For the practical purposes of this story, we will take into account that time passes normally in the Pokemon world, so Ash and his friends can get older. Ash will be 17 years old and a few months

The Manalo Festival

MONDAY

The Manalo Festival

It was a quiet day in Cerise Park, Goh was taking care of his multiple Pokemon while Ash took advantage of that and was taking a nap in the shade of a tree. But Ash wasn't really sleeping, he was just taking advantage of the quiet moment to think. A couple of weeks ago it had been the meeting with Chairman Rose and Eternatus ... that had left him very confused. Why was there always someone who tried to take advantage of the Pokemon to fulfill their evil plans? ... Well, not everything had been bad, Lucario had evolved during the battle. And not only that, he had also learned Aura Sphere. In fact that was excellent, Ash could feel it in Lucario's Aura, he was getting stronger every day. But ... would it be enough to get to the master class? Could he advance in the rankings enough to challenge Leon? Would he be able to beat Leon with his current team? Should he use his other Pokemon? ... Ash didn't really know the answer to any of those questions, and thinking about them only confused him more and more.

He wasn't doing badly in the rankings, but he hadn't been very dedicated in looking for battles lately. Maybe he should dedicate exclusive time to battles for a few days? ... Ash was in that sea of questions when he was suddenly interrupted by the sound of his cell phone

- Hello?

- Alola Ash, It's Professor Kukui

- Hello Professor, is everything okay over there?

- Yes Ash, everything is excellent ... getting ready for the Manalo Frstival

- The Manalo Festival? I don't remember there was something like that last year ...

- Of course not, it is a new festival that we will celebrate to promote the Alola League ... as you know, the league is very new and is not well known by trainers from other regions. That's s why many of the festival events will be broadcast on TV.

- That's excellent Professor! It would be great if trainers from all regions came to compete

- That's right, that's why among the main events we will have exhibition battles with the Kahunas, Royal Battles, interviews, a small tournament ...

- Sounds amazing! When it starts? I'll be watching the TV, I don't want to miss the Kahuna's battles ...

- Actually Ash, that's why I called you ... as the first champion of the Manalo Conference we need you at the festival ... you are our main guest

- Me?

- Sure! The exhibition battles with the Kahunas would be against you, I would like you to participate in a few Royal Battles, and of course people want an interview from you, they want to know more about the current league champion...

- Really? ... in that case, count me in Professor!

- That's what i wanted to hear! I also wanted to ask for your help with something else ... last year being the first edition of the League, it was open to everyone, without the need to get medals or something like that ...

- Yes, I remember ...

- That was mainly to encourage participation, but now we need to make some changes ... we need to find a way for the trainers to show that they are capable of competing in the League We need to look like the other leagues, be just as competitive as they are

- That's great news!

- Ah?

- Don't get me wrong Professor, I am very proud to have won the league ... but it was a strange thing not to have had to win any medals ... and I am not sure that the initial round has fulfilled the real objective of determining if the trainers were stronger enough to continue in the following rounds ...

- I agree with you on that, and that is one of the modifications we have planned ... The favor I wanted to ask you was that you help us prepare a new format, and thus be ready for this year's version

- Of course Professor! ... in fact I already have some ideas ..

- Wonderful Ash! I already spoke with Prof. Cerise to find out if it was possible for you to come for a couple of weeks

- A couple of weeks?

- Yes, the Festival will last two weeks ... in a few minutes I will send you the program with the activities that we have programmed so far, so that you can prepare and choose your Pokémon

- Ah ... ok Professor, thank you very much

- Oh, and Ash ... Bring your best Pokemon ... we want to show the trainers from other regions that the Alola League is not an easy league ... so it would be ideal if you could show off your strongest Pokemon and those crazy battle combinations that only you know how to do

- Oh ... sure Professor, don't worry, we will put on a great show!

- Cool! I'll wait for you here next Friday then, see you soon!

- We'll be there!

