I'm stopped by a person standing behind me as I finish speaking with nurse Joy at the front desk.

"Hello! My name is Carl. You must be Catheri, the girl who played the Riolu Girl in The Riolu Girl! Please!" He holds a notebook out with a pen. "Can I have your autograph?"

"A…autograph?"

"I'll be your first fan and it would mean so much to me if can have this memento!"

"…Sure. Of course."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

After signing my name in his notebook, he bows at me and takes his leave. I look around feeling a tad embarrassed before leaving myself.

A call comes through the Xtransceiver as soon as I step out of the pokémon center. I'm surprised to see John on the call video.

"Mr Pendergrass?"

"My new favourite trainer. Catheri, how are you doing?"

New favourite trainer, eh? "I don't remember giving you my number."

"I got it from Mr Wood. Anyway, what are you up to right now? Are you busy?"

"Well…I just finished a grueling battle with the Castelia City gym leader, Burgh, and won. I'm just now leaving the pokémon center. I'm not busy. I was thinking about sightseeing or something. Taking a stroll before I leave town."

"Think you could stay for just a bit longer?"

"How much longer?"

"The thing is, I have news to tell you about the short film you helped with. And I have even greater news to discuss with you in person." He goes on, "Could we meet at Mud Sport Café?"

As planned, I meet up with Mr Pendergrass at Mud Sport Café, it's logo a Marshtomp using Mud Sport. Original, I know. John is already inside when I get there, with a cup of coffee. And shades. Black shades. He's wearing a baseball cap and generally looks like he's up to no good.

I take a seat across from him at the table.

"…What's with that getup?"

"What getup? What're you talking about?"

"You are John Pen–"

He interrupts. "Shh. Don't say it out loud. I don't want the paparazzi or the press to find out I'm here."

"But it's not a very good disguise. If anything, it makes you stand out even more."

"Okay, enough about my half-tried disguise. Catheri, the reason I called you here is to tell you the audience loved the film. 'The Riolu Girl' Rave reviews. A standing ovation, that's when the audience stands up from their seats and continues applauding and cheering for an extraordinary performance and or show. So much high acclaim you've garnered, the critics want more. Of you."

I raise my eyebrows in genuine surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. So, I was thinking, maybe we could get this hype train rolling. We could build a franchise here with you as the main star!"

"Me? What about Toxtricity-Man?"

"What about him? This will be your franchise. You on the front page. Your name on the headlines. Oh! I can already see it. The box office sales and critical acclaim…oh yeah…

Not to mention the fans you'll garner. They'll love you so much they'll willingly send you gifts. Hey, if being sent free stuff isn't proof of one's own efforts, I don't know what is."

"I don't know…

How long is this going to take? I kinda want to focus on the pokémon league at the moment. Besides, I don't have a place to stay here in Castelia. That's why I'm moving with rapid pace and spending nights in pokémon centers."

"We can provide you with accommodations. You'll stay in them for as long as the filming lasts, right up until the final shot. As for you wanting to go through with this, the final say is ultimately up to you. What do you say?"

I ponder for a bit. "I guess I could spend some down time before heading back out. Well…I say down time…

Sure. I'll do it." That guy, Carl, pops up in my head. "I wouldn't want to disappoint potential fans, I suppose?"

"Excellent! I knew you wouldn't refuse my offer."

I could've easily refused…

"Okay, this is how it's going to go down. Toxtricity-Man is retiring and you, as his sidekick, we'll be taking his place. The old man still has some fight left in him but, you'll be sent out in his place. In a fight with Brycen-Man, he gets severely injured. You'll be…"

John kept on talking for what felt like hours on end.

"Hmm…okay. I think I get it," I say. "It sounds like it's going to be a long story. There's a lot going on. Is this going to be a series?"

"No. I don't do series. Masayoshi does. I'm sure he could come up with a good series if he ever feels like coming out of retirement. My focus is films. Big budget, star class names, grandiose scale films."

"…There's a problem."

"What is it?"

"Riolu evolved. It's a Lucario now. The whole Riolu Girl thing doesn't seem possible anymore."

"Oh, no, that won't be a problem. We have our studio Riolu. Actually(!), that just gave me an idea…yeah. We could film most of the movie with our Riolu and, in one of the final scenes nearing the end of the first film, we can have it evolve and bring in your Lucario who you'll use for the sequels. It can be a big reveal at the end, well, two big reveals, along with Toxtricity-Man's retirement."

"You're going to evolve your Riolu?"

"No, we'll make it evolve using the latest computer graphics."

"Will it be convincing? Especially if people have already seen real evolution."

"Yes. Our tech guys are no slouches. They'll make it realistic as possible, maybe even look better. And besides, this is film. This is a realm of artistic expression. It doesn't hurt to be stylistic."

"Well, when you put it that way…anyways, when do I start?"

"I'll give you a call when everything is set up and ready to roll. Here, let me write down the address of the apartment you'll be staying in," he says taking out a pen and notepad from his coat pocket.

I followed GPS map on the Xtransceiver to the address. I stood outside the fairly tall complex, utterly amazed at the height of it alone.

"This is too fancy…"

I step in and ask the front desk clerk, "Hello, my name is Catheri. I'm staying in room," I look down at the notepad paper in hand, "709."

"Ah, yes, Mr Pendergrass mentioned you'd be stopping by," he says shuffling through the drawer. He takes a key out and hands it to me. "Enjoy your time with us, Ms Catheri."

Oh, yeah, this is too fancy. I think as I look at the room number engraved on the end of the key. "Thank you."

I unlock, open, close and lock the door, in that order, and sit down on the oversized bed. The windows, stretching from the corner of the floor to the corner of the ceiling, give me a panoramic view of the harbour and ocean.

