A/N: New chapter, finally finished. Thank you for the follows and favorites, giving me a good motivation upon starting another one. Truth be told, I watched few episodes from the Sun and Moon anime and I don't know what to say. I really like Ash's transition to a badass trainer in XYZ and made him into a jobber in the next one.

Sorry for the delay, MIDTERMS ARE KILLING ME.

Lastly, I own nothing. If I do, Ash would be already kicking ass in Sun and Moon with his ultimate team.

Ages:

Ash: 15 Steven: 26

May: 14 Cynthia: 24

Max: 11 Brendan: 14

Wallace: 25 Bonnie: 10

Clemont: 16

PS: Ash's Team in this story is not FINAL. There might be changes in the future of the plot. Enjoy.

Watching his sister and Ash from the distance, heading towards the horizon away from the City Gym and out of Petalburg City itself, Max smiled from the distance, his father beside him. Norman has been surprisingly quiet from time to time, upon watching his daughter leave his house once again, and reuniting with his Gym duties.

Max fixed his glasses in place, sighing in envy of adventure and journey. Norman placed his hand on his son's shoulder, who slouched in turn and his eyes still scanned on the distance where his sister trekked. "Wish they'll be alright."

"I know." Norman replied out of innermost empathy over his son and daughter. "I'm pretty sure May feels the same when you leave for Unova."

The younger Maple fixated his eyes on the Gym Leader. "What do you mean? I'm pretty sure I will be leaving when all of this trouble is nothing but history."

Norman smiled, before replying. "I know. But I hope you understand what I am doing next." He placed his hand on his pocket, before gesturing his son to place his hand on his direction. Max gave him a confused look, but placed his hands in front of his father anyways.

His father immediately placed a certain Poke Ball into his son's hands. "I recently asked Professor Juniper from Unova a favor. She heard about you and your Pokemon knowledge marvel. I just got a Unova started Pokemon from her and she wanted you to have this."

The weight of the Poke ball on Max's hand felt different and unique. Max couldn't believe what he has been seeing nor believing. All those knowledge about basic Pokemon training has been paid off, opening a new opportunity for Max. He remained speechless, up until Norman continued. "You always wanted a Grass starter, this Pokemon on your hand is called Snivy, and it's from Unova."

Upon hearing the Pokemon's name, Max's dreams and aspirations were shattered. He almost dropped the Poke Ball from his hand on how heavy his dislike on Snivy. His father is right, he do love Grass type Pokemon, anything but Snivy.

He saw it's incompetence in videos and streams in conferences. He never thought of actually training one of his own. But he cannot disappoint his father of turning down his own Pokemon, so he must accept it and not use it later.

"Max?" Norman's voice snapped him back to reality in almost ten seconds of decisions on dealing with his new Pokemon. He scratched his head, slouching and sighing at his father who nodded and smiled. "Professor Juniper specifically reserved the Snivy for you, knowing that you love Grass type."

"Thanks, dad." Max replied unenthusiastically, but revert it into a mutter, which he thanked the heavens that his father never noticed it. "I'll take care of it, even how useless will it be."

He could have a Bulbasaur, or a Treecko or even a Chespin but not this Snivy.

"What's that, Max?" Norman asked again and Max almost choked himself to death, and openly thought of the lamest excuse he could think of. Only to nod and spoke nothing, as Norman nodded in understanding. "Then throw your Ball and greet your new member."

Max rolled his eyes, before tossing the ball. A small, serpent like Pokemon emerged from the ball and immediately jumped into Max's arms as the younger Maple cringed from the contact, not wanting to close with his disliked Pokemon.

"Sni… vy." Snivy chirped happily, nuzzling himself against Max's green shirt. Max sighed, but noticed his father was looking at him, and returned the hug, forcefully. But that hug didn't last long as Max placed the Snivy down at the ground, but it continued to nuzzle his leg.

"So…" Max tried break the ice of silence between himself and his father. "What's next?"

"Battle me." Norman proudly announced, which caught Max off guard and was startled. "To see if you are ready to be a trainer and challenge Alder in Unova. Let's go inside."

Max pushed his glasses in place, watching his father calling out his mother and head inside, which Max followed up until they are on the Gym premises and Norman is already on his Battle position before calling out to Max. "I should now that you know my styles of battle, as you seen me battle a hundred times in this gym. If you beat me here, then you are allowed to go to the Unova."

Out of notice, Norman immediately noticed how uncomfortable and uneasy Max looked, with Snivy clinging in his leg. "Are you okay, Max? Are you nervous to face me?"

Max stammered, trying to break free from Snivy. "Uhh… Yeah I-I'm fine Dad."

