Previously:
Ash won a Gym battle against Melony and earned his sixth Gym Badge. Now the group is on their way to eat, but first Sonia has something exciting to give...
"Are they for us?!" Ash asked amazed and took one of the bands in his hand. Sonia nodded and said, "Yeah. I've put the Wishing Stars that Lucario had collected in them. They should make it possible for your Dynamax your Pokemon."
"Wow! Thank you!" said Ash excitedly and slid the band around his wrist. Serena, Gou and Chloe did the same and Serena admired her band in the Gym's lights. It fits well, she thought and smiled.
"Are those the things that make Pokemon really big?!" Bonnie asked, looking her eyes wide at the Dynamax bands. Dedenne on her head also said, "Neenee!" and waved his whiskers. Clemont instead raised his glasses and asked curiously, "Did I understand correctly? So there's a piece called Wishing Star inside the band? And it makes Pokemon grow big, causing phenomenon you call Dynamax?"
"Yes," Sonia said, looking at Clemont and Bonnie curiously. "I'm sorry, but who are you? I don't think I've met you before."
"Oh right. I'm Clemont and here's my little sister Bonnie," Clemont introduced himself and Bonnie. Bonnie smiled broadly and Dedenne waved his small hands. "We're friends of Ash and Serena from Kalos. We traveled together while Ash was challenging Kalos' Pokemon League and Serena Kalos Queen title."
"Oh, nice to meet you!" said Sonia nodding, but still looking thoughtful. "Clemont... why do that name seems so familiar? Just like I've heard it somewhere before..."
"Maybe because my big brother is Gym Leader of Lumiose City, a famous inventor and a great hero of Kalos!" said Bonnie happily before Clemont had time to say anything. "And because I, Bonnie, am also Kalos' greater hero, an ambassador of love and an ultimate shipper! And that brings to my mind... you're a keeper! Please, will you... hey!"
This time Bonnie's speech ended quickly. The blushed Clemont had lifted her into the air again with his Aipom arm and scolded, "Bonnie! You can't just ask every girl to marry me! That's not appropriate! And what was that nonsense about 'The great hero of Kalos?'"
"Because we're heroes! We saved the whole region! Don't you remember?! Squishy and all!" Bonnie protested loudly, and passers-by gave curious glances at her. At that point, Sonia finally figured out from where she remembered Clemont and Bonnie, and she clicked her fingers, understanding shining in her face.
"Now I remember! It was in the news a few years ago all over Galar! Some evil guy, Lysa-something or whatever, was going to destroy the whole Kalos, and you four saved the whole region!" she exclaimed, looking alternately at Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie hanging from Aipom arm. At that point, Clemont gave up and at the same time let Bonnie back into the land. He knew the game was over that time. Sonia was not the only one to have identified the four.
Curious people who watched from the sidelines had quickly picked up their phones and were now tapping them looking for more information. Ash knew what was coming soon, so he said quickly, "Sonia, it was fun to see again and so, but now we have to go. Bye!" And then he rushed the whole group out of the Gym doors, leaving Sonia confused inside.
Phew! It was close! Ash thought in relief as he slammed the Gym door shut. For a moment he had been sure he would again be attacked in the same way as at the beginning of his adventure. He was very grateful that in the small places of Galar his face was not as well known as in the large ones. However, Circhester was one of those bigger places, so it had only been a matter of time before someone would recognize him. Admittedly, now that he was thinking about it, he wondered why no one in Motostoke had recognized him...
However, it was not clear to Serena and the others what was going on. That's why Serena turned to him and asked with her hands on her hips, "Ash, what was that all about?"
"Fans," Ash said and Serena raised her eyebrows. Chloe and Gou glanced at each other and Ash continued, "Because I won the first Alola League ever..."
"You did what?!" Bonnie exclaimed in between and Clemont looked shocked.
