"Excuse me?"

Ash looked to his side, seeing a girl with an official-looking uniform hurrying up to the path. "Yes, ma'am?"

Slowing as she arrived, the girl gave them all a quick look. "Hi – sorry about the inconvenience, I've not found time to put the signs back up yet. They blew down in..." She shook her head. "Sorry, that's not the important bit. Anyway – I'm afraid you're entering a reserve area, so no catching Pokémon and try not to startle them."

"Right!" Ash said. "Got it. Uh... how far does the reserve go? If the signs are gone..."

The girl pursed her lips. "You're right, that is a bit of a problem. Tell you what, it's fairly quiet recently – I'll lead you through. I need to look at the eastern side anyway, and I'll be glad of the company."

"Sounds alright," May agreed. "Is it a big place?"

"Not really, about ten miles on a side..." A shrug. "It's basically here because it's sometimes too far to the Shikoku Reserve."

"Oh, are you a Ranger then?" Brock asked.

The girl nodded, tapping her belt – indicating a compact device clipped to it, which was clearly a Styler. "Yep. Ranger Katerina, that's me."

She shrugged. "Though I barely use it, in all honesty – not much need to..."

"Why not?" Max asked.

Katerina gave him a grin. "I've got my own ways of dealing with unruly Pokémon or trainers."

Putting her fingers in her mouth, she blew hard – making a shrill whistle.

Three loud barks followed, and a trio of Mightyena came loping out of the underbrush nearby. May jumped at how close they'd been, and Ash gave a small smile.

"They seem quite formidable," Lucario noted. "Fit and sleek – and well coordinated."

"Yeah," Katerina nodded, ruffling the fur on one's neck. "They're all from the same litter, and I couldn't find anywhere to foster any of them... so I just raised them all myself. They're only recently evolved..."

For a moment, she looked a little downcast, and sighed.

"Anyway, they've worked pretty well for me."

"Is there a problem?" Ash asked.

A higher-pitched yap heralded the arrival of the problem, as a Poochyena came hurrying into the clearing before skidding to a halt.

"Sorry, guys..." she said, panting. "I really tried to keep up..."

"We know you did," replied one of the Mightyena. "It's no fault of yours."

"But..." Poochyena huffed. "I really want to be like you three. I really want to evolve... and I just can't."

"It's just a matter of time," her bigger sister said. "None of us hold it against you."

Poochyena looked like she was more than annoyed enough at herself to make up for that.

"She sounds upset," Ash said, indicating the Poochyena with a nod.

"You could tell she's female?" Katerina blinked. "That's quite impressive."

"It's her voice," Ash replied. "It's pretty obvious now I know what to listen for."

Katerina decided to take that at face value. "It sounds like you could probably do my job for me..."

"Actually, I guess we could help," Ash added. He glanced at Max for a moment. "She's upset she can't evolve, and I can help her with that pretty quickly."

There was a little indrawn breath from Max.

"How?" Katerina asked. "You can't just... make a Pokémon evolve. Can you?"

"Ash can," Brock said immediately and with deep conviction. "On at least one occasion, a Pokémon he was facing evolved twice."

Ash crouched down, and caught the attention of the Poochyena. "Hey," he said, softly. "Can I have a word?"

The Poochyena looked up, still a bit upset, and regarded him for several seconds before nodding and padding over.

"This is going to sound pretty unbelievable," Ash went on. "But it's all true. First – I'm an Aura wielder."

"No way!" the biggest of the three Mightyena said, taking a step forwards.

"Way," Lucario intoned solemnly, making May hold in a giggle.

Ash shifted a bit, getting more comfortable. "And – and this is the crazy bit, the big-secret bit – Max and I met you before, in the future."

Poochyena tilted her head on one side. "What?"

Her siblings didn't seem all that clear either.

"Because of that, I can..." Ash shrugged. "Well, I can give you memories of when you evolved, with Max's help, and that will mean you evolve again. It's your choice, though."

