Part CVIII: Chance Meetings

"What is all that?" Ash asked confused at what was in front of them as they neared the Kalos Canyon. "That stuff shouldn't be here, right?"

"No but I have a feeling that this is more than it seems." May said looking just as confused as Ash was at the sight. "Let's approach carefully and see what's going on."

The others just nodded as they kept walking towards the edge of the canyon. The plan had been to check out the sky battles that occurred because Ash had a new flying type that he wanted to test out and bond with in Hawlucha, one of two Pokémon he had caught recently when they passed through a forest just to the south, so this was the perfect chance for it. Well, that and the battles sounded fun. However, it seemed that they wouldn't be able to have them.

In front of them they could see the building at the edge of the canyon that May had told them about where they could take flight suit lessons and then fly in the canyon with a professional but that wasn't all they could see. Around it was a near menagerie of equipment, trailers, workers, cables, generators, and fake buildings that were confusing Ash. He had no idea what was going on here, but he had a feeling that they wouldn't be flying today.

"Stop right there." A stern, professional voice called out from their side halting their approach by the force of the speaker's command alone. "This is a restricted area while filming is in progress. I'm going to have to ask you to head east to where a temporary crossing has been set up for trainers wishing to pass through the canyon. If you don't leave right away I will call security."

Ash and his group turned to see a petite, professional woman scowling at them in a way that made all of them want to not piss her off any more than they already had. She had short black hair with a choppy fringe, half rim glasses and a burgundy bow in her hair that matched the one around her neck. She was a sharp, immaculate, charcoal gray business suit and white shirt. In her hand was a closed note book and she was clearly not happy that they'd wandered over here.

"We already had to stop filming because a trio of trainers were in the canyon and wandered into the shoot on their way to this side of it despite the warning signs, so I am not in a good mood." The woman continued as May began to really study her, she was very familiar to her for some reason. "They are being escorted here as we speak so you can wait for them and I can scold all of you as one unit. Alas they ran into my boss on the way and she's too polite to just send them on their way without a chat, so we've lost the whole day it seems."

"Boss?" May asked and it suddenly hit her who the woman was and everything about the film set clicked at once. "You mean Diantha right? You're Kathi Lee, her assistant."

"Yes I am and yes I mean her." Kathi Lee said looking at May with a hint of curiosity behind her annoyance. "You know her?"

"I'm May, remember, from the incident right before the Lumiose Conference last year." May said hoping that would help them get out of this without too much trouble. "I met Diantha during it as she came to our aid when needed it the most. We only met once I think, after the incident, but I remember you."

"I see." Kathi said with a pout as she thought on the situation. "Well, Diantha is on her way with the other three so I guess you can see if she remembers you but no dawdling beyond that. We are busy and have lost the day which has thrown the entire schedule out and I need to coordinate with the director about what we can do to salvage it."

"Wait by Diantha, you mean the Kalos Champion Diantha?" Ash asked amazed. "She's here?"

"Yes she is." Kathi said with a curt nod. "She's a famous actress in Kalos as well as the Champion so her schedule is very hectic at the best of times. That incident several months back completely destroyed it and we're only now getting back on track with this film so don't hold her up longer than necessary."

"Relax Kathi, the day is lost so what's the problem with taking a few more moments to speak to some trainers." A calm female voice said from behind the assistant. "And I see that one of them is May, she did our region a great service, remember. I am sure that we can spare a few minutes for her and her friends, especially because two of these three claim to know her."

"A few minutes ma'am." Kathi said opening the book she had and scanning it carefully. "Just because the canyon filming can't be done doesn't mean that the day is truly lost. I've been able to reschedule an interview in for you in 20 minutes, followed by a brief photoshoot for a magazine and while that's happening I'll try and see if they can do the night scene tonight so as to get some filming in."

"I see, as efficient and skillful as ever." The voice said as the woman reached them and Ash stared in amazement at who was with her, and the woman herself. "It is why you're the best there is Kathi."

"Just doing my job so that you can do yours ma'am." Kathi said with a note of pride in her voice. "Please be quick though, this schedule is really tight."

Ash didn't hear Diantha's response as he finally got a good look at the Kalos Champion. The first thing that struck Ash was how young she looked. She couldn't be more than 30 if he had to guess making her possibly the youngest of the Champions he'd met, or at least around that as he wasn't sure how old Cynthia was. The one thing he couldn't deny was that she clearly had the looks to be an actress or model.

