Harry, Ash, Dawn and Brock all waited at the harbour for Ash's friend May to arrive. As a ship came into view, a Beautifly came flying towards them and landed on Ash's head.
"Hey," Ash said, "You're May's Beautifly right?" The Beautifly nodded.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu greeted Beautifly and waved to it happily.
"Beautifly," Beautifly flew down and twirled around Pikachu happily. Harry took out his pokedex.
"Beautifly the Butterfly Pokemon and one of the final forms of Wurmple. Beautifly can be surprisingly aggressive and is very possessive of pollen."
"Hey guys!" a voice yelled at them as the ship got closer. A brown haired girl stood on the deck waving. Ash and Brock waved back. Once the girl got off the ship, her Beautifly returned to her and landed on her head instead. She chuckled fondly but focussed her attention on Ash and Brock. "Ash, Brock, it's been ages! How have you guys been?"
"We've been great," Brock said, "It's good to see you again."
"Yeah it's been too long May," Ash said happily. May noticed Dawn and Harry who were respectfully giving the three old friends a bit of space. Harry's Spiritomb was even further away so that he wouldn't frighten May.
"Hello," May said cheerfully, "I'm May. You must be Dawn and Harry. Ash told me about you on the phone."
"Nice to meet you," Dawn said eagerly, "I look forward to facing you in the Wallace Cup."
"Piplup!"
"Hello May," Harry said nodding to the older girl politely.
"Rio!" Riolu waved in a friendly manner.
"Spirit," said Spiritomb and smiled as he approached. Harry touched his keystone fondly and by that gesture, May understood that the Forbidden Pokemon meant no harm. She looked a little freaked out by Spiritomb's smile but to her credit, all she did was take out her pokedex and scan him. Harry noted that her pokedex had a different description of Spiritomb than the one his pokedex had given him.
"Spiritomb, the Forbidden Pokemon. It frightened people centuries ago and caused them to seal it in a keystone. However recent studies of the species suggest that people of the past overreacted."
"Wait so other people have caught Spiritomb?" Harry said surprised. His grandfather had never been able to study Harry's Spiritomb as the Forbidden Pokemon had never been to his lab so if Professor Rowan was the one who had done these "recent studies" he must have been able to study another Spiritomb at some point in his career. It must have been before Harry was born since he'd been around his grandfather's lab his entire life. Either that or some other Professor had a chance to study Spiritomb. Quite honestly, Harry thought Spiritomb was as rare as most Legendary Pokemon. He shrugged off his surprise. "Ash and I will be entering too. Wallace said that I should give my Spiritomb a chance to shine instead of just scaring everyone."
The group walked along the harbour and headed up the long flight of steps, still talking as they went. Pikachu was on Ash's shoulder as usual, Riolu walked beside Harry and Beautifly and Spiritomb both brought up the rear. May mentioned how her family was doing and the fact that her rivals, Drew and Harley, had both beaten her in contests while she was in Johto. Eventually they reached a large picnic area at the top of the steps.
"Ash told me you guys met Wallace," May said, "You're so lucky!"
"Yeah he gave us some great advice," Dawn said happily.
"And he even gave us a performance with his Milotic," Ash said, "You would have loved it."
"Oh I wish I'd been here sooner," May said then shrugged, "But then again if I hadn't stopped at Snowpoint City, I wouldn't have my newest Pokemon. Come on out, Glaceon!" She took out a Poke Ball and tossed it. A beautiful Ice type Pokemon that could easily be recognized as one of Eevee's evolved forms appeared.
"Wow, a Glaceon," Harry said and took out his pokedex.
"Glaceon, the Fresh Snow Pokemon and one of the evolved forms of Eevee. It lowers its body heat to freeze its fur. The hairs then become frozen needles it can fire."
"I took Eevee to a cave near Snowpoint City with an Ice Rock inside it," May said, "When he touched the rock he evolved." She patted Glaceon's head fondly.
"I got an Eevee and a Leafeon in Mr Backlot's Trophy Garden. They're siblings," Harry said and opened the two siblings Poke Balls. Leafeon nodded at Glaceon and Eevee eagerly ran up to him, examining him with fascination. Glaceon smiled at his pre-evolved form.
"So are you hoping to become an Eeveelution trainer?" asked May. Harry shrugged.
"Well it's hard enough to find one Eevee, let alone all their evolutions," he said, "If I get a chance to catch all of them, I'll take it in a heartbeat but right now I'm happy with the Pokemon I have."
"That's good," May said. Then Ash's stomach rumbled. May smirked, "Some things never change."
"Yeah, I haven't eaten in a while," Ash said.
"Well it's a good thing I made reservations at the finest restaurant in Sinnoh while I was in Snowpoint City," May said cheerfully, "Only problem is I've never been here so I don't know where it is."
