AN: Your reviews for the last chapter were so nice:) Thank you all so much. This next chapter, the one right before it, and the one after it, all take place on the same day, Child's Day. I was hoping that was clear but just wanted to remind you all anyway. Thanks again people for everything:)

Tamaki's battle against Michio was no surprise. As usual, Michio showed up with an unexpected Pokémon, this time a Golem, and kicked Tamaki's ass. After a third defeat, Tamaki decided to go get his little brother. He and Espeon returned about twenty minutes later with Benny, Uncle Toshi, and his uncle's Leafeon.

"Hi, Benny. Happy Child's Day," Annastasia said as they entered the gym. "How are you liking Valéncia?"

"It's a lot different from home," Benny responded shyly.

"Yeah. As you know, Benny and Tamaki are used to open fields, lakes, woods," said Toshi. "Not beachy areas and cities."

"I miss my family and the Eevee."

"Benny's dad Ritchie is a Frontier Brain, like Ash, and his mom breeds Eevee," Annastasia informed Michio.

"We took the some of the eevolutions, but only a handful. The younger ones, the eggs, and the parents had to be left behind. We have some neighbors keeping an eye on them," said Toshi.

"But we're liking it here too," said Tamaki. "We met some new people, saw some new Pokémon…Besides, we know we're going home eventually."

"Yeah," Benny responded, cheering up a little. "Not everything is bad. Now you're here, and it's better."

The children spent a while catching up. They talked about their travels, plans for Child's Day, and their Pokémon. When the conversation started to repeat itself, Soledad asked to have the next battle.

"I can be the judge this time," Lily told Rita. "You humans always get to do it. I wanna try."

"Go for it," Rita replied.

"Okay. Listen up, nerds! This'll be a double battle and no substitutions are allowed by Pokémon that has sustained damage. And only the challenger can make substitutions. There is no times limit. Go!"

"I choose Yanma and Politoad," Tamaki said as he released his Pokémon.

"I choose Chary and Parasect," Soledad decided, gesturing for her Pokémon to step forward.

"This is Parasect's first gym battle. I can't wait to see what it can do," Jay commented.

"It's a zombie," said Amber. "So, it can do just about anything."

"Parasect, use Poison Powder on both of them. Chary, use Headbutt on Politoad," Soledad instructed.

"Now Yanma, use Whirlwind to blow away that Poison Powder. Politoad, use Water Pulse!" Tamaki commanded.

Everyone except for Benny, Toshi, and Sakura's Espeon cheered for Soledad.

After the Poison Powder was blown away, Soledad decided to have Parasect try Leech Seed instead. The attack was effective; it immobilized Politoad and began draining it's HP while restoring Parasect's.

"Yay, Soledad!" Jocelyn cheered. "Your zombie did it!"

"Flaaafy!"

Annastasia laughed. "I guess it is technically a zombie…"

Yanma cut Politoad free from the restraints of Leech Seed with its talons and issued Supersonic on Chary, who managed to damage it with Flamethrower. Supersonic sent Chary into a state of panic, but Parasect protected her by fighting off the two opponents with Fury Cutter until Chary was ready to retaliate.

"I see some awesome teamwork out there!" Nolan called out to Soledad. "Your Pokémon are working well together!"

"Thank you!" Soledad called back. "Now, Chary, use Flamethrower on Yanma!"

Parasect gave Chary a boost. The fire-type jumped and tried to attack, but it was too quick and flew out of the way. Politoad assaulted the Charmeleon with Water Pulse before she even had a chance to stand.

"Parasect, use Fury Cutter on Politoad!" Soledad instructed.

Parasect jumped at the Politoad. Politoad tried Double Slap on Parasect while Yanma squabbled with Chary. Politoad smacked Parasect across the arena, where Yanma fainted it with Sonic Boom.

"Parasect is unable to battle!" Lily announced. "Too bad."

"Good job, Parasect," said Soledad. "Thanks for trying for me."

