"You're back!" Nerissa exclaimed, clapping her fingers in excitement. Her cerise pumps added a few inches to her already-impressive height. Although she didn't go over-the-top in her cuteness obsession by wearing a tutu or something like that, her dark green jeans were embroidered with vivid flowers, and the frills on the hem of her long-sleeved top bounced with her short curls.

Kenny – my kind, gentlemanly boyfriend – smiled politely. "Hi, Nerissa. Dawn and I wanted to stroll through Amity Square again before our friends' exhibition rematch. My Empoleon and Dawn's Piplup will be joining us again. Is that okay?"

"Of course!" Nerissa's white teeth stood out against her dark brown skin. "Piplup and Empoleon are adorable Pokémon." She squished Piplup's cheeks like an auntie and then fawned over the outfit I'd bought in Jubilife City. "And you're cute, too, Dawn!"

I beamed, twirling for her and Kenny. The short tails of my sleeveless black blouse flared out when I spun, while the dark pink skirt resembled a flower. "Thanks, Nerissa. You're such a good friend." Her hazel-brown eyes lit up with pleasure. Kenny smirked, knowing what was coming. "Two of our other friends also wanted to join us for a pleasant walk in Amity Square. They're wonderful people, and their Pokémon are beautiful. What do you think?"

Nerissa clutched my hands. "Dawn, any friend of yours is a friend of mine, especially if you can also vouch for the cuteness of their Pokémon. So, who are your friends?"

"Cynthia, Champion of Sinnoh, and Steven Stone, Champion of Hoenn."

Cynthia's stiletto heels and Steven's expensive soles clipped on the tiles of the Amity Square gate. Behind them, Garchomp and Metagross loomed with ferocious expressions.

Nerissa shuddered but held her ground. "No, no, no! This is unacceptable!"

"It was a joke," Steven assured her; he and Cynthia returned their signature Pokémon to their Poké Balls and sent out smaller Pokémon. Cynthia's Kirlia, who had provided invaluable aid during our battle against Primal Giratina by revealing the legendary Pokémon's ability, twirled and sang a joyous cry.

Meanwhile, Steven's Pokémon looked like an oversized chess piece. I scanned it on my Pokédex. "Pawniard. Sharp Blade Pokémon. After shredding its prey, it sharpens its blades for the next hunt."

Steven rested a hand on the back of Pawniard's helmet. "I caught this little fellow while conducting some research in Unova. He's an excellent assistant and can be tough when it counts."

Steven's Pawniard did not look so ferocious. He bowed to Nerissa and then offered his arm to Kirlia like a gentleman.

"We understand," Cynthia explained, "that Garchomp and Metagross might scare some of the smaller Pokémon and children in the park. But Kirlia and Pawniard are practically harmless. You have the word of two Champions that they will not disturb anyone else in Amity Square."

Nerissa pointed a shaking, accusing finger at Pawniard, who hid behind Kirlia. "Didn't you hear what the Pokédex said about that one? It shreds its prey; it sharpens its blades. Pawniard and Kirlia just aren't cute!"

I planted my fists on my hips. "What issues do you have with all these Pokémon?"

"They're not cute!" Nerissa scowled. "I have a specific list of which Pokémon I consider cute. All other Pokémon are prohibited from entering Amity Square, which I am the manager of and reserve the right to decide who can enter and who can't." She took a deep breath after her rant.

"But that's not fair," Kenny complained. "It's discrimination."

"I am the manager of Amity Square."

I marched up to her, glaring up at this awful woman. "Then I challenge you to a battle!"

"Let me guess—you'll pull out your tyrannical Mamoswine or your unpredictable Ambipom."

"Actually, Piplup is right here and ready to send a Bubble Beam to your face to wake you up."

Nerissa looked pained. "You all must think I'm a villain. And Champion Cynthia, I'm really sorry I have to refuse you and your date a second time. But it's in the name of safety. I need to protect the most vulnerable Pokémon."

"Piplup isn't vulnerable," I pointed out.

"Neither is Empoleon," Kenny added. "If anything, they're both fiercer battlers than Kirlia and Pawniard, who haven't had much training yet."

An idea blossomed. "Nerissa," I said, "how about Kirlia and Pawniard pretend to attack Amity Square, and Piplup and Empoleon defend it from them? Then we'll show you that some cute Pokémon can defend other cute Pokémon from anyone who'd try to attack."

Nerissa brought her hand to her chest. "That sounds scary."

"I have some qualms about that plan," Cynthia added, "though the idea itself is good. But as Champions, Steven and I can't be seen attacking a public place, even if it isn't for real."

"Then we'll reverse it," I suggested. "Piplup and Empoleon will attack, and Kirlia and Pawniard will defend."

Steven cleared his throat. "I have some qualms with that, too. As Kenny mentioned, Kirlia and Pawniard haven't had much training yet. From what I've heard, Kirlia's only form of training was in Maylene's gym, along with watching other Pokémon battle..." He drifted off with a glance at Nerissa. We all agreed it was best if Primal Giratina's existence remained a secret from the public—I almost had to tape Conway's mouth to get him to be quiet when we arrived at the Pokémon Center. "As for Pawniard," Steven continued, "he hasn't been in an official trainer battle yet. Testing them here would likely backfire."

I wasn't giving up. "Then let's give it all we have." Grabbing Kenny's hand, we dashed into Amity Square, Piplup and Empoleon just behind us.

We climbed to one of the rock hills deep in the park. I sat at the edge of the short cliff with one leg crossed over the other while Kenny remained standing. "This is a risky plan, but it just might help Sinnoh. It's so you, Deedee."

I glanced up at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He smiled at me. "This isn't the first time you helped to save Sinnoh. Haven't you noticed that the distortion is gone? Time and space are back to normal."

What had changed? We removed Cyrus's Pokémon from the Distortion World. Nothing seemed particular abnormal about any of them – Gyarados and Houndoom ran free, while Weavile was under intensive care at the Pokémon Center – except the one stuck in the corrupted Poké Ball.

"That wasn't me," I told him. "Sure, I came up with the idea, but it was Riley's Lucario who picked up that Poké Ball."

"What are you talking about, Dawn? This isn't about the corrupted Poké Ball. The distortion stopped as soon as you touched the red chain."