The second day of the Wallace Cup was over and the final eight would be facing off on the third day. Harry wasn't upset about getting knocked out in the first round because Spiritomb had gotten the attention he deserved from the crowd. Ash, Dawn, Zoey and May had all made it into the final eight.

Harry was sleeping with Riolu at the foot of his bed. Spiritomb was in the corner, inside his keystone. He still wasn't entirely comfortable in Poke Balls but had grown to appreciate his keystone a lot more during the Wallace Cup.

Suddenly there was a thud. Riolu leapt upright and Harry turned on the light. Brock, the only one of the trio who was still awake, looked up and raised an eyebrow. Ash had somehow managed to end up on the floor.

"Ash you do have a bed you know," Brock said smirking.

"I know," Ash rubbed the back of his head and so did Pikachu, "I just dreamed I was in the middle of a really tough battle." Someone knocked on the door.

"Hey guys, you okay in there?" came May's voice from outside.

"Yeah we're fine," Brock called, "Come on in." Dawn, May and Zoey all entered.

"Ash was just being clumsy," Harry said smirking at the older boy.

"Hey I can't control my dreams," Ash said defensively. Everyone just chuckled. Ash smiled and then stood up and put on his hat, jacket and jeans.

"Where are you going?" asked Dawn.

"Just for a walk," Ash said, "I'll see you guys later." He and Pikachu left.


Ash and Pikachu walked beside Lake Valor, admiring the view. The moonlight reflected off the water. Ash leaned on the railing beside the lake and Pikachu hopped off his shoulder.

"I'm so glad Harry and I decided to compete," Ash said, "It's made Spiritomb and Buizel happy and it's great that Spiritomb doesn't hate you anymore."

"Pika, Pika," Pikachu nodded. They looked out over the lake and then noticed ripples in the water, "Pika?"

"What's that?" Ash asked as a light glow emerged from the middle of the ripples. A tiny, transparent form emerged from the water and floated through the air. The transparent creature was shaped somewhat like a fairy or pixy with two long thin tails but apart from that, neither Ash nor Pikachu could make out any features. However they both had the distinct impression that the creature was looking at them. Then the creature disappeared back into the lake. Ash and Pikachu stared at each other.


Ash burst back into the hotel room with Pikachu on his heels.

"Whoa!" said Brock, "What's the rush?"

"I saw something in Lake Valor," Ash said, "Like a light. Or some kind of shape. I don't know; it was blurry but something came out of the lake and then disappeared."

"It was probably just a Water Pokemon," Harry said shrugging.

"Well if it was, it's not a species I've ever seen," Ash said. Dawn, May and Zoey then came into the room.

"Ash why are you still making so much noise?" groaned May.

"I saw a Pokemon in Lake Valor!" Ash said excitedly, "Or something. I mean it must have been a Pokemon but it was… it's like it was there and it wasn't there at the same time." Everyone except Dawn looked sceptical. Dawn was remembering something.


Dawn and Piplup stood on the edge of Lake Verity. Piplup had just blown away a swarm of Ariados with Bide and was exhausted but was not focussing on his injuries because of the transparent shape emerging from the water.

"Is that a Pokémon?" Dawn asked. Piplup shrugged. Technically every creature that wasn't human was classified as a Pokémon, but this creature seemed different somehow. It seemed unique. The transparent creature seemed to be staring at them, although they couldn't see its eyes. Then it descended back into the lake.


"I believe you," Dawn said and everyone looked at her, "I had an experience just like that at Lake Verity. Professor Rowan believed there was a Legendary Pokemon living there."

"Really?" Ash said. Dawn nodded.

"I think I might have seen it," she said, "But it was… sort of like a ghost but not a Ghost Pokemon. Not like Spiritomb for example." She gestured to the keystone in the corner.

"You know, when I was looking for the Ice Rock to evolve Eevee, I passed Lake Acuity," May said thoughtfully, "I didn't see anything out of the ordinary but I heard rumors of a strange Pokemon living there."

"I did too when I was a little girl," Zoey said, "I'm from Snowpoint City and people believed there was a strange Pokemon living in the lake. I went there loads of times hoping to see it but I never did, so I assumed it was just a story."

"Hey Harry, your grandfather's a professor," Dawn said, "Do you know anything about these Pokemon?"

"Only their names," Harry said, "Grandfather said they're called Mesprit, Azelf and Uxie. He didn't know anything else, not even which one of them lives in which lake. His field is Pokemon Evolution and Legendary Pokemon don't evolve."

"Well I guess we have no way of knowing what you saw, Ash," Dawn said regretfully.


It was the last day of the Wallace Cup. Ash, Dawn, May and Zoey were all still in the competition and Dawn had just won a battle against a girl with a Pelipper using her Pachirisu. Now it was Ash's turn and he was facing off against a coordinator named Kyle for a spot in the final eight.

"Buizel, I choose you!" Ash sent out Buizel who landed on the edge of the water, ready for battle.

"Lanturn let's go!" shouted Kyle and a fish like Pokemon with two orbs on its antennae appeared.


Harry took out his Pokedex.

