Hello, hope you enjoy the chapter.

Sorry, still no room for Giselle, but this chapter is pretty interesting anyway.

"Professor, I need to exchange my pokemon now," Ash yelled at the monitor in panic.

Professor Oak seemed shocked and took a step back before commenting, "Of course, but you seem in a weird mood. Is anything the matter?"

Ash shook his head quickly before muttering, "Doesn't matter." He now spoke quickly, "I am sending over all of my new pokemon except Skarmory, Scyther, Pinsir, Houndoom, and Swablu. Please send over my entire Sinnoh team, Pidgeot, Charizard, Fearow, Spiritomb, Rapidash, Snorlax, Bayleef, Cyndaquil, Sceptile, and Glalie. That should be about right with the pokemon I still have on me."

Professor Oak was rubbing his chin as he said out loud, "That is probably the collection of your strongest pokemon. You've been keeping several on you for a while now. What has changed, Ash?"

Ash looked away awkwardly before muttering quickly, "I just found out Cynthia is coming at the end of the Grand Festival. I have something to do before then."

Professor Oak perked his head up and exclaimed, "The Sinnoh Champion. So exciting. I've wanted to talk to her and her grandmother for a while now, but I just haven't been able to arrange a meeting. This is a nice coincidence. Your mother and I were already discussing going to the awards ceremony."

Ash asked incredulously, "What? You were going to come?"

Professor Oak nodded before continuing like it was no big deal, "Well, you need to wait several minutes while I get all those pokemon. Just send the ones on your side over while I collect them." Professor Oak looked to be about to leave before he asked suddenly with a grin that made Ash shiver in fear, "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Why did the news that Cynthia was going to be there effect you? You've met her several times, so nerves shouldn't effect you. So it must be a different reason. If it is something illicit, then your mother deserves to know, and I would be happy to give her the message. If it has to do with pokemon, then I should be able to know as your supervising professor. Well? Are you going to…" Ash shut off the monitor unceremoniously. Ash shivered as he realized that the professor wasn't as professional as Ash had always thought. Do not let your guard around him, Ash noted quickly.

Ash stood up and walked over to the transporter. He put poke balls in five at a time, and then watched as they disappeared. It could only handle that many pokemon once at a time. It took several minutes for Ash to transfer all the poke balls. He then leaned against the wall as he waited for his other pokemon to appear. It took several minutes before they finally started to appear. Ash started the laborious task of finding spots for all of them. Once all his pockets were filled with the new poke balls, he quickly walked off. He passed through the doors and walked over to the group. They were talking intently.

Solidad looked up and saw him first. She asked, "What were you doing, Ash? You ran in there without a word, and have been there for well over ten minutes."

Ash shrugged before saying quickly, "I just had to exchange some of my pokemon. I intend to train harder than before."

May now jumped and asked excitedly, "Then how about I train with you. You were the one who said that I should train more seriously."

Ash gave her skeptical look before questioning, "What pokemon do you have on you?"

May answered happily, "Blaziken, Glaceon, Venusaur, Ledian, Clefairy, and Dugtrio."

Ash claimed bluntly, "Sorry, but I don't think that will work out."

May's smile froze. She blinked a couple times before asking, "Why not? Aren't you the one who told me to start training?"

Ash scratched his nose in anxiety before informing her, "Maybe it is better if I show you some of the pokemon I will be training with." Ash then randomly grabbed a couple poke balls and released the pokemon inside. Out came Sceptile, Houndoom, Glalie, and Spiritomb. A rather intimidating group to be honest, Ash thought to himself. He then turned to May and explained, "I'm going to start training my elites. I just think it will be a little too intense for those who have to compete soon. You should train some, but even with tomorrow being a day off, I don't think it would be wise to train together."

May nodded in defeat, but Max asked quickly, "Why is tomorrow a day off? Doesn't that just mess up the whole schedule of the tournament?" May also looked curious as to this answer.

Ash was about to explain, but Solidad beat him to it, "They have the break with only the top sixteen for a reason, It is the most logical time to do it."

