, but back then, it was quite common. But thanks for pointing it out. Ah… one more thing. The gym battle rules were a little different back then.»

After this brief aside, the old man resumed his tale.

After finishing their meal, Alessandro turned his thoughts back to his concerns. His worry about the gym battle had never quite left him.

The boy was half-muttering to himself, thinking about who would battle: «Let’s see… Sandile is part Ground-type, so he could do well against Electric-types… he’ll be my ace. After all, Lionel’s Pokémon are Galvantula, Zebstrika, and Ampharos, his main one. Zebstrika is really fast, Galvantula is seriously tough. Not much is known about his Ampharos. Only a few have managed to beat it. And to think this is only the fourth gym.» Alessandro didn’t realize that Jessie had been listening to him the whole time and immediately tried to reassure him: «I’m sure you’ll do great! Just remember to use your Pokémon’s type advantage. Also, remember that sending out a Pokémon to scout the field can be useful.»

The boy turned toward his Pignite, who was roasting his meal. At that moment, Jessie continued, «Don’t worry about his Pokémon being fully evolved; battles are unpredictable. You can’t know what will happen until you try. Don’t focus on what might happen if you do this or that; just act. Remember, you need to focus on your Pokémon and the opponents’ moves.»

At this point, he looked at his Sandile. After listening to Jessie’s advice, Alessandro realized how crucial his role would be in that battle.

After their meal, Alessandro went to pay the bill. The entire lunch  appetizer, main course, sides, fruit, and dessert for both the Trainers and their Pokémon  came to a modest twenty-five thousand pokédollars, quite reasonable for three people and nine Pokémon. After picking up the receipt, they recalled their Pokémon and left the restaurant.

With that, the three headed to the Mistralton Gym, where, just a few hours later, Alessandro would compete for a badge. A badge notoriously hard to earn  one that had earned the nickname of “Forbidden Badge.”

Before reaching the battle venue, they stopped at a Pokémon Center to change into more formal attire, suited to the elegance of the gym. In Mistralton, a tradition  established ever since the Varieties became their own event  integrated the gym battle within the Variety Show.

This year, Alessandro had the chance to challenge Lionel. Besides the privilege of battling, the challenger and their companions could sit in the VIP section.

Both Alessandro and Jessie were interested in the performances, though Fred quickly fell asleep alongside Togedemaru after the first contestant.

Just before the fourth-to-last Performer went on stage, an elegant woman in her thirties stepped onto the stage, holding a microphone and a sign. «Will the Gym Challenger please follow me!» she announced.

Alessandro bid his friends farewell, not before Jessie wished him good luck. Fred, on the other hand, continued to sleep deeply, snoring like a tractor.

«And to think, Fred is still my best friend.» the elderly man laughed. «They even got married! Now, they live in Opelucid City, and they have a grandson named Charles.» he added before resuming his tale.

The woman led Alessandro to a space normally reserved for Performers, allowing him to change into his battle gear.

When he was ready, the woman asked the crucial question: «Mr. Alessandro, you must choose three Pokémon to face

 Lionel. As per the rules, this will be a three-on-three battle.» Alessandro decided to rely on a trio that hadn’t battled in 

while. «Sandile, Pignite, and Marill.» Staravia and Swoobat didn’t mind not being picked; instead, they cheered on their teammates to do their best for the team’s honor.

While the last performer was on stage, Alessandro glanced up at the stands, making eye contact with his friends. Jessie nudged Fred, trying unsuccessfully to wake him up. Alcremie, noticing her struggle, decided to help, spraying her cream in Fred’s direction, jolting him awake.

Alessandro noticed Jessie trying to say something to Fred, though he couldn't quite read her lips. To be honest, he didn't care to know. All that mattered to him was defeating Lionel and joining the elite club of Trainers who had managed to beat him. He felt pumped up. Any worries he had vanished as soon as he noticed Fred. 

«There’s nothing to fear, we’ve already won tough battles now, let’s show them we’re worth more than most Trainers out there!» he declared, rallying his Pokémon. Sandile looked fascinated, Marill proud, and Pignite reinvigorated.

Alessandro returned his Pokémon to their Poké Balls just as the last Performer concluded her act. A series of mechanical sounds followed, as if objects were being shifted and something heavy was being lifted. Once the noises stopped, darkness and silence fell over the theater.

A figure appeared on stage, breaking the silence with their steps as a murmur rose from the audience. Suddenly, a spotlight switched on, illuminating a well-dressed young woman with a large, decorated hat. She stood poised, waiting for something or someone. From above, a large microphone was lowered.

«Ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to announce a Pokémon battle! As tradition dictates, before we name the winner of this Showcase, we’ll witness a match between Gym Leader Lionel and a Trainer fortunate enough to challenge him!» A brief but subdued murmur arose among the audience, quickly replaced by an almost deafening silence. Then, the lights went out again.

«The challenger who has the honor of facing Lionel today is a sixteen-year-old Trainer with a passion for Pokémon battles and a clear goal: reaching the peak of Unova! Please welcome Alessandro!» At that moment, the spotlight turned on him, and he was met with applause from the audience. Enthusiastically, he bowed before them, any remaining fear of the battle fading away.

«And now, our esteemed Gym Leader, holder of the ‘Forbidden Badge,’ as many Trainers call it the designer, Lionel!» A thunderous applause erupted as Fred tried, unsuccessfully, to counter with loud boos.

The lights followed Lionel as he made his way to the center of the stage. Reaching the center, he addressed Alessandro: «So, you’re the Trainer here to battle me for the badge? I’m Lionel, and I know that you and your Pokémon will give it your all to beat us. Don’t be afraid, or the battle won’t be any fun.»

Alessandro replied, «What matters is the effort whether I win or lose, at least I’ll know I tried.» They wished each other good luck and took their positions at the sides of the stage.

The presenter then introduced the referee: «The referee for this battle will be Robert Kluski, from the judging panel! Let’s give him a round of applause!» The lights focused on a tall, slim man with blond hair and a long mustache, wearing the classic green uniform of referees. He was transported to the stage by an Aegislash. Finally, the main stage lights turned on. 

«Trainers, send out your first Pokémon!» he announced. Alessandro, ready to test the waters, reached for his Fire Pig Pokémon’s Poké Ball.

Lionel sent out his Zebstrika, a four-legged Pokémon resembling a zebra. Its body was marked with black-and-white zigzag stripes, its mane bristling into sharp spikes and horns shaped like lightning bolts. The tail was star-shaped, with blue irises surrounded by yellow, blue inner ears, a black muzzle, and gray hooves. With no Smart Rotom at the time, it was impossible to know an opponent’s moves in advance. Alessandro reasoned that, being a Gym Leader's Pokémon, Zebstrika probably knew four moves.

As planned, Alessandro chose his Pignite, the only member of his team that also knew four moves. After a few interminable seconds of silence, Robert announced, «Let the battle begin!» A murmur rose from the stands. Though the interruption was traditional, some audience members were displeased, while Alessandro's friends were thrilled to see him compete.

«We’re up first, Zebstrika! Use Spark!» Zebstrika charged toward Pignite at high speed, its body crackling with electricity. Alessandro quickly devised a strategy to help his Pokémon endure the attack. «Pignite, use Protect!» The Fire Pig Pokémon created a greenish barrier of energy, which repelled the electric zebra. Lionel smirked and commanded, «Keep hitting with Spark!» Alessandro kept his focus on the enemy Zebstrika, fully aware that Pignite couldn’t protect itself indefinitely. He instructed his Pokémon, «Watch closely and dodge!» Zebstrika’s movements were the same as before, allowing Pignite to evade the attack. 

«Use Work Up!» Alessandro commanded. An orange aura surrounded Pignite, who shouted, «NITEEEE!» Its attacks were now even stronger. This didn’t discourage Zebstrika, who charged in for yet another Spark attack.

«Behind you!» Alessandro warned, and Pignite dodged again. Unfortunately, residual electrical shocks lingered in the air, and Pignite got slightly zapped. Luckily, the damage wasn’t severe enough to hinder its fighting abilities. Seeing this, Lionel instructed, «Close in with Flame Charge!» Alessandro shouted, «Go in for a contact attack! Now, use Brick Break!» As Zebstrika came speeding toward Pignite, the Fire Pig Pokémon stayed still, ready to land a powerful blow with its arm. Lionel’s plan seemed to be unfolding as expected. Pignite took a direct hit to the chest but seized the electric zebra, delivering a solid blow to its neck. Zebstrika, jolted by the impact, was still standing, but barely.

Then, Alessandro ordered, «Let’s finish this! Pignite, Flamethrower!» A powerful orange flame shot from Pignite’s nose, engulfing Zebstrika.

«Zebstrika is unable to battle! Pignite wins!» declared the referee. The crowd’s reaction was mild, a few scattered claps acknowledging the boy's first, crucial victory.

Alessandro was thrilled. He had already defeated Zebstrika, the fastest of the three Pokémon. True, he’d only won due to the well-timed Brick Break to the neck, but it was good enough for him.

As Pignite flexed for the crowd, Alessandro recalled it to its Poké Ball. «Pignite, return. Rest up I’ll need your help later.» Lionel had already chosen his second Pokémon, while Alessandro hesitated briefly. «Lionel, send out your second fighter.» the referee urged. Alessandro finally decided on Sandile, a Pokémon often underestimated for its appearance. Many were unaware of the saying, “Appearances can be deceiving.”

Lionel released his Galvantula, a spider-like Pokémon resembling a tarantula. Its body was primarily yellow, with blue fur on its underside. It had six blue eyes, four of them small, and blue legs. Its back and mouth area were marked with purple streaks. The Gym Leader used this Pokémon when facing opponents with types unrelated to Electric, like Fairy, Bug, or others.

The battle continued as Alessandro immediately ordered an attack: «Use Dig, let’s avoid taking hits right away!» Sandile burrowed into the battlefield, disappearing underground before popping up in various spots around the arena. A technique that soon started to frustrate Lionel. The Gym Leader sighed, «Galvantula, seal up all those holes with String Shot!» The spider Pokémon moved to the nearest hole, covering it with sticky webbing. 

«Sandile, be careful! Cut through the web with Crunch!» Alessandro ordered.

The idea was sound; the Pokémon’s powerful jaws could break the sturdy web of the Electroweb Pokémon, but the effort wasn’t enough. Before long, the Sand Croc Pokémon was wrapped up in Galvantula's sticky threads. “Galvantula, use X-Scissor! Let’s even the score!” Lionel ordered. Sandile couldn’t move within its cocoon, but Alessandro didn’t lose hope. “Use Stealth Rock!” he commanded. The Pokémon spat out small rocks that hovered in the air. Moments later, the Pokémon was struck by the powerful opposing attack.

The referee quickly announced the result: “Sandile is unable to continue. Galvantula wins!” The crowd cheered for the Electroweb Pokémon, who waved to the audience like a king. Alessandro recalled Sandile into its Poké Ball with a reassuring tone: “You did your best, and those rocks will help us until the end of this battle.” Alessandro could almost sense a smile of faith within the Poké Ball.

“Galvantula, return!” Lionel recalled his Pokémon. “You’ll need to lend Ampharos a hand later.” Lionel sent out Ampharos with a theatrical command: “Now the storm begins! Go, Ampharos!”

Alessandro was ready to send Marill out, but he realized he had something else to do first. “Go, Pignite!” He released the Fire Pig Pokémon back onto the field.

The two Pokémon exchanged glances, awaiting each other’s move. A tense standoff was forming. As no one had taken action for several seconds, Alessandro made his intentions clear: “Pignite, use Bulk Up!” As before, an orange aura formed around Pignite, boosting its power once again. Yet, the stalemate continued. The two trainers kept observing each other. Alessandro seized the opportunity to advance his plan. “Pignite, use Flamethrower in the air, spinning as you go!” he ordered. The crowd was confused. Most laughed, except for Alessandro’s friends and their Pokémon. Even Lionel joined the laughter. Holding back a chuckle, he asked, “What was that even for?” Alessandro knew his plan was working. He had successfully distracted his opponent and knew he had limited time. Swiftly, he gave Pignite his next command: “Go! Use Arm Thrust and aim for the center of its neck!” 

Ampharos, awaiting orders from its Trainer, was sweating, seemingly stressed by Lionel's indecision. Frozen in place, it waited for instructions, but Lionel was still laughing. The Light Pokémon took a solid hit from Pignite’s arm. Hearing Ampharos’ pained cry snapped Lionel back to reality. Ampharos was clearly hurt but still ready to fight. Lionel called out immediately: “Don’t worry, use Hyper Beam!” The Light Pokémon generated a thick, powerful white energy beam, which struck Pignite. The Fire Pig Pokémon was flung across the field by the force of the impact.

“Pignite is unable to continue!” declared the referee. The crowd erupted into applause, though the battle wasn’t over yet; Alessandro still had one Pokémon left. Meanwhile, Lionel switched his Pokémon again, sending Galvantula back into the field. The Electroweb Pokémon was barely injured from the last round with Sandile.

“Go, Marill! We can still turn this around!” The Aqua Mouse Pokémon entered the stage elegantly, contrasting Galvantula’s intimidating arrival. Alessandro and Marill felt confident that a single move could turn the tide   if it connected.

“Marill, jump up and grab the rocks!” Alessandro commanded. Using its tail, Marill leapt into the air, performing graceful spins to catch the heated stones from Sandile and threw them towards Galvantula. 

Once Marill landed, Alessandro didn’t waste time. “Go, Marill, now! Throw!” Lionel muttered, “What on earth is he doing?” Marill flung the heated rocks at Galvantula, disorienting it. Alessandro seized the moment: “Let’s end this with Aqua Tail!”

The Pokémon made a mighty leap, her tail covered in water, and struck Galvantula hard. Initially, it seemed the attack hadn’t been enough to defeat Galvantula, but some floating rocks landed on the Electroweb Pokémon, sealing its defeat. Lionel and the crowd were stunned. Alessandro felt an overwhelming sense of pride, confident he could defeat the Gym Leader.

“Sorry, Galvantula, I froze up at that attack,” Lionel said, recalling his Pokémon. 

Anita was astonished. Apparently, Ash wasn’t the only master of improvisation. Curious, she asked her grandmother, “It seems like such a brilliant technique. Are you sure that…” Minnie squeaked. “I believe she means, ‘Yes, young Trainer,’” translated the elderly woman. “Your grandfather was an extraordinary battler; he only lost to the Champion after an epic battle, barely losing because the opponent used Endure at the last moment. If Minnie weren’t so old… she’d give the Champion’s Pikachu a run for its money.” Anita quickly jotted these details down on her Rotom phone. Checking the time, she noted it was already six in the evening.

The referee announced, “Galvantula is unable to continue; Marill wins!” The applause was louder than when Pignite defeated Zebstrika, though it still wasn’t on par with Lionel’s victories. But it was a start. Alessandro’s friends reacted exuberantly. Fred, overjoyed, practically shook Jessie with excitement.

“Ampharos, you’re all I have left,” the Gym Leader said, sending Ampharos, who was slightly injured from the Stealth Rock, back into battle.

Lionel took the initiative: “Ampharos, use Charge Beam!” Alessandro responded, “Marill, counter it with Play Rough!” The two Pokémon collided in the middle of the field, Ampharos charged with electricity, and Marill surrounded by a pink aura. The clash sent both Pokémon flying to opposite ends of the arena, with Marill slightly worse off but still able to fight.

Alessandro quickly observed: “Marill, steady yourself for Aqua Tail!” Lionel ordered Ampharos, “Let’s finish this with Hyper Beam!” The Light Pokémon generated a blinding beam, aiming it at Marill, but she managed to slice through it with her water-covered tail, reducing the impact.

“Come on, Marill, we can do this! Hit it with Play Rough!” Lionel’s Ampharos couldn’t act, as it was recharging from Hyper Beam. Although Marill sustained additional damage from residual electric charges, she was still standing, albeit barely, balancing on one leg with one eye half-closed. Ampharos, equally exhausted, was drenched in sweat.

“Ampharos, let’s finish this with Hyper Beam! Max power!” Lionel ordered. The Pokémon gathered energy into a massive sphere, preparing to launch it at Marill. Alessandro felt a rumble beneath him. An earthquake? No, just a tremor. Or was it? Everyone staggered, except Marill. Tremors shook the ground in front of Alessandro. There was no doubt; Marill had learned Bulldoze. Ampharos, already unsteady, lost its balance, thrown around by the tremors.

When the shaking stopped, the referee approached Ampharos. A hush fell over the crowd. Lionel was sweating profusely, awaiting the judgment. Finally, the referee declared, “Ampharos is unable to continue. Alessandro is the winner!” The crowd erupted into a standing ovation. Even the Variety Show fans were clapping, along with earlier contestants.

Jessie and Fred joined their friend on the stage just as Lionel presented Alessandro with his badge. “Alessandro, I’m thrilled to say you’re one of the few to have this badge. Perhaps it was never Forbidden for you.” Alessandro kissed the badge, held it close, and celebrated his achievement with his Pokémon and friends.

And so, the old man finished his story. Anita had shown genuine interest in the tale, but the same couldn’t be said for her Pokémon. Herdier had fallen asleep halfway through, only now waking up, while Oshawott was drooling, completely lost in daydreams. Vivillon had draped a little arm across its forehead as if in boredom. Minnie was boasting about how strong she’d been in her youth, and Roselia could only stand by with indifference. She’d heard this story too many times already.

The grandfather checked the time it was 6:20. Time for his medication, or his ramblings might get out of hand. He reached for the pillbox on the table but quickly realized something was wrong: «Looks like we have a little problem. My pillbox is empty!»

The grandmother’s eyes widened, and she said, «Oh no! Anita, dear, could you please go upstairs and fetch Alessandro’s 

pills? Mind the stairs, will you?»

Anita nodded, got up from the couch, and headed toward the staircase, carefully watching her step. As she started up, her grandmother called out, «They’re on Grandpa’s nightstand, the one to the left of the bed!» Anita understood and followed the instructions, but despite this, she still managed to bump into the wall of the room. Turning quickly, she noticed Azumarill watching her, as if making sure she didn’t get into trouble. Oshawott trailed along, too.

As she entered the room, Anita was struck by its charm. Her grandparents’ house was like a dream; she wouldn’t mind living here with her friends someday. The room was square and spacious, with walls painted a soft piggy-pink. The bed stood centered against the far wall, with two nightstands on either side. On the left one was the pillbox, while a lamp on the right illuminated the room in the evening.

To the right was a cherrywood table topped with a brass-framed mirror, while the left wall was decorated with a large photo of her grandparents and her mother, Jessica. The photo must have been taken years ago. Nearby, a shelf held two albums one bound in red leather, the other in blue. Both had labels. The first read “Family Photos” and the second, “Battles: Key Moments in Pokémon History.”

