I took in a lasting smell of the city air when we finally arrived in Hearthome City. The convenience of a city had been gone from me for too long. PokéCenters, Pokémarts, stores, warm beds, and indoor plumbing. Zip was just excited to see a city again, and Ash was ready for his rematch with Fantina.

"There'll be no more waiting around for me, that fifth gym badge is as good as ours" Ash exclaimed as Pikachu happily agreed.

"I need that badge too, since Fantina wasn't here the first time I came around," I checked over the empty spot in my badge case.

"Alright!" Ash shouted as he darted off.

"Come on Ash, wait up!" Dawn called.

"First one there faces Fantina!" Ash challenged.

"You're on!" I laughed.

As we raced for Fantina, Ash and me caught a few questioning looks from the curious spectators we passed.

"Pichaa~" Zip leapt down from my shoulder.

"Wha- Zip!" I stopped.

Ash continued to run, which meant I lost the race. Dawn began to turn around until I told her I'd catch up later.

"Zip! No!" I pulled her away from a fruit stand as she sunk her teeth into a nice juicy apple.

I apologized to the man managing the fruit cart, "I'm so sorry, sir," then I pulled out some cash.

"Zip.. It's wrong to take things without paying," I spoke in vain as she ate away at her new apple.

Zip, in all her joy, has managed to grow her fur out, and over her face. It really looked like the apple was disappearing into a pile of fur. I gently brushed her fur back, Zip took no notice until I hit a tangle, which triggered a shocking fit.

"Pain" I twitched as Zip dizzied out from her inability to handle her own power.

"Chuu…" she moaned as the electricity dissipated.

When I arrived at the Hearthome Gym, an informing sign hung from the door, "Closed!" I read aloud. "Then where's Ash?" I scanned the area and decided on Maple's help to begin a search.

I opened her Pokéball, "Skip~loom~" she bounced on the wind.

"Maple can you fly up and search for Ash?"

"Looom~ loom~" she drifted from side to side into the sky.

Something at a distance caught my eye, I could see figures flying through the air. Below them a crowd of people were gathering, "what's-?"

A rattling crash shook my nerves. Maple didn't seem to notice, but Zip woke up crying.

"It's okay, it's okay," I soothed her. "That way maybe.." I followed the commotion as Maple perched upon my head.

Down the road I found someone I was sorta looking for, Fantina. She had a crowd of people gathered around as she handed out Pokéball after Pokéball. Odd, but not something I would question from an authority figure.

"There's the gym leader.. But no Ash. I'm gonna have to get him a beeper or something.."

Visi popped out and used a fan to blow a gust of wind that sent Maple flying from her place on my head. When she was gone Visi took the spot she once occupied.

"Visi! Stop picking on Maple!" he pointed to Maple, she was actually enjoying the flight, "Don't encourage him…" I sighed at Maple.

"Maple! Do you see Ash, Dawn, or Brock!" I shouted to her.

"Skiploom!" She smiled but shook her head for no.

We took a long walk, and after my feet were exhausted, we rested in a park.

I released Slider into a nearby fountain. He looked quizzically at me, since he had first expected a battle.

"Hey Slider? Is it possible to find someone with those antennas?"

"Maa~?" he asked.

"Bay," Visi took in his first impression of Slider. This was their first meeting. After staring for a few moments, they gave each other a nod then turned away like there was some important business to be done in this park.

"You guys are so weird!" I complained to the sky.

"Pichu," Zip, who had been flying around with Maple, landed on Slider.

Slider was annoyed at Zip landing on his head, "maa!" he tried to bite her.

"Pi!" she gasped and jumped for safety into the water.

"Tyyy," he nudged Zip for her to get out of his personal space until she electrocuted the area, knocking them both out.

"Return" I recalled Slider and Zip. "Maple, Visi! Do you see the Pokémon Center…?"

"Skip skip," Maple pointed west.

"Thank you, Ma-" Visi landed in my arms like a baby and snuggled onto my shoulder. "You're so spoiled" I laughed.

"Skiploom~" Maple landed on my head, as we set out once again.

Nurse Joy healed my Pokémon then she informed me about a battle behind the Center. I walked through the building to the battle ground and found everyone I was searching for.

"You guys!" I broke in happily on a seemingly tense situation. "I've been lookin' all over town for ya'll!"

"Who's this?" a blond boy asked.

"I would ask the same thing. My name's Crista," I waved to the stranger.

"I'm Barry, but you don't look very important. Were you in the tag battle with Paul?" He asked and before I could answer he counted down from nine.

"Uhm, I donno about tag but we have battled."

"You've battled Paul!" Dawn exclaimed.

"Was this suppose to be advertised?" I asked nervously.