Diantha was a short woman, slightly shorter than average, with a pixie like look that really worked for her. She had brown hair with a wavey fringe that had a pair of cowlicks in it and was tied back in a star shaped bun that hid its true length and sparkling blue eyes. Then there was her near completely white outfit that added to her style.

She wore a simple white shirt and matching short shorts under an elegant white blazer the flared out at the waist. On her back seemed to be two fluffy looking wings that Ash had no idea what their purpose was or why she had them. She completed the look with low heeled white ankle boots and a white neck gaiter. The only color she had were a pair of gold bands on the wrists of her jacket and around her waist. She also wore a gold necklace and Ash saw a Key Stone set into it.

A quick glance to the side revealed that the corresponding Mega Stone was a Gardevoirite as it was in a matching necklace around the neck of a strong looking Gardevoir that was by Diantha's side. Ash had heard that Diantha's primary Pokémon was a Gardevoir so this all but confirmed who she was. However, Gardevoir wasn't the only companion with Diantha as she approached.

With her were, of all people, Max, Bonnie and a third guy who looked a little older than Max that Ash had never seen before. The third guy had to be the breeder that they were traveling with, Owen if Ash recalled correctly. He was about Ash's height with dark red, bordering on purple, hair and dressed almost all in black with the exception of a blue and pink shirt under the black jacket. The odd things about him were that he wore a glove only on his right hand and was carrying an absurd looking, large, rectangular black case on his back as if it were nothing.

"Oh, they defiantly know me." May said with a grin as Diantha reached them. "That's my little brother Max and the girl is Bonnie, she traveled with me and Serena last year."

"So, they were telling the truth." Diantha said with a smile as she held out a hand for May to shake. "I thought I saw the familial resemblance a little when he mentioned it. Good to see you again May."

"You to Diantha." May said as they shook. "I should have known that you'd be here the moment I saw all the film stuff, but I was so surprised by it that it didn't register at first."

"I do have a day job that was delayed by Lysander's schemes." Diantha pointed out. "Kathi has been keeping me busy since the cleanup ended so I haven't done anything outside of work in months. I wanted to watch a few Contests after what you told me about them but alas I couldn't find the time due to all the catchup work I have to do. I will be at the Grand Festival though; they want me to present the Ribbon Cup to the winner."

"Well, you and Aria or whoever becomes Kalos Queen if she loses this year." May said. "Shows the top of Kalos's other competitions welcoming the first Top Coordinator here in a big ceremony to conclude the first Grand Festival in Kalos. I heard that Alder is presenting it in Unova while Leon is doing so in Galar but not sure about Alola as this is their first year with a League Conference, so they don't really have anyone for the role."

"Likely Kukui will present it." Diantha said. "He's the closest they have to a celebrity there but enough shop talk. What brings you and your friends out to the canyon?"

"We're on our way to Shalour City." May said. "This is my friend Ash who I told you about after the incident as he is usually the one in the center of them. We traveled together in Hoenn when I was a rookie trainer and again in Kanto the next year. He's facing the Kalos Gyms this year in hopes of entering the Kalos League."

"Ash." Diantha said giving Ash a thorough look over as she shook hands with him. "You're last name wouldn't happen to be Ketchum by any chance. You certainly look familiar, but I want to be sure you are who I think you are."

"It is." Ash said shocked that Diantha knew him, this might make getting a practice battle with her easier. "You know me? I'm sorry but I know we've never met. I would remember meeting the Kalos Champion."

"Oh, we haven't met, that is true." Diantha said as they ended their handshake. "But I know of you. After all, how can I not know the man who revealed fairy types to the world when my primary Pokémon is one of the reclassified ones who added the type. You changed the world and directly affected me in the process, I had to find out who you were."

"Oh yeah that." Ash said again embarrassed at how he'd somehow gained international fame with the reveal, he hadn't intended to do that when he did what he did in that battle. "Well, it was the culmination of a year of odd incidents and unexplained events that we kept running into. I didn't mean for it to be so spectacular when I used Mimey to win that quarterfinal, I was just trying to win it and that was the best way I could do it."

"It is how it should have been revealed I feel." Diantha said. "Something that big had to be done on a grand stage, though the finals would have been better, but you can't script things like that. I wasn't watching it, though I saw the highlight after the fact, and I got the update from Sycamore when it happened as he knew that Gardevoir was on the list. I was informed on all of the research and it did explain a few things."

