"This is the first lesson?" Zoey asks as the three of them fish off the side of the boat.
"Learn the many things with pokemon, learn many things about them," Leon says, looking to Crystal with her own little fishing rod stick.
"What? She learning patience or to read the situation?" Lana asks.
"Situation. Learn to read the battle as quickly as possible," Leon explains.
"Maybe a bit of both then," Lana adds smiling as she recasts her line.
"Any luck so far?" Leon asks, giving Crystal a sip of orange juice.
Zoey hums as she tries to peer at her bobber. "Nope. Nothing yet," she sighs.
Crystal looks up to her before tapping her chin and looks between her and Leon before tapping his side and getting his attention, throwing her arm between the two and nodding her head forward.
"Really?" Leon whispers and Crystal nods, waving him off smiling.
Leon raises an eyebrow at her and turns to Zoey and grabs her free hand to get her to turn to him, quickly giving her a peck on the lips and pulling away just as fast, returning his attention to fishing.
'Did that just happen?' Zoey thinks.
Crystal gives some comforting pats to Leon's side as she sneakily drinks some of his orange juice while he tries to stay in a trance.
Leon smiles as he reaches over and pats Crystal on the head softly.
Crystal blinks and slowly put his orange juice back quietly to not let him notice that much.
"You can have the rest," Leon informs.
Crystal smiles and grabs it in her physic, drinking away happily.
"You planned on giving her that from the beginning, huh?" Zoey asks.
"No…she wanted to do a double plan," Leon sighs.
"Huh?" Lana asks looking back now.
Leon just points to Crystal sipping at the orange juice greedily.
"Oh, feeding her orange juice I see," Lana says.
Crystal smirks as she kept drinking and pulls up a little fish with her physic and looks to the baby fish on her line.
"Hum, too small for now. Throw it back, Crystal. We wait till they are bigger then we cook them. Remember yesterday's lunch?" Leon asks.
Crystal licks her lips like a hungry predator and throws back the little one before casting again.
"Unbelievable. This whole time I was here and I never got a single bite…and I got beat by a little pokemon with her little fishing rod," Lana laminates and Crystal sticks her tongue out at her teasingly.
Leon was about to go back to fishing when he noticed something. "Lana, your fishing pole."
Lana blinks and looks to her fishing line and sees a pokemon crawling onto her line. "A…tentacool?" she asks in disbelief and excitement.
"And it begins. Reel in the fishing lines as we have a battle," Leon says.
Everyone starts to reel in the lines while Lana carefully reels in hers, wanting to not miss this one. Leon pulls the two back as Lana swings the tentacool onto the deck and grins almost evilly. "Now…let's have some fun," she chuckles and holds up her lantern pokeball before throwing it.
"Lan," lanturn chirps as tentacool untangles itself from the line and seems to give a glare back.
"Discharge, full blast," Lana calls and lanturn lets out electricity and it releases multiple bolts of yellow electricity at tentacool, shocking it to bits before the shocks ended.
"I expected it to last a bit longer as the special defense is its strongest point," Leon says.
"But…?" Zoey presses.
"Must be the difference in levels," Leon says as Lana tosses a netball and catches the water pokemon.
"And I got a tentacool," Lama says, acting smug now.
"Just don't be too 'cruel' to it," Leon says.
Lana blinks with an expression of what…she doesn't know what to say or think for that while Zoey facepalmed.
Leon sighs. "Tentacruel," Leon says blandly.
"You need better jokes," Zoey sighs begrudgingly.
"Oh," Lana says now getting it.
"Now every one of them can be winners," Leon says.
"So…now what?" Zoey asks, slightly interested in what else he will teach.
"We go back to fishing now," Leon says.
After a few minutes, Zoey is staring at the bobber on her fishing line, waiting for it to sink. Leon smiles as he sits there with Crystal now napping beside him. While Lana hums happily, enjoying she got a tentacool.
"Tentacool enjoying the brushing?" Leon asks.
Lana nods as she slowly brushes tentacool's head, the jellyfish type enjoying the petting.
"Just make sure you don't get poisoned," Leon says.
"Don't worry. I know how to handle poison types," Lana reassures smiling.
"Sun is starting to set," Leon comments looking up at the sunset.
"Yeah…" Zoey says, thinking about what happened today.
"Looks incredible, doesn't it?" Leon asks.
"What is?" Zoey asks, still watching the bobber and thinking heavily.
"The sunset," Leon says.
Zoey finally looks up and stops to stare at the sight, entranced by the way the red light reflects off the water.
"So…you think Gardenia is drinking or stuffing herself at the dining room?" Leon asks the two.