"Why the top sixteen? Wouldn't the top thirty-two make more sense?" May asked.

Ash now answered, "The top sixteen is probably the time when the most elites are left." When some people looked confused he continued, "See, the top thirty-two is technically the start of the champion's tournament, but honestly it is pretty easy for there to be several people who don't match up. There are sure to be ten or so people who had unusually easy preliminaries. However letting one round go by, it makes it most likely that the top sixteen are the strongest trainers of them all."

Solidad now started speaking, "And the top sixteen are all strong enough to possibly win the tournament. All are at the level where most likely luck and strategy are the only differences in the future matches. There shouldn't be any matches where one is matched against a clearly superior opponent. It comes down to who comes more prepared and has the better luck."

"Thus they give the top sixteen time to rest as to allow them the greatest chance to be prepared. Perform and finishing touches on strategies and such," Ash finished calmly.

He looked to see several of the group still confused. He asked, "Do you still not get it?"

Harley now broke in with a devious smirk that made Ash sweat, "No we get it, but that isn't the interesting part. You two kept allowing the other to talk, and seemed to know what the other person was thinking. It almost seemed that you two were on the same wavelength or something. It is interesting."

Ash exchanged a quick glance with Solidad. He had done that without even realizing, but Solidad seemed completely calm. Ash quickly replied with slight panic in his voice, "We just both knew the reason really well."

Harley stepped forward with the same sly grin and asked, "Are you sure? Or was it possibly something else?"

Ash shoved a hand in front of Harley's face as he exclaimed angrily, "I did not come here to get interrogated. I want to start training. I don't even want to guess what you are implying, but I don't have time." Ash said this as he returned his pokemon and releasing Fearow. He climbed on the pokemon before informing them, "I'll fly to outside the city to train. I'll be back around dinnertime."

Fearow flew into the air carrying, and the group watched. Solidad watched with a slight grin before saying to herself, "Ash may act like an adult, but he still is a kid at heart. Looks like I'll have to educate him before I can make any move. Now I just need some pawns to help me."

Ash breathed a sigh of relief as he got into the air. He patted Fearow's neck before ordering, "Just take us to a place where we can have some serious training. Don't push yourself though, we have some rough training ahead." Fearow angled their course to a forest.

Ash keened back as he contemplated what had just happened. He seriously hadn't even noticed that Solidad and him had been explaining together. Now that he thought about it, they actually had very similar ways of thinking. Both attempted to think logically, but sometimes relied on their gut feelings. It didn't surprise him that they both had perfectly analyzed the reasons for the break, but Ash still felt nervous around her. He trusted his gut, and it told him that Solidad was far smarter than he had reason to believe. Whenever they met, he felt he was getting manipulated to perform her goals without even realizing what they were. That wasn't really a turnoff, I fact Ash found it rather sexy, but it made him wary around her.

Ash announced out loud, "I think that I need to figure out how Solidad thinks. That will be a fun way to relax from all the stress I've undergone recently." Ash caught Fearow giving him an upraising look, so Ash claimed, "My father once told me that mind games are the best exercise a man can get. Now, I'm going to put that theory to the test. Who knows, he may be right."

When Fearow landed in a large clearing with many rocky boulders in the area. Ash released all his pokemon who roared to be out. They seemed both excited, and slightly nervous for the training.

Ash quickly yelled, "Okay guys. This is going to be the hardest training we've ever done. This may be rough, but if some can't keep up, I'll send them to Professor Oak for now. We have only one week to prepare for Cynthia. We have one week to prepare for the greatest trainer in the world."

His pokemon roared in anticipation, so Ash ordered, "Okay then get started. Gible, I'm relying on you for this week. You are going to get the boring job for now." Gible looked up and nodded in acceptance, so Ah ordered, "Charizard, Rhyperior, Feraligatr, Sceptile, and Swablu, go with Gible. Gible, you know what to do. The rest of you, pair up with someone and do practice matches. I'll go around and order anything different."

