"That's an interesting choice." Brendan commented, seeing Ash walk into the hotel lobby with a large charm around his neck.
"Hey, it's part of the festival, fold in each piece for each night to get your wish granted." Ash said.
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Brendan scoffed.
"Hey, weren't you the one all gung ho about coming here?" Ash asked.
"I'm the son of a researcher, experiencing cultures is part of research, however magic, and wishes aren't." Brendan said. "I believe in science, plain and simple."
"Well, we can still enjoy the festival." Ash said with a smirk. "The contest isn't until tomorrow, so for now let's enjoy the festival, and maybe see Butler and Diane's show."
"Again magic." Brendan pointed out.
"Seriously?" Ash said in surprise.
"I'm allowed to be excited by things, but I don't have to believe in those things." Brendan said.
"And I don't fully believe that this will grant my wish, but it would be fun if it did." Ash said.
"And if it did, what would your wish be?" Brendan asked.
"If it did work, I know exactly what my wish would be." Ash said, with a far off look in his eyes.
"Ashton, earth to Ashton. Anyone in there?" Brendan said, waving his hand in front of Ash's face.
"Huh?" Ash asked, snapping back to reality. "What were you saying?"
"What was I saying, Ash you were talking about a wish, and then just kind of zoned out." Brendan said. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Ash said. "Let's see what there is to do here."
Later on that night, Ash and Brendan decided to watch Butler's magic show, the man had been kind enough to invite them after all.
"For my next trick, I will need a volunteer!" Butler said.
"Right here!" Ash said, raising Brendan's arm.
"What are you doing?!" Brendan asked angrily.
"You want to prove magic is fake, then do it." Ash said with a smirk.
Brendan trudged up onto the stage, standing next to Butler.
"Now tell me young man, what is your name?" Butler asked.
"You know my name." Brendan said, with a hint of annoyance.
"Just go along with it for the crowd." Butler whispered, before standing back up quickly. "Well then Brendan, if you would be so kind as to step into the box of mystery!" Butler said, as Diane rolled out a box large enough for two people.
"Okay, this will be good." Brendan said with a chuckle.
"Now on the count of three, I will make him disappear!" Butler said, as he locked the door on Brendan.
"One!" Diane said.
"Two!" Ash cheered along.
"And Three!" Butler said, waving his wand as the box fell apart revealing a very confused Ash on stage.
"What in the?" Brendan said in confusion, back in the crowd.
"Now, can I get a round of applause for my wonderful volunteers!" Butler said, as Diane helped Ash to the back of the stage to sit down for a minute.
After the show
"I'm telling you, something had to have done it." Brendan said.
"Brendan, I was in the crowd when he said three, nothing is that fast." Ash commented.
"A Teleport from an Alakazam is." Brendan said.
"We would have noticed an Alakazam." Ash pointed out.
"No, no there has to be a logical explanation for how this happened." Brendan said thinking.
"Just admit it, magic is real." Ash said, throwing his water bottle into a trash can a few feet away.
"No, okay. It can't be real, it defies all logic." Brendan argued, still thinking. "No, I'm going to take a look at that box, and try and figure out how he did it."
"Okay, you do that. I have a contest early tomorrow morning, so I'm packing it in for the night." Ash said, standing up and turning one flap on his pendant inwards.
Brendan walked back to the stage to find Butler still there, cleaning up a few things.
"Hello Brendan." Butler said, having not turned around.
"How did you? Never mind, I want to know how you got me and Ashton to switch places during your show. You had to have a Pokemon use Teleport right?" Brendan questioned.
"No, that's one of the few tricks I don't use Pokemon to help with." Butler said. It was true that he had used some Pokemon for various tricks, but they were all a part of said trick, not a hidden piece.
"Okay, but then how else would you be able to swap us without either of us knowing?" Brendan asked. "I mean you swapped me with Ashton, that's more than a coincidence. You couldn't have known where we'd be standing ahead of time."
"I did it the same way I knew you were there, with magic." Butler said.
"But magic isn't real." Brendan said. "It defies all logic."
"At a time things such as fire, or even flight were considered magic, and now we understand and utilize both of them." Butler said, turning around. "Is it possible your anger is not that I can perform magic, but rather that you don't understand it?"
"I'm not angry, I'm just trying to figure out how it works." Brendan commented.
"Here, since you helped me with my show, and with bringing my equipment, I'll show you one of my earliest magic tricks." Butler said. "This is one you can't buy in a store."
"Okay, you have my attention." Brendan said, walking forward.
"For this trick I will need a small piece of fabric." Butler said.
"Will some thread work?" Brendan asked.
"It will." Butler said.
"Here." Brendan said, holding out a spool that he grabbed from his bag. "Use this so I know it's not a trick."
"Okay, not keep your eyes on the thread." Butler said, having cut off a small piece. "And presto!"
Before Brendan's eyes, the thread caught fire, creating a small ball of flame in Butler's palm.
"There has to be something up your sleeve, or in your glove." Brendan argued.
"The answer you are looking for is simple, its magic." Butler said. "Accept that, or you will never find the answer you are looking for." Butler continued, handing the spool back to Brendan. "Now I must ask you to go, I wish to get some sleep as well." Butler said.
"Right, sorry to disturb you." Brendan said.
"Not a problem at all. I hope that you will begin to believe in what we are doing here soon enough." Butler said.
"Yeah, I think I need to see more of your shows to find it out." Brendan said.
"Be my guest." Butler said, before entering his trailer as Brendan left.
"How are we looking?" Butler asked.
"Good, the meteor is right on schedule, and soon it will be close enough for us to harness its power." Diane said.