Norman laughed. "You see, it's okay if you don't win. As long as I see a bond between you and Snivy. I may allow you to do so, now give me your best shot" Without any word, Norman grabbed his Poke Ball and tossed it into the air. "Slakoth, show them what you got!"

In his head, Max knew his father's Slakoth and saw him battled plenty of times, there should be no problem in defeating his father. In turn, he pointed at his Snivy but in low tolerance. "Go, Snivy."

The grass Pokemon happily jumped into his battle position, waiting for his trainer's command. Max then realized he must win this in order to travel to Unova and catch a much useful grass type there. Now with a new motive, he called for a command. "Alright, Snivy! Use Headbutt!"

"Always think of the advantages here, Max." Norman called out. Watching Snivy immediately rammed forward, his head first hitting Slakoth fair and square, knocking him in the ground. Slakoth roared in pain, with Snivy performing another headbutt. "Alright, Slakoth. Hit him with Fury Swipes!"

"Dodge, Snivy!"

Instead of dodging, Snivy instead charged forward into Slakoth's Fury Swipes, thus igniting a large amount of damage to Snivy. Slakoth used it claws and slashed Snivy a few times before Snivy fell back few inches away.

Max growled at Snivy in frustration. "I said dodge, Snivy! Can't you hear!?"

"Cool it, Max!" Norman scolded at the frustrated Max, whose eyes still on Snivy. "Alright, Slakoth. Use another Fury Swipes!"

"Okay, Snivy. Dodge above!" This time, Snivy dodged the attack perfectly, inches away from Slakoth's Fury Swipes as it jumped into the air. Seeing the synchronization of the attacks, Max called for another. "Now, use Headbutt, Snivy!"

In unison, Snivy dived hard straight to Slakoth, hitting him using his own head. But for Norman, he is still unsatisfied and cannot see the new found bond between his son and his own Pokémon. "Alright, Slakoth! Use Dizzy Punch!"

"Snivy, dodge it!" Snivy dodged the attack, and Max let out a sigh of relief after thinking that Snivy will not listen to his command again. Norman frowned but continued on with his command of attack on Slakoth. Max immediately noticed his father's stare but shrugged it away and focus on winning. "Snivy, use Tackle, don't let me down."

"Slakoth, anticipate the attack!" Norman shouted back, watching the charged Snivy under his watchful eye. To his son's surprise, Slakoth swiftly dodged his attack, giving his father all time and space to land another attack. "Alright, now use Dizzy Punch!"

"Sla…koth!" Slakoth's fist collided with Snivy's head, giving a critical impact, sending him to the ground. Snivy shook off the damage but the effects of the punch is now showing. Max bit his lips, now wanting to be defeated easily, because it's his only ticket to Unova. But before his aspirations grew stronger, his father added another attack. "Hit him with another Dizzy Punch!"

"Dodge it, Snivy! Get your head up!" Max shouted in command, feeling frustrated in Snivy's performance. He immediately noticed that Snivy is not moving, not even a single muscle. "Come one Snivy! Do something!"

"Max, Snivy has its own limitations. You were supposed to know that!" Norman called out, but Max growled. In turn his father called out Slakoth's ball and recalled his Pokemon away before it can deal more damage to Snivy. Max gave Snivy a glare, but couldn't say a word due to his frustration. "You don't understand why I forfeited the match, aren't you?"

The younger boy swallowed hard, knowing he would be trouble. But all he wanted is to travel other regions. In turn, Max shook his head in shame and regret. Norman slowly approached, picking up and beaten down Snivy into his hands, before facing Max. "You see how it is to be trainer, it is not by wins. It is the bond and the equality of themselves and their trainers, I am afraid you fail to see that."

"I am not the only one." Max muttered but his father heard it, and shook his head in disappointment.

"You do have problems, kid." Norman finally concluded, kneeling down at Max's height. "Tell me what is it?"

Max cannot say the truth, because his father gifted a starter in preparation for his journey. But he cannot lie in front of his father either. Having conflicts with his choice, he finally spoke. "I don't like Snivy. You should have got me a Bulbasaur."

To his surprise, Norman laughed heartily. "Oh dear boy. You do remind me when I were your age, so picky, so choosy little fella." He took the time, ruffling Max's hair swiftly and carefully. "But I did choose this one for you."

"Why Snivy?" Max couldn't help but ask, as Norman's face turned serious and stood up, placing Snivy below Max's feet. Max first noticed his father's change of expression.

Instead no words came out of Norman's mouth. Until seeing Max picking up his Snivy.

"Well, a deal is a deal." Norman spoke, clearing his throat. "You'll still be traveling."

"I can?" Max asked, confused. "After everything happened?"