"If it means I evolve – I grow up – then I'm all for it," Poochyena said firmly. "I don't want to be left behind – or slow my brothers and sister down. Do it, please."

"Sister, you should think about this for a bit longer-"

"He's got a Lucario!" Poochyena barked. "You honestly think he's not trustworthy?"

"It's not that, and you know it."

Poochyena growled. "It's my choice!"

"And it's one you should think over," Ash told her. "They're right, it is a big choice."

Her ears went down, flattening a little. "I... okay, I guess. Give me a minute."

While the argument had been going on, Max had rummaged in his pack.

"Can you help out, Kris?" he said softly.

Sure thing.

"Poochyena?" Max said.

She looked up.

"I remember what happened when you evolved too," he said. "I was wondering... well, if you had any questions, I guess."

Poochyena frowned, then nodded. "I guess you're Max, then. He said you helped me – how?"

"I think the best word for it is that I trained you," Max told her, reading the translation of Kris' main screen. "Gave you a few tips, taught you Bite, took you out with me to get some practice in... we had a battle with some Pokémon thieves, and..."

He shrugged. "That was enough, I guess."

"Then..." Poochyena looked lost. "You were my trainer?"

"No," Max shook his head. "I was too young. I still would be, but Ash is helping me be a young trainer and so I'm allowed to start early."

Poochyena frowned, thinking that over. She stepped forward and gave him a long sniff, then stepped back again.

Then she turned to Ash. "Okay," she said.

Ash held out a hand, and she contemplated it for a moment before shaking it.

There was a white flash, and a moment later a Mightyena stood there.

A moment later, Max was bowled over by a very happy Dark-type with a furiously wagging tail.

May started forwards, worried, but then relaxed on hearing Max laughing breathlessly.

"Hey! Stop it – that tickles!"

"I'm glad you came back to meet me!" Mightyena said, licking Max to within an inch of his life. "I know it's kind of strange..."

"You can say that again," Max agreed, trying half-heartedly to fend the big canine off. "You really missed me?"

"I did!" she told him whole-heartedly. "You helped me, and I always hoped you'd come back!"

May gasped. "Max!"

"What?" Max asked, finally managing to sit up again, and reaching up to give Mightyena a rub. "What is it?"

"Max – you understood her!"

Max blinked.

"...you're right!" he said, after a moment. "I really did!"

"How did you?" Mightyena asked, as her siblings approached to congratulate her.

Max frowned. "I... almost got that. Sorry, it's still not quite working right, I guess..."

There was a flash as his starter's Pokéball opened.

"Hi!" Blitz said, looking Mightyena up and down. (Mostly up.) "Nice to meet you!"

Another flash came from Ash's direction, and Houndoom loped over. "Can I join in?"

"Should... we help him?" Brock asked, as Max became the epicentre for a half-dozen happy canines of various typings and sizes.

"I think he's fairly happy," Ash said with a shrug.


Some minutes later, the various dogs calmed down enough for things to continue.

"...so I guess I'm starting to get the hang of that Aura thing," Max said, keeping one eye on Kris' screen to make sure he got translation for anything he needed. "It's still not working very well, but... yeah."

"Sounds good," Mightyena said, tossing her head. "It'll be nice if you can understand me..."

"You mean..." Max looked a little worried, but mostly happy. "You do want to come with me?"

"Sis..." the largest of the four siblings said, and smiled – tongue lolling out for a moment. "We'll miss you, but we'd never stop you."

"Actually-" Max began.

"Well, I can see where this is going," Katerina said, shaking her head. "I'll miss you, you know."

"Wait, there's-"

"I'll miss you guys too," the newly evolved Mightyena said, looking down for a moment. "But-"

"Ash!" Max said loudly. "The transceivers?"

"...oh, yeah, that would solve this," Ash admitted. "Mightyena can come back for a visit really quickly if she wants."

Katerina blinked. "...right. So much for that heartfelt goodbye..."

"I don't have to choose!" Mightyena announced happily.

There was much tail-wagging.


"Okay, so..." Max pointed. "You've decided?"

