Paul and Lotus rested under a tree. The two were enjoying the shade that the tree provided. It was a hot day, and all of Lotus's Pokemon were playing by the water.

"Paul, why don't you let your Pokemon out to play?"

Paul was about to refuse, but he saw Lotus's deep blue eyes staring into his own, and he knew he couldn't refuse. He sighed and let his Pokemon out. All of them rushed over to play with Lotus's five Pokemon.

Lotus grabbed the violet egg off the ground and held it tightly. Epiphany flew over and nudged the egg with her nose. She smiled and flew in circles.

"What does that mean, Epiphany?"

The egg in Lotus's arms began glowing and Lotus sat it on the ground. She rushed to her bag and grabbed a blanket. Cracks began appearing all over the egg and Lotus picked it up with the blanket. When the egg finally broke apart, Lotus pushed away the pieces to reveal a baby Venonat. The baby girl Venonat looked up at Lotus with loving eyes.

"She's so cute!"

Paul walked over and took a look at the Venonat.

"Hey, there's something weird about her."

"There's nothing weird about this adorable baby Venonat!"

"No, I mean, her eyes are blue and she's a light purple."

Lotus took a closer look and realized that Paul was right.

"Oh, wow. That just makes her even cuter!"

Lotus gently hugged the Venonat while she tried to come up with a good name for her.

"How about…Vena?"

"For what?" Paul asked.

"For her name, Paul! Geez, get with the program!"

Vena wiggled and smiled at her new name. She tried jumping out of Lotus's arms, but Lotus tightened her grip a bit.

"Vena, I don't want you to hurt yourself, so I'm gonna carry you. Okay?"

Vena nodded and cuddled close to Lotus.

"Come on, Paul. I need to call my dad and tell him the egg hatched. Where's the nearest town?"

"Solaceon is just over that hill."

Lotus nodded and returned all of her Pokemon, except Vena. Paul did the same and began leading the way to Solaceon.

At the Pokemon Center, Lotus went directly to the phone. She dialed her father's number and waited impatiently for him to pick up.

"Hello?"

Her father's face appeared on the screen and Lotus smiled.

"Hi, Daddy!"

"Lotus! Good to hear from you! How are things?"

"Everything's fine, Daddy. How's Raichu?"

As if answering her question, Raichu popped up on the screen, looking sad.

"Rai…Raichu…"

"He's been depressed since you left. It's hard to get him to battle. I'm still winning, of course, but it's been tough without my man helping me out."

Lotus frowned at the news, but her face brightened quickly when she felt Vena wiggling in her arms.

"Daddy, do you remember that egg I told you about?"

"Yes, I remember. Why?"

"It hatched just a few minutes ago!"

Lotus held Vena in front of the screen. Her father gave a low whistle of appreciation.

"What's up with its eyes? Why're they blue? And why's the Venonat a lighter purple than usual?"

"I'm not sure, but I think it makes her even cuter. Her name's Vena."

"Rai! Rai Raichu!"

"I think Raichu wants to meet Vena. And he wants to see you again, for real. Maybe you should come by for a visit."

"I'll think about it, Daddy. I still have some more badges to get, though. Plus, I'm traveling with Paul now."

Lotus motioned for Paul to come over. He waved slightly at Lt. Surge.

"Do you remember Paul, Daddy?"

"Of course I remember him! I always remember the ones that put up a good fight! It's rare that someone beats me on their first try, and that kid did it pretty quick, too. I was impressed by him. It's good to know you're traveling with someone so strong."

"Daddy! I'm strong, too!"

"I know you are, Lotus, but I worry. After all, you're my daughter."

"I know. I have to go, Daddy. Bye!"

"Bye, Lotus."

"Rai!"

Lotus hung up and turned just in time to see three people walk into the Pokemon Center. She jumped up from her chair and rushed over. Vena was wiggling and cooing in her arms.

"Aren't you Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town?"

"Yeah, that's me!"