Ash covered his eyes from getting the dust from another explosion. For hours, he had been forced to deal with all the fighting. He looked to see that this one was caused by Houndoom and Floatzel and their Solarbeam and Water Gun colliding. Ash had a feeling that those two would really push each other. Both had enough pride and arrogance to cover an entire team of regular pokemon. Those two looked determined to battle it out.

Ash looked at Gible instructing his own private group. That group is where Ash's hope rested. He just needed to trust that they could get it done with the limited amount of time that they had.

Ash looked to see Pikachu battling with Infernape, Bayleef, and Glalie all at once. It was a free for all over there. Infernape seemed to have the advantage, but immediately Pikachu nailed him with a Thunderbolt. Pikachu then charged in with a Volt Tackle, and Infernape returned it with a Flare Blitz. The two attacks were even, but then Infernape used Mach Punch while they were at that distance. Ash saw what was the matter. Pikachu was launched right in between Bayleef and Glalie who had just launched Solarbeam and Ice Beam respectively. Ash didn't even have time to move before the attacks connected on each side of Pikachu.

Ash shouted as the resulting explosion blew smoke through the air. When it settled, Ash looked up and froze at what he saw. Pikachu was being held by a white and blue pokemon. It resembled a human women, but was hovering off the ground as it held Pikachu in its arms. A shiny Gardevoir.

Ash was too shocked to move, and just watched. Gardevoir slowly lowered Pikachu onto the ground. It then turned and looked Ash straight in the eye. Ash felt intimidated by the power and knowledge in those eyes. For possibly the first time ever, Ash felt like he his mind was being examined. Finally the pokemon disappeared, leaving the entire battlefield in silence. Ash now realized that the entire group had been watching that Gardevoir in amazement.

Ash finally announced in a shaken voice, "Continue for now. I'm going to go for a while."

Ash walked forward and was met by Pikachu who gave him a serious look. Ash leaned down and rubbed his best friend's head before stating, "I have to go. And alone. I felt it. She wanted me to follow. She needs me to do something, and I need to go. She saved you. I have to thank her." He then stood up and ordered, "Keep training, but be careful everyone. We can't have any accidents like that."

Ash then walked into the forest. He had felt that Gardevoir needed him for something. He didn't know what, but he still would have attempted to find her. He had to thank her for saving Pikachu.

Ash wandered through the trees for close to an hour before he felt something. He didn't know how, but he felt a presence close by. He trusted the feeling and started heading in the direction. He felt the presence getting stronger, but he started to have another feeling. Another presence was there, and Ash felt in danger. He started to scan the area, but there was nothing to justify the feeling. Ash still felt it was better to trust his gut here.

Ash finally saw a weird area. There was a clearing where sunlight seemed to emanate from. The dense canopies of the trees caused the entire forest to seem dark, but that area was filled with light. Ash walked into the clearing, and immediately knew he was meant to be there.

Ash looked up into the open sky for a minute as he let the sun warm him. Just being in this clearing felt like happiness. Ash took a deep breath before opening his eyes as he turned his head. He stated, "Found you." He was looking at the shiny Gardevoir.

But Before he could take a step forward, he felt something pressed to his throat. Ash froze and turned his head to find himself face to face with a Gallade. It wasn't a comforting sight, but Ash kept a calm face. He felt the blade of Gallade shifted before he heard a masculine and furious voice in his mind, Leave, human. My sister is not a prize for you or any other.

Ash kept it calm as he tried to examine the situation. So the Gardevoir and Gallade were brother and sister. Ash didn't know how, but he was sure that Gardevoir was female. Ash now could assume that many trainers had attempted to catch the shiny pokemon, and Gallade now defended his sister from any threat. So why would Gardevoir want him to come here?

Gallade pressed the blade harder before communicating telepathically, I know you understand me. Leave now, human.

Ash thought for a second. He didn't know what Gardevoir wanted him to do, but he needed to stay. Both for her an himself. Best not to say that Gardevoir brought him here. Ash replied, "Sorry, but I can't allow myself to leave yet."

