"Wow, a lot of these booths are starting to pack up already." Brendan commented, as he and Ash were walking through the city.
"Well, after the incidents with Team Magma, a lot of people have already left." Ash commented.
Despite the best efforts of everyone in the know of what really happened, word had spread of the multiple attacks by Team Magma, and while there was no evidence of them still being in the city, it was cause for people to leave the festival early.
"So what about us, did you find a way back to Mauville?" Brendan asked, as they found a place to relax for a moment.
"So, take a look at this." Ash said, pulling out his Pokenav. "It's a bit of an odd path, but there's an underground railway we can use it to make a trip to an old station outside of Slateport."
"An old station, is it still in working condition?" Brendan asked.
"According to this, yes." Ash said. "The closest station is at the south end of the city, so we can head there tomorrow."
"Well then with that settled, I say we try and enjoy the rest of the festival." Brendan said.
"Wait, are you two stating the rest of the festival?" A boy with brown hair around their age said, walking up.
"Yeah, are you leaving?" Ash asked.
"Actually, I just made it here, I'm sad to see everyone already leaving." The boy said. "I had such big plans for tonight."
"Hey, no worries." Brendan said. "You don't mind, do you Ashton?"
"Sure, the more the merrier." Ash said with a shrug.
"Thanks, I'm Mikey by the way." The boy said.
"Well, you already heard my name, I'm Ashton, and this is Brendan." Ash said.
"Whoa, is that a Jirachi?" Mikey asked, seeing the Pokemon wake up in Ash's arms. "I've only heard of them before now."
"Yeah…" Ash said, holding Jirachi close.
"Oh, don't worry, I don't have any interest in something like that." Mikey said with a smile. "If it can't fly, it's off the table."
"Pretty sure Jirachi can fly." Brendan whispered.
"More of levitate, but are we really going to argue this." Ash said.
"I know, I just feel like I know him from somewhere." Brendan said.
"What are you two whispering about?" Mikey said, stuffing himself between the two.
"Girls." Ash said randomly.
"Sports." Brendan said at the same time.
"Ah! Women's sports." Mikey said, convinced. "So where were you two off to?"
"Well, we were going to see what was still left up to do." Brendan said.
"I did see some rides were still up on my way in." MIkey said.
"There are rides here?" Ash asked in surprise.
"Yeah, come on, I'll show you." Mikey said.
At the teacups
Onlookers were worried, not from the destruction of the outer city, or the impending threat of Team Magma, no, they were worried for the three boys who just had a Pikachu launch out of their teacup at high speed.
"Okay, okay, let me find Pikachu and then we can find another ride." Ash said, holding onto the railing.
"Yeah, you go on ahead. I need a minute." Brendan said, looking a bit green.
As Ash ran off in the direction people had said Pikachu went, Mikey went up to Brendan.
"You know, I thought that you were against me." Mikey said.
"Why would you think that? I haven't done anything to you." Brendan said.
"Of course you did, back in Rustburo." Mikey said.
"Rustburo?" Brendan said, trying not to gag.
"Well, it was actually the beach north of Rustburo." Mikey said.
"Wait! You're the Team Sky person!" Brendan said, jumping back.
"Hey, I'm not just any Team Sky person. I'm the founder, leader, and sole member." Mikey said angrily.
"Wait, if you thought I was against you, why'd you ask to hang out with us?" Brendan asked.
"Recruitment." Mikey said. "You still have that Taillow right?"
"I'm not joining a villainous team with you!" Brendan argued.
"Again, I'm already on the team, you won't be joining it with me, you'll be joining me." Mikey said. "Sign up now, and I'll even make you an admin, though we might need to change your color scheme."
"No! I'm going to find Ash, he'll want to know about this." Brendan said, running off.
"Tell him about the openings!" Mikey shouted after him.
With Ash
"Okay Pikachu, just hold on." Ash said, looking at the hole Pikachu fell in.
"Ash, we have a problem." Brendan said.
"Yeah, I know, that hole is pretty deep." Ash commented.
"No, not that, it's about Mikey." Brendan said.
"Look, if he lost his lunch its fine, we can take a break for a bit, you didn't look so hot either." Ash said, sticking his arm down the hole.
"It's not that. Mikey is a member of Team Sky." Brendan said.
"Team Aqua, Team Magma, Team Sky, how many teams do you people have?" Ash questioned.
"Look, he's bad! He wants to expand the sky!" Brendan pointed out.
"Again, I don't think that's possible, and even if it is, I don't think its necessarily evil." Ash said. "Besides, how would he even accomplish that?"
"With the untapped wishing power of a legendary Pokemon." Brendan said in realization.
"Wait, what Pokemon can grant wishes?" Mikey asked, popping back up.
"Would you stop doing that!" Brendan shouted.
"But you forgot to sign up." Mikey said.
"For the last time, we don't want to sign up!" Brendan argued.
"OKay, okay. You drive a hard bargain, fine I'll throw in the uniforms free of charge." Mikey said.
"I just wish he would stop with his insane plans." Brendan sighed.
At the sound of the word wish, Jirachi poked his head up.
"Of course, I'm so silly. Jirachi can grant my wish!" Mikey said. "Jirachi, I wish to expand the sky!"
Jirachi's third tassel began to glow, rising into the air, as a burst of energy shot out in every direction.
"What did you do!" Brendan exclaimed, as a burst of wind flew out in every direction.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Mikey exclaimed excitedly, when suddenly the winds died down. "Wait, what happened?"
"Did you expand the sky Jirachi?" Ash asked, the legendary Pokemon.
'Wish granted.' Jirachi chimed.
"This is awful! I wanted more sky, I guess I'll need something even more powerful!" Mikey exclaimed.
"He's weird." Ash said, finally fishing Pikachu out of the hole.
Later that night
"Here they come." Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said happily, reaching out at the meteors.
'Home'. Jirachi said, reaching out.
"That's right Jirachi, you came from a meteor." Ash said.
'Go home.' Jirachi said, longingly.
"Go home?" Ash asked.
'Jirachi, go home.' Jirachi said, floating upwards.
"Jirachi!" Ash exclaimed.
'Goodbye Ash, thank you.' Jirachi said, as he lifted the stuffed Pikachu and himself at incredible speeds towards the meteors.
"Jirachi." Ash said with a smile.
"He never belonged to us." Brendan said.
"No, but I don't think this is the last we'll see of him." Ash said with a smile and wave as Jirachi flew off to its next adventure.
