Chapter 41: It's Class Time! Teacher Candice!

"Zoey!" Dawn called out as the Coordinator smiled and turned to see Dawn and the others coming over to see her, with Ash being the first to greet her with a wave.

"Hey!" Ash called out, waving to her as she smiled, pointing to her Pokétch watch.

"Hi! You guys are right on time!" Zoey called out, causing the Twinleaf girl to smile at that, before smiling proudly.

"Well, of course! Right on time! It is, after all, my Mom always says to keep your appointments and be punctual!" Dawn declared proudly, with Piplup giving a small cry of agreement.

But the boys didn't seem to quite agree that well as there was one good reason as to why they actually arrived on time instead of being a few minutes late like they had thought they would be earlier.

"Of course, she forgets to mention the reason we were on time is because we were running away from her screaming at us that we're gonna be late..." Ash spoke with a sheepish voice, earning a glare from the Twinleaf girl.

Brock could only nod in agreement as Hareta yawned, rubbing his eyes to show how tired he was for having to wake up and run to rush over to their appointment.

"And she was being so loud... I couldn't get enough sleep... I had to wake up fast, before getting dressed fast... And I couldn't even have a bite to eat back at the Pokémon Center that we stopped at last night..." Hareta yawned, causing Dawn to poke him by the forehead.

"That's because you were being so loud last night training. If anyone should be complaining, it should be me!" Dawn protested, causing Hikaru to smile sheepishly as he tried to calm his girlfriend down.

"Easy there... At least nothing bad has happened while we were getting here, right?" Hikaru asked, as the Coordinator could only chuckle before clearing her throat to speak to her rival and friends.

"Anyway, it's been a long time, hasn't it?" Zoey asked, with Brock agreeing.

"It has... The last time must've been back when you and Hikaru battled against Fantina!" Brock guessed, earning a nod from the Coordinator.

"You're right, Brock! Ash, I haven't seen your battle with her... so how did it go?" Zoey asked, causing the Kanto Trainer to reveal his Badge Case to her to prove that he did defeat the Ghost Type expert.

"You see? I won that one big time!" Ash spoke, with Pikachu giving proud cries of agreement. Hareta grinned, before showing his six Badges, too.

"Me too! I won the same Gym Badge against Miss Ghost!" Hareta declared, causing confusion to rise before Hikaru realized on who the wild boy was referring to.

"I think you mean Fantina..." Hikaru chuckled before Zoey smiled down at the wild boy.

"Ah... you must be Hareta... I heard you loud and clear when I was talking to Dawn last night on the video phone..." Zoey spoke, remembering how loud the other side was when she was talking with the Twinleaf girl.

"Sorry about that again... He was just so excited about having the Gym Battle here at Snowpoint City." Dawn apologized, earning a shaking head from her friend and rival, who made a reassuring face.

"That's fine! He certainly reminded me of Ash during the past times we've met." Zoey chuckled, causing the Kanto Trainer to blink.

"Say what?" Ash gaped as Dawn walked up, seeing the city that Zoey lived in ever since she was a girl.

"I can't wait for you to show us around... the town where you were born!"

"Piplup!" Dawn spoke up with Piplup sounding rather excited as well. The Coordinator smiled and nodded, before stepping up to introduce the group her hometown where she lived despite how cold it was.

"Yeah... Sparkling white with snow... Welcome to Snowpoint City!" Zoey introduced, welcoming the group as they smiled to see the sparkling sight of the city that was covered with snow.

"This is it... where our seventh Gym Badge is at..." Hikaru stated as he smiled at the sight.


[Opening: (Pokémon DP: High Touch! (English Subbed))

Hey Hey Hey!

(The screen spreads, like a puddle spreading)

Hey Hey Hey!

(Brock, Hareta, Dawn, Ash, and Hikaru's smiling faces show)

We fight, make up, and then we fight again
There are a lot of things I want to say to you

(The Japanese opening title shows)

But foremost...
"Thanks for being here for me!"

(Hikaru, Ash, Dawn, Brock, Hareta, Infernape, Pikachu, and Piplup runs together)

(The group rides on the sailboat across the sea with all their Pokémon)

Companions in this journey, compassion in the world
I pretend to understand those things, but

(The screen turns to Brock as he is making supper for the group)

The truth is...
"I'm happy you're here for me!"