"You'd noticed the immunity I take it." Ash said.

"I have two dragon types on my main team." Diantha said though Ash noted she didn't say which Pokémon they were. "And Gardevoir was suddenly immune to their moves in training which made no sense as she hadn't been before. I told Sycamore about it last year when he wanted to study Gardevoir's Mega Evolution to get him off my back with something of equal interest. He was certainly fascinated by it and said he'd pass it onto someone who was looking into oddities like that at the time."

"Yeah it all started by accident." Ash said. "Didn't expect it be a new type though, we just wanted to know why a Pokémon wasn't effected by a dragon type attack all of a sudden."

"It was a Togekiss, right?" Diantha asked. "As I recall from the research done by Professor Oak there was a battle between a Togekiss and a Gyarados that was the first reported incident of the immunity. It was from that that his research started."

"That it was." Misty said stepping forward. "I should know, it was my Togekiss who was hit when I had a gym battle with Dawn, the Cerulean Gym Leader."

"So that means you're Misty." Diantha said holding out her hand. "Sorry for my rudeness, I was a little distracted by all this."

"No need, we're used to it." Misty said shaking Diantha's hand. "After Ash did his usual thing and changed the world we've come to expect this from people in the Pokémon world."

"Just wait, it will be much more interesting in some places." Diantha said as she let go of Misty's hand. "So, if you're Misty then you must be the coordinator May told me about, the one who beat her for Ash's heart."

"I never told you that." May said going red with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

"You didn't have to; I know the sound of a girl who had loved and lost." Diantha said with a laugh. "You spoke of Ash that way and when you spoke of Misty I could tell she was the one you lost to. I am an actress May; I've been taught to fake these things, so I know when they're genuine."

"Oh." May said still embarrassed.

"Even I could have told you that May." Max said adjusting his glasses. "It was obvious the moment you came back from winning the Grand Festival in Sinnoh that those feelings were back."

"Me too." Bonnie said helpfully. "And I bet Serena is the same, I saw that when we were in Lumiose City together."

"Max." May growled.

"Bonnie!" Serena exclaimed as she looked at her friend and then noticed that Bonnie's right ear was a little red. "Also why is you ear red? Did you burn it in the canyon?"

"She proposed to Diantha when we ran into her for Clemont's sake." Max said with a sigh. "She's as bad as Brock when it comes to this. No pretty woman is safe from Bonnie but it's muscle memory at this point, so I always stop her almost as soon as she gets on one knee and starts her proposal."

"Clemont will not like that." May said with a chuckle glad they were moving on from her and Serena's unrequited feelings towards Ash even if Ash had no idea what was going on. "Be careful Bonnie, you may make Clemont unable to go some places because of you."

"It was cute and very sisterly of Bonnie." Diantha said. "And I won't hold it against him, no big brother can control a little sister."

"I'm sorry to interrupt." Kathi said not sounding sorry at all. "But the interview is in 5 minutes ma'am."

"I see, well I guess I have to go." Diantha said with a slight sigh. "It was nice meeting you all, and seeing you again May, but I have to be off."

"Wait I want to challenge you to a battle." Ash said realizing that this was his last chance as he'd been utterly baffled by the odd shift in conversation a moment ago. "Do you think we could sometime?"

"Alas I am too busy today." Diantha said before smiling at him. "But I have a feeling our paths will cross again Ash and when they do I will give you that battle that you want."

With that Diantha just waved at them before her assistant led her away but not before glaring at the 7 teens or kids and pointing to the east. They got the picture and turned to leave in that direction. It had been a chance meeting with the champion, and a brief one at that, but at the same time it had been worth it. Now Ash knew who the Kalos Champion was, and he couldn't wait to meet her again so that he could face her in battle.

"If it's a battle you want, how about facing me tomorrow morning, it will be too late I think after we make camp." Owen said speaking for the first time as they walked. "I have heard a lot about you Ash from Max, so I am curious to see how you stack up to his praise of your skills."

"Wait I was going to face Ash." Max said. "We always battle, that's what rivals do."

"Relax, I'll face both of you." Ash said with a laugh. "Tomorrow though, you are right that today is a little too late and we have been walking a lot, so a break is in order. It's almost dinner time and I hear you can make something called curry; Owen was it? Sorry we've not been introduced."