"Or maybe sleeping," Lana spoke up, Zoey still watching the sunset and slowly leans against him.
"I think it is time to call it a day Zoey," Leon says smiling.
"Yeah…" Zoey yawns, starting to snuggle against him.
"You calling it a day too Lana?" Leon asks.
"A few more fish before coming back," Lana explains.
"Alright, then don't stay out too long," Leon says picking up Crystal.
"Sure thing," Lana agrees as she gives a wave to them.
"You learn a bit today?" Leon asks Zoey as they head back to the room.
"Yeah…quite a few," Zoey admits.
"Good. Then we will be continuing hard training," Leon says.
"Why does this feel familiar?" Zoey sighs at.
"Because you did it to me. Now I am doing it with you to hype and prepare you for the Wallace Cup," Leon says.
Zoey smiles a little. "Yes. At least you showing off will help."
"Me? A showoff?" Leon accuses.
"You destroy the field every chance you get," Zoey points out.
Leon sweatdrops and chuckles nervously. "You girls are not going to let that go…are you?"
Zoey smirks a little and kisses his cheek. "Want us to?"
Leon's nervous chuckle turns into a small smile. "No. I actually consider that an accomplishment."
Zoey lightly boops his head.
The remaining days of the trip Lana joined in helping Zoey train her water types, even teaching Finneon waterfall.
"Okay, Crystal. Give your assessment. With all the training, is she ready?" Leon orders, pacing around their room aboard the ship with the other girls sitting on the bed with the pokemon on Gardenia's head. Zoey sitting on the sofa and smiling at his cheery attitude.
Crystal pokes her chin before starting to talk to Zoey's Ralts.
Ralts nods along before they both turn to Zoey and they give a thumbs up somehow with their little arms.
Zoey chuckles a little as Leon gets up and hugs her, sitting by her. "Getting brave are we?"
"Yeah and I feel a lot better," Zoey says as the boat finishes moring itself to the pier.
"Time to go it seems," Leon says.
"And we are packed and ready," Lana says holding up their bags, ralts on her head.
"Alright Beacon, dance us out," Leon says.
Beacon cheers and starts to dance around as they collect their things and walk out. "I am so surprised they haven't tossed us overboard already," Gardenia says, some drizzle happening in their room as Beacon follows behind them.
"I said dance Beacon. Not rain dance," Leon says.
Beacon still dances away happily, not hearing him.
Zoey chuckles as she hugs him. "Relax. They might think that rain will come in faster than they thought."
"You guys are lucky on that," Lana says, looking to her pokegear. "Weather says a fifty percent chance of rain."
Leon sighs before a drop of rain hit him between the eyes and then more start to hit all around them. "Let's get to this little town already and find cover. Maybe figure out the path and all that at the spot."
After leaving the ship, the group headed in town to stock up on everything and withdraw money if needed.
"Oh. There's a fancy restaurant in town…really fancy," Lana adds, looking at the map.
"Ah. You mean the Seven Stars Restaurant," Zoey says looking at the guide.
"What's it like?" Leon asks, tracing the paths on the map.
"It's a restaurant and a battlefield for trainers. If you beat the owners, you get one free meal," Zoey reads.
"…what's the food like?" Leon asks after a while.
"Big variety of them. Like really large…even basic," Lana reads off.
"…let's…" Leon starts.
"No destroying the field," Gardenia warns and makes Leon sigh.
"Oh come off of that already," Leon says.
"Let's go," Zoey says dragging him under the awnings to the restaurant.
Ralts wave at them from Lana's head before the girls follow with Beacon finally not dancing anymore thankfully.
"So that's the menu," Leon says looking at the menu on display out front.
"Yeah. I think it's any dish you want for a battle," Zoey explains. "Most get the most expensive and then walk out after one bite…our taste buds are so different than those that can pay," Zoey admits.
"Note here says that you need to beat the owners in a tag battle for a free…seven-course meal?" Leon asks in shock.
"Yeah…mostly because of the pokemon team," Zoey says looking up her guidebook.
"Seven-course seems a bit excessive though," Leon says walking back.
"You wanted to battle. Besides, this is the only chance you are going to enjoy at least something of a five-star restaurant," Zoey points out.
"Ok, then. It says if you win a tag battle. That means we will have to split into teams," Leon says.
"You want all the food," Zoey says grinning.
"No, but tag battles are two v two. Now, who is teaming up?" Leon asks.
"Just to help you out," Lana says smiling.
"We could just go elsewhere?" Leon offers.
"What's wrong with me?" Lana asks offended and holding a frown.