(All of the group's Pokémon show)

Nice Partner!
Nice Rival!

(Zoey, Kenny, Paul, Hareta, and Lucas faces Dawn, Ash, and Hikaru)

(Glameow, Prinplup, Honchkrow, Hareta's Empoleon, and Grotle faces Piplup, Ambipom, Pikachu, and Infernape)

I'll push you forward

(Dawn gives Hikaru and Ash a small push)

I'll pull you along

(Hikaru smiles at Dawn, while Ash grins and gives a thumbs up)

The sun seems so dazzling when I look up at it
Hey Hey Hey!

(The group watches the sunlight along with Pikachu, Infernape, and Piplup)

If it all goes well, let's high five!

(The group runs across a map with their three Pokémon)

Hey Hey Hey!

(Ash, Hikaru, and Dawn high fives each other)

If we're feeling down, we'll come right back!

(Delia, Prof. Oak, Isamu, Luna, Minato, Korra, Max, Tracey, May, and Gary smiles together)

As long as we are together

(All of Ash, Hareta, Hikaru, Dawn, and Brock's Pokémon show)

I will not give up so easily! GO GO GO!

(Team Rocket are sent blasting off into the sky)

(Team Galactic shows, with Yamato and Cyrus' faces appearing behind them)

(Cheveyo and his Absol, Winter, watch the moon to the sky)

Hey Hey Hey!

(Hunter J appears with her Salamence, smirking)

It all went well, so let's high five!
Hey Hey Hey!
Shake hands with our opponent in battle

(The Buizel brothers uses Aqua Jets at different directions; Staraptor and Dragonair uses Aerial Ace and Dragon Tail)

(Gliscor and Luxray charges with X-Scissor and Wild Charge; Grotle uses Tackle as Leafeon uses Leaf Blade)

(Chimchar and Togekiss uses Flame Wheel and Air Slash; Pikachu and Infernape uses Volt Tackle and Flame Wheel)

As long as we're together

(The five trainers runs together with their three Pokémon on the map)

We can go even further than before! GO GO GO!

(Regigigas shoots Hyper Beam at Darkrai)

GO GO GO! GO GO GO!

(Hikaru merges with Infernape, Infernape turns into Spirit-Infernape with new fiery power)

(Hikaru stands together with his eight Pokémon along with Ash, Dawn, and Brock, and their Pokémon)

[Opening Ends]


"One of Snowpoint City's nicest things is its peace and quiet. Even the townspeople are peace and quiet... I love this place." Zoey explained, as the group were awed as they were soon entering the town of where Zoey had lived.

But just when they were about to get there, Hikaru perked up, feeling something about to come out. Zoey felt the same thing before she turned in surprise to see a giant Pokémon coming out of nowhere and preparing an Ice Shard attack!

"Everybody, get back quick! Quick, Glameow! Go!" Zoey called out as Glameow launched herself into the air as the Ice Shard attack was thrown! But one strike from her tail shattered the attack before both Pokémon landed on the ground.

"So what was that all about!?" Ash snapped, as Hikaru recognized the Pokémon.

"That Pokémon... It's an Abomasnow! The Pokémon that Snover evolves into!" Hikaru pointed out, to the group's surprise as the Twinleaf girl scanned it with her Pokédex.

"Abomasnow, the Frost Tree Pokémon, and the evolved form of Snover. Abomasnow appear when snow flowers bloom, and return to places unknown when the petals fall." Dawn's Pokédex chirped.

"But why did the big guy attack us all of a sudden?" Hareta asked as the group got ready to fight if they needed to.

"Abomasnow COULD be a wild Pokémon." Brock suggested, until a voice made a buzzer sound, sounding as if it was saying that the Kanto Breeder was incorrect.

"Guess again!" A voice exclaimed as the group looked up to see a girl that looked to be older than them sitting on a tree.

"Zo-Zo and Glameow! Welcome back!" The girl called out, causing Zoey to smile and cup her hands like a megaphone and respond back to the girl.

"It's ALWAYS a wild welcome from you, eh Ms. Senior?" Zoey replied cheekily.