"Oh, right sorry, Diantha was kinda the focus earlier but that's a regional Champion for you." Owen said holding a hand out to Ash as they walked that Ash shook. "Yes it's Owen. Max and Bonnie said that they'd mentioned me to you lot before we went on our journey, but this is a first meeting. Which means you must be May, Misty, and Serena."

"That's us." May said shaking Owen's hand. "And I want to thank you for looking after my brother as he travels Kalos, he can't cook to save his life."

"I would argue but it's true." Max said simply as Owen shook hands with Misty and Serena as well. "And Owen makes good curry. We haven't had the same type twice yet though nothing will ever compare to Brock's cooking."

"There is just so much in Kalos to experiment with that I wouldn't find back home in Galar." Owen said. "Though they are almost all on the sweeter side given this regions tastes. Galar prefers things bitter but Kalos likes it sweet."

"Well, I'm excited to try it, when it comes to food I'm always game to eat something new." Ash said as Serena and Bonnie began to catch up together. "And learn of your adventures so far."

"We can trade stories over the cooking pot." Owen said as they walked. "Judging by the bandages I see, you guys had at least one adventure that was a little destructive."

"You don't know the half of it." Ash said. "The injuries the girls got were my fault. I, er, misjudged the power I was using to finish a battle and they paid for it."

"But I'd suffer them again to watch you crush Kenny the way you did." Misty said taking Ash's hand and squeezing it. "It was totally worth it to seem him utterly routed and forced to leave Kalos for a whole year. We don't have to worry about him for a while, though the others are still around."

"Agreed." May said. "You really put Kenny in his place but that is a full story for dinner because it includes him."

"May." Max said softly hearing the dark tone in his sister's voice and knowing who it was referring to though even he didn't know the full story of what went down there. "You don't have to."

"No, I do, and you deserve to know the current situation." May said. "We may be rid of Kenny, but Drew and his new brainwashed sycophant Brianna, we met her once in Chrysanthemum Town, are still in Kalos and targeting me, Serena, and Ash. Drew may target you and Bonnie as well to get to us, he's more than capable of doing so."

"Then we will handle them if it comes up." Max said. "But Bonnie isn't doing Contests. She's tried a few but feels like she needs more time to mature for them, as well as to experience other things before settling on a path."

"Yeah I want to take the year to try different things with Pokémon and then see what I want to do." Bonnie said happily. "I'm only 10, there's no need to rush into anything."

"That is a good way to look at it." May said with a smile. "And if you aren't in Contests then they will be less likely to target you, those are the main avenue of attack they have. We'll take the brunt, but we'll warn you about them as well."

"Thank you but let's save it for when there's food so we have something to enjoy over this serious topic." Max said before switching back to something earlier. "Ash, you said that you'd battle both Owen and I, how?"

"I have 6 Pokémon on me so why not 3 each." Ash said simply. "I recently caught a new Pokémon, so I want to test it out. I actually caught two to bring my total caught in Kalos up to 4 but one is back with Professor Oak as it needs socializing from him first."

"I take it that's another story for later." Max said. "You always have interesting ones when it comes to Pokémon."

"This one is pretty epic." Ash said. "It was a few days ago and somehow Misty and I ended up with two new Pokémon each."

"Two each?" Max asked amazed. "That's big by your standards. Usually only one person makes a catch and even then it's one Pokémon, not two each."

"It was a wild day." Misty said with a smile at the memory. "I now have 5 new Pokémon though one is with Professor Oak as it also needs socializing."

"What ones?" Max asked. "I have caught 3 new in Kalos so I'll use them against Ash."

"Er you may want to use Gardevoir for one of them." Ash said before Misty could reply. "I don't know what Owen has but unless any are fully evolved and battle hardened, they may not be able to stand up to my 6th. I only have him because of that battle with Kenny and because he is the only Mega Evolve capable Pokémon I have the Mega Stone for. He's still on me because Professor Sycamore wants to study his Mega Evolution a little."

"Oh, then I want Gardevoir to face him." Max said instantly knowing what Pokémon Ash was referring to. "Your Charizard is your best, how can I not have her face him with my best. Alas I don't have a Key Stone yet, or Gardevoirite, so we can't have a Mega Evolution battle. We actually asked Diantha about that when we ran into her, but she just said that Gardevoir will find it when she's near it, something about sensing its presence."