"I think I do," Brock said, "Are you talking about the Seven Star Restaurant?" May nodded, "Come on then."
When they reached the restaurant they were greeted by a waiter. May explained she had made reservations for five humans and their Pokemon. The waiter was very cordial and didn't even seem particularly fazed by Spiritomb's presence. He led them to a door which burst open and a boy came rushing out, looking red in the face.
"You lost your battle?" the waiter asked politely.
"I'll go and train some more!" said the boy, "I'm eating here if it's the last thing I do!" He stopped for a moment when he saw Spiritomb looming behind the group. Harry and Spiritomb were both used to that kind of reaction so they ignored it. Riolu rolled his eyes. The boy rushed out of the restaurant.
"Battle?" asked Ash.
"Follow me," said the waiter and led them through the doors into a room with a familiar rectangular shaped battlefield painted on the floor. A beautiful young woman and a handsome young man faced the visitors. Harry raised an eyebrow. Even May, who had arranged this, seemed slightly surprised.
"At Snowpoint City, they didn't say this place had a battle arena," she said.
"Well in order to eat here for free, you must defeat our owner and his fiancé in a double battle," explained the waiter, "Otherwise it is very expensive."
"That's pretty cool," Ash said.
"One problem," Brock said, "There's an odd number of us."
"How is that a problem?" Harry asked and shrugged, "We've all got more than one Pokemon. One of us will just have to partner up twice."
"I'll do that," Ash offered.
"That makes sense since you're the most skilled battler here," Harry said, "Brock prefers raising Pokemon, May and Dawn are coordinators and I'm not as experienced as you are." The others all nodded. Ash seemed flattered by the praise. Pikachu rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well that settles it," May said, "Ash will partner up with two of us. I'd like the battle with Dawn."
"Really?" Dawn looked surprised, "Wouldn't you rather battle with Ash or Brock?"
"Nah, I had enough experience with them in Hoenn and Kanto," May said then glanced as Ash and Brock appologetically, "No offence guys." The older boys showed no signs of feeling insulted. May turned back to Dawn, "I'd like to see what you can do both as a battler and a coordinator."
"Okay," Dawn shrugged.
"Ladies first," Harry said and he, Ash and Brock stepped back while Dawn and May stepped forwards.
"So you are our next customers," the young man bowed, "I am Roman and this is my beautiful fiancé Kylie."
"It's nice to meet you and I hope you can give us an entertaining battle," Kylie said and curtsied. She glanced at Spiritomb with a fearful expression Harry had seen on many faces but was too polite to comment.
"Alright will the four participants please choose their Pokemon?" said
"Blaziken on stage!" cried May and released a large Fire and Fighting type that vaguely resembled a cockfighting chicken and the Egyptian Deities Horus and Ra appeared. Harry was fascinated and took out his pokedex.
"Blaziken the Blaze Pokemon and the final form of Torchic. Blaziken's legs are so powerful it can easily leap over a thirty story building."
"Okay Piplup, ready?" asked Dawn and Piplup nodded and jumped off her head where he had been perched. He looked absurdly small next to Blaziken but the Blaze Pokemon just gave him a friendly smile.
"Drifloon let's go!" called Kylie and released a Drifloon identical to Harry's.
"I choose Girafarig!" called Roman and a Pokemon resembling a giraffe with another head on its tail appeared.
"Girafarig the Long Neck Pokemon. The head on its tail has a small brain and will often use Crunch if Girafarig is approached from behind. Its tail keeps watch while it sleeps."
"Okay, battle begin!" yelled the referee rather melodramatically.
"Piplup use Bubblebeam on Drifloon!" Dawn called.
"Drifloon deflect that Bubblebeam!" called Kylie and Drifloon spread its arms and spun very quickly. The bubbles were batted away by Drifloon's quick spinning. Harry raised an eyebrow. He hadn't known Drifloon could do that.
"Girafarig use Psybeam!" called Roman and Girafarig fired a multi-coloured beam at Blaziken from the horns on its head.
"Blaziken jump and use Double Blaze Kick on Girafarig!" called May.
"Double Blaze Kick?" Harry looked at Ash and Brock but judging by their expressions, this combination was unfamiliar to them too.
Blaziken jumped over the Psybeam and both feet blazed with fire. It then slammed both feet into Girafarig, one after the other. The Long Neck Pokemon was hurled into the wall.
"Oh I get it," Harry said, "Double Kick and Blaze Kick rolled into one. Smart."
"Girafarig is unable to battle!" bellowed the referee.
"Wow May," said Dawn, "Your Blaziken's really strong."
"Thanks," May said.
"Drifloon use Ominous Wind!" called Kylie and Drifloon fired an Ominous Wind. Blaziken stepped in front of Piplup and stood there calmly, taking the Ominous Wind as if it was just a light breeze. Harry was impressed. Badass wasn't a word commonly used in his vocabulary but that was how he would describe Blaziken.