Shroomish nodded. "Guy," he said. "It's a joke, like the Mike one, but it's one I think more people will actually get."

Max thought about that once he had the translation, then nodded. "Okay. It's your choice, and I'm fine with it."

The newly-named Guy smiled. "I'm glad!"

"And... I guess you've still not decided?" Max added.

Blitz barked an affirmative.

"You're gonna have to make up your mind someday..." he said, scratching the green-yellow canine.

"What about me?" Mightyena asked, a little apprehensively.

"I actually thought of one for you quickest," Max said. "How do you like 'Cinder'?"

"Why Cinder?"

"It's because of the colour of your fur." The Dark-type received a stroke, and leaned into it with a rumble of pleasure. "It's all dark-black, like ashes after a fire... but I can't call you Ashes or Ashen because that would be way too confusing. So... Cinder."

"Hmmm..." A pause. "I like it!"

Cinder promptly gave Max another good licking.


"Max sounds like he's having fun," Brock said, smiling.

"Yeah," May agreed, sitting back a bit.

She thought for a moment.

"Brock?"

Brock looked up from preparing dinner.

"I was wondering... how do you handle meeting people you knew, but who Ash can't restore? I mean..." May shook her head. "Mom and Dad weren't so bad, because they already knew me, but..."

She shrugged helplessly.

"Is this about people like Drew or Haley?" Brock asked.

"That's right," May nodded. "I know it's not all that long until we run into him again, and..."

Brock didn't reply for a few seconds, flipping the burgers over for their final grilling.

"With me it was probably Philena that that mattered with most," he said. "And I really tried to focus on... well, remembering I could save her. It was stressful, but..."

He shrugged.

"I'm not sure what I did, but it must have worked."

May chuckled. "That's a lot of help... thanks, though. I guess."


"Leaf Blade!"

The rock trembled as Sceptile's arm-blade drove into it. When the green glow of the attack faded, there was a deep, thin score cut into the rock surface.

"Nice!" Keldeo said, nodding. "So it's kind of like Sacred Sword, a bit, but it's Grass instead. I wonder if I could do that..."

"I suppose it's possible," Sceptile frowned. "What does your Sacred Sword look like?"

"Oh, yeah, that's right, Ash said you might like this." A brief grin flashed across Keldeo's muzzle, and then he stepped back.

Sceptile blinked. "That's quite a long way... are you going for a run up?"

"Nope," Keldeo said, with a wink.

Then he fired Sacred Sword at the rock.

His attack hit at an acute angle to the one by Sceptile, and there was a small bang as the pressure wave rushed along Sceptile's cut in a complicated way.

"That has potential," Sceptile said, blinking at the sight of the second – deeper – cut. "It seems powerful."

"Yeah!" Keldeo agreed. "Ash and I have been developing it – by now I can do it with just about all my blade moves! I'd love to add Leaf Blade to the mix, though."

"Wait, that's not a normal part of the move?"

"Nope!"

Sceptile considered that.

"Want to trade how to do that for Leaf Blade?"

"Works for me!" Keldeo watched carefully as Sceptile powered up his Grass move again. "Right, so it's kind of... okay... I think I've got an idea now. But... hm, maybe it'll be easier to work with X-Scissor for teaching you how to do the ranged version, at least I know that one already so I can see if you're headed in the right direction..."


"Ash?" Max asked. "I was wondering if you could help me work out a good battle style for Cinder."

Ash nodded. "Sure – but I won't just design one for her, you'll need to do most of the work."

Max blinked. "Uh... I will?"

"Sure," Ash replied. "Don't worry, I'll walk you through it."

He sat down, and checked his own Pokémon were all training nicely.

Swellow, Pikachu and Lucario appeared to be practicing double battle tactics – or, in Lucario's case, hitting highly manoeuvrable targets in midair.

Sceptile and Keldeo were occupied doing things with their respective blade-based moves – something involving X-Scissor, at the moment – and it looked like Mawile was training to handle disorientation.

