"You're kidding right?" Sam asked. They were sat high in the stands, watching one of the final preliminary battles below them. Sam had spent most of the morning training alone while Mellanie had been talking to Steven and Wallace about the chance to fight against Ash. They had initially been cautious but Mellanie had managed to persuade them. Or more accurately, she had simply waited as they persuaded themselves. They couldn't deny, the Pokémon Master taking on both of them would be an incredible spectacle. And even though they both expected to lose, there would be no shame in losing to the Pokémon Master. He had blown all opposition away since he had taken his title six years ago.

Mellanie grinned as she shook her head.

"No. Champion has agreed to fight against Steven and Wallace at the same time."

Sam sat back in his chair. "I can't believe that I missed that. And that you made me wait until now to find out."

"Well it isn't my fault you vanished." Mellanie said accusingly. "Where did you go?"

Sam shrugged. "I was making friends."

"With?"

"Some people who come from Hoenn but work in Kanto."

Mellanie looked at him with a slightly narrowed eye.

"Anybody I'm likely to know?"

"Nah." Sam said. "Just a Devon Corp exec and his daughter."

"His daughter?" Mellanie asked. "Is that where you vanished off to?"

Sam shrugged again. "She's fun. Not what I'd expect from somebody with such a wealthy background. She's pretty cool."

Mellanie nodded before turning her attention back to the battle below them. As one Pokémon fell, the defeated trainer exited the field. Mellanie glanced at the clock before looking back at Sam.

"Want to grab something to eat?"

A pained look crossed Sam's face. "I'd love to, but I promised Emily I'd have dinner with her. Her father would be a useful contact in Kanto should I beat Lance so I have to stay on her good side."

"I see." Mellanie said, rising from her seat. "Well maybe I'll see you tomorrow. I'll come and train with you if you want."

"I… sure." Sam said as Mellanie swept away. It was easy to forget that the timid girl had a steel to her if you got on her wrong side. Sam rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He didn't know what he had done to annoy her, but an angry Mellanie helping him train promised to be an interesting experience.

Dawn bounced into the almost deserted Pokémon Centre, spotting Mellanie sitting alone in the corner. She was the only person in the room, even Nurse Joy wasn't at the front desk. Dawn wasn't surprised, it was very late. She made her way over to the younger trainer and sat down beside her.

"Are you alright?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah." Mellanie said. "Just a bit tired."

"Probably just need some sleep?" Dawn said. "Hey, didn't you say you are meant to be helping Zane Zito out on analysing the battles?"

"He didn't want me just yet." Mellanie said. "Reckons there's no need for Sam and me in the early rounds. There isn't much worth analysing that his usual experts can do. He only wants me on the bigger fights towards the end for more on strategy."

Something in the way Mellanie said Sam's name caused Dawn to pause. Mellanie was usually withdrawn so getting a text message asking Dawn to meet her was unusual in the extreme. Dawn was trying to work out what she wanted.

"Where is Sam?" Dawn asked.

"No idea." Mellanie said. "He's off with some girl."

Dawn ably hid the smile. It was a running joke in the group that Sam and Mellanie should be dating. Everybody expected it to happen eventually but apparently Sam was off elsewhere. Dawn didn't expect it to last, but that didn't mean it wouldn't hurt Mellanie while she had to watch it.

"No need to worry." Dawn said, but before she could say anything else another voice rang out.

"I always said that's when I would worry the most."

Dawn froze. She knew that voice. Not from years ago, it had changed from then. Not that she was really surprised, it had been nearly thirteen years after all. But the voice was the exact same one she had heard just a few days earlier. Back in Pallet Town, from a man that she thought was gone forever. Suddenly Dawn didn't want to turn around. If she did and he wasn't there… After the hope of him finally being back, Dawn was scared. What if Ash wasn't the same? What if he didn't think she was good enough? Suddenly all the titles Dawn had won seemed insignificant. She remembered the promise that she, Ash and Brock had made years earlier. That she would become the top coordinator, Brock a Pokémon Doctor and Ash the Pokémon Master. Had she kept up her end of the bargain? Ash had become the most powerful trainer in the world, was Dawn truly the greatest coordinator?