Bleu collected the Parasect and carried it over to Annastasia. She and June nursed it while Soledad continued to instruct Chary in their battle. Yanma was head-butting the Charmeleon while Politoad used Water Pulse.

"This isn't going well at all," said Amber.

"Piii," Pip sighed.

"Yeah, but don't say it out loud," said Jay.

"Hang in there, Chary!" Jocelyn yelled. "Believe in yourself!"

"Flaaaaafy!"

The Charmeleon continued to use Flamethrower on her opponents. Eventually, Politoad was knocked out.

"You did it! Just one more to go. You can do this, Chary!" Soledad cheered. "It's just you and Yanma!"

Yanma was feeling as strong as ever. It taunted Chary by head-butting her fiercely and then flying away.

"Yanma's a mean Pokémon!" Jocelyn complained.

"Fla feee!"

"No," Benny said defensively. "She's just trying to do her best for Tamaki the way Charmeleon is trying to do her best for Soledad."

"Oh…I guess that makes sense…" Jocelyn murmured. "Sorry."

"It's okay."

Chary was about to collapse, but then she stopped fighting and a familiar white light surrounded her.

"She's evolving!" Amber exclaimed. "Into Charizard!"

"Whoa!" The others exclaimed in unison.

Everyone watched as Chary went from Charmeleon to Charizard. When her evolution was complete, Chary roared at the top of her lungs and pointed a vengeful finger at the now relatively small Yanma. Soledad gushed compliments at Chary, who received them somewhat smugly before returning to battle.

"You can fly now!" Soledad gasped. "Fly and catch that Yanma!"

Chary chased after the Yanma and the battle took to the skies. Her audience ran outside to watch them wrangle in the air.

"They aren't even listening to you anymore," Lily told the trainers. "Does this mean the match is over?"

"No way!" Tamaki and Soledad exclaimed in unison.

"Now use Seismic Toss!" Soledad instructed.

"And use Sonic Boom one more time!" Tamaki told Yanma.

After the attacks were issued, no one was quite sure what happened, but it was clear that both were falling from the sky.

"Run! They're gonna hit us!" Takeshi yelled.

Everyone screamed and moved out of the way just before the two Pokémon came crashing down. They left a cloud of dust behind. Lily was the first to go check on them.

"It looks like Yanma is the winner!" she announced.

Yanma zoomed from the scene, bruised but otherwise already. Chary, on the other hand, looked much worse off.

"Oh no!" Soledad cried. "She looks awful!"

"She'll recover," Annastasia assured the younger trainer. "We'll heal her asap."

"Okay, thanks…and darn, I lost again. I'll never make it to the Pokémon League at this rate."

"Not everyone gets all eight badges on their first journey," said Lexi. "The badges take three years to expire."

"Plus, the tournament isn't for a while and we have plenty of time to do rematches," said Annastasia.

"That may be true but I still feel bad," Soledad pouted. "I knew I would most likely lose some battles but not all of them…I studied so hard for this and watched documentaries, I even interviewed some of my parents' friends. I should be better."

"You haven't lost every battle," said June. "And even if you did, it's like everyone's saying: there's more time for all of us. You just have to be positive."

"June's right," said Tamaki. "I can do a rematch later today even. It won't take long. We have a ton of Pokémon here. We can keep battling until you win."

"Thanks…I'll need another day in between though…"

"Np."

"Can I go now?" asked Amber.

"Pichu pi?" Pip asked. The Pichu kneeled down in front of the gym leader and folded his paws to beg.

"Sure, but I need another break first," Tamaki replied.

"I can take over," Toshi suggested. "I'm a certified Gym Leader and frequent substitute."

"Sure, I'll take you," Amber replied.

"Pi Pichu pi!" said Pip. "Pi Pi!"

"You think so?" Lily asked the Pichu.

"What'd he say?" Amber asked Lily.

"Pip says that it doesn't matter how scary the gym leader looks because he's gonna win anyway," Lily explained.

"Pichu," Pip responded, nodding his head.

"Awesome," said Amber. "Let's go."

She and Toshi made their way to the trainers' platforms.

