Shamouti Island

Ash didn't know how to respond. Misty's declaration was a shock. Lorelei had offered her an apprenticeship. It was a chance for Misty to inch closer towards her dream. She could be on the Elite Four, representing Kanto as its foremost Water Pokemon Master! Yet, Ash couldn't help but be sad, and perhaps even a little angry. Never good at hiding his emotions, Misty noticed easily enough.

"I get the feeling you're not exactly happy about this?" Misty asked, looking at Ash directly.

"Look, it's your dream, and I am happy for you Misty, but we just got the gang back together, and now you're telling me we're breaking it up again in like a month? Sorry for not being peachy about it," snarked the boy.

"You didn't seem to have a problem with Tracey leaving a few minutes ago!"

"That's different!"

"How Ash? You've known me for less than a year. Tracey's been your friend for a few months. Those time frames don't seem that different to me. You also didn't throw a fit when I was gone for the last few months." Ash was not in the mood for logic.

"Well… GAH! Whatever. I need some air," muttered the boy, stomping off down the beach. Misty went to follow, her temper seeming to flare, but Brock grabbed the girl by the wrist.

"Let him go Misty. He needs time."

"What he needs is to realize he's not the center of the world! Ash is being selfish!" spat Misty, yanking her hand away, but no longer pursuing Ash.

"I know that. You know that. Ash doesn't. Let him think on it. He'll get there," calmly refrained Brock with a reassuring smile. Misty let out am exasperated sigh.

"Yeah… you're right. I just really wanted him to be happy for me. To be proud. I was happy for him. Why can't he give me the same?" frowned the girl with a mopey expression, some tears falling down her face.

"He is. Both of us are. Ash is still a kid though Misty. He's saved the world twice now, but he's a kid that's only nearly 11 years old. More than that, Ash grew up in a small town with no siblings. His only "friend" was more of a rival. You and I were the first people he really connected with. Coming to terms with saying goodbye won't be easy for him. Just give him a chance when he comes back to apologize." Misty chuckled at that last quip, whipping her face clean of tears.

"Thanks Brock. You're really good at this kind of thing you know."

"I hope so. Having a ton of younger siblings has to count for something right?"

Elsewhere on the Beach

Ash trudged through the sand, his hands in his pockets. The boy absently walked forward, not really paying attention to where he headed. Pikachu and Espeon silently accompanied him. Neither really knew what to say or do, but they kept him company at the very least.

Guess this is it. Misty's taking off. This time for good. Leaving Brock and I alone again. What about Brock? Will he abandon me too after the Indigo League? Ash stopped. His ever-developing aura senses picking up on a familiar presence before he heard the footsteps.

"What do you want master?" he asked with a dead voice.

"I sensed your distress apprentice. What ails you?" Ash turned to the Pokemon, not talking for a moment.

Maybe he could help?

"I just learned that one of my best friends is pretty much done with our adventuring. After the Indigo League, Misty's going to apprentice with Lorelei to try and become a member of the Elite Four. I… I just couldn't really handle it. She was always there during my journey. Even when she was gone during our time in the Orange Islands, it felt temporary. Hearing the news from her though. Its just so real! So permanent!"

"Did getting that off your chest make you feel better?" Ash blinked. He noticed a definite tension that had left him.

"Yeah. Actually, I do feel a lot better now."

"Good, because now you will listen to me. First, you've failed to consider your friend's feelings. How do you think she felt when you walked away after she shared something that could only have been a burden?" sternly asked the Pokemon. Ash winced.

"Probably not the best," Ash answered in admission of his shortcoming.

"That's right. You better apologize when you return apprentice, but there is more." Lucario sighed, taking on a gentler tone.

"Ash, we all have our lives to live. Sometimes, life brings us together and we form bonds strong as the greatest steel. Sometimes though, life takes us in different directions, and we must say goodbye," wistfully said the Pokemon, staring at the setting sun in the distance. He almost sounded like he was speaking from experience, but Ash didn't dare to press him.

"In this regard, you are lucky apprentice."

"Lucky?" Ash asked confused.

"Yes, you are lucky. Your friend is alive and will likely be so for a great many years. Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. But that parting needs not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short while... that is up to you."

"I swear I've heard that before," frowned Ash, thinking on the words.