"So what happened! Quick, I want all the details! 9, 8,7-" Barry counted down.

"Calm down! Well if you're so keen on it. Paul liked my training, so he met me and we battled."

"And~?" Ash asked. Without my notice, everyone had gathered around like it was story time.

"He used Electabuzz, and Weavile-"

"Sounds right," Barry nodded.

"Electabuzz tied with Maple"

"Loom!" Maple sang into the conversation.

"Then Visi took down Weavile.."

"Bay," Visi nodded from where he was hanging over my shoulder.

"Wha-" they jumped to their feet

"No way, that's ludicrous!" Barry exclaimed. "Come on! Let's battle I'll prove you wrong! No one can beat Paul!"

"Your Pokémon are kinda out.." Dawn informed Barry.

Apparently, there was a battle between Ash and Barry while I was away.

"Oouu, whatever! A girl can't beat Paul or me anyway!" He stomped like a child, then ran inside.

"Excuse me!" I stomped after him. Brock held me back.

"He's not worth it," Ash consoled.

"But wow, is that truly true? You beat Paul?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah," I cooled.

"I never would have guessed," Brock chuckled.

"We should have a battle sometime," Ash challenged.

"Bet on it," I grinned.

"Chimchar.." A low cry caught our attention.

"Chimchar, whatcha doin'?" Ash asked. As he approached closer, Chimchar scurried away out of fright, then he hid behind my legs.

"That's not Ash's Chimchar," Dawn kneeled down to meet him at eye level.

"Actually, I think I remember you," I stroked his head and inspected the rock necklace around his neck. "I gave you my gratitude," I chuckled.

"Chimchar-ar-ar!" He hopped from foot to foot.

"Do you want to join Crista's team?" Ash asked. Chimchar hid again then nodded."Then-" I pulled out an empty Pokéball."Char!" He crossed his arms. Then pointed at me.

"No? You wanna battle first?" I asked, he agreed and scurried to one side of the battle field.

"Visi," I summoned him to battle.

"Chim!" He disagreed and pointed at me again.

"You want to battle me?" I asked, he agreed.

Brock was a bit worried, "Crista.. You shouldn't-"

"It's fine," I waved him off, "Chimchar witnessed how I defended against Slider back at that lake, he must want to test me himself."

"Ready?" I took the opposite side of the field.

"Char!"

"Alright! ...But no fire."

He nodded.

"You're crazy," Ash chuckled from the sidelines.

"Yeah, yeah," As I spoke Chimchar administered the first attack, a skyward brick break.

"Whoa!" I defended with my cast.

Chimchar made contact then he used the momentum to somersault backwards. And instead of landing he dug straight into the ground.

I took a step back when he leaped out of the dirt and hit directly into my stomach. On instinct I brought a hand to the spot of contact. However, both attacks were light, meaning this wasn't a serious battle. Though I did act as though it was painful.

"Owowow, take that!" I chopped his forehead. Then he pretended to collapse.

"And for the finish!" I threw a Pokéball at Chimchar, it engulfed him in a red shaft of light then shook back and forth. Once it finally stopped, I caught a Chimchar.

"I can't believed that worked," Dawn laughed.

"Nah, Chimchar let you catch him," Ash commented.

"Yeeaahh," I drawled with a sigh and let Chimchar out of his Pokéball, "welcome to the team."

"Chimchar-ar!" he saluted.

"Baybaybay," Visi snuck up on Chimchar using will-o-wisp to eerily light his face.

"Chaarr!" Chimchar leapt onto my head.

"Visi!" I scolded, causing him to pout.

Ash laughed at the scenario.

"Nett," Visi psychically tripped Ash.

"Visi.." I grabbed him. "Why do you antagonize each other?"

Ash glared at Visi, Visi glared back, then they turned away with enough speed to cause whiplash.

"Return…" I recalled Visi to his ball.

We walked back into the PokéCenter, and while Ash and Brock got a room, I handed out food to Slider and Chimchar. A small fountain in the Center made it possible for Slider to come out of his ball.

"Slider is so cute," Dawn patted his cheeks. "I would love to see him in a contest."

He paid her no mind and ate like she was invisible.

"Pip piplup," Piplup greeted.

"Tyy," he sunk down into the water and sulked.

"..Then again. Chimchar is really cool," Dawn reached for him, the closer she got, the further he hid behind me, dragging his food with him like it was a victim as well.

"What's this? You were so tough before," I pulled him into the open.

"But you're actually really shy," Dawn picked him up, he blushed.

"We got a room if you two wanna get ready for bed, and I'll have dinner done in a bit," Brock informed.

"Mmkay," Dawn jumped up and ran to our room. I took out a brush and cleaned Chimchar's fur when Ash sat down with me.