"I wanna be the judge now," said Logan.

"I'm the judge!" Lily argued.

"You did it last time!"

"And I did a perfect job, which is why I should do it again."

"You're so bossy! No wonder no one likes you!"

"Everyone likes me. They only pretend to like you because we are related and they feel sorry for you!"

"They like me because I'm funny and nice. They only feel sorry for me because you are so mean to me!"

"Knock it off!" Annastasia said as she separated the two Pokémon, who were poised to claw one another. "Logan will be the judge for this battle, then I will be the judge after that."

"I changed my mind," said Logan. "I don't want to do it anymore."

Logan ran out of the gym.

"Well, I don't want anything that has to do with you anymore," Lily called after him. Then she left too.

Annastasia turned to her friends. "Can someone judge while I look for them?"

"I'll do it," said Nolan. He jogged over to where Annastasia was standing. "Np."

"Continue with the gym battle while I'm gone—if someone could film it too, that'd be great."

"I got it," June said as she looked to the camera Lily left behind. "Will she mind?"

"Who cares?" Amber said as she handed it to June. "Let's do it."

"You find Lily, I'll find Logan," Rita suggested.

Annastasia nodded. The duo and their Pokémon left the gym, going in opposite directions just as the cats did.

"Can you help me out with your nose?" Annastasia asked Lil-G. "I can't tell if these Meowth prints in the sand are hers or someone else's."

"Pu Lillipup!" Lil-G announced, pointing her nose in the direction of the woods.

Annastasia and Bleu followed Lil-G. They found Lily talking to someone in her Meowth language. To their surprise, they discovered that it was another female Meowth.

"Nya ny nyaaaa," Lily told the Pokémon, ignoring Annastasia and the others.

"Nya Ny nyasuuu," the other Meowth replied.

The unfamiliar Meowth put a paw on Lily's shoulder and encouraged her to turn around and look at her friends.

"Did you just need to blow off some steam? Or is something else bothering you?" Annastasia asked.

"Yes, to both questions," Lily responded.

"Ny Nya?" the mysterious Meowth asked.

"Ny."

The unknown Meowth walked away, leaving Lily alone with Bleu, Annastasia, and Lil-G.

"Can you tell me what's really going on?" Annastasia asked casually, sitting down on a rock next to Lily. "And who was that other Pokémon?"

"One question at a time," Lily asserted.

Lily jumped up onto a nearby log and licked her paw a few times. Lil-G and Bleu also settled down.

"Logan's always copying me," she lamented. "Everything I try and do he wants to do. He never lets me do anything alone. And we're always lumped together as if we are the same Pokémon. We don't even look or sound alike, but people always insist that we are the same because we are siblings."

"I can see how that is annoying, but that isn't Logan's fault that you hatched out of the same egg. If it bothers you that people always 'lump you together', you need to tell them," Annastasia responded.

"But Logan makes it worst. For example, I told our parents I wanted to learn how to talk human, so he decided he wanted to learn to speak human. I decided that I wanted to practice walking on two legs, so he tried it. Then I went back to walking on four legs and he copied that too! Then he learned to read just like I did, he learned to play guitar and piano just like I did, and it was even my decision to come on this journey. He didn't want to come. He only came because I did."

"You're a good role model; he looks up to you. I'd be flattered. Think of all those new things you encouraged him to do. You just said that he wouldn't have done them on his own."

"I wanna be my own person, not another version of Logan."

"Taria tar."

"Pup, pup Lillipup Lil pup."

"They understand," Lily sighed.

"Have you talked to Logan about this?" Annastasia asked. "Without yelling?"

"I told him to give me more space. That is why he usually sleeps with Takeshi or Jay now instead of me, and we don't play as many pranks on people as we used to."

"I noticed that. Logan probably feels bad too. I bet he misses you. You know deep down that he wouldn't want to make you upset on purpose. I bet he is really frustrated right now thinking you two are growing apart."

"We're supposed to grow apart. We're seventeen. Most Pokémon have mates by now. That doesn't mean we aren't still family, but Purrloin and Meowth aren't really known for hanging around with their parents and siblings until the day they die."