Anita didn’t get distracted. She grabbed the pillbox from the grandfather’s nightstand.

«You sure took your time!» her grandmother chided. «If you wanted to look through the albums, you could’ve told me; we could’ve explained the stories behind them.»

Anita tried to change the subject. «No…no, it’s just…your room is beautiful, that’s all!»

Her grandmother caught on. «Your mother didn’t even teach you how to lie properly. Well, hand it over.»

Anita handed over the pills and went back to retrieve the album. The young girl returned downstairs, flanked by the two Water Pokémon. Her grandfather took his pill with water before noticing the album in Anita’s hands.

«Ah, yes! The most incredible battles in history that your grandmother and I were lucky enough to witness!» He eagerly grabbed the album and began pointing out each photo. «This is when a Trainer defeated six Pokémon with just one Infernape that was forty years ago. Here’s the first time Galar fossils were used in a battle…this is when Leon became World Champion…»

They reached the last photo, showing Ash, with his team, lifting the trophy as World Champion.

«This is when your grandmother and I went to watch the World Championship finals, when a kid won with his Pikachu. Though…now that I look at him, he looks familiar.»

Anita chimed in, «That trophy was huge! I wonder why Ash never showed it to me.»

The grandfather had a revelation, scratching his chin. «Of course! That boy we were on the phone with earlier was the Champion, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! I thought he looked familiar!»

The grandmother, Roselia, and Azumarill jumped in shock. Had he really not realized it? The grandfather continued: «Oh, so my granddaughter can call the World Champion anytime, and no one told me?»

Anita, feeling a bit embarrassed, looked at Vivillon, as if seeking a distraction.

The grandfather asked, «Why can you call the World Champion, and he can call you? Did you ask him for that?»

Anita scratched her head, feeling she’d explained this before. «Basically, Mom is friends with Professor Juniper, a famous Pokémon researcher, who’s friends with Professor Oak, who’s friends with Ash. Ash has always wanted to become a Pokémon Master. He realized he could do that by helping someone else reach their own goals. And so he became my mentor.»

The grandfather smiled. «I’m really glad to hear that.»

Then, the grandmother picked up the remote and turned on the TV. «Quiet, everyone, it’s time for the 6:30 news.»

The screen first showed a commercial for ceramic products, then switched to the news program her grandmother had mentioned, TG 6:30. Just before the anchor appeared clearly, there was a loud buzz the sound of static.

Both grandparents grumbled in unison, «Oh no…ugh…not this…blast…what a pain…come on!»

Anita couldn’t understand and asked why they were so upset. «Why…are you getting so…angry…over…this…just a minor issue…it’ll pass soon…there’s no need to…oh…to get like this.»

The grandmother assured her, «Anita, don’t worry. It’s not your fault. These televisions aren’t perfect; if a large enough Flying-type Pokémon is around, it can mess with the satellite signal. Given the interference, it’s got to be a big Pokémon. This doesn’t happen with small ones like Pidove. It’s got to be something at least as big as a Talonflame.»

Anita adjusted her hat, thinking, “Maybe I can solve the problem.” She asked, «Do you know which Pokémon it is?»

Her grandmother cautioned her. «Be careful. It’s a Gliscor, and it can be quite dangerous. Perhaps Vivillon could defeat it; she flies high and can dodge most of its attacks. Also, Gliscor floats too high to be hit by ground-launched physical moves like Stone Edge. Even an Inteleon’s Snipeshot wouldn’t reach it.»

Anita looked at Vivillon and asked, «Do you feel up to it?»

Vivillon looked at the other Pokémon present, then gave a small nod of affirmation. Trainer and Pokémon headed toward the door. The grandparents and the other Pokémon followed them out into the lush garden that looked like a florist’s dream.

Anita looked up and spotted the Gliscor in the sky. She thought, “We have to stop it, even if that means battling it. I hope that’ll drive it away for a while.”

The grandfather offered some advice, «Don’t make her attack first. Let’s provoke it into a fight, so it’ll be blinded by anger. Step by step, we’ll gain the upper hand.»

Anita listened carefully to her grandfather’s instructions, then approached Vivillon. «If you get in trouble, use Swift toward that cherry tree.» She touched the tree’s sturdy trunk. «Don’t worry! I know you can do it!» she encouraged.

Vivillon turned her gaze toward the Gliscor still gliding above.

The grandfather called out, «Be careful, okay?»

Vivillon took a deep breath and focused on her opponent. She hadn’t been spotted yet, so Anita took the chance to scan Gliscor with her Rotom Phone: «Gliscor, Fang Scorpion Pokémon, Male. If it catches a favorable wind current, no matter how weak, it can circle the globe without ever flapping its wings. Known moves: Fury Cutter, Poison Jab, X-Scissor, Acrobatics.»

To get Gliscor’s attention, Vivillon launched Energy Ball, aiming to brush past it rather than hit it directly, hoping to reveal her location. Gliscor turned to look around, but found no one. 

A few moments later, a second hit came. Gliscor turned again. Still, no one was there. The Fang Scorpion Pokémon was beginning to get agitated. The situation worsened as a third and then a fourth hit were thrown his way. Gliscor focused, trying to fight off the Pokémon obstructing him. Vivillon seized the opportunity to draw his attention. This time, she wasn't planning to flee. Quite the opposite she wanted to confront him face to face. The Fang Scorpion Pokémon turned one more time, giving his opponent a hard glare, signaling that if she didn’t stop, things would end badly. Vivillon kept provoking him, making him angrier and angrier until he finally lost his patience. 

That was when Anita's grandfather guided her into the start of the real battle: «Now's the time to fight; he’s completely caught up in her taunt.» Anita adjusted her hat to ease her nerves. She felt a mix of excitement and tension about facing a Pokémon like this. It was possibly her first serious match against a truly strong Pokémon, one with no reason to hold back. When she trained with Ash, his Pokémon always went easy on her. She knew she needed to do this for everyone in the 

neighborhood, especially her grandparents. She hoped she could drive it away for a while, maybe even for good.

Finally, the true clash began. «Vivillon, let’s start with Swift!» The Pokémon released rays of golden star-shaped energy that shot toward Gliscor. He blocked the incoming stars with one of his violet claws. Moments later, Gliscor’s body emitted a faint purple aura, and he quickly began to close in on Vivillon. Thankfully, she was quick to dodge, gaining altitude and returning to her previous height.

«Vivillon, use Energy Ball!» Anita commanded. The Pokémon formed a light-green glowing orb of energy and hurled it forcefully at Gliscor. He hadn’t yet realized where Vivillon was and took the hit directly, losing a few meters of altitude.

Swiftly, Gliscor turned and regained his lost height. As if nothing had happened, he started charging toward his opponent, his large claws glowing an orange hue. Noticing her opponent’s intentions, Anita instructed her Pokémon to counterattack: «Stop him with Air Slash!» Vivillon generated powerful gusts that formed into blade-like arcs, striking Gliscor in an X-shape. Unfortunately, the Fang Scorpion Pokémon dodged all the gusts, going straight for Vivillon and landing a hit. Fortunately, Vivillon took the bug-type moves without much issue, brushing it off and keeping up the pressure. Anita urged her on: «Use Swift again!» This time, Vivillon unleashed even more golden, star-shaped energy beams, which Gliscor was forced to endure. The impact created a small cloud of smoke around his body. Gliscor quickly shook it off and emerged seemingly more energized than before.

Down on the ground, Oshawott was looking for a way to help his teammate, proving far more alert than Herdier, who seemed half-asleep. The Otter Pokémon and Azumarill blasted Herdier with a jet of water, pushing her a few meters away and finally snapping her awake. This maneuver caused slight damage to the grass, which Roselia immediately tidied up. Vivillon glanced at the scene and came up with an idea to win, launching another set of Swift stars at Oshawott. “What could this mean?” Anita wondered, as her Pokémon resumed her attacks on Gliscor.

«Use Energy Ball again!» Anita ordered. Her grandmother, who had been silent until now, commented: «I think Vivillon wants Oshawott to join the fight. After all, he’s a Water-type… If he could hit Gliscor, we’d gain quite the advantage, and…» Anita interjected: «You’re right! But… from here, Oshawott can’t reach him.» Her grandfather chimed in: «We need a way to get Oshawott up there. We can’t bring Vivillon down; otherwise, Gliscor might attack us, too!» Minnie squeaked, dusting herself off to get her Trainer’s attention. The elderly man understood her intentions immediately: «Minnie, you’re brilliant! Listen up, everyone!» The old man began explaining his plan while Vivillon continued dodging Gliscor’s attacks, who was gradually growing slower. Anita encouraged her Pokémon: «Hang in there, Vivillon! Reinforcements are on the way!» With a small nod, Vivillon indicated her understanding as she continued fending off Gliscor.

«Alright, here’s what we’ll do. Herdier will carry Azumarill and Oshawott onto the roof through our bedroom window using Quick Attack. Once Oshawott’s up there, Minnie will grab him, and he’ll get a nice flight up to Vivillon’s level. She’ll catch him so he can help her secure the win. Everyone clear?» the elder explained. All nodded. Oshawott, Herdier, and Azumarill quickly headed into the house, climbed the stairs, and entered the elderly couple’s bedroom.

For a moment, Anita’s Pokémon paused to look around the room but quickly realized they had no time to lose. They hopped onto the bed, vaulted over it, and Azumarill opened the window. As soon as it was open, the three Pokémon stepped onto the terrace.

Minnie lifted Oshawott and hooked herself to a ledge with her ears. Herdier then ran to the opposite side of the terrace, charging a powerful hit. She struck Azumarill hard on the back, who, at the same time, released her grip on the ledge and latched onto the roof with her ears, making it across while holding Oshawott securely. After a moment, Minnie held Oshawott with her ears. Anita was amazed by Azumarill’s agility and asked her grandfather: «Are you sure she’s old? She’s so athletic!» The grandfather replied poetically: «When a person or Pokémon is recognized among the world’s strongest, they’ll always keep their talents. Did you know we once ranked among the top twenty Trainers in the world? It’s an elite group that includes Champions from various regions and other Trainers who’ve proven their worth.» Anita was speechless. She remembered her grandfather’s words about their family’s long tradition of strong Trainers until Herdier toppled onto her, bringing her back to reality and licking her cheek. «Haha, great job, but that tickles!»

Meanwhile, Minnie was holding Oshawott, waiting for him to get ready. The Otter Pokémon looked up at Vivillon, thinking, “I need to help her! I know she’s really high up, but I have to do this and show what I’m made of!” Seeing he was ready, the old man ordered: «Azumarill, use Throw!» Azumarill’s ears glowed. She leaned forward to increase her throw’s distance, and once she felt confident, she launched Oshawott toward Vivillon’s position. All the while, Vivillon continued taunting Gliscor, making him even more enraged.

The Pokémon sensed something approaching. She looked down and noticed a small white speck growing larger and larger, with a hint of blue coming into view. Vivillon realized it was Oshawott. She managed to catch him under his arms, but flying with this weight was challenging, especially since the little otter was trembling like a leaf. He wasn't used to being in the air at all; until now, he’d always been grounded on his soft little paws. Now he was flying with a Vivillon? What could possibly go wrong?

Seeing her Pokémon’s struggle, Anita gave instructions: «Oshawott! Use Water Gun!» A jet of water shot from his mouth, hitting Gliscor square in the face. «Now use Aqua Jet! Vivillon, hold him steady with Psychic!»

While Vivillon held Gliscor in place, Oshawott enveloped himself in a thin layer of water, zooming like a bullet to strike Gliscor in the stomach. He then reversed course and was caught again by the butterfly Pokémon.

«You two were amazing! Keep it up!» cheered Anita. They continued the onslaught for a few minutes until Gliscor began to plummet, spirals forming in his eyes. «Viooon!» Vivillon signaled to Minnie that the opponent was down. Understanding her ally’s intentions, Minnie used Hydro Pump to cushion the Ground/Flying Pokémon’s fall.

Meanwhile, Vivillon gently brought Oshawott to the ground. Thrilled, the little otter kissed the earth beneath him. The grandparents then scolded Gliscor, convincing him not to interfere with TV signals anymore. The Scorp Pokémon slinked away, much to everyone’s relief.

Once they switched on the TV, Grandma found a replay of the news. While the broadcast opened with the main headlines mostly tragedies like accidents, murders, kidnappings, and wars Grandpa congratulated Anita: «You have real talent. You and your Pokémon have great potential. I can tell our stories inspired them in this battle.» Anita blushed at his praise, flattered.

Grandma signaled for silence as the news was wrapping up. «You can talk after! They're about to announce the results of the doubles tournament. I wish we’d seen it live. I want to know who won.» Anita smiled slightly, while the news anchor began to announce the story: 

«Yesterday marked the seventy-fifth edition of the Doubles Tournament in Mistralton City, which, as always, brought us some thrilling battles. So, here’s the big news. The tournament champions were Ash Ketchum, World Champion, and a young trainer from a small town called Driftveil, named Anita White. The two displayed remarkable teamwork, as if they’d known each other forever, judging by their glances and their coordination. Second place went to Carlos Martin and Ivan Hollenback, while third was claimed by Raoul Power and the Performer and Coordinator Serena Gabena. Incidentally, Serena also won the latest Showcase in Coumarine. Unfortunately, we couldn’t interview the participants. During the award ceremony, the infamous Team Plasma launched an attack, breaking through the ceiling of the venue. Although the audience escaped safely, a stampede injured twenty-two people, none seriously. However, the award host was kidnapped; her 

whereabouts and condition remain unknown.»

A long applause filled the room from Anita’s grandparents and Pokémon, making Oshawott incredibly proud of his work. 

«You're already winning tournaments! Forget just potential; you’re born for this!» her grandparents praised. Their excitement eclipsed the breaking news of the hour: the Unova government had suspended all Pokémon Showcases and tournaments indefinitely, including gym matches with limited audience capacity.

Anita tried to downplay it, «Oh no! I mean, I was partnered with Ash… most of the credit goes to him. Even using recently caught Pokémon, he led us to victory. We didn’t do anything amazing.»

Grandpa cut in, «If you say so! But your team did their part, didn’t they? I think so. And… forgive my curiosity, but what did you win?» Anita replied, «Four tickets to the Driftveil 24-Hour Racing Event, if I remember right.» Her grandparents urged her to be careful, and she nodded in response.

Suddenly, a tune played; it was her Rotom Phone. Serena was calling her back. The Rotom hovered in the air as the call began.

«Sandile, use Dig! Servine, Leaf Tornado!» Ash’s shout was deafening. Carlos had asked for a double battle practice to get to know his newly-caught Houndour better. «Uh… Hello?» Serena appeared onscreen, waving. «Anita? Everything okay? Just a reminder, it’s seven. You said you’d come back in half an hour. Just a heads up, because I think Ash might leave nothing behind on the table! But seriously, having fun wherever you are?» Although Anita understood Serena’s point, she didn’t want to appear rude to her grandparents. She answered, a bit nervously, «Oh… Sorry, I told Serena I’d be back by seven-thirty and…» Grandma gave a nod of understanding, and then Grandpa leaned into the camera. 

«Can we say hi to your friends?» he asked. Anita, slightly hesitant, allowed it, inviting Grandma to join. Then came a round of slightly awkward introductions.

A commotion sounded behind Serena as Houndour’s Flamethrower hit Servine, leaving her with a burn. Serena turned her attention to the scene behind her. «Looks like Servine needs a Burn Heal. I have to go. Bye!» Anita replied, «See you later!» and her grandparents waved too, ending the call.

Anita stood up, saying, «Sorry, I really have to go now. Our place is on the other side of town, it’s quite a walk. So… I really should be heading out.»

Her grandparents rose as well. «Bye, Anita, take care of yourself!» Grandpa gave her a kiss on the cheek. «Be careful, and watch out for people you meet!» Grandma said, kissing her other cheek. Anita turned to Roselia, «When I need a gardener, I’ll call you!» At that moment, her Pokémon also bade farewell to the couple, and she didn’t forget Minnie, saying, «Thank you for saving me before, and for all your help! Maybe someday you’ll even battle Pikachu.» She hugged Minnie, noticing how soft her fur was. After the hug, Minnie said her goodbyes to Anita’s Pokémon, even exchanging a word with Oshawott. The otter gave her a playful wink, as if to say, «Will do!»

The grandparents accompanied Anita to the front door. She took a few steps with her Pokémon beside her, and once she was far enough, they returned indoors and closed the door.

Anita recalled her Pokémon to their Poké Balls. Her thoughts were filled with memories of her grandparents' stories, hoping to learn something valuable from their wisdom. As she crossed through the gate, she reviewed the Pokédex entries for her grandparents' Pokémon, making sure to stay alert and avoid tripping, as she'd done once before. 

After a long walk, she arrived at the Pokémon Center on the other side of town, where she was staying with her friends. Only upon arriving did she realize how far she’d actually walked. 

She got back just in time for dinner. Her friends had just finished a round of a role-playing game. Carlos stood up, stretching, and said, «Alright, everyone, let’s eat. I don’t want to hear another word about this game until next year!» The group gathered at the table, covered with a brightly orange cloth with what Anita thought were truly awful floral patterns.

Dinner was a spread of large, juicy burgers. Ash’s burger, of course, was stacked with six different sauces mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, and two of Carlos’s secret concoctions. Serena turned to Anita mid-bite and said, «So… they were your grandparents?» 

Anita nodded. «Yeah, I never expected to run into them the one time I went out alone. Luckily, they weren’t mad about what happened with my mom. They were really kind and tried to make me feel at ease. They even shared stories from their past, like how their Pokémon evolved over time.»

Ash, as eager as ever, leaned forward. «Were their Pokémon strong?» 

Anita immediately reassured him. «You know, my grandpa was once among the twenty strongest Trainers of his time. Grandma, on the other hand, preferred helping those in need.»

Ash was so surprised that he dropped a piece of lettuce from his burger. He could hardly believe his friend’s words. «Your grandpa was that close to the top? He must have won a lot of battles! Tell me, what Pokémon did he have?» 

Anita thought back to the stories he’d shared. «From what he told me, he had a Sandile, a Staravia, a Woobat, a Pignite, a Goodra, and the only one still alive Azumarill. He didn’t mention if they all evolved, but I think they did.»

Ash noticed an odd coincidence. «I’ve actually caught three of those! You already met my Sandile and Staraptor, and I had a Goodra that I released in Kalos. It was tough saying goodbye to a friend like that. But tell me, were Azumarill, Pignite, and Woobat strong?»

