"(Pokémon Speech)"
(Author's Note)
"(Telepathic / Aura Communication)"
"Murmuring / Whispering"
"(Thoughts)"

Chapter XI : The Starting Point

10:30 PM

"Dad, we'll go to the Prism Tower." "Okay, be careful." "Thanks dad. Let's go, Pika." Said Andre as he gets the permission from his father, changing his pajamas to Alolan outfit after taking a bath and waited for his partner Pikachu, also known as Pika, to go out with Ash. As they went outside and saw Ash waiting for them, also wearing his outfit in Alola, they look at the building where they'll start their Kalos journey, Prism Tower.

During their time in Alola, Andre decided to nickname his starter Pikachu, Pika, because when Ash or Andre is calling their Kanto starter, both their Pikachu look at them to see who was calling out to them. Both the duo trainers decided to have a very small meeting between them and their Kanto starters. Andre suggested to nickname his Pikachu Pika, while Ash nodded at the boy's suggestion.

Andre look at his starter and asked if it's okay for him to call him the nickname he gave to Pikachu, which the Mouse Pokémon nodded and doesn't mind calling him his nickname. That day was after few months of training their Aura and they now finally understand what every Pokémon they see are saying and even in thoughts, but only to trainers themselves.

They don't want to pry into every trainer's personal information, which is very dirty for them to do it by using telepathic or Aura Communication, So they only do it to themselves when serious situations happened or something else that's bugging them.

That was a few months ago. Now? Few minutes have passed and they're at the foot of the Prism Tower. They step inside the building and went up only 4 floors and saw a door and a sound system above it.

"We want to challenge the Gym Leader for the Gym Badge." Requested by the 16-year-old trainer, but nothing came... "State your names." a voice came out of nowhere, which cause the trainers and their starters to jump a little. They notice the voice came from the sound system.

"The name's Ash Ketchum." "And my name is Andre Mason." Stated by the trainers as the voice asked another question, "Do you have any badges?" "Uh... No, this is the first gym battle we had in Kalos." said the 13-year-old trainer about them being new to Kalos.

"No Badges?! You need to collect 4 badges to challenge the Lumiose Gym. I request you to try again later." Then 2 metal sticks came from both side of them as it produce electricity, which cause the trainers to stagger. To no avail, they were zapped for few seconds and the floor they're standing on disappeared. It is a square floor trap that cause the trainers to fall.

They were sliding and then they're sent out of the tube that leads outside. "AAAAH!" They shout as they fall to their doom. Was it already the end of their... secrets of revealing themselves as Aura Guardian and Aura Knight? "GOOO!" Shouted someone as he throws his backpack to where the trainers are going to land. "I'm gonna catch the Pokémon!" said the lemon girl who was a few years younger than the boy.

As the backpack is on the location of the trainers' landing, it got something big and it turns out the trainers, who saw the inflation, landed safety. "I got it, I got it, I got it!" Shouted the girl whose hands are ready to catch the trainers' Pikachu, and she caught them.

"Are you guys okay?" Asked the worried lemon boy with eyeglass who was running up to them. "Yeah, we're ok. Thanks for saving us." Thanking the lemon boy, He hoisted them up while the girl, who caught both Pikachu, began snuggling them, causing both to use a little bit power of electricity to shock or rather stop the girl's snuggle against them.

"Is there any chance that you two have been kicked out by that gym leader?" Asked the lemon boy. "Yeah, he even electrocuted us for not having 4 badges." Explained by the 13-year-old boy who was a little angry at the gym leader who kicked them and even left them falling to their doom.

"That is one hell of a rude gym leader. He even kicked us out, too." Said the girl who fixed herself from the electrocution caused by the trainers' Pikachu. "Yikes! Sorry if our Pikachu caused you some problems. They like cuddling, but not always." Ash said with an apologetic look and a nervous tone at the girl who look like 9 years old. "It's okay. I just couldn't help it, but to cuddle cute Pokémon."

