Later: the match

"Hey Jira… do your best." Ash thought, as Red Satoshi sat next to Hop in the stands.

"Hey… Ash."

"What's up?"

"I'm here to cheer for my friend."

"That's awesome, Hop. He was… and is… my best friend now." Ash said. "He's been there for me for the last two years. And honestly, he kind of brought me back to normal."

"Ash… are you sure you're ready to return to your normal life?"

"Kind of. I'm still not sure on how other people will react. I'm afraid of the media."

"Ash, I would honestly burn down all the media organizations", Hop smiled. "You should join me in this one."

"It's a promise." Ash laughed.

"Oh hey, he is here."

"The last battle of the second round will be between Jira of Postwick Town and Tara of Lumiose City! Get ready for a Galar vs Kalos showdown!"

"Competitors", the referee said, "this will be a three-on-three battle. The first who will render the other's Pokemon unable to battle will be declared the winner. Additionally, in this battle, you will be allowed to use one of the following: Mega Evolution, Z-Move and Dynamax."

"Battle start!"

"Ferrothorn, I choose you!" Tara shouted.

"Rhyperior, let's show them!" Jira said.

"Power Whip!"

"Fire Punch!"

"Oh hey, I haven't seen Rhyperior in a while", Ash said. "This guy only battles with Latios and Weavile, I swear."

"Well yes, Ash. He has a special relationship with these two. But it doesn't mean his other Pokemon aren't strong."

"Gyro Ball!"

"One more Fire Punch!"

"Rhyperior is a Pokemon he met as a Rhyhorn. And it's from the Kalos region. He befriended it at a race and it wished to join his team!"

"A race… does he mean he met it there of all places? Where I once competed alongside…"

"And now you'll see its abilities. Rhyperior is able to take a lot of hits, Ash."

"I'm happy. That's what I know I'll be facing at one point. I want to battle against the strongest." Ash spoke.

"Ferrothorn! Let's finish this", Tara shouted. "Use Explosion!"

"Eh…?" Jira thought. "Rhyperior, Protect!"

The dust settled and Ferrothorn has fainted. Rhyperior's shield was cracked, but it managed to stand up.

"Ferrothorn is unable to battle! Rhyperior wins!"

"Good job, Ferrothorn." Tara said, thanking her grass/steel-type. "We're just getting started."

"Return, Rhyperior."

"It feels so weird to watch all of these battles in person. I haven't really thought about it, but me standing here to watch other battles… this is a feeling I haven't felt in a while." Ash thought.

"As I'm watching Jira battle…"

"Weavile, let's show them!"

"Darmanitan, I choose you!"

"...and I look at this stadium… with thousands of people inside…"

"Darmanitan! Use Flare Blitz!"

"Weavile, charge forward, let's use Night Slash!"

"…and I imagine Jira standing here when I battled Hop and Lucas before…"

"Weavile! Are you okay?"

"Weav!"

"Ice Shard!"

"Fire Punch!"

"...I feel happy. Now I'm wondering… what if…?"

"Darmanitan is unable to battle! Weavile wins!"

That was quite a shock, seeing as Darmanitan seemed to hold the momentum. But a flurry of critical hit Night Slash attacks ended its spell.

"Now. Let's see… if she sends it." Jira thought.

"Weavile, take a rest."

"Jira! You've done well to push me this far. But my third Pokemon… heh, will blow you away." she smirked. "Diancie, I choose you!"

"Yep. It's what I thought." Jira thought, as the small rock Pokemon came out on the battlefield. Knowing it was powerful, Jira sent Rhyperior back out.

"Rhyperior. We need to finish this quickly. Wait, wha-"

"Diancie! Share your bond with me!"

"Oh dear."

"Mega Evolve!"

And Mega Diancie appeared on the battlefield. This Pokemon was known for its beauty and extremely rare appearences in the wild.

"Jira…" Tara said. "I met Diancie on a hike."

"Oh, it seems you must be a Pokemon Ranger or something."

"That's true. Diancie wanted to go with me. It was scared by human activity in its area. But… it's such a strong and beautiful Pokemon."

"Mega Diancie… what will you do now, Jira?"

"Battle start!"

"Rhyperior, be careful. Watch its movements."

"Diancie! Use Moonblast!"