Norman smirked before facing his son, knowing a simple trick that can fully grip the bond between his son and his Pokemon he owns. "Yes, but you will be challenging your sister, here in the Hoenn League. What I say is final."

"W-what? Dad, May is a very strong and experienced trainer, I cannot be at her level." Max desperately explaining his own excuse, not wanting to battle against her sister or even stronger trainers than himself. "Besides, she's with Ash. She can be as strong as him, or even stronger."

"That is why I am sending you off." Norman replied, crossing both of his arms tenderly at his son. "You must learn the ways of a true Pokemon trainer, your flaws and strengths. You need to learn that."

Max watched his father leaving the gym, and then turned to his previously owned Snivy, who is resting at his arms in peace. "Thanks, Snivy." He silently muttered sarcastically, under his breath, not favoring his father's idea. But he doesn't want to disappoint him either as well, thus giving him no choice. "You're stuck with me, for now."

Snivy paid no attention, even with his words, and continued to rest peacefully, making Max to roll his eyes. He moved away upon hearing his father that he needed to pack up for his upcoming journey.

##

Hoenn was such a beautiful region by this time of year. Not only for people but for the visitors as well, greeting them with a peaceful breeze through the Slateport City. The cruise boat flared its horn, signifying its arrival from another region, marking the passengers for their arrival.

One by one, people with luggage and bags emerged from the cruiser and took their time to get used towards the Hoenn's brisk weather. Amongst the passengers, three teenaged figures stepped down to the port.

"Remind me again why of all people you'll be dragging into the Hoenn region, you dragged me?" A certain gloomy and grumpy teenager, walking down straight to the exit, looking for some reasons not to accompany his companions. "Troublesome."

The girl beside him rolled her eyes. "Chill will you? I always wanted to experience Hoenn myself."

"Jeez, this Hoenn looks bad than Sinnoh. I'm going fine someone!" Another teenager with a blond hair interjected with boredom and impatience, making the grumpy one urging himself not to tear him to pieces. "I see that face, Paul!"

Paul mouthed something, but kept in audible to himself. The trio immediately walked slowly, not wanting to get lost, but not saving from the girl's excitement to journey, who couldn't help herself but leaping in a happily manner, causing her male companions wanting to hide at any billboards. "God, Dawn is terrible when excited."

"Wipe that expression out of your face, jerk!" Dawn turned red in Paul's words, who immediately stepped forward, inching her toes to level to Paul's height. "Count yourself lucky that I won three tickets for vacation here."

"Everything is fine, until you brought Barry along." The purple haired trainer added. "And I wondered how you chose him rather than Kenny or Zoey."

"Hey!" Barry shouted, taking offense in Paul's reply, stomping his way to the duo. "I don't mind myself coming here, not until Shinji here shares same room with me. If so, I'll fine you Dawn!"

"Like Dawn will pay you anything." Paul jabbed, making Dawn distance herself from the boys arguing, sighing the 'boys will be boys' under her breath. But not before Paul face palmed himself, with Barry looking at him confused. "You get the point didn't you?"

"Guys!" Dawn decided to interject before the two will destroy the whole city from destruction between those two. She tugged her pink jacket and fixed her scarf, before raising her hand to silent the two. "We are like, few meters from the cruiser and I can't let you guys ruin my prize vacation. Can you get along for goodness sake?"

"Piplup." Her Piplup emerged from her knapsack, who is recovering from air sickness. Dawn swiftly patted her Pokémon's head before turning to her companions.

In turn, Barry muttered. "Can't wait for the hotel."

"So am I." Paul replied. "I'm taking the top bunk."

Barry growled again in retaliation. "No, you're taking the lower bunk."

"Of all the reasons, give me a single good reason why I shouldn't take the top bunk?" Paul asked back, his voice dripping with venom, and glowered his eyes on the sandy haired trainer.

"Because, I always take the top bunk. Hell, even Kenny allows me to."

"Ha, you think I'm like Kenny? News flash Barry, because I am not."

"Well you fit in the bottom bunk, I cannot allow myself to be squished when you fell below. Dear Arceus, you are such a messy sleeper."

"Now we are talking about sleeping, eh Barry? Aren't you better messy sleeper than me?"

"Says the guy who keeps on wetting the bed until 8." Barry countered, making Paul to flush in red in embarrassment, wanting to rip his head off, but knowing that it will ruin Dawn's vacation completely. Barry placed his hands on his hips, smiling like he won a Pokémon League. "I gotta give Reggie credit for that."

Screw you, brother. Paul mentally face palmed himself, knowing that Reggie would immediately will spill the beans, especially in his despised childhood, that he would never want to remember again.