Anita didn’t hesitate. «I saw Azumarill in action, and it was incredible! You should have seen her! She may be getting on in years, but she’s still spry. Sure, she’s not as strong as she was when she was younger, but she stays in shape. According to Grandpa, back in the day, she was even stronger than... Pikachu.»

Ash couldn’t help but laugh at that. «Alright, if he says so... Too bad we can’t go back in time that easily. But it would’ve been fun to be there back then, right, buddy?» he said, looking at Pikachu, who responded with a few light electric sparks from his cheeks. 

The evening continued calmly, with Anita summarizing her grandparents’ stories. Carlos applauded, a hint of envy in his smile, while Ash’s response was different: «One day, I want to challenge your grandpa and see what’s left of Minnie.» Meanwhile, Serena was already thinking up new combinations inspired by Anita’s grandfather’s legendary battles.

The four friends parted late that night, heading to their rooms. 

«They were pretty amazing, those grandparents,» Anita remarked to herself. She then took her Poké Balls from her bag. «Let’s make them proud. Together, we’ll defeat the Champion.»

An unexpected encounter had taught the young Trainer many valuable lessons, leaving her more motivated than ever to pursue her goal of becoming Unova’s Champion.

Reshiram Lego

Chapter Text

A Hard-Earned Badge

The next day, the four got up bright and early. As soon as they left their bedrooms, they headed to the breakfast room. As was tradition, the four opted for a sweet breakfast. All four were still in their pajamas, and it looked like their heads were still attached to their pillows. «Good morning!» they greeted each other. «I hope you all had a good night.» Ash added shortly after.

The other three limited themselves to nodding. «When do you plan to challenge the Gym?» Carlos pressed Anita, who was drinking her cup of cappuccino. The drink almost went down the wrong way. After finishing her drink, the girl answered her friend's question. «I don't know. Yesterday I was out all day and we didn't train. I'd like to work a little more before facing it.» Ash smiled at her. «No problem. I'm at your complete disposal. If I remember correctly, the Gym Leader specializes in Normal-type Pokémon. Normal-type Pokémon are very strong because they are unpredictable. They can use many different types of attacks. Think about your Herdier, which also knows Ground-type, Fire-type, and Dark-type moves. And then many Normal-type Pokémon also have another type, for example, the Flying type, like my Staraptor.» The girl didn't even have time to process her friend's words before he immediately changed the subject. «You know me by now, I don't like theory. As soon as we finish getting ready, we'll start our training.» A certain enthusiasm was evident in Ash's words. «I wonder which Pokémon you'll use this time. Servine and Sandile must be tired!» Carlos replied, in a joking tone. Ash shot him a look. «I already had some ideas. They deserve a little rest. They worked hard yesterday.» Anita, on the other hand, seemed rather intrigued. Knowing that the Gym specialized in the Normal type, the boy would probably have her face Pokémon of that type. Her curiosity to know which ones was indeed great.

After three-quarters of an hour, all four were ready. Serena had no Showcases scheduled. Following the Team Plasma attack, the Government had passed an emergency measure with immediate effect. All tournaments and Showcases were suspended until further notice. For Gym battles, however, the number of people who could watch the battle live had simply been limited.

Ash had finally retrieved the Pokémon with which he would conduct that training session. They were Pokémon that hadn't battled in a while, so that training would benefit them too.

After retrieving the Pokémon, Ash rejoined his friends, who in the meantime had sat down on one of the benches next to the battlefield. «Sorry for the delay, but Professor Oak had his phone on silent.» The boy apologized to his friends. «But now we can begin.» Anita got up from the bench and went to one of the short sides of the battlefield; Ash positioned himself on the opposite side. «Remember, the most important thing is to learn how to face such unpredictable Pokémon.» The girl just nodded. «When you challenge a Gym Leader and you've already earned one badge, they will challenge you to a single battle with three Pokémon.» Carlos explained. «That also goes for the third badge. Once you have three badges, the number of Pokémon to battle or the type of battle is at the Gym Leader's discretion.» he added shortly after. «But right now, let's concentrate on this training.» Ash interrupted his friend's explanation.

He took a Poké Ball from his bag and sent out the Pokémon he would start the training with. One of his thirty Tauros. It was a quadrupedal Pokémon, looking very similar to a bull. Its fur, rather short, was beige, except for the thick mane, dark gray tending towards brown, developed mainly around the neck. Its hooves and the tufts of fur at the ends of its three tails were the same color as the mane. On its head, it had two curved, pointed horns: between them and between its eyes, there were three silver-gray, semicircular bumps.

«A Kanto Tauros?» Carlos asked rhetorically. «Until now, I had only seen Tauros from Paldea. When I went on vacation to my grandparents', who live in Paldea.» Anita, however, had never seen a Tauros in her life, it didn't matter if it was from Kanto or Paldea. Therefore, she decided to scan the Pokémon with her Rotom Smart's Pokédex function. «Tauros. Wild Bull Pokémon. Kanto Form. Normal type. Tauros is an exclusively male Pokémon. They battle each other by locking horns. The herd leader is proud of the battle scars on its horns. Known moves: Zen Headbutt, Horn Attack, High Horsepower, Horn Drill» The girl took one of her Poké Balls from her bag. «It seems like a rather threatening Pokémon.» the girl commented, under her breath. «In that case… Herdier! Are you ready to train?» The girl sent out her Loyal Dog Pokémon. The latter appeared rather intimidated by the Wild Bull Pokémon, which had a similar effect on its opponent. «They both have the Intimidate ability. Their attacks weaken each other.» Carlos commented. «If you're ready, we can start.» Ash called to them. «You can make the first move.» he invited shortly after.

«Herdier, are you ready?» The Pokémon responded with a short whine. «Then we can begin! Herdier, use Tackle!» The Pokémon immediately started running at high speed towards the opponent. Tauros remained still, awaiting instructions. The Loyal Dog Pokémon was approaching the bull at great speed. «Go, dodge!» Ash ordered. The Bull swerved quickly, preventing the opponent from hitting it. «And now Zen Headbutt!» The Wild Bull Pokémon lowered its head and started running at the Pokémon, hitting it with its head and sending it flying. «Herdier!» The girl seemed extremely worried, but the Pokémon immediately got back on its feet.

«Tauros, use Horn Drill!» The Wild Bull Pokémon started running towards its opponent; meanwhile, its horns elongated and lit up. They almost looked like they were made of metal. «Herdier! Try to avoid it!» Anita ordered. The Pokémon understood her Trainer's intentions; it quickly began to dig a hole in the ground. A perfect way to avoid such an attack.

«Stay ready, it could pop up from anywhere.» Ash called to his Pokémon. Plus, for Tauros, sensing the ground vibrations with its hooves was not easy at all. The Loyal Dog Pokémon, however, was able to perfectly sense its opponent's position. It just had to wait for the right moment. Suddenly, the Pokémon burst out of the ground, exactly in front of Tauros. «High Horsepower!» The Wild Bull Pokémon's body lit up with an orange light as it rose up on its hind legs, violently striking the opponent with its front limbs and sending it back to the other side of the field.

«I'd say that's more than enough training for Herdier. She's improved a lot. And I think it's time for Tauros to rest a bit too.» Ash and his friend returned their Pokémon to their Poké Balls at almost the same time.

«Next up!» Ash urged his friend, caught up in the rhythm of the battle.

Anita was taken aback by her friend's demeanor. Was Ash finally starting to get serious? «Snorlax, come on out!» Ash sent out a large, blue Pokémon, whose body was composed almost entirely of its cream-colored belly. Its head was rather large and topped by two triangular ears, while two sharp teeth poked out of its large mouth. Its feet were quite large and had three claws. Its arms, however, were rather short.

As soon as it came out of the Poké Ball, the large Pokémon looked around with a dazed expression. The place seemed familiar to it, yet different at the same time. «Don't worry, after the battle, you can eat whatever you want.» Ash reassured it.

Anita, meanwhile, sent out her Oshawott, who didn't appear at all intimidated by its opponent's size, unlike his Trainer. «Don't worry! He's big and bulky, but he's a softy!» Ash tried to put his friend at ease.

The girl pretended not to worry, as she scanned the large Pokémon with her Rotom Smart. «Snorlax, the Sleeping Pokémon. Normal type. Male specimen. Snorlax's typical day consists of nothing more than eating and sleeping. It is such a docile Pokémon that children use its huge belly as a playground. Known moves: Body Slam, Ice Punch, Heavy Slam, Earthquake.» The girl put her device back in her bag. «You guys start!» Ash invited her.

The girl didn't need to be told twice. «Oshawott, are you ready? Use Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon coated its body in a thin layer of water before leaping and heading towards the bulky opponent. Ash remained silent. It was his usual waiting tactic. Waiting until the last moment before ordering an attack and taking advantage of the element of surprise. This time, however, things went differently. Ash remained silent. And the Otter Pokémon hit Snorlax right in the belly. The Pokémon's enormous layer of fat compressed like a spring. A fraction of a second later, the otter Pokémon was sent back to the opposite side of the field, without its opponent suffering any repercussions. Carlos, seeing the scene, couldn't hold back his laughter.

«Let's try again, Oshawott, Aqua Jet!» The Otter Pokémon coated its body in a thin layer of water before leaping and heading towards the bulky opponent, only to achieve the same result as before. "Maybe hitting it with direct attacks doesn't work," Anita thought. «Let's try Water Gun!» the girl ordered. From the Otter Pokémon's mouth, a powerful jet of water was generated, which finally managed to hit the opponent. As soon as the otter finished its attack, Snorlax simply shook the water off its fur.

«Now it's our turn! Snorlax, Heavy Slam!» Ash ordered. The Sleeping Pokémon started walking. With every step, the ground began to tremble, due to the Pokémon's heavy footsteps. At its less-than-excellent pace, the large Pokémon was about to reach its opponent. Anita was starting to panic. What should she do? Meanwhile, Snorlax had gotten dangerously close to the Otter Pokémon.

«Try to avoid it!» the girl ordered. The Otter Pokémon now seemed truly afraid of its opponent, who was about to dive headfirst at it.

It all happened in an instant. The large Pokémon took an enormous leap, diving belly-first onto its opponent. BAM! A loud noise was heard, accompanied by a violent vibration of the ground; it almost seemed like an earthquake.

«Oshawott! NO!» The girl seemed desperate. «Oshahahaha!» The Otter Pokémon started laughing. Anita spun around. The Pokémon was behind her. «Hey! But… then Snorlax?» The bulky Pokémon got up. The impact with the ground had created a large hole. Underneath the enormous Pokémon, there was only a small puddle of water. «Huh?» Ash also seemed surprised by this, at least initially. A few moments later, the boy had an illumination. «Of course! Oshawott must have learned Substitute.» «Substitute?» Anita asked, rather intrigued. «It's a move that allows a Pokémon to get out of a difficult situation, even if it tires it out a bit. Rowlet learned it… albeit in its own way.» Ash explained. Anita seemed even more interested in the expert Trainer's words. «So you learned Substitute to avoid being attacked by Snorlax?» The girl turned to her Pokémon. «Sha! Sha!» the Pokémon replied, proudly. «I'd say that's enough for these two. Snorlax is probably already demanding its food and Oshawott must be tired from the battle.» Ash added shortly after. He barely had time to finish speaking before the Sleeping Pokémon immediately began to demand its food.

Luckily, now that he was the World Champion, he had a significant income, and paying for the abundant meals his Pokémon required was not a problem at all. Ash contacted a nearby restaurant. He ordered a gargantuan amount of food and asked for it to be delivered to the Pokémon Center. After resolving the food issue, the training could resume.

«If I'm not mistaken, you still have one Pokémon left. Are you ready?» Anita was caught a little off guard. At that moment, she was thinking about how to use the new move her Pokémon had learned.

«Yes… I'm ready.» the girl replied, returning to reality. «Come out, Vivillon!» The girl sent out her Pokémon. Ash, instead, sent out his Noctowl, an owl-like Pokémon. Its plumage was light green, decorated with a dark brown triangular pattern on its chest. The entire back of its body was a color between orange and brown. Its eyes were red with black rings around them, decorated by a second cream-colored ring around the first. Above its eyes, there were "horns" of cream-colored feathers, resembling large eyebrows. Its rather small beak and its talons were pinkish. Its feet had three toes. Two faced forward and one backward.

Anita scanned it with the Pokédex function of her Rotom Smart. «Noctowl, the Owl Pokémon. Normal and Flying type. Male specimen. This Noctowl is a shiny specimen. Noctowl never fails to catch prey in the dark. This infallibility comes from its super-acute vision, which allows it to see even in the dimmest light, and from its soft, fluffy wings, which are dead silent in flight. Known moves: Air Slash, Extrasensory, Heat Wave, Night Shade.» The girl put the device back in her bag.

«If you're ready, we can begin. You make the first move.» Ash invited them. The two Pokémon were flying opposite each other, awaiting orders. "Stay calm, you've faced a battle like this before!" the girl thought. «Vivillon, are you ready? Air Slash!» From the Scale Pokémon's wings, thin blades of air were generated, moving rapidly, creating a sort of whistling sound. «Noctowl! You use Air Slash too!» Ash ordered. The two air blades collided in the center of the field, generating an explosion. Neither Pokémon seemed to be affected. «Let's try this! Use Swift!» Anita ordered. The Scale Pokémon generated star-like energy beams, golden in color. «Go, defend with Extrasensory!» the boy ordered. The Owl Pokémon generated a golden-colored energy beam from its forehead, which first hit those stars, making them explode, then hit the Scale Pokémon, causing it to lose a few meters of altitude.

«Vivillon! Try to fight back! Use Energy Ball!» The Pokémon generated a dark green energy sphere; its shape resembled a sort of eye. «Night Shade!» Ash ordered. The Owl Pokémon created a purplish-colored energy wave that quickly reached the opponent, enveloping it in a whirlwind of darkness. The Owl just had to move slightly to avoid the opponent's blow. «I'd say that's enough. You've done a great job. I think you're ready for the Gym battle.» Ash complimented. «As for us… I think it's almost lunchtime…» he added shortly after, touching his stomach. Carlos immediately got to work. Like the previous days, he had the entire Pokémon Center kitchen at his disposal. The boy had made a small pact with Nurse Joy. He could use the kitchens, provided he also cooked for the other guests.

If last time the boy had prepared hamburgers, this time he would try something more particular. For the first course, he would prepare rice with artichokes, and for the second, thin cutlets. The kitchen was quite large, although compared to the kitchen at the Striaton Gym, it looked like a storage closet. The floor was made of white tiles. The walls were also covered in white tiles. A metal door provided access to the cold room and the freezer area, which the boy was not interested in. He already had everything he needed with him. For the rest, in the room, there were several shelves, ovens, stovetops, pots, and pans of various types. On some containers, there were aromatic herbs and spices.

Carlos gave a look around. Now that he knew where all the ingredients were, he just had to get to work.

And, since he knew Ash by now, he knew he would have to be quick.

The boy began to wash a lot of artichokes, trying to be careful not to prick himself, then he began to cut and clean them, quickly tossing them into a salad bowl with water and lemon to prevent them from turning black. In the meantime, he began to prepare the soffritto. Shortly after, he began to cook the artichokes, moistening them with vegetable broth. After several minutes, he began to prepare the rice itself. When the latter reached about halfway cooked, he combined the two preparations, not before flavoring the rice with saffron.

As soon as the rice was ready, the boy began to cook the thin cutlets, a rather quick operation. His main concern was keeping them warm after they were cooked.

As soon as the meat was ready, the boy came out of the kitchens. He had a rather satisfied expression. Evidently, he was happy with his work. Now all that was left was to serve. «This time you've really outdone yourself!» Ash commented, after asking for (and getting) seconds of both dishes. The Pokémon were also incredibly satisfied with that meal.

In Ash's head, after lunch and after getting over the post-meal drowsiness, there would be room for another training session, if not with Anita, whose Pokémon needed to rest for the Gym battle against Lenora, at least with Carlos. After all, he wanted to become stronger, right? Ash's plans, however, clashed with harsh reality.

Two people showed up at the entrance of the Pokémon center, a man and a woman. Both in their thirties. The man, about one meter seventy-five tall, had dark brown hair, long down to just above his shoulders and a bit wavy. His beard was not too long, but not shaved either. The cut of the beard made his face look squarer than it really was. His eyes were dark brown. He wore a sweatshirt from a famous sportswear brand and ripped jeans. On his feet, rather elegant leather shoes that clashed with the rest of his clothes. He was carrying a large camera with an integrated microphone.

The woman was less than one meter sixty tall, however, she had red hair, rather long, and green eyes. She wore rather light and elegant makeup. Like her colleague, she too dressed rather sportily. As soon as they entered the Pokémon center, they greeted the Nurse, who, in the meantime, was busy arranging some Poké Balls. «Hello.» they greeted her. «Good afternoon to you.» she greeted them in turn. «Would you like me to take care of your Pokémon?» she asked. «Our Pokémon are fine. Maybe a check-up wouldn't hurt, but… we didn't come here for that.» the man replied. «Exactly.» the woman added. «We are journalists. We found out that four of the six Trainers who stood on the podium of the Tag Battle Tournament are guests in this Pokémon center.» Her colleague completed the sentence: «Since Team Plasma attacked before we could interview them, and the entire building was evacuated, we weren't able to interview them… and the public demands it.» The Nurse was rather taken aback by those words. She had followed the tournament, as much as her job allowed. She had seen with her own eyes the Team Plasma Grunts attack and threaten the audience. «Normally I couldn't disclose the names of the guests residing in this Pokémon Center, but in this case, I'll make an exception. I believe they are in the dining hall right now.» the woman replied.

She barely had time to finish the sentence when Ash and his friends came out of the room. «I'd say that after a lunch like that, a battle is just what's needed. What do you say?» Ash turned to Pikachu. The Mouse Pokémon seemed extremely enthusiastic about the proposal.

«Oh! Here you are! We were waiting for you.» The journalist greeted them as soon as she noticed their presence. The four seemed to ignore her presence. Feeling ignored, the woman got up from the small sofa where she had been sitting and approached the four, almost cutting them off: «You are four of the six Trainers who were on the podium at the tournament the other day, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?» The four were caught by surprise. They exchanged quick glances, with perplexed expressions. Anita didn't seem very convinced. She was already thinking about the fact that many of the questions she would receive would be Ash-centric. Soon, however, the girl realized she was in the minority. Ash, Carlos, and Serena seemed rather happy about the possibility. «Yes. We accept your proposal.» Ash replied, breaking the silence. The journalist accompanied the four to the small sofa where the woman had been sitting previously. The four sat on the sofa opposite. The journalist shook her colleague, to let him know it was time to do his job. The man huffed slightly, before turning on his camera.