Mellanie watched Dawn frozen, trying to summon up the courage to turn around. Mellanie reached out and touched Dawn's hand.

"I didn't need you for anything." Mellanie said softly. "But somebody else did."

Mellanie moved past Dawn, heading straight out of the door, leaving the Pokémon Centre empty. Except for Dawn and the owner of that voice. Dawn could feel a presence behind her, something that told her she had not imagined the voice. Slowly she turned around.

Across the room stood the Pokémon Master. Dressed in his customary black, trousers, undershirt and jacket. Fingerless gloves on hands that held his hat by his side, his face completely visible. Dawn looked into the face of Ash Ketchum, taking in the details. The flawless skin, something that Dawn found hard to understand. After so long away, surely Ash should have a mark. Yet every piece of exposed skin was absolutely flawless, not a single mark. The hair, slightly shorter and no longer messy. Not looking like it had had a hat on it, but Dawn knew it had. And the eyes. Gone were the brown eyes, replaced by one that was bright blue. The other was dark, almost lifeless. As Dawn took the sight of Ash in, she felt the power of his presence reduce, almost as if it was trying to hide.

"I never listened." Dawn said quietly, subdued by the emotions raging inside her.

Ash smiled as he stepped forwards, closing the distance between them.

"You always were a difficult student." Ash said. "Always ignoring me."

"I… I know." Dawn said.

Ash stopped a few feet from her. It was now that she realised how big he was. Not just in height although he stood a good few inches above her. His physical size was intimidating, creating a presence that was even more obvious close in. He looked down at her.

"I'm sorry." Ash said.

"You… what?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for never saying goodbye properly." Ash said. "Thirteen years ago. After I left Sinnoh and went home. And then for vanishing for so long. It was never what I planned."

Dawn took a deep breath. Despite her blasé attitude when she had first met Ash after finding out who he truly was, this conversation was much harder. Being caught by surprise didn't help, a meeting on her terms would have been much better.

"Where did you go?" she asked.

Ash shrugged. "It doesn't matter now. Pikachu and I left, heading out to the wilds to train. Then he left. And I never came back."

Dawn didn't say anything. Ash's face was emotionless, but she could only guess at the pain of having his first Pokémon leave. She didn't know what she would do if Piplup ever chose to leave her. She wasn't sure that she wanted to ask about what had caused Pikachu to leave. In all the years he had been around Pallet Town all Pikachu had said on the matter was that Ash was dead. Which now was clearly not true.

"Why…" Dawn started but then stopped. Ash looked down at her, emotion showing on his face at long last. An emotion that she had hoped to see but had never expected. Kindness.

"Go on." Ash said. "Ask. I'll not be offended."

"Why are you here?" Dawn asked.

"Because I said I'd try to reconnect to you." Ash said. "And I keep my word."

"So that hasn't changed then?"

The corner of Ash's mouth turned up slightly in a smile. "No. That hasn't changed." He paused, considering his next words. "I know I'm not the same person I was before Dawn. But neither are you. Nobody is the same as they were thirteen years ago."

Dawn didn't say anything so Ash pressed on.

"In Pallet Town you asked where I'd been. I spent seven years training. After Pikachu left… I couldn't come home. I didn't know where Pikachu was, but I didn't want to see anybody and explain why he had left."

Dawn started to speak but Ash held his hand up, silencing her.

"I was ashamed. The shame of losing Pikachu added to the shame of losing to Tobias. It hurt. I only came back when events forced me to do so. Otherwise I'd have stayed out in the wilds for years."

"It was legendary Pokémon that beat you." Dawn said. "There was no shame."

"They aren't easy to beat." Ash said. "Although I do admit, beating Tobias second time around felt good."

