Chapter 15: The Bonds of Friendship

Well, we have been pretty damn busy, in fact just yesterday we had helped a Flabebe find a new flower, and though it might not sound like a big deal, those Fairy types are lost without their flowers.

Right now though, we had stopped in the next town, and were looking at a billboard, depicting an upcoming pokemon battle, and you'll never guess who was battling! Diantha! The Kalos region Champion!

"Wow! A huge pokemon battle!" Ash marvelled.

"And it's taking place right here in town!" Clemont smiled.

"Must be pretty big names to have it advertised." "Luna." Natalie and Nightrise shrugged.

"We should definitely go!" Ash cheered.

"Wait, you guys don't know?" "Froak?" Me and my partner asked.

"Know what?" Ash and Natalie raised an eyebrow.

'They-they really don't know Diantha is the Champion?' I gasped in my head. 'Where has everyone been!?'

"Wait..." Serena said as she examined the billboard more closely. "It is! Diantha's doing an exhibition battle!"

"Thank you! Someone else who knows her!" I emphasised.

"Awesome! So...who's Diantha?" We all collapsed comically at Ash's bluntness.

"How could you not know who she is?" Serena said.

"She's the strongest trainer in all of Kalos-" Clemont started.

"-The Champion!" I finished.

"Yep!" "Nenne!" Bonnie and Dedenne agreed.

"Really!? No kidding!?" Ash gasped, looking back at the poster. "Diantha the Champion, huh?"

"So this is Diantha." Natalie said as she folded her arms.

"I'm psyched!" Ash smiled.

"Not only is Diantha the Champion, she also happens to be a world famous movie star." Serena elaborated.

"Movie star?" Ash echoed.

"Just have a look up there." Serena gestured to a billboard depicting her...how did we not notice that?

"That's her in the blockbuster: 'My Sweet Lady'." Clemont explained.

"Elegant with a dignified presence, the all around perfect leading lady." Serena praised her. "I so admire her."

"Me too! For her strength!" I stated. "To become a Champion. I need to be as strong as her someday!"

"Yes! That's it!" We all looked at Ash. "I'll challenge her!"

"Pika!" Pikachu agreed.

"Huh!?" Serena gasped.

"In that case, I'll ask her to marry Clemont!" Bonnie cheered.

Clemont sighed. "That's even more ridiculous..."

"Are you out of your mind!?" I shouted. "Diantha is a Champion! She's on a level FAR higher then us!" I just stopped and sighed. "Forget it, I know I can't stop you."

"Nope!" The Kanto native stated bluntly. "Besides, don't you wanna battle her too, Elliot?"

"Of course I do! But I know my limits...at our current level, we'd be fighting a pointless battle."

"Froakie." My partner crossed his arms and nodded solemnly.

"No harm in trying." Natalie smirked whilst Nightrise just sighed.

"C'mon! Let's go see her!" Ash declared as he started running.

As we ran after him I abruptly stopped, and began to think. "Froak?" My starter asked quizzically.

"I'll catch up, I just gotta take care of something!" I called after them.

"Okay! But don't be late!" Ash called back as they all ran off, Clemont bringing up the rear wheezing and puffing.

"Froakie?" Froakie asked.

"The truth is Froakie, somethings been on my mind lately."

"Froak? Froakie Kie?"

I nodded. "It's Espurr."

"Froakie?"

"Well, not Espurr herself, it's her pendant I'm worried about. It's very fragile, and I know it means a lot to her, and I'm afraid of it getting damaged, and I don't mean in battle. What if we get ambushed or it's dropped or something? Espurr would be devastated.

"Fro..."

"So, I was thinking that we could look around and see if we could find something to help. And we'll still have time to go see the battle, so whaddya say?"

Froakie looked like he was thinking for a minute before he nodded. "Fro Froak."

"Alright! So uh...where to start?

OCXY

I walked along the street with Froakie on my shoulder, deep in thought. "We want something durable...something that can fit over a pendant...and something that can resist fire, ice and electricity." Just saying it out loud made the standards seem crushing...

Eventually though, we found what looked like a jewellery shop. "Maybe we can find something in here." I walked through the door, hearing the ring of a bell, and looking towards the counter to see an old man, with a friendly looking face.

"Why, hello there young man." He said as I walked up to the counter. "What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for...er...something." I failed to come up with a name for what I was looking for. "Something that can fit over a pendant, is very durable, and impervious to pokemon attacks."

The man rubbed his chin in thought. "I see...hold on a second." He turned away from me, and looked through some drawers whilst me and Froakie waited. "Ah-ha! Heeeere we are."

He got out a beautifully crafted locket, a gold colouring with a symbol of a flower in the centre. "I think this will do you. Resistent to all types of pokemon attacks."

