AN: This chapter was updated/revised on March 25, 2020.

Disguises and Guises

"I've seen her face
I've heard her name
I've lost my place and she's to blame

And I can't stand it
When I'm staring in her eyes
And she's not looking back
It ain't a big surprise."

Darren Criss

Day 67

The trio had no choice but to stay in Kanto; there were no more trains to Unova until tomorrow afternoon.

Since the train had stopped them in Cerulean City, and so Amber became their guide.

"We are still not in the right time period," Jay lamented. "The styles featured at the Urban Outfitters prove that we are at four, five, maybe six years behind schedule. It's not fair! We were in the present when we boarded that train, then Xatu messed with us! We were so close!"

"What makes you think you are right about us being in the past now?" Amber questioned irritably.

Jay pointed a calendar that was for sale in the train station's gift shop. It was a 2028-2029 version.

"They wouldn't be selling these unless this way the year," Jay emphasized.

"I get it already," Amber grumbled.

"Hey, don't be mad at me. I didn't do anything wrong."

Jezz sheepishly stepped behind Xatu.

"Does this mean that Xatu brought us back to the past while we were asleep on the train?" Amber questioned. "Jezz?"

"I cannot think of any other explanation," Jezz's muffled voice answered.

"Guys, we can't just walk around Cerulean City like this. We are supposed to be little kids. We might run into our parents. What will happen if someone sees our preteen selves when we are supposed to be six and seven?"

"Technically, nothing we do now can affect the future," said Jay. "Right, Jezz?"

"Well, it is a bit more complicated than that, Jay," Jezz responded. "We still need to be careful. The reason things are the way they are is because we were cautious and therefore, we weren't spotted by anyone we knew. The same way I still had to do all that work to get that information to Mary. Just because I know I would do it, that doesn't mean that I could be lazy about it. We must make things happen. In this case, it means we will go unnoticed. Does that make sense?"

Jay grabbed Amber's arm. "Look."

Amber and Takeshi's mothers were coming down the sidewalk, shopping bags in hand. Amber dragged them into a candy store.

"We are in the shopping district. I run into someone I know every time I come here," Amber explained. "We need to move somewhere else."

"In order to get out of here we have to go outside," said Jezz. "That means we need to disguise ourselves. But how?"

"There is a costume store next door. They have a lot of cool things. Amb and I go there sometimes to get Halloween costumes," said Jay. "They have wigs and hair dye and colored contacts and hats…"

"That is good. We shall go there," Jezz replied before walking out the front door. Amber and Jay followed him.

"We are running a bit low on cash. We shouldn't use everything you brought on things we don't need."

Amber and Jay saw two of Amber's aunts, Daisy and Violet, and ran into the party store. Jezz caught up with them.

"Those were my mom's older sisters," Amber explained to a confused Jezz.

"I do not mind spending money on the disguises. Jay, you can pay me back later if you want," Jezz suggested.

"I will," Jay agreed.

"I'm not dressing up as a clown," said Amber.

"Certainly not. I will find you a costume that highlights all your natural beauty," Jezz responded. "No matter what you find to wear, I guarantee that you will look amazing."

Amber and Jay didn't say anything. It was bold for a twelve-year-old boy to call a girl beautiful. They smiled for Jezz. He was a different person it seemed, though they knew he had always been like this and they were only noticing it now.

Inside the party store, Jezz and Jay went looking for glasses, colored contacts, hats, wigs and hair dye. Jay was excited for the dress-up game, Amber laughed at him for this.

"Jay, you are a champion of fulfilling stereotypes," she giggled. "You are one of the gayest of all gays."

Jay waved her off. "So what? I like what I like."

"I don't care what you do, but I am always going to find it funny. So…I'm gonna go look at the creepy Halloween masks. You take care of the disguises. Don't make me wear anything too frilly."

"We will get you when we are done," said Jezz.

"Bye," Jay responded offhandedly. His attention was now immersed in the hundreds of wigs the store had to offer.

Amber saluted them. "Have fun, ya dorks."

Amb wandered over to the Halloween section on the other side of the store while Jezz and Jay continued their search. Jezz held up a pink wig with curly hair and purple bows.