"Regardless apprentice, understand the meaning behind the words. Your friend may cease to travel with you soon, but she will always be your friend, and you hold the power to see her again. The choice is yours." Ash gave his master a determined nod, marching back from whence he came. Looking at the boy walk away, Lucario truly hoped his apprentice got the message. His friend would not be the only one to say goodbye in the near future.

An Hour Later

Ash found Brock and Misty where he had left them, conversing with one another in a light tone and saying goodbye to the last of the day's now almost completely faded light.

"Hey guys," awkwardly said the boy.

"Ash," calmly acknowledged Brock. Misty said nothing, simply staring at Ash expectantly. Time to face the music.

"I'm sorry Misty. I-I wasn't thinking about your feelings when I reacted earlier. I should have been happy for you, but instead I felt sorry for myself, because I won't see you as much as I liked. You're one of my best friends and I'm proud of you! No matter what, that will always be true. Will you forgive me?" Misty's stony expression faded, replaced by a warm smile and more tears, but joyous ones. Today, Misty started the hug, bringing Ash close.

"Yes Ash, I forgive you. You're one of my best friends too. Let's enjoy the time we have left together."

Pummelo Island

After their emotional catharsis, the trio and their Pokemon said goodbye to Shamouti, managing to escape before the media caught up with them. They began to make their way for Pummelo Island. It would be their final stop in the archipelago, well aside from a pitstop to Valencia Island. Couldn't forget about the GS Ball after all. Along the way during their ride on Lapras, Ash asked Brock what his plans were following the Indigo League Conference. The teen turned the tables on Ash, asking him if he had any plans. Contrary to expectations, this was something Ash had given a decent amount of though to, so he was prepared to answer.

"I won't go into this thing cocky, but I think I have a fair shot of winning the Indigo League Tournament. But if my battle with Lorelei taught me anything, it's that I still have a long way to go. Even if I do win the tournament, I doubt I'll make it past a single member of the Elite Four, much less Lance," admitted Ash.

"That's very mature of you," praised Misty.

"Heh. Thanks. So to answer your question Brock, after the tournament and training with Lance, I plan to head west to Johto. There are new towns, people, Gym Leaders, and Pokemon just waiting for me!"

"Fair enough," nodded Brock.

"So?" Ash nervously asked.

"So what?" Brock innocently responded.

"Don't play games with me Brock! You're killing me here," moaned the boy. Brock laughed a bit along with Misty. Even Lucario cracked a smile.

"All right Ash. I'll put you out of your misery. After the tournament, I'll probably head home to check in on the family and finish training Forrest up to fully take over the Pewter City Gym. But…"

"But?"

"When you finish your training with Lance, give me a call. I'll be ready for adventures in Johto."

Brock's confirmation was a huge relief off Ash's shoulders. He would have one constant in the wild west. Johto and even the Indigo League would have to wait though, because now it was time for the Orange League Championship to begin!

Pummelo Island was in the north-western part of the Orange Islands. The entire island practically screamed Pokemon Battle! Even from the port of arrival, the gang could see the towering coliseum that stood atop the island. First, Ash and his friends makes a quick stop to a verification hub, allowing the boy to show proof of his badges and register for a championship match. The attendant's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she read Ash's name and verified his ID. Lance had been right. This whole fame thing was going to be annoying. Next, the trio made their way to the Pokemon Center to rest and give their Pokemon a much-needed checkup. Before handing any of his own Pokemon over though, Ash found the nearest computer and began some last-minute research on his upcoming opponent, just as he had done against the other members of the Orange Crew.

Drake had nothing to hide. The man's team was published, and it never changed. It didn't need to. The man hadn't been defeated by a challenger since his reign began a few years past, and he had to face the dozen or so challengers that defeated his subordinates on an annual basis. Drake's team consisted of a Ditto, Onix, Gengar, Venusaur, Electabuzz, and Dragonite. Of course he had a Dragonite. Every super-powerful trainer seemed to have one, Ash had thought, thinking of Lance and Professor Oak. As for the others, they were a balanced bunch. Ash was curious as to why he hadn't evolved Onix and Electabuzz. They had foreign region evolutions that would increase their power. Still, he wouldn't underestimate them. Pikachu was more than enough proof that evolution wasn't everything. Gengar and Venusaur were standard. Ash felt like he could develop some decent counters, having those Pokemon himself. Then there was Ditto. It was an odd choice. He hadn't battled one in his entire career. Ash would have to be careful when selecting it's opponent.

