At the break of morning, Ash and company arrive at Pallet Town via ferry ride. They are fetched by Delia Ketchum, who encounters the entourage at the arrival area.
"How are my favorite trainers?" she greets them.
"Hello Mrs. Ash's mom!" Mallow greets her back.
"Hi mom!" Ash formally greets her, then gives her a hug.
"Well, hop aboard everyone! We don't have all day."
With that, Ash, Pikachu, Mallow, Sophocles, Kiawe, Lillie and Lana climb aboard Mrs. Ketchum's jeep, and they head off to Professor Oak's laboratory.
"How's the boat trip, kids?" she asks them.
"It was fine, Mrs. Ketchum," Lana answers.
"Unfortunately, Sophocles here could not stop from nearly hurling at all of us," Mallow mocks.
"I was trying to fix the signal on my portable radar system," Sophocles defends. "I had to maintain a good focus."
"Well, it's not an excuse that we have to deal with your seasickness," Mallow replies.
Kiawe then switches the topic. "Anyways, I wonder what does the laboratory of the Kanto Professor Oak looks like."
"You will never regret stopping by there, that's for sure," Delia assures to Kiawe. "Speaking of which, Ash, the professor wants to show you something."
"What is that?" Ash replies.
"You'll see when we get there."
After a thirty minute drive towards Kanto's pristine surroundings and wide habitats for wild Pokémon, the gang arrives at Professor Oak's laboratory, where Tracey Sketchit stands by for the group.
"Oh, hello there, fellas!" Tracey welcomes the group.
"Tracey! It has been a long time!" Ash greets him back in overjoy, and then gives him a high five.
"Yeah, Ash. Long time, no see!"
"Still the best assistant to one of the best Pokémon scientists!"
"Well, assisting is one thing. But I'm better at sketching."
Ash then introduces the gang to Tracey, and vice versa. "Guys, this is Tracey. He is one of my good friends back when I was travelling around the Orange Islands. Tracey, these are Mallow, Sophocles, Kiawe, Lillie and Lana. They are my good friends in the Alola region."
"Well, it is certainly good to meet you all," Tracey responds politely.
"The pleasure is ours!" the five of the Alolan companions respond.
"Hey Tracey, is Professor Oak around?" Ash asks.
"Why yes! He is just in the downstairs lab."
"Alright! I'll get to him!" With Pikachu on his shoulder, Ash immediately rushes to Professor Oak's whereabouts, leaving Tracey with the Alolan companions.
"Okay, you guys must be famished on your trip," Tracey invites them. "Come on, let me give you something. And I'll give you a tour around."
Back at Ash, his excitement is so empowering from the anticipation of the Equinox Cup, since this allows him to recruit from his entire Pokémon roster. And thanks to his childlike glee, he immediately opens the door to Professor Oak's lab. "Professor Oak!"
As the young trainer stumbles upon him, the professor is at this study, examining a huge diamond. "Ash, keep it silent for the moment. Gently close the door behind you."
"Uhmm…okay." Ash then complies by slowly shutting the door.
Pikachu jumps off his shoulder and does careful crouching towards Professor Oak. "Pika…"
After Ash shuts the door, Samuel Oak removes his magnifying loupe to greet the young trainer. "Good to see you Ash for a long time."
"Yeah, it has been fun studying in the Alola region."
"And I heard the Pikachu has learned a new move."
"Pika! Pika-Pi!" Pikachu reacts.
"Yeah, it was tough to get there. But there we are; he learned the Electric Web."
"And for that accomplishment, I want to show you this." Professor Oak then points to the pinkish diamond that he was examining. "We found this in the deepest recesses of the Fiore jungle. Kind of mystifying on how we got to its destination. But we, scientists, know for the fact that this is a powerful gem of its kind, much like the Electric Gem."
"The Electric Gem? The grand prize of the Equinox Cup?"
"That is right. But this is a Fairy Gem. Once a Pokémon distributes its powers in it, it can possess all of the moves of a Fairy Pokémon, both Fairy types or not."
Ash is amazed from Professor Oak's explanation. He glances on the gem, attracted to its clear elegance and the way it reflects with light. He could almost feel the power that is possessed inside the gem. "Should I…?"
"As for the moment, Ash, we need to place it in safekeeping," Professor Oak warns him and then places the gem in a metal container with locks to hold the gem. "We do not know the extent of its powers yet."
"But for the Electric Gem?"
"That we already examined. You see, that is the first gem we discovered in the Sinnoh region. And we believe there are many others. There are eighteen types of Pokémon you see, and there maybe sixteen more out there. We have yet to know." Finally, Professor Oak has the gem sealed in a small wooden crate, and then to a metal case with stroller wheels. "Now Ash, I want you to take the gem to Professor Elm. He will be coming to Twinleaf City for the cup. I already sent him news about this. And he said he is willing to collaborate."
"So, I just need to deliver the gem to him?"
"Yes Ash. But be careful with it."
With that simple duty, Ash willingly accepts. "Well okay, Professor. You can always count on me."