"Will Amber wear this?" he asked Jay.

Jay laughed. "No way! She would never wear that. And the style is way out!"

Jezz put it back. "Sorry, I didn't know. I don't understand or like fashion."

"Then why are you helping?"

"I want to be productive."

"I can do this alone. Go hang with Amb."

Jay winked. Jezz didn't understand the wink, but he did as Jay asked and walked over to Amber.

"Did you find something already?" she asked Jezz. "It's only been like five minutes."

"Actually, Jay offered to do it all. Are you bored? You seem bored," Jezz responded nervously.

"A bit." She put a skeleton mask back on the shelf. "Boo! How do I look?"

"Like a skeleton."

"Figures. Why are you so anxious?"

"I am not sure."

Amber was sympathetic; now that she knew more about him, she couldn't possibly be as judgmental now as she had been in the past.

"Can you believe how crazy things have been lately?" Amber said, nudging his side. "We go back in time, visit the capitol, sleep at a strange little boarding house on the outskirts of the city, and for me and Jay, we got to see the true you." She poked him in the chest for emphasis. "These were the coolest, creepiest, and funnest few days of my entire life. You are an adventure."

"You really think that?" Jezz responded. "I thought you and Jay were ready to kill me."

Amber put her hand on his shoulder. "Nah, you are too sweet for that."

"Thank you…"

"I can't believe how much reading and writing you do. When we go back to the present, what are you going to do with all those notes?"

"Probably condense it into a book when I get older…I actually have not thought about it much."

"That sounds like a good idea." She paused for a moment. "You've spent a whole lotta time apologizing to us, but ya know, Jay and I ought to apologize to you. You are this really cool person and you are trying to do all these good things for the world and help people and Jay and I spent so much time being upset about you running away that we didn't really process all that junk."

"I accept your apology, though I think it is unnecessary. You and Jay were right; I did mess up, badly."

"You messed up a little bit, sure, but now everything is cool. Things are gonna be good. We will get home eventually."

After Jay found new clothes, hats, and wigs that they could wear, the three of them exited the store and then got changed at a local rest area.

"I like your gold wig. I think it is the best out of our three new looks," Jay said to Amber as they walked away from the store.

"It's okay. Yours is cool. I like seeing you with black hair," she replied.

"I believe so as well," Jezz said to Jay. "Amber, gold looks lovely on you."

"Thanks. I think that the best out of our three looks is Jezz's. I think it's obvious," Amber responded. "Jay, doesn't Jezz look so hot with brown hair?"

Jay immediately blushed. "He looks great, Amb."

"Thank you," Jezz replied. "Why is your face red?"

"Nothing. Let's talk about something else," Jay anxiously breathed.

"I wonder if a wig is going to be enough to disguise me from my own mother," said Amber. "There's a good chance we will run into her again, or someone else that I know, while we are here."

"You should have bought the colored contacts."

"I already told you that I used up all my cash. You are the rich one. Why didn't you bring your credit card with you? It's not fair that Jezz has to pay for everything!"

"I didn't really have that much time to prepare."

Jezz looked ashamed. "Please don't fight. Maybe we can find a way to make money."

"Maybe," Jay repeated. "And besides I wouldn't be able to use my credit card here. It is registered to the year, dummy."

"Well I wouldn't know because I never even held one before," she responded angrily.

"That's not my fault. You should have brought my cash, and more food. You are the one who actually had time to pack."

"Yeah, like thirty seconds."

"I have a solution to Amber's lack of decent disguise," Jezz interrupted. Amber and Jay watched him quizzically. "I... Jay, don't you have your makeup with you?"

"I hate where this is going."

"Yes, but I haven't used it yet because someone didn't pack makeup remover," Jay shot a glance at Amber. "Everyone knows if you leave it on for too long without washing your face you'll break out."

"Not everyone knows that."

"Smart people do."

"Please listen to me. I know we are all tired and hungry and thirsty and bored and worried…but we can still work together and make things work out for ourselves," said Jezz.

Jay smiled. "Yeah, I know. Sorry Jezz, Amb. So, you want to put makeup on Amb?"