«Hello kids, my name is Tamya and I'm a journalist for Unima 1 news. As I told you before, I'd like to ask you a few questions about the Tournament and maybe other little things for the fans.» The woman introduced the interview. «We have here with us four of the six Trainers who stood on the podium of the Nacrene City Tag Battle Tournament.» The woman took a small piece of paper from her pocket, on which some notes were written. «The World Champion Ash Ketchum, the Trainer Anita White, the Performer Serena Gabena, and the Trainer Carlos Martin. Anita and Ash placed first, Carlos and his partner, who is not with us right now, placed second, while Serena and her partner, who like Carlos's is not with us, placed third.» The four just nodded.

«Let's start with you… Ash. You're the World Champion, what pushed you to participate in a tournament like this?» The boy, like every time, repeated the same spiel. «My dream is to become a Pokémon Master. I realized that, to do so, I have to help someone achieve their goal.» the boy replied. «And so you came here to Unima for this? If I'm not mistaken, you come from the Kanto region. It's quite far from here. What pushed you to make such a long journey?» Ash took a deep breath. «To achieve your goals, you don't have to think about these things. In any case, if I'm here, I owe it to Professor Oak. He put me in touch with a colleague of his, Professor Juniper, who, in turn, introduced me to Anita. The rest is history.» The woman seemed interested in those words. «I understand. But this doesn't explain why you decided to participate in the tournament too, furthermore with Pokémon that haven't evolved yet…» Ash shook his head: «I decided to participate precisely to allow Snivy and Sandile to show what they're capable of. Snivy even evolved. If I had participated with other Pokémon, it wouldn't have been fun.» «Fun?» The journalist seemed surprised. «Battles are also fun. If you don't have fun while battling, you shouldn't be a Trainer.» The journalist still didn't understand: «How does this explain why you decided to battle with Pokémon you've just caught.» Ash took a deep breath. «A Trainer's job is to allow their Pokémon to give their best. I know what my Pokémon are capable of. I wanted to give them the chance to show what they are capable of, and I am very satisfied with their work.» The journalist asked the boy another question: «Many people thought you battled with Pokémon you just caught for what, in the racing world, they call Balance of Performance. In short… whoever has the fastest car sees their car ballasted or detuned to compete equally with rivals. What do you think of these rumors?» Ash didn't believe those words. «As I said before, I just did what a Trainer should do. Allow their Pokémon to show what they are capable of doing. No one forced me to battle with Sandile or Snivy.» At this point, the journalist turned to Anita: «In the tournament, the pairs of Trainers were matched randomly. You had Ash as a partner. Do you think this influenced the outcome of the tournament, or did the fact that Ash battled with inexperienced Pokémon have less of an impact?» The girl's fears had come true. From the very first question, it was about Ash. The girl tried to keep calm. Her friends were next to her. Nothing bad could happen to her: «Ash is the World Champion. He has a lot of experience and he showed it. Battling alongside such a strong Trainer is an honor.» «So it's always better to have him as an ally rather than an opponent.» the journalist commented. «Rather… it seems to me you're a rookie Trainer. It seems you've only won one badge so far. Do you think this tournament might help in the next Gym battles?» «I think so. We faced different opponents and everyone wanted to win. Everyone battled differently and…» The journalist interrupted her. «We get it. Let's move on to the second-place finishers, or rather the second-place finisher. Your partner isn't here with you, but it doesn't matter. Unlike the various other pairs of Trainers, you two seemed quite at odds. It seemed like Ivan wanted to do everything himself.» «Exactly. It's quite frustrating to battle with someone like that. In a way, I'm glad I didn't win. I hope it served as a lesson for him.» Carlos replied, leaving the journalist rather perplexed. «Served as a lesson?» «Exactly. Someone that arrogant didn't deserve to win. He wanted to do everything himself, he told me several times not to get in the way.» The journalist didn't seem very interested in those issues. She then moved on to Serena. «And now it's your turn, Serena. As with Carlos, we can't count on the Trainer who battled alongside her. But it doesn't matter. You are a Performer and a Coordinator, what pushed you to participate in a battle tournament?» she asked. «I'm a Performer, but I recognize that battles have their charm. And so I wanted to try.» The journalist immediately moved on to the next question. «We saw that your Lilligant was scared when it entered the field, and this caused your defeat. Can you tell us what happened?» «Lilligant was a victim of poachers. They injured her. That's why she struggles to trust people.» the Kalos native explained.

«Changing the subject… the award ceremony was interrupted by Team Plasma. I imagine you've heard of them. They fight to free Pokémon from their Trainers. They attacked during the award ceremony. They probably aimed to take you as hostages…» «Luckily we managed to escape. But they managed to grab the girl who handed out the prizes.» Ash replied. The boy pretended not to know that the girl was an undercover Agent. «She told us to run and they took her. I just hope she's okay.» he added shortly after. «From what I know, Team Plasma hasn't demanded ransoms or anything similar yet.» An unreal silence fell in the room. «Last question. For everyone. I imagine you know. After the Team Plasma attack, the Government moved immediately, suspending tournaments and Showcases until further notice and limiting the number of attendees for Gym battles. Do you think it's the right choice or are these exaggerated measures?» Ash answered first: «No. They didn't exaggerate. The other day could have gone much worse. Team Plasma is very dangerous. And my friends and I will always be the first to fight them, to end this story as soon as possible.» Shortly after, Serena added. «As much as I love performing in Showcases, the audience's safety comes first. I don't think I'd be able to give my best, with the anxiety that what happened at the tournament could happen again.» Anita and Carlos were of the same opinion. The safety of the public came before anything else.

The following day, the time for Anita's second Gym battle had finally arrived, where the girl would face the Gym Leader Lenora. The appointment for the battle had been set for nine-thirty in the morning. The four got up relatively early, so they could reach the Gym without having to rush.

Compared to the first time, the girl appeared calmer; the good result in the tag battle tournament had given the girl a fair dose of confidence. After consuming their usual sweet breakfast, the four set off towards the city's Gym. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the Pokémon Center, Serena opened the maps application on her Rotom Smart. «Here it is, luckily it's not very far.» The girl showed her friends the route separating the Pokémon Center from the Gym.

The Gym was an imposing building, made of brick. Several columns supported a wide patio. A large door provided access to the inside of the building. Nothing suggested that this building was a Gym. It seemed rather to be a museum or something like that.

Before the four could cross the threshold of the building, a tall, thin boy with long, light green hair appeared. He wore a black beanie, a white shirt, light brown pants, and green shoes. Around his neck was a pendant that resembled a planet. He also wore bracelets, and hanging from his pants was a sort of Rubik's cube. Flying near him was a Pidove specimen, while a second Pokémon had just hidden behind his legs.

«N?» Anita and Carlos flinched. «You know him?» Ash seemed rather surprised. «Oh! Yes. I remember you two. I battled against you.» N pointed to Anita. «Although you didn't tell me your name.» He then pointed to the boy. «I believe your name is Carlos. We chatted some time ago.» Carlos hinted at a smile. He remembered their exchange of words, but especially the fact that N had refused his offer to stop and have lunch with them. Ash finally had the chance to introduce himself: «I'm Ash, and this is my friend Pikachu.» The boy pointed to the Mouse Pokémon, perched on his shoulder. The boy extended his hand to N, who shook it. «Pleasure to meet you. I had already heard of you. You're one of the strongest Trainers in the world; I never thought I'd meet you in person one day. I'd like to chat with you, but unfortunately, I don't have much time.» A few moments later, Serena also introduced herself. «Pleasure to meet you. I'm Serena, and I'm a Pokémon Performer and Coordinator.» «Fascinating.» the boy replied. «As for you…» N turned to Anita. «As for you… I still don't know your name, but… It's not important. We'll have time to find out later. What interests me is something else. I'd really like to see what escapes the eyes of others. The truth about Pokémon in Poké Balls, a Trainer's ideals… And a future where Pokémon can be truly free… You desire that too, don't you?» The four were rather perplexed by the boy's words. «It doesn't matter. Whatever you think, my friends and I would like to test the strength of your desires!» The four took a few steps back, moving away from the entrance of the building, stopping in the square in front. The boy had Pidove battle first. «If you want, I can act as referee for this battle.» Carlos offered. «There's no need.» N replied. «I can perfectly tell when a Pokémon is about to reach the end of its strength.» Carlos just nodded. In the meantime, Anita had sent out her Oshawott. «I'd say we can begin. You have the first move.»

«Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet!» Anita ordered. The Otter Pokémon coated its body in a thin layer of water before leaping and heading towards the opponent. The two Pokémon collided in mid-air, pushing against each other. It seemed the two Pokémon were trying in every way to prevail over one another. The two Pokémon would have continued pushing against each other for who knows how long. «Let's try to get out of this! Use Substitute!» The Otter Pokémon created a copy of itself, made as if it were a water bubble. «And now hit it with Razor Shell!» The Otter Pokémon used the residual propulsion from its Aqua Jet to rise to a greater height than its opponent. The Otter Pokémon unsheathed its scalchop and wielded it like a sword. The shell elongated like a sword and lit up blue. Oshawott struck its opponent, still busy hitting the Substitute from behind, making it plummet. «And now Water Gun!» The Pigeon Pokémon was hit by a powerful jet of water coming from the Otter Pokémon's mouth. «I feel you're still able to continue! Counter with Gust!» The Pigeon Pokémon rose into the air again, while its opponent tried to land gently. In the meantime, from its wings, the Pigeon had generated a gigantic current of air, ready to hit its opponent.

«Try to dodge!» the girl ordered, as the Otter Pokémon swerved quickly, avoiding being hit. The whirlwind, just as it had been created, disappeared. "We have to try something different!" the girl thought. «Oshawott! Use Aqua Jet again!» The Otter Pokémon coated its body in a fine layer of water before leaping and heading towards the opponent; like before, it seemed to be a sort of crazed projectile.

«And now use Razor Shell!» The Otter Pokémon drew its scalchop and brandished it like a sword. It struck the opponent with a sharp blow, making it plummet again, no longer able to battle. «Pidove!» The Pigeon Pokémon was immediately tended to by the boy. «You battled well. I can't stand to see you suffer more than necessary.» A few moments later, the guy turned to Anita. «You should change Pokémon too. Your Oshawott has given a lot.» Anita didn't feel like arguing. «Oshawott… return!» The girl took her second Poké Ball. Soon, another Pokémon appeared in front of N. The boy smiled at it. «Timburr! Let's show them what we believe in!» In front of the girl appeared a bipedal Pokémon, whose body was predominantly gray. On the back of its head, it had a sort of ponytail, while on the front, it had a kind of growth. Its eyes were elongated; its round nose was brown. It had a small, thin mouth. On the sides of its head, it had two pink, raised marks, forming a sort of Y. Between its arms and shoulders, it had two other pink, raised marks, which circled the part of the arm that attached to the shoulder. Two other pink, line-shaped marks were on its thighs. In its left hand, it held a large log. Anita scanned this strange Pokémon with her Rotom Smart. «Timburr, the Muscular Pokémon. Fighting type. Male specimen. It always carries a wooden plank and helps with construction work. When it grows, it chooses a bigger plank. Known moves: Rock Throw, Brick Break, Drain Punch.»

The girl, without thinking twice, sent out her Vivillon. «If you don't mind, we'll start this time.» N intervened. «Timburr! Use Rock Throw!» The Fighting-type Pokémon generated several small rocks and began to hurl them in its opponent's direction. «Destroy them with Energy Ball!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon generated several green-colored energy spheres. The central part was slightly darker, almost like the pupil of an eye.

Every single energy sphere hit the boulders with great precision, nullifying the opponent's attack. One last sphere remained suspended in the air, ready to hit the Muscular Pokémon. «Defend yourself with your log!» N ordered. The Pokémon parried that energy sphere with its thick wooden beam.

«Let's try again! Air Slash!» the girl ordered. From the Scale Pokémon's wings, a thin blade of air was generated, which quickly reached the opposing Pokémon, which, like before, was using its wooden beam to protect itself. This time, however, the Pokémon wasn't so lucky. The air blade broke the wooden beam in two, catching both Timburr and N by surprise. «Timburr! Use Brick Break!» the boy ordered.

One of the Pokémon's arms lit up with a reddish light, as the latter quickly approached its opponent, which, for now at least, remained motionless, waiting to receive orders.

«Use Psychic!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon's body was enveloped in a blue aura, as it focused its psychic powers on the opponent.

Timburr was lifted into the air and thrown in different directions. Soon, it was hit by pieces of its own beam. Shortly after, the Scale Pokémon threw its opponent towards the ground. Timburr, too, was no longer able to continue. «I'd say that's enough.» N declared the end of the battle. «My friends and I still don't have the necessary strength to save all Pokémon. Changing the world requires an effort we are not yet capable of.» With these words, the boy walked away. «He really is a strange guy.» Carlos commented. «I wonder what he means by "changing the world"» he added shortly after. «Take these.» Serena took some purple spray bottles from her bag. «Your Pokémon have battled, it's better to heal their wounds with these.» Anita let her Oshawott out of its Poké Ball and sprayed the potion on it. The Pokémon gritted its teeth; the potion stung a bit.

The four were finally able to enter the Gym. The entrance was a large room with a floor made of large blue marble slabs.

On the sides of the room, numerous iron armors were displayed. Each of them held spears or shields. «These things make me uncomfortable.» Carlos seemed frightened by those steel knights. «If you want, Gengar and I can give you a good reason to be afraid.» Ash teased him. A few moments later, a creak made the four of them jump. «Now you're scared too!» Carlos teased him back. Regaining their composure, the four observed the various armors. «They look really ancient…» Serena observed. «You're not wrong. They are over five hundred years old.» A female voice made the four jump again. «Sorry if I scared you. I didn't think young people would be interested in such artifacts.» The four spun around. In front of them, a tall and sturdy woman appeared. She had very dark skin. Her hair was green and curly, held back by a red and orange striped headband, and her eyes were cerulean. She wore a white shirt. She had green flared pants held tight by a light brown belt. On her feet were flat red shoes. «Enough chit-chat. I imagine I have to face one of you in a Pokémon battle.» The woman turned her gaze to the girls. «Battles can last quite a while and we can't waste time. After this battle, I have to guide visitors through the museum. And you can join too, if you want.» she added shortly after. At the same time, she made a small gesture with her hand, inviting them to follow her. «And so the World Champion honors us with his presence. We truly hope the battle will be to your liking.» the Gym Leader joked. «Oh! It definitely will be! Anita and her Pokémon are doing a great job. It will surely be a great battle, won't it?» Anita was caught off guard by those words. «I hope so.» she replied half-heartedly.

The Gym Leader accompanied the four to the battlefield. It was a simple dirt battlefield. As per tradition, on the long sides of the field, there were stands to allow guests to watch the battle, although, due to restrictions, the number of people who could watch the match.

As in the Striaton Gym, in this case too, the refereeing system was managed by an electronic system, with a central processor and several cameras that allowed the system to determine the status of the Pokémon on the field.

«And so you must be Anita…» The Gym Leader began to enter the data for the battle into the electronic refereeing system. «I understand this is your second Gym battle. Right?» she asked. «Yes…» the girl replied. «Since this is your second Gym battle, it will be a three-on-three battle. Do you have three Pokémon?» Another question. «Yes...» «I can tell you're very tense for this battle. You don't have to be afraid. It will go as it goes.» The Gym Leader tried to reassure her.

As soon as the woman finished programming the device, she took her position on one side of the field. «As soon as you position yourself on your side of the field, we can begin the battle.» Anita obeyed, positioning herself in front of the Gym Leader. Ash, Serena, and Carlos took their seats in the stands. «The Gym battle between Gym Leader Lenora and the Challenger Anita is about to begin! It will be a three-on-three battle. The winner is the one who manages to make the opposing Pokémon unable to battle! Furthermore, only the Challenger is allowed to substitute her Pokémon. Send out your Pokémon!» the electronic referee declared. «It's your turn!» Anita decided to start her battle with her Oshawott. «And so you decided to start with your first Pokémon? Then this means I will battle with the last Pokémon I caught. Come out, Deerling!» From the Gym Leader's Poké Ball emerged a Pokémon just over half a meter tall, resembling a fawn or a deer. The upper part of its body was pink, spotted with yellow patterns, while the lower part of its body was light beige. On its head was a tuft of yellow flowers, the same color as its tapered ears. The tips of its limbs, while its small tail was pink. Anita scanned this Pokémon with her Rotom Smart: «Deerling: Season Pokémon. Normal and Grass type. Female specimen. Spring Form. With the changing of seasons, its fur and scent change. It is a Pokémon that announces the passing of the seasons. Known moves: Seed Bomb, Double Team, Double Kick.» The girl put her device back in her bag.

«The battle can begin, the first move goes to the challenger!» the electronic referee declared. "Deerling is also a Grass type, that could be a problem for Oshawott… unless…"

«Let's try it! Oshawott! Use Fury Cutter!» The Otter Pokémon brandished its Scalchop. The latter quickly lit up with an orange light and transformed into a kind of sword. Trying to run, as much as its small legs allowed. «Deerling, attack with Seed Bomb! Repeatedly!» The Season Pokémon generated a large, tapered seed from its mouth. It had a yellowish color and was coated in a green aura.

«Try to defend yourself!» the girl ordered. She didn't seem to have a particular plan in mind. The otter Pokémon obeyed; it focused on the seed that was approaching. It moved its arm quickly, disintegrating the seed. The resulting explosion pushed Oshawott back a few meters. Fortunately, the Otter Pokémon still brandished its scalchop.

«Deerling! Use Double Team!» The Pokémon began to run at high speed, as its body was enveloped in a light green aura. The sound of hooves was the only sound audible at that moment.

«Move!» Anita ordered, hoping she was still in time. Unfortunately for her, the Season Pokémon was too fast. Oshawott was thrown into the air and flew several meters before falling back to the ground, with its Scalchop about a meter away from it. «Oshawott! Return!» The girl took the Otter Pokémon's Poké Ball and returned it inside. The Pokémon transformed into simple red light as it was absorbed into the red and white sphere. «Vivillon! It's your turn!» The girl sent out the Scale Pokémon, which took its place on her side of the field, awaiting orders. «Since the Challenger has substituted her Pokémon, the first move goes to the Gym Leader!» the electronic referee declared. «Deerling! Use Double Team again!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Pokémon began to run at high speed, as its body was enveloped in a light green aura. «Fly as high as you can!» the girl ordered.