"Wooow." "Froooo." Me and my partner breathed, holding it delicately. "How much is it?" He pointed to the drawer he got it from, which showed a price tag. "WHAAAT!? HOW MUCH!?" "FROOOOOAK!?"

"It is a one of a kind." The man shrugged.

I sighed as I handed it back to him. "Never mind then...thank you for your help..." I then turned and walked out of the shop in defeat.

"Froooak..." Froakie sighed.

"I guess I did set my expectations too high..." I admitted. "Guess I'll just have to put that idea on hold..." Not looking wear I was going, I bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry."

I looked up to be met with a pair of sunglasses. The woman in front of me wore them, as well as a fashionable black coat and hat, she looked pretty secretive. "It's alright." She waved it off.

"Fro! Froakie!" Froakie tapped the side of my head.

"Huh? What's up, Froakie?" I then remembered. "Oh no! The exhibition battle! I forgot!"

"Hm? Are you talking about the battle Diantha was in?" The woman asked.

"Y-Yeah!"

"Sorry, but that finished ages ago."

"Wha-!? Awwww..." I hung my head in defeat. "I guess its my own fault...I wanted to see Diantha battle..."

"Hey, cheer up." The woman said. "I'm sure you'll have another chance."

"No way." I shook my head. "Diantha's always busy, I've just lost a one time chance..."

"Hmmm...I know!" The woman said. "Why don't you come with me? I was just heading to a restaurant famous for its chocolate cake."

"Chocolate cake?" "Froak?" Me and my partner perked up, before looking at her sceptically, Alexa had told me about strangers...but hey, chance of cake! And I have all of my pokemon on hand. "If you'll let me accompany you, then thank you."

"It's no problem at all." She smiled before we started walking. "...Hey, what are you doing walking out of a jewellery store? You don't look like the kind of guy for that."

"No, your right." I admitted. "The truth is, I was trying to get something for my Espurr."

"Your Espurr?"

"Yeah. The thing is she wears a pendant that's very important to her, and I'm worried about it getting broken, so I was looking for a locket to help protect it. But the one I found was way too expensive..."

"I see..." The woman said. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll figure something out."

"I hope so..."

OCXY

"What!? You've run out!?" "Froak!?" Me and my partner gasped.

"I'm terribly sorry, but it's just incredibly popular." The store clerk admitted.

"To think we came all this way just to have a slice of the award winning chocolate cake." The woman sighed. "End of the world."

"You can say that again..." "Froak..."

"Elliot?" A familiar voice perked my interest and I looked to see my friends at a table. "Where have you been?" Serena asked.

"Sorry, I got sidetracked." I said sheepishly. "Uh, this is my new friend." I gestured to the woman beside me.

"Ma'am, if it's just one slice, we can share ours with you and Elliot." Ash offered.

"You will?" My acquaintance asked.

"Sure." Ash nodded and we walked over.

"Haven't I seen you all before?" She thought aloud.

"Huh? Have you met?" I asked.

She responded by lowering her glasses to reveal crystal-like eyes. "It's me."

"Huh!? Diantha!?" We all shouted.

'I've been casually walking around with the Kalos Champion!?' I shrieked in my head.

"Shhh." She hushed us, before smiling.

OCXY

"So good!" We all cheered at the taste of cake in our mouths, Clemont had successfully divided the pieces up using one of his inventions (That DIDN'T explode!) and tucked in equally.

"Miss! Please accept my apologies for being so informal with you!" I bowed.

"Froakie!" Froakie copied me.

"You've already apologised several times." She giggled.

"It's not nearly enough!" I stated.

'How could I have been so blind!? To have the Champion of the Kalos region walking right next to me!' I thought in panic as they talked. 'What if she thinks I acted rude to her!? Ahhhhh!'

"Excuse me? Diantha?" Oh god, Ash! "Please have a pokemon battle with me!"

"What did I tell you!?" I shouted as I ran up to him. "Miss Diantha is the Champion of Kalos! You can't just straight up ask to battle her!"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that." Natalie agreed with Nightrise nodding for emphasis.

"Alright."

We all turned to her. "I usually turn down unofficial battle proposals, but you shared your chocolate cake with me, so just this once."

"Yes!" Ash cheered with a merry little dance.

"Because of cake?" My jaw dropped.

"He must have the dumbest luck ever." Natalie sweatdropped.

"Battle against the Champion, eh?" Another familiar voice called.

"Professor Sycamore!" I realised as I saw him, minus his lab coat.

"Good to see you again Elliot, looks like your doing well." He grinned. "If you don't mind, I'd like to come and watch."

OCXY

And so there we were, sitting on the side whilst Ash and Pikachu faced Diantha and her Gardevoir. 'He's doomed.' Froakie nodded, as if he heard my thoughts.

"I really hope to see a Mega Evolution this time." The professor smiled as he held up a recorder.

"All right! Battle begin!" Clemont announced.

Champion Battle!