"I don't know how, but you do."

"No, no, no!" Amber growled. "Jay is not going anywhere near my face with that fu-fu garbage."

"It's not garbage," Jay responded defensively.

"Pikachu Pika," Pip argued in her favor.

"It won't work anyway. This is my mom we are talking about. She can see through anything," said Amber.

"At this point in your life you are only six or seven," said Jezz. "You look a bit different now anyway."

"Jezz is right. Now you have fewer freckles and your hair is darker and shorter and your eyes are less black and browner…" Jay listed.

"And you look womanlier," Jezz added.

"What is that supposed to mean!?" she barked at Jezz.

"You…your picture, from when you were nine. You showed to me," he explained. "You were less filled-out than you are now."

Amber still looked upset. She crossed her arms while Pip patted her on the head.

"Jezz, just so you know, Amber really hates being called feminine things, especially when she is cranky," Jay attempted to explain in a whisper. "Don't call her 'womanly' or 'filled-out' or anything like that. It's for your own good."

"I am sorry Amber. I was only seeking to help. I thought those were compliments," Jezz sincerely replied.

"They are compliments," she sighed. "It sometimes it gets on my nerves when people talk about me like that. I know I'm a girl but geeze."

"Um yeah so let's move on. Please let me do your makeup," Jay begged. "Please, please, please?"

Amber sighed. "Since it is for the greater good…but you owe me big time."

"Yes!"

Jay put his bag down and started to dig around.

"Not right here in the middle of the road! Let's at least go to a bathroom somewhere," Amber scolded.

"There is probably one in there," Jezz said as he pointed to a pizzeria.

"Good, let's go Amb," Jay replied, taking Amber's hand.

Amber groaned as they entered the restaurant. Jezz bought them all milkshakes and then Amber dragged them into the girls' room. As soon as they got inside, Jay placed his bag on the counter near the sinks and excitedly shuffled through his bag. He had black, purple, and blue eyeliner, foundation, various skin tone shades of eye shadow, black and purple mascara, and blush. Amber eyed him nervously as he watched her face intensely and tried to come up with a strategy. Jay discretely dragged a chair from one of the tables and placed it as close to the mirror as he possibly could.

"Sit," he instructed.

Amber moaned then plopped down into the chair. Jezz stood at the other end of the bathroom with the Pokémon, quietly watching from a distance.

"I really wish that Mimikyu could save me right now. Then we'd be able to get teleported out of here," Amber huffed.

Amber growled as her friend held her chin in place in one hand and used a brush to gently dust her face with foundation using the other.

"It is a bit light for you, but I don't think it matters. Some people believe that paler skin is more attractive anyways," Jay commented.

"I am not enjoying this," Amber hissed.

Jay took a step back to observe her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but that didn't matter until now. He picked up the eyeliner.

"It helps if you open your eyes for this," Jay told her.

She peeked one eye open, then the other. She stared menacingly at the pencil in his hand.

"You want me to keep my eyes open while you put that thing in my eye!?" she shrieked.

"No, I am not going to put it in your eye, I am going to put it under your eye," he specified.

"I believe that Jay will be careful Amber," said Jezz.

"Relax and look up please."

"Fine."

After the eyeliner was done, Jay took out the eye shadow.

"Do you want purple to match the eyeliner or something lighter?" he asked.

"Whatever is less painful and takes less time to put on," she answered.

"I will use a beige that is slighter darker than your skin tone."

"Whatever."

"I think you are doing an excellent job," Jezz told Jay. "Amber, it is nice of you to let Jay do this for you."

"To me is more like it," she remarked.

Jay ignored Amber's comments.

"I'm glad someone appreciates it," said Jay.

"How would you appreciate it if I took my bow and arrows and shot holes in your Togepi comforter?" Amber asked irritably.

"Don't even joke like that."

"Lily and Maya told me that they like the way you do makeup," Jezz told Jay. "And didn't you say that you do Annastasia's makeup too?"

"Yes, I do all of their makeup quite often. Lily is great at makeup too, but A always picks me to do hers," Jay proudly announced.