At least, that was probably why Blaziken was throwing her up in the air and catching her.

A little further away, Larvitar was trying to get Dark Pulse working.

"Right!" he heard Houndoom say. "Let it all build up in your throat, then push it out!"

Larvitar coughed.

"No, not like that..."

"Right," Ash said, turning back. "The first question is – what can your Pokémon already do?"

Cinder frowned. "Right... well, when we had to handle a big Pokémon or person I was usually the one who went in to trip them over. Does that count?"

Max thought about that. "I guess so," he decided, glancing at Ash to make sure he wasn't making a mistake. "Even if you're working on your own, it helps to be able to knock your opponent over – it stops them from chasing you until they get up again."

"Right," Cinder said. "You know about Bite and Tackle... I've still not really got Crunch working, but I can sort of do Iron Tail."

She lashed it as she thought. "And... well, I can Snore, and I have Play Rough. That's about it."

Max nodded. "Okay, I guess... hm. Kris?"

The translation disappeared off her screen. Yes?

"What moves do Mightyena tend to learn?"

"Good work," Ash said quietly, and Max gave a quick smile.

There's quite a list.

Rather than read it all off, Kris displayed it in the air from her projector – neatly organized by type and rough power.

"Hey, that's pretty good," Max said, pointing. "Fire Fang, Ice Fang and Thunder Fang."

"Thunder Fang?" Blitz asked. "I know that one! I can teach her!"

"I'm pretty sure Houndoom knows Fire Fang, too, and Mawile has Ice Fang," Ash volunteered. "That would be a pretty good set of moves, actually."

"Yeah!" Max nodded. "That and Bite – and Crunch, and I guess Super Fang too – would all be the same kind of move, so just one kind of way of attacking for all different Types!"

"I like it!" Cinder said.

"Uh..." Blitz frowned, suddenly struck by a question. "Master?"

"Yes?" Max replied.

"I can do Thunder Fang, right? And I can do Thundershock. Is there a Fireshock sort of move, and could Cinder learn it?"

"That's a really good question!" Ash smiled down at the Electric-type.

"Thanks!" Blitz replied, tail wagging.

"Why don't you give it a go?" Max suggested. "See if you can make your Thundershock come straight from your Thunder Fang, and if you get it to work then you can teach Cinder that as well."

"Sure!"

Max snapped his fingers, remembering something. "Oh, yeah, what about that move you teach half your team, Ash?"

"...which one?"

"Aerial Ace, remember?" Max said. "Could Cinder learn that one?"

"That's a great idea, Max," Ash told him. "It's good against Bugs and Fighting types, which are two of her biggest problems. If she learns that, the only Type she'd still have to be somewhat worried about is Fairy."

Cinder looked confused for a moment. "...why don't I remember ever fighting a Fairy-type? I know I fought a Jigglypuff once..."

"Okay," Ash said, shifting a bit. "So, there was this time I met a Celebi..."


"It was about here, right?" Ash asked, looking around at the shady lakeside.

"Looks familiar," Brock agreed. "I remember more the experience of-"

Ash's foot caught on a root, and he hit the ground hard – flinging his hands out to make sure he didn't land too hard in the bush. His knee hit the root painfully, and a moment later there was a bright flash.

"Where am I?" a large, green-and-yellow Pokémon asked, looking around in confusion. "Brock?"

"Ash!" Max said, wincing. "Are you okay?"

"Only you, Ash," May said, shaking her head. She offered her hand, and Ash took it. "Only you would literally trip over just the right Pokémon."

Ash was a bit scratched when he got up, with red marks on his face, and he pulled a few twigs out of his hair. "Ow. That wasn't much fun..."

"Hey, Brock, isn't this where you caught me?" Ludicolo asked, frowning. "Why are we back here?"

"Okay..." Brock frowned. "Were you with me when Ash, Dawn and I went back in time to early history?"

"No, but I heard about it. That was pretty bizarre." Ludicolo blinked. "Hey, why are you getting what I'm saying?"

