"Okay, so we're here. Now what?"

While Max was consulting his PokéNav (having already lost "faith" in Ash's sense of direction long before he even took them through this detour), May looked at Ash, still wondering where he's taking them to. To May's disbelief, Ash turned to her, a sheepish and apologetic grin on his face. That could only mean one thing. "Guess I goofed."

May frowned. "What a shock," she said, rolling her eyes. Pikachu, on her shoulder instead of Ash for some reason, was doing the same thing as she was, but there was a facepalm added in (was it because of his trainer, or because of May's pun? ...maybe both.). "Here I thought getting our group lost was Max's job."

"Yeah," Max agreed, only half-listening since he's still busy tinkering with his 'Nav. "...hey!"

Before he could think of a retort to his sister, Ash asked him, "You're the one with the PokéNav, Max. Can you tell us where we are?"

And Max was back to his smug self. "What will you two even do without me and my trusty navigator skills?"

"Get lost much less?" Ash and May said in unison. That certainly deflated Max's ego instantly. "Just check the PokéNav already, will you?" May added, getting impatient. "Maybe then we can finally get our bearings."

Grumbling and grimacing, Max begrudgingly complied with the request. "Let's see. According to the map, the only points of interest are the Nugget Bridge over there," he pointed to the bridge across the river from them, "and some sort of deep cave to the southwest of here. We've already crossed Nugget Bridge just getting here, so...Ash, don't tell me you're planning to go into that cave."

This time it was Ash's turn to frown. "Never even knew there was a cave there. Maybe it's something worth checking out, and-"

"Ash!" the siblings shouted at him exasperatedly (Pikachu was pantomiming May again).

"Okay, that does it," May said, "I give up. I'm definitely all for going back to the Pokémon Center."

For once, Max was in complete agreement with his sister. "If we hurry, we might even make it back to the book-signing." The two of them got ready to start back, but Ash put himself in their way. "Hey, have a little faith, will ya? I know exactly where we're supposed to go now."

"And that would be-?" May, still skeptical, started for him.

Ash didn't say anything, at first. Instead, he pointed... "East?" Max asked. "Just what exactly is waiting for us due east, then?"

"Route 25. Cerulean Cape. Cerulean Lighthouse. Check the PokéNav yourself if you want to be sure. Brock, Misty and I have been there, so I can assure you that I know where we're going for sure this time."

While still doubting him, Max did check the PokéNav as suggested. "Huh. There it is," he muttered as he showed the LED to his sister, "Just as he said. A lighthouse and a cape just east of here. Not that I'm trusting his instincts this time, though."

Sure enough, the Cerulean Light on top of a steep cliff was in sight. Since this is their first time seeing it, both May and Max marveled at the tower, but Ash had a different idea in mind. Scanning the shoreline at the base of the cliff, he was looking for something, and immediately spotted it before his companions could do anything else.

"That's where we're headed," Ash said, pointing to a small ramshackle cabin that looks like it's embedded against the cliff face. What he saw and they didn't was the door of the cabin opening and someone going in. "Come on, there's no time to lose!"

Once again, he took May by the hand (and once again it was only her who felt flustered by it) and led her and Max across the beach and right toward the shack. The door swung open just as the trio reached the porch. The siblings are just as surprised as the girl who stepped out. If there ever was a situation that calls for "silence is deafening", this would be it. Ash was about to say something to break the silence, but the apparent tenant of the house beat him to it.

"Umm, may I help you with something?"

"Well, to start with, you could help our friend here, since he seems to think we're going to this shack for some reason," Max said.

All eyes are on Ash, who, instead of breaking under pressure, just yanked the book from May's arms. "Take a look here." He flipped through the pages until he reached the flaps at the bookends, where there was a picture of the author, then practically shoved it towards Max and May's faces. "See any resemblance between him," he nodded toward the guy in the pic, and then towards the girl, "and her?"

From the girl, to the book, back to the girl, and then back to the book again. May and Max kept looking from one point to another until the realization finally hit them. Slowly. "Same eye color and shape," May muttered.

"Same button nose," Max added, "and hair color, only the guy on the book is lighter...you have got to be kidding me."

Having had enough, the girl gave in, and filled in the rest of the blanks. "Yes, the man in the photo, the author of the book you're holding, is my grandfather. I'm quite surprised that you noticed, though."

"You're the one who's surprised?" May asked. She then pointed to Ash. "He's the last person I'd ever expect to notice any resemblance between relatives, actually."

Before Ash could think of a retort, Samantha (or Sam, she preferred the short name) changed the subject. "So what brings you all here anyway? Looking for my old man? I don't think he wants to-"

Suddenly, the shack's door opened behind her, and out stepped the man whose picture was on May's book. "Sam, I thought you were going back to the signing?" And then he saw the guests. "And who might these young people be?"

Before anyone could say anything, May offhandedly shoved Ash and Max aside in her haste to get up to her idol. "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow, it's really you!" she exclaimed, sparkles in her eyes. To everyone's surprise, however, the first thing May asked him was not for an autograph. "Wait, if you're here, then who's the guy we saw at the book signing back at Cerulean City?"

"That guy is Vincent, he's my son-in-law, and Sam's husband."

Max muttered to Ash, "Good thing a certain someone's not here yet. If he tried to do anything to Sam, boy would that have been embarrassing..." Over at Cerulean City, the Pokémon Center roof flew upwards after something (or someone) blew a it from inside.

"I think he would still have his standards," Ash replied, grinning. Max rolled his eyes and grinned right back. "Slight standards, that is." And then Ash realized something. "For that matter, where is he anyway?"

The question only prompted a blank stare from Max. He doesn't know, either...

Ignoring them, May pressed on with her earlier question. Especially since she's angry. Angry enough that she's already rolling up her sleeves and started marching towards the door before her companions could (if barely) restrain her. "So you let your son-in-law take credit for your work? Why, that..."

"Please, it's not what you think," the old man put in. "I let him do all the PR and booksigning, but remember, it's my portrait at the back of the book. And he contributes just his own elements to the story, so you can call him my co-author."

"Yeah, fine," May said, calming down. "You two can let me go now," she told her brother and Ash.

"You sure?" Max replied snidely. "We hafta be sure..." A growling noise coming from the girl made them reconsider. "Okay, I'm sure you have calmed down enough. No need to thank me, sis..."