Jezz grinned. "I am happy that you and your sister get along so well. That isn't true for most siblings."

"My family is filled with dorks, so it is easier for us to all get along. And we do fight sometimes, just not all the time."

Jay moved onto the blush, and then finally the mascara. Amber squirmed for that last one too, as she hated things being put in or near her eyes. Then she looked in the mirror, and her anger faded. Temporarily, of course.

"You look like a princess—oh wait, sorry, I mean, you look very magnificent. Not that you didn't look magnificent before…," Jezz self-consciously stumbled.

"Thanks", Amber responded absently. She was still looking at herself in the mirror.

'I never noticed how high my cheekbones were, or how deep my eyes looked,' she thought. 'I hope Jay doesn't get all smug about this. But if he does, I'll double my plot for revenge.'

But Jay wasn't smug. He knew Amber wouldn't put up with that. He extended his hand to help her up, returned the chair, and then they all picked up their bags.

"What are you going to do, Jay?" Amber questioned. "I think that anyone who might recognize me is going to recognize you."

"I don't know if that is true. I always had this very distinct hairstyle, and this plain wig and brown colored contacts makes me look a lot different, since I usually have purple spiky hair and blue eyes. And Togekiss can walk with you while I carry Pip on my shoulder. And we are much taller now than we were when we were little. I don't think we will have any problems."

Amber and Jay's stomachs growled loudly.

"I need to eat," Amber asserted. "This milkshake isn't doing it for me."

"Same," said Jay as he tossed his empty cup into the trash. "But we shouldn't buy more things."

"I know this place where we can get free fruit," said Amber. "It isn't far from my mom's gym."

"What place are you talking about?"

"The Meyer's orchard."

"You aren't suggested that we rob them, are you?" Jezz nervously inquired.

"They are family friends. They won't mind. They give my family free fruit all the time."

"We might get caught since they will not recognize you. Then they will throw us in juvenile detention."

"I really don't want to go to juvey," Jay gulped.

"We won't get caught because only dumb people get caught," Amber retorted. "The orchard is ginormous. We will go through the back, and I will use my bow and arrows to knock down some goodies."

Jezz turned to Jay. "I am running low on money, and if Amber says that they are family friends, I think it is okay to do. We can pay them back when we return to the present."

"You win," Jay surrendered. "Amb, we better not get caught."

"We won't 'cuz I am not a dummy," she replied. "Just stay close to me."

They reached the back entrance of the Meyer's orchard about half of an hour later. The moment they got there, Mimikyu decided to pop out of its ball.

"Miiiiiii," it hissed.

The typically creepy noise sounded oddly joyful. The trio was happy to see it finally come out.

"Hey, dude!" Amber said happily. "Are you here to make us happy or miserable?"

"Mimikyuuuu?" it questioned. They could tell it seemed a bit confused.

"Amb, be sensitive. Mimikyu doesn't try to curse people, it just happens," said Jay. He switched to his baby voice and patted Mimikyu on the top of its head. "Isn't that right, little guy?"

Mimikyu mournfully bopped its head up and down. All three of them and their Pokémon smiled.

"Do I get another wish then?" Amber asked hopefully.

"Mi," it glumly replied. The trio took that as a 'no'.

Amber took out her bow and an arrow. "Oh well. Okay, you guys: sit back and watch me work."

Jay and Jezz sat down on a tree stub while Amber shot an arrow directly at a bunch of apples. The arrow sliced through them effortlessly, and the Pokémon ran to gather some of the pieces. Amber looked down at the harvest proudly.

"What would you boys do without me?" she teased.

"Starve," they answered in unison.

"Mimikyuuu", the Pokémon chanted as it gathered some persimmons and pears from a nearby stand of trees. It carried the food over to the children.

"Thank you. We very much appreciate this," Jezz told the Pokémon it handed him a red pear.

"There is a great variety here. I feel bad for stealing," Jay sighed as he picked up a persimmon. "Really bad, like am going to go to hell."

"There is no such thing," Amber responded. She took a bite of food. "It's a myth, right Jezz? You are the smart one."

"I don't know," he answered.