Despite herself Dawn felt herself start to laugh. She tried to push it back down but it was impossible. It came on, and within a few moments she burst out laughing. Ash watched her a bemused expression on his face.

"What is so funny?" Ash asked.

"I just can't believe you held a grudge for that long." Dawn said, the laughing making her more at ease in front of Ash. "It just… doesn't seem like you."

"I told you I had changed." Ash said quietly. Dawn nodded, her laughter subsiding as she looked around.

"So what happens now?" She asked.

"I have some time." Ash said. "I'm due to fight Steven and Wallace in six days towards the end of the tournament. But until then I am mostly free, although I do have work to do clearing my name."

"I meant for this." Dawn said. "I… I'm still struggling to accept it is you."

"I know." Ash said. "You remember me as the fifteen year old boy that you travelled with. And now…"

"And now you're different." Dawn said. "I've met you in the past and I didn't recognise you."

Ash sighed. "I know. You're taking this very well by the way."

A smile played at Dawn's lips. "Thank you."

Ash inclined his head. "If you want to try again… If you want to start again… If you want to connect again… We need to find somewhere to start."

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

"You said it. You don't know me." Ash said. "You cannot just expect the friendship to start where it left off thirteen years ago. Neither of us are the same person."

Dawn considered it for a moment before nodding slowly. "So what do we do now?"

Ash grinned. It was so familiar, a grin that she had seen a thousand times before when they were travelling. For all the time that had passed, for all the changes that Ash had gone through, some things clearly hadn't.

"I have an idea. It is too late tonight but I'll show you tomorrow."

Cynthia strode into the police headquarters in Ever Grande City. The Officer Jenny on the front desk rose to greet her.

"Miss Shirona." She said. "It is a pleasure to have you here. You are expected."

"I am?" Cynthia asked in surprise.

"Yes." Jenny said before gesturing for Cynthia to follow her into the depths of the police station. "When we received word from Sinnoh that you would be assisting in the investigation many around here were intrigued. What does somebody so closely affiliated with the Pokémon League want with getting involved with an investigation into the Pokémon Master?"

Cynthia stopped and stared at Officer Jenny as she realized something.

"You're the Hoenn Chief of Police?"

Jenny smiled. "Very good. I took over just over a year ago. I was a young choice but Steven thought I was the best candidate presented." She nodded down the corridor at a shut door.

"In there is the main body of our investigation. I know that you persuaded my aunt in Sinnoh that you should be allowed to help but it is my case. Not hers. Why should I let you into my evidence room?"

Cynthia smiled as she found herself liking this Jenny.

"Because I'm not here on the behalf of Champion." Cynthia said. "I'm here because an investigation like this has the potential to completely shake up the League and there needs to be a degree of cooperation between the two bodies."

Jenny nodded slowly. "Still, I cannot have you reporting to Champion about an investigation regarding him."

"I'm not." Cynthia said. "If there is sufficient evidence to suggest that Champion cannot continue in his role, as his predecessor as Pokémon Master I take his place. Until this investigation is completed therefore, I will not be reporting to him."

"Very well." Jenny said. "This way."

She led Cynthia down the corridor and through the door at the end. Inside the surprisingly large room Cynthia stopped and looked around slowly. There were more than a dozen officers working inside, each at a desk working their way through a mountain of paperwork. A huge table in the middle had piles of more documents on, seemingly grouped into three distinct piles. Two more officers were working their way through one of the piles, splitting it into smaller groups to be sent to each of the desks.

"This is impressive." Cynthia said eventually. "Who's handling what?"

"Each of the officers handles a different aspect." Jenny said. "The two in the middle are breaking down all the reports we have."

"Reports?" Cynthia said, blinking furiously as a pain started to grow at the back of her head.

"Anything that could concern Champion since he took over as Pokémon Master." Jenny said. "And now we have his name there are more officers searching through the archives to find anything they can on Ash Ketchum."