Drake's team analyzed, now it was time for Ash to put together a squad. First things first, he wanted his team stacked with counters for that Dragonite. Cloyster was a good choice. Lapras would also get some time to shine. Their dual water nature would also help with Onix. Ice type attacks would at least offset a disadvantage against Venusaur. Drake's grass mammoth would be truly countered by Charizard though. Ash wasn't going to pull any punches. His powerful friend, perhaps his strongest Pokemon, would be needed. Electabuzz was an issue. It would tear through all three of his current selections, going by type alone that is. The obvious counter would be Ryhorn, but Ash wasn't sure it had enough experience for this kind of battle. He was already weary of Lapras' inexperience, but her ice typing made her an exception. Instead, Ash would opt for his own Venusaur. The Grass Pokemon had a good natural resistance to electricity and was powerful. Two slots remained. Gengar was tricky. A Dark Pokemon would have really come in handy, but Ash had none to spare. Espeon would have to be called on. It was a risk, but she had the ability to deal super-effective damage, and she was one of Ash's three most powerful Pokemon. Lastly, there was that Ditto again. Drake had to be intelligent to command a Pokemon like that, so Ash would be sticking with Pikachu. The two of them worked well together and that would have to be enough.

Ash's plan was set. Now it was time to put it into action and to make some swaps.

Pummelo Island Coliseum (The Next Day)

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOY AND GIRLS, PEOPLE OF THE WORLD LISTENING ON RADIO AND WATCHING ON TV, WELCOME TO THE PUMMELO ISLAND COLISEUM!" Waiting for his cue, standing beneath the bleachers, Ash heard a sound like never before. Screams, stomps, applause, and more. It was incredible! That crowd had to be massive. The advertising for the event had been done at the last minute too. Still, the residents of the Orange Island were ready to witness their Champion engage in battle, which again only occurred a few times to year. Add in the fact that the match would be against the big hero who had yet to make a public appearance, and a sellout was inevitable. Naturally the event was being broadcasted as well, likely because of Ash's involvement.

"TODAY, WE ARE IN FOR A BATTLE THAT WILL GO DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS! REPRESENTING THE ORANGE LEAGUE, AND YOUR BELOVED CHAMPION, I GIVE YOU DRAKE!" More hooting and hollering occurred and a gust of wind blew into the area where Ash waited. Drake had obviously arrived. The cheering just didn't seem to stop, and he was slightly annoyed at this point. Eventually, the crowd quieted down.

"A CHALLENGER HAS CONQUERED THE FOUR GYMS OF THE ORANGE LEAGUE, GIVING HIM THE RIGHT TO GO FOR GLORY! THIS IS NO ORIDNARY CHALLENGER THOUGH. COMING ALL THE WAY FROM PALLET TOWN IN THE NEARBY REGION OF KANTO. HE'S THE BOY WONDER WHO HELPED SAVE THE WORLD ONLY A FEW DAYS AGO! I GIVE YOU ASH RED KETCHUM!"

This is it. Ash took a deep breath and walked forward, entering the battlefield. His ears nearly shattered at the standing ovation he was receiving. Cameras flashed all around the stadium and Ash could see his face up on a big screen. Trying to keep his cool, he continued, blocking out the sound, and met Drake at the center. Drake stood tall with short wavy dark hair. The man had a sleeveless red and orange jacket with a high collar, a black undershirt, and dark pants. His arms were muscular and exposed. Finally, he wore a Pokeball as a necklace. Curious.

"So, you're the one they've been talking about for the past few days," neutrally said the man, scrutinizing Ash.

"I guess," muttered the boy.

"Is that all you have to say about it hero?" mocked the man. Ash narrowed his eyes.

"I'll let my battling do the talking!" Drake cracked a smile at that.

"I'm glad to hear that Ash. Let's make this a good one. The others have said good things about you. Don't betray my expectations." He left Ash off balanced with that, leaving the boy flummoxed as he walked to his side of the battlefield. Shaking himself out of his stupor, Ash retreated to his position, Pikachu on his shoulder and Espeon by his side. A referee stepped forward.

"This is an official Orange League Championship battle between the defending champion Drake, and the challenger Ash! At stake is the title and position of the Orange League Champion. The match will be a full 6 on 6 battle. Only the challenger may make substitutions. A field change and a short intermission will occur when either trainer loses three Pokemon." At that declaration, Ash scrutinized the field of battle more closely. Currently, it looked to be a normal dirt-based battlefield. Hopefully he could hold his Water Pokemon out for later, perhaps using them in more favorable conditions. The referee continued.