"Try to run towards it! Block its vision with Fire Punch!"

As Diancie looked up to the sky, it charged a powerful rose blast and shot it straight at Rhyperior. Its opponent somehow avoided the blast, but Diancie's reaction speed was insane. Both Moonblast and Fire Punch missed.

"Rhyperior, Stone Edge!"

"Diamond Storm!"

"Hop", Ash said, "Diancie is a mythical Pokemon, just like Melmetal. I used to have a Melmetal and it blew everyone away with its insane punching ability."

"I think you've told me about it. Diancie must be just as strong. The crowd itself gasped when they saw it show up."

The dust cleared, and Diancie took some damage, but Rhyperior was shot at point blank. It fainted.

"Rhyperior is unable to battle! Diancie wins!"

"Hey, what's that?" Hop said.

"That must be…" Jira spoke.

"Yep. A much neater look on my Diancie. And now… its defense has doubled."

"Weavile! Let's show them!"

"Jira, I would have just sent out Latios", Ash thought. "Then again, who am I to speak? You beat me clean."

"Ice Shard!"

Weavile charged up its quick shot and fired at Mega Diancie. But the Jewel Pokemon seemed to take no damage.

"Ahh, then let's try this. Weavile, wait for its next move."

"Oh, so you'll let me go." Tara smirked. "Earth Power!"

"Weavile, jump towards Diancie!"

"What?" Tara thought.

"Night Slash!"

As Weavile swiftly dodged its opponent's Earth Power, it set up a flurry of Night Slash attacks. The third hit was a critical hit and really damaged Mega Diancie, crashing it to the ground.

"Diancie, rise!" Tara shouted.

"Ugh…"

"Use Moonblast!"

"Weavile! Block it with Night Slash!" Jira shouted.

As the struggle between Moonblast and Night Slash was building, Ash suddenly received a notification on his Rotom phone.

"Umm… I'll check after the match." he thought.

"Hey Ash! Look!" Hop said.

Diancie and Weavile were huffing and puffing at this point. They both seemed very tired.

"Is he going to win with just two Pokemon after all?" Ash said.

"Weavile! Let's finish this."

"Weav."

"Diancie!" Tara shouted as she raised her hand. "Diamond Storm!"

"Cut them down with Night Slash!"

Weavile proved supreme in this clash and cut down the hard stones one after the other. These looked so sharp they made Stone Edge look like a joke.

As Weavile found itself in front of Diancie, the final command was heard.

"Ice Punch!"

"He's done it." Ash smirked.

"Yes! That's our Jira!" Hop shouted.

The dust cleared, and indeed…

"Diancie is unable to battle! Weavile wins! Therefore, the match goes to Jira of Postwick Town!"

"Oh no… Diancie, thank you so much." Tara said with a tear in her eye, as she returned the Jewel Pokemon.

The two shook each other's hands. The day was finally over for our heroes.

Later

"Hey, about that notification…" Ash said. He was with Hop and Jira in the locker room.

"Oh, it's from Goh. Let me give him a quick call."

"…"

"Moshimoshi?"

"Hey Goh, it's me Ash. How are you doing?"

"Oh hey there, Ash! I'm doing just great! It looks like we're taking a break from Project Celebi. I have great news for you… I'll be there to cheer for you for the rest of the tournament."

"Really? I'm so glad you're coming!" Ash happily smiled.

"I'll be at Wyndon Stadium tomorrow. Can't wait to see you again, Ash!"

"You're such a good sport, Goh. Thank you for your support. See ya tomorrow!" Ash said.

"It's been eight months. Heheheh. This could be a trial round for what's to come." Ash thought. "But still, eight months with no vacation in-between… this Celebi must be on a completely different level compared to Mew. I'm wondering where would Goh be if he actually decided to challenge gyms and whatnot. He already has Mew and Cinderace, so…"

Later, that night

"Pikachu." Ash said. "Goh is coming."

"Pika? Piiikaaaa!" the electric mouse happily yelled.

"Yeah! I'm sure you're excited to see him. It's been a while, after all."

Goh was the only previous travelling companion of Ash that knew what was going on with him. Goh and Ash, as mentioned before, were keeping in touch from time to time. He was going to come here in a platonic way, despite it being eight months now. At this point in time, Ash did not tell Goh yet about what he was about to do.