Cynthia blinked. "You are being remarkably thorough."

"It is our job Miss Shirona."

"Cynthia, please." Cynthia stopped talking and rubber her temples as her headache grew in strength.

"It is enough to hurt your head isn't it?" Jenny said quietly. Cynthia nodded.

"What happens to all the reports that they work their way through?" she asked.

"They produce summaries that I then review personally." Jenny said. "I can show you what we have so far?"

"Yes please."

Jenny led Cynthia back out and down to her office. As Cynthia took a seat, Jenny pulled out a large folder and placed it on her desk.

"In here are all the summaries."

"Paper copies?" Cynthia asked, an eyebrow raised as she took the folder and started flicking through it.

"We have to make sure that Champion can not have access." Jenny said. "It may seem excessive but..."

"Needs to be done." Cynthia finished.

"Indeed." Jenny said. "Now if you're here to help with the investigation, I'll assign you an office."

Cynthia shut her eyes against the growing pain in her skull as she nodded.

"Are you alright?" Jenny asked.

"Yes. I just have this headache that won't go away."

"You're not the only one." Jenny said sympathetically. "An investigation of this size has a habit of literally creating headaches. Anyway, I'll show you to an office where you can get to work."

Cynthia rose from her chair to follow Officer Jenny out and down to another office down the corridor. As she settled in, the folder sat on her desk waiting. She knew she couldn't postpone it any longer. In there would be evidence that suggested whether the Pokémon Master was abusing his position. With a sigh Cynthia sat down and waded in.

Dawn looked around nervously. Ash had told her to meet him in the training facilities underneath one of the stadiums. Having spent time in the Pokémon Master's own facilities at Indigo Plateau Dawn suspected that they had appropriated Steven's own training area. Clearly Ash had used his influence to get them access. She certainly hadn't had any problems getting inside, the supposedly locked door opening for her when she approached. Dawn still wasn't sure what to make of Ash. Her conversation with him the night before had been incredibly awkward, with her not sure what to say. Easy conversation didn't seem to come naturally to the Pokémon Master, which despite knowing his name she still thought of him as.

There was a noise behind her and Dawn leapt, spinning around to see Ash standing there. His hat was held in his hand again, allowing her to look into his face.

"Sorry." He said. "I usually move quietly, but I tried to be a bit louder so as not to startle you."

"You didn't succeed."

Ash smiled slightly. "Oops."

He gestured at the field behind Dawn, a standard battling field. "What do you think?"

"It's a training field." Dawn said. "Why are we here?"

"Typically on training fields, people train." Ash said as he strode past Dawn, reaching the middle of the field. "In Pallet Town you asked me for advice. You came to the Hoenn League looking for inspiration." Ash extended his arms and two Pokéballs appeared there. "Instead of advice I'll give you a chance to observe."

"Observe…" Dawn started but Ash wasn't listening. He had thrown the two Pokéballs into the air. Two Pokémon appeared. The first was a sleek purple cat that landed before sitting down, her front paws together as she looked around. The other was far larger, standing well over two metres high. Yet it was the bulk that made Snorlax look so big. Despite the training that had increased his fitness the Pokémon was still huge. Dawn let out a slight gasp as Snorlax settled onto the field with a slight growl.

"Ash…" Dawn started again, but he was focused on his Pokémon.

"Snorlax, Ice Beam." Ash said. Snorlax fired an icy-blue beam at Espeon who didn't move. As the beam approached her eyes started to glow and it stopped, instead bending around Espeon to form a solid band of energy.

"Flamethrower" came the next command. Just like the last attack, this one broke off just in front of Espeon, being contained in another glowing ribbon that surrounded the Sun Pokémon.

"Thunderbolt." A third ribbon joined the last two, this one glowing yellow and crackling with energy. The gem on Espeon' head glowed and a fourth beam shot out of it, this one filled with rainbow colours. It too was caught by Espeon's Psychic and formed a ribbon around her.