Suddenly stars appeared in the eyes of the girl who Zoey had called Ms. Senior, and she squealed excitedly as she jumped out of the tree and got up close to Dawn, her eyes sparkling as she slowly got closer and closer to the Twinleaf girl.

"That is SO cute! You must tell me, where did you get it? Veilstone City? Jublife City?" The girl asked, feeling awed by the design of Dawn's winter dress.

"Uh... Actually, my mom sent it to me..." Dawn admitted sheepishly, causing the girl to be even more awed as her eyes continued to sparkle while the others sweat dropped from how she was talking.

Hareta on the other hand, tilted her head in confusion as the girl continued to speak on.

"If your mother sent it, then it must be handmade! It's adorable! You're so lucky!" The girl squealed, only for Zoey to step up and get in between the girl and Dawn, as she attempted to calm her down.

"Please! Miss Senior! At least introduce yourself!" Zoey reminded, causing the girl to blink before she realized what she had forgotten to do.

"Oh... Sorry about that." The girl spoke up suddenly before she stood next to Abomasnow as the two posed together while winking together to greet the group.

"Hi! The name is Candice, and I'm the Gym Leader of the Snowpoint Gym!" The girl, now known as Candice introduced herself, surprising the group as Ash was the first to react in surprise.

"Gym Leader?" Ash spoke before Hareta ran forward to introduce himself first before the Kanto Trainer could have the chance!

"Ooh! My name is Hareta! I'm from Sandgem Town, and I was hoping to have a Gym Battle with you, Candice!" Hareta exclaimed, feeling excited to have a battle, whether if it was cold or warm.

"What? Aw come on! I wanted to have a Gym Battle, too!" Ash whined, only to get an unexpected reaction from the Ice Type user.

"Yippee! We haven't had a challenger or two for so long!" Candice cheered, surprising the group for a bit.

"This is a first..." Hikaru commented as he recalled the previous times of when he and Ash tried to challenge the Gym Leaders, only to be denied the chance as they had something else to do.

Fantina was the one they struggled to challenge as her Gym was closed most of the times, which made them head for Maylene's Gym at Veilstone City, before heading for the Crasher Wake's Gym in Pastoria City.


Later...

"You see, things have been a little on the slow side of my Gym." Candice explained as she guided the group around the town, which Ash frowned at after hearing for what she had just said now.

"Slow, huh... That's too bad." Ash spoke, causing the Ice Type user to smile sheepishly, knowing the reason as to why her Gym was the least visited Gym out of all the Gyms in the Sinnoh region.

"When you live in a town that's this far north, and this cold with not much to do here, challengers don't come around all that much!" Candice explained, causing Brock to give a sheepish smile.

"Boy, I know what it feels like to have a Gym without a lot of challengers around..." Brock commented, earning a surprised look from the Ice Type user.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! You see, Brock was the Gym Leader over at the Pewter Gym in the Kanto region!" Zoey explained to her senior, amazing Candice as she looked back at the Kanto Breeder with a bright smile.

"Really? Wow, that means we've got the same job, then! So are you on vacation?" Candice asked, earning a shaking head from the former Rock Type user.

"No, my family's running the Gym now. So at the moment, I'm out and about doing a little breeder training." Brock explained, impressing the Ice Type user.

"Awesome!" Candice complimented before she noticed a building familiar to her up ahead.

"Look! Up ahead! You see that? That's the Pokémon Trainer School!" Candice pointed, allowing Zoey to explain.

"And that's where we went to school!" Zoey explained, causing Hikaru to blink in realization.

"Ah... so is that the reason why you call Candice Miss Senior?" Hikaru asked, earning a nod from the Coordinator in response.

"And since I have so much free time on my hands, I'm actually a teacher at this school now!" Candice explained, impressing the Kanto Trainer.

"Wow... Gym Leader and a teacher!" Ash breathed out before the Ice Type user turned to the three boys that were all competing in Gym Battles.

"So, Ash? Hareta? Hikaru? How many Gym Badges do you all have?" Candice asked, allowing Hikaru to answer for them.

"We've all got six Gym Badges. Our previous Gym Challenge was against Byron, from the Canalave City Gym." Hikaru explained, which further impressed the Ice Type user from the number of Badges that they've gathered.