"Who're you gonna use in the battle against Fantina?" Ash asked.

"Visi for sure," I nodded, Ash seemed conflicted at the mention of his name. "Tini, and-"

"Char-ar-ar!" Chimchar interrupted. He grinned with assurance.

"And Chimchar it would seem," I smiled.

"Good choice, even though he's new, he seems strong."

"And you're gonna use Pikachu, Buizel, and Chimchar, as planned?"

"Yeah, and we're gonna win it with our new technique!"

"I think you could win it with confidence alone."

"You think so?" he blushed. Then he left at Pikachu's call.

"That was Ash," I spoke to Chimchar and Slider.

"Char?" Chimchar asked. Slider silently acknowledged my words.

"My friends. I think you two should learn their names."

"Chim!" he nodded anxiously.

"The girl was Dawn, and Brock is the big tan guy."

"Maa," Slider lost interest as he slid to the bottom of the fountain.

"…ya know, Chimchar, you remind me of myself."

He wiped away the crumbs from his meal and faced me, "char?"

"For the most part I was brave, until I left home and realized how shy I actually was," I chuckled, he coincided with a grin.

"Chimchar, is it alright if I give you a nickname?" I asked as I put the brush away.

He examined his fur, it was sleek and shiny, "chim" he nodded.

"I've been thinking about it and I really like the name Comet."

"Char?" he tilted his head.

"Comets were once thought to come and go once, but actually they go in a continuous cycle. To put it simply.. I kinda thought I wouldn't get to see you again," I stroked his head.

"Chim Chimchar-ar-ar," he motioned his arms in attempt to convey a thought.

"So you're ok with the name?" I asked.

"Char" he nodded.

"Then Comet it is!"

"Maatyy," Slider interrupted us to welcome Comet to the team.

"Chim!" Comet grinned at him.

"I'm glad to see that you two are becoming friends after that incident at the lake," I smiled.

They agreed by returning a whole-hearted smile to one another.

The following day at Fantina's gym Ash debuted his new move, the counter-shield. Buizel easily beat Gengar with it, then Chimchar had a hard time with Mismagius. And even though Pikachu used the counter-shield as well, he was defeated by Drifblim. Drifblim gave Ash a run for his luck, none of his moves seemed to be working, but Chimchar finally pulled it off and they won the Relic Badge.

Now it's the day after, and it's my turn to fight. Barry's still here to watch, somehow we invited him to tag along on our trip to Canalave City.

"Go, Mismagius," Fantina called.

"Alright, then I choose Comet!" I threw Comet into battle.

"Copycat," Ash yelled from the stands. His battle had began with a Chimchar as well.

"Hey.." I grumbled.

"Then I will begin, Mismagius Dark Pulse!" Fantina began the battle. Mismagius created shadowy rings and tossed them at Comet.

"Comet Dig! Then Flame Wheel!" Comet dodged into the ground. Later, he resurfaced in a flame that aimed for Mismagius.

"Mismagius Psybeam that fire out!" Fantina spun for effect.

"Chiiimmmchaaar!" Comet broke through the Psybeam at an amazing fifteen feet in the air, causing a critical impact with Mismagius.

"Mismag!" Mismagius collided with the ground. Comet watched this from his safe freefall in the air.

"Comet come down with another flame wheel!" Comet spun into flames then rolled down in Mismagius's direction.

"S'il vous plaît, Mismagius dodge then follow up with Psybeam," it took little effort for Mismagius to float out of the way, then when Comet was in the line of fire she hit him with a close range Psybeam. The strength sent Comet flying past me and against a wall.

I yelled, "Comet!" hoping he didn't faint.

"Chim!" he energetically returned to the field.

"Phew.. Comet, Flame Wheel one more time!" Chimchar sprinted until he had enough speed to roll forward into a fireball at Mismagius.

"All you can do is repeat," Fantina shrugged. "Then I must Dark Pulse once more."

"Comet stop! Dig now!" He ceased the flame, my lack of judgment caused the dark pulse to hit, but it didn't stop Comet from diving into the dirt.

"Come on, what are you doing?" Barry shouted.

"Just wait," I replied.

"Non, I haven't the patience," Fantina stated. "Magical Leaf into his hiding spot!" Mismagius flew closer from her safe spot in the air, and unleashed multicolored leaves into the hole Comet dug.

I pointed to the ceiling, "resurface!" Comet reappeared to the right of Mismagius. "Shadow Claw!" Comet extended his claws with a dark power and scratched Mismagius's face.

"Mag!" Mismagius went down and the referee deemed her unable to battle.

"Chimchar~" Comet flaunted his muscles with a smile.

"Nooo! That's not possible!" Fantina recalled Mismagius.