"And finally, Rock Tomb." Ash said. As rocks fell towards Espeon they were broken down and formed a fifth and final ribbon around Espeon. As the attack subsided the ball of energy started to move forwards. Espeon manoeuvred it into the space between herself and Snorlax, drawing some of the energy from the attacks that she was controlling. Soon there was a ball of energy encircled by the five ribbons of attack. Snorlax started to fire attacks into it as Espeon lifted the ball into the air above their heads. As the attacks hit, controlled explosions started inside the swirling vortex. Ash stepped away from his Pokémon towards Dawn's side, snapping her out of the reverie she was in as she watched the controlled pyrotechnic display.

"Impressed?" Ash asked quietly.

"I… wow." Dawn said. "This is incredible. How is Espeon controlling all that?"

Ash chuckled. "She regularly trains using Psychic to control far more than this. The smaller amount means that she can exercise greater finesse, hence the controlled fireworks."

Dawn looked up in awe at the ball of energy that now stretched to well over four metres wide. "I thought I was a good coordinator…" She said, slightly despondently. "But this is far beyond anything I've ever done."

"Well then let's see what you can do." Ash said. "Pick two Pokémon and let's look at what kind of appeals you can do."

Dawn eagerly pulled two Pokéballs off her belt and released the Pokémon inside. As she did she glanced up at the still growing ball of energy.

"How long can they keep that up for?" she asked.

"Oh a while yet." Ash said. "Snorlax is angling for the chance to face Steven and Wallace and so he is getting in some training. And Espeon is always looking to get stronger. It is good practice for them both."

Dawn shook her head in disbelief as she turned to focus on her own Pokémon.

"Let's see…" Ash said. "Mamoswine and Togekiss. Why these two?"

"I've not used them as a combo pair for a while." Dawn said. "I wanted to try to find a way to bring out their strengths, despite the difference."

"Which are?"

"Togekiss is very graceful." Dawn said. "While Mamoswine is the opposite, very much a Pokémon that plods through anything."

"And to combine the two… Interesting idea. Any thoughts thus far?"

"Yes." Dawn said excitedly, before rushing into a whole speech about what they had tried. Ash listened patiently, smiling to himself. Dawn had done exactly what he had expected her to do. She was so passionate about her coordinating, all Ash needed to do was set her off. She had quickly forgotten that she was talking to the Pokémon Master, or any lingering awkwardness about finding out who he was. As Dawn started to talk about how she wanted to come to the Hoenn League in the hope of finding a trainer who used either Mamoswine or Togekiss so that she could watch them and see if she could find a solution he decided to interrupt.

"Snorlax, Espeon enough." Ash said. Dawn stopped talking and turned with her two Pokémon turned in awe to see the giant vortex of energy above their head suddenly start to shrink as Snorlax stopped firing attacks. Within moments it had shrunk to the size of a tennis ball before exploding outwards once again in a display of sparks. Dawn gasped as Ash glanced at Espeon who was flicking her tail, pleased with herself.

"Ash, can you teach Togekiss how to do that?" Dawn asked.

"Togekiss knows Psychic?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm sure Espeon can work with her for a bit. Espeon?"

The Sun Pokémon nodded as she padded forwards. Togekiss found herself drawn to the strange Pokémon.

"We will work on the other side of the training area." Espeon said to Togekiss who nodded. The two Pokémon turned and headed off while Ash turned back to Dawn.

"While I'm sure you are thinking of ways to include that in appeals, you have two Pokémon for me to work with." Ash said as he recalled Snorlax. "But Snorlax isn't the best choice for Mamoswine."

Ash held out another Pokéball, releasing a third Pokémon. This one was heavily armoured and roared as he appeared.

"Aggron, calm down." Ash said. "We are here to train." Aggron nodded as he looked down at his trainer. "Take Mamoswine and work with him, give him a test of power and endurance but don't hurt him."