"Just to help you out. I mean all three of you are accusing me of doing this for myself when I am not the one who decided to come here," Leon points out, making all three chuckle nervously.
"So now, who wants to team up?" Leon asks again, frowning now.
"Hey. Don't frown…we can win high classed food…" Zoey offers weakly.
"I am not hearing who is partnering up," Leon states.
"I'll go with him," Lana offers, holding her hand up.
"Ok. Me and Lana and Zoey and Gardenia," Leon says now smiling again.
Zoey sighs in relief at his expression.
Lana smirks as she whispers to him a plan.
Leon hums as he starts to really smile. "Alright, we ready?" Leon asks.
Lana has already taken his hand and pulls him to the restaurant happily. "So…we going to smash them to bits?" Gardenia asks after a while.
"…she used that joke against me," Zoey growls, getting what happened.
Gardenia snarks to the side and grabs her shoulders before leading her inside. Finding that their two friends are already heading to the field seen through a large high window overlooking over the field. The two girls already following as they catch up to see them set up on both ends of the field.
"Okay. So one battle, one pokemon for each of us?" Leon asks, making sure as he looks over his pokeballs before picking one.
"I got mine ready," Lana says pulling out hers.
"Yes. That is correct," Roman says as he takes out his own pokeball.
"And you win, the seven-course meal is for you," Kylie finishes, her own pokeball in hand.
"Then let's get a meal Echo," Leon calls, throwing his pokeball to show the zubat, making a cry once in the air.
"Araquanid," Lana calls, throwing her pokeball to show the water strider type that skitters around a little.
"Simisear."
"Trumbeak."
The two owners catch their pokeballs as the bird and fire monkey appeared on the field, giving off an air of excitement at being in a battle again.
"Everyone ready?" One of the chiefs on the side of the field calls. "Begin!"
"Araquanid, start with bubble beam on simisear," Lana calls immediately.
"Echo, confuse ray," Leon instructs.
Gardenia and Zoey became a little confused and surprised when they heard the order. But Echo followed nonetheless and screeches toward the two, catching them in the confuse ray. Araquanid chittering and firing off a stream of bubbles at simisear dead on. Almost as if it is trying to put its fires.
"Flame Burst!" Roman calls, simisear trying to throw a flame burst and holds it on longer than normal, hitting the ground in front of him and trumbeak screeches, its tail feathers on fire and running around to put it out.
Leon blinks slowly with Lana, trying to figure out if these two are losing on purpose.
"Uh…end this please…" Leon sighs and Echo screeches as he starts flying at the two, his wings glowing bright white before contacting the both of them and sends trumbeak flying off into simisear while Araquanid fires off another bubble beam, sending them both back before the owners' legs. "That was an embarrassment…" Leon whispers to himself, Lana nodding a bit. "At least they are trying," Leon whispers to her. Lana nods again as they all return their pokemon.
"The winner is the customers," the ref calls, getting applause from those watching.
"Your turn," Leon says walking past the gym leader and Zoey. Lana following right behind him.
"Everyone ready?" they hear as they look over what they can order. "Begin!"
"Thirty seconds," Lana says.
"Ten," Leon bets.
"The winner is the customers," the ref calls ten seconds later.
"So what are you getting?" Leon asks.
"Oh. Let me get the others to enjoy," Lana says, releasing her pokemon.
"I got Tsunami…can we get a patio table?" Leon asks the waiter and she nods happily.
"Wow…in all my years of gym leading…" Gardenia says in disbelief.
"I didn't even call a move yet," Zoey says in the same state.
"So…seven-course meal," Leon says to the two as the girls walk up.
"I feel like we didn't earn that," Zoey whispers.
"Just take it or they will be insulted," Leon whispers back.
"Right…let's eat," Zoey says cheerily.
"Happy?" Leon asks smiling, poking Crystal's stomach and makes her giggle before eating another piece of the cake.
Tsunami growls, catching another piece of meat from Zoey. "Now I am hoping we don't eat them out of house and home."
"They'll be fine," Lana says, slowly eating and almost savoring the meal.
"Never had a chance to really really enjoy my meal like this," Leon says, biting small bites where he can. "I would usually just eat what I can and be on my way."
"Well, this is the last course. So savor it," Lana says as Gardenia kept stuffing herself.
"Hardly had a chance like this too," Zoey says, watching all their pokemon eat away.
"And them," Leon adds, sighing. "Wish I can treat them like this at times."
"Wim," Rumble says noticing that.
"Don't expect it though," Leon says pointing to him.
"Wim," Rumble says hopping onto his arm and climbs up it.
Leon smiles and pets his head, feeding him some of the soup.
