Chapter 20:

Moving Forward

. . .

There wasn't much I could do after I had completed my test and earned my third gym badge; Now that I had mastered Mega Evolution (as it seemed), there wasn't anything left for Gurkin or Korrina to teach me, meaning that I had graduated from Mega Evolution training. But sense Calem and Emma still hadn't graduated, we were still able to live in our dorm together until otherwise since it seemed only fair. Speaking of the two of them, they were ecstatic to see that I had learned how to learn Mega Evolution and ended up getting a new team member at the same time. Their tests were right after mine, but what was strange was that they were going to take theirs at the same time. But the same rules applied as it did with mine - I wasn't allowed to see how their tests would end up, so that left me alone until further notice.

On the upside, Priam settled in to his new team members and family fairly quickly, and even Merida had warmed up to him after she was able to witness the battle before going completely unconscious in her Pokeball, so they were on good terms now. I even found another accessory in my bag from when we were in Ambrette Town, and I gave him a bright orange arm band. What sucked was that I didn't know how long Calem and Emma would be gone, so I was...pretty bored now that I was left to myself. I had my partners with me, of course, and Shalour City was my oyster at the moment, so I was back outside before I knew it, this time with Merida and Priam accompanying me.

I found myself back on Route 12 before I knew it, and decided to pay another visit to the ranch while I was out there. Easier said than done since most of, if not the rest of the route was on the other side of a small river. I wasn't lucky enough to have Emma and Lazuli with me this time, and I didn't want to call out Aurora since it was time for his afternoon nap, but there were some rocks just south of the city gate that one could climb on and cross with. Supposedly. The problem was that they were incredibly slippery, making getting across very arduous, if not dangerous. I was lucky enough to have Merida and Priam with me to help keep my balance, which I thanked them for greatly once we were on dry land again.

"Are you always this reckless?" Priam asked as we stopped on shore so I could catch my breath. "You are fortunate those rocks weren't jagged and you fell on them."

"I'm aware of that." I huffed, getting back to my feet. "But I wasn't going to get into change into my bathing suit just to swim a few feet. Besides, we got across didn't we?"

We walked along the path, the Pokemon in the area active as always, but Toothless released himself just as we arrived at the ranch. My Pokemon grew a habit of releasing themselves when they wanted, so I didn't mind it. Besides, I could use the extra company.

I was back in the ranch again and played with the Skiddo for a bit before one of the farmers offered me to come inside for some milk and cookies. How could I say no? The people of the ranch were nice people, especially to Trainers. Turns out that I wasn't the only one there either - there were other Trainers, tourists and passerbys inside as well, mostly adults or older siblings accompanying young children who wanted to ride the Skiddo and Trainers who just wanted to be there for the experience. I sat at one of the tables with my three partners as we all enjoyed the free snack and fresh milk. I was about to start on my third cookie (which was swiped by Toothless) when I was approached by a rather familiar face.

"Malva!" I smiled as the anchorwoman came over and sat with me. "I didn't expect to see you at a place like this."

"A lot of people don't." She said simply with a shrug. "But this ranch is the only place that sells the best ice cream in Kalos. Plus, today's my cheat day, and I did not want the stuff in the stores when you can get it fresh from the source."

"Can't deny that!"Hey, I couldn't. This place has some damn good ice cream. "I swear I would be addicted to the stuff if I didn't have self control."

Malva only laughed as she took a sip of what I assumed was a yogurt and fruit smoothie. "I see you have a Mega Ring and a new partner. You graduated from the Tower of Mastery?"

"Yeah. Yesterday, actually.." I murmured, rubbing the accessory on my arm. "I was even able to get my third badge."

"So that means you're going to Courmarine."

"After my sister and friend graduate, yes. They're taking their tests right now, reason why I'm out here."

I didn't exactly know Malva, but despite her fierce personality, she was pretty easy to talk to in that casual sense. She was famous in her own right, but she had a down-to-earth type of feel underneath that fiery exterior. Still, I noticed that, even when she was around other people or her coworkers, she didn't share that same casual persona as she did with me. "By the way...I can't help but to notice that you have a striking resemblance to Lady Katarina."

That got my attention. "...To who?"