Aggron nodded and gestured for Mamoswine to follow him. As the two headed off to a different corner of the field, Ash turned back to Dawn.

"Now, lets hear some ideas for appeals. What do you have planned?"

Mellanie strolled through the city. She hadn't seen Sam all day, despite having spent it in various stadiums watching the second day of the tournament. It had been a better day for her; now that many trainers had been eliminated the standard was higher. She was looking forwards to the next day when the full battles started as they gave her a better view to analysing trainers. Throughout the Johto Leagues that she had won Mellanie would typically spend most of her time watching battles for trainers that she could end up facing. It meant that by the time she got into the victory tournament she knew the style of every opponent. It made her own countering style more effective.

She had spent some time chatting to Zane analysing what they had seen and identifying trainers to watch. She had found the media superstar to be quite an amusing character away from the cameras, fascinating to talk to and very laid back.

Mellanie started to approach the lake at the centre of the competitors village. She stopped and gazed out across the water, lost in thought. Trying to plan for what might come in the future, after the Hoenn League. After Sam fought against Lance. She couldn't believe that the boy she had known for so long was close to becoming to leader of the Kanto region. Even if he lost to Lance this time, it would only be a matter of time.

Sam had changed since they had become trainers. He was smarter, and far more confident. She had to admit that he would be a good leader of Kanto. Even if he had started to doubt Ash in the aftermath of the attack Mystery Island. Although Mellanie had to admit that having a regional leader being wary of the Pokémon Master was probably not a bad thing.

Mellanie saw movement in the corner of her eye and glanced around. Her heart fell as she saw Sam ambling along the water, deep in conversation with a girl that Mellanie could only assume was Emily. She withdrew, slipping into the shadows. She didn't want to meet the girl that Sam had clearly spent most of the day with, instead of training. As they passed in front of her Mellanie pressed herself against a wall, almost invisible. She had gotten into the habit of wearing darker clothes unless she was in a stadium fighting. It was a habit she had picked up from Ash, and he was one of the few who could ever find her when she was trying to be invisible.

Sam and Emily stopped a short distance from Mellanie and turned to look out over the water. Mellanie gritted her teeth slightly; she couldn't leave without attracting their attention but what she was observing was beginning to look like a date and she didn't want to watch. Emily rested her head on Sam's shoulder and his arm found its way around her, pulling her slightly closer.

Time passed as they seemed clearly focused on chatting over the water. Mellanie realised she could probably leave without them seeing her but her feet refused to listen to her. Her body refused to obey, forcing her to stay and watch. Watch the happy smile on the faces of the two teens as they drew ever closer. The lights shining off the surface of the water illuminating them perfectly, Mellanie watched Emily with Sam's arms around her, facing each other. Finally her feet started to move as she watched their faces draw closer, but she couldn't wrench her eyes away. It was when their lips met that Mellanie was able to drag herself away.

She slipped around the corner, out of sight. Anger drove her the first forty metres, at an ever increasing pace. As her eyes started to well up, she broke into a run, not slowing until she had reached the building where she was staying. She shot past reception and up the stairs, reaching her room and locking the door behind her. She threw herself onto the bed and let the emotions she had been trying to hold back claim her.

Gloom ambled across the open grassy plain. It had been a good day for her, food had been easy to come by. Her family had eaten well and had returned home, albeit without her. Gloom had excess energy that she wanted to burn before she headed back to the clearing where her family slept. She had decided to look for food for the next day.

Suddenly Alakazam appeared in a flash of light, Beautifly and Ninetales by his side. The other two immediately spread out while Alakazam spun to see the very surprised Gloom. A single attack flattened the Pokémon and Alakazam looked around.

"This is it." Ninetales said, slinking back to his side.

Before Alakazam could answer, Beautifly floated back down to his shoulder. She murmured into Alakazams ear. The Psi Pokémon listened carefully before nodding.

"I too can sense it." Alakazam said. "Yet our mission is not yet finished."