"Aw. That's precious…and that's just adorable," Zoey says looking to Crystal as she has a big cake on her fork and taking small bites, messing up her face.
Leon chuckles as he takes a napkin and wipes her face. "Yeah. She is just playing and trying to be cute to us. Right girl?" he asks and Crystal nods, seemingly smirking evilly at it. "See? She is just playing us."
"Your sister there is quite the troublemaker, huh?" Zoey asks Ralts.
Ralts just points a tiny spoon at her threateningly, waving it around like a sword and speaking something.
Crystal hearing this just snickers.
"What did he say? Something a stupid brother says?" Leon whispers and leans down to her.
Crystal smiles and taps his nose smiling, still giving some snickers.
"After this, we heading up to the stadium?" Leon asks tapping Crystal's nose.
"Yeah. We just follow the road and we can be at Lake Valor inside the week," Gardenia says happily.
"So a few days maybe," Leon says.
"That means enjoying the meal and we can get moving," Lana says, picking up her plate and drinking the soup.
"Wimmmm," Rumble yawns from Leon's shoulder.
Leon smiles and pats Rumble's head. "Rest easy. You have your stomach full alright."
"Wim," Rumble says as his eyes droop.
"They are so cute," Zoey giggles.
"Wait till you see what he evolves into," Lana says.
Crystal speaks a few bits before chomping away at the cake piece again. Then pointing a fork at them and holds up a piece to Leon. "Ra?"
"No thanks. I am full," Leon says looking down to Tsunami who was laying on a battlefield, having eaten a bit as the customers gathered around the royal purple Gyarados, taking pictures and looking at the rare pokemon.
"If Leon's luck keeps going, he might have half his pokemon be shinies," Gardenia jokes.
"You think she is a shiny? Shiny Gyarados is red. A royal purple like her I have never heard of," Leon says.
"I did say luck," Gardenia adds, smirking all the while.
"Ever heard of pokemon hunter J?" Leon asks.
They all look to each other before looking her up on their pokenav.
"Wanted in several regions," Zoey says.
"Wanted for kidnapping over a hundred pokemon in each region," Lana reads.
"Yeah and it's for rare pokemon," Leon says.
Tsunami growls up to them happily. Some kids lying and sliding along her snake-like fish body.
"Come on. Let's go down there," Leon says getting up and heading down. His pokemon not riding on him were following him.
"So you better watch out," Gardenia warns as they approach Tsunami who smiles and happily swings the kids around. Seemingly enjoying their presence that they don't find her terrifying.
"Hey there Tsunami," Leon says finally reaching her.
Tsunami growls at him as two kids laugh as they run past and go to their parents eating nearby as they babbler on about how great this pokemon is.
Leon starts petting her head as she lays there. "You get enough to eat?" Leon asks.
Tsunami nods and growls happily as he pets her head.
"Say bye. We have to head north. We are going to the Wallace Cup," Leon says.
Tsunami smiles and growls to the kids on her and they all notice her trainer standing by her. They all aw at the prospect of losing their fun big pokemon and slowly clamber off.
"If any of you are going to the Wallace Cup, you may get to see Tsunami again," Leon assures.
The kids all look to him before to each other and then run off to tell their parents as Lana snickers. "Really? You just doomed those parents to some badgering."
"Hey. It's their responsibility," Leon says before returning Tsunami to her pokeball.
"Let's get out of here before those kids come back," Zoey says chuckling and walking off. Leon catching up and bumps his side against her.
"You ready?" Leon asks.
Zoey takes a deep breath. "Somewhat."
"Wrong answer. You will win this," Leon says trying to psyche her up.
Zoey smiles over to him before leaning over and kisses his cheek. "Thanks."
"What would you do without him?" Gardenia asks smirking.
"Crack you over the head for that joke?" Zoey quipped.
Lana giggles at this as they kept walking.
"So are we going to take the road or a shortcut through the forest?" Leon asks.
"Let's take a shortcut for this. Give her more time to psych and train before the cup," Gardenia suggested.
"Alight," Leon says as Rumble and Crystal seemed to be having a conversation while riding on him.
"Ra," Crystal spoke, tapping Leon's head as she rides his head.
Rumble chitters back, sounding happier today.
"And what are you two talking about?" Leon asks, smirking all the while.
Crystal snickers to herself as Rumble seemed happy.
"Okay. You are having fun. We get it," Leon says reaching up and petting both of them before Rumble skitters around to his chest. Zoey sees this and smiles before walking over and picks Rumble off Leon's chest and starts petting him. Rumble chitters happily and curls up around her arm. While Crystal jumps into Leon's arms and leans against his chest.