Then Ash changed his glance from the younger girl to the eyeglass boy. "That gym leader says that I need 4 badges to compete against him. Is there a starting gym leader here in Kalos?" "There is a gym in Santalune City, which is where every trainers in Kalos or from different regions get their first badge." Explain the lemon boy. "Thanks, by the way. Do you know how long is it to walk from here to Santalune City? You see, me and my friend here are new to this region."

Answer? A nervous smile from the boy, which cause the duo trainers raise their eyebrows. "It'll take 3 hours by walking, but if its transportation by vehicles or even Pokémon, it'll take half an hour or even an hour." "I see, I guess I need to walk around a bit here in Lumiose City." stated by the 13-year-old boy, but an idea came from the lemon girl. "I know, we can guide you. By the way, the name's Bonnie Ferrand. I'm only 9 years old." Introduced the girl.

"I'm his big brother, Clemont Ferrand. 16 years old." Introduced the lemon boy as he readied his hand for handshake. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in Kanto." He accepted Clemont's hand as they shake their hands of greeting. "The name's Andre Mason, also from Pallet Town." He, too, also accepted his hand as a greeting.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go." Bonnie said as she goes first towards the road they're going ahead. The duo trainers brought their phones to text their parents that they've made friends and wanted to stroll around Lumiose City, which they replied with okay.

Meanwhile in Vaniville Town, Kalos

"I'll go meet my friends, mom." Said the girl who was ready to meet her friends at the place of where they're going to meet. "Okay, dear. Be careful out there." "I will." Then she also said goodbye to her mother's Rhyhorn and went off.

...

"Ah, there she is. Hey, Serena!" A girl who was one year younger than the honey blonde girl wave to the her, who was running towards them. "Hey, guys. Am I late?" Asked the girl who reached her pocket to get the handkerchief to wipe off her sweat. Actually, the handkerchief is not really hers. It's from a certain someone she knew.

"No, you've made it in time. Well, we are still waiting for one more though... Ah, speaking of the delinquent, here he is." Teased by the orange hair boy who pointed at the guy who was running towards them as well.

"Sorry. Just got a little late for waking up." Said the black haired boy, wearing blue track jacket with white stripes, navy blue slim fit pants, and black combat boots with blue laces, carrying a one strap bag and also wearing a dark red hat with sunglasses, as he too, getting his handkerchief to remove the sweat due to running.

"You're always late, Calem. Well, lucky for you the bus still not here." said the tanned girl. "So Shauna, how is life for you?" Asked Serena, and the response from the tanned girl, "Oh it's okay. I'm still improving my lines for the incoming competition at Lumiose City." "What about you, Trevor? Still capturing pictures about new Pokémon?" This time it was Calem who asked.

"Yeah, the usual hobby of me. Can't get it out of my life since I want to become a Pokémon Photographer that wants to capture pictures about Pokémon, just like Alexa." Answered the orange boy as he holds the camera.

"Here's the bus guys." Said the tall, yet big, chubby boy who was watching the bus that is going towards their direction. They got in and presented their bus tickets, which they're going to the Lumiose City.

1 and a half hour Later

"Haa, at last, here we are." Shauna said as they got off the bus to stroll around the city of Lumiose, also stretching her body after minutes of sitting in the bus. "Yeah, I have to admit, sitting in the bus for few minutes or long makes my butt hurts." Complained the jacket boy while one of his hand is touching his butt.

"No kidding, Calem." The response came from Serena, who agrees with him. "Anyway, let's go." Said the camera boy who was ahead of them as they followed him.

Somewhere in Lumiose City, Kalos

"Thanks for the lunch, Ash." They went to a restaurant since all of them are hungry. Luckily for Ash and Andre, due to them battling many trainers, they've earned too much money due to saving someone and stopping some organization that wants domination for the whole world. They exchange some money from different regions for Kalos money and they can afford something that is expensive.

Although, they didn't told the siblings that they have so much money. Ash only told them that it's his treat for them to guide them around the Lumiose City. "No problem, Clemont. We're all hungry about it, especially these two." Said the 15-year-old raven-haired trainer while his glance is at the Pokémon who are satisfied by eating their food as he smile at them.