"Then how will you go at my Drifblim?" she called forth her prized Pokémon. "Now Psychic Will-o-Wisp!" Drifblim's signature move came into play, it Psychically spun a few Will-o-Wisps with enough speed to make them seem like rings. Comet was quickly trapped into them.

Comet struggled, "chim!" but it was useless.

Drifblim grabbed Comet by his cheeks, "Hypnosis!"

"No! Comet Flame Wheel!" He tried but failed. Hypnosis knocked him out cold.

The referee deemed Comet unable to battle after Drifblim knocked him around with Psychic a few times.

"Alright then, I'm counting on you Visi!" I called Visi onto the field.

"Oh, a ghost!" Fantina gasped at the pairing.

"Banette bay," Visi gladly introduced himself.

"Will-o-Wisp the ceiling Visi!" Visi hurled blue balls of fire straight up.

Everyone watched the fire in anticipation.

"What's that do?" Ash asked.

As the room had their eyes on the ceiling, Visi drew himself closer to Drifblim.

"Now, combination Shadow Ball and Thunderbolt!" In one hand Visi held a blob of accumulated darkness, with the other hand Visi charged the mass of darkness with shocks of electricity.

"A trick?" Fantina gasped.

Visi's special combination had no chance of missing, Visi thrust the attack directly into Drifblim's face.

"Blim!" Drifblim took massive damage.

Visi grinned wildly, "bay bay bay~" we had practiced combinations with Dawn, but using it in battle excited him since it finally had a practical purpose.

"Drifblim! Counter with Ominous Wind!" Drifblim regained some mobility through sheer willpower, then it pinned Visi down with a fierce gust of air.

"Visi Psychic!" Visi caught Drifblim with Psychic and tossed it to the ground. And with that, Drifblim was down for the count.

"Banette!" Visi shot a peace sign to everyone in the stands, they shivered before involuntarily shooting one back.

Fantina recalled her Pokémon, "my precious Drifblim… Then I leave this to you Gengar!" Fantina called a Gengar to enter the battle ground.

I returned Visi to his Pokéball, "thanks Visi." Then I unhooked the Pokéball attached to my arm and tossed it into battle, "go Tini!"

Tini whipped her tail forward, raring for battle.

"Gengar Hypnosis!" Gengar closed in and launched a red beam that put Tini to sleep. "Now, Night Shade," Fantina shrugged like the end of the battle was already set in stone. Gengar flew away to humor me and shot his crimson beam slowly from afar.

As Tini slept, her skin began to peel, revealing a new shiny coat when she woke up.

"Tini dodge!" Tini rolled out of the way.

"That was Tini's special ability, Shed Skin. It cures all non-volatile status ailments," Brock informed.

"Thunder Wave!" Tini fired a wave of electricity at Gengar.

Tini's quick recovery had Gengar off guard, causing the attack to make direct paralysis.

"Awesome! Now Dragon Rage!" As Gengar fell from the air in pain, Tini hit him with a flare of dragon energy.

"Gengar, Night Shade!" Gengar struggled and failed to obey orders as the pain became overwhelming.

"Say it is not so! Gengar!" Fantina beckoned.

"Geng…ar" Gengar somehow mustered up enough power to stand.

Fantina clasped her hands together, "fantastique! Gengar go at it with Shadow Punch!" he punched Tini into the air with darkness masking his fist.

"Tini!" I shouted.

Then everyone spectating gasped. Tini's body color shifted to a bright white as she reformed in midair.

"Tini's evolving!" Dawn shouted.

"Aair," Tini grew winds that helped create a safe landing as the white faded to reveal her true colors.

"Whooa," The audience moved to the edge of their seats.

"Cool~" I gazed.

Then I turned to my Pokédex, it spoke aloud with an automated voice, "Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon. Its crystalline orbs appear to give this Pokémon the power to freely control the weather."

"But there's still a battle going on! So Tini, attack once more!"

"Raair!" Tini's laced her tail with liquid, then she leapt forward and whipped Gengar with a splash of water.

"Gengar!" Fantina screamed.

"Tini learned Aqua Tail!" Brock yelled.

"Gengar is unable to battle. The challenger, Crista, is the victor," the referee announced.

"Yes!" I lunged at Tini for a hug. "Congratulations Tini!"

Ash came from the stands for a high-five, "I don't think Tini's gonna fit in your bag anymore," he laughed.

Tini nudged me with her nose.

"As long as she's happy, I don't think that matters," I answered.

Fantina awarded me with the Relic Badge. And after a few farewells we were off. But before we were too far, a stroke of luck caught us by surprise. A convenient blimp just happened to be flying to where we needed to go, Canalave City. The steel-gym and home of our next gym battle.