Ash and his friends were basking in the afternoon sun at the park. Everyone was in good spirits after Misty and Clement's victories in the wildcard round and all were eager about their - and Brock's - chances in the final 8...everyone except Dawn. Her melancholy didn't go unnoticed, especially to Ash who offered her reassurance: "It's ok Dawn. You did really well. To reach the final 12 on the biggest stage in the world and to be competitive once you got there. I think you should be really proud."
"I know", she answered softly, "but the problem is...I spent so much of my life preparing for this moment and I fell short, and now...I just don't know what to do with myself. Apart from being a trainer and a gym leader, I'm not really good at that much", she finished, in a solemn tone.
"But don't you like being a gym leader?" Misty asked.
"Well sure I do, it's fine. But it's just not something I see myself doing for ever."
"You could go back to doing contests", she pressed but Dawn didn't seem any more enthusiastic about that idea.
A moment later, a voice came from behind them: "I believe I could give you some guidance." It was Jessie, along with the rest of team rocket. The others all groaned collectively upon seeing their old foes appear out of nowhere.
"Ugh, where did you three come from!?" Ash bellowed, "are you seriously spying on us?"
"That's none of your business", Jessie responded, "but with regards to your dilemma little miss", she continued, looking straight at Dawn, "you've got to see yourself as you really are. I mean, look at you, you're so beautiful and bubbly and full of life. You remind me of me at your age. You need to stop limiting yourself and open your mind to the possibilities. Take me for example, I've been everything from a tv weather girl to secret operative to showcase queen", May began to chuckle, trying to contain herself from bursting into full-blown hysterics, as her face turned the colour of a beetroot.
"While we greatly appreciate your input", Misty began, in an overly sarcastic tone, "I'm sure Dawn doesn't need any advice from you. Besides Dawn", she continued, "you're so great at what you do, and you make people happy doing what you do. Are you sure you want to leave all that behind? You should take time to think it through."
"Yeah, you're right Misty." She agreed.
Following this exchange, the group - including team rocket - sat together on their picnic rugs and enjoyed a full lunch which consisted of a range of sandwiches, including peanut butter and jelly, honey, jam and tuna. An assortment of cheeses, dips and biscuits was also on offer. Ash and Serena were cosed up together: it was the best either of them had felt in some time. However, the festivities were soon disrupted by the appearance of a familiar figure..."Luke"! Ash exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"
"Room for one more?" He enquire in his refined accent. Ash and the others looked sceptical but they allowed him to join them and he promptly took a spot on one of the picnic rugs, placing himself between May and Drew, much to their visible discomfort.
"How are you young May?" He enquired.
"Um...I'm ok", May answered nervously. Drew was clearly frustrated about his obvious interest in May. "What would you like?" She asked softly, too nervous to make eye contact with the shadowy man.
"I don't want anything, I'm just being conversational, and I also happen to think that You're a pleasant young lady to talk to."
"Ok, cut it out!" Drew snapped. "What's your obsession with my girlfriend." May was now blushing again, but this time for a very different reason. "If this has anything to do with that weird stuff you were talking about the other day."
"You have no reason to fear young man", he replied gently. "I have no intention of hurting May. But whatever will be will be."
"Not if I can help it!" Drew retorted. "Why don't you just leave us all alone! We've got enough to concern ourselves with without having to worry about a creep like you!"
"Alright!" Luke snapped back. "If that's the way you want it, then no more picnic. I'm here to give you an escape plan. My sources tell me there's going to be an attack any day now. There's no time to waste. You must leave by tomorrow if possible, the next day at the absolute latest."
"Are you sure?" Serena asked nervously.
"I don't know exactly when it will be but you can't risk staying any longer than necessary."
"But what about the tournament?" Ash asked passionately. "We've still got Misty, Brock and Clement to cheer on. This has been such an important distraction, for all of us and it's such a big moment in their journey as gym leaders."
"Really Ash, what's more important: your lives, or some silly tournament?" There was a long moment of silence.
Shortly after, Luke stood up and spoke again: "I'll leave it with you folks. I know you'll do the right thing", he finished, casting a glance in James' direction. He then turned around and began walking back the way he came, before disappearing between two large oak trees.
Shortly afterwards, Team Rocket bid Ash and his friends farewell. Not long after, the group began walking back to the hotel, as it was approaching dinner time by this stage, although it was still very light due to it being summer. As they neared their accomodation, they cut through a small park with a concrete path cutting through the middle, from one side to the other. As they walked along the path, Ash noticed flyers attached to the street lights, which had not yet been turned on for the night. He took one and began to brim with excitement.
"Hey you guys, check this out. There's going to be a big street festival, tonight. What do you guys say?" He asked enthusiastically, turning back to look at the others, "are we up for this?" He received a mixed level of enthusiasm from the gang. Some, such as May, Drew and Bonnie were very keen on the idea, while others, such as Brock, Dawn and Misty, who were still in the tournament, were less keen. Serena also seemed dubious: "I guess I would be up for it but you heard what Luke said today, I don't think we should be taking risks at a time like this." This response angered Ash: "you don't get me do you Serena? The more doomsday nonsense I here from people like Luke, the more I want to get away from it and live my life, it makes me want to run a million miles away from it and to never here another word of it," he finished as his hands began shaking and his jaw tensed. "I'm so sick of it!"
