Chapter 1

Ash had done it. He won the Rumble Badge. He was proud of this achievement not only just for himself, but also for his Pokemon. Pikachu, Fletchinder, and Hawlucha were the reasons for his success in the Shalour Gym.

It was morning after the day he had won the badge. Ash woke up with a smile on his face. He got out of bed and quickly made his way down to the others, who were in the lobby of the Pokemon Center.

"So, Ash!" Serena began. "How was the sleep?"

"It was great!" Ash replied. "I haven't felt this good in a while!"

"We're almost done packing." Clemont said, coming down with his bag. "Where's our next destination?"

"Huh, never thought about it yet." Ash remarked, causing everyone to flop.

"You should think about this a lot more quickly…" Bonnie remarked.

"Hold on." Serena said. She pulled out a tablet and checked something. "Here! The nearest Gym is in Courmarine City!"

"Alright!" Ash smiled. "Then that's where we'll go. Right, buddy?"

Pikachu nodded in agreement. "Pikachu!"

"Sorry kids." Said a road worker. "Road's closed."

"WHAT?!" Ash yelled.

They had just reached the exit road at Shalour City that extends towards the vicinity of Courmarine City. But they've been cut off by some road workers.

"Some Digletts came by and ruined the pavement." The road worker continued. "It was one fine road too…"

"Do you know when it will be fixed by?" Clemont asked.

"Probably by tomorrow morning." The road worker replied.

"Well, thanks anyway." Serena said. They said goodbye, and continued back into Shalour City.

"Well, that was a bust." Ash complained.

"What should we do right now then?" Bonnie asked.

"Look out!" yelled a voice.

Everyone turned and evaded just in time. Clemont was too slow to react as he got slammed right onto the ground. He looked up and saw Korrina with Lucario. She helped him up while Lucario could only chuckle.

"So, you guys aren't going yet?" She asked, rubbing the back of her head.

"Well, we were, but the road's closed." Clemont explained. "It looks like we 're going to have to stay here for a bit longer."

"Is that so?" Korrina said. Then, she snapped her fingers. "Oh, I know. You can hang out with me and my friend Axel!"

"Axel?" The gang answered.

Korrina explained who Axel was along the way to his house. Axel is a childhood friend of hers. She said he's related to someone very high above in the Kalos Pokemon League.

"But, trust me on this." Korrina concluded. "He's, like, the nicest guy I've ever known. He loves Pokemon just as much as you do, Ash."

Korrina then stopped in front of some iron gates.

"We're here!" Korrina announced.

The gang looked at the house. It was pretty massive. It was two-story condominium with a swimming pool on one side, a battlefield on the other, a garden that seemed to stretch deep into the forests. Korrina just opened the gate.

"Whoa, wait!" Clemont said. "Shouldn't we ask if anyone's home first?"

"Ah, there's no need." Korrina replied. "Besides."

Then, there was a loud bang.

"I know he's here." She chuckled.

The gang with Korrina quickly made their way to the battlefield. They quickly saw who it was up against. It was a Gardevoir VS Gallade battle. And Gardevoir's trainer looked rather familiar to them.

"Wait-" Serena began, pointing at Gardevoir's trainer. "DIANTHA?!"

Diantha turned and saw Ash and the gang. She smiled.

"Guess we'll leave it here for now, sweetie!" She called to Gallade's trainer.

"Yeah!" He said. "I could really use a break."

Diantha and Gallade's trainer walked over to Ash and his friends.

"Well, we seem to meet up a lot." She chuckled.

"Never mind that!" Serena yelled. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, visiting my nephew, of course." She smiled, wrapping her arms around Gallade's trainer.

"C'mon, aunt Diantha, not in front of Korrina…" He groaned.

Ash looked at Gallade's trainer.

"So I guess you're Axel?" He asked.

"Yup." The trainer replied. "And my aunt is the famous movie star and Kalos region Champion, Diantha."

Everyone gasped at the side of this. Diantha has never actually talked about anyone within her family. Clemont quickly began to behave formally.

"Well, it's an honor to meet you!" He said. "My name is Clemont, and this is my sister, Bonnie."

"Hi!" Bonnie greeted, happily. "And this is Dedenne."

And the little mouse Pokemon popped out Bonnie's bag and greeted itself. "De de ne!"

"Hey there, little guy." Axel said, patting Dedenne's head. "Also, there's no need to be so formal, Clemont."

"Oh." Clemont replied.

"I'm Ash, and this is my buddy, Pikachu." Ash said. Pikachu greeted accordingly. "Pika pika!"

"And I'm Serena." Serena said.

"Well, the name's Axel." Axel replied.

Then, there was a growling sound from Ash's stomach. Ash laughed and rubbed his stomach.

"Let me guess." Axel chuckled. "Lunch?"

"I could use some of that." Ash laughed.

"Come in. Meal's on the house." Axel offered.

And the gang slowly walked into the house.