"Piplup Bubblebeam!" called Dawn. Piplup jumped onto Blaziken's shoulder and fired Bubblebeam at Drifloon.
"Blaziken Fire Spin!" ordered May and Blaziken launched a Fire Spin that made Harry's Chimchar's Fire Spin seem pitiful in comparison. The bubbles were caught up in the Fire Spin and spun in the flames before the fusion move washed over Drifloon, sending the Balloon Pokemon crashing into the wall.
"Drifloon is unable to battle and that means the customers win!" yelled the referee.
"Alright!" May and Dawn squealed at the same time and gave each other a high five as if they'd known each other for years.
"Congratulations," said Kylie, "Our chef will begin making your meal."
"If you wish, you may stay to watch your friends battle," offered Roman, "So which of you wish to go next?"
"Well it's been a while since Brock and I have battled together," Ash said and looked at his old friend. Brock smiled and nodded, "Okay I choose Chimchar!" Ash called and the Chimp Pokemon appeared.
"Sudowoodo let's go!" shouted Brock and released the tree like Pokemon that was actually a Rock type.
"I choose Munchlax!" cried Kylie and sent out a small but chubby green Pokemon.
"Hey I've got a Munchlax too," May said excitedly.
"Snorlax let's go!" cried Roman and a massive Pokemon, three times the size of its pre-evolved form emerged. If Munchlax was chubby then this Pokemon could only be described as obese. Dawn scanned the two Pokemon.
"Munchlax the Big Eater Pokemon. It wolfs down its weight in food once a day, swallowing food whole with almost no chewing."
"Snorlax the Sleeping Pokemon and the evolved form of Munchlax. It is very lazy and spends most of its time either eating or sleeping. Docile by nature, children sometimes bounce on its belly."
"Chimchar use Flamethrower on Snorlax!" Ash ordered and Chimchar fired a stream of flames at Snorlax. The Sleeping Pokemon shrugged off the attack.
"My Snorlax's Ability is Thick Fat," said Roman, "Fire and Ice type moves won't do much damage." Ash grunted with irritation. He had a Snorlax of his own, but that one's Ability was Immunity.
"Munchlax use Metronome!" called Kylie and Muchlax waved its fingers to and fro in the air. A wave of water erupted from underneath it, drenching Snorlax as Munchlax rode towards Sudowoodo and Chimchar with a Surf attack. The super effective move knocked both Pokemon off their feet.
"Now Snorlax use Body Slam!" ordered Roman and Snorlax lumbered towards the two downed Pokemon.
"Chimchar Dig!" ordered Ash and Chimchar dove underground just in time but Sudowoodo felt the entire weight of the extremely heavy Snorlax slam down on top of him.
"Sudowoodo, Flail!" yelled Brock and Sudowoodo flailed around desperately trying to get Snorlax off his back. With the Sleeping Pokemon's massive body pressing down on him he didn't have much mobility but nonetheless Snorlax shifted slightly, just enough for Sudowoodu to roll out from underneath it, "Now use Hammer Arm!"
"Sudoooowoodo!" cried Sudowoodo and his arm glowed white before he smashed it into Snorlax. The Sleeping Pokemon crashed to the ground.
"Snorlax is unable to battle!" the referee announced and almost before he could even finish his sentence, Chimchar burst out of the ground underneath Munchlax throwing it backwards.
"Chimchar, Flame Wheel!" Ash yelled, hoping that Munchlax had Pickup instead of Thick Fat. Apparently it did because Chimchar's Flame Wheel knocked it out.
"Munchlax is unable to battle!" cried the referee, "The customers win!"
"My turn," Harry said and stepped up beside Ash. Brock went to join Dawn and May on the sidelines.
"Chimchar, that Surf did a number on you, so take a break," Ash said and Chimchar nodded as he recalled him, "Pikachu, let's make sure Harry gets to eat with us." Pikachu nodded and jumped off his shoulder and onto the battlefield.
Harry looked down at Riolu but then hesitated. He remembered that Spiritomb had controlled himself when he fought Pikachu at Lake Valor and Wallace had claimed that Milotic hadn't needed to intervene. Furthermore Spiritomb would be fighting with Pikachu this time instead of against him.
"Spiritomb go," he said, Spiritomb nodded and floated next to Pikachu. Ash glanced at Harry but didn't say anything. Pikachu looked nervously at his partner.
"Oh why couldn't you use your adorable little Riolu?" asked Kylie but took out a Poke Ball, as did her fiancé, "I choose Golduck!" A blue Duck like Pokemon with a gem on its forehead appeared.
"And I choose Linoone!" called Roman and sent out a long, sleek Pokemon that resembled a ferret. Harry scanned both Pokemon.