Diantha and Gardevoir vs. Ash and Pikachu!

"You may go first, Ash." Dianthe offered.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"Pika! Chuuuuuupika!" As Pikachu struck with its tail, Gardevoir dashed back to dodge!

'What? She didn't even give a command...' I thought.

"Now follow it with Quick Attack!" Pikachu dashed forward and back, but Gardevoir swiftly dodged again!

"Use Electro Ball!" Again, dodged. "Now, Thunderbolt!" The same result. "Huh? It dodged Thunderbolt too!"

'Is Gardevoir acting independently?' I mused in my head.

"All right, it's my turn. Shadow Ball go!" Gardevoir generated a sphere of darkness between its hands before launching it, hitting Pikachu full on with a huge explosion launching the electric mouse skyward.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried before running over and catching his partner, the force pushing him back into a tree.

"Ash!" Serena called as we ran over to him.

"To be fair, we tried to warn him." "Lune." Natalie and Nightrise sighed.

"Oh man, that hurt." Ash groaned. "But I'm fine, buddy are you okay?"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu nodded.

"All right! The real battle starts now!" He fist pumped.

"You still wanna battle?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah!" She sighed at his response.

"Well, that's Ash for you." "Froak." We said.

Suddenly Gardevoir was trapped in an energy cube! "Oh no..." Me and Natalie sighed.

"Since that Lunatone twerp is here, I don't think we can do out motto." James admitted.

"For once your right." Jessie sighed.

"Thank you." Natalie emphasised.

"But dat won't stop this!" Meowth said as Gardevoir was lifted up to their blimp.

"You again!?" I shouted, turning to Diantha. "They're Team Rocket, and they steal other peoples pokemon!"

"Because they have nothing better to do." Natalie added.

"How despicable." Diantha said.

"You flatter us with your kind words." James bowed.

"Return Gardevoir!" Diantha commanded. "Shadow Ball!" Her pokemon launched its attack, but it had no effect!

"Oh, smashing." James praised sarcastically.

"Nothings gettin' outta this box!" Meowth followed up.

"Aaaand goodbye." Jessie threw a block down that spewed out a bunch of smoke, when it cleared the blimp was gone.

"Why those-" I angrily got out a pokemon. "Vivillon! We need-"

Diantha held an arm out to stop me. "It's okay, I'll take us right to them." I raised an eyebrow.

"Diantha, do you know where Gardevoir is?" Professor Sycamore asked.

"Yes." She nodded, so we followed her as she explained how she had been seperated from Gardevoir in a mountainside. "But then my Mega Pendant began glowing, and I felt like I knew where Gardevoir was, so I followed my thoughts and I found her! Later my manager Cathy Lee told me that Gardevoir had appeared from its Poke-Ball on its own."

"That's a deep bond..." "Fro..." We commented.

We eventually reached a cliff. "Gardevoir's up ahead!" Diantha said.

"It's them!" Ash yelled, pointing to their blimp peeking over the trees.

OCXY

We eventually reached their location and hid in the bushes. "There they are..." Ash said.

"Everyone, I want you all to stay here." Diantha told us.

"But-" We started.

"It'll be fine." She reassured us as she walked out. "Alright, you listen, I want my Gardevoir back."

"How did she find us?" James gasped.

"The threat means nothing." Jessie waved it off.

"We'll see." Diantha smiled. "Gardevoir, let's show them the power of a strong bond!"

"Voir." Gardevoir nodded.

The Champion clutched her Mega Pendant, causing it to shoot out multicoloured trails of light that connected to Gardevoir's.

"It's just like the four way battle we saw..." I breathed.

"Now, Gardevoir! Mega Evolve!" The light burst forth brilliantly, the Mega Sigil showing as Gardevoir reached its Mega form.

"Check it out!" Ash cheered.

"Amazing! It Mega Evolved!" The Professor grinned.

"Wow! What a sight!" Serena clasped her hands in delight.

"Incredible!" Clemont quipped.

"It's so cool!" Bonnie squealed.

"So THAT'S a Mega Gardevoir." Natalie said.

"Use Shadow Ball!" "Gaaardevoir!" Diantha's Mega Evolved pokemon launched numerous Shadow Balls, obliterating the box.

"Our box is junk!" Meowth coughed.

"Excellent work." Diantha smiled as her pokemon returned to her. "Now, Moonblast!"

"Gaaaaaardeeeeeevoiiiir!" An illusion of a moon appeared behind the pokemon, before she launched a burst of pink energy that utterly destroyed the group.

"Amazing!" Me and Ash cheered as we all ran over.

Gardevoir smiled before she was enveloped in light and returned to normal.

"It changed back!" Bonnie marvelled.

"Right, unlike an ordinary evolution, Mega Evolution isn't permanent." Sycamore explained.

"I'm glad you got Gardevoir back, Diantha." I said.