«Clever of you!» the Gym Leader commented. «Deerling! Launch yourself with Double Kick!» The Season Pokémon stopped abruptly, tensing the muscles of its hind legs and pressing against the ground. «Use Double Team again!» she ordered again. «As you've seen, Deerling and I have developed a technique to counter Flying-type Pokémon, like Vivillon!» Anita gave a small smile. «Air Slash!» From the Pokémon's wings, a thin blade of energy, light blue in color, was generated, slicing through the air with a loud whoosh. Deerling was hit head-on and thrown against the ground with a loud thud. Despite the hard blow, the Pokémon was still standing. «Deerling! Launch Seed Bomb!» the Gym Leader ordered. As the Season Pokémon generated a large, tapered seed from its mouth. It had a yellowish color and was coated in a green aura. From the stands, Carlos couldn't help but comment: «Vivillon is a Bug and Flying-type Pokémon, Grass-type moves are not effective against them.» Ash motioned for his friend to be quiet. «In my experience, it's a trap. Anita needs to be careful.» Almost as if she had heard him, the girl decided on a different move than she had planned: «Use Swift!» The Scale Pokémon generated star-shaped energy beams, yellow in color. These, in turn, generated thick beams of energy. One of them hit the seed, making it explode, while the other energy beams hit the Season Pokémon, thwarting the Gym Leader's strategy. «Deerling is no longer able to battle. Vivillon wins!» the electronic referee declared. «Well done, you've defeated one of my Pokémon, but you still have two left. The battle isn't over!» The Gym Leader returned the Season Pokémon to its Poké Ball. «Herdier! It's your time!» The woman sent out a specimen of the Loyal Dog Pokémon; it differed from Anita's only in the length of its whiskers. «If the Challenger does not substitute her Pokémon, the battle can restart.» the electronic referee declared. Anita decided not to substitute her Pokémon. «The battle can resume, the first move goes to the Challenger!» the Electronic Referee declared. «Vivillon! Use Energy Ball!» The Pokémon generated a dark green energy sphere in front of its body; its shape resembled a sort of eye. It seemed to reflect light like a precious stone. «Dodge and use Retaliate!» the Gym Leader ordered. "Retaliate? Why do I have a bad feeling?" the girl thought. In the meantime, the Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run at high speed, as its body was lighting up with a brownish light. «Fly as high as you can!» the girl ordered. «Haven't you learned your lesson yet? We are perfectly capable of handling flying Pokémon!» the Gym Leader admonished her. The Loyal Dog Pokémon, using the muscles of its hind legs, made a powerful leap, hitting the Scale Pokémon head-on. The latter, due to the violence of the blow, lost several meters of altitude. «Vivillon!» the girl shouted, in a worried tone. The Pokémon, despite the violence of the blow, managed to recover. Anita breathed a sigh of relief. «Retaliate is a move that becomes much stronger if used by a Pokémon after its teammate has been defeated.» the Gym Leader explained. «Vivillon! Return!» The girl recalled her Pokémon to its Poké Ball. «Oshawott! Let's try!» The girl sent the Otter Pokémon back onto the field. It was still a bit shaky from the injuries caused by Deerling, but it would grit its teeth and battle. «The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» the electronic referee declared. «Herdier! Use Play Rough!» The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run with all its might, as its body was coated in a pink aura. «Oshawott! Try to dodge with Aqua Jet!» the girl ordered. Thanks to the propulsion of the water current, the Pokémon managed to avoid the blow. «And now hit it with Fury Cutter!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon brandished its Scalchop, which was coated in a yellow aura, elongating and transforming into a kind of sword. «Herdier! Dodge!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Pokémon made a quick dash, moving and avoiding the opponent's attack at first. «Let's try again!» the girl ordered. The Otter Pokémon continued to follow the opponent, propelled by the water current.

For a few minutes, there was a back-and-forth between the two Pokémon, with the Otter trying in every way to hit the opponent. «Enough running away! Use Play Rough again!» the Gym Leader ordered.

The two Pokémon collided rather violently, being thrown to opposite sides of the battlefield. «Oshawott is no longer able to battle!» the electronic referee declared. Now the two Trainers were almost even. Both had one Pokémon still in perfect shape and one that had already battled. Anita was forced to recall her Oshawott to its Poké Ball. «You did a great job. Now rest.» The girl took her third Poké Ball from her bag. «Herdier! Now it's your turn!» The girl decided to have her third Pokémon battle. «The battle can resume. The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» the electronic referee declared. «Herdier, use Wild Charge!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run, as its body was coated in electrical discharges. «Use Dig!» the girl ordered, without having a precise plan in mind. Quickly, the girl's Herdier dug a hole in the battlefield, then dove into it. «Pursuit!» the Gym Leader ordered. The woman's Herdier dove into the hole, chasing the opponent, continuing with its attack. From underground, neither Pokémon could hear the two Trainers' instructions.

After digging for who knows how long, Anita's Herdier emerged from the ground. It looked around, disoriented. Its opponent had disappeared. «Watch out! It could pop up at any moment!» Anita warned her Pokémon. «Move away and get ready with Tackle!» The Pokémon moved away from the hole it had dug. A few moments later, its opponent also emerged from the same hole, still covered in electricity. Anita's Herdier was ready to hit the opponent, which was heading in its same direction. The two Pokémon collided in the middle of the field, both being violently pushed back towards the side they had started from.

Both Pokémon were covered in electrical discharges, due to the combined power of the two attacks.

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion was heard, followed by the sound of the alarm. «The battle between Gym Leader Lenora and Challenger Anita is interrupted due to force majeure.» the electronic referee declared. «Follow me!» the Gym Leader invited them. Anita returned Herdier to its Poké Ball, before walking off behind the woman, followed by her friends. The Gym Leader took her Rotom Smart from her pants pocket. «It seems the alarm is coming from sector 3.» The Gym Leader tried to remain calm. «In the third sector, ancient Pokémon fossils are displayed.» she explained, as she led the group.

Leaving the battlefield, the four walked down a corridor, not a very long one. «How strange!» the Gym Leader commented, looking at the floor. «It seems to be full of dirt.» The Gym Leader glanced at the floor. «And yet the cleaning company came by this morning. We haven't had any visitors. My husband hasn't arrived yet. And we haven't had any guided tours. Be careful. There could be dangerous people.» The Gym Leader took one of her Poké Balls in hand, and Serena and Carlos did the same. The five soon found themselves in front of the door. «I can assure you that this morning the door was open.» the Gym Leader explained, before bursting the door open with a shoulder charge. Inside the room was a large number of Team Plasma Grunts. «And what are you doing here?» The Gym Leader seemed extremely angry. «Hands off my artifacts!» she shouted shortly after. One of the grunts took a step forward. «Oh! And so in the end you decided your artifacts are worth more than a battle with your Challenger…» The Grunt took another step forward, sending out a Yamask, a Pokémon resembling a small black spirit. Its body was thin, arms were connected to it and, at the bottom, a golden mask, with human-like features. On its body, there were three protrusions that gave it an irregular shape. It had two tiny eyes, lined with a red circumference with a dot in the bottom right corner that resembled a tear about to fall. «I'm sorry to inform you that you've arrived too late! The Dragon's skull is ours!» The Grunt pointed to the skeleton of a Dragonite, displayed in the center of the room. «I assure you we are not kidding at all. We will give our lives to free Pokémon. But we're wasting too much time. Yamask! Use Haze!» The Spirit Pokémon generated a blanket of black smoke that quickly made it impossible to see an inch in front of one's nose.

The Grunts put on masks to avoid breathing the gas, while the others began to cough. A few moments later, the smokescreen dissipated. «Damn it! They took the skull!» the Gym Leader lamented. «But we can't do much as long as we stay here.» she added shortly after. The woman invited the four to follow her towards the exit. «I'll stay here, just in case they come back. This time they won't catch me unprepared. You, however, could take care of looking for them in the area. They shouldn't be too far. I don't think they have accomplices here in the city, but» she added shortly after, as she accompanied them to the exit. Just before leaving the four to their mission, the Gym Leader's phone began to ring. «Sorry… it's urgent.» The woman took her Rotom Smart from her pocket. «Oh! Hi, Burgh! It's you! How are your Gym battles going? You couldn't have found a worse time to call me!» The Gym Leader greeted her colleague on the phone. «And so Burgh is another Gym Leader?» Anita asked in a low voice. «Yes. He's a specialist in Bug-type Pokémon. And he's also a very renowned artist.» Carlos replied. «Having worked as an assistant in a Gym has its advantages.» he added shortly after.

«Team Plasma attacked and stole the skull from the Dragonite skeleton!» the Gym Leader explained, on the phone. The woman's expression changed at one point. «Alright, we'll stick to the plan, but, please, hurry!» The woman ended the call. «Change of plans, kids. Burgh will be here soon and he'll give us a hand too.»

After about twenty minutes, a small, acid-green utility car, shaped like a sort of small egg, parked in the square in front of the Gym.

A young man, rather tall and thin, got out of the small car. He had fairly long, rather wavy brown hair. His eyes were green. He didn't seem to have a trace of a beard. He wore a light green t-shirt and a red scarf. His pants were red with light and dark green stripes. They were held up by a leather belt with a metal, butterfly-shaped buckle.

«There…» The Gym Leader pointed to the man. «That's Burgh, the Gym Leader of Castelia City.» she introduced him. In the meantime, the man approached the group. «I arrived as soon as I could. The situation seems rather serious.» the man replied. «You told me on the phone that Team Plasma stole the Dragonite skull… I wonder what they want with it.» The Normal-type Pokémon specialist motioned for her colleague to hurry. «Whatever they want to do with it, it's certainly nothing good.» the woman commented. «In any case, it's better to get moving. There aren't many hiding places here in the city… they've most likely hidden in the nearby forest. Luckily, Burgh knows Pinwheel Forest like the back of his hand.» The Bug specialist gave a small smile. «If you say so…» The man's expression changed, inviting the four to follow him. «Let's go… we have no time to waste.» He invited them to get into his car. «I can only take you as far as the entrance to the forest. Inside, you can only enter on foot, by bike, or with the electric buses.» he explained. Ash opened the passenger side door and unlatched the passenger seat release mechanism. Anita, Carlos, and Serena sat in the back, then Ash sat in the front. The Gym Leader started the car and drove a few kilometers, to the outskirts of the city. During the trip, the five exchanged phone numbers, so they could get in touch, if necessary: «From here on, we have to proceed on foot.» The man stopped the car, allowing the four to get out.

As soon as everyone was out, the Gym Leader began to explain the situation: «Pinwheel Forest is very intricate. The Grunts could be anywhere. Pay attention. I think it's better if we split up. There are five of us, so I'll go alone.» It didn't take long for the others to form pairs, with Serena pulling Ash and Pikachu to her side, consequently leaving Anita and Carlos to form the other group.

Separated, they could patrol the forest more quickly, although they risked being victims of attacks from the Grunts more.

Ash and Serena had headed south, while Anita and Carlos headed north. Burgh, instead, would head west. It was a beautiful day and the sunlight passed delicately through the trees. There was also a gentle breeze that barely moved the leaves. On the trees, some Sewaddle specimens were grazing on the leaves of some of those trees.

«Let's try to be quiet. They could be nearby.» Ash tried to speak in a low voice as well. Serena just nodded. The two continued to walk in silence, straight ahead. They didn't want to risk getting lost.

They walked for some time, without encountering any humans, only Bug-type Pokémon, which seemed quite calm.

Suddenly, the sound of breaking branches broke the silence. «Be quiet!» Ash shushed Serena, bringing a finger to his lips. «It wasn't me. Look there!» The girl pointed to a figure moving quickly not far from them.

It was a sort of gray blur moving quickly. «Did you see? It's one of them!» Serena tried not to be heard. «And the others certainly won't be far.» Ash added. «Let's follow him!» he said shortly after, inviting Serena to follow him.

Ash, Serena, and Pikachu set off, following the Grunt's footsteps.

Meanwhile, Carlos and Anita had covered a lot of ground, without finding anything. «Oh! Look!...» He caught his friend's attention. «What?» the girl asked. «A Bug-type Pokémon!» The girl tried to stay calm. When he put his mind to it, Carlos could be really annoying. Suddenly, a loud noise caught the attention of the two, making them jump. «Let's try to stay calm.» Carlos tried to calm the situation. «A tree probably just fell. These things happen.» Anita assumed an expression as if to say "if you say so!" and decided to ignore it, continuing the search for the Grunts.

The two continued walking for some time. Neither of them could accurately estimate the distance they covered. Maybe they had covered more than a few kilometers.

«WATCH OUT!» A man's scream pierced the silence. The two stopped, as if the cry was directed at them. What should they watch out for?

Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard, gradually getting louder. «Another tree?» Carlos asked, almost rhetorically. «And what's that yellow thing up there?» he asked shortly after.

Carlos barely had time to finish the sentence when that yellowish object began to fall. «I'll get it!» Anita threw herself in the direction of the falling object.

Aware of the risks, the girl dashed forward; she managed to catch what looked to Carlos like a strange yellow object, just in time.

The girl looked more closely at what she had in her arms. It was smooth and delicate. Before the girl could think or do anything else, a huge thud almost made her lose her grip on what she had caught. A gigantic tree fell a very short distance from her. It took the girl a few moments to understand what had happened. «I think you're all in one piece, you can move now.» Carlos teased his friend, without getting results. Evidently, she hadn't yet realized the danger she had escaped.

«Now that I look at it closely, it seems to be a Pokémon egg.» Carlos commented, returning to a serious tone, which better suited the situation. «I imagine you know what it is.» «Well… yes.» the girl replied. «At school, they taught us that Pokémon reproduce with eggs, but no one has ever seen a Pokémon lay one.» she replied, repeating the notion almost from memory.

«Hey! What are you two doing here?» A male voice broke the silence. It was the same one that, a few moments earlier, had anticipated the tree's fall. Anita and Carlos were paralyzed.

«Don't you know that entry into this area of the forest is forbidden to non-authorized personnel? Didn't you read the signs? We're working on building a factory and we're already behind schedule. Try not to waste our time!» he reprimanded them. «You kids are always the same… sticking your noses into business that doesn't concern you. Get out of here and don't ever come back!» he added shortly after.

The two moved away from that area, trying to do so as quickly as possible, although it was extremely difficult for Anita to run with that egg in her hands without risking dropping it.

«We should be far enough away here.» the boy commented after covering an unspecified distance. «Should we try calling the others?» the boy asked. Without even waiting for the girl's reply, he took his Rotom Smart, starting the call. Despite several attempts, no one answered. «Their phones must be on silent.» the boy commented, in a frustrated tone. «Maybe it's better to wait for them here. When they see your call, they'll call you back.» Anita tried to calm the situation. Carlos stopped trying to contact the Gym Leader.

Meanwhile, Ash and Serena had begun to follow the boy dressed in gray. They tried to avoid making any noise possible. They continued to hide behind every tree, to hide from his sight. Luckily for them, the technique worked better than expected.

«Look, there are the other Grunts.» Ash spoke as quietly as possible. Together with Serena, he watched the Grunts celebrating having obtained the Skull.

«Hahaha! It was easier than we thought! Maybe that Champion doesn't really care about Trainers!» One of the Grunts snickered.

«And here is our treasure!» Another Grunt, dressed exactly like his colleague, opened his uniform, revealing the mysterious object.

«I wonder what a Pokémon skull could have to do with Team Plasma's plans.» Serena commented, under her breath. «Whatever they want to do, it's definitely nothing good.» Ash made a move to approach the two Grunts, but Serena pulled him by the arm. «We don't know where the other Grunts are… there were at least ten of them.» Ash stepped back.

After a time that neither Ash nor Serena could estimate, the same Grunt who had carried the skull took a small transmitter from his uniform. «We're in the clear, you can join us!» he communicated.

After just a few moments, about ten Grunts, five men and five women, in their ancient-style uniforms, rushed in from the surrounding trees.

«Now we just have to take it to the Boss and then we can finally take a well-deserved vacation!» one of the grunts commented, as soon as they landed. «That should be all of them now.» Ash seemed to want to attack at all costs. The girl huffed. Sometimes Ash was so impatient… «Alright… let's go!» The Kalos native didn't seem very convinced.

«Now we just have to inform the Boss of our success!» One of the Grunts began to rub his hands together as he took out his device.

«Not so fast!» Ash and Serena emerged from their hiding place, ready to attack. «And you two… what do you think you're doing? Don't you see you're outnumbered?» A female Grunt pointed at them.

Ash and Serena looked at each other and smiled. «We're not exactly alone.» Ash contradicted the Grunt, as he reached for his Poké Balls. Serena did the same. «Come on out!» The two sent out all their Pokémon. Ash, at that moment, besides Pikachu, had Tauros, Snorlax, Servine, and Noctowl with him, as well as his Charizard. Serena sent out all four of her Pokémon, including Lilligant, who could finally count on Sylveon's support.

«I'll entrust you to Ash… in the meantime, I'll call Burgh and the others.» The Kalos native addressed her Pokémon, who simply nodded. Delphox, Pancham, and Sylveon had no problem trusting him. Lilligant decided to do the same, after a quick exchange of glances with Sylveon.

«Do you think you're the only ones with Pokémon?» One of the Grunts addressed the two. «As much as I hate to say it, you can't free all Pokémon from the tyranny of Trainers without behaving like one of them, as disgusting as it is.» At those words, all the Grunts took their Poké Balls from the inner pockets of their uniforms.

In a few moments, about twenty Pokémon appeared on the Grunts' side. Most of them were Watchog, a bipedal Pokémon, similar to a prairie dog. Its body was brown with yellow stripes, except for the ends of its white limbs. Its tail, the same color as its body, was extremely long and ended in a white tuft. Its eyes were red and yellow; its cheeks were also quite large and puffy. A large incisor stuck out of its mouth. Besides the Watchog, there were also some Liepard and a couple of Scrafty. «You want to battle? You've got it!» yet another Grunt intervened.

«Let's have some fun, then! Tauros! Go with Iron Head! Snorlax! Body Slam! Noctowl and Charizard, you go with Air Slash! Pikachu! Go with Thunderbolt!» the boy ordered. The ground began to tremble, due to Snorlax's bulk and Tauros's great speed. Meanwhile, Pikachu had climbed onto Charizard's back to attack from above.

A few moments later, some of the Watchog were crushed by Snorlax's imposing bulk, while the Liepard and Scrafty were launched into the air by Tauros.

Their fate was not much better than their companions'. They were hit by powerful gusts of air, combined with an enormously powerful electric shock.

Meanwhile, for the other Team Plasma Pokémon, the situation was not the rosiest. Although one of the Grunts had ordered them to use Hyper Beam, the powerful whitish-colored energy beam they generated was not very useful.

