Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie were in a hot air balloon heading eastward above the Kalos region.
"I'm so glad your mother called to get us a ride to Anistar City!" Clemont said. "The science of buoyancy in the air is fascinating."
Ash looked over the edge of the basket. "Hey, I think I can see Anistar's famous sun clock!"
Clemont pulled a rope and the flame blowing the balloon outward went down, and the balloon began a slow descent. "Serena, may I have those sand bags in the corner there?" he asked.
"Sure, no problem," Serena said, passing the bags to Clemont.
"Clemont, what do those do?" Bonnie asked her older brother.
"Denne!" Dedenne cheered.
"These sandbags add weight to the basket, so we can land. We cut some off when we departed, remember?" Clemont reminded.
"How does it change anything if you just move the sand bags from in here to tying it out there?" Bonnie wondered out loud.
Clemont made a bashful face. "Artistic liberties," he said.
"Oh," Bonnie said with a straight face.
Ash looked into the pink setting sun over the distant grassy routes. The wind blew through his hair. Serena almost nosebled.
"Hey Ash?" she asked, blushing.
"Yeah?" Ash turned to look at his friend.
"I... I lo-" Serena almost said until Clemont cut her off.
"Careful everyone! We're close to landing." Clemont said.
"Awesome!" Ash grinned. "Thanks a bunch for handling the balloon for us."
"The pleasure's all mine if I get to learn about science!"
"Yeah, thanks a lot Clemont." Serena rolled her eyes.
"De de!" said Dedenne.
Ash pushed open the basket door and jumped onto the stone tiles. Throwing his fist into the air he cheered: "Anistaaaar City! All right!"
Everyone stopped into the Pokemon Center.
"Hi, Nurse Joy!" Bonnie smiled.
"Hello, are you in town for the festival?" Nurse Joy asked.
"Yeah, we sure are!" said Serena happily.
"Well, if your Pokémon are healthy already, may I offer you a map of of the city?" Nurse Joy offered.
"Sounds good!" Ash said excitedly.
Nurse Joy handed Ash a map, and pointed out the major landmarks.
"Right here is the Pokemon Center, and that's where we are, of course. Just outside is where the houses are. Up to the north is our local Gym."
"Interesting," Clemont remarked.
"Of course, if you're here for the festival and to see the eastern lights, you'd want to see the sun dial to the northwest of the city." Nurse Joy explained.
"The eastern lights?" Bonnie gasped. "What's that?"
"Around this time every year, light passes through the sun dial and projects beautiful glowing lights into the air. There are normally tourists everywhere!"
"Why aren't there tourists now?" Serena asked. "It feels like a ghost town!"
"I'm not quite sure, but I heard an anonymous message was sent out over the Holocaster threatening anyone attending the festival would be killed."
"Whaaaaaaaaat?" everyone screamed.
"How can you say that so calmly?" Ash was freaked out.
"It's probably just rumors." Nurse Joy assured Ash. "Who would do such a thing anyway? The festival only happens once a year, after all!"
"Are you positive it's safe?" Serena asked, worried.
"It's safe," Nurse Joy promised. In 10 minutes, we're blocking off all routes into the city by land and sea. You're lucky you got here in time."
"Well, if you think it's safe enough," Clemont pushed his glasses up his nose. "I'll believe you."
Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie left the Pokemon Center.