"I guess that makes sense." May said. "Professor Sycamore did mention that a Pokémon can sense its own Mega Stone on an innate level. Apparently when he found a Garchompite but before he determined what it was as his Garchomp was rather antsy around it."

"I would not be surprised if that is the case." Max said. "That is why we are on our way to Geosenge Town. We missed it on our first pass as I was hurrying to face Korrina. After my battle with her she told us that it is known for its evolution stones, so we figured we'd check it out after I beat Ramos."

"Then it is on to either Lumiose City or Laverre City depending on what is going on." Owen added. "That's the plan at least but no plan survives first contact with something."

"Sounds like a good one." Ash said. "So, you have 3 badges then?"

"Yup." Max said with a nod as before pulling out a case and showing Ash. "Took two goes with Grant but I got the Cliff Badge in the end. The other two were straightforward. Korrina is a fighting type expert so Gardevoir had no problem with her Mega Lucario to win it and Ramos is a grass expert so my Whirlipede handled most of that though his Weepinbell was a tough one given its secondary poison type."

"Whirlipede?" Misty asked.

"It's a second stage bug and poison type." Max explained. "First discovered in Unova but is known to inhabit forests here in Kalos as well. I caught it as a Venipede, and it evolved against Korrina to help me beat one of her Pokémon. My Chespin has also evolved into a Quilladin."

"That is good." Ash said. "Both my Froakie and Fletchling have evolved while here but that's it so far."

"Wait, did you get a water type in the end?" May asked before Max could comment on Ash's statement. "Sycamore said you were looking for one to handle Grant."

"Oh yes I did." Max said with a nod. "A Binacle in fact, that was my most recent one. I haven't caught a Pokémon in a bit unfortunately but there is still plenty of time to round out the team."

"Congrats." Ash said. "You're getting a good team together there, I'm sure you will complete it in time."

"Thanks." Max said. "What about you Ash? What were your two new ones?"

"A Hawlucha who was briefly sent to Professor Sycamore's lab, but I called it back that night, and a Conkeldurr that needs to learn at the ranch for a bit." Ash said. "Same with Misty's new Ursaring. They were bullies in a forest near here that first a Machamp and then a Hawlucha protected the forest from. They tried to take out Hawlucha with Machamp but thankfully it saw through their deception and helped beat them."

"It was actually Hawlucha and Machamp's idea that we catch the other two." Misty said. "I guess they figured we'd be good trainers for them or something. I'm not complaining though and I'll do my best to prove them right."

"Pokémon have an innate ability to tell a person's heart and whether it is pure or not." Owen said causing them to look at him. "My parents told me about it as they run a daycare in Galar, so they are well versed on Pokémon/human interactions from that. Likely you two did something that impressed Hawlucha and Machamp enough to merit the suggestion. Likely they believe that you can make those two better in time."

"That's what we figured." Ash said. "The Hawlucha is now with me and the Machamp with Misty. Both tied when we battled them, and they decided to join when we asked after the battle."

"Fascinating, if you don't mind I'd like to see them and their behavior later." Owen said. "I'd bet they are worth studying. In fact, why don't you use that Hawlucha against my Linoone tomorrow, my oldest Pokémon loves to battle, and he can be a good test for your new one. I'll also use my new Skiddo tomorrow to test her out. I'll keep the last as a surprise though I am sure that Max has told you what I have. I won't ask who you will use as your other two, surprise me with them."

"Works for me." Ash said. "I've never seen a Skiddo so I'm excited to face one."

"She's just recovered from the broken leg and ready for some exercise to build her strength back up." Owen said. "That's how I found her and caught her so that I could nurse her back to health. When she was healthy again I gave her a choice and she decided to stay with me."

"You know her gender already?" Misty asked confused. "Do Skiddos have a gender difference?"

"Skiddos don't but I make it a point to know all mine and my companions' Pokémon's genders." Owen said simply. "It helps me when tailoring food as I can make it to focus on the biological differences between the genders as male and female Pokémon do have subtly different needs to bring out their best performance. Most of the time it's more in maximizing what a gender is more natural at, but some Pokémon have distinctive, gender-specific, needs that have to be factored in. Those are often seen with Pokémon that have blatant gender differences."

"Oh, so like how my female Unfezant is faster but weaker than her male counterpart." Ash said. "When she evolved it was against a male of her species in a gym battle out in Unova. I had to rely on her better speed to win it rather than her raw power as it couldn't compare."

