Cynthia's stiletto heels resonated on the floor of the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy and Chansey were treating my Piplup and Aaron's Drapion. Pokémon trainers gawked at us, amazed that Cynthia would grace us with her presence. I was in awe, too. I'd stayed in Cynthia's villa in Unova, but it wasn't every day that you got to see the Champion in-person. And Cynthia looked like she was off-duty today: her close-fitting black pants were tucked into knee-high boots, and she'd left her coat behind, instead wearing a long-sleeved silver V-neck with diamonds along the collar. Her style was elegant in its simplicity.

Her Garchomp looked relaxed now, too. He chowed down on a Cherubi cake that was a courtesy from Cynthia's grandmother. Empoleon stared at it longingly. Kenny fidgeted. "Miss Cynthia, do you think my Empoleon could try some of Garchomp's cake?"

"Garchomp has a peculiar taste. He likes eating foods that are both spicy and sweet. Judging by the sheen of Empoleon's crest, your Pokémon doesn't like spicy food."

I grasped Cynthia's hands. "Wow, you know a lot about Pokémon!"

Conway chuckled. "It's only logical. She is, after all, the Champion."

"So what brings you to Hearthome City, Cynthia?"

Cynthia twirled a strand of platinum-blonde hair around her finger. "A few reasons," she admitted, "not the least of them being a date with Steven Stone."

I gasped. "You're dating the Champion from Hoenn?!"

Cynthia smiled, not embarrassed. It was the rest of us who turned razz-berry pink. On cue, a tall young man around Cynthia's age strolled into the Pokémon Center, capturing everyone's attention. The sleeve cuffs of his black suit dazzled with rubies and sapphires. He nodded to us and offered his hand to Cynthia. Everyone in the Pokémon Center squealed; Nurse Joy swooned and almost fainted, Chansey catching her.

In a quiet voice, Steven said, "I heard Amity Square is an ideal place for a date in Sinnoh. We'll see you at the exhibition battle tomorrow—and congratulations, Ace."

Exhibition battle? Congratulations? I barely registered that Steven and Cynthia were going on a date in Amity Square, the same place that Kenny and I had our own date earlier today. After the two Champions left, I planted my hands on the table and leaned in. "Congratulations for what? It sounds like something juicy." I glanced between Ace and Aaron, getting excited with each passing second. "Are you two—"

Kenny finished my thought. "—getting engaged?!"

Conway was the first to burst out laughing. "How illogical! They're eighteen years old—not to mention, where would the exhibition battle come in?"

Ace stifled his own laughter. "Now that is a standard for an engagement party."

Aaron explained, "Ace is the new Gym Leader of Hearthome City. He specializes in poison types, and to commemorate his gym opening tomorrow, he and I will have a six-on-six battle. You're all welcome, of course—but you'll have to get through the gym to reach the battlefield at the back. I requested this to reduce the number of tabloid reporters stalking us."

"And I obliged," Ace said, with an apologetic smile to the rest of us. "That means the three of you also have to go through the puzzle and gym trainers. But you're capable trainers, so it shouldn't be hard."

But you're capable trainers, so it shouldn't be hard. The next day, I was back in my pink boots and red jacket, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows. The gym was dark and gloomy, lit by Foongus lights instead of Fantina's decorative lanterns. Conway groaned in disgust when he stepped in a puddle of gunk. The first room had a giant vat of bubbling purple liquid with platform islands connected by a series of oily pipes. In any other building, safety inspectors would come down hard on such a set-up, but Gym Leaders could decorate their gyms as they saw fit. Gym trainers and rock musicians jammed on some of the islands, the powerful combination of electric guitar, bass, and percussion almost blasting Piplup away.

Kenny swallowed. "At least you look prepared, Deedee."

Conway gestured for me to step onto one of the pipes. "Ladies and their Pokémon go first."

I placed my hands on my hips. "Are you ready, Piplup?"

In response, Piplup dashed down the widest pipe, stumbling and rolling down the length until he reached an island. I ran after him, the sturdy grip of my boots helping me keep my balance on the slippery pipe. A bassist sent out a Whirlipede for Piplup to battle.

On a nearby island, Kenny sent out Empoleon to battle a guitarist's Golbat. Conway adjusted his glasses and chuckled as his Slowking went up against a gym trainer's Croagunk. Other Pokémon trainers were having a far more difficult time. A youngster scooched along the pipes on his hands and knees. A psychic screamed as she slipped off, caught by her Chimecho's psychic energy.

The second room was more vast. Instead of containing a pool of corrosive liquid, the room resembled a wasteland. Debris stuck out—a broken satellite, a smashed-in TV, a sinking car. Occasionally, Toxic Spikes would shoot out of the purple mud.

Kenny gulped. "Wow, this guy must really hate reporters."

"I think Aaron hates reporters. Ace seems more neutral."

Conway sniffed. "This seems more than a little excessive."

The gym trainers here battled with Roselia, Swalot, Garbodor, and other poison types that could use Toxic Spikes, to make the most of their terrain. Conway shouted, "Look out, Dawn!" He tackled me out of the way and took the brunt of the Toxic Spikes that shot out of the floor.

My hands flew to my mouth. "Conway!"

He crumpled on the roof of a half-sunken car. "My Slowking, carry me to the Pokémon Center."

I hesitated. "Should we accompany him?"

"Nah," Kenny assured me. "He'll be fine. I think we both really want to watch the exhibition battle—especially since there's a good chance that no reporter will make it all the way to the battlefield, so it might not get recorded."

Only a handful of Pokémon trainers had made it; among them was Paul, Ash's nastiest rival, along with his Electivire. With predictable rudeness, he ignored me—but he nodded at Steven, who raised his hand in greeting. Although no reporter was present, Steven Stone had brought a little green drone to referee and record the battle. I stared hard at it and then exclaimed, "It looks like Squishy!"

Kenny looked at me strangely. "Squishy?"

"When Ash was traveling in Kalos, he showed me pictures of the Pokémon accompanying one of his traveling companions."

Cynthia explained, "The Devon Corp's drones are inspired by one-percent Zygarde—a legendary Pokémon composed of many large cells that can function independently."

With an arm around Cynthia, Steven added, "Cynthia and I are planning to do a joint research project to investigate Zygarde's abilities, especially after the events at Lumiose City. It's said that Zygarde mediates conflicts between Xerneas and Yveltal, but how can a dragon type tame a fairy type, or a ground type control a flying type?"

"My Garchomp does just fine with moves like Iron Head and Stone Edge for coverage."

Holy Arceus, just how much had she trained since our time in Unova?

Cynthia smiled at me and Kenny. "Good job for making it all the way to the battlefield. You're just in time for the exhibition battle!"

Ace and Aaron shook hands in good sportsmanship. "However the battle ends," Aaron said, "it's a win for me."

"They made a deal earlier," Kenny explained to me. "The loser has to treat the winner to dinner at the Seven Stars Restaurant near Lake Valor."

Ace smirked. "I used up most of my trainer's earnings renovating the gym, so I better win."

The drone spoke a mix of Japanese and English. "The six-on-six exhibition battle between Ace the Gym Leader and Aaron of the Elite Four will now begin! Trainers must send out their first Pokémon at the same time. Ready?"

"Ready."

"Three—two—one—go!"