"The battle will be over when a trainer no longer has any Pokemon that are able to battle. Champion, send out your first Pokemon and let the match begin!"

"Ditto, the match starts with you!" The limber pink Pokemon emerged, staring at Ash with a heated expression he didn't think possible from such a cute creature.

"Then I'll start with you Pikachu!" pointed Ash. Pikachu ran down Ash's shoulder and arm, leaping onto the battlefield.

"Begin!"

"Transform!" Ditto's features morphed in a flash of white, instantly matching the small form of Pikachu. Ash waited, trying to gage what Drake would do next. He didn't do a thing, content for Ash to make his own move. A few minutes passed. Nothing happened, and the crowd grew restless.

What is he waiting for? Unless he's planning to copy me maybe and then look for an opening? Maybe he wants to assess Pikachu's moveset? Time to find out.

"Agility into Quick Attack!" Pikachu dashed forward, increasing his speed, and making a beeline for his carbon copy.

"Do the same," swiftly answered Drake. The results were predictable. Both Pokemon crashed into one another, sending the other sliding back. Drake paused, looking to Ash once more.

Let's see him copy this.

"Double team, Electro Ball, disappear, and Iron tail!"

"Do the… disappear? Hurry and use Double Team, Electro Ball, and Iron Tail!" snapped back Drake, caught off guard. That momentary lapse cost him. Ash's Pikachu had already multiplied and shot off his Electro Balls by the time Ditto finished his own duplication.

"CHA!" cried Ditto, slammed by an electro ball that dissipated his copies and dealt minimal damage. The attack also brought up a slight veil of dust.

"Slam Iron Tail to the floor to wipe that away!" Ditto responded, answering the call and blew the dust away with Iron Tail.

He does order unique attacks, observed Ash. With the dust gone, Pikachu and his copies appeared to be sprinting forward. They shielded a small hole from view.

"Wipe them out with Thunderbolt!"

"CHUUUU!" Ditto sent volts of electricity in all directions, connecting with each approaching Pikachu. All of them vanished. By the time Drake noticed the hole in the ground, another was being created, and it was right below Ditto.

"NOW IRON TAIL INTO RETURN!" roared Ash, eyes gleaming. Pikachu burst from the ground, his tail glowing, and spun, slamming Ditto itself into the ground. The mouse was not done yet though, enveloping his whole body into a white glow, and charging forward.

BAM! Ditto flew into a wall, creating a loud thud. As the Pokemon slid to the floor, its form slowly reverted, revealing a pink mess knocked out at the base of the wall.

"Ditto is unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner!" called the referee.

"WHAT A START! ASH RED KETCHUM IS NOT PLAYING GAMES, SCORING AN EARLY VICTORY AND KNOCKING OUT DITTO IN A FEW SHORT MOVES!" recited the announcer to cheers. Meanwhile, Drake had called back his little friend, thanking it for a good battle, while Pikachu had returned to Ash's side.

"Pretty good Ash. You surprised me with that misdirection, but we're just getting started. Pikachu's Return seemed pretty powerful, so I think I'll counter with Gengar!" Drake's Ghost Pokemon materialized as a shadow on the floor, popping out with the trademark ghoulish grin.

"Come back for now Pikachu," immediately ordered Ash. Pikachu exited the field, returning to his trainer's shoulder. Ash turned to the other Pokemon that preferred his company to that of a pokeball.

"Ready to go Princess?"

"You better believe it!" retorted Espeon, jogging forward into the battlefield.

"A shiny Espeon? That's something I haven't seen before. Let's see how good she battles though," mused Drake.

"Begin!"

"Mean Look." Gengar's eyes flashed red and a soft red glow immediately enveloped Espeon, locking her onto the battlefield. Ash was unfazed, making his own move at the same time.

"Calm Mind." A second glow emanated from Espeon, heightening her special attack and special defense.

"Shadow Ball!"

Best to dodge for now. If Drake uses his Gengar like I use my own, directly attacking could be bad. I really need to teach Espeon Future Sight for times like this, mentally thought the boy.

"Agility!" Espeon blurred, gaining speed, and easily avoiding the dark orb.