"That's great, you three! I'm wondering if I could show you all off as examples to my students at the Trainer's School!" Candice explained, causing Ash and Hikaru to smile together while Hareta remained confused.

"You mean battling?" Ash asked, which Hikaru corrected for him.

"I think she means that she wants us to help her teach a class that she's probably preparing to teach soon." Hikaru explained, earning a nod from the Ice Type user, as she smiled at both Pikachu and Infernape that were near their human partners.

"Yep! I think it would be a great experience for all of them! Can we have the Gym Battles later?" Candice asked, causing the two boys to smile together.

"That's just fine... It would be an honor to be able to help teach at the Pokémon Trainer School." Hikaru responded, with the Kanto Trainer agreeing with his Sinnoh friend.

"He's right! I'd also be happy to do anything that I can! Right, Pikachu?" Ash asked, causing Pikachu to respond positively, as if he was agreeing to take part with helping with the teaching in the class.

But Hareta frowned, as he wanted to have a battle the moment he and the others have gotten into the city. But with Ash and Hikaru agreeing, he didn't have much of a choice as he gave a reluctant nod.

"Excellent! And Zoey? I want you to get your kiai on, too!" Candice reminded, causing the Coordinator to give a sheepish smile at the statement.

"Yeah... I hear you..." Zoey chuckled, causing Dawn to be concerned.

"Something wrong?" Dawn asked, causing her rival to smile weakly before she revealed her Ribbon Case where it had her four Contest Ribbons.

"Take a look... I just can't seem to earn my fifth Ribbon..." Zoey explained with a sigh, causing Hikaru to blink while Dawn just stared in both surprise and disbelief.

"Yeah, me too... One more to go. And that goes for Hikaru, too." Dawn explained before Candice ran over and nudged her junior with a bright smile on her face, much to the Coordinator's discomfort.

"Zo-Zo? You've already managed to earn 4 Ribbons, but when it comes to number 5, you fall a little bit short! So this is your Miss Senior with a big newsflash! Put kiai in it!" Candice encouraged brightly, causing Hikaru to raise a brow.

"Kiai? Is that some sort of encouragement of your own words, Candice?" Hikaru asked, causing Zoey to explain for him to understand.

"Something like that... I think Miss Senior is telling me I need to battle..." Zoey explained, earning an approved smile from the Ice Type user.

"Bingo! But before we do that, I want Zo-Zo to see how good all my students are! How hard they work! You've got to remember your routes!" Candice spoke up before she led the group to where the school was.

"She sure is an energetic one. Kinda reminds me of Gardenia a little when it comes to her love of Grass Types..." Hikaru spoke, remembering how bright the Grass Type expert was when it came to seeing Grass Type Pokémon.

"That's for sure..." Brock chuckled before the group continued to follow the Ice Type user.


Later...

"The Pokémon Trainer School... the place where you study the basics of handling your Pokémon up until the age of 10! Of course, that's the main reason for this school's existence. But there's another course older students may take as well!" Zoey explained as they arrived at the classroom.

"What's that?" Hikaru asked, allowing Zoey to explain as they took notice of other Trainers that seemed to be older than them, and yet they were all getting ready for class today.

"It's a special course, indeed. Everyone here got their first Pokémon, but for one reason or another, all these people had to interrupt their Pokémon journeys! You see, unlike other schools, this school has a practical side!" Zoey explained.

"A practical side?" The confused Hareta asked, before he turned back to see Candice standing at the position where the teachers would stand to begin their lessons.

"Today, I've got a special treat for you! We're lucky enough to have very special guests! One of them has come all the way from Kanto's Pallet Town, and the other two came all the way from our Sinnoh region's Twinleaf and Sandgem Town to challenge me here at the Snowpoint Gym and their names are Ash... Hikaru... and Hareta! You boys are on!"

With the introduction set, the three boys stood next to the Ice Type user to greet the class with the best way that they can.

"It's nice to meet you all..." Hikaru said politely while Ash held his head with a sheepish tone, as he felt a little nervous from the stares he was getting from the Trainers that were in the class.

"Yeah...! Nice to be here...!" Ash agreed, while Hareta gave a cheerful wave to the Trainers, while greeting himself.