"Aura," Ash said, touching a scratch on his cheek gingerly. "Ow... if this is how Celebi's doing that whole run-into-everyone-again thing, she needs to have a rethink. That was painful."

"Think you'll need help, Ash?" Brock asked. "I think I've got some Sitrus cream in my bag..."

"I'll be fine, it'll heal in a bit," Ash waved off.

"So... time travel, I guess?" Ludicolo asked. "Is that why Max has a Mightyena with him?"

"Essentially yes."

"Huh. Trippy."

"Excuse me?" someone asked, and the friends turned to look.

A girl strode up. "Did you damage that berry bush?"

Ash blushed. "I... guess so?"

He reached down, and lifted the berries gingerly off the ground. "I think only these two actually fell off... sorry, though."

"This is our property!" the girl insisted.

"Hey, calm down, you know?" Ludicolo advised, not that she could understand him. "It's not like there's a fence, and that makes it just part of the forest."

"Calm down, Cinder," Max said, stroking her back as the Mightyena thought seriously about growling.

"I'll get my sisters to talk to you!" the girl said. "They'll know what to do!"


"...so, yeah, I'm afraid I did do a bit of damage," Ash said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I grabbed the berries that fell, though..."

The oldest of the three siblings inspected them. "They seem okay, though by the feel of them they're going to bruise. I'll juice them now and we can have them for drinks."

"Uh..." the middle one of the three began. "What's with the Ludicolo?"

"He evolved," Brock said. "Twice."

"...what, at once?"

"I wouldn't be surprised, that's Ash Ketchum," the oldest said. "Remember, Nicole, Natalie? We noticed all his opponents seemed to have their Pokémon evolve?"

"Oh, that's right!" Nicole agreed. "Well remembered, Rita. I hadn't recognized him."

"You're Ash Ketchum?" Natalie said, earlier animus forgotten. "Really?"

"That's right," Ash confirmed.

"Do you have your Ho-Oh with you?"

"...I'm afraid not," Ash said regretfully. "You liked him?"

"Yeah, he was really cool!" Natalie enthused. "The way he used a Water attack as a Fire type, that was neat!"

"I actually came up with that one," Ash told her.

"That's awesome!"

She turned to Brock and May. "Do you have cool Pokémon too?"

"...well, we can't really compete with a Legendary," May admitted. "I've got Blaziken, though, and I think he's pretty cool."

"Was he your starter?" Nicole asked, getting a nod in return. "That's nice, Starter Pokémon are always special."

"My Wailmer lives in the pool out back," Rita said. "Mind you, I never really caught anyone else to go with him, and I've only got one badge... but I don't mind. The shop's enough for me."

"What am I going to get as a starter?" Natalie asked. "Is it going to be something cool?"

"Yes," Ash said, so quickly that neither sister had a chance to answer. "Pokémon are pretty much all cool, and a Pokémon you get to know well..."

"I know one which isn't," May muttered. "Dang Tentacool..."

"Oh, that'd be neat!" Natalie said promptly. "Tentacool are all gross and neat!"

"...I have nothing to say to you."


As they left, Brock let out a sigh of relief.

"Problem?" Ash asked.

"It's just... last time, Natalie kind of got a crush on me," Brock explained. "I wasn't looking forward to letting her down."

"Huh," May said. "That's weird..."

"Maybe it's because you weren't asking her sisters out?" Max suggested.

"...you're right!" May blinked. "Okay, now that just feels strange..."

"...Brock, you sure you're feeling alright?" Ludicolo asked. "'cause now they mention it..."

"This is where I tell you about my girlfriend," Brock replied.

Ludicolo stared for a moment.

"I was surprised too," Ash said. "Professor Ivy."

The Water-Grass type immediately clapped his trainer on the shoulder. "Hombre, if she made it this time, then I take back all my shock."

"But..." Brock blinked. "I never told you about her."

Ludicolo shook his head sadly. "Geodude did, after I asked why you had the occasional nightmare."

They walked on in silence for a bit after that.