"Follow with Baby-Doll Eyes!" pressed Ash. Espeon stopped moving for a moment, staring down Gengar with a tearful expression, and reducing the ghoul's attack power.

"No more dodging Ash. Shadow Punch!"

"Counter with Psybeam!" Gengar vanished, immediately reappearing in front of Espeon with his fist coated in a dark energy. Meanwhile Espeon's gem glowed bright, ready to unleash her psychic power. The attacks left and arrived at the same moment. Both Pokemon flew backwards, with Espeon landing on four legs and skidding, while Gengar seemed to fall into the floor and escaped Ash's vision yet again.

"Morning Sun!" immediately ordered Ash, taking advantage of the lull in battle. Espeon cried to the heavens, summoning the sun's rays, and healing her wounds. At the same time, Ash appraised the battlefield, making sure not to—

"PERISH SONG!" The attack came from directly beneath Espeon, and she couldn't do a thing to dodge. Her wounds had healed, but she was now enveloped by floating sickly green melodies with physical manifestations.

"I feel woozy," muttered Espeon, swaying from side to side.

"Hang tough Espeon! We're finishing this now," reassured Ash.

"Are we?" Drake asked with a chuckle.

"PSYCHIC ON THE WHOLE FIELD!" The champion's eyes widened, and he responded in turn.

"Sucker Punch!"

"Accept the hit and follow through Espeon." Gengar came forward again first, delivering yet another punch, coated with an energy even more twisted than before. Espeon's feet were planted firmly though, and she didn't even let out a cry, but instead grinned at the mischievous Ghost in front of her.

"This is going to hurt… a lot!" Espeon's eyes flashed a powerful jade.

"GAR!" Gengar was directly impacted by a point-blank, power boosted, super-effective psychic, returning the Pokemon to the air yet again. This time, he landed with a thud, not phasing through the ground at all. Gengar didn't even twitch, and the sick melody surrounding Espeon faded away.

"Gengar is unable to battle!"

"HE'S TWO FOR TWO FOLKS! THERE'S PLENTY MORE TO GO, BUT THE YOUNG TRAINER FROM PALLET TOWN IS ON HIS WAY TO THE TOP!" cried out the announcer, bringing further adulation from the thundering crowd.

"Nice work staying tough Princess," smiled Ash, praising his Pokemon that had already trotted back near him.

"You say the sweetest things daddy," giggled Espeon, leaning into his side.

"I think I'll go with you next Onix!" interjected Drake, sending out the large Rock Pokemon, replacing the already absent Gengar.

Onix? I could use Cloyster or Lapras, but I don't want to take the risk of losing them before Dragonite even shows up. I wanted to save him for Electabuzz, but time to change things up and hope for the best.

"You're done for now Espeon. Time to let another one of your friends shine," spoke Ash, tossing a Pokeball into the air.

"SAUR!" roared the Grass-Poison behemoth, revealing himself to be Ash's Venusaur.

"Begin!"

"Stealth Rock!" fired off Drake. Onix slammed his tail into the ground, launching several spiky rocks that made their way towards Venusaur's vicinity.

"Oh no you don't! Take those down with Razor Leaf!" Ash's Pokemon didn't miss a single beat, eliminating every rock with prejudice, thanks to well-aimed leaves.

"Thought I'd try to make you pay a price for constantly switching out your Pokemon, but oh well," sighed Drake, oddly calm, despite nothing seeming to go right for him thus far. Following the sage advice of Koga from many months ago, Ash ignored the banter, ordering even more attacks.

"Sunny Day." Venusaur cried towards the heavens, summoning the rays of the sun as Espeon had done previously. This time, Drake wasn't having it.

"Sandstorm," grinned the man. Onix blotted out the sun with his own roar, engulfing the battlefield in a fierce gale of swirling sand. Venusaur was visibly agitated, shaking from the tiny grains of sand stabbing at him constantly. Ash didn't fair much better, fighting to keep the sand out of his eyes and maintain visibility. He didn't hear Drake order the next attack, but he did see it.

"SAUR!" yelped Venusaur, getting pushed back by a stream of purple energy that could only be Dragon Breath.

"Shake it off and use Razor Leaf again!" Ash yelled through the storm. His Pokemon thankfully heard the command and shot a barrage forward. Straining his ears, Ash didn't hear any thuds, so he assumed the worst. It came as another stream of purple connected with Venusaur, dealing even more damage.

