See? I told you guys updates would be somewhat more frequent!

Anyways, not much else to say here, but this chapter will take a more leisurely turn, since last chapter was an epic battle. This chapter also ends part one of the Hearthome Arc, since I do plan on the characters leaving the city by the end of this chapter.

But that doesn't mean Dipper and Wendy will be fighting for their badges in this one.

You see, Mabel, Soos, and the others are getting their badges in Platinum's order, where you get the Hearthome Gym Badge 3rd. However, Dipper and Wendy are going in Diamond and Pearl's order, where you get the Hearthome Gym Badge 5th.

Of course, you might be asking, "Why would Dipper not do the gym now? Why wait?".

I have an answer, and it's in this chapter!

Also, question for you guys: which city do you think you're the most excited for the gang to venture to?

Random question, I know, but who cares? Review with your thoughts on the story and your answer(s). :)

Now, on with the show!

-Chapter 26: On The Road Again-

"You mean...you're the champion?!"

Dipper dropped to his knees in awe.

"Yes, I am! I became the champion back when I was...what, 10? Yeah, about 12 years I've been the best around." Lucas grinned. "But I don't mean to brag. What made you two want to fight?"

"Well, uh...we hadn't battled in a while...so, um...we just...wanted to." Mabel said. "So you're really the champion?"

"Mabel, how many times does he have to explain it?" Pacifica crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"Ah, I haven't witnessed a battle like that since way back...oh sorry, rambling." Lucas took something out of his pocket; a Pokeball. He looked directly at Dipper. "Pretty good choice you made with picking Chimchar as your starter. Your Monferno looks like it's in good health!"

"W-Wait, huh? ...you're talking to me, right?" Dipper started sweating.

"No need to sound nervous, kid." Lucas knelt down to Dipper's level. "You should heal your Pokemon, then show 'em off to me. I want to see them!"

"...oh, yeah! Right!" Dipper sprinted off towards the Pokemon Center, followed by Mabel.

"Ack! Damn it!" Wendy grunted, yanking out the frosted Pokeball again. It leaped up and opened, Rotom popping out on its own. "Rotom, what the hell is your problem!?"

"Whoa, a Shiny Rotom?!" Lucas asked in disbelief, stepping back a bit. "Lucky find! It's even changed forms!"

Wendy looked at the champion. "Huh? Changed forms?"

"Yeah, lots of Pokemon out there can change forms! A few legendaries, like Rotom, can change as well!" Lucas explained. "Changing forms is like evolving in a few ways, but it can also be reversed. Your Rotom is in it's refrigerator form, making it a Ghost-Type and an Ice-Type! It's Electric-Typing changes!"

"Wait...huh?" Wendy looked at her Rotom. "That does explain the ice attacks...Ice Beam, I guess...but that doesn't explain it's sporadic behavior."

"That could be because of a certain...quirk a lot of Pokemon have." Lucas rubbed the back of his head. "It might consider you too weak to be the one giving it orders, and in order to keep it's loyalty to you at a strengthened point, you have to keep getting Gym Badges."

"That...doesn't make any sense." Wendy shrugged.

"Here." Lucas unpinned something from his beret and handed it to Wendy. "It's a Friendship Ribbon. It could help make your Rotom more loyal."

"Oh…" Wendy took it and observed it. It was a simple golden bowtie shaped ribbon with a red sphere in the middle. She took no time in pinning it onto her Rotom, placing it on it's right "door" like a normal refrigerator magnet. "Thanks."

"No problem!" Lucas smiled, crossing his arms.

"Hey! Lucas!" Dipper waved as he ran over with Mabel. "We're fully healed!"

"Great!" Lucas said, turning to them. "How long have you guys been journeying?"

"A month, as of today." Mabel grinned.

"Wow, and you're already here in Hearthome City?" Lucas said. "You guys move fast...took me 2 and a half months just to get here on my journey!"

Dipper then decided to ask a question. "Wait, so...if you're the champion, then your badges-"

"All eight." Lucas interrupted, taking out a golden badge case and opening it. There they were; the Coal Badge, the Forest Badge, the Relic Badge, and five other badges.

"Whoa...that's amazing!" Dipper said in awe. "I only have two...the Coal Badge and Forest Badge."

"Only two, huh?" Lucas asked. Then he smiled. "Well come on, I'll see your Pokemon at the gym! Let's go get you a third badge!"

Dipper smiled. "Planned on going there today, anyways!"

So the group walked off towards the gym.

"Hey, Lucas." Mabel began. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you, the champion, here of all places?"