"Lady Katarina." Malva repeated, crossing her legs as began to mess with the straw of her smoothie as if she was about to share the biggest piece of gossip. "She was the original leader of the Zyanae, a priestess said to have extraordinary powers, but her connection with Dragon Pokemon was unparalleled, and she was highly respected amongst the other tribes despite their differences. Dragon Masters all over the world still train under her guidance and teachings to this very day."

"I did some research on the three tribes," I tell her "but I haven't gotten a lot of information about them aside from what I learned back at the Parfum Palace and the Tower, and even that wasn't a lot..."

"I'm not surprised. Most of the info regarding the tribes was lost the day they disappeared several thousand years ago, so most of it is scattered or inconclusive. However, there is a name that always comes up whenever the topic is mentioned: Katarina." She looked at me, studying my face, and saw that I was interested before she continued. "As I said before, Katarina was the original leader of the Zyanae. Of course, I use the term 'original' loosely as she was the last of her family line of leaders to take the mantle upon her father's passing. She is recognized for her strength, wisdom and leadership, both Pokemon and humans held her in high regards and always held her dear to their hearts. She had the innate ability to speak with Pokemon as you do, but she had a strong connection with Dragon types; she had connections with other Pokemon as well, mostly Psychic, Fighting, Ghost and some Fire types. She was always accompanied by two Pokemon however; a Lucario - like yours - and Zygarde."

"Zygarde?" I repeat, and I noticed Priam shifted out of the corner of my eye. "The Legendary of this region?"

"That's right." Malva nodded, a knowing glint appearing in her eye. "There are a lot of myths and legends in regards to Katarina's relationship with Zygarde. Some say they had a partnership the same as that of Trainers and their Pokemon of the modern day. Others say they were secretly mates, and then some argue that Zygarde birthed Katarina itself as it needed someone to inherit its power in order to bring balance back to the world should his physical form fall. It's all convoluted theories at best, but one thing was for certain was that the three of them were always seen together, as it was documented in several journals by people of all three tribes."

"There's another thing," Malava continued "is that she has the ability to manipulate Dragon Force."

"Wait," I frown "you mean that stuff that's said to lie in the earth? 'The power of dragons' it's called."

"Dragon Force is the very thing that gives like to this planet." Malva's tone changed, becoming more serious...and almost ominous? "It's what makes the plants grow, the water clear, the wind that blows through our hair each day...While it is said all Legendaries have some reign over our world and others in some way, only a select few have complete control. This is mostly other Dragon type Legendaries and Arceus himself, but the only recorded proof of this claim was an incident somewhere in Unova that involved Reshiram and Zekrom. My point being is this; Katarina was the only human who could also control the Dragon Force."

"Was she..." I paused, licking my lips before I continued. "Was she a ginjinka? That may explain why..."

"That is very possible, given her closeness with Dragon types. But, again, it's hard to prove. However...there are people who say that she was able to birth several heirs to continue that lineage to ensure that there will still be guardians before she passed, all whom scattered all across the world to make new heirs. It's unknown if they even exist, but it is very possible that members of her family still live on today."

"Would a DNA test prove that?" I suddenly blurted out, immediately realizing what I said just a second too late.

"It could." Malava said slowly, giving me a rather inquisitive look. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just..." I run my fingers through my hair shyly. "Well...my friend, sister and I have been trying to figure out just what we are in regards to our ability to speak with Pokemon. We think we may be ginjinkas, but only a DNA test will prove that...Sycamore came to visit us and he offered to help us with that, but he said it could take up to weeks before we can get the results. I'm a bit antsy.."

"Is that all?" Malva laughed, as if it was humorous that I was worried about asking her. "Well, of course it would take up to several weeks to get the results back given the professor's equipment thanks to the blackout inLumiose...But I have a few channels that have the tech you need to get the results in just a matter of days."

"Really?" I perk up instantly. "You don't think you could...?"

"I could make a few calls." She said, already taking out her cellphone. "I'll have to find Sycamore, though. He's in Coumarine still, right?" I nodded eagerly, the anchorwoman smiling before she stood. "Alrighty then! I'll get started right away. I'll contact you within the next couple of days once we get the results back, alright?"

"That's perfect! Thank you so much!"