Seeing the opportunity for Paul, Barry immediately took advantage of it. "So, should I take the upper bunk or maybe giving Dawn an interesting story of Paul Shinji?"

"Fine." Paul mentally growled, but finally conceded. "You take the top bunk."

"See, it wasn't that hard." Barry added, but couldn't contain his laughter.

"Sorry to break it to you Barry, but the beds in the hotel we are taking is a deluxe, means you'll be sharing bed with Paul." The bluenette immediately spoke, shocking the two men, before turning at each other.

Paul and Barry glanced at each other before saying unison. "Me, in the same bed as him?!"

The bluenette couldn't help but be anxious of what will happen if those two bunked together. Barry immediately spoke out his complain. "Dawn, why would I share the same bed as him?"

"Well, I accidentally reserved one room with one bed, for us three." Dawn growled in annoyance, remembering that mistake that she may be regretting for the rest of the trip, or maybe if she can rent another room. "If someone's taking the bed, it should be me."

The two nodded in unison, with Paul silently muttered. "Well you heard the lady, Barry. The girl always has the privilege." The two nodded, before watching Dawn pulling out the hotel brochure and started reading it.

"But I think, there's a pull out bed below mine." Dawn added, reading the brochure of the hotel in her hand, grabbing the two male's attention, who immediately began their argument on whose sleeping on the floor.

"I'll be taking the pull out bed! Don't even think about black mailing me." Paul gritted his teeth, wanting to win this argument so badly.

"Well, not gonna happen, Shinji! You will be staying on the floor!"

Dawn watched and sighed, as the two began to glower each other, growling altogether for someone's stubborn attitude, but forgot all about it when a taxi arrived at the sidewalk. The driver inside waved for her attention, and for her to enter the vehicle. Without any word, she immediately walked straight to the taxi and reached for the door handle.

Only to realize that another hand touched hers, causing her to pull out.

"Ah!" The stranger stammered, his face burning in red from the contact, which made Dawn think of Brock. "Apologies, I-I am really sorry."

In turn, she smiled. "Oh, it's nothing. I just thought that the driver was calling for me."

"I thought as well." The stranger replied, his nervousness being lifted away after hearing Dawn's response. Dawn eyed the stranger, a few inches taller her, wearing a green sleeved sweater along with his rounded glasses in his face. Along with his blond hair, which reminded her of Barry. "Well we were supposed to be at Mauville Hotel, and this taxi is taking us there from Slateport."

"I am heading the same destination as well." She eyed Paul and Barry, who are still in the middle of a heated debate. "Well, with friends that won't stop arguing about sleeping on the floor."

"My sister is talking nonstop about this region." He replied back, scratching his head in awkwardness.

"I see. You're not from around here?" Dawn asked. Before he can answer, Dawn's Piplup again emerged from her bag, wanting to breathe fresh air other than inside her bag. "Stay there Piplup. You need rest for now."

The stranger nodded, smiling in her direction. "I came from Kalos. I just won a conference and the prize is a two week stay here with the expenses covered the by the League."

"I just won competition as well, and my prize is just like yours. Is this a coincidence?" Dawn taken aback by the coincidence that they shared, making the whole conversation even more awkward. "But hey, we can travel together, right?"

Without thinking, he offered his hand. "I'm Clemont, from Kalos. The Lumiose City Gym Leader."

"I'm Dawn. I'm from Sinnoh and sorry I am not a Gym Leader like you." Dawn replied, accepting Clemont's hand and shook it, but then realized something. "Hey. You're that Clemont that won the Gym Leader Conference like yesterday."

Clemont laughed, placing his hand on his hip. "Yeah, and you're that Dawn that won the Top Coordinator award, beating Miette in the finals. My sister watches you a lot." He nervously turned around, looking for his sister,

"Clemont? Is the taxi taking us there?"

Speak of the devil.

Clemont gave himself a slip, watching his 10 year old sister approaching, with a bunch of snacks in her hands. Upon spotting Dawn, she dropped her snacks, and immediately ran to Dawn, kneeling to her knees. "YOU'RE A KEEPER!"

"Bonnie! That's enough!" The Lumiose Gym Leader immediately regretted for not bringing his robotic arm to tug his sister away. Instead of listening to his brother, she continued to ask questions to marry her brother.

The Sinnoh Coordinator watched the younger girl in confusion. "You're pretty, will you take care of my brother and marry him, because he needs someone to take care of him! Please?"

"Eh." Dawn got her tongue tied from the girl's enthusiasm, and glanced at Clemont flushed face of embarrassment which made Dawn to wish for a younger sister or brother to humiliate herself. Instead of backing away, she leveled herself and patted Bonnie's head, her Dedenne happily chirped in her shoulder. "Nice to meet you, Bonnie. I'm Dawn and your brother told me that you adore me as a fan."