"So!" May said, to try and push past the awkward moment. "Anyone feel like entering that contest we're going to run into soon?"

"Ask me later," Brock said. "I don't feel much like discussing it now..."


"I wonder what this is going to be like, actually," May said, a bit wistfully. "This was where I really found out what it was like to be a Coordinator – even if it's only by watching."

"Right!" Max agreed. "I remember seeing – you seemed a lot happier about being a trainer, after that."

May nodded. "Yeah... I was kind of getting used to the idea before, but..."

She shrugged.

"So, Blaziken? Think you and Ethan are ready for this? I think it's a double performance..."

"Double performance?" Brock repeated. "I thought I only saw Dawn do those... weren't those a Johto and Sinnoh thing?"

"Yeah, now I think of it..." Max agreed.

May blushed. "Actually, that might have been my fault. I mentioned it to Mom once – how much I enjoyed the double performances in Johto – and she mentioned it to someone, and... within a few weeks, they'd started doing doubles mixed in with the singles..."

She shook her head. "Anyway. Blaziken?"

Blaziken shrugged.

Our routine is not the most visually spectacular, Ethan commented. Except for Blaziken's bit. My role is essentially to be stepped on.

"Yeah, but it's neat being stepped on," May said. "Oh well, it's your first time... unless one of you guys wants to compete?"

"I don't think anyone's really ready," Max shrugged. "If we were going to do it at all."

"Yeah, I've not thought up much in the way of routines," Ash agreed. "I could work something out really quickly, like Pikachu and Swellow working together or something, but it wouldn't be very polished."

"Well, you know..." May waved her hand. "I just wondered if anyone wanted to have a go. What about you, Brock?"

"Stantler's not really into it," Brock said. "Not yet, at least. And I've already done the routine I worked out with Ninetales and Steelix, so it would be a bit..."

"Yeah, I know the feeling," May agreed. "It's all about variety, partly because by the time you've performed a routine once or twice all the practice means you're already sick of it..."

"That's not a problem you often hear about..." Ash noted.

May shrugged. "It's not as bad as all that... well, I guess there's no need for my first time back in the saddle to be a win, so I don't mind if we give the skystep routine a go."

Blaziken nodded. "Fair enough, then. It'll be interesting."

May sort of got the gist, and smiled. "Thanks, Blaziken."


"Can I-"

"Sorry, last applicant got in just before you," the woman running the desk said.

"...oh," May said, with a sigh. "Ah well. Hey, Ash?"

"Yeah?" Ash replied, coming up a bit behind her.

"You did remember to pick up a Contest Pass, right? And you too, Brock?"

"...good question," Ash admitted. "I didn't. Brock?"

"I got one when I arrived here," Brock answered.

"Right... okay, my name's Ash Ketchum..."

While Ash filled it out, May raised her hands. "Sorry, Blaziken."

Blaziken shrugged. "There'll be other Contests."

"Actually, that's a good point," Brock said. "How many Contests are there?"

"Good question!" the woman at the desk said, as Ash filled out the application form and entered his trainer number. "Each location has a contest at least once a week, and there's dozens of them around Hoenn. You'd have to try hard to not have a good number of chances to win a Ribbon!"

"Thanks," Brock said, nodding. "So I guess it's partly up to the place?"

"Partly," she agreed. "But there's a minimum rate they have to do accredited ones... you sound like you're from Kanto?"

Brock nodded.

"Right, they have a slightly different setup there. Here in Hoenn, there's Contests for locals doing try-outs, and those don't always award Ribbons. It's easy to tell the difference, though, so you shouldn't end up in the locals by accident."

"Done!" Ash said, pushing the paperwork back across the desk, and got a Contest Pass in exchange. "Thanks – that was quick!"

"I'm in practice," the organizer told him with a wink.

"Hey, look!" Max said, pointing. "That's Jess-elina!"

"Wait a minute," May blinked. "Were you the one who took the last contest slot?"

"So what if I was?" Jessie asked, defensively.