«Go! Dodge!» Ash ordered the remaining Pokémon on his side of the field, while Snorlax was getting up and Tauros was returning to his side. «Let's let the others have fun too!» he commented with a smile. «Delphox, use Fire Blast! Sylveon! Hyper Voice! Pancham, Stone Edge! And you, Servine! Use Leaf Tornado!» The combination of attacks was about to overwhelm all the remaining opposing Pokémon.Lilligant turned to the boy with a rather disappointed expression. Why hadn't he ordered any attack for her? «OH! Of course! Lilligant! Go with Pollen Puff!» An amorphous, purplish-colored mass quickly joined that set of attacks.

The enormous blaze launched by the fire fox, further fueled by the vortex of leaves generated by the grass snake, and pushed by the sound waves generated by Sylveon, anticipated by a few moments the enormous quantity of sharp boulders that sprouted from the ground and finally, that purplish-colored mass with enormous corrosive power.

With a few well-aimed blows, all of Team Plasma's grunts' Pokémon had been defeated. «Now enough with the games… give us back the skull, if you don't want to get hurt.» Ash tried to adopt the most serious tone possible.

«Alright… you've won this time… but next time you won't be so lucky!» One of the Grunts took several steps forward in Ash's direction, holding the skull.

Ash grabbed it decisively and examined it very carefully. It seemed perfectly intact. A few moments later, those present could hear the sound of an engine.

As the seconds passed, the sound grew more intense. Shortly after, they also began to feel a strong current of air, as if a large Flying-type Pokémon was using Gust, or a similar move.

Those present only needed to turn their gazes to the sky to understand that it wasn't a powerful Flying Pokémon, but a helicopter. A large black helicopter with the Team Plasma insignia printed on it.

The belly of the vehicle opened via four hydraulic pistons. From the belly of the vehicle, a strange figure lowered himself, dressed in a brown robe, partially covered by a yellow overtunic, held in place by the Team Plasma symbol.

The man descended to the ground, jumping from the platform and showing his real appearance, that of a man in his seventies, or perhaps older, tall and robustly built. At his sight, all the Grunts bowed, as a sign of respect.

«Sage Celio!» The Grunts obsequiously greeted the elder.

The elder raised an arm, as if to order the Grunts to stop bowing and to get back on their feet immediately.

«Sir…» One of the Grunts timidly addressed the elder. «We have failed. These Trainers put a spoke in our wheels, preventing us from obtaining the Dragon Skull.» The elder gestured for the Grunt to be silent.

«It doesn't matter. We have conducted research and discovered that that skull has nothing to do with our objectives. This small inconvenience will not prevent us from carrying out our task. It doesn't matter that the World Champion is against us. We will manage to capture him and free all his Pokémon! It will serve as a warning to all Trainers who dare to hinder us!» Ash didn't hold back a laugh: «Not even when I came to you in person did you manage to hold me. As long as I am here in Unima, I will have no peace until Team Plasma ceases to exist.» The Sage did not reply. He took a Poké Ball from his robe and opened it.

From it emerged a large Pokémon resembling a sarcophagus: it had four black arms. The Pokémon's entire body was covered in a dark aura. Its eyes were red and on what might have been its face, was imprinted a grinning smile. «Cofagrigus! Use Haze!» ordered the elder. The Coffin Pokémon generated a blanket of dark and foul-smelling smoke. Ash, Serena, and all the Pokémon present began to cough.

«Charizard! Noctowl! Try to make this cloud disappear!» Ash ordered. The two Flying Pokémon obeyed, moving their wings forcefully, driving away the black cloud.

Despite the speed of Ash's Pokémon's intervention, it was already too late; all the Grunts and their Pokémon had disappeared. «Damn it!» The boy seemed rather nervous. «They've escaped us!»

«It doesn't matter. We will manage to defeat them once and for all. I'm sure we'll succeed.» Serena tried to reassure him.

«Here I am! I arrived as soon as I could… but it seems I arrived too late.» Artemisio reached them, still out of breath. «I sensed the Bug Pokémon of this area and they seemed incredibly worried, but it looks like everything is fine now.» Ash motioned for the Gym Leader to stop. «Not at all. Team Plasma is much more dangerous than I thought.» «I understand.» the Gym Leader replied. «My colleagues and I will do our best to stop them. You have my word.» The Gym Leader extended his hand to the two.

«By the way…» The Gym Leader's expression changed. «What happened to Anita and Carlos?» he asked. «I don't know. I called them, but they told me they would take some time. They didn't say anything else.» the girl replied.

A quarter of an hour later, the three were finally reached by Anita and Carlos.

It did not escape the notice of anyone present that the girl was carefully holding something. As she and her friend got closer, the object in the girl's hand became clearer. It was a Pokémon egg.

«And this?» asked the Gym Leader, pointing to the egg in the girl's hand. «Don't worry, you can keep it… it will hatch soon and a Pokémon will be born.» the Gym Leader explained. «I just want to know where you found it. I have a bad feeling.» he added shortly after.

«Well… I caught it before it fell from a tree they were cutting down.» The Gym Leader shot up like a spring. «Did I hear correctly?» he asked. «A tree cut down?» The girl nodded her head. «Can you tell me more?» he asked. «Well… yes. A man threatened us to leave. They were doing some work.» The Gym Leader shook his head. «Impossible! The forest is a protected area. It's not possible to build new structures or anything. And trees can only be cut down if the FPA, the Forest Protection Agency, decides it.» the Gym Leader replied. «Could you tell me where you found the egg?» he asked. The girl didn't have the heart to say no.

«It's a bit far from here. But I hope that's not a problem.» Carlos answered instead of his friend, who seemed rather annoyed. After all, she had carried that egg around for all that time and now it was starting to weigh on her.

Ash and Serena returned their Pokémon to their respective Poké Balls. Only then did the five set off on the path taken by Anita and Carlos.

Artemisio, out of kindness, had decided to hold the egg for a while, noticing that Anita seemed quite tired of carrying it.

After a walk lasting almost half an hour, the group finally reached the spot where Anita and Carlos had been rudely chased away by one of the workers. At that moment, there seemed to be an unreal silence, as if that area of the forest were dead.

A few moments later, the noise of machinery replaced the silence.

Before the Gym Leader could even say a word, one of the workers there rushed in the direction of the five. Caught by surprise, the five put their hands on their Poké Balls, ready to battle.

«Hey! You! What are you doing? Don't you know this area is a private area? Entry is forbidden to outsiders?» the man asked. «And besides… you two…» The man turned to Anita and Carlos. «Doesn't it seem like I already told you to leave less than an hour ago?» he scolded them.

Artemisio stepped forward, as if to protect them. «I am Artemisio, the Gym Leader of Castelia City and I am a specialist in Bug-type Pokémon.» he introduced himself. «And I am also the guardian of this splendid forest and the Bug-type Pokémon that live here.» The man looked at the Gym Leader as if he were an alien.

«So what? My colleagues and I are just following our boss's orders, and now you're wasting our time!» The man reached for his Poké Balls. «And now you'll pay the consequences!»

From the man's Poké Balls emerged a Conkeldurr, a humanoid-looking Pokémon. It was extremely muscular. Its body was mainly light brown, with some lilac stripes. The upper part of its body was wider and more robust, especially the arms, while the lower part was smaller. Its nose was round and red. It also held two large stone cylinders.

Anita analyzed that strange Pokémon with the Pokédex function of her Rotom Smart: «Conkeldurr. Muscular Pokémon. Fighting type. Male specimen. It is thought that the technique for making concrete was spread by Conkeldurr 2000 years ago. Known moves: Bulk Up, Stomping Tantrum, Mach Punch.»

The man's second Pokémon, however, was a Beartic, a large Pokémon resembling a polar bear. It had a sort of beard made of ice. Its body was completely covered in thick white fur, except for the palms of its hands, which were hairless and completely black. It had large, very sharp claws.

The Freezing Pokémon didn't escape Anita's Rotom Smart either.

«Beartic. Freezing Pokémon. Ice type. Male specimen. It battles using fangs or claws created by freezing its own breath. It lives in the cold northern regions. Known moves: Icicle Crash, Shadow Claw, Brick Break.» The girl put her device back in her bag.

«We'll take care of him… you call the authorities!» Artemisio, after a quick exchange of glances with Ash, triggered the release mechanism of one of his Poké Balls.

Simultaneously, Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and took a position in front of the two opposing Pokémon. «Volcarona, give Pikachu a hand!» The Gym Leader sent out his Pokémon.

Serena was rather intrigued by the appearance of that Pokémon, similar to a large moth. Its belly was white; the lower part of its body, however, was light blue. Its head was black. On the sides of its body were two decorations in the shape of orange worms. Its wings, three on each side, were orange with black dots. Its eyes were blue, a darker color than the lower part of its body.

The girl analyzed the Pokémon with the Pokédex function of her Rotom Smart: «Volcarona. Sun Pokémon. Bug and Fire type. Female specimen. It is thought to be the incarnation of the sun. It appeared during a harsh winter to save Pokémon from the cold. Known moves: Fiery Dance, Quiver Dance, Bug Buzz, Air Slash.»

«I'd say we can begin! Pikachu, use Quick Attack!» Ash ordered. The Mouse Pokémon began to run at high speed, jumping between one tree and another.

«Beartic! Hit him with Icicle Crash! You Conkeldurr, use Bulk Up!» The Muscular Pokémon's body lit up with a red aura and its muscles bulged, while the Freezing Pokémon was generating large icicles in the direction of the electric rodent.

«Quick, Pikachu, return to sender with Iron Tail!» the boy ordered. The Mouse Pokémon's tail lit up white, modifying its structure, becoming hard as metal. It quickly hit every single icicle, launching them back at the bulky opponent, who couldn't do much to dodge its own attack.

«Volcarona! Use Fiery Dance!» The Sun Pokémon generated an enormous turbine of flames, which quickly raised the temperature of the surrounding air.

«Conkeldurr! Defend yourself!» the man ordered. The Muscular Pokémon lifted its two heavy stone pillars and used them as a shield, neutralizing the moth's attack.

«Enough joking around! Beartic! Use Shadow Claw! Conkeldurr! Use Mach Punch!» While the strong Fighting-type Pokémon charged a powerful punch, from the paws of the large Ice-type Pokémon, long sharp claws emerged, wrapped in a purplish aura.

«Excellent! Pikachu, jump on Conkeldurr's arm and then hit it with Iron Tail!» The mouse Pokémon obeyed, made a nice jump, and avoided the opponent's blow.

Because of its eagerness, the Fighting-type Pokémon hit one of the trees, making it shake. Without its opponent being able to do anything to shake off the electric rodent, which was now on one of its shoulders. With enviable speed and equally impressive strength, the Electric-type Pokémon dealt a strike to the opponent's neck, which felt it badly, moving forward and causing the pillar it had been clinging to to slip.

Meanwhile, Volcarona, following its Trainer's orders, had begun to twirl elegantly in the air.

Due to the powerful blow inflicted on the opponent, Pikachu, too, was now lifted into the air.

«Conkeldurr! Hit him with your pillars!» the man ordered, quite convinced of what he wanted to do. The Muscular Pokémon, although hesitant, carried out its Trainer's order, throwing the two heavy pillars into the air with impressive ease.

«Good, Pikachu! Destroy them with Iron Tail and launch them back!» Ash ordered. The mouse Pokémon's tail lit up with a whitish light, as its structure changed, becoming hard and sharp.

In a few moments, the stone pillars were sliced into many small discs, launched with great speed by the rodent.

«Conkeldurr, Beartic! Dodge!» the man ordered. The two Pokémon moved immediately, and now the stone fragments were on a collision course with Volcarona.

«Let's add our touch to this picture! Volcarona! Use Fiery Dance!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Sun Pokémon generated a gigantic tornado of fire from its wings, engulfing the stone discs launched by Pikachu, making them rotate at great speed towards the two opposing Pokémon, paralyzed with fear.

«And now let's put our signature on it, Pikachu!» Ash jokingly imitated the Gym Leader's manner. «Use Thunderbolt!» From the electric sacs on its cheeks, the Mouse Pokémon generated light sparks that, in a few moments, transformed into an imposing electric discharge that joined the tornado of fire and stone.

The two Pokémon fell to the ground, now unconscious.

The man, not at all resigned to his defeat, took his Rotom Smart to get in touch, via a group call, with his colleagues, who, fortunately for him, answered immediately: «Come here, to the south side of the construction site! I need your help!» From his tone, it was understandable that his situation was not the best.

«Not so fast! You and your colleagues are under arrest for damaging a protected area.» The man was stopped by a group of Officer Jennys. «Now have your colleagues come here and don't try anything funny. You're surrounded!» another Officer ordered him.

A third officer congratulated the group.

After a few minutes, a large group of workers arrived on the scene, who were surrounded by the Officers and handcuffed. In order not to lengthen their stay behind bars, none of them resisted. As required by law, their Pokémon were entrusted to a specialized facility.

«Apparently, you also managed to recover the dragon skull from the Museum… it seems it was stolen by Team Plasma, but we found no trace of their passage. Artemisio is a trusted person, and we know he will return it to the museum as soon as possible.»

After the arrest of the several workers, the five left the forest to return to Nacrene City. Both to deliver the skull and because everyone was starting to feel tired.

Back at the car, Serena settled into the back seat, then motioned for her friend to pass her the egg, to make her entry easier. For Ash, however, it was relatively simple to sit in the front while holding the skull. «Aloé will be happy; luckily the skull is in perfect condition.» the Gym Leader commented.

As soon as they arrived in front of the Gym, the five got out of the car. Lenora was waiting for them in front of her Gym, impatiently. When Ash handed her the skull, the woman almost snatched it from his hands.

«You did an excellent job with Team Plasma. And I'm happy the Skull is back here all in one piece. I wonder what they wanted with it.» the Gym Leader congratulated everyone, while still maintaining her perplexity.

«They wanted to use it for their purposes, but then they found out it wasn't useful for their purposes.» Ash replied. The woman nodded to show she understood. «Anyway… regarding your battle…» the woman turned to Anita. «We can finish tomorrow morning, I hope that's okay with you.» she addressed Anita. The girl just nodded.

The four arrived at the city's Pokémon Center. Anita held the egg she had recovered in the forest tightly. The latter did not go unnoticed by the Nurse's eyes.

«Excuse me if I'm being nosy…» the nurse asked. «But where did you find that egg?» The girl had to answer the same question for the umpteenth time. «In the forest, it fell from a tree they were cutting down.» the girl explained. «But the forest is a protected area!» the Nurse retorted. «True, but many unscrupulous people don't care that it's a protected area. For them, money comes before everything!» Ash replied. «Luckily Ash and Burgh stopped them in time.» Serena added. «If they hadn't battled one of them, the police would never have arrived in time.» she explained.

«You did very well. If only there were more Trainers like you!» the Nurse congratulated them.

«But now I'd better get back to my work… if you want, I can take care of your Pokémon and the egg… I don't know how long it will take to hatch, but it's better to keep it under observation.»

The four didn't need to be told twice, placing their respective Poké Balls on the counter. Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to settle on the counter, while Anita placed the egg on a cushion provided by the Audino assisting the Nurse. After the check-up, which lasted about three-quarters of an hour, the kids and their Pokémon headed to the dining hall.

To celebrate the arrest of the workers, Burgh decided to treat everyone to dinner.

The Gym Leader ordered from a very famous catering service in the city, as much for the goodness of its dishes as for the abundance of its portions.

To ensure nothing was missing, the Gym Leader had ordered a dinner consisting of an appetizer, two first courses, two second courses, and would have also bought desserts, had it not been for Lenora who had offered to buy it of her own accord. Due to the many orders, the man had to pick up the dinner in person.

Burgh arrived at the Pokémon Center at eight-thirty in the evening, carrying a large blue container, made of a material similar to styrofoam. He held a white plastic bag between his teeth.

«These are better put in the freezer…» After placing the container on a table, the Gym Leader took the bag and headed to the kitchens.

Arriving in the premises, he placed three white, anonymous-looking bottles in a freezer, if not for a lemon drawn on the label of each of them. Once this was done, he returned to the room.

«If you don't mind, could you give me a hand?» the Gym Leader asked. «There are still five more containers in the trunk!» he added shortly after.

Ash and Carlos went out of the building to head towards the Gym Leader's car. It was parked in front of the Pokémon Center entrance, with the trunk still open.

As soon as the two entered the dining hall with the thermal containers, they noticed that the girls had just finished setting the table. «Just put them next to the one I put down.» Burgh pointed to one of the tables nearby. On it rested the thermal container brought by Burgh. «Let's go get the remaining containers.» The Gym Leader motioned for the two to follow him to unload the last two boxes. Within a few minutes, the three returned to the room with the various containers.

«So… the appetizers are in the blue containers, in one there are the land-based ones, in another the sea-based ones… the land-based first and second courses are in the pink ones, while the sea-based first and second courses are in the dark blue ones.» the Gym Leader explained, as he headed towards one of the thermal containers.

«Luckily everything arrived in one piece.» he commented shortly after, as he began to remove the dishes from the container. Numerous slices of prosciutto, sliced dry sausage, a container full of olives seasoned with oil, garlic, and parsley, and crostini covered with a red sauce.

The Gym Leader got help from the others to bring the various dishes to the table, before heading to the second container. Inside it were three different types of seafood salads, crostini topped with a light pink sauce, and others with a dark pink sauce.

Once the appetizers were on the table and after waiting a few minutes for Lenora and her husband to arrive, they could finally start dinner. The Nurse, in order to get up quickly in case of an emergency, sat at the head of the table.

Ash, being the big eater he was, started taking a good bit of everything. He seemed particularly intrigued by those crostini covered with that sort of red sauce. He took one and bit into it.

«Help! But these things are super spicy! WATER!» The boy chugged half a bottle of water in a few seconds. «That's better.» he commented shortly after.

«Let me try!» Anita took one of those crostini and began to eat it. «Yeah.. They're a bit spicy, but they're really good.» Ash looked at her with his eyes still slightly watery. «A bit spicy? Are you kidding? I feel like I swallowed a fireball!» Ash replied, in his usual way.

Noticing the looks from the others, the Pallet Town native realized he wasn't in the minority at all. Serena, Carlos, and the nurse all seemed to be feeling the heat quite a bit.

For Pikachu, watching his friend's reaction was enough not to even dare try one of those crostini. The rest of the appetizers passed peacefully, both the land and sea-based ones.

After the appetizers, they moved on to the land-based first course, which Burgh offered to serve, with his typical kindness. Starting with the land-based first course, pasta with mushrooms, cream, and sausage.