The other two scouts gazed at their leader as he sent out his senses once again. He found what his colleagues had; this was an area which had a human trail. A human trail that should not exist here.

"We must investigate the trail to conclusion" Alakazam said to Ninetales and Beautifly.

"How close can we get?" Ninetales asked.

Alakazam considered it for a moment, all the time he felt he needed with his intelligence. Ash had told them to find his mother and despite finding a trail they needed to be certain. But they could not be discovered. Alakazam knew that they had to be wary of Sonia, she had surprised them more than once.

"We proceed until we confirm that Delia is there." Alakazam said, deciding. "Then withdraw."

Ninetales nodded. She started forwards as Beautifly floated away, drifting high above their heads with lazy flutters of her wings, making virtually no noise. Alakazam levitated after Ninetales as they followed the trail that they had discovered. They advanced across the field, heading for a large hill in the distance. As they approached it, Beautifly drifted further ahead, floating high above the hill. Alakazam and Ninetales waited as Beautifly slowly floated over the hill to get a good look at what was on the other side.

Beautifly eventually floated back towards them, drifting back on a gentle breeze. As she approached she dropped down, landing on Alakazams shoulder.

"Cliff top." Beautifly murmured, almost silent. Despite her incredible hearing, Ninetales had to listen carefully to hear what Beautifly was saying from just a few metres away. "No easy access."

"Delia?" Alakazam asked.

"Hut." Beautifly answered. "Need route in."

Alakazam nodded slowly. "You have ascertained that this is her location?"

Beautifly nodded. Nearby Ninetales smiled.

"We have succeeded." Alakazam said. "We must locate an opportune entrance point then withdraw."

Ninetales nodded and headed towards the hill. Alakazam floated behind her while Beautifly lifted high into the air, giving them aerial cover. As they approached the hill Ninetales turned to Alakazam.

"We can't go in from the top?"

Alakazam considered it as he sent his mind out to reach to Beautifly. The aerial picture he was getting showed him an area surrounded by high cliffs. It took a very keen eye to spot the hut in the middle, half covered by a tree but Beautifly had managed it. Going in from above was possible Alakazam knew, but would be risky. Ash would prefer an alternative.

"No" Alakazam said. "However we have an easy alternative."

"What?" Ninetales asked.

"We will enter through the edge of a cliff." Alakazam said. "If we withdraw a short distance we can construct a cavern underneath the earth."

Ninetales glanced at Alakazam, impressed with the idea. Moving the earth and compacting it to hide the cavern would not be difficult, especially with Alakazams strength. It would take some time, but not much. And then the team could burrow through the earth to reach their target. With Onix that would also be simple.

"Beautifly can stay high." Alakazam said, extending his reach to include the high flying Butterfly Pokémon. "We shall withdraw a mile. And commence excavation."

Alakazam crossed his spoons and in a flash of light, he and Ninetales vanished.

A/N

Firstly, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY. (Or HAPPY HANNUKAH, although I've missed that by a few days. If you're not religious then happy holidays!) Hope this extra chapter works as a Christmas present. It was amusing how many people thanked me in reviews for the last one as a Christmas gift. That was a regular chapter. This is the Christmas gift. Enjoy!

Right, a couple of other points. I've been asked how the search for Delia is going. It is going but remember Ash is the Pokémon Master and so has to keep up public appearances. Remember he did something similar in the Lost Master when Cynthia was captured by Team Rocket – he will go after Delia when he gets the chance. Don't worry, that showdown is still coming.

A little point on Emily and her father; the businessman that Sam met in Chapter 22. They are just there as plot developers, they aren't actually key features in the plot (Hence why her father never got a name, he doesn't need one.) Don't worry about them featuring heavily.

There will be scenes with Ash and his old friends as he tries to reconnect with them. Dawn was just the first in a sequence of what I'm sure will be awkward conversations!

Till next time,

Iama2p