"You happy to have a family?" Zoey asks Rumble.
Rumble chitters up to her, almost looking like a kid reaching up to her.
"Adorable," Gardenia says as Lana walked over and scratch his back.
"He is. Look at him. He enjoys the attention," Leon laughs as they see Rumble trying to grab and curl around their hands and arms. Crystal snickered as this all happened. "Don't snicker. You're cute too," he jokes and lightly hugs Crystal.
Crystal happily hugs him back. "Ra. Ra ra," she voices and points ahead of them.
"What is it, girl?" Leon asks.
"Ra," Crystal only voices and kept pointing into the bushes ahead of them.
"You sense something?" Leon asks.
Crystal sighs and slouches in his arms before nodding.
"Girls, we got something," Leon says.
They all look up from petting the cute and lovable Rumble to look at him. "What is it?" Lana asks, getting one last scratch on Rumble's head.
"Not sure, but Crystal says something is there," Leon says.
"Alright, Rumble back to Leon while I deal with this," Zoey says.
"Not without me you are not," Leon insists, Rumble skittering onto him up his leg.
"Alright," Zoey says going ahead as Leon waits for Rumble to make his way up.
"Happy little guy," Gardenia says smiling before watching him run off. "And like a kid, he's running off to see which pokemon is behind the bush."
Lana gives her a smirk that practically screamed, 'I know something that would embarrass you.'
"WHOA!" Zoey yells out as she falls over once she got past the bush and groans on the ground.
"You okay?" Leon asks coming up and stopping at the sight of a certain annoyed dog that seemed to be sleeping at one point and glaring at Zoey. "Uhhh…Crystal…Rumble…little help?" he whispers quickly to the two.
Crystal salutes to him before jumping down with Rumble skittering down in front of the houndour who turns to look at the two. "Ra," Crystal greets and the houndour barks.
Leon smiles as he goes over to Zoey and helps her up. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I am fine," Zoey says.
"Tripped over a houndour…trying to get our two to talk it down and maybe we can get these as friends rather than straight-up battling," Leon whispers a little as they watch the three talk things out.
"Ra ra ra ra," Crystal says.
The houndour growls and barks at her softly. Leaning its head down to her height as she still seemed to be smiling and speaking without trouble. "Looks to be in good moods…so maybe I should apologize…" Zoey admits as they still watch the three and wonder where the conversation will take them.
"See if houndour will let you catch him," Leon says examining the pokemon with his pokedex.
'Houndour. It communicates with fellow houndours via a unique howl, informing them of its location. The herd will then move in together on their prey.'
Zoey hums as she walks over and captures the pokemons' attention before kneeling down to them. "Sorry about tripping over you. I got a bit excited. Friends?" Zoey asks, holding out her hand. The houndour looks to her hand before sniffing it and then holds out its paw and shakes it. He barks happily until he sees her holding up a pokeball. "Your choice if you want or not," Zoey reassures as she holds it out for it.
The houndour seems to give a smirk before booping its nose into the pokeball and gets sucked right into it. "Thanks, big guy," she appreciates as it beeps.
Both Crystal and Rumble cheering in their own ways as Zoey pockets the ball and looks back to Leon putting away his pokedex.
"You got six now," Leon says.
Zoey smiles. "Yeah. Here's hoping he doesn't have that much a foul mood."
"Like you?" Gardenia jokes.
Zoey gives a friendly glare to the two approaching girls. "Ha ha."
"Where to now?" Leon asks as his pokemon climb back onto him.
"Continue on before someone finds another pokemon," Gardenia accuses playfully and pokes Crystal's chest.
Crystal laughs as she tries to push the finger away.
Leon smiles at the little playful banter and turns and walks off. Crystal giving a raspberry over her shoulder Gardenia. "Crystal. You should know better," Leon scolds but can't hold his smile back and Crystal tries to act sweet and innocent. "You have to really add in the eye pull," he says before turning and giving the same response with said eye pull and Gardenia bursts into laughter as Crystal laughs along. "See? Works every time."
"Come on. Let's get as far as we can before having to set up camp," Zoey says smiling at the shenanigans.
"These two are getting hungry," Leon calls as he was already away.
"They ate an hour ago!" Lana reminds as she runs after him with the other two following.
"This is why I pack snacks," Leon says giving Crystal and Rumble a small rice cake each.
They both open their mouths wide and bite down a big chunk as Lana pouts seeing the food they are holding. Leon gives an eye-roll and gives one to her as well and she happily takes it and starts eating.
Zoey and Gardenia look to each other amused at this before catching up and Zoey grabbing Leon's arm while Gardenia picks up Rumble and holds him in her arms.