"By the way," she added as she began to pack up her things "If you want to learn more about Katarina, I suggest paying a visit to Laverre City. The entire town is like something that leapt out of a fairytale, and the townsfolk embrace that. If you can find anything regarding old legends and myths, it's there if it's not anywhere else." Malva couldn't stay long since she was supposed to be at another site for the local news - apparently someone gave them a lead in regards to the blackout in Lumiose City, so we had to bid a temporary goodbye before she left the ranch, virtually leaving me alone. I checked my map to see just where Laverre City was, and it turned out it was just north of Lumiose City. I marked it down as a place of interest - we were going that way anyway, and it had a Gym, so we were going to have to make a stop there eventually.

There wasn't much I could do now, so I opted to return back to Shalour (after buying pints of ice cream for the three of us) and wait for Calem and Emma to return. I had a lot of things to tell them.

. . .

I ended up training some more when I returned to our dorm; Priam was pretty strong already, so all we really had to work on was him working with new team members. He an Merida seemed to work together well, exceptionally so, and it made me a little eager to have a double-battle just to see how well they would against a real opponent. Aurora had missed out on the Gym battle, so he had a lot of catching up to do in regards to training. Aurora was one of the harder Pokemon to train along with Toothless - him being an odd combination of Ice and Rock and not faring well against the summer weather made it difficult to keep his training consistent. But Aurora was resilient despite his otherwise frail stature. Toothless has been working extra hard too, I noticed; Perhaps because he doesn't want to fall behind the others, but I get the feeling he wants to evolve fairly soon. Still, even with training, it may be a while before Toothless actually evolves since most Dragon types take a while before that actually happens.

It was sometime that evening when I got a call from Emma through my Holo-Caster; Apparently she and Calem had passed their tests, and Gurkin, Korrina and Steven wanted to see us all so we could properly graduate. I was back at the Tower of Mastery within minutes, Calem and Emma back in the main lobby with the two gurus and Hoenn Champion, where I joined my sister and friend's side. Since this was most likely the last time Priam would see the Tower, I left him out of his Pokeball so he and Korrina could have a proper goodbye.

"You're all here. Good." Gurkin smiled. "First, let me be the one to properly congratulate you all for learning how to master Mega Evolution, and so quickly!" He then looked us all over, before starting with Calem. "Calem...you have strength that is unparalleled both in mind and body. Your spirit is equal of that of a warrior, a knight, with courage and vigor that your Pokemon can sense, which in turn brings out their own power. However, there are often times where you push and criticize yourself too hard when you can't meet the expectations you subconsciously set for yourself. You need to find a middle ground where even the smallest victory is one step closer to getting stronger, and failure does not make you weak nor does it make you unable to succeed. Please remember that as you continue on your journey."

"Emma." Korrina spoke now. "Your heart is pure and you radiate sunshine, Pokemon just gravitate to you where they are quick to befriend you, despite their varying natures. You do not seek strength, wealth or even wish to set a name for yourself as you are content to be with your friends and family. However, your headstrong tendencies, eagerness to right wrongs on your own terms and quickness to judge others can lead to making unintentional enemies and recklessness where you may end up getting yourself and others around you hurt. Remember, your sister wants to keep you safe, and even if you don't like it, sometimes it's best to hang back and let others take care of a problem for you."

"And Kat." Steven spoke now. "You are a combination of both of these values. You have strengths you yourself never knew you had, but you are able to bring them out in both yourself and your Pokemon. You are loyal to a fault, your devotion to your friends and family is unparalleled. Your heart is that of pure gold as you display various acts of kindness towards other people and Pokemon alike. While what you truly seek is unknown to you, whether its strength, knowledge or anything in between, you're taking advantage of your journey in full. However, much like Calem, you harshly criticize yourself when you fail to live up to expectations you set for yourself. And much like Emma, your headstrong and stubborn tendencies cause you to become reckless with your actions. You are quick to take action, even if the situation is much bigger than you could contain on your own. Bear this in mind from now on."

"Of course, congratulations are in order." Gurkin smiled warmly, as if he was witnessing his own kids graduation from high school. "The three of you have been my more exceptional students. I have yet to see kids like you master Mega Evolution since Korrina. I hope you use your new prowess well on your upcoming journey. But do not be afraid to come back - our doors are always open if you need further mentoring."