"Besides, Jay, your parents spent almost a decade stealing food to survive. When you're hungry, you gotta eat, and that's that."

"I know," he mumbled.

"We can pay for this food later when we to the present. I know the people who run this orchard, and if they knew that me and my friends were out here starving then they would have gladly given me all this food for free."

The kids ate the rest of their fruit in silence. When they were finished, they continued walking through the city.

"I really wish we had cash right now," Jay lamented. "There's a sale at Urban Outfitters."

"Get over it," Amber scolded. "We got bigger issues, like what we are going to do now."

"The Cerulean Gym is only a block away. Don't you think it would be cool to go battle your mom when she doesn't know it is you? It is a once in a lifetime chance."

"I think that's dumb."

"Why is it 'dumb'?" asked Jezz.

"Because it just is. She is going to know it's me."

"But we went through all the trouble of getting these disguises. We might as well try it," said Jay. "This is a once in a lifetime—"

"I know, I get it. I suppose it would be interesting…"

"Cool, let's go!"

Jay happily as he dragged her towards the gym.

"What if your mother is busy?" Jezz inquired.

"We might as well try," Jay responded.

He knocked on the door vigorously until they heard noises on the other side. Amber adjusted her wig.

"Just a moment!" Misty called from the other side of the door. When she opened the door, she was out of breath but smiling. "Hello. Are you three here for your Cascade Badge?"

"Yes. Actually…" Amber answered slowly.

"She is," Jay spoke up. "Not me and him."

"Alright then. Come on in and let's get ready to battle," Misty responded. She led them towards the arena. "Normally I ask that trainers give me a day's notice before they come for their badges, but today has been a slow day; only one trainer stopped by. What are your names?"

"My name is… Lexi," Amber replied, choosing the first female named that popped into her head.

"Okay Lexi, it is nice to meet you," said Misty as she shook Amber's hand. "There is no need to be nervous. If you have confidence, then so will your Pokémon."

"Yeah…"

Misty looked to Jay and Jezz.

"I am Jamie. Nice to meet you," Jezz said effortlessly, bowing and smiling.

Jay paled. "I-I'm…uh…Jo…Uh, yeah: Jo."

"It's nice to meet you, Lexi, Jamie, and Jo. You from here?"

"Uh…uh…sorta…"

"Nah, we're from far away," said Amber. "Super far away…Shiroi City in Unova."

"Oh. I never heard of it," Misty replied.

"That's what most people say."

"I'm glad you're here. Follow me and we'll get started."

The enclosed battle arena hadn't changed at all since Amber was seven. The only exception was the permanent marker drawings of Pokémon still present on both the trainer platforms. Jay raised his eyebrows and glanced at Amber. Those weren't there when he last visited the Cerulean Gym, though he had seen them before.

"You'll have to excuse those drawings," Misty told the kids. "A few months ago, my six-year-old drew all over those platforms in permanent marker while her father was supposed to be watching her. I keep meaning to paint over it…but part of me wants the drawings to stay. It gives the gym a homey feel."

Amber smiled. She had a feeling her mom didn't hate the marker drawings as much as she claimed she did.

"I like the drawings," Jay announced. "But if you really don't want marker there…you could always take picture of the platforms and hang it up somewhere in your house, this way you could still look at them."

"That is a great idea. I think I will do that," Misty replied.

After Misty turned around to head to her platform, Amber poked Jay.

"So, that was your idea," she smirked.

She always thought it was strange that her mother kept photos of those drawings. She had them hanging in the living room. Amber would have never imagined that Jay was the one behind it.

"I guess so," Jay responded.

"I hope you don't mind, but I am going to have my husband officiate," Misty announced. "He is supposed to be here now anyway, and the young girl who has been helping me out around here is busy cleaning the outdoor pool."

"That is fine," said Amber.

"Her mother and her father are going to be watching. I hope Amber doesn't get nervous and blow her cover," Jay whispered to Jezz as Amber climbed the platform with Pip.

"Sorry I'm late!" Ash exclaimed as he burst through the Cerulean Gym's main entrance. "I am here now. What did you want me to do? I forget."

"Pikaaachuu?" his Pikachu inquired.