Upon realizing those words, Bonnie shrieked and squealed, who hugged Dawn tightly out of star struck. Clemont gave himself a sigh of relief, thanking that it is over, and noticed her sister couldn't stop squealing like a school girl. "I watched you compete in Johto!"

"You did?" Dawn couldn't help but to admire the girl's adorableness and quirkiness. She took the time to hold Bonnie's Dedenne who nuzzled back at her arms.

"So, talking to stranger aren't we Dawn." Barry smugly smiled, having the victory ouf sleeping in the pull out bed after Paul conceded from the argument. He then turned to Clemont. "You kept her waiting? I'll fine you, glasses boy!"

"F-fine me?" Clemont raised his hands in defense from the advancing blonde hair male. At his back, a certain purple haired who looked bored as hell and kept himself busy looking at his watch. "I don't know how to pay your fine man."

"I'm still fining you!" Barry growled, but stopped when Dawn stood up then turned to him and Paul.

"I see you've met with some of my, friends." Dawn said, grabbing Barry's arm away and placed him beside Paul. "You've get used to these two, they always argue about things. Guys? Introduce?"

"Barry." Barry scoffed.

"Paul."

"Eh, I'm Clemont."

"Hi! I'm Bonnie." Bonnie quickly turned to the two teenage boys at her left. "You're friends with this guy and a creepy purple haired guy?"

"Creepy?" Barry stifled and tried no to laugh at Paul. Paul just gave him a death glare

"Oookay." Dawn interjected, trying to break the awkwardness of the three men and a kid. "Since we'll hitch ride, we have to place our bags to the compartment, so we can leave."

Paul stopped in his tracks, knowing that this is not what Dawn has in her mind. But shaken upon seeing Barry and that guy, Clemont loaded their bags in the vehicle's compartment, before hesitantly giving his bag to Barry before placing it in the compartment. Dawn stretched her arms, inhaling and grabbed her Piplup, before heading at the door, not long before Paul stopped her. "Is it a great idea to be with these guys? Like they were going in the same destination."

Dawn sighed. "Yeah, well Clemont won the Gym Leader's Conference and this is his prize. Of course we are heading the same destination with them."

"Wait, he's a Gym Leader." Barry added, pointing at Clemont, who is entering the vehicle. Dawn felt her Piplup asleep in her shoulders. "A bit problem, three guys in the back of the car won't fit us."

"I'll stay at the back." To her surprise, Bonnie chimed in. "I'm so small that I can fit in tight spaces."

"Are you sure, Bonnie?" Her older brother asked, not wanting to endanger her or anything, before placing his sister's bag at the vehicle.

But in her place, Barry answered. "Yeah, she'll be fine. The more space the better."

"Who died and made you the one to make decisions?" Paul replied in annoyance, covering his face from Barry's stupidity.

Bonnie only smiled at Paul and nodded. "I can handle it, plus Clemont is sitting with your friend Dawn. Is that right Clemont?" She gave him a teasing look and her brother blushed in a shade of red.

"No I am not!" He retaliated.

"Think about it, big brother!"

"Well, I think Barry will be more willing sitting in front with your brother." Paul added, as Barry noticed his tone.

"Yeah? Who died and made you the one to make decisions?" Barry replied, imitating Paul's accent and just like him, face palmed himself, thus making Paul more and more annoyed. "Well I have no problems with Dawn sitting in the front."

Bonnie squealed. "Settled then!"

"I still think it's a bad idea." Paul managed to speak in his mind.

"You have something to say, Paul?" Dawn asked, her eyebrows raised in confusion. Not to make decisions himself, Paul shrugged instead, before watching Clemont and Dawn figuring on how to sit in the same seat.

He felt something inside.

Barry nudged his friend in the shoulder, causing Paul to flinch in the contact. "Jealous, aren't you?"

"Jealous? Of what?"

"Of Dawn."

Paul glared at his companion. "Don't make me laugh, Barry. Me liking Dawn? You talk nonsense."

"Whatever you say, man." Barry laughed before entering the vehicle, leaving Paul speechless at his own state. Ever since he got beaten by Ash back in the Lily of the Valley Conference, he and Dawn became close, as friends. The first time he showed his soft side, showing clearly that he somehow changed over the course of time.

He slowly fidgets his pockets, waiting for his turn to enter, causing for Dawn to absentmindedly approach Paul. "You look glum, are you okay?"

"Hmph." Paul grumbled, but as soft as possible. "It's nothing, I'm just tired from the trip."

"I'll probably force Barry to sleep on the floor." Dawn replied.

To her surprise, Paul smiled back. "That's a good idea."