"...people are interested in me, as they always are in Champion. So... there are now fans," Ash explained, scratching his cheek a little embarrassed. Clemont and Bonnie stared at him with their mouths open and eyes wide, and finally Bonnie gasped, "You didn't tell us anything! Even though you're a real Champion now!"
"I didn't want to get attention," Ash mumbled and Serena shook her head. "Attention brings publicity and publicity fans and fans... no, oh no no no..."
He had suddenly noticed that a large crowd was coming from the hill leading to the Gym. It didn't take long for Ash to think about who they were, and Serena said with a little sarcasm, "At least you have enough of them." She didn't like the fact that Ash was besieged by strangers, especially the strange girls that the fans seemed to be for the most part. Not at all.
"He's there! I knew I saw Alola's Champion here before!" someone was shouting from the crowd and Ash grimaced in his mind. Lucario, on the other hand, didn't grimace, but quickly took the lead and said briskly, "Quickly. If we leave now, we'll have enough time to go before those are here." And then he took Ash's hand to pull this away, for Ash was stuck in the door. It was just a shame he didn't see who he was grabbing by hand. Namely, it was not Ash's hand but Braixen's.
Oh boy. Braixen's eyes widened in amazement and she exclaimed, "What are you doing? Let me go!" However, Lucario was so focused on his job that he couldn't hear what Braixen was saying, so naturally he didn't take off his grip. Greninja, who had at some point let out from his ball, saw it all, and didn't like it. Not at all.
"Hey! Get your hands off my girlfriend, you dirty dog!" he shouted angrily and threw the shuriken at Lucario. It hit the ground right at Lucario's feet, causing him to stop in surprise. He quickly turned to look behind him and saw Greninja look at him very angrily. Lucario didn't immediately realize what Greninja meant, but he didn't like the tone of it. That's why he growled, "What did you say?" which at least did not help the situation.
"I said get your filthy hands off Braixen, she's not your girlfriend!" Greninja growled back and Lucario snorted, "What do you mean by "hands off"? Are you completely insane?" In response, Greninja pointed to Lucario his and Braixen's hands, which were still intertwined, and the matter began to clear to Lucario.
"Oh. But... what if I don't want to?" Lucario asked and tightened his grip on Braixen's hand. Braixen glared at him very badly and tried to pull her hand away. It didn't work out, and Greninja got more reasons to be angry. "Let her go right away if your scalp is important to you," he growled, and brushed his shuriken. However, Lucario just raised his eyebrows. He enjoyed it when he got irritated the frog. "No," he simply said, turning away to leave.
It only took a second when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right ear. Greninja's shuriken had flown right next to it and taken the piece with it. What was left was a cut that now bleeds. Lucario quickly slapped his paw on it, turned to Greninja, and, realizing he was bleeding, attacked.
Shuriken, on the other hand, continued its journey among the fans of Ash until it finally stopped at the wall of a house and right in front of the nose of some fan. It caused a second of silence until panic exploded everywhere. People were poking and pushing each other, and the fact that two angry Pokemon were wrestling next to them didn't help.
Ash and friends looked at this chaos spreading in front of them expressionlessly. Finally, Bonnie sighed and put her hands on her hips. "I was wondering one day what was missing from my life after we parted there at the airport," she said, watching Braixen look at Lucario and Greninja helplessly. "And now I know. It was this chaos that is always spreading with Ash everywhere."
"Bonnie!" Clemont scolded and Bonnie shrugged. "But it is true," she said casually and Dedenne nodded at her head. Ash instead groaned and said, "I don't intentionally pull it with me! Somehow the difficulties just find me anywhere!"
Bonnie was still saying something cheeky about it, but just then the Gym door opened and Melony stepped out the door. "What horrible noise is coming from here?" she asked in confusion, glancing at the chaos spreading before her, and she frowned. "And does anyone want to explain what's really going on here?"
"My stupid Pokemon don't realize when it's time to give up," Ash replied expressionlessly and Melony turned to look at him. "Right...," she said, then put her hands on her hips. Then she took a breath and cried so loudly that everyone surely heard it, "Chaos ends NOW !"