"That's very good."
"Ohh yes, Professor Oak, how about my Pokémon?"
"Right! Your Pokémon, of course! The ones you will bring to the cup?"
"Well, I need a strategic team to help me through matches…"
With that said, Ash, Pikachu and Professor Oak leave the downstairs lab, in order to assemble Ash' roster of Pokémon that he will bring for the Equinox Cup.
But behind the laboratory, the Fairy Gem seemingly glows from inside the metal case. Its radiance escapes from its tightest opening. The shining light then blinks from the inside, as if it is giving out a signal to someone else.
Meanwhile, back in the Sinnoh region, the up-and-coming Pokémon Contest specialist Dawn is conducting trainings with her Pokémon, most prominently Mamoswine.
"Okay Mamoswine, Ice Beam!"
At Dawn's commands, Mamoswine unleashes its lethal move to knock down a wooden post in front of them. And with its sharp icicles, the post is torn to shreds.
"That's good," Dawn says in satisfaction.
"Are you sure that's enough for your training, Dane?" Lyra, who is watching with Khoury, asks.
"From other powerful trainers, maybe not but I am getting there," Dawn says optimistically.
"Hmmm…I suppose so," Lyra utters.
"Maybe since Mamoswine is a behemoth of a Pokémon, you can take advantage of its mammoth strength," Khoury suggests. "No pun intended."
"How could I test Mamoswine's size advantage?" Dawn asks.
Khoury then brainstorms for a moment. He looks around his surroundings for possible clues to help with Mamoswine's training. He then spots a boulder on the far right of his direction. "Bingo!"
With that, Dawn takes Khoury's suggestion, and the three of them, along with Mamoswine, head to the boulder to test the mammoth Pokémon's strength.
"Are you sure about this?" Dawn asks to them.
"Well, you will never know unless you try," Lyra replies. "Use Head Butt on Mamoswine, and let's see where it goes."
Dawn then finally faces her beloved Pokémon to assure of its capability. She could only muster compassion to ensure it is willing to take the challenge. "Are you sure about this, Mamoswine?"
Mamoswine then growls and nods eagerly.
And basing from that, Dawn gains confidence. But before that, she prepares her Z-ring, in case something happens. "Here we go. Mamoswine, charge to the boulder!"
With a roar on its lungs, Mamoswine heads to the boulder at full speed. At every stomp of its feet, a shield slowly forms on its head that allows an impactful Head Butt.
Feeling the right moment, Dawn commands, "Use Head Butt!"
A lot of energy has been added to Mamoswine's stamina to make a swift charge. With the amount of strength that it needs, Mamoswine finally strikes the boulder with a Head Butt.
Dawn, Lyra and Khoury are at shock with the impact.
Mamoswine then plunges through the boulder and makes it to the other side of the large rock. It makes a screeching halt after the impact. And all their eyes are laid on the impacted boulder. To their surprise, it gets obliterated to dust.
With that, the three of them rejoice at this sight.
"Mamoswine, we did it!" Dawn proclaims exhilaratingly, to which Mamoswine growls along in victory. "We can do it! I can feel it."
Abruptly, an enclosed jeep honks to the three. The window rolls down to reveal Barry in the front seat. "Dawn, are you up!"
"Just a minute!" Dawn says. Before she returns Mamoswine to its Pokéball, she utters, "Here we are, Mamoswine. Off to battling champions."
Mamoswine then cuddles its trainer's face.
"Hey…you did a good work. Take time to rest." With that, she returns Mamoswine to its ball.
Before she leaves, Lyra and Khoury give their goodbyes to their good friend.
"Well, here goes nothing," Dawn utters.
Lyra then embraces "Dane". "You kill it there in the arena. You're not just a Pokémon Coordinator. You're also a Champion."
"Yeah, we're with you," Khoury supports along.
"Thanks," Dawn expresses her gratitude.
With that, she grabs her bags and rides along with Barry on their way to Twinleaf City for the first course of the Equinox Cup.
"See you in the contest!" Lyra shouts to her as the jeep drives away. "You can kill it in the arena!"
"You don't mean that literally, do you?" Khoury asks his closest friend.
"Nahh, if I mean it, I would say it differently," Lyra replies with a conniving look on her face.
"I'm starting to be afraid of you, again."
"Oh I love you too, Khoury."
It only takes a day's travel to Twinleaf City. So, Dawn and Barry seize the time to ready their expectations for the anticipated Equinox Cup.
But from the secluded forested areas in Sinnoh, a hidden item starts to radiate from afar. Some bug Pokémon become attracted to the absolute radiance of the item. But they move afar when it starts to blink its blinding light. Much like the Fairy Gem, it sends out a message from its radiance, and reacts when it receives a correspondence.
The item is of rare insight. Its brilliance is crystal clear. The sharpness of its edges cuts to anything that falls. Its color is of rare jade. Its value is indescribable yet treasured. And its power is incomprehensible. This item is a Grass Gem, responding to the other gems.