Ash felt the air almost grow colder from his words. The Gallade stepped back and lengthened both the blades on its arms and then pointed one at Ash as it stated, Then I shall remove you. You humans are all the same, attempting to capture a pokemon simply because they are shiny. I shall not allow you to capture my sister.

Ash replied calmly, "You said I wanted to capture her. Or even you for that matter." Ash had found a way to win the argument with this pokemon. Masters of swordsmanship and courtesy. Ash would fight by using that. Ash now continued, "I cannot leave yet. Your sister saved my pokemon. Actually not just my pokemon, my best friend. If I don't apologize, then that will tarnish my pride."

Ash saw the slightest bit of hesitation by the Gallade. Ash knew that any Gallade would find it almost impossible to deny someone using such an honest reason. Simple courtesy demanded thanking someone for helping them. For Ash, he had to do this. He had spoken true. He couldn't just leave without giving his thanks.

Ash thought he won, but he felt something slash his chest. He fell back in shock. He landed on the grass and looked up to see Gallade standing over him. He then looked down to see that Gallade had slashed at him. His shirt had a clear line torn from his shirt, and Ash felt pain. He looked up in shock at the Gallade. Gallade control the blade on their arms. Not only length, but sharpness. When battling, they blunted the edges of the blades, but it had just swung at him with the edge sheer. Ash couldn't even comprehend how angry a Gallade would have to be to do that. Even if it had only traced the very edge of his chest.

Ash saw clearly that Gallade was as impossibly angry as one would have to be. Gallade screamed telepathically, Don't try to trick me. Don't think that I am foolish. You will have to do far more than that to gain my respect, and only then will I allow you to go to my sister.

Ash hardened his face. He now knew what Gardevoir needed of him. She wanted Ash to beat Gallade. Gallade needed to be shown that humans weren't as bad as it obviously believed. Gardevoir had become a prisoner of her brother's paranoia.

Ash stood up stiffly. He then stated, "If I have to, I would beg to be allowed to give Gardevoir a proper thank you, but I still doubt you would let me." Ash gave the Gallade an ice cold look before continuing, "So I shall force you to move aside."

Gallade didn't move a muscle, but claimed telepathically, I doubt you can do that. You have no pokemon on you.

Ash shrugged and stated, "I won't be using pokemon. Gallades are masters of the sword. So we shall have a weapons fight." Ash now reached the ground to pull up a large stick. A perfect staff. Almost too perfectly shaped, and Ash wondered whether that Gardevoir had predicted it would come to this. Ash turned around holding the staff and announced, "If I land a clean hit on you, then I am allowed past. If you break me before that, I shall leave and never come back."

Gallade scrutinized him for a second before lashing at the staff. His blade sheared it completely in half. Ash then heard, I accept. I cannot refuse such a challenge. However, I demand that this be a swords match. Now we each have to separate blades. I shall destroy you, and prove that humans are no good. Gallade then got into a fighting stance.

Ash carefully got into his own stance. This was not good. Ash had always sparred with a staff, and a staff provided a great defense against two weapons. Ash was far less experienced with sword-like weapons. Ash may have been able to flip Blaziken, but that was surprise. Against a ready opponent who knew close combat fighting, Ash was simply a frail human in comparison.

Gallade swung without warning. Ash raised one of the sticks to block, but Gallade adjusted the swing effortlessly so that it connected with Ash's upper arm. Ash let out a curse before swinging the other blade. Gallade seemed to disappear as it dodged, and then Ash felt his thigh being struck. Ash tumbled, but rolled through to dodge another shot. He sprang up and stared at the completely calm Blade pokemon.

I have to admit I'm impressed. You have clearly had some training battling fighting types, but you are still weak. You will never land a hit on me.

Ash then felt like he was going through hell. If Gallade had sharpened his blades, Ash would have been mince meat by now. Every limb felt like it had taken enough shots to break each of them. Ash found that he couldn't walk or attack properly. He had to finish this.

Right as he thought that, Ash got another shot to the right leg. He dropped to a knee and felt the stick in his left hand fly through the air. He bared his teeth at Gallade. Ash stood up painfully, but refused to allow himself to tremble. He saw Gallade tilt his head which made it look like it was thinking deeply.