"I know exactly how you feel Ash," she answered sympathetically, "but I can't pretend, no matter how much I want to. This is real." Her voice now taking on an angrier tone as she began pleading with Ash, "how much worse does it have to get for you to start acting more cautious? Do people you know and love have to start dying? Do I have to Ash?" She concluded, with tears welling in her eyes. But it appeared she had finally broken through, as Ash began to shed a few small tears: "I'm sorry Serena, you're right, it was bit of a silly idea. It's just that, I'm the sort of person who believes whatever will be will be. What if I do everything I can to protect the people I love and still end up losing someone anyway, and I stopped living in the process? To me that would be the greater tragedy."
"That's reasonable, I guess. I suppose I just prefer to be more cautious and to make decisions based on probabilities."
"I know that Serena. That's one of the things I admire about you. That's also one of the reasons I need you," he replied, as he smiled at his girlfriend. She smiled in return.
"Ok", she said after a brief pause. "Let's try it your way Ash. Let's go tonight. It'll be fun. Besides, the odds are probably in our favour," she laughed.
"It's a date Serena, and anyone else who wants to come of course," he said sheepishly, as he looked back at the others, who looked amused by what had just transpired.
Barely an hour later, nightfall was beginning to set in as Ash; Serena; May; Drew, and Dawn headed out into the fairly crowded Main Street, where they were greeted to a merry and somewhat lively atmosphere. The streetlights had now been turned on and each side of the street was brightened up by a wide range of stalls. Some sold street food while others were selling a variety of other goods, including Pokémon merchandise; jewellery; gift bags, and audiovisual entertainment. One stall was also selling a number of ancient artefacts native to the local area and surrounding region. Ash was tempted to stop and look but after a moment of hesitation, decided to keep on walking. After all, he was keen to see the main show. The main show was a sound and light display, which would be taking place in parkland off the Main Street, several hundred metres further down the road. On their way they also made a brief detour into the small park where Ash had discovered the flier barely an hour earlier. However, in this very brief period of time it had already been transformed into a cocophony of sound and noise, with a local rock band playing in an open section of the park to a respectable sized crowd. Nearby were a number of other tents and stalls selling merchandise. There were also a number of people gathered together on picnic rugs enjoying the festivities which had brought the small mountain town to life, even in the darkest of times. Serena noted that, although she did not much care for the music, she was loving the atmosphere. This was the first thing her and Ash had agreed on in quite some time.
After a little while they headed back into the Main Street, in the direction of the main park where the show would soon be taking place. When they arrived it was beginning to get dark. The parkland was mostly open, with a few trees scattered about, mostly around the fringes of the park near the walking tracks. However, most of he crowds were congregated around the middle of he park, in front of a large makeshift stage where the curtain was still drawn, in anticipation of the show beginning. After ten minutes or so of waiting, a middle-aged man with shiny black hair, dressed in a glittering red coat and tight black pants walked onto the stage.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the annual Silver City sound and light Pokémon show." The man's demeanour was enthusiastic and upbeat.
He continued talking for the next few minutes before introducing a local Mariachi band, consisting of four members (2 male and 2 female), who played two local folk songs of Johto. The lyrics - which were fairly somber in tone - were unfamiliar to Ash and the others but they, along with most of the crowd, still enjoyed the performance, which received a warm applause.
The man in the suit then came back on stage to thank the band members for their performance. He then proceeded to announce the start of the main event: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the event you've been waiting for, the sound and light Pokémon show spectacular! Cast your eyes upward, and enjoy the magic!" The crowd looked upward: at first there was nothing...then, just a few seconds later a loud sound of Thunder.
After a brief pause, the sound reoccurred; then, suddenly the loud banging of fireworks, quickly followed by a shower of lights. Not long after, two Pokémon appeared. It was Charizard and Talonflame! They zoomed overhead at near sonic speed, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Following this, they stopped themselves mid-air some distance past the roaring crowds, where they they began performing synchronised aerial acrobatics for a number of minutes. They then flew all the way into the distance, rising far above the foothills below and then all the way above the summit of mount Silver itself. It was here that they performed their final dazzling act. They zoomed around the mountain in tandem, for many rotations, picking up more and more speed as they went, lighting a trail of fire as they had on their way up to the mountain, so that they could be viewed by the crowds below.
Eventually they completed the tough rotations to create a bright ring of fire around the crest of the mountain and then the grand finish: A massive burst of flame, like lava bursting out of a volcano, was rocketed skyward. The two Pokémon flew up alongside it, one on either side of the flame, then finished the performance by balancing on top of the flame together, hands joined, before looking down towards the crowd far below and then lifting up their arms in salute, to a rapturous round of applause.
Ash thought it was one of the most spectacular events he had ever witnessed. He clapped loudly, as Serena's face lit up. He looked across at her.
"Well Serena, are you glad you came?" Serena gave him a guilty smile before nodding her head in agreement.
Shortly afterward, they and the others returned to their accommodation to rest, in preparation for the following day's events.