Landing in Twinleaf Town, Manny and Mint ran to their respective houses to embrace their mothers and repeat over and over again how much they missed and loved them. Hannah called her parents's phones a few times but just got voicemail on each. The boys met her at the outskirts of town.

"I wish I could just Fly or Surf to the Resort Area, but the Battle Frontier has antiaircraft artillery and naval mines surrounding it, keeping out anyone who does not possess the National Pokédex."

"Don't be silly, Hanny," Manny scoffed. "They can't stop anyone from flying or swimming there to meet their parents."

"Have you ever heard of tourists visiting the Battle Frontier?"

"No, but…"

"Have you heard anyone on the Internet, television or radio say, 'I was born at the Battle Frontier's hospital'?"

"Not even in person, no."

"They don't allow plebeians there, ever. Even the servants own National 'dexes. When my Mom got pregnant, my parents had to move back to Solaceon to give birth to me."

"That's, uh, harsh."

"It's necessary," Mint interrupted them. "The wildlife over there is more powerful than most Gym Trainers. Regular people wouldn't survive one minute in the tall grass."

Manny cocked an eyebrow. "Would you care to explain why the wildlife is that scary?"

Mint gave Hannah a knowing look. They gave Manny a conspiratorial smile.

"You'll see," they chorused.

"Ugh."

Manny rolled his eyes. He summoned Keira, then flew to Sandgem Town.

888

In Sandgem Town, Dawn was sitting outside Professor Rowan's laboratory, reading a Pokémon Breeder magazine. She looked up as a Staraptor landed before her, giving her a familiar chirp.

"Keira! There is a Manny on your back!"

He waved to her while returning Keira. "Hi, Dawn! Congratulations on winning the Ultra Rank Beauty contest! My Mom says you're one of her best students!"

"Congratulations on becoming League Champion! I thought you were just some guy who hung out with Hanny, but you surprised me!"

Manny felt his ears burning. "Heh. Is the Professor in?"

"Yup! He's waiting for you. Better hurry!"

"Thanks!"

Inside the lab, Manny waved to Dawn's parents while walking towards Rowan's desk. The Professor was busy playing Bejeweled 2 on his computer.

"Good morning, Manny. These online games are devilishly addictive. I spent the last six months playing Plants versus Zombies."

"I spent the last few months on an adventure, and here is the fruit I bore."

Manny placed his Pokédex on Rowan's desk with a triumphant flourish. The man clapped his hands with delight as he read the display.

"All 210 Sinnoh Pokémon seen! Well done, Manny!"

"Thank you, sir."

"I'm sure your friends have accomplished the same. There they are now!"

Hanny and Mint swaggered into the lab, also placing their Pokédexes for the Professor to see.

"Three young prodigies! Most Trainers pick a spot somewhere in Sinnoh and ambush whoever walks by, but you three chose to challenge the entire region! I am honoured to have given you your Pokédexes."

They heard someone clearing their throat.

"Good morning, all."

Everyone in the lab turned to see the figure standing in the doorway: none other than the Pokémon Authority, Professor Oak! He stood there, holding a thick difficult-looking book in his left hand, his right hand held rigid behind his back. The old man's austere expression commanded everyone's attention.

"This morning, I recorded three Trainers simultaneously documenting their 210th Sinnoh Pokémon. I flew here right away. It's good to see you again, Rowan."

"Oak! You haven't slowed down a bit in your old age."

Oak offered an ironic smile.

"Neither have you. I brought you this."

He revealed his right hand, which was holding a brown paper bag. Rowan lunged forward, snatching it and almost tearing it open in glee.

"COOKIES! Did Delia make them?"

"Would I insult you with another woman's baking?"

"YEEEEEEEEAH!" Rowan cheered, then began scarfing down the morsels at an alarming rate.

Professor Oak regarded Rowan's young assistants.

"Manny, let me see your Pokédex."

Without bothering to ask how the man knew his name, the boy complied. As the device rested on Oak's hand, it emitted a small beep followed by a pleasant female voice.

