The two spend a good while people watching while resting after the ordeal with the ghost attack. Busy people hurrying back and forth carrying out all manner of mysterious machinations.
A middle aged man crosses the street in front of them, dressed in a nicely tailored suit the colour of healthy grass, bowler hat poised primly upon his head, a pair of round spectacles framing close set beady black eyes. His pace lending credence to the possibility he's incredibly late for an important business meeting.
Three young girls in school clothes have gathered by a street food vendor selling ice cream begging the frazzled looking gentleman running the cart for sample after sample of the delicious looking treat.
A mother walks by pushing a stroller, toddler strapped in, face messy, passed out after what must have been a very busy day for them. A herdier prances along beside them loaded with a carrying pouch full of groceries, proud look on its face as it helps their family with daily chores.
The city itself seemed to be a character in all of this hustle and bustle as well. Tall buildings towered over the city center, most likely many of them holding either office workers slaving away or apartment homes neatly stacked on top of each other in order to save space for a city rapidly outgrowing it's smallish footprint what with mt coronet tending to be unwilling to retreat against the progress of humanity.
Bright coloured billboards line a portion of the skyline, advertising the next great pokétch tool or some wild new energy supplement meant to boost your pokémon's battle stats to "the next level!"
"How do they get away with advertising that junk?" ash contemplates, knowing that they target new young trainers who don't know any better.
finally though, he feels like he can move again.
Body still aching slightly he lifts his arm from around misty's shoulder and moves to stand up even though his legs try to rebel against the motion. Carrying that lost girl all the way here really took a lot out of him, running basically on adrenaline the entire way extremely shaken by the attack and how off guard they had been caught. Misty rising with him, holds tightly onto his arm and asks "where to now? I don't know about you but I feel like I could eat a mudbray right now!
"I can never understand how you have such a huge appetite for food." he replies laughing a little.
"it's not the only large appetite I have ash.." squeezing him closer to her as she says this.
"what do you mean?" he remarks, clearly not getting her hint.
"I'll just have to show you later.."
Moving further into the city they pass more colourful signs and posters advertising all manner of extravagant goods and services till one in particular takes ash by surprise.
"oh wow! She did it!"
"what is it ash, do you know her?"
They're looking at a poster for a pokémon contest series, background bright pinks and purples and square in the center is a lovely looking woman in a form fitting silver and white dress and long flowing hair that was blue like deep waters of the ocean. Posing down at her feet was an adorable piplup, happily smiling and proudly waving pom poms matching the colours of the woman's dress. Bold letters across the top clue them in on the pictures purpose, which ash reads aloud.
"join us live as the next wave of pokémon contests land in a town near you now! Witness up and coming contest coordinators challenge the dazzling dawn and her precious piplup in a bid to topple the current reining contest queen! Check your nearest contest hall for show times and details regarding participation."
"is this the dawn you travelled with?
"yeah, it's totally her!" he shouts loudly, feelings of exhaustion apparently long forgotten.
"we should see if we can see one of her shows misty, it seems like it'd be a great time!"
"I'm sure we'll be able to go if they're travelling all over sinnoh.." she says feeling a little tinge of jealousy creeping into her voice at the sight of ash being so excited to see mention of a past traveling companion.
"when we have the chance we should swing by a contest hall and find out where they'll be performing next!" he says excitedly. Then much to misty's surprise he takes her hands in his ands stares directly into her bright blue eyes exclaiming joyfully "first though, you're hungry. Why don't we look around town and you can find us a nice place to eat yeah?"
Unable to resist the sheer force of his positivity she smiles and nods saying "I'd really like that!"
He gently kisses her forehead and leads her off towards what looks like a little shopping district.