"I hope we can all get along!" Hareta stated before Candice explained the achievements that the boys were able to do during their journeys.

"These boys here have earned an incredible amount of 6 Badges!" Candice explained, causing awe to spread as some of the Trainers were amazed. One Trainer blinked at hearing this as he gave an interested smile.

"6 Badges, huh... Just like with me..." spoke the Trainer in interest.

He looked about the same age as Ash, Hikaru, and Dawn. He had light brown hair, black eyes, and white skin. He wore an outfit that consisted of red short-sleeve shirt with a gray Pokéball on the left side of the shirt.

He also wore blue sweat pants, and a pair of black running shoes with white laces. He looked rather determined as a Trainer, yet also a kind one that would help others if they really needed it.

He continued to watch the introduction as Candice asked the boys to show their Badges.

And the boys did so, revealing the Gym Badges that they've all gained in the journey. They were all the same six Badges, but they were enough to make the other older Trainers impressed and surprised with how much they've earned.

"Whoa! They're the real thing!"

"Land sakes, and they're still so young!"

"Whoa...! How cool is that?"

The praises began to make Hikaru feel a bit flushed as he knew that they meant well, but it still felt embarrassing to him as he knew that many Trainers would be able to achieve this achievement if they were good Trainers.

"So, boys! Would you mind giving everyone here your mottos on how to win a Gym Battle?" Candice asked, allowing the Kanto Trainer to come up with his own motto first.

"A motto, huh... Let me see... My advice is the best defense is a good offense!" Ash declared, before Hikaru went next.

"My motto would be... to build a strong trusting relationship with your Pokémon. A Pokémon and Trainer needs to be in sync and work together if you want to be able to win battles that might be tough." Hikaru spoke up.

The Trainers were all awed by such motto as one of them began to write it down. The Trainer watching this smiled, agreeing with what the two of them were saying. But when it was time for Hareta to speak up...

"Umm... Sorry. I don't really have a motto..." Hareta apologized, earning surprised looks from the others as Candice chuckled.

"That's okay! You can think of one later as we go on with the class!" Candice reassured before she turned to the class to begin the class session regarding the assignment that they were going to be doing today.

"Okay then, class. Our assignment today would be to do some studying right along with these boys here." Candice announced, earning nods of approval from the class before she turned to the Twinleaf girl.

"And Dawn? You're welcome to join in if you want!" Candice offered, causing the Twinleaf girl to smile as she looked up at her Water Type partner.

"Alright...! What do you say, Piplup?" Dawn asked her partner.

"Lup!" was all the response that she needed as she joined in with the older classmates to join in with the studying session. As the two watched her join in, Brock turned to Zoey to talk about the Ice Type user.

"She may be a teacher here at this school, but she's a Gym Leader as well. She could be testing them while hiding it by asking questions, see?" Brock asked, allowing Zoey to understand what he was saying.

"Maybe..." Zoey shrugged, as Ash sat next to a man with a business suit who had a Skuntank with him.

Hareta and Hikaru sat in the same row as the Trainer that had watched their introduction together before the Trainer greeted the two.

"Hey there... You two looked nice down there." complimented the Trainer, catching their attention as Hareta smiled.

"Thanks! Are you a Pokémon Trainer like we are?" Hareta asked, earning an amused look from the boy.

"If I wasn't a Trainer, then why else would I be here? My name is Ray. I'm from Twinleaf Town... just like you, Hikaru!" The Trainer, now known as Ray introduced himself, catching Hikaru's attention.

"Oh... really?" Hikaru asked, earning a nod from Ray.

"Mm hm... I don't think we've ever met, but... it's nice to meet another Trainer and Coordinator from the same hometown that I'm from." Ray spoke, catching Hikaru's attention when he mentioned the Coordinator part.

"When you say 'another Coordinator'... does that mean..."

"Yep! I'm a Coordinator, too! I have 6 Badges and 4 Contest Ribbons!" Ray explained, as he revealed the six Gym Badges he had earned, along with the Contest Ribbons that he also earned from the Pokémon Contests that were around Sinnoh.

"Huh... The same numbers as me... he must be a talented Trainer to have gained so many Badges and Ribbons..." Hikaru thought as Hareta piped up, wanting to know more about Ray.