"Good morning, Professor Oak."

"Good morning, Manny's Pokédex. Has he treated you well?"

"He is a ten-year-old boy, sir. I have been as muddy, wet, scorched by the sun and bumped around as he."

"That's why I made sure you are almost indestructible. Please unlock the National Mode Pokédex."

"Yes, Professor."

The 'dex emitted another small beep as Oak returned the device to its owner, who was flabbergasted.

"It can TALK?" the boy sputtered.

"All the latest models are capable of conversation. Didn't Rowan tell you?"

Rowan laughed, chocolate chips stuck to his teeth.

"I thought the kids would figure it out, or read it online."

"Never bothered to check," Hannah admitted. "I was more interested in new episodes of The Daily Show and my LiveJournal communities."

"Pokédex, how old is Professor Oak?" Mint demanded of his own Pokédex.

"That's none of your business, little boy," it responded. Mint jumped up and down.

"I would have talked to this thing FOREVER if I had known!"

"Thank goodness you didn't know," Manny said with profound gratitude, though dreading the days to come when Mint would be yapping nonstop at the thing. Professor Oak cleared his throat again.

"Hannah, hand me your Pokédex."

"Sure thing."

Her Pokédex's response was the same to Professor Oak's touch.

"Has she treated others well?"

"She treats others with disdain, but has shown kindness to a select few… emphasis on 'few'."

Hanny snickered. "It even does sarcasm."

"As expected of a reluctant adventurer. Upgrade to the National 'dex, please."

"Yes, sir."

"How'd you know I was reluctant?" Hannah demanded of the Professor.

"I know everything I wish to know, Hanny. May I assume that you are no longer reluctant?"

"You may."

"Excellent. Mint, allow me to read yours."

"Professor, this boy is so hyperactive that I fear for my molecular integrity."

"You'll be fine, Mint's Pokédex, unless he drops you in lava. Has the boy treated his Pokémon well?"

"There are few Trainers in this world who love their Pokémon as much as he."

Oak blinked.

"Am I one of those Trainers?"

"Naturally, Professor; you are the standard by which all others are judged."

"Oh yes, I did program you that way."

"I have unlocked National Mode."

Oak let out a sharp cry.

"I did not order you to!"

"You were about to, sir."

Oak shook his head, returning Mint's 'dex.

"I swear, if it turns out that I created Skynet, I'm going to retire to my nuclear bunker and deny all involvement in the programming."

Manny smiled, shaking his hand.

"Thanks, Professor."

Mint and Hannah did the same.

"What? Is no-one here going to say how much they admire me or my work?" the Professor said in mock dismay.

Mint chortled. "I think your talking 'dexes covered that already."

Meanwhile, Professor Rowan washed his hands and face. He then handed each young Trainer a small, white, rectangular metal device that had radar lines imprinted on its LCD screen.

"The Poké Radar! Now you'll be able to locate Pokémon in tall grass without having to run around looking for them!"

Hannah's jaw dropped. She grabbed Rowan's labcoat sleeve.

"Does it work in caves?"

"I don't see why not…"

"MANNY! Do you know what this means?"

"NO MORE RANDOM ENCOUNTERS!" the boy yelled in delirium.

"NO MORE STINKY REPEL SPRAY!" Hannah yelled back. They proceeded to hold hands and perform the happy dance.

Oak cleared his throat. "On that note, I'm leaving to see about the PAL Park on Route 221."

"Thank you for the cookies, Oak. Send my compliments to Delia!"

"You have a computer; call her yourself!" Oak shot back. He lifted his right hand once in farewell before walking outside.

888

The boys flew north-northeast to Snowpoint City while Hannah lingered in Sandgem to reunite with her classmates.

"Wonder what it's like to have classmates?" Mint wondered aloud to Manny as they shivered by the docks.

"I socialised with instant messaging and various Internet forums while I was growing up," Manny said. "My Mom never could figure out how I got around the safety filter."

"I hardly ever used the Internet. I always wanted to be outside and exploring, and here I am, in the coldest place in Sinnoh, waiting to embark on a new adventure!"