#

Arriving at Mauville was a relief, but joy ride together was another thing. Nothing can replace the bicker between Paul and Barry, with Bonnie enjoying their banters and some nonsense things, like arguing for who'll use the shower first or which channel they will watch first. The driver looked like he was about to pull his eardrums out for the endless banters, but took care it nonetheless.

Clemont and Dawn sat on the same seat, with Dawn taking mostly the large space as Clemont offered quickly rather than having her sitting on his lap, but that doesn't even stopping him from noticing Paul's glares every now and then. The Hotel was located few blocks away from the local city gym, and the visitors were aghast upon leaving the vehicle.

Barry stretched his arms and took a deep breath. "Now this is why I came with you guys."

Dawn took a matter of seconds to roll her eyes. "I wondered why."

The sibling took their time to grab their bags and other things, with Bonnie letting her brother to take all of her things leaving him loaded, before paying the driver their fare. Dawn took her wallet from her purse, letting her Piplup to stay on the ground, and took some cash to pay.

The driver shrugged before taking her payment and left them without any words. Dawn sniffled some air, realizing she is tired from the travel already and wanted some sleep. Paul and Clemont seemed to notice her change of attitude, while Barry already took off towards the entrance. Bonnie watched the Twinleaf native in confusion.

The group didn't take long to check in their bags and their reservation, not even taking the time to enjoy the sight around the class hotel that they were in. Clemont immediately took off into their room grabbing his sister with him, shutting the door lock and lied on the bed.

Paul and Barry didn't even wasted time either, upon entering their room, jumping on their backs to take the pullout bed below, trying to take what's theirs'. Dawn didn't seemed to bother when she lied down on her queen sized bed, not even noticing Barry sleeping on the floor, mumbling some words on Paul.

Over the distance, a lone man with a telescope watched the group from the distance, his walkie talkie on his hand sounded. "Looks like they took the bait boss. The Operation lights out is go."

"The Kalos one, is he there? He is needed for this one."

The man smirked, grabbing a voltage switch from his pocket, before laughing manically in his attempted plan. "Don't worry, I'm sure he has plenty of things to say when I have him."

"Then make it quick."

"Yes, boss."

##

"I still don't get it. Why did you started out so late as a trainer?"

"Dad wanted me to." Brendan nervously chuckled, having enough questions from the pestering May who looked determined for him to answer all of her questions. Pikachu seemed to take notice of the surrounding before taking his trainer's attention. May and Brendan shrugged, before May slapping his shoulder. "Hey, what was that?"

May smiled sweetly in return. "Nothing, I just missed my childhood friend, that all."

"Jeez you still like so slap me like you did with Wally." Brendan replied, placing his hand on his chin watching how his childhood friend reacted. To his expectation, May blushed red at the mention of her other friend causing Brendan to take the opportunity to tease further. "Aww, come on you remember Wally don't you?"

"Sheesh, I don't want to remember it. Aren't you the one who accompanied him when he captured a Pokémon for the first time?" May replied, not even noticing Ash leaving her side and began to observe a certain rock formation standing near them. "I do remember you jumping out of his side when a Zigzagoon came out of the grass."

"Hey! At least I didn't jumped away and ran towards your dad." Brendan replied and laughed along with May, retaining their childhood memories together that they would never forget. "Good times, May."

May nodded in agreement. "Yeah, good times indeed."

"So what are you doing here, like right now?" Brendan asked, taking notice of Ash looking at a certain rock formation.

The two immediately noticed Ash and Pikachu standing in front of a rock formation, looking like he was figuring something and looking for something. Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder, sniffing the rock formation for anything bizarre or unusual. "Any luck, Pikachu?"

"Pika Pikapi." Pikachu shook his head in negative.

"What did you see this time Ash?" May asked, with Brendan on tow his eyes scanned on the same rock formation Ash tried to observe. Without further words or remarks, Ash held out the stone key that Norman gave to him, and pointed the carvings directly to May and Brendan.

The beanie wearing trainer only succumbs to silence and continued to listen as Ash began to speak out his observation. "These carvings and the rock formation, aren't they looked the same."

'The shape is the same the texture is the same, what does this key and this rocks have in common." May stated her own, which led to Brendan to look forward and began to observe on his own, but cannot say the same as May and Ash. "But there are 10 symbols carved like this rock formation, does it mean…"

"That there are 10 of these." Ash finished, pointing at the rock formation in excitement of discovery. May nodded in affirmation, giving Ash a high five for the first clue.

"Well, I guess that the second one was located there." Brendan pointed to the left, right were the entrance for the Petalburg woods located. To Ash's surprise, another rock formation laying conveniently but was unnoticed for many years. "I think we have to look for 8 more of those."