"Say, who's your partner? Everyone else has their Pokémon friends out but I don't see yours..." Hareta asked, causing Ray to smile before he took out a Pokéball, which seemed to be his partner's Pokéball.

"He's in here, but... he only comes out during battles, training, eating, or quality time with me and the rest of my team." Ray explained before putting the ball back as Hikaru continued to gaze at him.

"His Aura... it's... bright. Like a sun that's willing to shine no matter how much darkness that's threatening to snuff it out..." Hikaru thought before he gave a smile and turned back as Candice began the class.

"So now it's time for Candice's class! I call this my 'Quick Kiai Quiz'! Press the button on your desk before answering!" Candice explained, which made both Ash and Hareta flinch together upon hearing that.

"A quiz!?" Both boys yelped together as Ray looked back at the wild boy.

"You not into stuff like this?" He asked, earning a shaking head from the wild boy.

"I don't... I'm not really comfortable with this kind of stuff. I'm more into battling than what school kids would do..." Hareta sighed, as he had never had a proper education, as he had learned from experience in his life in the forest of Route 201.

The young Aura Guardian gave his young friend a sheepish smile before looking back at Ash, as he knew that the Kanto Trainer was a bit of a struggler when it came to quizzes or education, too.

Everyone else, including Dawn and the other older Trainers got ready to take the quiz, as if they were all trying to compete over on who would guess the most answers correctly, as it would help them with their Pokémon battles.

"This kind of quiz sure is unique." Brock commented as he and Zoey watched.

"It's fun, isn't it? That's my Miss Senior's style!" Zoey stated, as the quiz began.

"Question 1! Pikachu is..."

"Okay! I got it!" Ash called out as he tapped on the button to answer the question, surprising some Trainers while Candice looked a little impressed.

"Nice speed, Ash! Now I hope you're ready with your answer! You're on!" Candice pointed, allowing the Kanto Trainer to answer the question.

"If it's about Pikachu, then I know it! The answer is, an Electric Type!" Ash declared, feeling confident. But to his shock, Candice made the buzzing sound to announce that his answer was incorrect!

"Wrong!"

"What!?" Ash gaped as the Trainers were a bit bewildered by his mistake while Hikaru sweat dropped.

"He didn't let Candice finish the question, which is why he quickly got that wrong... That's Ash, alright... Rushing things recklessly without thinking first..." Hikaru thought as the Trainer next to Ash named Jeremiah chuckled.

"Overconfidence can lead to some serious mistakes. True in quizzes and battles, too." Jeremiah stated, leaving the Kanto Trainer to frown before a man sitting next to Dawn spoke up confidently.

"If I may add one thing, in a quiz like this, speed is vital... but... with a series of twists and turns you need to predict the end of the questions correctly!" he exclaimed, as he made dramatic poses.

"Good point from one of our newer students!" Candice said, impressed with this newcomer.

The student chuckled, "I may not look it but when I was a mere lad, they used to call me the prince of quizzes back in my hometown!"

"Prince of quizzes...?" Hikaru thought with a deadpanned look before Candice clapped her hands softly in order to regain order and attention from the classroom.

"Alright, let me finish the question... Pikachu is a Mouse Pokémon, so then..."

"Tiny Mouse Pokémon!" The man exclaimed as he tapped on the button to speak up, only for the Ice Type user to make a buzzer sound!

"Sorry, wrong again." Candice spoke, making the man surprised before he frowned, with a big hint of irritation on his face.

"Starting with Pikachu is a Mouse Pokémon would lead one to Pichu, would it not?" he asked, outraged that he had been declared incorrect.

"No, not this time. Listen closely. What kind of Pokémon is Cyndaquil?" Candice asked. And this time, Jeremiah was the one to respond by pressing on the button first before anyone else could, causing Candice to call on him.

"Mr. Jeremiah was the first!" Candice pointed out, before the man answered the question.

"Fire Mouse Pokémon." spoke the man, causing the Ice Type user to smile in approval.

"That's correct!" Candice declared, much to the self-proclaimed Prince of Quizzes man.