"Lanturn the Light Pokemon and the evolved form of Chinchou. It is often nicknamed The Deep-Sea Star because its light is bright enough to shine from great depths in the ocean."


"Lanturn use Charge!" ordered Kyle and Lanturn dove underwater and the orbs on its antennae glowed yellow. Its whole body became surrounded in yellow sparks.

"Buizel get that Lanturn out of the water!" Ash called, "Sonicboom!" Buizel somersaulted and sent a powerful Sonicboom skimming across the surface of the water, neatly splitting it as it went. Lanturn burst out of the water a second later.

"Big mistake Ash," said Kyle smugly, "Thunderbolt!" Lanturn, now above Buizel, launched a powerful blast of electricity from the larger orb on its antennae. Buizel yelped in pain as he was electrocuted.

"Hang in there, Buizel!" Ash called while Kyle smirked.

"You made a mistake by relying only on Buizel throughout this competition," he told Ash, "I know your Buizel's fighting style from watching your previous battles but you don't know how to counter my Lanturn's attacks. Use Ice Beam!"

A minute had gone by when Lanturn launched an Ice Beam from its antennae. Ash and Buizel smirked.

"I know how to counter this one," Ash said, "Aqua Jet!" Buizel shot into the air… right towards the Ice Beam!


"What's he doing?" Harry yelped in the changing room.

"Buizel's never managed an Ice Aqua Jet before!" cried Dawn.


The Ice Beam hit Buizel and froze the water around him but Buizel just kept going. Kyle and Lanturn stared, too shocked to do anything until the Ice Aqua Jet slammed into Lanturn and sent it flying. Upon hearing Lanturn's cry of pain, Kyle snapped out of his stupor.

"Buizel Water Gun!" ordered Ash. Buizel burst out of the ice and squirted a Water Gun towards Lanturn.

"Hydro Pump!" Kyle countered and Lanturn's much stronger Hydro Pump blasted through Buizel's Water Gun effortlessly and sent him flying.

"On your feet Buizel!" Ash shouted and Buizel inflated his floatation sac and floated for a few seconds before landing on Ash's platform. By now there was still three minutes and fifteen seconds left but both Kyle and Ash were already down to nearly half their points, "Alright use Water Pulse!" Buizel hurled a Water Pulse across the pool towards Lanturn.

"Thunderbolt!" cried Kyle and Lanturn countered the attack with another bolt of electricity which sent a shower of water raining down on the battlefield. Which was exactly what Ash and Buizel needed.

"Sonicboom!" Ash called and with lightning speed thanks to his Swift Swim, Buizel sent the shock wave flying into Lanturn throwing it onto the platform on which Kyle was standing, "Now use Aqua Jet!"

"Watch out Lanturn!" Kyle shouted but on land, Lanturn could only flail about helplessly until Buizel crashed into him and sent him flying. Kyle reacted quickly, "Hydro Pump on the wall!" Lanturn faced the wall and fired a stream of water from its mouth straight towards the wall behind it. The water pressure catapulted Lanturn back into the pool. They were now at the half way point in the time limit and Ash was just slightly ahead in points.

"Buizel Water Pulse!" Ash ordered. Buizel threw another Water Pulse towards Lanturn.

"Ice Beam then Thunderbolt!" ordered Kyle and Lanturn froze the Water Pulse with Ice Beam before shattering it with Thunderbolt, sending shards of ice flying at Buizel who yelped in pain, sending Ash's points down to less than Kyle's, "Now use Hydro Pump!"

"Dodge it and use Sonicboom!" Ash ordered and Buizel jumped over the Hydro Pump before swinging his tail.

"Thunderbolt!" Kyle ordered and Lanturn fired another bolt of electricity. There was an explosion when the attacks collided. Their points were now even again and there was one minute and fifty seconds left, "Lanturn use another Charge!" Lanturn started sparking once again as it built up electrical power.

"Buizel use Water Pulse!" Ash ordered and Buizel hurled another Water Pulse, this time successfully hitting Lanturn and causing more damage than usual thanks to the water the attack picked up from the pool. Kyle smirked however.

"Charge raises Lanturn's Special Defence as well as the power of its Electric attacks," he said, "Finish this with Thunderbolt!" Lanturn unleashed another powerful Thunderbolt and Buizel yelled in agony. When the attack stopped Buizel was, miraculously, still standing, but only until the clock reached fifty five seconds. The Judges panels beeped and showed a red cross when Buizel collapsed.

"And there we have it!" cried Marian, "After a difficult and impressive battle between these two young men, Kyle's Lanturn managed to defeat Buizel, moving him into the final four!"

"Alright!" yelled Kyle and Lanturn splashed in the water excitedly. Ash smiled as he recalled Buizel and thanked him for a great battle.


"Hey Ash congratulations on mastering Ice Aqua Jet!" Dawn said when Ash returned to the changing rooms.

"I should teach that technique to my Buizel too," Harry said.

"Thanks guys," Ash said, "Buizel and I were really in sync in that battle."

"Pika Pika!" said Pikachu happily and hopped onto Ash's shoulder.

"Riolu!" said Riolu, pointing to the video screen which showed Zoey facing off against her next opponent. Spiritomb was hovering beside Riolu and watching too.