The bandanna wearing girl stopped in her tracks. "Wait, why do they need these ten rock sculptures?"

Brendan and Ash stopped as well before taking both of their time to think on its relevance or purpose. The raven haired trainer returned to the first rock formation, searching for any clues or holes to give its direct purpose. "Well no words or shapes written here, just holes, sadly my hand isn't small enough to reach inside."

"I'll try." May volunteered.

"Are you sure, May?" Asked Brendan, in which May smirked in response. Taking the time for herself, she spotted the whole that is big enough for her hands to go inside. Taking a deep breath, she slowly slid her hand inside, searching for anything that can lead them to another clue.

To her disappointment, she felt none but she continued deeper, up until her elbows touched the entrance before she shouted in affirmation. "I felt something!"

Ash and Brendan turned their heads on May, who was struggling to get what she felt inside the rocks, as she slowly described to the two boys what she felt inside. "It's long, a bit rusty, and square?"

"Can you pull it out?" Ash asked, but May didn't take the time to answer. Slowly and steady, she removed her arm from the hole, revealing her hand holding to something square. May didn't even hesitate to give the square item to Ash, who immediately felt the rust in his hands.

"Copper." He voiced out his first direct observation. "It's a bit heavy but rusty. I don't get it, why would they waste time to hide one of these?"

"Actually May, is there other things you felt inside?" Brendan inquired.

"I think there lots of that inside." May replied.

"But I don't get what's the point of this." Without much thinking, he shook the square object. To his surprise, something from the inside of the object sounded, causing Ash to stop shaking. "There's something inside."

The white beanie wearing boy watched the object with curiosity, and anxiety. "Can you pry that thing open?"

"Nope, no seal or something that I can. May, get me a stone." Ash replied, before turning to May who nodded and picked up a slight bigger stone and tossed it to Ash. The Pallet Town trainer caught the stone mid-air. "Okay, let's see what's inside!" In unison, he pounded the stone straight into the square object, colliding hardly with an impact. But were surprised that the object managed to stand tall.

Ash continued his pace of colliding the stone again and again but the object won't crack, making Ash to lose patience of opening. Brendan took another stone and took Ash's place and started hammering the object, with a large thud.

With another fruitless effort, they both sat down. "Jeez what does thing made of?"

"My guess is as good as you." Brendan replied, heaving and gasping for air, his eyes landed on Ash's Pikachu who were watching them from afar. "Ash, does you Pikachu know Iron Tail?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Why don't you use it to break this thing open?"

Without any thought or agenda and even retaliation, Ash agreed to Brendan's plan, calling Pikachu over. In unison, Ash threw the object into the air before shouting his command to Pikachu. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Pikachu seemed confident upon launching its attack. With a timed precision, he managed to make contact with the flying object, thus landing with a large crack on its upper cover. Pikachu landed on the ground, giving Ash and Brendan a satisfied smirk, giving a moment before Ash picked up the object.

But not before Brendan took another stone and smashed it, almost hitting Ash's hands. "Hey!"

Brendan didn't flinch but his eyes focused on the now opened case, with a large gash on the center. Ash then picked up the object and place his hands inside, before pulling his hand back with a small object that looked like a pebble.

The Hoenn girl seemed to notice the object first, before flexing her arms in confusion. "What? A pebble?" She went to Ash picking it from his hands. "We came here for a simple pebble?"

"Technically a pebble has no color." Brendan interjected, correcting May from her observation. "This looks like a quartz or maybe a… I don't know."

Ash shrugged. "Maybe. What's the purpose?"

"Maybe we shouldn't open this." May added, before Brendan and Ash looked like being trucked in the gut. "Or maybe we do. What did my father said?"

"He said the key will lead us." He suddenly took the stone key into his palm, and suddenly the key glowed the same color to the small pebble. The light was so bright that it illuminated the whole surrounding even in daylight. "Uhhhh… Guys, what's this?"

"Ash, look!" May pointed as the light indicated the second rock formation and the third, even the ones that were located inside the woods. All 9 of them. Brendan tried to wipe his eyes and slapped himself if he is dreaming or not.

The raven haired trainer shook his head in disbelief. "Well this is creepy as hell!"

"I agree." Brendan sternly replied, his face white with horror and fascination. "Should we?"

"I think we should split up." May suggested, pointing to the ones in the woods. "Since the key of your illuminated everything, I think separating will lessen the load, plus I think my Blaziken can break open the case."

"Noted. Now let's go."

The group spend an hour in figuring the whole rock formation puzzle before collecting all 10 shinning stones/pebbles in their hands. May used her Blaziken in terms of doing the heavy work. Ash used his Pikachu and lend his Talonflame to Brendan to do the work.