Peace came. Everyone turned to look at Melony and she nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you. And now you're going to your homes and leave me and my Gym alone. Or am I calling Officer Jenny?"
"But we want to see the Champion!" someone brave shouted from the crowd and Melony raised her eyebrows. "Champion? Champion Leon isn't here now, what on Earth are you talking about?" she said, spreading her hands.
"No, not Leon but Alolan Champion! We want to see Alolan Champion!" this brave person shouted again and the group muttered approvingly. "Yeah, Alolan Champion Ash!" heard and Melony looked at Ash in surprise.
"Ash is the Champion? Well, it still doesn't change anything. You saw him, now you can go home," she said and there were protests from the group. However, Melony didn't listen to them, but shouted, "Now!" and reluctantly the flock of fans dispersed and set out slowly to step into their homes.
It took a while before the front of the Gym was empty again, but eventually even the last fan had disappeared. Ash looked relieved and looked at Melony gratefully. "Thank you," he said and Melony waved the air with her hand.
"You're welcome. I'd do it to anyone. You could have told me you're a Champion, though" she said, winking Ash laughed a little embarrassed, but then turned to Lucario and Greninja and his expression changed.
"You two. I've had enough of this," he said, looking alternately at Greninja and Lucario. The right side of Lucario's face was covered in blood from his ear and there was a nasty bruise around Greninja's left eye. They refused to look at each other and Braixen between them looked very grumpy. "You apparently still don't understand how to act among others. I've gotten enough of your constant quarrel and that's why you're learning to be with each other. And it's happening by doing something sensible together every day for the next week!"
Greninja and Lucario looked at Ash in surprise, and Lucario began, "But..." However, Ash didn't want to listen to his explanations right now, but said, "No buts. And now return."
He brought up both Pokeballs with the intention of returning these to their balls, but Braixen still had something to say before that. She stepped in front of both Pokemon, put her hands on her hips, and took a breath. Then she began a lesson Greninja or Lucario had never heard before.
Most of Braixen's speech was complete gibberish for the people present, but after the lecture ended, Greninja and Lucario looked very embarrassed. They looked at the ground and Braixen looked at them with a sour look on her face. "Braixen!" she said, looking alternately at Greninja and Lucario. Greninja and Lucario first blinked around, but eventually quickly said something that could be interpreted as "sorry."
Braixen looked at them for a moment until she shook her head and sighed. "Braixen brai," she said, then walked over to Greninja and pressed a small kiss to his cheek. After doing so, she turned to Lucario, snapped something very angrily at him, and then turned to leave, her nose upright. Then, however, she suddenly turned, returned to Lucario, and kicked him to a place where no boy wants to be kicked.
Lucario sank to the ground holding his crotch and Greninja shuddered involuntarily. However, Braixen looked pleased and stepped back to Serena.
"You know, you shouldn't have done that last one," Serena whispered to Braixen when she got next to her. However, Braixen just snorted and said, "Braixen xen xen" ("He deserved it") Serena shrugged and said, watching Ash return Greninja and the unfortunate Lucario back to their balls, "Okay then."
After that, they no longer had any reason to stand in front of the Gym door, so they said goodbye to Melony and Alida, who decided to leave help her mom with the Gym, and set off to walk away. Since none of them were inspired by the idea of new fan encounters, they decided to just go straight to the Pokemon Center. Luckily, it wasn't a very long trip there, and they got there quickly.
Ash opened the Center door and marched directly to Nurse Joy. While he give his Pokemon to healed, the others wandered in the lobby, wondering what they would do next.
"Hey! Over here!" suddenly a familiar voice was heard nearby and the group turned to look in the direction of the voice. To their surprise, they saw their familiar journalist friend sitting on one of the many sofas in the lobby, accompanied by her laptop and big camera.