"Thank you, Elliot." She smiled along with her pokemon. "And that reminds me of something. I was wondering if you would battle with me?"

I stopped for a second, my mind processing what she had just said. "...You...want to battle me?"

"If that's alright." She shrugged.

I looked at Froakie, and he nodded. "Champion Diantha, I accept your challenge!"

"Froakie!" Froakie jumped off my shoulder to face Gardevoir.

"I don't think we need an announcement, do you?" Diantha asked.

"Nope! Let's battle!" I said.

One More Champion Battle!

Diantha and Gardevoir vs. Elliot and Froakie!

"We've gotta find out how Gardevoir dodged first..." I mumbled. "Froakie! Use Water Pulse!"

"Frooooooakie!" Froakie launched a sphere of water, which Gardevoir dodged predictably.

"What is it?...Use Bubble!" "FroaKIE!" Froakie spat energy bubbles, but this time, I looked at Diantha.

'She nodded!' I realised. 'Gestures! That's it! But she can't dodge a sweeping attack!' "Use Lick in a sweeping motion!"

"Froaklie!" Froakie whipped his toungue at her, but she ducked under it!

"Use Shadow Ball!"

"Froakie! Dodge" Froakie jumped back from the Shadow Ball, but the impact force still sent him skidding back.

I smiled. "There's no way we can beat a Champion at our current level."

"Froakie." Froakie nodded.

"But..." I took my hat off. "We're gonna go down fighting! Use Quick Attack!"

"Froakiiiie!" Froakie charged forward at blinding speed, jumping towards Gardevoir.

But before he could hit, he was blown back by a powerful gust of wind. "What's that?" I called over the wind.

"Diantha!" I looked up to see a helicopter with Dianthe's manager in it.

"What timing..." "Froak..." Me and my partner groaned.

OCXY

As the sun began to set, we all stood in front of Dianthe. "I'm sorry, I couldn't finish either of our battles, but they were fun."

"Us too!" We agreed.

"Thanks so much for all your help." She said.

"Will we ever see you again?" Serena asked.

"I wanna talk to you more." Bonnie pouted.

"You shouldn't bother her." Clemont whispered.

"No, it's alright, I'd like to see you again too." Dianthe nodded.

"I want to thank you for helping me with my research, it's helped a lot." The professor thanked the Champion.

"I'm glad I was able to help." Dianthe said. "And Elliot, here's something for you." She gave me a small box.

"What's that?" Ash asked as I opened the box.

"It's the pendant from the shop!" I gasped.

"I called in a favour for it." Dianthe explained.

"Dianthe, thank you!" I got out a Poke-Ball. "Espurr, come on out."

The ball opened and Espurr appeared in a burst of light. "Purr! Espurr!"

"Espurr, this is for you." I delicately clasped the locket around her pendant. "Perfect!"

"Espurr!" Espurr cheered, jumping on me for a hug.

"I'm glad you like it." I smiled.

"It's so pretty Espurr!" "Denne nenne!" Bonnie and Dedenne cheered.

"Well, take care everyone." Dianthe bid us farewell, getting into the helicopter.

"Dianthe!" I called to her. "I'm planning to enter the Kalos League, and my dream is to become Champion! So I hope I'll be able to battle you again!"

"I hope so too." She smiled.

"Take care!" "Froakie!" "Espurr!" We all waved her off.

"Well, I'd better get heading back." Sycamore said. "Take care everybody."

"Bye Professor!" We all called as he walked off.

"Listen guys." Natalie said. "I gotta be going too."

"What? Why?" We all gasped.

"I've decided to travel south to catch some more pokemon. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"Don't worry about it." I smiled. "We'll see each other again."

"Yeah, I'm sure of it." Natalie nodded as we shook hands.

"Lunatone." "Froak!" "Pikapika!" "Espurr!" "Nenne!" The pokemon said their goodbyes as well.

"Good luck guys!" She waved to us, which we returned.

"Awww, now its just the five of us again." Bonnie pouted.

"But we still have each other." Clemont said.

"And that's still great!" Serena said.

"And we can still move on together!" "Pikachu!" Ash and Pikachu cheered.

"So it's onto the third gym!" "Froakie!" "Espurr!" We all grinned.

Next Time: The team prematurely meet the third Gym Leader, Korrina and she joins their journey! But it seems Korrina and Elliot have a thought of knowing each other from somehow, just how exactly are these two connected?

I HAVE RETURNED FROM THE DEAD!

Yes, This IS apalling, but I have a very good reason: I lost interest.

BUT with the spoilers for upcoming episodes (LOOK AT THE SPOILERS! I'M STILL FANBOYING OVER THEM!) I got remotivated, and so here I am. PLUS this FF has over 10,000 views! It's mind-blowing!

And now I shall ride away on my Latios to escape the criticisms of the lateness. *Rides away*.