There's no way we can hit anything in these conditions! If I order a Sunny Day, Drake will just call for Sandstorm again. I have to do something, or this is going to be over and fast. Maybe we don't have to directly hit Onix after all? Let's let Drake's move do the work for us, Ash thought with a curl of his lip.

"GIVE ME A BIG STREAM OF POISON POWDER!" yelled Ash.

"SAUR!" responded Venusaur, shaking his flower with ferocity and unleashing purple spores.

"Keep it up!" called the boy, seeing another stream of Dragon Breath connect. Venusaur kept pushing, fighting the pain, and Ash's plan slowly revealed itself. Sandstorm turned from a light brown to a misty purple, and Onix finally made his own cry of pain.

"VINE WHIP TOWARDS THAT NOISE!" snapped Ash. Whips lashed through the storm, following the sound.

"ROOOOOOARR!" cried Onix again, slapped down to the ground.

"DIG!" screamed Drake. Ash heard this order and couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled a battle against another powerful Grass Pokemon where he had tried to escape with dig. It hadn't ended well for Ash, and it wouldn't end well for Onix.

"WRAP THIS UP WITH EARTHQUAKE!" Venusaur raised his legs up and slammed them home, creating tremors throughout the stadium and seismic vibrations. A large crackling noise echoed through the floor and Onix burst from the ground, flying into the air, and then landed with a thud, almost shaking the stadium again.

"Onix is unable to battle! As Champion Drake has lost three Pokemon, a short intermission will occur during which time the battlefield will be altered. Trainers, call back your Pokemon and return to your lockers. The battle will resume in 10 minutes," declared the referee. Ash wasted no time, returning Venusaur, who looked wiped out, to get him out of the Poison Sandstorm.

"THAT'S A WRAP FOLKS! WE HEAD TO INTERMISSION WITH THE CHALLENGER UP A SHOCKING 3-0! CAN DRAKE TURN THINGS AROUND? STICK AROUND AND WE'LL FIND OUT TOGETHER!" called the announcer amidst much cheering. Looking across the battlefield, Ash met Drake's gaze. The man flashed Ash a grin, giving him a nod of respect, before walking away. All the while, Ash couldn't help but notice the man rubbing that odd Pokeball around his neck.

This isn't over. Not by a longshot. Drake still had three Pokemon, and one of them was Dragonite.

END CHAPTER

Sorry for the wait guys. Real life got in the way and the job has kept me busy. Also started online dating, so that's a thing lol. Anyway, today's chapter saw Ash come to terms with Misty's inevitable departure. We also got the first half of the battle with Drake.

Next Time – Ash and Drake conclude their battle, we have some fallout from the results, and we say goodbye to the Orange Islands at last!

Lucifer Cain Macbeth – Thanks for the review! I am a diehard Astros fan yes! You and I are likely pretty close geographically speaking. Been to many games in my life. Shame about Correa.

Guest – Thanks for the review! I did continue today.

Talesfanjmf – Thanks for the review! Archie and Maxie are going to be a lot of fun, but alas they are gone for a while. Anabel and Serena will continue to cameo from time to time, while Ash adventures in Johto. Can't wait for Casey!

Espeon860 – Thanks for the review! I did what I could with Tracey, giving him a bit of PTSD as my own take, but he was only ever going to be filler, much like in the anime. As for those consequences, they will continue to haunt Ash.

Reader2 – Thanks for the review! Good catch on that discussion with Lugia bit. To be honest, I hadn't thought about that. I'm going to say that Ash kept that to himself. Being chosen by God to save the world on multiple occasions isn't something that just comes out. I'm glad you mentioned Pokemon Heroes, because boy do I have plans for that movie! Still probably 200-300k+ words minimum from that, but I can't wait to get there! As for Casey, I see a lot of myself in that character when I was her age, which is another reason why I am excited to give her a bigger role.

Reader – Thanks for the review! I didn't really know how to write a Kalos Queen arc and I wanted Anabel and Serena to be rivals of sorts, which is why they will both be focusing on battles. Wish me luck for contests when we get there, but yes those will happen. Serena may have a run in at the Battle Chateau on her journey. I like the idea of Sylveon as well. It contrasts well with Ash and Anabel's own Eevee based Pokemon.

Remember to review with your thoughts and critique : )

Smell ya later!