"Drat! So the connection was through Mouse Pokémon!" The man snapped, as he felt frustrated for having to lose the chance to answer the question as he had gotten one wrong before Candice could complete the question like how Ash did.

"Man, this is tough..." Ash commented, with the Mouse Pokémon agreeing with his human partner. Dawn on the other hand, was shocked to see how fast the other Trainers were as she didn't get the chance to press on her button.

"Wow, everyone's so fast..." Dawn commented, with Piplup crying out in concern.

With the Cyndaquil question done, Candice brought up another question for everyone to hear and see as the board brought up an image of Abra.

"Now, next question! Abra is..."

Before she could finish, Jeremiah pressed on the button again, causing the Gym Leader to call on him once again, while Ash and Hikaru both blinked in surprise, with the same going for Dawn and Hareta.

"He knows already...!?" Ash gaped as Candice called on him.

"Mr. Jeremiah? Your answer please?"

"That's 24 hours!" Jeremiah explained, causing Candice to smile in approval as the question was answered correctly.

"Excellent! Right again!" Candice called out, causing the other Trainers to be surprised and confused at the same time. Hareta was the first to bring the question up as he held his head, feeling a headache from what Jeremiah had answered.

"Abra is 24 hours? But Abra is a Psychic Type Pokémon..." Hareta asked, causing Ray to explain.

"I think what Jeremiah means is that Abra is the type of Pokémon that sleeps 18 hours a day... but how long does a Stunky's smell wear off?" Ray asked, leaving the wild boy to be even more confused.

"So this isn't just basic knowledge... It's more like a riddle quiz... and that guy seems to understand everything on what is right..." Hikaru pointed out, earning a nod from the new Twinleaf Trainer.

"Yeah..." Ray spoke as the other older Trainers applauded for how much knowledge that the man had inside him. Even Brock and Zoey were impressed for how well he was answering the complicated questions that Ash hasn't been able to get.

"That guy is incredible..." commented Brock with Zoey agreeing.

"He must study really hard..." Zoey stated as Hikaru looked back to see Candice beginning another question.

"If this keeps up, then the other Trainers will start to believe that our 6 Gym Badges were nothing more than lucky wins..." Hikaru thought as the quiz continued on with Candice bringing forth another question.

"Okay, next... Meowth... Powerful move that only Meowth can learn is..."

To be continued...


Hikaru's Team:

Infernape: (M): (Flamethrower, Mach Punch, Flame Wheel, Close Combat)

Buizel: (M): (Ice Beam, Aqua Jet, Razor Wind, Water Gun)

Luxray: (F): (Wild Charge, Discharge, Iron Tail, Hidden Power)

Leafeon: (F): (Magical Leaf, Shadow Ball, Synthesis, Leaf Blade)

Gardevoir: (F): (Psychic, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Teleport)

Riolu: (M): (Endure, Quick Attack, Foresight, ?)

With Prof. Rowan:

Dragonair: (M): (Dragon Tail, Aqua Tail, Thunder Wave, Safeguard)

Togekiss: (F): (Ancient Power, Aura Sphere, Safeguard, Air Slash)

Next chapters:

Chapter 42: Exhibition Match! Hareta's Chance!

Chapter 43: Hikaru VS Candice! The Seventh!

Chapter 44: Learn the Power! Aura Resurrection!

Chapter 45: The Old Faces to Reunite With!

Chapter 46: Challenging the Superior in Battle!

Next chapter preview:

Hareta: Aw... I really want to get to the battle... I mean, I've been winning many battles with my Pokémon. Isn't that enough?

Hikaru: I think the purpose of this class is to show the people of what we know mostly about Pokémon and the ways to win in a battle.

Hareta: Say what? But the way to win a battle is to fight as hard as you can with your Pokémon friends... Isn't that right?

Hikaru: That's one of the ways, but you need to make strategies in order to be able to win against your opponents easily...

Hareta: That's like saying that without a strategy, I'm like a loser...? In a way? That's harsh...

Hikaru: T-That's not what... Ugh... Never mind! If you can't be smart in class, then just be smart during a battle!

Events that occurred:

- The group reunites with Zoey and arrives at Snowpoint City

- The group meets the Snowpoint Gym Leader, Candice

- The group meets Ray, a Trainer from Twinleaf Town