"I wanted you to help me and Viviana clean the outdoor pool, but then these young trainers showed up, and Lexi here wants a gym battle. I need someone to officiate it," Misty explained.

"No problem!" Ash responded enthusiastically.

Ash walked over to where the judges normally stood. He exchanged greetings with the trio and then read the familiar Cerulean City Gym rules aloud. Meanwhile, his Pikachu was sniffing the air and staring at Pip and Amber.

"Okay, are you all set?" Misty asked the preteen.

"Sure am," she replied.

"I choose Starmie!"

"I choose my Pikachu!"

Pip stepped forward. Ash's Pikachu's face lit up with recognition. He started tugging on Ash's jeans and chanting in excitement. Then he started to cheer for Pip and Amber while the two of them battled.

"Pikachu, why are you cheering for the opponent?" Ash asked.

"Pikapi Pikachu," Pikachu tried to explain.

"All right Starmie, Kinesis," Misty instructed.

'What's Kinesis?' Amber wondered. "Okay Pikachu, keep it up with those lightning bolts!"

"Chuu," Pip responded.

"Pip's—I mean Pikachu's—attacks are becoming weaker and weaker," Jezz noted. "Starmie can handle the lightning bolts well."

"I wonder is Amber knows that Kinesis slowly drains the opponent's power," Jay responded. "She should switch out her Pokémon and used one of her flying-types instead."

"Keep at it up Pip—I mean Pikachu! I know you are tired but you can't let her win!" Amber kept encouraging. "You can get her, just keep dodging and using Thunderbolt."

Pip fainted from the attack a few seconds later. Amber, Jay, and Jezz were surprised since Pip had handled much stronger opponents in the past. Starmie must have been stronger than it looked. Amber was certain she would have won all three rounds only using Pip, and so she didn't plan on using anyone else. As Amber was deciding her next move, Ash's emotional Pikachu ran to Pip.

"Pikaaa!" he cried over and over as he looked back and forth between Ash, Amber, and Misty.

"What's the matter, Pikachu? That other Pikachu is going to be fine," said Ash.

Amber held Pip in her arms.

"Do you have Potions?" Misty asked her.

"I have a few, though I am running low…" Amber started.

She knew her mom always had a huge stock of them. Most gym leaders did, even though it was the trainer's responsibility to always have them on hand.

"No worries. Let's pause this battle and I will get you some," Misty suggested.

"Thanks," Amber responded.

"Funny, you sound a lot like my daughter," Misty commented as she and Ash searched through their stockroom.

"It's good that puberty made Amber's voice more adult," Jezz whispered to Jay.

"Mmhmm," Jay hummed in concurrence.

Pip sprung back to his normally energetic self a moment after the Potion slipped down his throat. He hugged Misty in gratitude.

"You're welcome," Misty told him. "Lexi, let's continue."

Amber chose Pidgeot as her next battle partner. Though she knew Pidgeot was not the best Pokémon to use for water battles, she was limited on who she had with her. She figured since Pidgeot had the most experience he would do the best. She was right, because Pidgeot's Fly knocked out Starmie and inflicted some noticeable damage on her next Pokémon, a Dugong. After that Amber used Fearrow, her second most experienced partner, and Fearrow managed to finish off Dugong and her mother's Seaking.

"That was a wonderful battle. You have a lot of skill and experience," Misty told her daughter. "I can see you possibly winning the league this year."

"Thanks," Amber responded.

"It's cool you have a Pikachu," said Ash as Pip and his Pikachu had a conversation. "My Pikachu was my first Pokémon ever. We've been together for ages."

Ash's Pikachu jumped into Amber's arms unexpectantly and rubbed up against her face in affection.

"He likes you. I could tell from the moment we walked in here," Ash told her.

Amber pet him on the head. "What can I say? I have a lot of experience with electric-types."

"Piii," Pip and Pikachu agreed.

"Well done. Here is your Cascade Badge," Misty congratulated her as she handed it over to Amber. "Have your friends changed their minds about wanting to battle?"