"Melissa! For a long time!" Serena exclaimed and hurried to her. Melissa grinned, moved her laptop a little further away, and said, "Likewise. And I already found out that you've also had a pretty interesting journey while I've been elsewhere."
"How..." Serena began, but then remembered. "Oh yeah, mind-reading," she said, shaking her head and Bonnie became interested as soon as she heard it.
"Ooh, are you Psychic?!" she asked and rushed beside Melissa. Melissa laughed and said, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but no. It's just a weird family thing, but we're still not Psychics. It's a little shame, because it would be really cool."
"Oh, right," Bonnie said, a little disappointed, and Serena said, "Melissa, this is Bonnie. She and her big brother Clemont are our friends from Kalos."
"Hi!" said Clemont, raising his hand, and Melissa nodded. "I already recognized you. Kalos was in the headlines a few years ago and of course, I was involved in making them."
"So you're a journalist, right?" Chloe asked and Melissa nodded. "Yeah, that's right," she said and Serena opened her mouth again to introduce Chloe as well. However, she didn't have to say anything, for Melissa was already knowing who Chloe was.
"And you're Chloe Cerise. I've heard a lot of stuff about you and especially your father. Cerise is a pretty well-known professor," she explained, and Chloe was a little confused that someone knew about her even before she even got said her name. Serena noticed it, and quickly took their thoughts to other topics.
"So, Melissa, what brings you to Circhester?" she asked and in response Melissa picked up a magazine from her bag and opened it from one of the openings. "This," she replied, tapping the opening with her finger.
Serena took the magazine and read aloud, "Experience the tropical and colorful Alola! Surf with the Mantines and relax on one of Alola's many beaches! Flights only...," Melissa, are you sure you're in the right region? We are not in Alola right now, you know that?"
"What?" Melissa said and grabbed the magazine back to herself. She scrolled a few pages forward and then handed the magazine back to Serena. "Now it should be in the right place"
"Right," Serena said, then read out again, "The president of Macro Cosmos and the Chairman of Galar's Pokemon League Rose has said he will hold his annual gala at Circhester's famous Hotel Ionia. Several well-known people have been invited to the venue, including Galar's current Champion Leon, as well as a few others that have yet to be revealed. Chairman Rose says this gala is...," So you're here as a media representative, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am," Melissa said, nodding and taking the magazine back to herself. "Chairman Rose holds a gala like that every year to celebrate the start of the Galar's Pokemon League. The venue changes every year, and this year it's held here in Circhester. The party usually has a theme, but I don't know what it is. It's only told to invited guests, who are usually well-known celebrities in Galar"
"Sounds like an expensive party," Serena said, frowning, and then there was a voice behind her asking, "Party? Where?" She turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw Ash walking towards them, Pikachu on his shoulder, and squeezing his Pokeballs.
"Oh, hi Ash! Here in Circhester. Chairman Rose, you know him, is having a big party and..." Melissa began, but didn't get very far when suddenly the door to the Pokemon Center opened and the host of the party himself entered the lobby in his gray suit. He was, of course, followed by his secretary, Oleana, as always.
"Would you be so kind as to heal my Copperajah? She needs a little rest," Chairman Rose asked Nurse Joy and handed her one Pokeball. Nurse Joy nodded and said, "Of course. It only takes a moment." However, Rose no longer listened as he had spotted something interesting.
"Ohohoh, who's here!" he exclaimed and marched directly to Ash. He grabbed his hand to his own and shook it so hard that Pikachu had to fall from Ash's shoulder. "Ash Ketchum himself! I've heard a lot of stuff about you, my boy, and I have to say I'm impressed, impressed!"
"Umm... thanks?" Ash said a little hesitantly and rubbed his hand, which Rose had squeezed. Rose apparently heard the uncertainty in his voice, for he continued just as quickly, "But you don't know me! I'm Chairman Rose, but you can call me only Rose. I'm President of Macro Cosmos and Chairman of Galar's Pokemon League. You've probably heard my name somewhere, haven't you? Oh yeah, and here's my secretary Oleana, she's in charge of organizing and remembering all the important stuff, I myself have a little bad memory..."