"Are we going to the competition, brother?" "Hm? What competition is Bonnie saying, Clemont?" Asked the 13-year-old boy whose eyebrows are raised due to confusion. "She is talking about the competitions that will held later near the Pokémon Lab of Professor Sycamore. The competition contains different prize, depends on what you will join."

Then Clemont explains all about the sports in the competition. Mainly, about dancing, singing and some sports that are only for trainer's Pokémon. When the duo heard the competition, a smile came from their face. Then, "If there is a registration, is there any chance that it will end soon?" "Let me see... There's only 2 hours left, but due to many trainers participating, I bet that doing it later will cost you the participating of the competition."

"Well, I don't want to get left out. Let's go." "Wait, before we go, why do you want to participate?" Silence became the answer until Ash smiled and said, "We just want to show our talents, that's all." "Really?! What competition are you going to participate?" Bonnie asked, but a chuckle came from Andre and he said, "I don't want to spoil it, right? It would be better if you watch us what competition we joined." Then they brought their bags to start heading at the competition booth.

...

"Alright, we got participated to the competition!" Exclaimed the 16-year-old trainer while he stretch his right fist upward, followed by his partner Pikachu and so as Andre and Pika. "I wouldn't be surprised that there are many people who joined the competition. Although, I'm curious when did it start." Curiosity get the best of Andre as Clemont started to say something.

"Well, the competition both of you entered is called Kalos Got Talent. It's like a Pokémon Showcase, except there is only 3 events for that competition and can be for girl and boy, including the Pokémon Performers if they want to. Mainly singing, dancing and battling each other until one Pokémon is unable to battle. Well, the battling-each-other event is... a little bit complicated or like hard for me to explain."

"Battling-each-other event? You must've been talking about like a competition where Pokémon Coordinator, either boy or girl can enter the Pokémon Contest." The word 'Pokémon Coordinator' and 'Pokémon Contest' causes the siblings tilt their head at what Ash just said.

"Pokémon Coordinator? Contest?" "Oh yeah you don't know that since you're all living in Kalos. Well..." Then Ash started talking about what a Pokémon Coordinator is and not only that, they told their adventures as well, except for the Alola and how many times they've seen every Legendary Pokémon in every regions, which it almost took 2 hours.

"Wow! You travel through 5 regions?!" They both nodded. "Awesome! How many Pokémon did you caught?!" Unable to control her emotions, Bonnie was staring at them with eyes wide and has stars each on her pupils and had a very big smile on her face. "Well. If I want to put it like that... It's... I totally forgot." Scratching the back of his head and chuckled nervously while Ash said that.

"Don't worry, Bonnie. When the right time comes, we'll let you see what Pokémon we got. You'll be really surprised." What Ash said caused Bonnie to jump up and down, really unable to control her excitement. When seeing her so excited caused the 16-year-old trainer to grin at her.

"Well, it's almost 3:00 PM. Is there any Pokémon Arena around the Lumiose City?" "There is, but why?" "Well... I just want to battle my friend here, Andre, but if you have a Pokémon, we can battle each other." Ash said while scratching the favorite spot of Pikachu.

"I have a Pokémon. Come on, let's battle." The 16-year-old lemon boy said as he walk to the place where the Pokémon Arena is located as he was followed by his younger sister, Andre and Ash.

Minutes have passed and the duo trainers saw the Pokémon Arena and went towards it with Clemont. "I'll be the referee. What type of battle do you want, Clemont?" Andre asked as he was standing at the side and looking at Clemont. "Is it okay to be one-on-one, Ash?" "It's okay. Let's go, Pikachu." He said as Pikachu got off of his shoulder and ready his battle stance at Clemont. Ash's smile grew as he saw another new Pokémon.

"Alright then. Bunnelby, I choose you!" He said as he throw a PokéBall and it showed the Digging Pokémon. "The battle between Ash and Pikachu against Clemont and his Bunnelby will begin... Now!" Exclaimed the 13-year-old trainer as the atmosphere surrounding Ash and Clemont gets more tensed as they never command first, observing what is the strategy of each other.

"Alright then... Use Quick Attack!"