Amber looked over at Jezz and Jay. Misty's Pokémon were crowding around Jay. The kids figured the Pokémon must recognize him by his scent since he often spent time at the Cerulean Gym playing with Amber after school.

"No, they are all set," she responded.

"Thank you for having us," Jezz said to Misty.

"Anytime," Misty replied.

After the trio was a good distance away from the Cerulean Gym, they turned to Xatu and Mimikyu.

"Xatu, are you done messing with us?" Jay asked the Pokémon.

"Xatu Xatu Xatu," it answered as it shook its head.

"What about you Mimikyu? Can you grant me another wish now?" Amber questioned.

"Mimiiiikyu," Mimikyu sulked.

While they had sympathy for Mimikyu, Amber was done tolerating Xatu. She walked up to the bird and showed him her first.

"That's it. If you don't return us to Kiwi Mountain City right now, I'm gonna punch the living daylights out of you," Amber threatened.

Xatu seemed unfazed. Amber was about to scream at it some more, but then a shadow overcame the group.

XO

"Alright, the Allamanda City contest is only a few hours away!" Lily announced.

The shiny Meowth was standing on top of a makeshift stage in front of a small audience of children and teens. Gracie, Anika's little sister, raised her hand.

"Yes?" Lily questioned.

"If you never did any contest before, what makes you qualified to give everyone advice and instructions?" the little child inquired.

A few members of the audience giggled.

"I am intelligent, talented, observant, critical, and I have watched a billion of these contests before," Lily listed. "I know what I am doing."

"Whatever," Gracie responded as she rolled her eyes. Benny and Jocelyn laughed with her.

"You are cool. We shoulda become friends earlier," Jocelyn told Gracie.

"I like your group. It is more fun than Ani's group," the nine-year-old replied.

"Not true," Anika teased.

"Yes, it is!"

"Anyway, as I was saying…" Lily spoke loudly. "This next contest is one of the biggest ones in Alola. That means that every Hyperbeam, Megaball, backflip, front-flip, foxtrot, and Thunderbolt has to be perfect, or else none of you are going to make it."

"Why is this contest more intense than the other ones? Aren't they all the same?" Mariana asked.

"Nope. This contest is worth double the points of a regular contest. In other words, winning this one contest is the equivalent of winning two regular ones. That's why we are going to break into teams, and you all are going to practice! I want you to make Master Lily proud!"

"But we are competing against each other. Shouldn't we be trying to beat the other person instead of helping them?" Cassandra questioned.

"You don't get it. All of you have weaknesses and strengths. If you learn your opponents' strengths and weaknesses, then it will help you too. And besides, it is better that someone in our circle wins than say, some nasty Alola person."

"Why don't you like Alolans?" Lucas questioned.

"They are mean and discriminate against Pokémon. They treat us like animals. I have visited five salons already because I wanted to get my fur re-done, and not one of them will take me in! They said they don't treat 'my type', and that if my trainer wanted me to have dyed fur, then I should ask them to come in with me and be willing to pay triple the price."

"You don't have a trainer though," said Benny.

"And you shouldn't have to pay more," Soledad added.

"That why I am so angry. Some Pokémon like having trainers, but not everyone needs one, wants one, or has one," Lily vented. "And most of the people who do these contests are natives! Tourists like us usually go for the trials. We are one of the expectations, so if we win, it is most likely going to be because we beat out the Alolans."

"I get it now. It is nice of you to help. Let us know what you want us to do, Senpai," Lexi responded with a grin.

"Red team will be Cassandra, Takeshi, Benny, Lexi, and Mariana. Blue team will be June, Nolan, Lucas, and Gracie. Yellow team will be Tobie, Carol, Tomoko, Flare, and Maya. And finally, the green team will be me, Anika, Jocelyn, and Tamaki."

"Wait, I want to be with Jocelyn or Gracie!" Benny complained.

"And why can't I be on the same team as June?" Takeshi questioned.

"No offense to her, but no one on the yellow team knows Maya very well. I think it would be easier if she was paired up with June or Jocelyn's team," said Carol.

"I picked these teams out for a reason," Lily told them. "It is a good way for you to get to know one another, and there are less biases this way."