"Precisely and Unfezant is one where the difference is clear as day so that kinda of specialty is common." Owen said with a nod. "Same with male and female Pyroars, the males are stronger but the females craftier and you need to factor that into caring for them. The subtler differences are harder to figure out but still help determine what gender a Pokémon is without the need for Attract. Your Pikachu is one such species in fact as just one look at him and I know that he's male."

"You do?" Ash asked confused by most of what Owen was saying. "We know he's male because of a Togepi out in Sinnoh using Attract on him and a few other Pokémon, one of whom had already been confirmed male so the Togekiss had to be female."

"Pikachu." Pikachu said sheepishly at the memory of that evil Togepi and how she'd easily manipulated him with Attract.

"Male Pikachu's have a flat tip to their tails." Owen explained pointing to Pikachu's tail. "Females have a heart shape at the end, that's how I can tell. The tail indicator persists when they evolve into Raichu in fact with male Raichus having a pointed tip to their tail and females having a flat tip with no point."

"Huh interesting." Ash said. "I didn't know that. I remember that Misty's Gloom has an indicator but that was it, it's not something I often think about."

"It's useful for a handful of species and I have the list that feature the differences and what they are in my bag just in case." Owen said. "For almost all others I have a Pokémon that knows Attract, that helps with all but ghost types like Bonnie's Litwick, we don't know its gender yet. I keep a list of gender specific and genderless Pokémon as well so I can tell what those are at a glance."

"Well prepared I see." Ash said. "We know almost all the genders in the party because Misty's Furfrou knows Attract and uses it on all of the Pokémon in training but May's two ghost types, so they are unknown. Usually, it's more an accident when we find out as we don't often have a Pokémon that knows Attract."

"It's not common for a trainer to be so meticulous with gender." Owen said simply. "As with few exceptions the differences are pretty negligibly, mainly revolving around males being stronger and females faster though it takes a trained eye to notice in most cases. However, as an aspiring breeder it's something I need to know due to Pokémon care can be maximized by knowing a Pokémon's gender."

"So how would you know a ghost type's gender?" Misty asked curiously. "I have two ghost types that are currently back at Professor Sycamore's lab, but we know they're male because of a friend's empathetic ability confirmed it when she talked to them and they told her they were male."

"Same with my Gengar." Ash said. "All three were confirmed male by Anabel."

"Well, the only way I can think of finding out is if someone has a Pokémon with the Cute Charm ability, that is triggered by contact so a ghost type can be infatuated by it." Owen said with a quizzical look on his face. "But none of the Pokémon we have on hand have it. I'd like to find out Litwick's gender to make it something more specific than just generic food for a ghost and fire type. Bonnie's other Pokémon we know as Flabébé is a female only species while her Dedenne and Fennekin are male."

"So those are her two new Pokémon, they seem perfect for Bonnie." May said glancing back at Bonnie who had fallen back to catch up with who May knew that Bonnie viewed as the older sister that she never had before looking back to Owen. "What Pokémon have the Cute Charm ability? One of us might have one with it."

"And if not I'll try and introduce you to my friend Emily sometime." Misty said. "Her starter is a Clefairy that's now a Clefable and on her and I know for certain that it has that ability as I've triggered it before."

"The Cleffa family is one such family that all Pokémon have a chance to have the ability." Owen said and Ash noticed his brow furrow in thought. "Same with Igglybuff, Skitty and Minccino's evolutionary families. Other than them, Lopunny can get it when it evolves from Buneary and Sylveon gets it when it evolves from Eevee. Honestly, Sylveon is the best bet as that's the only one I know is practically a guarantee to have it as I've never heard of it having any other ability."

"Well, my Buneary doesn't seem to want to evolve." Misty said simply, she knew the reason why Buneary wouldn't evolve, and it had to do with a certain yellow electric type. "So, she's out."

"And my Skitty is back home so we can't test to see if it has Cute Charm." May added before ginning. "But Serena has a Sylveon."

"Then tomorrow I would like to test it out." Owen said and Ash saw his eyes light up at the possibility. "If the girls agree as triggering Cute Charm requires…"

"A physical hit to land." Misty finished. "I know how it works, I have fallen victim to it twice at the hands of a male Delcatty and once to a female Clefairy. It's why I know it well."

"Well why don't Bonnie and I have a practice battle then." Serena called out from behind them surprising them all enough to turn and look at the girls. "Yes we heard all you said."