Steven suddenly chuckled heartily, looking the three of us over with a knowing smile. "I don't foresee that happening, myself."

We were dismissed back to our dorm after some more chitchat, although it was mostly praise for how quickly we excelled in our training. Since we had graduated, there was no real reason for us to stay - it would be our last night at the Tower until we would have to move on to Coumarine. Don't get me wrong, I loved Shalour - it was rich with history, but we've been here a month...I think it's about time we moved on.

I told Calem and Emma what Malva told me at the ranch as we enjoyed some late night movies and ice cream. They were surprised that I had ran into the anchorwoman just hours earlier, but even more intrigued by the information she provided. But they were excited to hear that she could accelerate the process of getting our DNA tested, so now we had that to look forward to in the days ahead. I wanted to ask the two what happened during their tests, but they were clearly exhausted, and honestly? I was too. We turned in early that night and opted to leave for Coumarine first thing tomorrow morning. Now that we've mastered Mega Evolution, it meant that new doors have opened up for us...but where they lead remains unknown...for now.

. . .

I had a hard time getting up the next morning. Apparently I was heavily exhausted, since I slept in until 11 that morning; I was still groggy when I finally did wake up, the only thing really giving me energy to get on with my day was that we were going to the next town over which also had our next Gym Badge. After a quick shower, a meal and packing up our things, the three of us walked out of our dorm, this time for good and went to the Tower of Master one last time. Korrina was busy with a Gym match and Steven had left, so we left our farewells with Gurkin before we went on through Shalour and we were back on Route 12 in no time.

I was tempted to make another detour to Baa de Mer Ranch for some more ice cream, but decided against it as we continued onward. The rest of the Route was...pretty standard; There was a small beach just some meters away from the ranch that was filled with fishermen, swimmers and other Trainers, but that was about it. Plus, we had already recorded the Pokemon there, so there wasn't much left for us now. We made it to Coumarine just a little past 3 that afternoon, and it was quickly apparent that the view from the hill did not do this place any justice.

Coumarine City also doubled as a port, with many grand yachts, ships and boats alike anchored in the docks with the blue sea under them, the gentle waves making them sway a bit. A lighthouse stood over the harbor on one of the docks; it was off, obviously, but I knew that its spotlight would shine through the foggy darkness and guide ships back to the harbor safely. It reminded me of the lighthouse in Olivine City back in Johto. The air was thick with the scent of briny sea salt as we walked along the cobblestone path. There was...surprisingly nothing else in Coumarine other than the port, the ships, some houses and small businesses, a hotel and a few vendors selling various items and foods. It was Calem that explained that Coumarine that two levels; we were on the seaside level right now - the rest of the city was up on a hill that could only be accessed through a ride on a monorail.

Finding the monorail itself wasn't hard, as you could see the tracks and cable winding up to a a hill just south of the harbor (although it looked more like a grassy mountains than a hill. We reached the station within minutes, but when we entered...

"Why, hello you three!"

We were greeted by Professor Sycamore himself...and Diantha? She stood in front of him while a small crowd gawked at the appearance of a celebrity. They beckoned us over, the professor beaming much more than usual. "Congratulations, all of you! I just heard from Gurkin that you all have mastered Mega Evolution! You have everything you need, don't you?" He motioned at our Mega Rings. "A Mega Ring for the Trainer, a Mega Stone for the Pokemon, and a strong bond with your Pokemon. All of you have displayed these virtues along with many others, I was told. You excelled faster than most students!"

"Th-thank you, Professor." Calem murmured shyly as I could only beam. "But we only learned to use it since yesterday...well, except for Kat."

"Hmm." Diantha stepped forward and studied us closely, a smile then spreading on her lips as she turned to Emma and I. "I heard the news about your sister, Kat. I am incredibly happy that you were able to reunite after years of separation and uncertainty. I can see it. The bonds are not only strong between you and your Pokemon, but with each other as well. All three of your are...particularly close, are you not? You all have been through so much in such a short amount of time..." She stepped back, her hands going to her hips. "I am not surprised that you were able to master Mega Evolution so quickly!"