"No problem at all," May tried to assure her. "It's just kind of a funny coincidence..."

"Right..." Jessie shook her head. "Anyway! I'm sure you'll love my routine... or else."

"We have to," James said disconsolately. Meowth nodded, and Jessie rounded on them both.

"What's that?"

"Nothing!"


"I wonder what Jesselina's going to do for her routine," Brock said, as they took their seats.

"Good question," May agreed. "She was pretty good... actually, now I think about it her Pokémon should have made it really obvious..."

"Think she'll use Moltres?" Ash asked.

"Not sure..."

"Actually, maybe I should design something involving Ho-Oh, he's been making noises about me using him properly – look!" Ash said, pointing. "She's first!"

"So she is," Brock agreed, leaning forwards slightly. "Let's see what she's got for a routine..."

Jessie tapped her first Pokéball, and waited for about five or six seconds. Then she threw it, threw the second a moment later, and Cubone emerged – visible for a second before a curtain of blue fire spread out as her Marble triggered.

It didn't last long. The pressure of the world forced it to collapse almost as soon as it had begun to appear, but it was long enough to conceal the second Pokéball opening – and when the Marble collapsed, it was with Cubone and Growlie both standing on the contest stage.

Brock hurriedly sent out Ninetales to watch.

Cubone was quick to get started, holding her paws out to either side. A pair of Bonemerangs formed, and she threw them out to either side on long, looping trajectories.

A moment later, Growlie jumped forwards.

As the bones came scissoring back in, he jumped, and they passed underneath his lithe form. He turned as he reached the edge of the stage, running along the edge, and a second pair of bones came whipping in.

These came overhead, and he slid just below before heading around in another turn.

After two more dodges, Cubone sent out a big Bronzor-based shield in a frisbee-like trajectory, and Growlie kicked off it with a clang – making it shatter from the impact – before sailing through the air.

More bones came soaring at him from all directions, from the various bones Cubone had thrown throughout the routine, and Growlie's fur crackled with fire before erupting in a Flame Burst.

The blast destroyed all twelve bones in a shower of sparks, and he landed just in front of Cubone before turning and letting out a loud bark.


"...so, how was that?" Ash asked May.

"Not bad," May allowed. "Let's see how everyone else does."


"I guess sometimes you just get bad luck," James sighed. "I thought it was good, Jessie."

Jessie pursed her lips. "I was better than she was..."

"We don't doubt it, Jess!" Meowth said firmly. "But dat Swanna was kinda a bad opponent for ya in da battle section, 'cause ya couldn't use finesse!"

Jessie had to admit, it hadn't been an elegant battle on her part. The Swanna and the Emolga had been a good, well-polished team, managing a few combination water-electric attacks on Growlie, and about all she could have her pair do in response was try to catch one of them in a Smack Down or just use More Fire.

It had been pretty good, winning her second place, but pretty good wasn't a Ribbon.

"Well, we'll just have to get better," she said. "James? Next time I am going to use Moltres if she's ready!"

James nodded quickly.


"So, how was it?" Ash asked, as they walked across the leafy land bridge towards Rustboro proper. "I mean, compared to how you remember it?"

May gave that a lot of thought.

"Not as good," she said, eventually. "I mean, there were some things where this time I had enough experience to know how they could have done better. But... this isn't the Grand Festival, it's a routine Contest in one of dozens of halls. And... now I know how many Contests there are, in a region, I understand how special it is that they're all about this good."

She smiled. "It's not a couple of dozen people. It's thousands. And they're all doing well and having fun. That's really neat, to me."

"...deep," Max said.

"Hey, Brock?" Ninetales asked. "Do you think Growlie and I could do a routine sometime?"

"That sounds like it would be pretty good, actually," Brock admitted. "And it'd be fun for both of you, too."

"Yep!" Ninetales agreed, all nine tails wagging happily.

"I guess we should work that out next time we see them," Ash said.

He blinked. "And... that might be earlier than I was expecting..."

"What is it?" Brock asked.