Hannah approached them, wearing her heavy winter gear. Her face was like a blank wall.

"Hey! You got here fast," Mint said.

"Let's go," Hannah said in a deadpan tone.

"How're your old school friends?" Manny asked.

"Fine. Let's go."

"Okay."

As the Trainers approached the ferry, a familiar voice halted them.

"Don't go yet!"

Cynthia herself ran up to them, wearing a stunning white, fleecy wintercoat and fleece-lined boots. Manny and Mint were convinced that Cynthia would look fabulous in a cardboard box.

"Manny, I wish to express the pride I feel, watching you standing there, about to enter a whole new world. I trust you, so I want you to meet my grandmother. If you decide to honour my request, I advise taking one of your friends with you."

"I will be instructed. Let's all go together!" Manny suggested. Hannah shook her head.

"Don't wanna. I'll go to the Frontier. Catch up with me."

"Oh, okay. Let's go, Mint! One last hurrah before we say goodbye to the mainland."

Hannah walked to the ferryman.

"One to board."

"Sorry, I only take League Champions."

Cynthia waved one slim, gloved hand, striding towards them.

"She's with me."

The ferryman saluted. He had stars in his eyes.

"Yes, Miss Cynthia! Right this way, little lady."

The Trainers departed by air and sea.

888

Hannah sat in the ferry's relatively warm cabin, staring out a porthole at the icy waters. Cynthia was attempting to initiate conversation.

"I haven't visited the Battle Frontier for some time, thanks to the machinations of Team Galactic. I look forward to visiting the Frontier Brains."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you, too."

"I detect bitterness in that statement, Hannah. Did something happen in Sandgem?"

Hannah was about to ask how Cynthia knew her whereabouts, but instead replied, "Not a thing."

"How are Professors Rowan and Oak?"

"Since you have been spying on me today, shouldn't you already know?" she snapped.

"Hannah, I do not spy. Rowan sent me an e-mail, informing me that Oak visited just as he was rewarding you for recording all of Sinnoh's Pokémon. Good job, incidentally."

"Stop, you're making me blush," Hannah droned, watching the roving waves. Cynthia narrowed her platinum eyes.

"Very well, Hannah. I can play this game, too. How have the boys treated you?"

"With respect born out of fear."

"Your friends back in Sandgem?"

"Indifference," she said, her voice becoming a growl.

"Aha! I hit a sore spot. How about your parents?"

"Cynthia, get out of my life!" Hannah yelled, hurling herself through the cabin door before realising that the ferry had not docked yet and there was nowhere to run.

"Tell me about your parents, Hannah."

Hanny leaped onto the side of the cabin, climbing the ladder to the upper deck. Cynthia was not far behind.

"I don't wanna talk about it!" Hannah protested, climbing the rungs to the crow's nest.

"I do!" the woman responded, her hands matching the progress of Hanny's heels.

"Why?"

"You're my precious friend."

Hanny paused a moment before climbing the rest of the way. There was a sailor at the top and, as there was not enough room for the three of them, Hannah shoved him. Cynthia reached the top just as the hapless man hit the water. She looked around, perplexed.

"I just heard a man cry out."

"That's your imagination."

"Hannah," Cynthia said, grasping the girl's mittens in her gloves, "Please tell me what happened in Sandgem."

Hanny found it difficult to meet the woman's eyes, so she stared at her snowboots while the ferry turned around to retrieve the man overboard.

"I tried to catch up with my friends in school; y'know, find out how life was since I left. They had… moved on, made other friends and stuff. Some of them didn't even remember my name."

"And your parents?"

Hannah took a deep breath.

"Didn't answer my calls. I have no-one left."

Cynthia did not admonish the girl. She did not tell her that adventurers were often forgotten by friends and family alike. She did not offer advice, or even comfort her with words. She just hugged her. After a moment, Hanny hugged back. For a moment, her voice lost its hard, bitter edge.

"Thanks," she murmured into the wintercoat.

The woman's voice was warm and sincere. "You're welcome."