After Zoey's victory it was May's turn and she also won, putting all three friends, as well as Kyle, into the top four. Next up it was Dawn against Kyle.

"Careful Dawn," Ash warned, "Kyle is really tough."

"I know," Dawn said, "No need to worry."


On stage, Marian introduced Dawn and Kyle, although everyone in the audience had to know them by now, and started the battle.

"Alright Crawdaunt, let's go!" shouted Kyle, throwing his Poke Ball as soon as the time limit started.

"Piplup, spotlight!" called Dawn and her Starter Pokemon appeared to face off against a Pokemon that looked like a crab with a star on its forehead.


In the changing rooms, Harry scanned Crawdaunt.

"Crawdaunt, the Rogue Pokemon and the evolved form of Corphish. It has an extremely violent nature and loves to battle. Because of this it is a difficult Pokemon to raise."

"I guess that's a testament to Kyle's talent then," Harry muttered then looked up at the screen.


"Piplup Bubblebeam!" Piplup opened his beak and unleashed a Bubblebeam towards Crawdaunt.

"Crawdaunt use Swift!" ordered Kyle and Crawdaunt fired yellow stars from its pincers which collided with the Bubblebeam and exploded on contact.

"Piplup in the pool!" called Dawn and Piplup jumped into the water.

"You too Crawdaunt!" called Kyle and Crawdaunt jumped into the pool and swam out to intercept Piplup.

"Whirlpool!" shouted Dawn. While Piplup found it easier to form Whirlpool above his head, on this occasion he was able to make the water in the pool itself spin and catch Crawdaunt in the process, spinning it helplessly. Or at least it seemed helpless until Kyle gave his command.

"Use Surf!" he shouted and the yellow star on Crawdaunt's forehead glowed as the Rogue Pokemon summoned a wave of water which completely cancelled out Piplup's Whirlpool. The wave then crashed down on Piplup, forcing him deep underwater. Crawdaunt landed on Dawn's side of the battlefield and turned. Piplup burst out of the pool a moment later.

"Use Peck!" ordered Dawn and Piplup lunged, jabbing Crawdaunt with his beak. The Rogue Pokemon seemed more annoyed than injured.

"Crabhammer!" ordered Kyle and Crawdaunt smashed its glowing white pincer into Piplup sending him flying.

"Bubblebeam!" Dawn called and Piplup backflipped before firing a Bubblebeam which struck Crawdaunt as Piplup landed on Kyle's side of the battlefield. By now the time limit was down to three and a half minutes, "Alright Piplup use Whirlpool!" Piplup summoned another Whirlpool, this time above his head instead of in the water, and hurled it at Crawdaunt.

"Crabhammer!" ordered Kyle and Crawdaunt leapt towards the Whirlpool before smashing it so hard with Crabhammer that it split apart and showered Crawdaunt in sparks. However Piplup had jumped straight towards Crawdaunt while the Whirlpool blocked its view.

"Peck!" ordered Dawn and Piplup jabbed Crawdaunt again with his beak, knocking it onto Dawn's side of the field again, "Now underwater Piplup!"

"Use another Surf Crawdaunt!" ordered Kyle as Piplup dived into the pool. Crawdaunt's star glowed again and a wave of water shot up once again. Crawdaunt rode the wave which somehow pulled Piplup into it, much like he had pulled Crawdaunt into his Whirlpool earlier. Crawdaunt landed on Kyle's side of the field but Piplup had disappeared. Dawn's points were now halfway whereas Kyle still had about three fifths of his points. There were two minutes and fifty seconds left. Piplup burst out of the water again. Kyle had apparently expected that because he ordered, "Use Dark Pulse!"

"Crawdaunt!" cried Crawdaunt and launched two beams of black rings, one from each of its pincers.

"Piplup spin and use Bide!" called Dawn. It seemed Crawdaunt's aim was a little off because Piplup was able to spin between the two Dark Pulses whilst glowing white and cloaking himself in the purple energy. Kyle's points shot down quite a bit when Piplup did this.

"Crabhammer!" ordered Kyle and Crawdaunt leapt up and smashed Piplup straight into the pool.

"Piplup!" cried Dawn. Piplup didn't reemerge until after he'd released the energy he'd stored by using Bide. Light that would usually be white but was now purple from the Dark Pulse, exploded out of the pool and hit Crawdaunt.

"Crawdaunt!" Crawdaunt cried and Piplup came leaping out of the pool, directing himself towards the stunned Crawdaunt.

"Peck!" Dawn ordered and Piplup slammed into Crawdaunt beak first and knocked it out. The Judges panels signalled that the battle was over. The crowd cheered.


"Here Dawn," said Brock as Zoey got ready to battle May in order to decide who would face Dawn in the final, "If you're going to use Piplup in the last round, you need it to be in good shape." He handed Dawn a Super Potion.

"Thanks Brock," Dawn said and sprayed the Super Potion on Piplup to heal him. Dawn, Ash, Brock, Harry, Piplup, Pikachu, Riolu and Spiritomb turned to the screen to watch May and Zoey's battle.