"Ah, before I forget..." Sycamore spoke up again as he approached us, handing us an HM for Fly before he continued. "I was visited by Malva the other day. She offered to accelerate the DNA results. None of you mind that I handed her the samples, do you?"

"Not at all." Calem waved his hand dismissively. "We've been anxious about the results since we gave them to you. The sooner we can get the results, the better."

"By the way, Professor?" I spoke this time. "You wouldn't happen to know anyone named Katarina, do you?"

"Lady Katarina?" A look of surprise appeared on Diantha's face. "The Dragon Priestess? Where did you hear about her?"

"Malva told me." I replied, explaining what she had told me the day prior when I was at the ranch. Intrigue appeared on the professor's face while Diantha seemed more thoughtful about it than anything.

"Interesting." Sycamore mused. "I always thought Katarina was nothing but an old folk legend from the Dragon Tribe, honestly. I had no idea she actually existed."

"I'm not surprised. Anything regarding Lady Katarina has been lost in time...Only the Dragon Tribe seem to remember her, or at least keep her teachings and legends alive to this very day. Although...if Malva has always been the observant type - she may be on to something. I'll speak with Drasna - our resident Dragon Master - and see if she has anything to say about this."

"I will be doing my own research on the matter as well." Sycamore clasped his hands together eagerly. "How exciting! You discover new things everyday it seems! I need to hurry back to Geosenge - please let me know if any of you find anything! I'll do the same, of course!"

We all agreed to share any info we managed to find before the professor exited the station just before Diantha spoke up. "Well, well! I thought you were interesting before, but you three have secrets of your own, hmm?" She gave us that award winning charming smile as she slung her purse over her shoulder. "I look forward to meeting you all again. Let's battle the next time we meet up."

"It's a date, then!" Emma remarked, which made Diantha giggle. I myself had my doubts about being able to compare to the celebrity in regards to prowess, but I was curious to see her skills for myself. She seemed strong...very strong.

We boarded the monorail with Diantha wishing us her best wishes on our journey, and she waved us off as our car began to move, before she was left behind along with the station and the other people in it, leaving us to ourselves as we rode up the hill to the second part of Coumarine. Emma decided to allow Mimi to see us rise into the sky, Calm doing the same for his own Espurr while I was content to have Merida at my side. The ride was smooth and steady, and we took the time to converse with ourselves during the ride, our talk mostly concerning what were we going to do during our time in Coumarine. As expected, Calm was intent on scoping out the Gym to earn his next badge, which I planned to do myself...eventually. To be honest, while I intended on competing in the League, I wanted to do so at my own pace. After having that pep talk in Shalour, it made me realize that I was...kinda rushing through this journey at first. Now that I'm half way, I think it's about time I go at my own pace. If Calm wanted to challenge the Gym, then he can, but I probably wouldn't be right behind him, or ahead of him this time. As for Emma, she was fine with just following behind us to see the other cities and to see us progress in the League, so she was happy.

Our car soon pulled into the other station with a soft squeal, the doors then sliding open and we stepped into the station, which was pleasantly less crowded. Courmarine appeared more like a proper city now that we were in the other side, having homes, the market, the Pokemon Center and just about any and everything. What surprised me was that we could see the skyline for Lumiose off in the distance,in which we were reminded that we were just a route away from the city itself. So in a way, we had almost come full circle.

"Emma? Kat?"

We had made it to...what I assumed was a building - you could only see the entrance, which was made of cobblestone bricks, the rest was obscured with overgrowth of vines, moss and grass. Standing in front of it was a rather short old man with a Jumpluff, next to him was our Dad with Scar. "Dad?"

"Daddy!" Emma was quick to rush to our father and jump on him in a hug. He chuckled as I approached, which I was quickly pulled into the family group embrace. "We weren't expecting to see you here!"

"I could say the same for you two, but I know you wouldn't be here if there wasn't a Gym." He remarked, finally letting us go while I gave Scar a rub under his chin and neck. "Speaking of, I want all of you to meet my mentor, who also happens to be the Gym Leader here."