Ash pointed, diagonally across the water towards a small wood just outside the city limits. "I'm pretty sure both Wurmple are over in that patch of forest."

"...that makes things easier," May admitted. "At least Beautifly's harder to mix up with Dustox than Wurmple with, well, Wurmple..."


Misty heard a knock on the door, and frowned.

"I guess we'll continue later," she told Golduck.

Suits me fine... Golduck said, gratefully pulling himself back out of the shallowest section of the pool.

As he did, Misty exited the pool herself with a rush of water and brushed the worst off in great sheets – noticing the grilles in the floor catching the water like she'd intended, and smiling at the proof the work had been done well.

"Just a moment!" she called, and grabbed one of the towelling dressing gowns before pulling it around herself.

When she opened the door, hair still wet, she saw Karen standing on the doorstep.

Her fellow Elite Four member blinked. "Uh... is this a bad time? Were you in the shower?"

"No, I – oh, yeah, you've not been inside yet," Misty said. "No, this is pretty cool – come in!"

Karen nodded her thanks and entered. "Okay, that is cool. There's a swimming pool in the front room?"

"There's a swimming pool in every room," Misty corrected. "Except the guest bedrooms and some of the other ones upstairs. And they're connected."

Karen was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "You're way more imaginative than me..."

"What did you do?" Misty asked.

"Oh, just had a few windowless rooms because that way I could fit a really big TV," Karen shrugged. "Yours is much more neat, though."

"I don't know, you might have to invite me over for a movie some time," Misty replied. "What brought you over?"

"Right," Karen nodded. "Well, a few things... the first one was just to say hi, I guess."

Misty nodded. "Yeah, I can understand that. You're from...?"

"Goldenrod," Karen told her. "I know you're from Cerulean. Uh... right."

She shook her head. "Sorry, I'm not really sure what to say..."

"What about if we start with the other things that brought you over?" Misty suggested.

"Right!" Karen said, thankful for the save, and sat in one of the chairs. "Okay... well, I guess the first one is – how'd you get your Mega Stone?"

"It was in the Lake of Rage," Misty replied, sitting down herself. "There was a Shiny Gyarados – that one Lance has now – going mad, and I tried to stop him. It was pretty hard, but Lance showed up and told me that there was a Gyaradosite in the lake... and, well, things happened."

"That's pretty neat," Karen nodded. "So... you found that Gyaradosite at a place important to Gyarados... hmmm."

"Actually, Ash got his Latiasite and Latiosite-"

"Latiosite?" Karen blinked.

"Whoops..." Misty winced. "Oh well, it'll be obvious fairly soon... yeah, he's got a Latios as well. Latias' twin, actually. And both of them were in an important location for Latias and Latios, so you might be onto something there."

"That is interesting..." Karen frowned. "Maybe I should look for a place important to Absol, or Sharpedo or something."

"I'm pretty sure Tyranitar have Mega Stones," Misty volunteered.

"Thanks!" Karen smiled. "Pity I don't have a Tyranitar... ah well, that's a long term project. The other thing was... well, did you hear someone's applying for a Gym license?"

"That'll be the first one we've contested. Right..." the Water-specialist nodded. "Any idea what Type?"

"Fairy," Karen said with a grimace.

"Ouch..." Misty agreed, then blinked. "Wait a moment. That probably means we'll be facing Togekiss, actually – she's my only Fairy-type, but she's actually quite a good choice."

"I've got a Whimsicott, we'll probably have to battle her too," Karen nodded. "Wonder what they'll do about Will's Mr. Mime..."

"Well, I guess if they're setting up a new gym they'll be likely to have a powerful team of their own..." Misty mused. "We'll see, I guess."

Karen nodded. "Makes sense to me."


AN:


Some of Max's Pokémon he met last time are remindable. And a quick look at a Pokémon who does want to evolve.

Brock also meets up with his next not-a-Rock-type; there's a contest of some sort... and Misty's getting into the rhythm of things.

Incidentally, not far to go now until the first gym in Hoenn!