Ash took a second plate to let Pikachu try the dish too, who seemed to appreciate it very much.

After the land-based first course, immediately the second, roasted meat, very simple, seasoned just with a bit of salt. Once the meat was finished too, Burgh got up from the table. «Excuse me, but I have to go get something.»

The Bug-type Pokémon specialist got up from the table to go to the kitchen. He took the two bottles placed in the freezer some time before and then returned to the room. «Here I am!» The man placed the two bottles he had brought on the table. «It's better to cleanse our palates a bit with this, now that we're moving on to the seafood dishes.» he explained, as he poured a strange, white, half-frozen drink into other glasses. «Be careful, everyone! It's quite cold!» he warned.

Starting to drink the strange liquid, Carlos made a strange face, halfway between disgusted and pleased. «It tastes like lemon! It's super sour!» he commented.

Burgh smiled. «It serves exactly that purpose, to remove the taste of the land-based dishes from the mouth to move on to the sea-based ones, or vice versa.» he explained. «And yet you worked at the Striaton Gym… you should know.» Carlos felt embarrassed. «We never served these things in the middle of meals.» he tried to defend himself.

Shortly after, it was time for the seafood dishes. The first was seafood pasta. A rather particular type of pasta, sorts of irregularly shaped small balls. Overcoming the initial bewilderment, everyone ate without asking questions. As a seafood second course, mixed fried seafood, in large quantities.

Once the second courses were finished, it was time for fruit and then desserts, kindly offered by Lenora. Pastries and a cake.

After a couple of hours, the Gym Leaders left, leaving the kids and the Nurse alone.

It was almost time for bed, when a siren caught the attention of those present. «It's coming from the area where the Pokémon are recovering!» The nurse jumped up. «I hope it's nothing serious.» she added shortly after.

Ash and the others got up in turn to follow the Nurse. Just in case they could lend a hand.

The nurse arrived in the area where the Pokémon were recovering. The Nurse soon noticed their presence. «Come on in… nothing serious has happened… on the contrary…» The four quickly approached the Nurse. «Look! The egg is about to hatch!» The nurse pointed to the egg, covered in several sensors and resting on a soft cushion.

«Is this the first time you've seen an egg hatch?» Serena turned to Anita. «Yes… it's the first time. I've never been very close to Pokémon before traveling with you…» the girl replied. «What about you… guys?» she asked shortly after. «Many times… but every time is as exciting as the first.» Ash replied. «You never know what Pokémon might hatch from that egg.» «Only once for me, instead.» Serena and Carlos ended up talking over each other. The boy, out of chivalry, let the Kalos native speak first. «Only once… it was Ash's Noivern. Back then it was still a little Noibat and couldn't fly.» «And now it's a really, really powerful Pokémon. It was also thanks to him that we saved Carlos from Team Plasma.» Ash replied. «I, on the other hand, only saw Eevee hatch from its egg. You know it as Umbreon now…» the boy explained. «I was home alone and Mom had told me to check the egg, but not to touch it, just in case. You can't imagine how happy I was to see that little Pokémon just hatched from the egg. And that's how Eevee became my first Pokémon.» he recounted. Meanwhile, the egg in that machine hadn't stopped pulsing.

A few moments later, very light crackling sounds began to be heard. «In a few moments it should…» The Nurse didn't have time to finish the sentence before the egg lit up with a greenish light, then finally hatched, revealing, at last, the Pokémon inside. A Sewaddle.

It was a Pokémon with an appearance similar to a caterpillar. Around its round head was a large, wide leaf. On its forehead, it had protrusions. Its eyes were dark and circular, while its muzzle was orange. The lower part of its face was white. The rest of its body was green, with three rows of truncated, spherical-shaped legs, while its chin was white.

Anita immediately analyzed the newborn Pokémon with the Pokédex function of her Rotom Smart. «Sewaddle, the Sewing Pokémon. Bug and Grass type. Female specimen. The protrusions on its head are sensory organs. When two Sewaddle meet, they greet each other by rubbing them together. Known moves: Tackle, String Shot, Bug Bite.» «Now it's better to let it eat something, then I'll run some checks, then you can catch it.» The Nurse addressed Anita. «I'll go get some food.» she added shortly after.

Anita moved her hand towards the newborn Pokémon, but had to immediately retract it when the newborn tried to take a bite. «I guess you're very hungry!» she commented ironically.

Luckily for the young Trainer's fingers, the Nurse arrived with a nice bowl of Pokémon food, food specially designed for newborn Pokémon. The Pokémon devoured the food in just a few moments. Anita, watching it devour the food with a speed that would make Ash envious. «You really were very hungry!» she commented jokingly. As soon as it finished eating, the Pokémon fell asleep, lying on its side.

The Nurse gently lifted the Pokémon, trying not to wake it, then placed it, just as gently, on another counter, where she could perform the various exams.

After about ten minutes, the Nurse finished the checks. «Sewaddle is fine; it's just been born but it seems it will be a very strong and determined Pokémon. You can catch it if you want.» the Nurse explained.

Anita shook her head slightly. «I'd prefer it to be awake when I catch it… I wouldn't want to force it to be with me.» she tried to explain. The Nurse gave a small smile. «It's not a problem. Let's let it rest for now.»

«And Sewaddle won't be the only one doing that…» A big yawn escaped Ash. «Goodnight!» The four went to bed; it was rather late and the next day Anita would have to face Lenora. In a short time, all four managed to fall asleep without any particular problems.

It was a particularly calm and silent night; it seemed the night had wrapped the city in a heavy cloak.

«It should be here! Give him this message!» A boy attached a small note to the back of a wild Swoobat specimen.

The Courting Pokémon fluttered for a few meters, to the back of the Pokémon Center, outside the room where Ash and Carlos were staying. Since it was still spring, the room window was still closed. Not a problem. The Pokémon used its psychic powers to open the window, so it could enter the room. Thanks to the instructions given to it by that boy, it was sure this was the right room.

The rest of its "mission" was rather simple: it was supposed to approach the boy with a Pikachu, wake him up, and give him that note, after which it could go wherever it wanted. It would be free again.

«Hey! What's going on!» Ash woke up because of that draft. «Who left the window open?» he complained, trying not to wake Carlos. Pikachu had woken up with him; sleeping in the same bed, it couldn't be otherwise. Noticing that Carlos was still totally asleep, Ash turned on the light, at least to get up and close the window. As soon as he got up, he noticed the presence of a strange bat-like Pokémon with a large pink nose.

Due to the less-than-optimal light conditions, it was difficult for the boy to identify the Pokémon.

As soon as the Pokémon realized it was close to its target, it turned its back. «You have a message for me?» he asked, taking the note from the Pokémon's back.

Noticing that the strange Pokémon hadn't reacted in any way, Ash deduced his thesis was correct. "Meet me in ten minutes in front of the Azzurra newsstand, we need to talk." The note was not signed or anything like that, making the boy suspicious. Though hesitant, Ash grabbed his satchel and went out the window, which, fortunately, was on the ground floor, so getting out that way wasn't risky.

Thanks to the dedicated maps application, finding the meeting place was quite simple. It was just two hundred meters away from the Pokémon center.

The newsstand was a small metal building, similar to a sort of metal booth. It was 3:25 AM. Ash had arrived five minutes early. «We arrived a bit early, but it's okay, we'll wait.» Ash turned to Pikachu.

The Mouse Pokémon didn't seem at all bothered by it.

At the appointed time, the person who had sent the Swoobat finally showed up. It was a tall, thin boy with long, light green hair; he wore a black beanie, a white shirt, light brown pants, and green shoes. Around his neck was a pendant that resembled a planet. He also wore bracelets, and hanging from his pants was a sort of Rubik's cube.

Certamente. Ecco la continuazione della traduzione, eseguita con la massima fedeltà e rispettando le tue richieste specifiche per la formazione dei dialoghi.

«N?» Ash seemed rather surprised. «What were you expecting? A visit from some secret admirer of yours or… a Trainer who wanted to challenge you to a battle?» the boy asked, teasing him slightly. «Probably the second one.» Ash replied. «I figured.» N replied. «You Trainers think of nothing but pitting your Pokémon against each other in battles to establish who is stronger… you are the strongest Trainer of all. I dare not imagine how many Pokémon you had to overpower to obtain that title… and now you want to battle against me and my friends? You know well the outcome of the match would be a foregone conclusion. No. I didn't come to battle you. I told you we would meet to talk, and I thought this was the best time to meet. I wanted to talk only with you and your Pikachu. No battles, I simply wanted to talk.» Ash motioned that he understood. He knew he had a totally different worldview from N, but he still tried to remain open to discussion.

«I heard what happened today. You and one of the Gym Leaders prevented the tranquility of Pinwheel Forest from being disturbed by workers who wanted to build a factory. Honestly, I would never have expected it. I thought no one lived in harmony with Nature anymore. Especially, I wouldn't have expected this gesture from people who use Poké Balls to carry their Pokémon with them…» Ash shook his head at those words: «For years, Pikachu, my other friends, and I have traveled the world, and this isn't the first time we've faced people like that. We have always faced them and brought them to justice. But for every one you bring to justice…» «A hundred are ready to do the same.» N completed Ash's sentence. «In any case, I didn't come here just to congratulate you. I imagine you've figured that out. You're not very different from the poachers you fight. You also take Pokémon from their environment to carry them with you. It doesn't matter that you don't sell them and don't get rich off them.» Ash felt those words as an affront. «I have never forced any Pokémon to come with me. I've never caught a Pokémon just to collect them; they're not trading cards, you know!» Ash replied. «The reason you catch them isn't important. You make them fight in battles at the limit of their endurance and you surely subject them to grueling training.» Ash tried to remain calm. «I have always been against these behaviors. Many of my Pokémon belonged to trainers who treated them like that. They considered them weak, or even useless. One of them even abandoned one of his Pokémon because he considered it the source of his misfortune.» «You don't believe in that stuff, do you?» N asked him. «Not at all.» N pressed him: «And in what other way do you think you're different from the others?» Ash didn't expect such a question: «If a Trainer doesn't respect their Pokémon, they can't call themselves a Trainer. You can't expect a Pokémon to respect you if you don't treat it with respect. I've known many people who treated their Pokémon by terrorizing them. And they obeyed out of fear of being treated worse.» «But even the best-treated Pokémon get injured during battles… and I can't stand the idea of seeing Pokémon suffer because of that.» N replied. «Pokémon get injured in nature too, and there aren't always people there who can take care of them.» Ash replied. «Can I speak with Pikachu?» N asked, changing the subject. «What do you think?» Ash turned to his Pokémon, who in the meantime was almost falling asleep. «Pika!» The Pokémon seemed to agree.

«It seems you get along very well with your Trainer…» The boy remained silent for a few moments: «And so you and your Trainer have been traveling together for many years and you also say you're inseparable? Don't you miss your life when you were free?» The Mouse Pokémon shook its head. «What do you mean you don't miss it? You're saying you've been able to have experiences you otherwise never would have? That you've been able to meet people and Pokémon you otherwise wouldn't have known? And tell me… how did you meet?» N's expression changed radically. «And so, at the beginning, you didn't get along? Then something clicked and… I would never have expected it.»

After walking a few meters without saying a word, it was Ash who asked N something: «I seem to understand that you don't like seeing people and Pokémon together. Can I ask why?» «You know. I've always thought that humans and Pokémon should live separately. Because I've always seen people take advantage of Pokémon for everything. And I've always seen people not worry about their Pokémon. Treating them like toys and not like living beings. I can't allow thousands of people to treat Pokémon badly.» Ash understood N's motivations. He, too, despised those who treated Pokémon badly, even if his ideas weren't so extreme. «I have one last question to ask you. And then I'll be able to say our meeting was truly interesting. What do you think of Team Plasma? I heard you've battled against them too.» «They are wrong. You can't make humans and Pokémon live separately. The friendship between people and Pokémon goes beyond battles, contests, or Showcases. Trying to separate people from Pokémon doesn't seem like a good idea. Instead, let's teach people to respect their Pokémon.» «In my opinion, one day you and I will be friends. And we will fight for the freedom of Pokémon. That day will come, sooner or later. And with the help of the legendary Pokémon of Unima, no one will be able to stop us!» With these words, N walked away, leaving Ash no chance to reply. «That guy is really serious.» Ash commented, turning to Pikachu. «But it doesn't matter. We'll show him even more that he's wrong.» Ash had wanted to tell him about the fact that Pikachu loved to battle and had so much fun doing it.

Having no more reason to stay outside, Ash returned to the Pokémon Center. Luckily for him, Carlos was a heavy sleeper and hadn't noticed anything. Ash and Pikachu managed to get into the room without waking him.

As soon as he entered, the boy closed the window and changed, putting his pajamas back on. He lay down again, still with Pikachu by his side. He couldn't fall asleep immediately. He spent an unspecified amount of time reflecting on the encounter from just before.

It was finally time to get up. Ash was a little sleepy; he'd had to get up in the middle of the night, and he had to try to hide it, even though it wasn't easy.

After the usual breakfast, the Nurse accompanied the four to the room where the Pokémon guests of the Center were kept. The woman had another small container of food for newborn Pokémon with her. Like the day before, the little one devoured the food in just a few moments. «Now that she's awake, you can catch her. I remember yesterday you were afraid of going against her will.» the Nurse reminded her. The girl didn't need to be told twice; she took an empty Poké Ball from her bag and brought it close to the Sewing Pokémon's head.

The Pokémon literally bit the Poké Ball, triggering the opening mechanism. Because of this, the Pokémon was absorbed into the sphere in a beam of white light.

After absorbing the Pokémon, the Poké Ball began to wobble, one, two, three, four times, then it emitted a light "Click," indicating the capture was successful. The girl picked up the Poké Ball from the small table, smiling. «Hooray! I caught a Sewaddle!» she rejoiced.

«But now it's better to go; don't forget you have a Gym battle.» Ash reminded her. «Of course… right…» Anita replied to him in a low voice.

With a new member on Anita's team, the four headed back to the city's Gym, so the girl could complete her battle against Lenora.

In a short time, they arrived in front of the imposing-looking building, made of brick. Several columns supported a wide patio. A large door provided access to the inside of the building. Nothing suggested that this building was a Gym. By now, they knew well that this building was not just a Gym, but also a museum.

Lenora was waiting for her challenger right at the Gym entrance.

«You arrived earlier than I thought, but that's not a problem… my Pokémon and I are always ready to battle. Unfortunately, we can't pick up where we left off yesterday, so we have to start from scratch.» the woman welcomed them, inviting them inside. «I imagine you know this Gym well by now.» she commented ironically, as she led them towards the battlefield. «You were doing well last time, but I'm not sure of your victory, so now you can give me the chance to prove it.» The Gym Leader seemed to change her tone. «Anyway…» the woman approached the computer that regulated the battle's automatic refereeing. «Don't worry, I remember your name is Anita and this is the battle for your second badge.» the Gym Leader reminded her.

While Ash, Serena, and Carlos took their seats in the stands, near the woman's husband. «The Gym battle between Gym Leader Lenora and the Challenger Anita is about to begin! It will be a three-on-three battle. The winner is the one who manages to make the opposing Pokémon unable to battle! Furthermore, only the Challenger is allowed to substitute her Pokémon. Send out your Pokémon!» the electronic referee declared. «Send out your Pokémon!»

Anita thought for a few moments before deciding which Pokémon to send out. "Yesterday I battled with Oshawott, and Lenora sent out Deerling, which had an advantage over Oshawott… but I don't know what other Pokémon she'll battle with besides Deerling and Herdier, I hope at least one of my Pokémon is in shape to face it. Then I also have to count on her Herdier knowing Wild Charge, so neither Oshawott nor Vivillon can last long…" she thought. «Have you decided who you'll have battle?» the Gym Leader asked. «Yes… of course.» The girl forced herself to give an answer. «It's your turn!» The girl sent out her Oshawott. After thinking it over, she realized battling with him was the best choice. «And in that case, I'll battle with Deerling again too!» the Gym Leader declared, sending out her Pokémon.

«The battle can begin, the first move goes to the challenger!» the electronic referee declared. "Last time we started with Fury Cutter… she might be expecting a similar move again…" she thought.

«Oshawott! Let's start with Water Gun!» the girl ordered, leaving the Gym Leader slightly taken aback. From the Otter Pokémon's mouth, a powerful jet of water shot out, launching in the direction of its opponent.

«Deerling, dodge and use Jump Kick!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Pokémon quickly moved aside, making a powerful leap in the opponent's direction.

«Try to dodge!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon tried to move, but was hit head-on by the Season Pokémon's hind legs.

The Otter Pokémon was thrown back several meters, landing with some violence. «Are you okay, Oshawott?» the girl asked, in a worried tone. At the Trainer's words, the Pokémon jumped up abruptly, as if to let her know it was fine.

«And so Oshawott managed to withstand Deerling's powerful Jump Kick? You should know it's a very strong move, but if the user misses, they take major damage.» the Gym Leader explained. Anita tried to memorize that information. It could come in handy.

«Deerling, use Jump Kick again!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Season Pokémon leaped again, in the Otter Pokémon's direction. «Let's try to put what she told us into practice! Hit it with Water Gun!» Anita ordered. The girl's expression changed when she realized that what came out of the Otter Pokémon's mouth wasn't the standard jet of water, but a thin beam of light blue, bordering on white, energy.

«It learned Ice Beam!» Carlos commented from the stands. «I think that's a good thing. Ice-type moves are very strong against Grass-type Pokémon.» he added shortly after.

The energy beam struck the opposing Pokémon, quickly enveloping it in a grip of ice. Due to the great weight of the ice, the Pokémon lost its balance, falling ruinously to the ground. As explained earlier by the Gym Leader, the ice made the Pokémon fall to the ground, injuring itself.

«Now use Aqua Jet!» the girl ordered. The Otter Pokémon's body was coated in a thin layer of water as it headed towards its opponent, which was trying to get up.

Even before it could, the Pokémon was thrown into the air, launched by the great force of the Otter Pokémon. «And now use Fury Cutter!» the girl ordered.

The Otter Pokémon stopped in mid-air to brandish its Scalchop. The shell lit up with a delicate yellow light as it elongated like a sword.

An instant later, it began to repeatedly strike its opponent with that sword, putting more force into every single blow. Deerling tried in vain to defend itself, moving its legs, but without success.

Yet another blow sent Deerling plummeting to the ground, now unconscious. «Deerling is no longer able to battle. Oshawott wins!» the electronic referee declared. «If the Challenger wishes, she may substitute her Pokémon.» The robotic voice added the detail regarding substitution shortly after, while the Gym Leader returned the Pokémon to its Poké Ball.