The key then noted a large golden goblet placed hidden in the woods from the naked eye, his eyes scanned and found it, entangled with vegetation from decades of secrecy. The group immediately regrouped with ten small stones in their hands, altogether. Ash slowly took one of his and place into the golden goblet as the goblet glowed, startling them. "We place them here?"

"Looks like it." Brendan place four of his, as the goblet began to glow even brighter, making May to place hers as well. The two Hoenn trainers noticed Ash's hesitation, but swallowed and slowly placed his before the goblet glowed even brighter, almost blinded Brendan and May. "Now, it's brighter than the damn sun!"

But for Ash, he can only notice them shielding their eyes and covering their faces from being blinded by the strong flash of light, and didn't even flinch even as the light took contact with his eyes. May was the one who first noticed Ash absence of actions, but her face turned pale and white from shock. "A-Ash, your eyes."

Brenden then noticed it. "Ash? What's with your eyes?"

"Eyes?" Instead of Ash answering, he felt and heard something speaking in his hands. He opened it, noticing the bright blueish aura from the key, and also found the same from Pikachu's eyelids. In turned, Pikachu opened his mouth and to his surprise, words came out. "That is just an initiation of the true blood of the tribe."

Brendan and May took a step behind Ash, with May quaking in horror. "D-did Pikachu just speak?"

The beanie wearing trainer calmly shook but couldn't help but being spooked. "I dunno, this is creepier than I thought."

"Okay, what did you do to Pikachu?" Ash interrogated the voice, as Pikachu's mouth opened again.

"Oh, this?" Pikachu's voice asked, clearly not taking the whole situation seriously. "Let's just say that the key you are holding has the carriage of your ancestor's spirit. I simply went into Pikachu's body."

"Why?" Ash flabbergasted upon hearing his words, the light around the goblet is still shining.

"Well somebody has to guide you." Pikachu replied, shaking his head. "I needed a living body to communicate, and I cannot afford entering the girl's Blaziken."

"Don't you dare!" May shouted angrily, stepping in front of Pikachu just seconds before Brendan held her back, making Ash just to scratch his head watching his Pikachu talking like it was his business, not before long for May to fire. "Okay creepy voice, where did you came from?"

Pikachu laughed, jumping in Ash's hands taking the bluish colored object with its mouth. "I came from here, and just like I said I needed a living body to communicate. Don't worry about your Pikachu, his traits remains the same, I just took control of him. Even though I was once a girl."

"I had to admit, this is getting creepy." Ash wanting to jump away from the conversation, his Talonflame jumped from the skies and went into his shoulders. "Wait, you were once a girl?"

Pikachu smiled sadly. "Well that was centuries ago. I died when I drowned near Mount Pyre, luckily my spirit were gathered around that stone. And just like you, my key Pokémon is Pikachu."

"Do you have a name?" May asked.

"I had a name, sadly as years comes by I slowly remembered less until forgotten completely." Pikachu replied, suddenly smiling wider. "Well, maybe calling me Pikachu is just fine."

Brendan then interjected with a scared expression. "Sorry to break it with you, but am I the only one getting creeped by the color of Ash's eyes?"

In unison, Pikachu jumped into Ash's shoulder, taking a good look at the shade of his eyes. The shade of red illuminated around his eye. In Ash's annoyance, Pikachu stretched his eye, taking a good look into it. "I had this before, when the blood of the tribe takes contact with the goblet for the first time will encounter this. He must drink the goblet."

"We just filled it with pebbles?" May replied with uncertainty, her fingers circling around.

"Think again, May. Looks like the pebbles turned into liquid." Brendan corrected, giving Ash some shiver and chills in his spine. "So you're saying that he must drink the contents?"

"What? NO!" Ash retaliated.

Pikachu seemed to roll her eyes in annoyance. "If you want to be one of the tribe, you must have the ability to connect with your blood and it's Pokémon."

"I-I can't. And what do you mean connect with your Pokémon?"

"I saw the recent memory of your Pikachu, Ash." Her voice sounded determined and strong. "I saw your bond with Greninja. The strongest bond that ties each humans and Pokémon."

Upon hearing his previously released top tier Pokémon, he felt his feet trembled, reaching for the goblet. But not long before Brendan decided to ruin the whole moment. "I wouldn't advise that."

May slapped his shoulder. "Shut up."

But Ash didn't even stopped, he raised the goblet into his lips, letting the liquid flow from his lips, through his tongue and down to his throat. He tasted the strong flavor of the liquid almost made him gag to the point that everything around him is blurry and red.

"A-Ash?" He can still hear May's voice calling him. But up until he walked straight, he fell to the ground.

Everything around him is darkness.