Lucas smiled. "Because I felt like exploring the region again!"

"Oh, neat!" Mabel replied.

"Yeah, it's been a while since my journey. A long while." Lucas said.

'Though to be truthfully honest, I'm here because Professor Rowan called me in to check on you guys...'

After a minute of walking, having to travel up to the top right area of the large city, the nine of them reached the Hearthome City Gym, though they were shocked to see it condemned, closed off from the public and surrounded by police officials.

"What the…?" Lucas sprinted over to an officer. "Hey! Officer Jenny!"

"Hmm?" Officer Jenny looked towards Lucas. "Sorry, Mr. Champion, but we can't allow you on the scene of the crime."

"What happened?!" Lucas asked as everyone else sprinted over.

"The gym will be closed for some time." Officer Jenny explained.

"Huh?" Mabel gasped.

"Why?" Dipper asked.

"It's the leader...Fantina." Officer Jenny replied. "She was shot by an unknown assailant."

"Oh god...who could've shot her…?" Lucas sighed as he and the others sat in the Pokemon Center.

"The doctors did say she would make a full recovery, and the bullet wound wasn't fatal." Dipper reassured the champion. "But now where am I supposed to battle for my third badge?"

"There's a gym in a place called Veilstone City." Pacifica pointed out.

"We were planning on heading there after we received our badges from the gym here." Candy added.

"I say we head there together in a bit." Lazy Susan piped in. "We've been in this city for a while, and there isn't much left to do."

"Aw, but I wanted us all to partake in a contest…" Mabel frowned.

Dipper smiled and pat her on the shoulder. "Mabel, when we come back here after Fantina's recovered, we can enter a Pokemon Contest after my battle with her, okay?"

"Yeah!" Mabel grinned and pumped her fists in the air.

"Solaceon Town is on the way." Lucas pointed out. "I have some family there that run a Pokemon Day-Care, so can we stop by?"

"Eh, I don't see why not." Dipper shrugged.

"Wait, Day-Care? As in...baby Pokemon?!" Mabel squealed. "They sound so cute~!"

"Hehe, I bet you'll like what they've got." Lucas chuckled. "They have plenty of Pokemon, from Buneary, to Glameow, to Pikachu...even a Bulbasaur and a Mudkip."

"Huh? But...aren't those, like, starters from other regions?" Wendy asked.

"Bulbasaur is from Kanto, and Mudkip, Hoenn." Soos said. "At least, I think that's what the book said…"

"Nah, you're right. They are from those regions." Lucas said. "The parents, though, birthed them in Sinnoh, so these guys are purebreds."

"I can't wait to meet them~!" Mabel blushed and pressed her hands against her cheeks.

"Then what are we waiting for? Come on!" Lucas and the others got up and left the Pokemon Center. "But before we leave…"

"Huh?" Dipper looked up.

Lucas looked down at him and grinned. "I have an accomplice to meet with, first."

"Veilstone is utter shit." Gideon muttered to himself as he and Deuce patrolled the streets of Veilstone City. The city was massive, the second largest in Sinnoh, with a population of over 3,200. It was, however, very dangerous; people were constantly mugged, and Pokemon battles got violent.

"Agreed." Deuce said. "I still don't understand why you don't just go challenge the Gym Leader. I mean, you're strong enough as it is, and you have the ability to-"

"I'm waiting for Dipper to catch up." Gideon interrupted.

Deuce was silent for a moment. "...why?"

"Because it wouldn't be fair to just leave my rival behind in the dust." Gideon grinned. "I can use him for a lot of things in this city, anyways."

"...I'm envious." Deuce changed the subject.

"Hm? About what?"

"You had a Master Ball, and you used it to catch a legendary." Deuce stated firmly.

"Yes, I did just that. I caught Regirock in the Wayward Cave with it." Gideon nodded in confirmation. "Your point being?"

"Well...why did you catch it? Won't that, like, disrupt the balance of the Earth or something?"

Gideon chuckled. "Oh Deuce, you don't get it."

"Huh?" Deuce asked. "Get what?"

Gideon turned to him, grinning. "Something's gonna come, something big, and it'll change this world forever."

-(End Of Chapter)-

Interesting chapter? Yes? No?

Not much else to say. Go vote on my new poll by the way, and tell me how long you think Lucas should stick with the group.

Cipher? Here:

QHAW FKDSWHU ZLOO EH LQWHUHVWLQJ. EH UHDGB.

Good luck!

Hope you all have enjoyed this chapter, reviews are highly appreciated, and as always…

Stay Tuned!

~087-B