Rose nodded at the tall woman standing next to him, who had a cold and matter-of-fact look on her face. "Nice to meet you," she said expressionlessly, sweeping away one of her blonde, long hair.
Oleana had blond, long hair that spread in waves along her back. There was no feeling of any kind in her green eyes and she exuded systematic and matter-of-factness. She was wearing a dress, the top of which resembled a red strapless top, but which, from the sleeves, resembled a white lab coat. The lower part of the dress was black and had a tight pencil skirt. She wore gray tights and black, very high-heeled shoes.
Rose, on the other hand, wore a gray suit. He had a neatly shaved beard, as well as black hair that had been combed to the right. On his left wrist he wore an expensive-looking golden watch and a red tie hung from his neck. There was a happy twinkle in his green eyes and Ash felt like Rose was a man who liked to talk, especially about himself.
"Well, nice to meet you too," said Ash, but Rose hadn't finished yet. His gaze quickly slipped from Ash to Serena and a wide smile appeared on his lips again.
"And who's here! I guess I know you too, young lady, yes! I have friends in Kalos and they made me watch all the Showcases. And I have to say, I was disappointed, disappointed when you didn't beat Miss Aria. I wonder where you've been to this time, I thought you would attend again next year and challenge Aria again "
"No, I was in Hoenn, the Contests gave a good workout," Serena said, a little amazed that Rose knew who she was and Rose nodded. "Absolutely, absolutely. Understandably, the Contests are great, but I personally prefer Showcases. They have style, you know, something more, something... Kalos."
Next, Rose's gaze shifted from Serena to Clemont and Bonnie, and he clasped his hands together and exclaimed, "And more of Kalos' heroes! I know you, boy, Lumiose City's Gym Leader has become famous since Kalos' incident. As well as his little sister and her Pokemon. By the way, do you have with you, you know who"
"No, Squishy has a job in Kalos," Bonnie said, shaking her head and Rose sighed a little disappointed. "It's a shame. It would have been nice to see the real Zygarde," he said, and everyone except those who were in Kalos looked at Bonnie. However, Rose continued his tour and eventually stopped at Chloe.
"And last, but not least, Chloe Cerise. Oh yes, I've heard a lot about your father and his research. Didn't you move to Kanto a while ago?" he asked and Chloe nodded.
"Yeah, that's what we did," she confirmed and Rose nodded. "Right, absolutely. That's what you did," he said, more to himself than to others. Suddenly he seemed to get a great idea and he turned to Oleana.
"Oleana, write it down. Add to the guest list of the gala the names of everyone just mentioned, no, everyone next to me. I'll invite you all there!" he declared and Oleana nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Rose," she said, writing something on the notebook in her hand. Then Rose turned again, now to a very astonished group, and continued, "The gala is tonight. Starting at seven o'clock in the evening. The theme is winter, we're in Circhester, after all. Of course, your Pokemon are very welcome too, I couldn't leave them out at any cost. But now forgive me, I have to deal with a few things. "
And with that, he sailed away from the Pokemon Center, Oleana following him like a shadow. He only stopped to take his Copperajah's Pokeball with him before leaving the Center, whistling happily at the same time. And when the door finally closed behind him, the group in the couches came to life.
"Tonight! What am I gonna wear!?" Serena exclaimed and rushed to her room, Braixen following her. Melissa, instead, closed the lid on her laptop and said, "I have to go take care of one important thing, but it was nice to meet you. Excuse me." She quickly collected her belongings and put on her jacket. She then quickly left the Pokemon Center and left the rest of the group confused on the couches.