When he hung up, Ash looked at Pikachu and with a big smile said

- Well Pikachu, it seems that it is time to return to Kalos

- Pika?

- Go back to Kalos? What are you talking about? - asked Goh, who had been approaching and had managed to hear Ash's last comment.

- Oh ... Professor Kukui called and ... - after explaining to Goh and Pikachu everything he had discussed with the Professor, Ash began to explain why he should now return to Kalos - ...Greninja had to stay in Kalos to help repair all the evil stuff that Team Flare did ... that was just over a year ago, so he should be able to return by now ..

- Ok ... but what does that have to do with Professor Kukui's call?

- Well, he said I should bring my best Pokemon, and obviously Greninja has to be with us

- How strong is your Greninja?

- Oh, you have no idea how much

At that moment, Ash's cell phone rang again, a message had arrived

- It's from Professor Kukui ... he sent me the program

- Let me see! - Goh said taking the cell phone - Wow! Yeah, that will be a busy few weeks ...

- Yes, but it sounds very exciting, right Pikachu?

- Pi Pikachu!

- We'll have many battles ... and we can see the others ... we have to call Charizard and Squirtle! - Ash said, getting more and more anxious - And we must train! ... oh, I already want to teach Charizard a Z move! ...

- Ash ...

- And the others! Do you think Sceptile and Infernape want to give it a try?

- Ash ...

- Ugh!, how I would like to have a Hydrostal Z, for Buizel or Greninja ...

- ASH!

- Huh? Sorry Goh, I think I got a little excited ...

- Do you think I can go with you?

- We should asked be Professor Cerise first, but I don't see why not ... it will be great! Come on! - Aah daid before start ranking. Ash and Pikachu ran to the lab, Goh behind them.

- Hi Ash, you look excited ... I think Professor Kukui already spoke with you ...

- Yes, thank you so much for letting me go

- You are the current champion of the league Ash, obviously I could not refuse

- Professor, can I go with Ash? - Goh asked

- Sure! In fact I was going to ask you ... there is still a lot of information about Alola that I do not know, and this would be a great opportunity for you to see local Pokemon in battle

- Thank you so much Professor! I'll make sure to collect a lot of information

- Professor, I was wondering ... do you mind if I go to Kalos for a few days? I must go find my Greninja before I go to Alola

- Not at all, I've heard a lot about your Greninja from Professor Sycamore, I'd love to meet him in person. Goh, why don't you join him?

- Cool! - Goh responded excited

- When do you want to travel Ash?

- Hopefully tomorrow ... the truth is that I don't know where Greninja is, so I'll have to look for him ... I don't think it will take long to find him, but ...

- You mean we'll have to go all over Kalos looking for him?! - Goh asked alarmed

- I don't think we'll have to do that, most likely when we arrive I'll find out where he is

- Ok ... - Goh replied not very convinced

- Well in that case it is better that you leave tomorrow - Professor Cerisse concluded

- Thank you Professor!

That night Ash had a lot of trouble falling asleep, he was too excited by the events of the day. First the call from Professor Kukui, that had been a great surprise. Now he could see his friends and Pokemon again ... plus he would have many battles!

After chatting with Professor Cerise, Ash had called the Charicific Valley and Officer Jenny... Charizard and Squirtle would be arriving at Professor Oak Lab at the weekend. He could hardly wait to see them!

Then he had bought tickets to Kalos and called Clemont to tell him that they would be arriving in Lumiose City tomorrow afternoon. He will finally see Clemont and Bonnie!

Definitely trying to sleep was useless, so Ash decided to go out for some air to calm down a bit... outside he lay down on the grass to look at the stars and think ... but quickly the emotion he felt began to transform into nervousness. ..

"The battles against the Hakunas will be amazing ... which Pokemon should I use? Professor Kukui wants me to bring my best teams ... Will I really be able to "show off" as he wants?

Can I prove that the Alola League is not an easy thing? ... I don't want to disappoint them ...