Anita also decided to let her Oshawott rest a bit.

«Herdier! It's your time!» The woman sent out a specimen of the Loyal Dog Pokémon; it differed from Anita's only in the length of its whiskers. «If the Challenger does not substitute her Pokémon, the battle can restart.» the electronic referee declared. «The battle can resume, the first move goes to the Challenger!» the Electronic Referee declared.

Anita also sent out Herdier. «Herdier! Let's start with Bite!» the girl ordered. The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run towards its opponent, ready to bite it.

«Dodge and use Retaliate!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Gym Leader's Pokémon began to run at high speed, as its body was lighting up with a brownish light. «Dodge it with Dig!» the girl ordered. Quickly, Herdier dug a hole in the battlefield, hiding from its opponent's sight.

«Pursue it into its hole and attack with Bite!» the Gym Leader ordered. The woman's Pokémon dove into the hole dug by its opponent, in frantic search of it. «Herdier!?! Can you hear me? Try to get out of there!» The girl tried to raise her voice to be heard.

Sensing the ground's vibrations, the Pokémon realized something was wrong, so it began to move quickly, throwing a large mass of dirt at its opponent.

In just a few moments, the girl's Herdier managed to get out of the hole, followed just moments later by its opponent, totally covered in dirt.

«Go Herdier! Use Play Rough!» the Gym Leader ordered. «Hit it with Tackle!» Anita ordered. The two Pokémon collided rather violently, being thrown to opposite sides of the battlefield.

«Herdier!» The two shouted simultaneously, in worried tones. Fortunately for them, both Pokémon were still able to battle. «Herdier, rest a bit» Anita recalled her Pokémon to its Poké Ball.

«Oshawott! It's your turn again!» The girl sent the Otter Pokémon back onto the field. It was still a bit shaky from the injuries caused by Deerling, but it would grit its teeth and battle. «The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» the electronic referee declared. «Herdier! Use Play Rough!» The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run with all its might, as its body was coated in a pink aura. «Oshawott! Try to dodge with Aqua Jet!» the girl ordered. Thanks to the propulsion of the water current, the Pokémon managed to avoid the blow. «And now hit it with Fury Cutter!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon brandished its Scalchop, which was coated in a yellow aura, elongating and transforming into a kind of sword. «Herdier! Dodge!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Pokémon made a quick dash, moving and avoiding the opponent's attack at first. «Let's try again!» the girl ordered. The Otter Pokémon continued to follow the opponent, propelled by the water current. For a few minutes, there was a back-and-forth between the two Pokémon, with the Otter trying in every way to hit the opponent. «Enough running away! Use Play Rough again!» the Gym Leader ordered.

The two Pokémon collided rather violently, being thrown to opposite sides of the battlefield. «Oshawott is no longer able to battle!» the electronic referee declared. Now the two Trainers were almost even. Both had one Pokémon still in perfect shape and one that had already battled. Anita was forced to recall her Oshawott to its Poké Ball. «You did a great job. Now rest.» The girl took another Poké Ball from her bag. «Herdier! Now it's your turn!» The girl decided to have her Herdier battle again. «The battle can resume. The first move goes to the Gym Leader!» the electronic referee declared. «Herdier, use Wild Charge!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run, as its body was coated in electrical discharges. «Use Dig!» the girl ordered, without having a precise plan in mind. Quickly, the girl's Herdier dug a hole in the battlefield, then dove into it. «Pursuit!» the Gym Leader ordered. The woman's Herdier dove into the hole, chasing the opponent, continuing with its attack. From underground, neither Pokémon could hear the two Trainers' instructions.

After digging for who knows how long, Anita's Herdier emerged from the ground. It looked around, disoriented. Its opponent had disappeared. «Watch out! It could pop up at any moment!» Anita warned her Pokémon. «Move away and get ready with Tackle!» The Pokémon moved away from the hole it had dug. A few moments later, its opponent also emerged from the same hole, still covered in electricity. Anita's Herdier was ready to hit the opponent, which was heading in its same direction. The two Pokémon collided in the middle of the field, both being violently pushed back towards the side they had started from. Both Pokémon were covered in electrical discharges, due to the combined power of the two attacks.

«Herdier! Use Play Rough!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Loyal Dog Pokémon began to run with all its might, as its body was coated in a pink aura.

«Herdier! Dodge with Dig!» Anita ordered. The Loyal Dog Pokémon dug another hole in the ground, eluding the opponent's attack. «Stay still! Don't let it know where you are!» The Gym Leader ordered her Pokémon not to move. Underground, Herdier also remained still and silent, as if it was waiting for something.

A few moments later, the Pokémon began to move very slowly, gradually digging small amounts of dirt, without a precise direction.

Slowly, the Pokémon began to perceive slight vibrations in the ground. It wasn't able to perfectly understand where they were coming from, but it seemed that as it moved in that direction, the vibrations increased.

Evidently, that was the right direction.

Continuing to dig, it finally reached the point where its opponent presumably was. At this point, it moved quickly, launching itself rapidly in that direction.

The blow sustained by the opposing Herdier was extremely violent, so much so that it was thrown into the air. «And now hit it with Tackle!» the girl ordered. With one last blow, the girl's Herdier managed to slam its opponent against the ground.

«The Gym Leader's Herdier is no longer able to battle. If the Challenger wishes, she may substitute her Pokémon.» the electronic referee declared. Anita didn't need to be told twice, recalling her Pokémon to its Poké Ball. «Now rest a bit.» Lenora smiled. «I'm happy to see that this time you managed to keep one of your Pokémon in top shape to battle mine. But I warn you, it might not be enough! Come out, Watchog!» From the Gym Leader's Poké Ball emerged a bipedal Pokémon, similar to a prairie dog. Its body was brown with yellow stripes, except for the ends of its white limbs. Its tail, the same color as its body, was extremely long and ended in a white tuft. Its eyes were red and yellow; its cheeks were also quite large and puffy. A large incisor stuck out of its mouth.

The girl analyzed that Pokémon with the Pokédex function of her Rotom Smart: «Watchog, the Lookout Pokémon. Male specimen. It attacks by shooting the seeds from berries it has stored in its cheeks. If it spots an enemy, it raises its tail. Known moves: Iron Tail, Seed Bomb, Retaliate, Double Team.» The girl quickly put her device back in her bag.

«The first move goes to the challenger.» the electronic referee declared. Anita, in the meantime, had sent out her Vivillon. «Alright, Vivillon! Let's start with Air Slash!» the girl ordered. From the Pokémon's wings, thin blades of air were generated, moving at immense speed, directed towards the enemy.

«Quick, Watchog, use Retaliate!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Lookout Pokémon's body lit up with a reddish-brown light as it leaped in its opponent's direction.

«Let's try! Vivillon, use Psychic!» The scale Pokémon concentrated a large amount of psychic energy around its body, then enveloped its opponent and hurled it violently against the ground. The Pokémon took the hit, getting up quickly. «Clever of you, preventing Watchog from exploiting the power of Retaliate, but the battle is just beginning!» the Gym Leader commented. «And now we'll give you proof! Watchog, use Double Team!» In just a few moments, the Lookout Pokémon began to create dozens and dozens of illusory copies, totally identical to itself.

«Destroy the copies with Air Slash!» the girl ordered. In a few moments, numerous air blades sliced through the surrounding air, then hit and made more and more copies of that Pokémon disappear.

«And now use Seed Bomb!» the Gym Leader ordered. The Lookout Pokémon and all its copies generated large seeds from their mouths, which they launched in the opponent's direction.

«Defend yourself with Swift!» Anita ordered. The girl gave a quick glance at her Pokémon. She quickly noticed that her Pokémon was starting to show signs of fatigue. After the numerous star-shaped energy beams impacted the seeds, generating numerous explosions.

«Vivillon! Rest a bit!» The girl recalled her Pokémon to its Poké Ball. «Herdier, it's your turn!» The girl sent the Loyal Dog Pokémon back onto the field. «The first move goes to the Gym Leader.» the electronic referee declared with its robotic voice. «Watchog! Use Iron Tail!» The Lookout Pokémon's long tail changed, becoming hard and sharp as a sword. The same happened with its remaining clones.

«Herdier! Dodge with Dig!» the girl ordered. Even before being reached by the opponent, the Pokémon had already dug a large hole, taking cover from the powerful opposing attack. Shortly after, the Pokémon emerged from the ground, quite far from its opponent. «Can you tell which one is the real one?» the girl asked, addressing her Pokémon. «Hit it with Tackle!» The Pokémon remained still for a few moments, sniffing the air. In a few moments, it began to run towards one of the many Pokémon on the opposite side of the field. As soon as Watchog was hit, all the clones disappeared. It was the right one. «And so you found us out? It might surprise you to know, but we predicted this. Use Seed Bomb!» From the Lookout Pokémon's mouth, a large seed was generated, enveloped in a greenish aura; just moments later it exploded, right on Herdier, raising a gigantic cloud of dust. It took a handful of seconds for that dust to clear, and perhaps, for Anita, it would have been better if the dust had remained suspended in the air for longer.

«Herdier is no longer able to battle.» the electronic referee declared. «Both the Challenger and the Gym Leader have only one Pokémon left. The outcome of the battle between the two Pokémon will determine if the Challenger wins the badge or if she will have to retry the battle.» it added shortly after. Anita, having no alternatives, had to recall Herdier to send Vivillon back onto the field. «The battle can resume. The first move goes to the Gym Leader.» the electronic referee declared, with its usual robotic and monotonous tone.

«Watchog! Use Iron Tail!» the Gym Leader ordered again. The Lookout Pokémon leaped, as its long tail changed, becoming hard and sharp as a sword.

«Quick! Use Energy Ball!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon generated a dark green energy sphere, its shape resembling an eye, which quickly set a collision course with the Lookout Pokémon. «Hit it with your tail!» the Gym Leader ordered, making her Pokémon perform a one-hundred-eighty-degree rotation. The energy sphere was destroyed by the Pokémon without any consequences.

«Now use Swift!» the girl ordered, as Watchog got closer and closer to its opponent. Without the Gym Leader having to tell it anything, the star-shaped energy beams were destroyed by the Pokémon's tail, which was now just a few meters from its opponent. «Fly as high as you can!» the girl ordered.

She barely had time to utter that sentence before the Scale Pokémon was lashed by the Lookout Pokémon's tail, losing several meters of altitude.

«Vivillon!» the girl shouted, extremely worried about her Pokémon. Anita breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed the Pokémon's descent arrested, starting to beat its wings again.

«Let's try! Use Psychic!» the girl ordered. The Pokémon's body was enveloped in a pink aura, which quickly enveloped the opposing Pokémon as well.

Watchog was continuously tossed from one side of the battlefield to the other, constantly hitting the ground or the Gym walls.

«Try to recover and use Retaliate!» the Gym Leader ordered. The woman was aware that the move wouldn't be as strong as the first time, but she was aware she didn't have much choice. She certainly didn't expect to be pushed into such a corner.

The Lookout Pokémon's body lit up with a brownish aura, as it tried with all its might to resist its opponent's psychic force.

Vivillon had a slight lapse, and its opponent took advantage of it to attack, starting to run at high speed in its opponent's direction.

«Try to hit it with Air Slash!» the girl ordered. From the Pokémon's wings, thin blades of air were generated, hurtling towards the opponent, hitting it, but without stopping its run.

By now, it seemed that contact between the two Pokémon was inevitable.

«Energy Ball!» the girl shouted. The Scale Pokémon generated a green-colored energy sphere, resembling a sort of large jewel. The Pokémon didn't manage to launch the energy sphere at its opponent, as the latter was too close. The collision between the Pokémon generated a large explosion, which made both Pokémon recoil.

«Watchog is no longer able to battle, Vivillon wins. Consequently, the winner of the battle is the Challenger.» the electronic referee declared.

Anita and the Gym Leader recalled their Pokémon to their respective Poké Balls, then met in the center of the battlefield to shake hands.

«Congratulations! You were able to win the Basic Badge!» the Gym Leader complimented her, as she gave the girl the Gym badge.

It was a rather simple-looking badge. It was made of golden metal and had a rectangular shape, with a very narrow base. Inside, it was dark red, with some areas inside separated by the metal.

In the meantime, Ash, Serena, Carlos, and the woman's husband had come down from the stands to congratulate the girl: «And now it's time for the ceremonial photo. It's already your second badge, I imagine you know what I'm talking about.»

Anita let out the three Pokémon that had taken part in that battle from their Poké Balls, while holding the badge she had just won. The Gym Leader's husband took several photos of the two, before congratulating the girl himself.

Shortly after, Ash, Serena, and Carlos also complimented their friend.

Chapter Text

Good morning or good evening, depending on the time you are reading this chapter. I am your Reshiram Lego, great dragon enthusiast, and today I will expand our heroes' story with a chapter that will make your blood run cold, even if it's not the season for chills.

A recommendation: if you are sensitive to strong content such as scenes of terror, do not read this chapter for your own safety. For those who might get scared (which I find almost impossible from my standpoint), stop immediately. Now, adrenaline lovers would like to read the juicy content, happy reading.

The Manor

Ash, Serena, Carlos, and Anita, after preventing a significant part of the forest from being razed by a multinational company to build a facility, left Nacrene City. Before saying goodbye to the city, they went to the Pokémon Center to return the keys to the rooms where they had slept until the previous night. Nurse Joy thanked the kids: «We really appreciated your presence, I hope you come back soon!» The four responded in unison: «See you soon!» After saying goodbye to the nurse, the four left the Pokémon Center and headed to Pinwheel Forest. After walking a stretch on foot, they stopped at the bus stop. Since the forest was a protected area, the road that crossed it could only be traveled on foot or by eco-friendly means, like bicycles. Another option was electric vehicles. In fact, the bus that would take them there was electric. By taking the bus, they would reach Austropoli, the economic and social center of the region. One of the most important cities in the world, with its towering skyscrapers, including the tallest in the world, the Duralux Grand Hummels, headquarters of Mechas, a tech giant, which along with Amon and other giants, was among the five hundred most important companies in Unova.

The four arrived at the entrance of the forest. Serena and Anita curbed Carlos's adventurous spirit that was boiling in his veins. «Don't you think it's a bit cold in there?» Serena asked him. Anita confirmed her friend's words, replying, «I don't like the cold, nor the darkness. We risk tripping over some roots or being attacked by some wild Pokémon.» The girl glanced at her Smart Rotom. «There aren't just Sewaddle, but also Scolipede. Pokémon known for being very aggressive towards those who violate their territory.» Carlos was surprised by his friend's fear: «Oh, I'm sure it will be fine! I don't care about the darkness! Let's go!» The boy still hadn't digested the fact that, up to that moment, it had always been Ash who enjoyed the most daring adventures. Ash, for his part, tried to encourage the girls: «Come on! Don't be shy, I'm here to protect you! As long as Pikachu and I are here, you have nothing to fear.» Serena blushed. «He's so brave!» She commented quietly. «Actually, even though it's a bit cloudy, you can see perfectly. At least until it starts raining. Although...» The boy glanced at the weather app on his Smart Rotom. «Today the forecast says it will be partly cloudy. It could be the perfect opportunity to catch some Ghost, Poison, or... Bug-type Pokémon, and if we're lucky, even Dark-type.» Serena didn't seem enthusiastic: «I'm not sure if it's a good idea. It could get dark all of a sudden. And even if we stay close, we risk getting lost.» The girls were trembling like leaves. «Okay, now I'm fed up, I say we go. The bus is coming soon and it won't stop here!» Carlos encouraged them. The four, as the day before, but with a completely different atmosphere, crossed the threshold that separated the Pinwheel Forest from the fields of Nacrene City. «Fortunately, it's not as dark as I imagined.» Anita commented, followed shortly after by Serena. «Let's hope it stays like this and doesn't rain...» Just as Serena finished speaking, she felt a drop on her nose. She looked up and thought: “Oh no, please, not right after I said that!” Serena's hopes were extinguished like a match. At that moment, Carlos felt a drop on his back. Then Pikachu felt a drop on his tail. Ash and Anita felt it simultaneously on their knees. What had initially been just scattered drops had turned into much more. It had started raining.

Ash dragged his friends towards a light in the distance, against Carlos's will, who only wanted to find a place to shelter and enjoy the darkness that emerged with the rain. «Carlos! Move! You don't want to catch a cold!» Ash scolded him, but Carlos had no intention of following his friend. He stood there, still and motionless, enjoying that dark atmosphere, then came back to himself: «Okay, now we can go.» He hadn't noticed that Ash and the girls were already quite distant. They had almost reached the source of that light: a house.

In the end, the three were safe. They had climbed onto a small porch that sheltered them from the rain. A few moments later, Carlos, running as if riding a Rapidash, reached them at full speed. He was so fast that he was stopped only by Snorlax's belly, bouncing off it, causing everyone's laughter. «Thanks, buddy.» Ash thanked the Sleepy Pokémon before recalling it into the Poké Ball.

They had arrived in front of a wooden gate. Attached to it was a wooden plaque with the word "HERMITAGE" in all caps. On one of the pillars supporting the gate, there was an intercom. Carlos seemed reluctant to ring. If it had been up to Ash, they could have waited even under that small roof. The girls had a completely different idea. After a quick exchange of glances, Serena rang the bell. From that gate, the house, a tall and narrow Manor, was visible. It seemed to have a basement, judging by the windows that could be seen. The entrance was raised, and from there you could see the front door, made of fine wood. After a few seconds, the door was unlocked with an electric sound. A little girl came out of the front door. She had short pink hair, green eyes, wore a yellow shirt, a pink jacket, and a black miniskirt. They entered the Manor's large and well-kept garden, which clashed with the wild environment of the forest. Before they could say anything, Ash and his friends were preempted by the young girl. «Oh, hello, are you travelers? I love travelers who come to visit us!» Carlos stepped forward and began to explain the situation: «Good morning to you. It's raining outside and doesn't seem to be stopping, can we stay at your place for a few hours? SOMEONE got the bus departure time wrong and…» The boy emphasized the word “someone,” referring to Ash. The boy hadn't finished with his reproaches. «While SOMEONE ELSE can't keep their mouth shut, but I can't blame her!» He emphasized “someone else” this time, referring to Serena, who, unlike Ash, accepted the half-compliment following the reproach. Ash intervened to defend himself: «I had a slight craving that made me misread, any problems?» The girl started laughing: «You remind me of the old world champions, you know?» Then she turned and shouted, «DADDYYYYYYYYY! THERE ARE STRANGERS AT THE DOOR!» The girl let out a shrill cry that reminded Ash and Serena of Ash's Noibat's Supersonic.