"Golduck the Duck Pokemon and the evolved form of Psyduck. A powerful swimmer, Golduck is unbothered by even rough, stormy seas and therefore sometimes rescues people from shipwrecks."
"Linoone the Rushing Pokemon and the evolved form of Zigzagoon. Although Linoone can run extremely fast, it can only do so in a straight line and has to slow down in order to turn."
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt on Golduck!" ordered Ash and Pikachu launched a bolt of electricity at the Duck like Pokemon.
"Mud Sport Linoone!" ordered Roman and Linoone rose into its hind legs and formed a ball of mud in its paws. It then threw the mud into the air and it broke apart, splattering both Linoone and Golduck just before the electricity struck. Golduck staggered but the attack didn't do nearly as much damage as it should have.
"Golduck use Fury Swipes on Pikachu!" ordered Kylie and Golduck lunged and scratched Pikachu three times with its claws.
"Shadow Ball Spiritomb!" Harry called and Spiritomb blasted Golduck away from its partner with a well aimed Shadow Ball. Pikachu smiled at him gratefully but Spiritomb just looked back at Linoone, who was approaching fast.
"Shadow Claw!" ordered Roman and Linoone's claws glowed black and extended far beyond their natural length. It slashed Spiritomb and knocked him to the ground.
"Golduck use Zen Headbutt on Spiritomb!" called Kylie. Harry smirked as the gem on Golduck's head glowed blue and a light blue "helmet" surrounded its skull before it rammed into Spiritomb. Spiritomb just looked at Golduck, mildly amused, "What?"
"Spiritomb's both a Ghost type and a Dark type," Harry explained, "Psychic type moves won't do anything. Use Dark Pulse!"
"Get away Golduck!" screamed Kylie but too late. The black rings hurled Golduck clear across the room and into the wall.
"Golduck is unable to battle!"
"Linoone use Shadow Claw on Spiritomb!" ordered Roman and Linoone lunged at the Forbidden Pokemon while Kylie recalled her Golduck.
"Pikachu protect Spiritomb with Iron Tail!" ordered Ash and Pikachu jumped between Spiritomb and Linoone before turning his tail into iron and swinging it at Linoone's claws. The two Pokemon struggled for overpower each other.
"Spiritomb get above Linoone and use Hyper Beam!" Harry called and Spiritomb floated above Linoone and formed a Hyper Beam.
"Pikachu move away from Linoone!" ordered Ash. Pikachu waited until Spiritomb had fired the Hyper Beam before jumping away.
"Protect!" ordered Roman and at the last second Linoone surrounded itself with a green sphere. The Hyper Beam exploded but when the smoke cleared, Linoone was unharmed. "Use Headbutt on Pikachu!" Linoone lowered its head rammed into Pikachu. Spiritomb whirled around to face Linoone, "Turn around and use Shadow Claw!" Linoone turned around. As mentioned by the pokedex, it was unable to do so very quickly but Pikachu had flinched due to Headbutt and Spiritomb was still recharging from Hyper Beam.
"Linoooone!" cried Linoone and this time used both of its front paws to give Shadow Claw twice the power. Spiritomb was sent crashing to the ground. Then he grunted angrily and rose into the air but his ghostly form was spasming slightly. That Shadow Claw must have hurt quite a lot.
"That creature's more resilient than I expected," Roman admitted, "But one more Shadow Claw should do it, Linoone!" Once again, Linoone used both claws to give its attack more power.
"Quick Attack!" ordered Ash and Pikachu lunged at Linoone from the side, ramming into it and knocking it sideways before it could land the finishing blow on Spiritomb.
"Dark Pulse!" ordered Harry and Spiritomb fired the Dark Pulse at Linoone, blasting it into the wall.
"Linoone is unable the battle! The customers win!"
"Way to go, Spiritomb," Harry said, "You worked well with Pikachu."
"Yeah and you were great too buddy," Ash said to Pikachu.
"Pikachu!" said Pikachu then turned to Spiritomb, "Pika?" Spiritomb looked at him expressionlessly for a long moment. Pikachu hesitantly reached out and touched his keystone as he had seen Harry do when May arrived. Spiritomb neither retreated nor attacked.
Then finally he smiled. Anyone who didn't know him would assume he was about to attack Pikachu due to his expression. Pikachu stepped back nervously. His only real interactions with Spiritomb up until now were the two times Spiritomb had tried to kill him and their sparring match at Lake Valor, so at first he didn't realize Spiritomb had accepted his gesture of friendship.
"Spiritomb," Spiritomb explained. Pikachu relaxed as he understood that Spiritomb no longer saw him as an enemy.
"Well it looks like Spiritomb and Pikachu's days as enemies are over," Brock said approvingly.
"That's great!" Dawn said happily, "Now let's celebrate with a great meal!"