This is too much.

The next day, I receive a call from Mr Pendergrass around noon. I was in the middle of doing nothing as I sat around with Servine, Lucario and Magnemite in a park.

"Catheri, how's the apartment."

"It's too much."

"Haha! Well, you'll get used to it. You'll be going places. Anyways, come on down to the east pier, everything is ready to go. We just need our star."

"I'll be there in a moment."

I hang up and instantly feel nervous. Lucario places its paw on my hand. I look up at it and say, "I can do this." I got this.

I got this. I repeat over to myself as I walk into frame. Pop and Brycen approach me.

"Catheri!"

I turn around to see Pop, he's ready in full costume along with Brycen, also in full gear.

"It's a pleasure to meet again," Brycen says.

I answer, "Hey, Brycen."

He bows.

"Okay, people!" John says. "This is it. This is the big one. Filming for the first of three films will now be commencing. Due to recent developments," he says looking at me, "we've had to retitle this film 'The Lucario Girl' even though Lucario won't be appearing until the end. Riolu will be accompanying Catheri along most of the film, okay?"

Riolu nods.

"You've all read the script. Everyone knows their lines, their cues. Let's get this train rolling!" John turns around but, then turns back around. "Oh, Catheri, let Lucario out so it can see what it'll be like when it's its turn to take the stage."

"Come on out, Lucario."

Lucario growls as it appears from its pokéball.

"Stay next to Mr Pendergrass and keep a close eye on Riolu."

It nods and gives me a short, low growl. John turns around and walks away, heading for his chair. Lucre follows.

"Are you nervous?" asks Pop.

"A little," I answer. A lot.

He responds, "So was I during my first gig. Oh, you can't shake that feeling off even after the cameras shut off."

Brycen says, "You'll do well. I just have a hunch."

"There goes that intuition of his," says Pop.

"I can't see anyone else taking her role," says Brycen.

"There was that one actress…" Pop ponders.

My mother…

The clapper loader guy snaps the clapperboard. John says, "Action!"

The film starts with a chase scene at the docks and ends inside the cavern through the Castelia sewers. When we finished filming the opening sequence, I stood by awaiting further instructions from John. Lucario joins me as I stand around. In the meanwhile, I decide to investigate something that catches my attention from the corner of my eye. Something hiding around the side of a boulder. It had caught my attention earlier as well, when we were filming.

I walk up to where I think I saw it and am astounded at how cute it is.

"Oh my gosh! You are just so cute!"

It turns out to be a pokémon, a really adorable one. A Drilbur who looks like he was enjoying watching the film crew work.

"Drilbur, the Mole pokémon, a Ground type," the pokédex says. "It can dig through the ground at thirty miles per hour. It makes its way swiftly through soil by putting both claws together and rotating its body at high speed."

"So you're a ground type. If I had you, I could stand a chance against Elesa…"

I crouch down to eye level with it and ask, "Do you want a biscuit?"

I break off a piece and hold it out in front of it. It approaches in a meek manner and takes the biscuit with its claws. I move my hand slow and with caution not to scare it off, and pet it on its head.

"You can have the rest."

I hand over the rest of the biscuit. It greedily accepts it without second thought. I let out a slight chuckle and say, after standing up, "Well, I gotta go. It was nice meeting you, little one. Bye now."

I turn around and head back to the set, unknowing of it following right behind.

"That'll be it for today," says John. "Good work, everyone! Let's start hauling everything back." He notices the Drilbur behind me. "You caught a new friend?"

"Eh?" I turn around and see the Drilbur standing nonchalantly, looking at me in an affectionate manner. "Oh, hey…"

John says, "It looks very fond of you. You have yet another fan."

"Haha, yeah…"

"Well, that'll be all for today, Catheri. I'll call you when we're ready to film again. Goodbye now. Oh, unless you need a ride to the apartment?"

"It's okay. I can walk."

John nods and says, "Take care." He walks away. I turn to look at Drilbur. It's still fixated on my eyes.

"Would you like to join me and my pokémon?"

I crouch down.

"What do you say?"

It merrily cries out, waving its arms and claws and jumping up a bit.

"Okay," I say getting up. "Servine! Come on out!"

Drilbur readies itself as does Servine.

"Servine! Leer!"

Servine drops Drilburs guard.

"Wrap!"

Servine takes hold of Drilbur but, Drilbur spins rapidly effectively undoing Servine's wrap and frees itself.

"Whoa…okay then. Servine, Leaf Tornado!"

Servine summons a twister of sharp, spinning leaves that trap Drilbur momentarily.

"Now use Vine Whip!"

Servine unleashes a strike with its vines at the trapped Drilbur. It kicks up a Mud Slap into Servine's face, rendering it blind for a moment. While Servine wipes itself clean, Drilbur takes the opportunity to use Metal Claw and slash Servine.

With Servine being no longer vision impaired, I command, "Dodge!" as it attempts a second strike with those powerful claws.

"Mega Drain!"

Servine's vines latch onto Drilbur and drain its energy and quickly retracts them as Drilbur takes Fury Swipes at them.

"Tackle!"

Servine tackles and takes down Drilbur. It lies on its back while I throw a pokéball at it. I wait for it to stop rolling and moving, Drilbur still having a lot of fight in it but, after a while, the pokéball stops moving.

"Alright!"

I pick it up and hold it up above my head and yell, "I caught a Drilbur!" Servine and Lucario join in celebrating.

I let out Drilbur from its pokéball and crouch down.

"Welcome," I say with a smile. Lucario and Servine greet it as well. It cries out joyfully.