It was quiet for a moment until Nurse Joy announced that Ash's Pokemon were ready. Ash went to pick them up with Pikachu and Chloe also got up, saying she also had to look at the clothes for the evening. Clemont had to go take care of one thing related to his and Bonnie's return flights to Kalos and they left elsewhere as well. In the end, all that was left was Gou, who was soon joined by Ash. When they didn't come up with anything else, Ash suggested they go out to train. Gou agreed, but first, they decided to eat something. It was taken care of by Ash's growling stomach.
Serena had a problem. She had spread all her clothes on her and Ash's bed and was now staring at them with a frown. None of the clothes seemed suitable for an evening party and Serena couldn't quite imagine going on there in pajamas. Of course, she had the outfit Valerie had given her in Motostoke, but it didn't fit the theme of the party. So Serena had absolutely nothing to wear and she shook her head, sighing deeply at the same time.
"Braixen, we have to do something," she said, turning to look at the Pokemon sitting in the only armchair in the room, examining her fingernails. Hearing Serena's voice, she looked up from her fingernails and raised her other eyebrow questioningly. "And I know exactly how to do it"
"Brai?" said Braixen and Serena grinned at her. "We're going shopping! Come on, let's go!" She quickly packed her clothes back in her bag, grabbed her jacket with her, and hurried to the door of the room. Braixen followed, stretching her arms and wondering what Greninja might be up to at the moment.
Serena hurried along the hallway into the lobby of the Pokemon Center so quickly that she didn't first notice the people on its couches. Only when she heard Bonnie's voice ask, "Serena, where are you in a hurry?" she wake up to look at her surroundings better.
She noticed Bonnie and Chloe laying on the couches with their Pokemon. Chloe had got a book from somewhere for herself, which she now read with Snom and Yamper, shaking the latter behind that ear time by time. Bonnie, on the other hand, had tied a red bow around Dedenne's neck and looked up at her stuff, only to find Serena rushing past her.
"Looking for a store that would sell even some kind of party clothes," she replied and Braixen nodded. "Otherwise, I have nothing for Rose's party and it's not a nice thing. By the way, where are the boys? I don't see them here."
"Training outside, I guess," Bonnie said and jumped up. She put Dedenne on her beanie and smiled. Then she turned to Serena again and asked, "Can I come with you? I have nothing else to do and the boys' training isn't really exciting right now."
"Sure," Serena said, nodding and then got the idea. "Let's all go. Chloe, are you coming?"
"Yeah," Chloe said slowly, closing her book. "I'm just going to get my jacket, it's freezing outside. I don't understand how Ash can be there without freezing." Then she got up from the couch and set out quickly toward her room.
They waited a few minutes and finally Chloe walked over to them wearing a winter jacket, Yamper in her arms, and Snom on her head. Everyone was finally there and Serena nodded in satisfaction.
"Great. And then, let's go," she said, opening the door to the Pokemon Center and stepping out, the others following her.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash shouted and Pikachu jumped in the air, his tail shining brightly. "Raboot, Double Kick!" exclaimed Gou, and Raboot in front of him also jumped in the air and sent a spinning kick towards the approaching Pikachu.
Ash and Gou had come to the field behind the Pokemon Center to train and spend time at the same time. They had soon got a companion from Clemont as well, who was now trying to put together some kind of invention on a small bench at the edge of the field. However, nothing really happened, as the cold air made Clemont's fingers freeze, so he no longer got a proper grip on his tools.
Lucario and Sobble also sat next to Clemont. The latter had gotten on his head a small, green woolen beanie that Gou had found somewhere for him. Sobble looked very pleased with his beanie and for once he had a wide smile on his face. Lucario, on the other hand, didn't have any beanie on his head or a smile on his face, but he was still thinking about his appearance at that moment.
He looked at himself from the frozen puddle and occasionally frowned. At times, he rise his left paw to his right ear, the side of which was clearly missing a piece. It had left with the Greninja's shuriken, and although Nurse Joy's treatment had stopped the bleeding and otherwise healed the wound, it had still not brought back the missing part.