"She makes a good point," Tobie agreed.

"Yeah, and we have our seven contestants all spread out: Cassandra and Benny are red, June and Gracie are blue, Maya is yellow, and Jocelyn and Anika are green," Nolan noticed. "This was a smart idea, Lily."

"Of course it was, it was mine after all," Lily smiled. "Now move!"

"Lily, can you help Jackson improve his quick attack?" Benny requested.

"You are supposed to be working with the other Pokémon on your team."

"I know, but Jackson really likes you."

"Eeeveee," the Pokémon affirmed.

"Alright then. Jackson, Benny: come with me," Lily instructed.

Lily brought the pair to a spot on the beach where no one else was practicing.

"Jackson, have you considered evolving yet?" Lily asked the younger Pokémon. "You Eevee get a ton of different options. You can become a Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Sylveon, Leafeon, Bugseon—"

"What is a 'Bugseon'?" Benny inquired. "I never heard of that one."

"Bugseon is a bug type Eevee. Eevee can evolve into a Bugseon if it learns a bug-type move."

"Bug-type moves? Like what?"

"Sticky Web, String Shot, Quiver Dance…," she listed. "If you can teach your Eevee one of those moves, then he will evolve into Bugseon."

"Bugseon." Benny said it in awe. "What do you think, Jackson? Do you want to become a Bugseon?"

"Veeee!" Jackson exclaimed.

"He likes that idea," said Lily. "Bug-type moves can be tricky to learn if you're an Eevee, though, so don't expect it to be easy."

"Do you know how I can get Jackson to learn some?" Benny asked.

"First Jackson has to reach level 20. What level is he at now?"

Benny scanned Jackson with his Pokedex. "Level seventeen."

"You don't have further to go. We should practice Quick Attack. Mastering a new move or improving an old one is an efficient way to level up."

"Cool! I can't wait. Jackson, this is going to be so much fun!"

"Eeeveee!" the Eevee sang, dancing around his trainers.

Lily spent the next twenty minutes helping Jackson improve his quick attack, which mostly involved him chasing her around. When she decided that she had a good enough workout, she asked his team member Cassandra to help him out with her Jolteon and Furret, both of whom had already mastered the move. She moved onto the yellow team, mainly because she wanted to see how Maya was doing.

"Maya is a great dancer," Tomoko told Lily as she approached the group. "She is going to do a fire dance for the contest."

"Sounds adventurous," Lily replied. "And badass."

"I thought so too.," said Maya. "Can I practice it for you?"

"That is why I came over."

Maya grinned and then got into her starting position. She was working with several of Flare's fire-type Pokémon, who offered to help her out. Also joining her was Jay's Chimchar, who had been left behind when Jay disappeared. She, Chimchar, Pansear, and Charmelion then performed a fire ballet. It dazzled the other teams, forcing them to step up their game.

"That was incredible!" Lily squealed. "You are the most purrfect Pokémon!"

Maya blushed. "Thank you. You are always so sweet."

Lily rubbed her head against Maya's. "Not as sweet as you are."

"If you need a moment, we can go away for a bit," Flare jokingly offered.

"I have to return to my team anyway. Those losers will be lost without me. Maya, your dance looks excellent. I think you should go help some of the younger contestants. June looks really lost."

"I will," Maya agreed. "Thanks."

Lily returned to her group consisting of Jocelyn, Anika, and Tamaki.

"You know, I shoulda signed up for this contest," said Tamaki. "It seems you dudes are having a lot of fun with it. I just don't like battling, but that doesn't seem to be the most important part."

"It isn't the most important part, but it is still important," Anika stressed.

"I don't totally suck at battling. Some say I am pretty good, so long as I am working with my own Pokémon."

"We have a long way to go if we are going to do well in any part though," said Lily.

"Other than the part about them being prejudice, why is it so important for everyone to do well?" Anika questioned.

"I want them to feel good about something. I think a victory will help move that along."

"That is sweet. You aren't as tough as you look."

"Then you have a lot to learn." Lily grinned. "Now get back to work!"

XO

In The Next Chapter:

- The trio is rescued

- Ralph returns

- No one knows who to thank