"I've already told Serena all about my new Pokémon." Bonnie added with grin at the sheepish people in front of them. "And I'd like that. My Litwick seems to enjoy battling, I had to battle it to catch it, so this could be good practice for both of us."

"Alright then it is settled." Ash said with a grin as they saw a sign ahead of them marking an alternate path through the canyon. "I will first battle Owen and then Max tomorrow morning here and then Serena and Bonnie can have their match so we can try and trigger Sylveon's Cute Charm."

"Sounds good to me." Max said as they came to a stop and looked around the large, flat, barren area near the entrance to the canyon to their left. "This looks like a good place to set up camp though. Plenty of space for even the large Pokémon to be let out and there's room for a rough battlefield. We just need a ref. I should be able to do it, I've watch enough battles, but Owen will have to ref my battle with Ash."

"Well, I'm the only one here who has officiated a proper battle before, though if it was a mock Contest battle May would be better, but it isn't." Misty said surprising everyone but Ash with her statement. "What? Why are you guys surprised?"

"You've officiated a battle?" Serena asked confused. "I didn't know."

"It was only once." Misty said with a shrug. "I never planned on it but kinda had to."

"When?" Max asked.

"Ash's full battle against Blaine." Misty said simply. "Blaine doesn't have any pupils because of how he sets up his gym and selects challengers, so he asks a companion of the challenger, if there is one, to officiate it. It was unexpected but I did it, so I know how. A full battle where 11 of the Pokémon are knocked out is a great learning experience."

"I don't mind." Owen said. "Works for me as I don't really know what to look for as an official."

"Neither." Max added. "I can probably do it, but I have to battle as well so this is better."

"Works for us." Serena said as Bonnie nodded next to her.

"And I am fine with it." Ash said before his stomach growled to remind everyone that it was dinnertime. "But I am also hungry."

"Then I say it is time to set up camp." Owen said dropping his large bag that Ash still didn't get how he could carry as it didn't seem practical at all. "Ash bring over your supplies and help me with the curry, we'll need to mix our stuff to have enough for everyone, and I need to see ingredients. That I'm working with."

"On it." Ash said dropping his bag and beginning to look in it for what they needed.

"Good." Owen said. "And there is enough space to let out all our Pokémon though I'm going to keep mine in their balls as some of them are a little shy around newcomers and there may be too much for them to handle at once. Max, can you take care of the Pokémon food?"

"I already know where everything is." Max said. "May, Misty, if you have anything to help that would be great. I'll need to know types and if possible genders to make sure they get the best possible food."

"Sure." May said impressed by how her brother's skills with Pokémon kept growing as he did. "We have Pokémon with all types but poison, dragon, or ice, though some like Malamar and Rhyhorn are the only ones with either of their types."

"That's fine, we have everything we need for all types just in case even if we have 14 types between us." Max said. "We don't have ice, dragon, steel, or ground types but have supplies for them just in case."

"Yeah we're fully prepared so Serena and I can groom all the Pokémon while the rest of you work." Bonnie said with a grin. "I am really getting into grooming, even Owen's Passimian lets me groom him."

"Pikachu." Pikachu said enthusiastically hopping off Ash's shoulder and scampering over to Bonnie remembering how good she'd been when they'd met. "Pika pi."

"Piplup." Piplup agreed joining them, he could use a good pampering as well after all he went through with Misty. "Pip, Piplup."

"Ok you two first." Bonnie said as everyone set about their assigned tasks.

For the rest of the afternoon, they all worked. Ash helped Owen with the curry though there was no way he would be able to make it on his own, the process was far too complicated for him and clearly required proper teaching to master.

As that was going on, Max and May worked with the Pokémon food under Max's guidance while Misty made extra poffins for all the Pokémon who were out. Lastly, a cue formed in front of Bonnie and Serena of eager Pokémon looking forward to a good brush or polish depending on their body types.

Once that was done, they all settled down for a large meal of curry, a first for Ash and his group, and began to trade stories of their adventures so far. They started with the encounter with the negative trio and Ash's full battle with Kenny so that the trio understood that situation as it currently was.

It was an unexpected meeting, but it had turned into a good day and just what Ash loved to find in a journey. He had some practice battles to look forward to and then it was time to cross the Kalos Canyon and continue his journey to Shalour City, his next stop on the path to becoming a Pokémon Master.