Lucario touched the cut in his paw. It didn't hurt or sting, actually it felt completely normal. However, he did not really know what he thought of it. Somehow the trace made him look like he had experienced things, but on the other hand... it just looked something had cut him from his ear.
"Stupid Greninja," he muttered and lowered his paw. "Why, I think that suits for you," a sudden voice came from beside him and he was startled. He turned to look and saw Serena's Kirlia standing next to him, looking at him curiously.
"How so? It's just a stupid cut that ruined my ear," Lucario muttered and turned his gaze aside. "Where did you even show up, isn't Serena worried when you're not with her?"
"Nah, she knows where I went," Kirlia replied carelessly and sat down next to him. "And about that cut. It didn't ruin anything for me, rather it makes you look more interesting," she continued casually and blushed a little (it surprised her).
Lucario looked surprised. "Thank you, I guess," he said, though he still sounded skeptical. He didn't seem to notice Kirlia blushing, so he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he wanted to talk about another topic. "By the way, why did you sound so angry when you said that thing about Fighting-type Pokemon during the Gym match?" he asked curiously. "The thing that we're just kicking, hitting and breaking everything. What's the matter behind that?"
Kirlia did not respond immediately. Finally, she sighed and said, playing with the hem of her dress, "While I was still in Ralts, one Clobbopus lived next door to us. He wasn't the nicest person and used to bully other Pokemon, mostly younger than him. Because I happened to be a different color than the other Ralts, he took me as his target and bullied me every day anytime he saw me. Eventually, my mother put an end to it, but since then I have somehow hated Fighting-type Pokemon."
Lucario looked surprised. He hadn't expected that. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, really meaning it, but Kirlia passed it by waving her hand.
"Don't. It's a past already, that Clobbopus is no longer affecting me," she said and then grinned suddenly. "But you should have seen what my mother did when she found out what that Clobbopus had done. She was pretty angry back then."
"I can imagine," Lucario said, and began to understand why Kirlia was so straight at times. If she had had such a childhood, she should have learned to defend herself. It made Lucario, to his own surprise, want to know more about that girl.
He was just saying something, but didn't have time, because that's when a loud explosion was near him and a black cloud of smoke rose into the air. It also caught the attention of Ash and Gou and they turned in amazement to see where the sound was coming from.
Somehow, Ash wasn't surprised that the explosion came from Clemont's invention, which he was tired of. Now, though, all that was left of it was a smoky carcass, and Clemont's face and hair were full of soot. As he wiped the soot from his face, coughing, Ash walked over to him and said, chuckling, "Really, Clemont? I thought you had finally learned to make indestructible devices."
"It's this cold that bothered me," Clemont defended and Lucario rolled his eyes. Kirlia giggled at Clemont's face, which clearly showed the boundaries he had wiped with his sleeve. Gou, instead, turned to Ash and asked, "Did this happen many times in Kalos?"
"Yeah, every time Clemont made some device," Ash said with a grin, and Clemont sighed. "Yes, I DID things that break up," he muttered, looking miserably at the carcass of his invention. "But I also made many whose didn't. Like an Aipom arm. It hasn't exploded yet."
"Yeah," Ash said and suddenly got the idea. "Gou, would you like to test the new bracelet?" he asked and lifted his wrist so that the Dynamax band was visible. Gou was immediately interested. "Clemont could study it at the same time. Sonia might even be interested if he happens to find something new."
"Sounds good," Gou said, but Clemont looked skeptical. "The field is pretty small, and you know how big Dynamaxed Pokemon grow," he thought and brushed his chin. "So, I'm not sure if that's a good idea."
"We can ask Nurse Joy, and if it suits her, then we won't have a problem,"
Ash said and rushed to find out. Others left to look after him and Pikachu shook his head a little.
"Absolutely not, two Dynamaxed Pokemon would be way too much!" Nurse Joy said in an absolute voice, and Ash knew it was not worth arguing against her. "Fine," he sighed and turned to leave, but Nurse Joy hadn't finished yet.