"I knew it was you!"

"You know me?"

"Yeah, I watched you battle my dad's Raichu with your Pikachu in the Kanto region (I just now realized that Surge was in Kanto)."

Ash looked confused, so Lotus turned to the other boy there.

"Brock, you have to remember me. You were at the battle. I challenged you later with my Togepi."

"Lotus!" the two yelled at once.

Both hugged her, making sure to be careful of the baby Venonat in her arms.

"It's so good to see you guys again!"

"You, too, Lotus. By the way, this is Dawn."

"Nice to meet you, Dawn. I'm Lotus."

"You, too, Lotus."

Dawn looked down at Vena and squealed.

"That Venonat is so cute! And the blue eyes make her even cuter!"

"I know! I love her eyes! Her name is Vena."

"She's adorable!"

While Dawn and Lotus both talked about how cute Vena was, Ash and Brock were remembering when they first met Lotus.

~Flashback~

Ash was standing at one end of the field, ready to battle Lt. Surge.

"Hi!"

A girl his age with pale blond hair and deep blue eyes walked over. She held a Togepi in her arms and had a smile on her face.

"Hey. I'm Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town."

"I'm Lotus. Are you here to challenge my dad?"

"Surge is your dad?"

Lotus nodded and her Togepi began wiggling in her arms. She set the Togepi on the ground and it waddled away.

"Be careful, Epiphany! By the way, you should know that my dad is tough. Have you seen the Pokemon Center? It's full of his challengers. He's rough, and so is his Raichu. Be careful."

Lotus's eyes landed on the Pikachu that rested on Ash's shoulder.

"Your Pikachu is so cute!"

Pikachu blushed and rubbed the back of its head.

"Pika Pi…"

Epiphany walked back over and pulled on Lotus's leg. Lotus picked her back up and held her tight.

"Trust me, you better have a good strategy."

Lotus walked over to where Brock was sitting with a girl that had orange hair. She sat next to Brock and set Epiphany down in her lap.

"Hi."

Lotus turned and saw Brock talking to her.

"Hey. You're Brock, leader of the Pewter City Gym, right?"

Brock nodded.

"Why are you here? Why aren't you in Pewter?"

"I got someone to take over the gym for me. I'm traveling with Ash and Misty."

"Misty?"

"That's me!"

Lotus looked around Brock and saw Misty smiling at her.

"Nice to meet the two of you. I'm Lotus."

"Are you here challenging Lt. Surge, too?" Misty asked.

"No, I'm his daughter. I watch all of his battles."

"You're his daughter?!"

"Yeah! This is my Togepi, Epiphany."

"She's so cute!" Misty squealed.

"Hey! Quiet over there!"

Lotus turned and glared at her dad.

"Shush up, Daddy! I'm trying to talk to Misty!"

"Lotus, front and center."

"Yes, sir."

Lotus walked over to her father with Epiphany still in her arms.

"Lotus, when I have a challenger, I don't want that kind of disrespect. My soldiers don't talk to me that way. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good girl. Now, go sit with the other two."

Lotus nodded and went back to Misty and Brock. She took her seat by Brock and set Epiphany on the floor.

As the battle between Ash and Lt. Surge went on, Epiphany wandered on to the field. Lotus grabbed her before she could get hit by the monster electric attack that her father sent at Ash's Pikachu. The Pikachu fell to the ground, overpowered by the Raichu.

Ash grabbed his Pikachu and rushed to the Pokemon Center. Lotus went with him, along with Brock and Misty. She sat by him in the Pokemon Center while they waited for Pikachu.

"Don't worry, Ash. Raichu's never hurt any Pokemon too bad. He has too big of a conscience. Believe it or not, Raichu hates hurting other Pokemon. It's kinda weird that my father caught and evolved it, but, oh well."

Lotus left the Pokemon Center with Epiphany in her arms. As Ash stared after her, he couldn't wait for his next battle, so he could see her again.

~End Flashback~