"Top o' the mornin' to ya, laddies!" He exclaimed before any of us could utter a word. For a small man, he was quite boisterous. "The name's Ramos! I be the Gym Leader here in wee ol' Coumarine. I happen ta be one o' the many mentors fer Pokemon Rangers." He then regarded Emma and I. "I taught yer father Silas m'self - he was one o' me best students, he was. Excelled further an' faster than any other I trained back in the day! It's a pleasure to meet his wee girls at last - Silas told me a lot about ye both!"

"Th-thank you." I bowed courteously while Emma just beamed with pride.

"Aye. Th' pleasure's all mine." The kind old man smiled. "Ye have a very dutiful and loving pop, ya do. Not many have the opportunity ta say that, and never will. Cherish him while ye still can, ya hear? Ye never know when ye might lose him...he can say the same fer the two o' ye. Especially ye, youn' Emma. But! I ain't here ta lower yer spirits - that ain't me intention at all! Now! Ye intend to challenge the Gym?"

"Well, I do." Calm spoke up for the first time. "Kat's participating in the League too but, she won't be challenging you right away."

"Aye. That be just fine. Ye should enjoy yer journey for what is is rather than rush from Gym to Gym. Have fun along the way!" It was at that moment when Ramos' cheerful face fell slightly. "Although, I hate to disappoint ye, laddies, our battle will have to be put on hold for a bit."

"The blackout in Lumiose has gotten bad." Dad spoke up "Only a third of the entire city has any power left, but barely. The backup generator is overheating and Clemont can only do so much as it is, and the Electric Pokemon are losing their strength, so something has to give. We found the source of the problem, however, which is in the Power Plant on Route 13...but the sandstorms are erratic, so we can't go out there and investigate as soon as we want."

"Is that why you're here, Dad?"

"It is. Ramos contacted me himself and wanted me and several others to investigate the Power Plant. Unfortunately, we can't do anything now since there's a sandstorm blowing now; Even with protective goggles, the sand is so thick that we wouldn't be able to see through it."

"What about Ground types?" I suggested. "They're immune to sandstorms - they could lead you through."

"Aye. But the Pokemon out there are agitated, they are. Attackin' anythin' they so much as step onto the sands, an' the last thing we need is ta fight our way ta the Plant. 'Fraid we be stuck either way."

"But that's nothing for you kids to worry about." Dad says as he holds Emma's and my shoulder. "You kids worry about having fun on your journey. We'll take care of everything else...although, I'm afraid to say that you won't be able to get to Lumiose until we get this resolved. The entire city is in pandemonium - I swear it's close to reenacting the Purge movies pretty soon..."

"We don't mind staying in Coumarine for a while." Calem says. "We can use the time to train our Pokemon and learn more about the city."

"Yup! I'm learning so much about everything, Daddy! I even caught my own Pokemon and won battles! Looklook!" Emma eagerly went to her belt and took Vivian's Pokeball, calling her out to show our father. "Vivian evolved after I trained her! I'm getting so much stronger! And! We all learned how to use Mega Evolution!"

"Really?" Dad quirked an eyebrow in interest, and it was then when he noticed out new trinkets that held our Mega Stones. "Well I'll be damned - you're all sprouting up like weeds aren't you? Speaking of..." Dad turned to me, and I saw that look in his eye I haven't seen in...years. "Kat. You and I haven't battled since your practice battle back when you were in school, right? And you've been growing since you left home...I would like to see just how you earned those three Badges for myself."

"...Are you...are you challenging me?"

"Damn right I am." He grinned, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and leading me towards a park. "It's about time father and daughter went head to head anyway!"

I'll be honest - I was excited to face my dad on the battlefield for the first time...until I remembered the fact that my Dad is a trained Ranger, who has been a Trainer much longer than I have...and would most likely be using Scar, who was built to fight. Something told me I was going to be in for a wild ride..."

E/N: I hate that these updates are months apart, but I'm trying to make sure I make these chapters as interesting and regain my drive to write this again. And believe me when I say that I have every intention to finish.

Speaking of! Sun and Moon comes out next month, and I really want to write a fic about it eventually...would you guys be interested if I wrote one? And if so, do you want it to be a direct sequel to this with Kat being the protagonist again or with another protagonist? Tell me in either a review or PM me -I'm open to hearing your feedback!