Ash tried to get his breath back. Gallade had been focusing on his extremities, but Ash had still taken a fair share of blows to the ribs. Gallade ran forward once it saw Ash drop his right hand which had the remaining sword. Ash immediately saw that he couldn't raise the weapon in time to block.

The answer came without any thought from Ash. He charged forward as he swung his right hand. Gallade had hesitated just for a moment from the unexpected charge, but swung one blade to connect with the coming attack. The blade hit nothing and connected with Ash's chest painfully, but Ash grinned as he shouted, "Checkmate." Ash swung his left hand forward to connect the sword with the back of Gallade.

The two stood there for several seconds. They were side by side with their weapons pressed to their opponents torsos. Ash finally heard, I lost. You charged forward so that I would hesitate, but you knew I would intercept any attack. You switched the blade behind your back and made it look like our attacks would connect. You took a shot to make it so that my other arm was too far away to block. You beat me.

Ash nodded. He then stated, "You forgot my objective. I just had to hit you, and one more shot didn't matter to me."

Gallade lowered his weapon and stated, I shall keep up my end of the bargain. You are able to talk to my sister. Gallade then disappeared as it teleported away.

Ash blinked in shock for a couple seconds. He now heard a projected voice. Ash immediately identified the femininity of it, as it contained a hint of singing with it, You didn't forget I was here, Did you?

Ash turned to look at the shiny Gardevoir, the reason he had ended up in this mess. Ash laughed before replying, "I must admit that I did. That brother of yours is one interesting pokemon."

Gardevoir seemed happy to before informing Ash, He's starting to respect you. Push a little more, and you will succeed.

Ash looked into the sky as he thought. If he got a pokemon like that to respect him, that would be a good foundation for a relationship. He might be able to capture Gallade, but Ash shook his head. He turned to the confused Gardevoir and stated, "I don't want to force it upon him. He needs time to think. I'll be back, but I'll fulfill another promise now."

Ash turned towards Gardevoir. He smiled before putting an arm on his sore chest and giving a deep bow. Ash then stated, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my Pikachu, Gardevoir. I shall always owe you a great dept. Pikachu is my best friend, and it would have been devastating to me to see him hurt. Just ask, and I shall do anything within my power to repay you."

Ash heard Gardevoir chuckle. He then heard, You almost seem to be a human version of Gallade. You already repaid me by battling my brother. Plus I couldn't let a pokemon get hurt, could I?

Ash straightened and argued, "I wish I was like a Gallade, but I'm a little too selfish for that. And I do still owe you. Just like how you couldn't let a pokemon get hurt, I couldn't let a pokemon think humans are terrible. I would more consider that a selfish act than repaying a favor."

Gardevoir chuckled again and stated, Actually, you are just like a Gallade. They always act so noble, but think that it is more out of selfish reasons. Sometimes you have to admit to yourself some of your strengths. My brother still can't get over the only selfish act he has committed. I can read humans. I felt that you were the only one capable of changing my brother. I know you are a good person.

Ash thought of that for a second before turning his back and claiming, "You might be right, but it definitely isn't certain. I'll be back, but I still owe you. I think you could sense my presence if you need me, as for your brother. I'll be back soon to finish this."

Ash walked away with his body hurting, but a whole new amount of things to think about.

Okay, a shiny Gardevoir and ordinary Gallade. Yes, that story will continue. As for some who may notice, yes, both my stories have a shiny Gardevoir and Ralts who will end up as Gardevoir. I said briefly when Rhyperior was introduced, but my first Platinum game, I ended up with three shiny pokemon. Rhyperior, Gardevoir, and one other who will be introduced in the future. I intend on keeping them like that in my stories.

A little Solidad/Ash romance. I felt Solidad needed a little more to place a story around. So I made her a little manipulative.

I'm just going to admit this now. I can't seem to start the Ash/Giselle romance. I keep adding things in between. So, I'll get it, but I have no idea when.