"Purrloin and Meowth don't live like humans either."

"That is another thing…Sometimes I just want to be a regular Pokémon."

"Taria?"

"Lillipup?"

"You mean you want to live in the wild?" Annastasia asked. "Like the Pokémon you were just talking to?"

"No, not like that. I mean I don't want all those human expectations. I want to just be able to sleep all day every once in a while and not have people recognize me when I walk down the street," Lily clarified.

"That would be nice. I never realized you wanted that. If you need a break from us, we understand. We don't want you to leave, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Follow your heart."

"I'm still worried about Logan. He might follow more. Or he'll think it's all his fault—most of it is, but not all of it."

"I can explain that to him for you, but I think you should talk to him about your feelings soon, whether you choose to leave or not. Be clear about what you need."

"I will."

They began walking back towards the gym.

"I'm curious…who was that Meowth?" Annastasia asked.

Lily blushed. "Promise, promise, promise you won't tell anyone."

She looked around to ensure that no one was eavesdropping.

"Tarrri?"

"Pupup?"

"You two can listen as long as you promise not to tell anyone," Lily whispered to the Pokémon.

Bleu and Lil-G agreed to keep her alleged secret. Lily blushed deeper and had them huddle together.

"She's my girlfriend," she confessed.

"Really?" Annastasia asked excitedly. "Since when?"

"Um, we've been together since our first day in Cerulean City."

"Wow…I had no idea. How'd you keep a secret for that long?"

"Meowth are sneaky."

"Tell me about her."

"Maya used to have a trainer. She hated battling though, so one day during a match she grabbed her empty Pokéball and ran. Eventually, she made her way to Cerulean City. She said that Misty was feeding her every day, so she got used to hanging out there. She saw our kids battling and noticed me cheering them on. She thought it was cool that I could talk like a human. We have been hanging out every night since then."

"Does this mean she stays in the Pokéball when we travel?"

"Sometimes, or she follows us and stays out of view. Maya's extremely shy. That's why she left when you came. It is also why she hates battling. She likes to stay in her Pokéball because she says it makes her feel safe, but she's gotten less shy lately. She wants to meet you all, but every time I bring it up, she chickens out. That is why I want you to keep this a secret…I can't lose her trust."

"That's very sweet. I hope one day she feels confident enough to introduce herself. Is there anything we can do to help her feel more comfortable?"

"I dunno. I'll ask, though."

"Lillill."

"Tarrrrrr."

"Thanks," Lily responded, blushing again.

"I'm excited for you," said Annastasia. "If you talk to Maya and explain how you feel, about her, about yourself, and about Logan, I bet you will feel relieved."

"Why?"

"I don't know for sure, but I think holding onto all these secrets is stressing you out."

"I know you're right…I spend too much time in my head, and that's bad."

"It's only bad if it hurts."

"I never thought of it that way. I think it does hurt. Also…I'm ready to go back."

"Do you want to find Maya first?"

"I do, but I know her pretty well by now. I bet she's already at the gym, hidden and watching from a place where no one else can see her."

When Lily and Annastasia returned, everyone was taking a break. Logan and Rita were there too and according to the Amber, she, Pip, and Wingull had already 'annihilated Toshi'.

"Is everything good now?" Jay asked Annastasia and Lily.

"Yes," they replied in unison.

"I'm sorry," said Lily and Logan together.

"You first," said Logan, crossing his arms.

"It's a long story…Well, I shouldn't be so bossy or get mad at you when you copy me," Lily replied.

"I'm sorry for being a copycat."

They hugged to make up, and the drama and tension ceased.

"Yay! Everyone is happy now!" Jocelyn exclaimed. "I thought you were going to fight more and I was really worried!"

"Nah, we're good," said Lily.

"Totally," Logan added. "Who's up next?"

"I still didn't go," June told Toshi. "If you don't mind, I would really appreciate a gym battle."

"We don't mind at all," Toshi replied. "Do you want to battle me or Tamaki?"