What will happens if I lose the exhibition battles? ... the trainers from other regions will not want to participate"

- Ugh, this is useless! I'm just getting more nervous ... will anyone be awake? - Ash wondered, as he looked at his cell phone searching among his contacts if there was someone online - Misty? Why is she online at this hour ...

"Ash: Hi Misty! Can we talk?

Misty: Ash? What are you doing awake at this hour? is everything alright?

Ash: Yeah, it's all fine ... I just can't sleep. What are you doing awake?

Misty: There was a power outage a while ago, it just came back and that set off all the gym alarms...

Ash: Can I call you then?

Misty: ok ... "

- Ash? Are you sure everything is okay?

- Hello Misty ... yes, I just needed to talk to someone ... I need to clear my mind...

- Ok, what's going on ...

- Today Professor Kukui called me... - Ash began to explain, telling her the whole conversation - ... and tomorrow we'll go to Kalos to look for Greninja ... Charizard and Squirtle will arrive at the weekend.

- That's excellent Ash! I'm sure it will be a great festival!

- You think? But ... what if I lose the exhibition battles? No one from the other regions will want to participate ... and everyone in Alola will be very disappointed that I am the champion of the league ...

- Wait a minute! Didn't Professor Kukui say he wanted you to bring your best team?

- Yes he did...

- And didn't you just say that Charizard, Squirtle and Greninja will be joining the teamn in a few days?

- Yes...

- And your Lucario evolved recently, right?

- Yes...

- Then, Whats the problem! You don't have to worry Ash! You have excellent Pokemon, you are an excellent trainer and you always have the craziest but effective ideas in battle

- Yes, but ...

- But what Ash? What are you really worried about?

- It's just that ... of all the leagues I've participated ... I only managed to win in Alola ... and I'm very proud of that, but... it wasn't as competitive as the others... it wasn't... I don't know...

- I understand ... Ash I want you to listen to me and pay attention. Yes, perhaps it was not as competitive as the others Leagues, and perhaps you felt that it was not a greater challenge to reach the final, but that was not only because of the league ... YOU are the one who has been growing and improving as a trainer, creating that feeling that "it wasn't that difficult"

- ... Maybe...

- Believe me Ash, I'm right ... just think about it ... in Sinnoh and Kalos you were very close to achieving it, and only using your regional team... I can assure you that if you had used some of your more experienced Pokemon the result would have been different

- ... I...

- Don't get me wrong, I think that was a very wise decision from you ... maybe the result in the league was not the best, but you stayed true to your ideals ... creating new bonds, always trusting your Pokemon and his abilities... that in the long run made you and your Pokemon grow, and has made you the great trainer that you are now ... a trainer with a very varied group of Pokemon ... a trainer that thanks to his travels and friends now have knowledge and skills that no one else has ... traveling with May, Dawn and Serena has inspired you to create many strategies, hasn't it? ... seriously Ash, you are a great trainer

- Thanks Misty ... - Ash said with his throat a little tight - do you really think I can manage to "show off" as Professor Kukui expects?

- I'm sure Ash ... besides, if you're still not really sure about what I'm saying ... it's just a matter of training! The festival doesn't start for another two weeks, that gives you time to train, think of some crazy strategies, and teach Z-moves to your other Pokemon.

- It's true ... thanks Misty, I'm not so nervous anymore ... I think hehe

- You're welcome Ash, it's not the first time that I have to give you a little touch of confidence ... as long as it doesn't go to your head, Mr. Pokemon Master

- Jaja no ... believe me, I already learned my lesson about it - Ash said remembering his losses to Gary when he returned from the Orange Islands and the Battle Frontier

- Well! Seeing that you're calmer, I think I'll go to bed ... it's too late

- Oh sorry Misty, thanks for the help! Rest well!

- You should also go to bed soon ... good night Ash

- Good night Misty

Despite Misty's advice, Ash did not go to bed immediately... he stayed for a long time thinking... but this time about all the movements and strategies he wanted to train with his Pokemon before leaving for Alola.