"But one is okay. As long as you remember to be careful," Ash heard her say, and his mind brightened. "We remember. Thank you!" he said with a wide smile and hurried back to the field. Nurse Joy stayed at her counter and wondered what else this day would bring.
"Which one of you is going to Dynamax your Pokemon first?" Clemont asked and looked alternately at Ash and Gou. These glanced at each other until Gou said, "Ash can do it first. Raboot is strong enough even without it."
"Boot," Raboot said and Ash grinned at them. "All right then," he said, and then both boys settled at both ends of the field. Clemont took the middle as the referee, and Lucario, Kirlia, and Sobble remained on the bench watching with interest.
"Okay, Pikachu, ready?" Ash asked his loyal friend and this one nodded resolutely. "Pika pikachu!" he said, raising his little fist with determination. "Great! Then we're ready. Pikachu, Dynama..." Ash was about to exclaim, his hand raised in the air, but Clemont stopped him.
"Wait! How were you going to do that with Pikachu?" he asked and Ash looked at him in amazement. "What do you mean?" he asked and Clemont explained.
"For Dynamax to succeed, shouldn't Pokemon return its Pokeball, right?" he said and Ash began to realize what he was chasing. "So, how does it work with Pikachu, because he refuses to go to his ball?"
"True, I didn't think of that," Ash said, scratching his head and Pikachu looked at his trainer as confused. Then, however, Ash smiled and said, "But that's not an obstacle for us. Pikachu, Dynamax time, but without Pokeball, though!"
"I wonder how that is gonna work," Lucario muttered to himself and Kirlia shrugged. "Soon we'll find it out," she said, really wanting to see if Ash's tactics really would work.
"Pikachu, Dynamax!" Ash exclaimed and raised his hand so that his Dynamax band was clearly visible. He touched it and waited for Pikachu to grow bigger. However, nothing happened, and Ash began to feel silly as he stood there his arm standing upright.
"I knew it wouldn't work," Lucario muttered, picking up a few Wishing Stars. Kirlia noticed it and said, "Hey, where did you get those?!" However, Lucario did not answer, but handed the other stone to Kirlia, saying, "Hold that. The energy of more Wishing Stars should help Pikachu Dynamax himself."
"What about us? Don't we become also giants when we hold these rocks?" Kirlia asked, but Lucario flashed her a rare grin. "Not because I've woven a protective net from Aura around the Wishing Stars that will only release their energy in the direction of Pikachu. So you don't have to worry about becoming a 'giant'."
"I see," Kirlia said, not really knowing if Lucario was telling the truth or not. "Let's see if these rocks work in any way."
"They will," Lucario said, sounding confident. Kirlia wasn't as sure, but she wasn't interested in arguing.
Ash was giving up hope in Dynamax Pikachu without a Pokeball when suddenly his band started to glow a fuchsia light and send energy waves towards Pikachu. They surrounded Pikachu and caused him to start growing bigger. Ash immediately recognized what it was all about, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, it worked!"
"I wouldn't have thought," Gou said and Clemont looked thoughtful. "Neither do I," he muttered as Pikachu grew to his full length. But to everyone's surprise, especially Ash, he didn't look like an ordinary Dynamaxed Pikachu, but had changed his appearance.
"Pikachu looks... different," Ash said as Pikachu tried to get used to his massive body and swayed a little in place. "But why?"
"Because he wasn't Dynamaxed, but Gigantamaxed! Ash, I didn't know Pikachu could do it!" Gou exclaimed, and Ash looked surprised. "Really? Wow, cool!" he said, his eyes shining with excitement and looking up at Pikachu's face. "Did you hear, Pikachu? We not only Dynamaxed but Gigantamaxed you!"
"Pika!" said Pikachu in a low voice and Ash grinned. "And now, it's time to start the match. Pikachu, let's go!"