"I can battle you. Tamaki had enough for one day."

"Then let's begin."

Annastasia recited the gym rules. Toshi sent out his Leafeon and a Sandslash. June chose her Venomoth 'Vinny' and Wigglytuff 'Tia'.

"Tia, use Double Slap on Sandslash. Vinny, use Poison Powder on both of them," she commanded.

"Sandslash, use Sand Attack followed by Fury Swipes on the Wigglytuff, Leafeon, blow away that Poison Powder with your Magical Leaf," Toshi instructed.

Tia dodged Sandslash's attack and used Double Slap while Leafeon blew away Vinny's cloud of poison. Sandslash swiped Tia, forcing her to let go, and the balloon Pokémon responded by body slamming it. Sandslash was knocked into Leafeon.

"Quick, use Shadowball while they're down!" June told Tia. "Vinny, more Poison Powder!"

"Dodge everything!" Toshi countered.

Sandslash tunneled to escape the incoming Shadowball and Poison Powder. Leafeon used Double Team before following Sandslash into the tunnel.

"Wait at the surface," June told Tia and Vinny. "Use Body Slam and Gust the moment one or both of them reappear."

They did as she suggested, and after a Body Slam attack, Leafeon was declared unable to battle.

"Good job, June!" Lexi cheered.

"You did amazzzzzing!" Jocelyn sang.

"Flaaa laaaa!"

"You're doing great!" said Nolan.

The group continued cheering as Tia, Vinny, and Soledad set out to defeat the Sandslash.

"It's got a lot of speed…" June murmured to herself. "Tia, use combination 2!"

"Hm, she's learning from you too," Rita told Michio.

"And?" he replied.

"That's good."

June's 'combination 2' was a Defense Curl followed immediately by Feint. Sandslash fainted from the attack.

"Sandslash is out of the battle. Challenger June is the winner!" Nolan declared. "Great job!"

"June you were amazing!"

"Flaaaa feeeeee!"

"I can't believe you beat Uncle Toshi's Leafeon…"

"You and that Venomoth make a great team already!"

"Nice, June!"

"Congratulations," Toshi said as he gave June the Pace badge. "I can tell you have a lot of heart."

"Thanks, Mister," June replied. "I appreciated this…it was fun and I can tell it made us stronger."

Everyone congratulated June and the other trainers, then Toshi said:

"I got you all a cake to celebrate Child's Day. Would now be a good time to cut it?"

"Anytime is a good time for cake," Logan replied.

"I agree," said Takeshi.

"Ditto," said Jay and Amber. "Jynx!"

"Yeah. I could really use some of that," said Amber. "I'm starving cuz we skipped lunch."

"It's only 12:00 pm," said Jay.

"The cake can be your lunch," said Rita.

"I would rather you all have something more substantial to eat for lunch, but as long as you eat a healthy dinner, I guess cake for lunch every once in a while isn't too bad," said Annastasia.

"And we can finally open all the gifts Delibird brought!" said Jocelyn.

"Flaa!"

"I know what you are talking about," said Toshi. "Your parents mentioned that they would be sending gifts. How about you bring them over here and we can open them together and eat the cake? Then there's a festival in town for Child's Day and contests going on at the beach up until late tonight."

"Uncle Toshi already said that he was going to take me there," said Benny.

"I'm going for the surfing competition," said Tamaki.

Annastasia noticed Michio's expression change.

"You surf, right?" she asked him.

"Yeah…" said Michio. "And I wouldn't mind some competition."

The children looked at him, surprised, since he never wanted to go anywhere.

"I think we all want to go," said Soledad. She looked at her friends. "Right?"

Everyone responded with their own version of 'yes'.

"Then let's get our stuff from the Pokémon Center and open those presents. The sooner we do that the sooner we can get to the festival," said Annastasia.

Everyone headed towards the door, waving goodbye and promising to return as soon as possible.

XO

IN THE NEXT CHAPTER

· James talks to Rumika

· The group celebrates Child's Day

· Michio confronts Rita